Autumn Safety for Commercial Drivers

Autumn Safety for Commercial Drivers

Leaves on the Road

While the fall foliage is breathtaking enough to bring tourists out in droves, they're sure to be a pain once they hit the pavement. Especially after it rains, they can stick to the pavement and cause slippery conditions. The leaves may not be the only thing on the road, either - they can hide other more dangerous debris as well. If you see leaf patches on the road, slow down and avoid sudden breaking or swerving, since the leaves can cause hydroplaning or force your swerve into a spin. After safely navigating the area, be sure to call highway patrol or local authorities to alert them to the leaf debris so they can address potential hazards.

Shorter Days - Longer Nights

The sun is already setting earlier each day. Less daylight means more travelling in the dark. Most drivers know that nighttime driving is inherently more dangerous, so remember your nighttime driving tips. Make sure all of your lights are operational before every trip, and that your headlights are in good condition. Increase your following distance - distance judgments are more difficult at night for both you and other drivers on the road. Check your mirrors frequently and be sure to keep them and your windshield and other glass clean.

Harvest Time

Fall is harvest season, and across the United States farmers will be gearing up for the annual harvest. In some states this process has already begun - with more tractors, combines, and trucks on the road. Tractors in particular more extremely slowly - other drivers should be aware of their presence and only pass when no other traffic is present. It can be a pain to be stuck behind a slow moving tractor while waiting for a chance to pass, but risking an accident is not worth it.

Winter is Just Around the Corner

It may not feel like it, but in a few weeks most of the United States will start feeling the chill of winter. While the holidays might still seem far off now, it is best to start preparing for weather before it gets here. You never know when you'll get an early frost or snowfall. Truckers should be prepared for icy conditions in addition to slick leaves and other dangers. Also be sure to check your maintenance schedule and make sure your truck is good to go.

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ELD Data Collection May Help Truckers Avoid Roadside Inspections

Data Collected May Help the Trucking Industry in Other Ways

Mention ELDs in any freight yard or truck stop and you are bound to hear to a wide array of opinions from those that praise them to those whose language is best left out of print. The fact is that they are with us to stay and thanks to some of the data mining experts at 'Keep Truckin', you might find they are a more valuable asset than you would have ever believed.No one in the trucking industry, carrier or driver, benefits from time spent going through roadside inspections, especially, a time-consuming Level 1 inspections.

'Keep Truckin' has discovered that by carefully studying information collected by their units that the risk of being subjected to this nuisance can be greatly reduced.

The company began by focusing on four key areas:

• Inspections by cargo types
• How violations vary from state to state
• Most common types of violatons
• Time period of inspections

Inspection by Cargo Types

Shoaib Makani, CEO and founder of 'Keep Truckin' explained: "Nobody actually notices it, but the fact is that certain cargo types do get a lot more Level-1 inspections. There can be many factors at play, but we analyzed all data from 2016, and a few categories kept coming on top. We hope fleets can use this information to maintain smoother operations and prepare their vehicles for Level-1 inspections." 

Carriers Most Likely to be Inspected in Descending Order are:

1. Driveaway-Towaway operations
2. Fresh produce
3. Chemicals
4. Household goods
5. General freight

The least likely to be inspected are those carrying coal, coke, or livestock.

How Violatons Vary State to State

While the regulations contained in the Safety Measurement System (SMS) are supposed to be uniformly used in the calculation of BASIC scores. Research by the American Transportation Institute has determined otherwise and this finding is supported by the ELD data.

Makani noted - "Violations are a big problem for fleets and CMV drivers. With our data, we found that different states may have varying degrees of strictness. And, if you are operating in states like Connecticut, Idaho, and Louisiana, you need to be more vigilant. Having proper tracking systems and electronic logs in place can help fleets and drivers prevent violations."

Most Common Types of Violations

Noting the above, it should not be a surprise that the most commonly cited violations also vary from state to state. But it was discovered that overall the most commonly occurring violations were:

1. All mandatory lamps should be capable of being operated at all times (704,167 violations).
2. Parts and accessories must be in safe and proper operating condition at all times (293,118 violations).
3. Every commercial motor vehicle must be operated in accordance with the laws, ordinances, and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is being operated (190,337 violations).
4. The motor vehicle should be free of oil and grease leaks (189,981 violations).
5. The pushrod stroke must not be greater than the values specified (181,320 violations).

Time Period of Inspections

Perhaps the most valuable bit of information that can be discovered from studying ELD reports is that depending on your location the majority of inspections seem to occur during set time periods.

As examples, 'Keep Truckin' offered this breakdown from the State of Kansas. In Johnson County, 78.6% of inspections occur between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. However, in Belleville, KS, 80% of inspections take place between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. In Sedgwick County, 53% of inspections are between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. 

Being aware of what inspectors are most focused on for a given location and the times that your rigs are most likely to be inspected can be invaluable in maintaining a positive safety score. After all the easiest check to pass is the one you never drive into.

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