Modern Technology for Truck Safety
The transportation industry has been vital to the U.S. economy since the Industrial Revolution. Since then, the technology in trucks has improved immensely, from simple two-cylinder engines to the advanced Electronic Logging Devices equipped with satellite tracking and real-time messaging capabilities. We’ve come a long way!
While technology has improved to handle everyday tasks, it’s also evolved to ensure the safety of drivers, and others on the road as well. An estimated 500,000 vehicle accidents occur each year in the U.S. involving a semi-truck. These accidents can occur on all roads and in all weather conditions, so finding ways to prevent these collisions is vital. The FMCSA has pushed that these rates can be easily decreased by implementing certain modern technologies that all companies should consider investing in.
Driver-Facing and Road-Facing Cameras
Many trucks these days are equipped with a dashcam, alongside a driver-facing cam, to ensure that any safety-related incidents are captured and documented. Generally, these cameras remain off until a significant amount of force is applied to the truck that triggers it to start recording footage. Capturing these events is beneficial for coaching and crucial to ensure that the driver is doing all they can to mitigate the event and help prove the driver’s innocence in the event of major accidents. We’ve even had a driver catch a criminal using these cameras (you can read his story here)!
Forward Collision Warning and Mitigation
Collision Warning and Mitigation systems are on the rise with the use of LiDAR technology and help with driver inattention by alerting drivers if they are driving too close to other vehicles, or if there is an object in the road that they need to avoid. If a driver is not paying enough attention to the road, this could be the difference that prevents a safety accident.
Electronic Stability Control
Similar to a driver alert system, ESC is a tool for detecting vehicle defects that could increase the risk of road accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) required that these systems be implemented in all passenger vehicles starting in 2012, and since they have continued to improve.
Truck Safety Technology at Melton Truck Lines
Melton Truck Lines embraces these systems and is always on the lookout for ways to improve our safety- not only to protect the other travelers on the road, but to ensure our drivers are safe as well. All our trucks are well maintained, and come with the latest driver comfort and safety features such as:
- Bendix Wingman Fusion system
- Collision Mitigation system
- Lane departure warning
- Blind spot monitoring
- Adaptive cruise control
Embracing the fast-changing technology and implementing the right ones ensures you are upholding your commitment to safe and reliable freight, and keeping the road safe for everyone. Read more about Melton’s equipment here!
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About the Author: Melton Truck Lines
Since 1954, Melton Truck Lines has set out to provide quality transportation services to customers, all while treating our drivers like family. Over 70 years later, Melton remains a leader in flatbed transportation.
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