A new rule was adopted in April by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that will require installation of Electronic Onboard Recorders (EOBRs) most interstate commercial vehicles by June of 2015. EOBRs are designed to electronically monitor compliance with Hours of Service (HOS) rules by commercial drivers.

The new rule, which was endorsed by major trucking associations, including the American Trucking Association, the National Private Truck Council, and the Truckload Carriers Association, hasn't been welcomed by all. Many independent truckers look on the rule as an unnecessary regulatory intrusion and an economic burden. Safety advocates however, view the rule as long overdue.

Onboard electronic monitoring of a trucker's speed, and time spent in motion have been around for quite some time and many trucking companies have embraced the technology. Trucking company who use the technology can better determine exactly how long a particular delivery takes and adjust their pricing and contractual delivery time more accurately. Another benefit is safety related. Through the use of GPS and engine monitoring systems, trucking companies can monitor whether or not their drivers are obeying speed limits and complying with HOS rules. The safety benefit has shown to be a great benefit to trucking companies in reduced liability for collisions due to speeding or sleep deprived drivers.

The FMCSA, which regulates interstate commercial vehicles, has been slow to adapt to the new technology, relying instead on hand written log books kept by the drivers to show they are in compliance with the mandatory HOS rules. The problem with that is that hand written logs are notoriously easy to fake and it is difficult to tell whether or not a driver has been on the road too long and is possibly sleep deprived.

A year after the federal HOS rules last changed in 2004, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted a study to see if drivers were complying with the rules that limited their time on the road and required specified rest periods. The study found that 25% of the drivers admitted to driving more hours and the number of drivers who reported driving drowsy or falling asleep at the wheel within the previous month rose from 13% to 15%.

Drivers feel great pressure to meet delivery deadlines, especially when the cargo is perishable or otherwise time sensitive. Many drivers feel compelled to speed or to push on, even when they are drowsy, to meet the contracted delivery schedules. The ability to easily falsify log books, for the most part, eliminated the consequences of non-compliance, unless the speeding or drowsy driving led to a crash.

Driving drowsy is a significant danger for commercial drivers. Since most instances of a collision caused by sleep deprivation require self admission by the driver, it is difficult to come up with accurate figures on the true number of crashes caused by drowsy commercial drivers however, based on surveys and the types of crashes (swerving into adjoining lanes etc.), the IIHS determined that at least 13% (18,000) of crashes involving commercial truckers were due to driver fatigue.

The latest figures from 2009 show that there were 3,163 fatalities in crashes involving large trucks. Truck occupants made up only 14% of the fatalities. Drivers of cars and other passenger vehicles made up 70% of the fatalities with the rest made up of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. Of those involved in two-vehicle crashes between large trucks and passenger vehicles, 98% of the deaths were the occupants of passenger vehicles.

The new rules requiring electronic monitoring will go into effect in June of 2012 with full compliance required within three years of that date. Both the federal government and trucking associations, say that the EOBR's will make operations smoother and less expensive by eliminating the inefficient paper trail and allowing an automatic download of driver records at state inspection stations. Safety advocates laud the new regulations in the hope that they will help to end instances of fatigued drivers pushing on long after federal regulations say they should have pulled off the road to rest.

Labels: commercial truck drivers, commercial vehicles, gps devices, Onboard electronic monitoring, truck safety

A pick-up truck is a vehicle that's specifically designed to carry heavy loads of cargo. As a passenger transport vehicle however, it doesn't do so well. There are dangers in riding in pick-up truck beds, and as fun as riding in the back of a truck with a bunch of buddies sounds, it's dangerous.

Here are some of the dangers of riding in the bed of a pick-up truck:

No seat belts – There are no seat belts in a pick-up truck bed. In most states, it is illegal for passengers of a vehicle to ride without seat belts. There's actually a law in some states that prohibit passengers under the age of 18 to ride in truck beds unrestrained. While persons 18 years and older are allowed to ride unrestrained in pick-up truck beds, the likelihood of a minor accident turning fatal for them is doubled.

High chance of being ejected – Without seat belts, minor bumps and other obstacles on the road may prove fatal. Riding in the bed of a pick-up truck raises the chance for passengers to be ejected, turning a minor collision into a fatal collision. In Florida alone, there have been a lot of cases of passenger deaths due to ejection from a pick-up truck, and the truck driver may be charged with vehicular homicide.

Designed for cargo, not passengers – The very existence of a pick-up truck bed is solely for carrying cargo, not passengers. Even cargo should be securely secured to the pick-up bed. Imagine what damage an unrestrained 2X4 piece of wood could do if it were to fly through the rear window in a crash.

Any vehicle should be driven and used only for its intended purpose. The bed of a pick-up truck is NOT for transporting passengers. Pick-up truck operators should always observe safety when it comes to driving and interacting with other motorists.

Labels: driver safety, seat belt law, seat belt safety, truck safety, vehicle safety

Big trucks, small trucks or medium trucks, regardless of their size, they are a natural part of the driving environment. They are driven by commercial drivers and play a substantial role in our commerce. It is important to learn about their characteristics and how to drive defensively around them.

So what should you keep in mind when sharing the road with trucks?

Take in account the differences in size and weight.

Due to their size and weight they can not react quickly in the driving environment. While most cars weigh an average of 3,000 pounds, large trucks are heavy and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. At that weight trucks can't maneuver like a 3,000 pound car and can not be brought to a quick stop. In a crash involving a 3,000 pound car and an 80,000 pound truck, the truck is going to sustain less damage.

Increase your following distance.

When traveling behind a truck use extra caution and increase your following distance to three or fours seconds. Doing so allows you to have a better view of the traffic conditions ahead. If you are following at a safe distance, consider it will only cost you two or three seconds of your time to remain behind the truck as you approach your exit.

The most common mistake that drivers make around trucks is thinking trucks have the ability to perform and to stop like a small car. It takes at least twice the distance for a large truck or bus to stop than it does for a small car. It also takes them longer to accelerate and get up to speed.

Use extra care when passing.

The US Department of Transportation Office of Motor Carrier Safety conducted a study titled "The Unsafe Driving Acts of Motorists in the Vicinity of Large Trucks". The study found "Particularly distressing to truck drivers is when a motorist passes a large truck, quickly cuts in front of it, then exits the highway." They cited the most common reason for collisions involving passenger vehicles and large trucks was the motorists "unfamiliarity with the performance limitations and capabilities of large trucks. It appeared that most drivers are unaware of the limited acceleration, braking, and visibility of large trucks and of the relationship between mass and velocity and the potential consequences of that relationship to safety." They need lots of room to maneuver and have a much wider turning radius.

Be aware of the blind spots.

Avoid cruising along in a truck's blind spots. Large vehicles have very large blind spots or what is referred to as "No-Zones". Semis have a large blind spot reaching up to 200 feet directly behind them. As you near the cab on the left side there is a blind spot that runs from behind the cab to just behind the driver. There is a much larger blind spot on the right side of the vehicle. Trucks with high hoods have a blind spot of up to 25 feet in front of the truck. The old saying that "If you can't see the truck's mirrors, the truck driver can't see you" is true. Some go even further to say if you can't see the truck driver's face in his mirrors, he can't see you.

A study conducted by the AAA Foundation found that in collisions involving cars and trucks, the driver of the car was at fault 73 % of the time. Other studies have shown that:

Passenger-car drivers are four times more likely to rear-end a truck than truckers are to rear-end cars;

Non-commercial drivers are 10 times more likely to crash into a truck head-on than vice versa;

Passenger-car drivers are three times more likely to speed in poor road conditions (such as rain) than truck drivers;

Non-commercial drivers are eight times more likely to be involved in crashes involving drowsiness.

The AAA study also found that in fatal collisions involving cars and trucks, 98% of the deaths were among occupants of the car.

When sharing the road with trucks, give trucks a wide berth and respect their limitations.

For more information about truck safety or commerical drivers license (CDL) please visit www.TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.

Labels: cdl, commercial drivers license, driver safey, sharing the road with trucks, truck safety