Top trucking industry concerns discussed at recent symposium
Travelers and its Northland Insurance division, in partnership with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), co-hosted a symposium recently where research on some of the top concerns of the trucking industry was discussed with fleet managers and insurance brokers.
Topics were selected through a VTTI poll of fleet managers. They focused on the impact of driver wellness, managing distraction, hours-of-service (HOS) regulations, and new safety technology.
“At Travelers and Northland, it is important for us to advance strategies that can help keep commercial drivers safer,” said Chris Hayes, director of transportation services, Travelers. “The goal of this program was to outline solutions to help fleet managers address their most significant concerns and improve overall driver safety. The research discussed was conducted by the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, where Travelers and Northland work with VTTI to continue advancing the science of roadway safety.”
During the symposium, workshops were led by VTTI experts and Travelers claim professionals at Travelers’ Claim University to provide fleet managers and trucking industry leaders with tools to help improve driver safety. In addition, Travelers representatives walked through an accident reconstruction display, discussed tactics for preventing cargo theft, and shared ways fleet managers can help minimize risks. Tours of the Travelers’ Heavy Equipment Laboratory were led by the company’s claim professionals and featured discussions on risks associated with operating large vehicles as well as tips to reduce potential losses.
Driver wellness was a topic in many workshops, particularly when it came to fatigue. Dr Erin Mabry, research associate for the Center for Truck and Bus Safety at VTTI, focused on how safety may be impacted by common health concerns such as fatigue and sleep apnea. One in four commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in the United States may be at risk for moderate to severe sleep apnea, and the majority of sufferers are undiagnosed and untreated, according to VTTI.
“The typical lifestyle of a CMV truck driver may include irregular work and sleep hours, physical inactivity, poor eating habits, and mental and physical stress,” said Mabry. “Health interventions that target weight management are critical for addressing the many components of poor health that are widespread among the population.”
Mabry outlined steps fleet managers can take to implement a successful wellness program, including offering physical and clinical testing, health education, accessible health clinics, and exercise coaching and monitoring. Information from DrivingHealthy.org also was highlighted. With this resource, drivers can easily access updated information on maintaining a driver medical card, developing an exercise regimen, and making healthy food choices on the road.
Another theme covered in the workshops was the impact of technology on CMV safety. Dr Jeffrey Hickman, a specialist in behavior-based safety research at VTTI, focused on ways that trucking operations can minimize distraction. He suggested training and education, establishing a policy defining distractions and the consequences for each, securing management buy-in, onboard safety monitoring systems, and crash avoidance systems as tools to assist in curbing distracted driving.
“Drivers need to be educated about the dangers of distracted driving and which activities are considered distractions,” said Hickman. “If drivers engage in distracted driving after training and education, this suggests a motivation deficit. This is when a distracted driving policy or other technologies should be considered.”
Dr Gregory M Fitch, senior research associate in the Center for Truck and Bus Safety at VTTI, discussed trends in safety technologies available for CMVs. According to Fitch, 78% of crashes involve a driver not looking forward at the onset of the lead vehicle braking. Forward collision warning systems with active braking can direct drivers’ attention back to the road to avoid an incident. These systems now can fully stop a truck if the driver fails to do so.
Darrell S Bowman, group leader for Advanced Systems & Applications in the Center for Truck and Bus Safety at VTTI, also discussed risks associated with driver drowsiness and fatigue. He suggested ways to monitor and manage the problem, including maintaining more predictable work hours, getting adequate sleep before driving, taking rest breaks and naps, and using an online fatigue management program for drivers. Susan Soccolich, a VTTI statistician, discussed fatigue and the new HOS rules. Soccolich showed the benefits for drivers and companies using new technology such as electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) to help drivers stay awake, alert, and compliant with the latest regulations.
For more information, visit www.Travelers.com.