Safety is the top priority for motor carriers. Running a safe operation requires thorough knowledge and understanding of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations.
In addition to educating drivers on these regulations, there are specific company fleet safety policies and procedures that must be reviewed. This includes the completion of vehicle inspection paperwork to insure that both the fleet and drivers are in compliance with all FMCSA regulations, as well as ongoing driver training on how to operate the vehicles and any added safety equipment or technology in the proper manner.
Ultimately, though, equipment may be having the most profound impact on driver safety, as newer fleets equipped with the latest technologies are experiencing a dramatic reduction in highway violations and accidents.
CSA
In 2010, FMCSA launched CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability), establishing a nationwide system for motor carrier road safety – directed at both the vehicle operator and the general public – that incorporated a new measurement system for monitoring and scoring motor carriers.
The goal of the CSA program is to target safety threats of both motor carriers and their drivers to reduce CMV (commercial motor vehicle) crashes and fatalities. The success of the program is dependent on the motor carriers, drivers, FMCSA, law enforcement partners and other stakeholders, including the insurance industry. The equipment manufacturers are actively involved in improving highway safety and continuously improving vehicle safety additions in the design and engineering of new equipment.
Impact of New Equipment
Here are five ways new equipment is having a significant impact on improving safety for drivers and fleets:
1. Better safety features. Manufacturers are equipping vehicles with state-of-the-art safety features, including ABS brakes, air bags, onboard computers, tire pressure monitoring, collision avoidance, roll stability, inside/outside camera technology and lane-departure warning systems.
Realizing the dramatic public safety benefits of incorporating newer fleet and equipment technology, a number of motor carriers are sparing no expense and are including these features in their new equipment specifications.
2. Increased driver recruitment. Fleets are saving time and money on driver recruiting and training as drivers opt to sign with fleets that have newer model equipment. Newer trucks equipped with upgraded safety features help reduce the chances of accidents and CSA violations, resulting in better CSA scores.
This is in contrast to operating old equipment that does not have the new safety technology, requires constant repair and maintenance and typically does not look as good as the new equipment.
3. Enhanced driver behavior. Drivers tend to take better care of vehicles that are newer, including those that have newer components, features and technology. They take pride in operating this newer equipment, as they know that it’s equipped with safety technology that will help them avoid accidents.
With older vehicles, drivers have a perception that they could receive more violations as a result of higher crash activity or inspection violations due to driving older vehicles that don’t have the new features and safety technology.
4. Lower cost of acquisition. Some fleets may be hesitant to replace older vehicles with newer units with enhanced safety features, primarily because of equipment acquisition costs. However, fleets need to keep in mind that the newer equipment will result in fewer safety violations and accidents, lowering the overall operational costs, not to mention the added savings in better mpg and reduced emissions.
5. Better corporate reputation. Fleets with lower incident and accident rates enjoy a better overall corporate image. Fewer incidents and a better image can lead to increased client service levels and customer acquisition, since clients prefer to do business with motor carriers that boast better safety records.
Company Culture
It is important that motor carriers foster a culture of safety and compliance within their company by learning and understanding FMCSA regulations; disposing of older, maintenance-intensive equipment; and specifying new equipment with the latest technologies and safety features.
Also essential is training drivers to use the equipment properly and rewarding those with impeccable safety records.
Doing so will improve driver retention and satisfaction, as well as overall highway safety – saving lives, time and money. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Sandy Rosenfeld is the operations manager for Fleet Advantage (www.FleetAdvantage.net), a company involved in truck fleet business analytics, equipment financing and lifecycle cost management. A Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) and an expert on U.S. Department of Transportation regulations and Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) compliance, she has more than 25 years of experience in private fleet management.
