The Fleet Business Authority
Issue link: http://heavydutytrucking.epubxp.com/i/307131
Technology: Keeping Roads Safe W hile we're still years, if not decades, away from "driverless trucks," many of the latest safety technolo- gies on trucks and cars may help us get there – and even if they don't, they'll save a lot of lives in the meantime. Yet despite all the collision avoid- ance, rollover prevention and other safety technology available today, the most important part of a safe trucking operation remains the person behind the wheel, the driver. Carriers must hire the right ones; train, monitor, coach and reward the ones they have, and provide their drivers the tools and working conditions they need to be safe. Still, technology can help. Some systems track and monitor driver and vehicle performance, so drivers who need extra training can be identified and those who are perform- ing exceptionally can be rewarded. Or driver managers may use data analytics to create models that help predict which sub-set of drivers may be a potential safety risk. Onboard communication devices record vehicle engine data, speed, loca- tion or other information during critical events, such as hard braking or exces- sive g-forces. Onboard video recording systems capture video from inside the cab and in front of the truck during events that can be analyzed for risky driving behavior. Collision avoidance, stabil- ity control and lane departure warning systems actively alert drivers of potentially unsafe conditions and in some cases even take action on their own. Motor carriers are increasingly taking advantage of these technologies. 42 HDT • MAY 2014 Jim Beach • Technology Editor "Many customers are already deploying [safety] technologies but not using them to their fullest in terms of safety." – Rick Ochsendorf, PeopleNet From collision avoidance to cameras, from rollover prevention to analytics, technology is rapidly changing the safety landscape s a f e t y t e c h n o l o g i e s . i n d d 4 2 safety technologies.indd 42 4 / 2 9 / 1 4 5 : 0 0 P M 4/29/14 5:00 PM