Posts Tagged ‘technology’

Trucking Groups Seek Research on Crashworthiness Standards from NHTSA

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

(information provided by http://www.truckline.com/AdvIssues/Engineering/Documents/ATA%20OOIDA%20ltr%20to%20NHTSA%20June%208%202011.pdf)

In a letter addressed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA(NHTSA)’s David Strickland, David Osiecki (Senior Vice President of the American Trucking Associations-ATA) and Todd Spencer (Executive Vice President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association-OOIDA) addressed the need to conduct research on crashworthiness standards for heavy trucks.

Representing the ATA and OOIDA, Strickland and Spencer asked the NHTSA to research and analyze “how crashworthiness standards for the tractor/truck cabs of commercial motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more could have safety benefits for professional truck drivers,” with a primary focus on safety systems used to prevent “roll over, ejection, fire and frontal impacts.”

The groups are concentrating on trucks with GVWR’s of 26,001 pounds and heavier since the NHTSA has already established ongoing crashworthiness standards for lighter vehicles.

The letter stems from continuous concern over the safety of drivers, with nearly 700 truck driver fatalities each year from 1998 to 2008, Strickland and Spencer note.

The groups believe that driver fatality, however, can be reduced by nearly 23% “if cab structural integrity can be improved sufficiently to prevent crushing in rollover,” which is the leading cause of 63% of injuries in accidents.

According to their letter, the groups suggest the following:

~A larger survival space in the cab

~Greater restraints, including seat belts and airbags

~Stronger doors and windows to prevent ejection along with padded surfaces within the cab

In closing, the groups “believe that improvements in truck occupant safety can be achieved” and so does Road Scholar Transport

Road Scholar Transport

That’s why Road Scholar Transport is installing adaptive cruise control on its tractor trailers which will maintain a pre-defined distance from upcoming vehicles, reducing the truck’s speed when closing in, and thus, preventing a rear-end collision.  Now that’s safety.  Check out more of Road Scholar’s technology and services at www.roadscholar.com.

What do you think of Road Scholar’s decision to invest in adaptive cruise control?

want a safe carrier

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As Technology Continues to Evolve, Road Scholar Stays on Top with Advanced Customer Tools

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Here’s a secret.  There’s a little thing out there and it’s improving every day.  It’s called technology and it’s here to stay.

Jeff Sibio-Dir. Industry Marketing, Transportation & Logistics at Intermec Technologies, in an interview with Big Truck TV, acknowledged the fact that dramatic changes have occurred in the trucking industry over the last 15 to 20 years due to technology.

As Sibio noted, the trucking industry went from “bare most components like location” to “texting back and forth to the driver,” asking questions such as “Where are you?” or “What are you doing?” to tools that deliver a “much higher level of value,” such as voice, data, and imaging tools (http://www.bigtrucktv.com/item.aspx?t_tmw2010int004).

With evolving technology, Sibio explains that questions such as “Can I prove that I delivered the product in the same shape it was given?” and “Can I document all activities?” can now easily be answered “Yes” with Road Scholar Transport’s advanced technology features.ReeferTrak

When shipping with Road Scholar, you will have access to features such as electronic door monitoring, alerting of every door opening/closing, as well as ReeferTrak, which monitors the temperature within a trailer and sends alerts of any changes, all of which are available online for you to view!ShowMe

Road Scholar’s Show Me feature allows you to see exactly where your cargo is at any precise moment, right down to the street level, with a photograph of the truck and location so you can be assured of where your cargo is at all times.

And for those of you on the go, you now haveshow_me_quick_track Road Scholar’s technology available to you at your fingertips!  Road Scholar has just completed our ShowMe Quick Track feature, a new tracking tool that allows you, the customer, to track and trace your freight via your iPhone, Blackberry, Android, or Windows Mobile device.  Just go to http://showme.roadscholar.com/Mquicksearch.asp and type in your tracing number for an updated status.  It’s that easy!

Ship with a company of value by going to www.roadscholar.com today where we stay accountable and you stay informed!

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Don’t Let Winter Conditions Have You in a Wreck

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

The winter weather is upon us with all the more reason to practice the utmost safety while on the road.winter road

Every year, Road Scholar offers the following winter driving tips to its drivers in order to upkeep its safe practices:

-Always conduct a thorough pre-trip inspection.

-Slow down! Even if you have good traction and control it gives you more time to react when another driver loses control.

-Expand your look ahead capacity.

-Increase your following distance substantially.

-Expect the unexpected.

-Use low beam headlights.

-Stop often to clean your windshield, headlights and taillights.

-Maintain an emergency kit, which should include an ice scraper, snow brush, shovel, high energy food, water, gloves, hat, boots, extra clothing and any prescription medications you might need.

-If conditions are too dangerous, find a safe area to park and notify our Operations team of the delay. Do not park along the shoulder except during an emergency. When pavement markings are covered by snow, other drivers might think you are in a lane. If you must park on the shoulder, use your 4 way flashers and place your emergency warning triangles as required by the FMCSR.

With our safety practices, new technology, cautious and experienced drivers, and newer model trucks, your freight is in good hands with Road Scholar.

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ATRI Study Expresses Benefits of Safety Compliance Alternatives

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

A recent study conducted by the ATRI, the research branch of the ATA (American Trucking Associations), found thatRST large fleets could benefit greatly from alternative safety compliances opposed to current ones.

The study analyzed comparative safety performance data using current tools and procedures (such as “compliance reviews (CR), safety audits and roadside inspections”) versus non-traditional, finding that under the current system there was not a great decrease in total fatalities, especially in regards to larger fleets (http://www.atrionline.org/research/results/ATRI_Assessing_the_Benefit_of_Alternative_Compliance_one_page.pdf).

Don’t take it the wrong way, there has been an improvement in the number of accidents with fleets using the current safety system, but researchers found that this number greatly reduces the larger the fleet size becomes, to the point where some of the largest fleets saw zero improvement in regards to incidents.

The ATRI provides an example.  As stated in their research, “between the years 2004 and 2008, carriers with 1-5 power units experienced a sizeable reduction in crash rates following a CR” by an average of 51%. “Carriers with 6-20 and 21-100 power” had reductions of only “32 and 18 percent,” while the larger carriers “with fleet sizes of 251-1,000 and 1,000 or more had crash rate reductions of five percent or less” with many of them receiving more instances of an accident (http://www.atrionline.org/research/results/ATRI_Assessing_the_Benefit_of_Alternative_Compliance_one_page.pdf).  Those larger fleets that are using alternatives, however, are seeing a dramatic decrease in the number of accidents/injuries

With evidence to back them up, the ATRI is encouraging that alternative safety compliances be integrated or replace current ones, especially for larger fleets.  These alternatives include:  “the Employer Notification System (ENS), electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs), fatigue management programs (FMP), commercial driver drug and alcohol testing using hair, simulator-based training, speed limiters/governors, forward collision warning systems (FCWS), lane departure warning systems (LDWS), roll stability control systems (RSCS) and tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).”

Learn about the technology Road Scholar Transport has incorporated on its trucks and measures we take to ensure safety on the road by visiting www.roadscholar.com.

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Were You Among Those Hit Hard By Cargo Theft?

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

If so, then you’re not alone.cargo theft

According to FreightWatch International’s reports, the number of cargo thefts reported last year rose to record highs.

Exactly how high you ask?  Try around 75 theft cases a month!  The good news is that not one of Road Scholar Transport’s customers had to worry about their cargo being stolen.

Road Scholar is always striving to advance its technological presence and provides extensive security features on all tractor trailers such as TS4A air brake lock (preventing the theft of a truck when left unattended), satellite tracking, locks and seals, and constant monitoring/surveillance of your cargo at all times.

According to etrucker.com, last year’s cargo thefts were the highest recorded, rising 4.1 percent, with the food and beverage industry being affected the most, accounting for an average $125,000 loss in each theft case, and electronics ranking second.

You can receive a copy of FreightWatch’s report by e-mailing burges@freightwatchintl.com.

Don’t wait until it is too late.  Visit www.roadscholar.com and put your freight on a secure tractor trailer.

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