Features and maintenance for automatic steering systems

In this story, you'll learn about:

Some of the current advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that include steering assist options
Considerations to make before investing in steering-assist technology
Some of the current regulatory movements regarding this technology

Advanced fleet steering systems are increasingly part of modern heavy-duty trucks, increasing driver safety, vehicle response time, and stability. However, as a decision-maker, you must view these components as part of more extensive efforts to meet goals and expectations, including appropriate maintenance and ongoing operator training.

As vehicle manufacturers have hired design teams and engineers to create amenities customers want, they have gradually released a broader assortment of steering system components and features. Some aid drivers by keeping vehicles in the proper lane, applying the brakes, or automatically moving the steering wheel to make necessary corrections, such as Detroit Assurance’s optional Active Lane Assist feature or the Bendix Wingman Fusion’s Lane Keep Assist. Others are evasive steering systems, which typically activate once it becomes evident that the vehicle is about to hit an obstacle and that the driver cannot react quickly enough to avoid it.

Those possibilities are primarily safety-based, but other solutions also make trucks more enjoyable to drive. One active steering feature guides drivers back into their lanes if they try to move into an already occupied space in an adjacent one or, in the case of PlusDrive, can make automated lane changes at the driver’s request. Additionally, the Wingman Fusion’s active steering system allows people to operate vehicles with less steering force. That outcome should reduce driver fatigue, elevating safety, satisfaction rates, and other metrics.

If steering system upgrades interest you, think about how these technologies align with your fleet’s top goals. Additionally, consider whether you will install the chosen products in all vehicles or do a phased rollout to verify usefulness. Driver feedback can also inform decisions about which features to prioritize for maximum impact.

Adapt maintenance programs for fleet steering systems

Statistics from the United States indicate that 40% of workplace fatalities happen because of transportation incidents. Even though high-tech steering products can reduce them, managers must remember that maintaining trucks is just as important as equipping them with the latest safety offerings.

This makes fleet operating costs and maintenance are necessary considerations while weighing whether to begin using these steering-assistance products. Though the overall expenses associated with running vehicles may decrease over time due to these systems’ ability to help mitigate collisions in increase efficiency, that is most likely to happen if you also maintain these components correctly, which can see technicians dealing with camera issues, sensor cleaning, and calibration checks.

Operators are often the first to detect vehicle steering system problems. They may notice resistance or another unusual feeling while interacting with it. Emphasize that your drivers are essential to your maintenance program because they can report issues before technicians discover them. Ensure each driver is well-versed and thorough during their pre- and post-trip inspections and give them convenient ways to indicate potential problems.

Familiarizing yourself with manufacturer-specific steps and recommendations is also vital for getting specifics about the suspension and steering relationship for particular truck models or learning when maintenance processes should occur based on distances or driving conditions.

Relevant regulations and proposals

While considering what systems may be right for your fleet, it also pays to keep in mind new regulatory structures for this developing technology. Many authorities have discussed how driver assistance systems and similar technologies should function for maximum safety. In the United States, a January 2025 proposal from the Department of Transportation concerns a voluntary framework to evaluate and oversee vehicles with automated driving systems.

Part of this initiative discusses dynamic driving tasks, including steering assistants. It suggests that as part of the review, industry participants — including fleet operators and driving technology engineers — would submit periodic reports, including documentation triggered by specific events, such as accidents. A particularly relevant mention was that investigations of crashes involving vehicles with automated driving systems must assess whether such technologies were active during the 30 seconds before the issue through the end of the event.

An applicable standard applied in the United Kingdom and Europe centers on a 10-second vehicle response time frame for automated lane-keeping systems. More specifically, drivers have 10 seconds to retake vehicle control once these steering technologies activate to prevent accidents. Failing to react by then usually escalates the automated response. However, a 2025 report from the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport, “Regaining Situational Awareness as a User in Charge: Responding to Transition Demands in Automated Vehicles,” revealed that the 10-second window may be overly broad based on how people respond to specific distractions.

Additionally, researchers studied vehicle operator response simulators to real-life driving conditions and various potential attention-shifting activities. Many people took longer than 10 seconds to react after the technologies took over. Remaining aware of developments on the regulatory and research fronts worldwide will help fleet managers respond appropriately to progress in the United States, whether submitting feedback during public comment periods or adding their names to industry statements.

Though this overview provides general guidance for implementing and maximizing the benefits of fleet steering systems, you will enjoy the best outcomes by customizing your efforts to align with your specific vehicles and the number of drivers operating them. Choosing and tracking goal-oriented metrics related to your steering-tech rollout will also improve the chances of meaningful results.