The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the research arm of the American Trucking Assns. (ATA), has completed a study on the effects of snow and ice accumulation on the top of vehicles and has called for a multi-stage plan to educate truck operators on the possible dangers.
ATA said that chunks of ice and snow are a safety issue as they may strike other vehicles and result in property damage or injury to other motorists. However, significant challenges exist for cleaning the tops of trailers, including the hazards workers face when manually clearing snow and ice, the limited availability and effectiveness of snow removal devices and the lack of available vehicle-based solutions, ATA said.
According to ATA, recommendations for short-term action include a public outreach and education campaign targeting operators of all vehicle types and a feasibility study for snow removal devices; a mid-term action is to explore placing snow removal devices at public weight stations and ports of entry; and the long-term action investigates potential vehicle-based solutions that would impede snow and ice accumulation on vehicles.
