Truck driving can be a dangerous task. Nearly 13 percent of all traffic accidents come from heavy trucks. What’s more, COVID-19 has added a lot of challenges to the trucking industry. Whether you’re a fleet operator or a truck driver, things are different than they used to be.
Fortunately, new safety technology is helping fleet operators and truck drivers become safer than ever. Keep reading to see the best new technologies that are helping fleet operators and truck drivers stay safe while on-route and beyond.
Video Technology
Video Intelligence systems – that provide a 360-degree view around a truck, including a camera incorporated in the truck’s spot mirror and trailer backup cameras that live streams in-cab video – and an effective way to protect truckers while avoiding safety-related incidents on the road.
Companies that have incorporated these technologies have seen overwhelmingly positive effects on their bottom line, their employees, and those with whom they share the road. Video intelligence has also become an invaluable training tool for hundreds of fleets across the country by allowing fleet owners to focus on behaviors in need of revision, making the fleet safer and more effective with every new training prospect.
Telematics
For truck drivers, feeling connected while on-route is a critical part of getting to their destination safely. Mobile technology is helping today’s drivers stay connected when it matters the most -from software installed on trucker’s mobile devices to help them stay connected with the rest of the fleet to electronic logging devices, and a social media community dedicated to keeping female drivers in touch while out on the road.
Some telematics developers are offering video-based in-cab monitoring systems with cameras and other sensors incorporated to monitor driver’s performance and help small business owners provide feedback. This telematics can also help fleets provide genuine proof against all types of claims. Fleets are required by law to possess a wide range of insurance policies in order to operate.
Whether it’s liability damage or bobtail insurance, video evidence provided through telematics allows drivers to avoid expensive costs associated with lawsuit claims. What is bobtail insurance, you may ask? Well, similar to driver insurance, bobtail insurance serves as financial relief from accident-related costs, and it’s only available for commercial truckers who don’t operate under someone else’s trucking authority.
As the trucking industry continues to grow, it’s more important than ever to prioritize safety. Thankfully, technology is helping owner operators keep themselves and other drivers safer on the road. From real-time traffic updates to collision avoidance systems, these tools are making a huge difference in the industry. For example, some trucks come equipped with cameras that allow drivers to see their blind spots and monitor the road around them. With these advancements, owner operators can hit the road with confidence, knowing that they have the tools they need to stay safe.
Collision Mitigation
It’s no news that driving is a dangerous job. Everyone makes mistakes, and accidents happen. However, when a collision involves a truck trailer, it has all the chances to be more serious. Collision mitigation technology, like lane assistance or automatic emergency braking, may help to prevent some of these accidents from happening by taking emergency measures for the driver when needed. Collision mitigation software has all the potential to be even better and may lead to even safer roadways.
More advanced technology in the trucking industry means more safety potential for the trucking industry. It’s also a good reminder that staying safe on the road is important, especially for the industry’s rookies.
