Mobile Awareness Offers New Obstacle Detection System

Mobile Awareness, LLC offers a new SenseStat Wired Obstacle Detection Sensor System geared toward Commercial Trucks with Trailers, Utility Vehicles and Buses.

Commercial vehicle owners now have a choice of wired or wireless solutions for an effective means to help prevent costly backing accidents. Activated automatically when reverse gear is engaged, the driver is alerted to objects behind their vehicle with both an audible (active) and visual indicator (LED display). The waterproof sensors work in all weather conditions and provide the location of an obstacle (Zone Discrimination) within four (4) individual areas behind the vehicle, accurate to within one inch.


Source: Mobile Awareness

The Inner Workings Of Truck Brakes

Can you imagine trying to stop an 18-wheel big rig with a set of wooden blocks?

According to a story on RoadKing.com, the brakes on modern trucks are decedents of the wood blocks used to stop the wheels of horse-drawn wagons.

The story explores the workings of truck brakes and how they have evolved over the years.

Source: RoadKing.com

Volvo studies ways to prevent truck driver distractions

The inside of a truck cab offers more electronics and gadgets than ever before. A trucker can monitor how his truck and engine are performing and GPS mapping to stay on the right route.

All those dials and readouts can be a distraction as well, taking the focus of a driver off the road.

Volvo recently conducted a study of commercial vehicle drivers to improve traffic safety. Researchers wanted to know how drivers handle safety systems and information systems while driving.

According to Volvo...

Volvo has coordinated a pan-European research project (AIDE) that focuses on these aspects. The conclusion is that many accidents can be avoided if the systems are coordinated and better tailored to suit the flow of traffic and the driver’s situation.

On April 15-16 the project submitted its final report. Almost 200 researchers from throughout Europe, experts in the motoring industry and representatives of the EU were on hand when the results of four years’ research were presented.

“We know that the human factor is a contributory cause in at least 90 percent of all traffic accidents. If we can provide technology that adapts support systems to suit the individual driver and the current traffic situation, many accidents would be able to be avoided,” says Lars-Göran Löwenadler, Safety Director at Volvo Trucks.

“It is positive that the number of safety and information systems in modern vehicles is increasing. Taken individually, they offer many benefits as regards traffic safety and productivity, for instance, but the driver does risk being over-burdened by too much information. Especially bearing in mind that many drivers also have their mobile phones and perhaps also a GPS navigator in the vehicle. In order not to jeopardise traffic safety, we have developed solutions that allow all the systems to interact smoothly,” explains Volvo Technology’s Gustav Markkula, the company’s AIDE coordinator.

In concrete terms, AIDE is all about creating a user interface between the vehicle’s technology and the driver. The challenge is to integrate all the support systems into the driver’s environment so that they help the driver in the best possible way at the right time, and do not risk disrupting him in situations where the traffic demands all his attention.

Source: Volvo

Fatal crash rate for large trucks declines to new low

While there has been plenty of concern over the safety of big trucks, the ATA office of public affairs reports that some measures of big truck safety have fallen to new lows...the type of lows that are good news.

According to the ATA...

Three of the primary measures of large truck safety fell to record lows in 2006, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Newly released Federal Highway Administration vehicle mileage figures, used to determine annual crash rates, showed that the large truck-involvement rate in fatal crashes, the fatality rate and the fatal crash rate for large trucks each declined to its lowest level since the U.S. Department of Transportation began tracking large truck safety records in 1975.

“These figures illustrate the effectiveness of the trucking industry’s continuous efforts to increase safety on the nation’s highways,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “The motor carrier commitment to safety and industry outreach efforts are playing major roles in improving highway safety for all drivers.”

The 2006 fatal crash rate for large trucks stood at 1.93 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle-miles-traveled. This breaks the previous low of 1.97 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle-miles-traveled in 2002.

The large truck-involvement rate fell to 2.12 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, down from 2.21 a year earlier. The fatality rate declined to 2.24 per 100 million vehicle-miles-traveled, down from 2.34 in 2005. The fatal crash rate measures the number of fatal crashes involving large trucks per 100 million miles traveled. The large truck involvement rate measures the number of trucks involved in fatal crashes per 100 million miles traveled. The fatality rate measures the number of deaths in truck-involved crashes per 100 million miles traveled.

Improving safety figures are set against a backdrop of an increased number of vehicles on the nation’s roadways. According to FHWA, there were nearly 3 million more registered cars and trucks in 2006 than in 2005.

Source: American Trucking Association

The Mack Truck Driving Skills Safety Challenge to be featured at the 2008 World of Concrete

The Mack Trucks homepage features details on the Driving Skills Safety Challenge, along with video clips.

The safety challenge is part of the 2008 World of Concrete show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to Mack Trucks...

Mack Trucks, Inc. is again sponsoring a Driving Skills Safety Challenge during the World of Concrete show. The event this year will be held in the Orange Lot outside the Las Vegas Convention Center January 23 - 25 from 10 am to 4 pm.

The competition is open to any driver at least 18 years of age with a valid CDL who completes an application form, shows proof of operator training, and is registered for the show.

This year's event features both individual and team competitions (two operators per team).

Contestants will choose one MACK Granite model mixer to operate through a closed course set up to simulate an actual job site. Operators must complete a pre-operation safety check, successfully navigate the skills course, and then secure the truck as if it were the end of a workday. Each individual or team will have one (1) attempt. Scoring will be based on accuracy and adherence to safety procedures. Specific scoring rules will be provided at the event.

First-, second-, and third-place winners in both the individual and team competitions will be announced during an awards ceremony on Thursday, January 25th at 4:30 pm in the Mack booth (C5469). In addition to a trophy, the following prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in the individual competition, as well as to each operator on the top three 2-person teams:

• 1st Place: $500
  Mack Shop Gift Certificate
  Mack Citizen® Watch

• 2nd Place:
  $300 Mack Shop Gift Certificate

• 3rd Place:
  $100 Mack Shop Gift Certificate

Source: Mack Truck

Drive-away prevention system eliminates unscheduled truck departures

Castell Interlocks manufacturers Salvo, a system that prevents a truck from pulling away from a loading dock while workers are loading cargo. To give you an idea of how dangerous an unplanned truck pull-away can be the Salvo site features some photos.



Yep...that sure looks like a bomb of some sort.

Yikes!

To prevent these sort of accidents, the Salvo loading dock safety system secures a truck at the dock to keep workers and cargo safe.

According to Castell...

Unscheduled truck departures increase risk to workers and the potential for damage to loading docks and equipment. The Salvo loading dock safety system from international safety expert Castell ensures that a particular sequence of events happens before a truck is able to pull away from the dock. A new product design and complete kit purchase option have increased ease of installation and shortened order lead times.

The key to the Salvo system is the Salvo gladhand lock. Once the gladhand lock is attached to the truck's brake line, ensuring that brakes are applied and trailer movement has stopped, a uniquely coded key is released. The key is then used in either the automatic or manual door lock, which traps the key, and allows workers inside the plant to unbolt the lock and begin loading or unloading the trailer. When work on the trailer is complete, the door interlock is bolted and the key needed to open the Salvo gladhand brake lock is released, making it possible for the driver to depart.

Castell is now packaging the safety system as a complete kit, with all system components and control panel wiring included. A one-size-fits-all design for the Salvo bollard, brackets and barrier chain set, and modular mounting rack model have lowered customer cost and made installation easier. Castell has also increased durability with a new temperature resistant gladhand lock design, and weatherproof stainless steel storage box. The entire kit is stocked and shipped from Erlanger, Kentucky with short lead times.

Source: Castel Interlocks

GPS truck tracking systems could help prevent truck mishaps

Boston.com features a story on GPS technology that could prevent truck accidents by tracking a truck's position and speed.

One such system is Cadec's PowerVue. While other systems are mounted on the truck and monitor speed and position, PowerVue uses satellite tracking to determine if a truck is in danger of a rollover or moving too fast.

According to Cadec...

Designed to enable companies to maximize the business value of their fleets, Cadec’s PowerVue helps fleet managers address challenges such as:

• Improving efficiency and reducing costs by integrating actionable fleet information with existing routing, mapping and supply chain management software

• Creating dashboards of relevant information for each stakeholder in the supply chain – from dispatcher, to fleet manager, to CEO, to customer

• Ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations by automating paper-based administrative processes such as DOT logs and fuel tax

• Visibility into driver safety data including speed, route/location, and idle time and meeting and exceeding customer service expectations.

Unlike traditional mobile communications systems that primarily emphasize messaging and location, or OBC systems that focus on collecting data, PowerVue adds a level of intelligence by combining the most advanced on-board computer system with a web-based, enterprise-class data management application. This enables PowerVue to translate vast amounts of fleet data collected from each vehicle into actionable information that can be leveraged throughout the supply chain.

Source: Boston.com and Cadec

New biometric system could secure ports and trucks

Biometrics used to be the stuff of science fiction films, where futuristic scanners read fingerprints or retinas to open doors or activate computers.

Land Line features a story on biometrics in real life and how the technology could be used by truckers to gain access to port gates or even be used to start engines instead of keys.

One of the companies mentioned in the Land Line story is Privaris, a company that supplies the hardware and software used in biometrics.

The Privaris web site features details on the Plus ID system that provides identity verification at security gates.

According to Privaris...

Facility operators must be able to quickly and reliably verify the identity of drivers and vehicles without imposing solutions that violate privacy, add substantial costs or create additional security risks. Existing solutions that require drivers to come to a full stop for manual inspection cause traffic delays and significantly impact productivity. Privaris' latest enhancements allow drivers who regularly enter ports, military bases or logistics centers to verify their identity using plusID 90 by simply swiping their finger on their personal biometric fob as they approach the gate. Once the fingerprint is matched to the stored template on the fob, it wirelessly transmits encrypted credentials (not the fingerprint) to the gate control system to validate the access rights for the driver and the vehicle, without the need to come to a full stop or roll down the window.

Land Line reports that the Privaris plusID 90 is now being tested at a military base and several ports are inquiring about the system.

Source. Privaris and Land Line

North Carolina Trucking Association Teams With Government Agencies to Enhance Highway Safety

The North Carolina Trucking Association has teamed with the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program to spearhead a new state initiative aimed at enhancing commercial vehicle safety.

The program is unique in that it not only seeks to educate passenger vehicle drivers about how to drive safely near trucks, but it also focuses on maximizing the trucking industry’s understanding and compliance with safety laws and regulations. The general public outreach effort centers on a highly visible “No Zone” campaign which features a dozen wrapped trailers, including one tank trailer, and the distribution of “No Zone” brochures.

In addition to the wrapped truck trailers, at least one thousand back door decals and one thousand sets of mud flaps emblazoned with the “Be Safe-Share the Space” logo will be distributed throughout North Carolina’s trucking industry to help get keep the message in the public eye. 150,000 sixty-page NC Commercial Motor Vehicle Information Guides have been printed as a comprehensive tool to help motor carriers and truck drivers stay abreast of current operating requirements

Addressed issues include registration requirements, inspections, weights and dimensions, hazardous materials, and insurance requirements, among others. Additionally, the truck wraps and the printed materials direct truckers to visit NCTA’s website, www.nctrucking.com, to access safety information.

Source: North Carolina Trucking Association

Mack Truck sends the Pinnacle on road tour about truck safety

Here is the Pinnacle, Mack Truck's highway flagship model . While most car drivers will notice that this truck is big and yellow, Mack wants everyone to know that the Pinnacle is also equipped with the latest safety technologies and designed to meet the EPA's fuel-saving Smartway standards.

To get the word out about truck safety, Mack Trucks, Inc. recently announced that the company again will serve as a primary sponsor of the American Trucking Associations' Share the Road program next year.

Designed to enhance the safety of America's roadways by teaching car drivers how to safely drive around large trucks, Share the Road delivers life-saving messages to hundreds of U.S. cities and reaches millions of motorists annually.

The program uses as spokespeople a group of professional truck drivers with exemplary safety records. These drivers conduct safety demonstrations for local media, students, community leaders and highway users in cities around the United States as a way to deliver the program's life-saving messages about potential blind spots, safe following distances, truck stopping distances and the like.

Source: Mack Trucks

Six states may recieve nearly $5 million to speed highway construction and reduce gridlock

The nation’s top highway official recently announced nearly $5 million will be directed to Maryland, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Utah and Virginia to reduce traffic jams near highway construction sites by speeding project completion.

The "Highways for LIFE" program is managed by the FHWA to provide grant money to help states build roads faster while making them last longer and less costly to maintain. In addition to direct funding, the program can ease state matching requirements for such projects, thereby saving millions in state transportation funds.

"These funds are critical to improving America’s infrastructure while minimizing traffic delays," said Federal Highway Administrator J. Richard Capka. "Reducing traffic congestion is key not only to our nation’s quality of life but also to keeping our economy healthy and internationally competitive."

You can read more about the specifics of the program on the Department of Transportation site.

Source: Department of Transportation

Los Angeles ports to require trucks to use TruckTags

PierPASS Inc. has announced that marine container terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will require trucks to be equipped with TruckTags in order to gain access to the terminals beginning December 1, 2007.

Trucks without TruckTags will be processed through exception handling, which may include being denied access or processing via a trouble ticket. Trucking companies that have already received tags should install the tags on their trucks now and register the tag numbers in the eModal TruckerCheck program, which will activate the truck in the system.

The TruckTag program is a proactive effort by marine terminal operators in Los Angeles and Long Beach to meet U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard guidelines requiring marine terminals to enhance their security measures. TruckTag uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to meet these heightened security requirements without hindering the efficient flow of cargo through the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. The two adjacent ports together handle more than 40 percent of the nation’s total import traffic and 24 percent of its total exports. On average there are more than 180,000 truck deliveries to and from the marine terminals every week.

PierPASS, Inc. is a not-for-profit company created by marine terminal operators at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports to address multi-terminal issues such as congestion, security and air quality.

Source: PierPASS

More trucks on the road...and less parking

While the number of trucks on road is expected to grow, the number of places where trucks can park is lagging behind.

Salina.com reports on the shortage of truck stops and truck parking lots. Weary drivers are required by law to get the rest they need. But finding a place to stop can just as challenging as dealing with road and weather hazards.

The story quotes a 2005 study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, where only 34 percent of drivers said they can frequently find a spot to park and rest.

Possible solutions, besides building more truck stops, include a system that would place electronic sensors in the pavement of truck lots, alerting drivers by cell phone or other means that a spot is open.

State police in Ohio and Kentucky want cars to give truckers more room

LandLine Magazine reports that state police in Kentucky and Ohio are asking car drivers to avoid tailgating big trucks.

The program is called TACT (Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Truck) and designed to keep cars from following commercial trucks too closely.

Cars that follow trucks too closely are one of the leading causes of truck accidents.

ATA's Share The Road program promotes safe driving

How many car and SUV drivers know the right way to pass a truck? Do they know where are the blind spots on a truck?

Missourinet.com reports on the American Trucking Association Share The Road highway safety program, touring the country to educate car drivers about driving safely near big trucks.

One of the tips offered by the ATA is when passing a truck, pass on the left side, where a truck drivers blind spot is smaller.

Do you have advice for car drivers on driving safely alongside big rigs? (Other than "Put down the CELL PHONE!") Leave a comment below and share some advice.

Highway infrastructure concerns follow bridge collapse

Following the tragic bridge collapse in Minnesota, the issue of wear and tear on America's road infrastructure has been brought to national attention.

The bridge collapse may have brought bridge repair woes to recent headlines, truckers have long been aware of the issue.

The Life On The Road trucking blog features a story on road and highway repairs and explores why neglect has been allowed to continue.

Almost everyone agrees that roads and bridges need mending nationwide...but who will foot the bill for it?

Court overturns changes to rules for truck driving hours

Purchasing.com features a story on a The U.S. Court of Appeals of the D.C. Circuit overturning portions of the hours of service rules for truckers.

The new rules shorten the time a trucker can drive each day, from 11 hours to 10.

The New York Times also features coverage of the court decision. The changes in the rules were controversial because safety experts and insurance analysts feared longer hours for truckers would result in more accidents.

Sleep apnea can be dangerous for truckers

PostCrescent.com features an Associated Press story on trucking companies dealing with the problem of sleep apnea and their drivers.

Sleep Apnea causes the throat to close during sleeping, causing a sufferer to wake up dozens of times during the night, causing fatigue that can be dangerous to truckers.

A trucking company offered tests for sleep apnea to their drivers, discovering that nearly 1000 truckers had the problem. The company offered special air packs to aid with breathing during sleeping.

The danger of improper lane changes

The Arizona Daily Star reports on the hazard of truckers who change lanes improperly on the highway.

Improper lane changes are to blame for a large share of truck accidents. Tired drivers and distracted drivers raise the risk of an accident as well.

The story also details the dangers involved when a hazmat truck is involved in an accident. Emergency personnel have to prepare for such incidents and use the proper equipment.

While truckers and transportation companies strive to keep truckers and other drivers safe, what do you think needs to done? Leave a comment and tell us.

E-Gate technology checks truckers at Virginia port

Wavy.com in Hampton Roads, Virginia, features a story on E-Gate: a technology that checks truckers entering and leaving the Port of Virginia and the Portsmouth Marine Terminal.

E-Gate is a system that checks drivers identities and tracks shipping containers.

E-Gate works using ID cards that verify the identity of a trucker, who they work for, and the containers they carry.