Drivers Watch Drivers

Truck carriers in the Charleston, South Carolina area have begun patrols to watch for unsafe truck drivers. So far, about 50 trucking companies have signed on for the weekday patrols consisting of two people in one of the safety team's 15 noncommercial vehicles. They patrol major highways and connectors south of the Summerville exit on Interstate 26. The Charleston Area Truck Safety Team, launched

Jan. 5, 2004

Truck carriers in the Charleston, South Carolina area have begun patrols to watch for unsafe truck drivers.

So far, about 50 trucking companies have signed on for the weekday patrols consisting of two people in one of the safety team's 15 noncommercial vehicles. They patrol major highways and connectors south of the Summerville exit on Interstate 26.

The Charleston Area Truck Safety Team, launched last month, has already compiled nearly 200 reports, according to Phil Byrd, the program’s creator and president and CEO of Bulldog Hiway Express. Byrd says the program is working and that errant truckers have responded.

Patrols note infractions such as speeding, changing lanes without signaling, and other violations. These reports confidentially are shared with the carrier in the hope that they will discuss the incident with offending drivers.

Program organizers hope to make the patrols permanent and have pledged $10,000 to expand it to other areas.