driver safety

New Data Show Fatality Rates Rising on Roads, Even With Less Traffic

September 26, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Earlier in the pandemic, we reported on findings that showed road safety had not improved, even though traffic was incredibly light during the nation’s stay-at-home mandates.

A recent study says not only are roadways not safer–they are deadly.

The National Safety Council has released preliminary data explaining that motor vehicle death rates jumped throughout May, regardless of shelter-in-home orders. Estimates show that when compared to 2019, data show a 23.5% rise in fatality rate per miles driven.

The group, which works to bring an end to the main causes of preventable death and injury, released this information during a roadway safety webinar in mid-July. It explained that per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in May, the mileage death rate was 1.47, up from 1.19 the same month in the year prior. Still, although fatality rates rose, there was a 25.5% drop in total miles driven throughout May 2020 compared to May of 2019.

“Unfortunately, the pandemic has exposed our road safety culture for what it is,” said President and CEO of NSC, Lorraine Martin. “We did not reap the safety benefits we should have experienced.”

The riskier roads at hand are now threatening to undo the traffic safety improvements made over the last few years. With three consecutive years of growing fatalities rates between 2015 and 2017, the United States had seen a gradual decline in overall traffic deaths. Now, more people are resuming their commutes to work, and traffic accidents are now the leading cause of workplace deaths.

May 2020 is the third month in a row that drivers were much more likely to die in a vehicle crash, according to NSC’s estimates. Throughout March and April, motor vehicle death rates per miles drive rose as compared to rates from the same time period in 2019. According to data, there was a 36.6% increase in death rates per miles driven in April, which also saw a mileage death rate of 1.47 per 100 million miles driven. This is up from 1.08 in 2019, although the number of miles driven decreased by 40% from April of 2019.

In March, during the beginning of the pandemic, data showed that there was a 14% increase in fatality rate per miles driven, with a mileage death rate of 1.22 per 100 million vehicle miles driven (up from 1.07 in March of the year before). This occurred even though the number of miles driven decreased by 18.6% from the same time frame in 2019.

NSC has collaborated with its SAFER task force to develop recommendations and guidance to help employers during this time, with information on safer routes and enhanced transportation safety while on the job. This resource details the reasons why employers should focus on roadway safety for their workers both during the pandemic and after.

“As motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of workplace fatalities, transportation safety should be integral to every organization,” said Martin. “An employer’s reopening strategy is an opportunity to emphasize and reiterate the need for safe streets, as well as safe workplace transportation. Employers can make a real difference in improving safety on our roadways, helping to protect their employees, as well as other road users.”

Martin explains that although reasoning behind these high death rates may still be confusing right now, she believes that the clearer roads have persuaded many drivers to operate their vehicles with less care. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration associate administrator for research and program development, Nanda Srinivasan, said that drivers are often tempted to speed on an empty road. Additionally, many drivers may participate in impaired driving or refrain from using a seat belt.

“It’s clear that our open roads have created somewhat of an open season for reckless driving,” Martin said.

During the first five months of 2020, six U.S. states saw notable jumps in roadway fatalities–New Hampshire had a 64% increase, Connecticut 39%, Louisiana 15%, Missouri 12%, Arkansas 10%, and North Carolina 6%.

According to Srinivasan, drivers need to always keep in mind these safety fundamentals: buckle up, don’t speed, and drive sober.

Executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, Jonathan Adkins, also explained that a majority of crashes have some kind of behavioral factor involved, like drinking or speeding.

“The number one concern from Governors Highway Safety offices is five letters: speed,” he reiterated.

Adkins also noted that “traffic-calming infrastructure” would help the issue, which is a method of improving roadways’ physical layouts. There are specific designs that can improve overall road safety, and Adkins cited one example in which some recently-shut-down streets in Charleston have given easier access and higher safety levels to pedestrians and bicyclists.

“Traffic-calming infrastructure is fantastic,” he said. “We’re seeing this across the country, and it’s really encouraging.”

A great safety-centered resource for organizations, employers, and independent drivers to join is NSC’s Road to Zero Coalition, a group of 1,500 members working to end all roadway deaths by 2050.

Daimler and Navistar Both Issue Safety Recalls

September 22, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Daimler Trucks North America is currently recalling around 183,000 Freightliner Cascadia tractors from the model years between 2017 and 2021 throughout the United States and Canada.

This recall comes after findings of antilock brake component corrosion that causes the truck to pull to one side, which could result in uneven braking on the front axle, a sudden change in vehicle direction, and a potential crash.

The truck-maker said this brake modulator valve, which is supplied by Wabco USA, could often have chemical corrosion which would slow release timing. Because of this, DTNA recently notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of its intent to recall 164,317 of its best-selling models in America and 18,664 in Canada.

“Typically, the dealer is reimbursed [for replacing the component] and maintains the paper trail necessary for regulatory compliance,” said American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council technical director, Jack Legler.

In 2019, NHTSA administered 900 safety recalls that affected more than 39 million vehicles. As truck manufacturers more closely adhere to agency guidelines and focus on the agency’s efforts in safety improvements, more voluntary safety recalls occur.

This current recall is expected to begin on August 30th. Initial safety recall reports were released on July 2nd, with the NHTSA recall number listed as 20V-390 and Transport Canada’s as 2020305.

“A slow release of the brake on one side during an active brake request (automatic braking event) could lead to a brake pull resulting in a sudden change in vehicle direction due to uneven braking on the front axle, increasing the risk of a motor vehicle crash,” said DTNA.

The company also cited automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, and electronic stability control as aspects of the truck that could be affected by the defect. Dealers will be able to perform free repairs for owners of the affected models, and repairs will take place at DTNA-authorized service facilities.

Still, DTNA says this recall comes from “an abundance of caution” after eight different failure claims in the field since May of 2019. Additionally valves have been under review since early July, and DTNA said the issue “appeared to be” systemic.

These trucks were produced from March 9th, 2016 to June 25th, 2020, and DTNA first learned of the issue in May of 2019. Since then, it has been working with Wabco to find the cause–which was settled on being inlet solenoid blockage caused by magnesium chloride corrosion deforming the O-ring. After analysis of 34 valves, the companies found failed valves on the right side.

No crashes or injuries have been reported due to the defect, and DTNA estimates that only 1% of vehicles included in the recall will have any effects from the issue.

Additionally, Navistar initiated a safety recall on July 8th regarding worries that the engine-connecting rod’s wrist pin bushing could fail in some International LT trucks from between 2018 and 2020 and in some International RH trucks with A26 engines.

On September 13th of last year, Navistar was alerted of a report on some issues in the field with fleets noticing five different A26 engine-connecting rod failures over the course of two months. During an internal investigation, connecting rod failure was found to potentially lead to engine shutdown and dangerous crashes. Navistar reported to NHTSA that the number of possible affected trucks is 4,499.

“[The repair involves] programming the ECM [engine control model],” said Navistar. “This new engine calibration will provide an electronic detection system that will alert the driver if the engine is starting to have a connecting rod failure. The driver will be alerted by the illumination of the red stop lamp in the cluster and a fault code will be displayed.”

Navistar’s vice president of product marketing, Steve Gilligan, says that solving this issue as efficiently as possible is the company’s priority.

“For the fleets, they just want to avoid having the downtime,” he explained. “So, they want to know when we pull them off the road, especially if it is not a mission-disabling failure, that they will get in and out really quick.”

The recall began in early July and remedies are still in development. Navistar’s recall number for this issue is 20504.

Driver Stress Reaches Peak in Midst of Pandemic

August 30, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

As truck drivers continue working on the country’s front lines during the response to this pandemic, many are regularly–and stressfully–heading straight into areas heavily impacted by the virus.

In order to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 while delivering food, household items, and essential supplies, drivers have had to up their sanitation game and find ways to social distance while on the job. Truckers have had to wear personal protective equipment and clean the inside of their cabs regularly, even though hand sanitizer, masks, and gloves have often been hard to come by.

Because of this, fleets have had to find creative (but still effective) ways to stay healthy and germ-free. However, many drivers have expressed their feelings of vulnerability when they haven’t been able to easily find the items they need during this time.

“I feel like I’m running through a fire with gasoline britches on,” said owner-operator Ingrid Brown, who has been delivering food throughout New York and has had trouble getting necessary personal protective gear. “When I get back in my truck, I can’t wipe the steering wheel down. I have no masks, no gloves, no Clorox wipes, nothing.”

Director of operations at Grand Island Express, Deen Albert, said the lack of cleaning supplies his company has had on hand have brought unprecedented challenges. For example, Green Island has had its office staff work together to repurpose extra T-shirts from the company’s storage room in order to make masks, and has sourced cleaning products from a restaurant supplier.

“It is forcing us to think outside of the box,” Albert said.

While fleets are finding loophole methods to keeping drivers as safe as possible, trucker stress levels have reached exceptionally high levels–not just due to obstacles in obtaining PPE and sanitization products, but in regards to mental health, as well.

“At one hospital, I have to park at the dock and then walk into the front of the building to have my temperature checked before they will accept the delivery,” said Averitt Express city driver, Robert Carrillo. “I then have to walk back around the building to the dock to unload the trailer.”

The Chicago driver said making these deliveries to hospitals is nerve-wracking, although he always keeps his cab sanitized and wears a mask.

Truckers have also been extraordinarily isolated, as social distancing regulations have limited in-person contact among shippers, truck stop workers, customers and drivers.

“I don’t get to talk to my customers anymore,” Carrillo explained. “It’s hard. To cope with it, I talk to other drivers. We are our support system.” St. Louis Averitt Express over-the-road driver Sean Linton agreed, saying although isolation was prevalent in the industry pre-pandemic, it has gotten much worse.

“We think twice now before striking up a conversation with a person, which keeps us less social,” Linton said. “I try to stay in contact with my close friends and family more now just to hear a friendly voice on the phone.”

Typically, truck drivers will socialize with other industry workers at restaurants or driver lounges, but “that has been taken away,” said Cargo Transporters driver Rebekah Koon.

Charlotte, North Carolina Averitt over-the-road driver Chris Yohn echoed her sentiments.

“I miss being able to give handshakes to my fellow coworkers. I miss being able to have a meal at a truck stop surrounded by other drivers,” Yohn lamented. “There is no real way to combat the isolation. It’s just something we have to live with for now.”

Albert said Grand Island has brought regular face-to-face interaction to virtual town hall conferences that truckers can call into as a way to increase communication throughout the company.

“I do those once a week at several different times to try to accommodate everybody’s schedule,” said Albert. He also explained that he wants to address any concerns at hand and keep drivers informed on new developments.

This is extremely important, Albert said, because “driver stress is at an all-time high. They have a lot to worry about on the road.”

Additionally, many companies recognize that drivers need to feel comfortable with their routes and the manner of deliveries they have to make.

“If a driver feels unsafe to drive right now, we don’t compel them to work,” said senior vice president at Quality Transport Co., Amanda Schuier.

There are even truckers who often decide to work for longer periods at a time in order to keep loved ones safe and boost their ability to social-distance.

Cargo Transporters’ Koon said that she has immunocompromised family members, so she has decided to stay on the road until the pandemic clears substantially. Luckily, she has a bigger-than-usual cab, which makes life on the road a bit easier.

“When you’re in isolation as a trucker, that 10 feet or 7.5 feet is everything,” she said.

Driver Shortage Ends as Recession Hits, But is Likely to Return

August 8, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Earlier in the pandemic, many were worried about the continuation of America’s truck driver shortage, especially as the health crisis drove up the demand for essential product delivery significantly. As expected, the United States initially saw an impact on timely product shipments to fulfillment centers and for last-mile deliveries.

As recently as April, shoppers were in a “necessity mindset” in regards to food, drink, and tobacco products, which showed an 85 percent year-over-year increase. The number of total online orders was up by 21% percent. Sporting goods was up 86 percent, toys and games–60 percent.

Industry experts were saying last-mile delivery was hit hard by non-licensed industry entrants, as well as older drivers who feared contracting COVID-19 on the job. As big-rig driving requires a CDL, the lack of trained drivers available to hit the roads was hurting the extremely necessary replenishment of fulfillment centers as demand continued to rise.

But now, with a sharp decline in the health of the American economy, the highly-scrutinized truck driver shortage is over–for the time being. With the country’s recession well under way, the amount of freight needing to be hauled within multiple trucking sectors has heavily decreased.

Before the coronavirus was at the forefront of everyone’s minds, the American Trucking Associations claimed the trucking industry was about 60,000 drivers short due to retirements out-pacing the entrance of sufficient new drivers into the industry.

While these statistics still hold true, the country’s current economic climate has brought an even larger impact to the trucking industry as a whole.

“The fundamentals of why we had a driver shortage did not go away,” said Bob Costello, Chief Economist for ATA. “Demographic issues, age, gender, lifestyle issues [remain]. But, for the moment, what has changed is [that] the demand side of the equation has fallen significantly.”

Although some areas of trucking, such as grocery store restocking and medical supply delivery, have continued going strong, others have not. Flatbed and tanker operators have struggled with a large drop in overall demand.

According to a recent DAT Truckload Volume Index, refrigerated, dry van, and flatbed loads hauled by truckload carriers dropped 19% in March and 8% in April on a year-over-year basis.

One major issue that was originally of major concern was the closing of State Driver licensing Agencies. With the supply chain relying on new commercial truck drivers, and the trucking industry “accountable for moving 71 percent of all freight across the country,” these closures were detrimental at the beginning of the pandemic, said the CVTA.

These shut-downs left “many future drivers unable to obtain commercial learner’s permits and commercial driver’s licenses,” said CVTA president, Don Lefeve. “Abruptly halting the process of getting 25,000 to 40,000 new truck drivers trained, licensed, and on the road impacts a number of significant industries and the nation’s supply chain.”

Although the current need for new truckers has declined, there is still the obstacle of major changes in training for those who are entering the industry, Lefeve explained.

“You can’t have that many people in the truck anymore,” he said of social distancing guidelines in regards to training instruction. “We will not be able to ramp back up to full capacity because we have to train under the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, social distancing, [and] wearing masks, which limits the number of students you can have truck at a time. It’s going to be a slow, hard, slog.”

Lefeve believes the number of industry-entrant drivers obtaining their CDLs will drop by 40% in 2020.

Luckily, training has been impacted by new technology, such as simulated driving systems, becoming mainstream in the process. “It’s an option that more and more schools are looking toward,” Lefeve explained. “There’s no substitute for getting behind the wheel and getting comfortable in the cab, but simulators are a fantastic way to aid in training.”

In regards to those who are attempting to find work as a truck driver, those who are motivated and experienced–and who have solid safety records–will have a much better chance at finding work, said DriverReach CEO, Jeremy Reymer.

“Any of the truck drivers that are unemployed, let go, furloughed…they’re going to find employment. There is employment out there,” he said. “But, I think companies are more selective now. If you’ve got a good safety record and a good attitude, you’ll be fine.”

Although the demand for drivers is currently lower than usual, Costello says the shortage will return as soon as the economy starts healing.

“When the economy gets back, I fully expect the driver shortage to come back, maybe even worse than before,” he said. “We don’t know how many people will take this opportunity for people to leave the industry.”

New Online Safety Training Released for Fleets

August 6, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

ClearDrive online training programs will now be available for commercial drivers, Instructional Technologies Inc. announced.

Instructional Technologies provides an array of training solutions across the transportation industry, and said its ClearDrive programs will be accessible for delivery van, work truck, and commercial sedan drivers. The defensive driving courses available on the system are meant to aid in safety improvements for delivery, mobile sales, vocational, and service fleet operations.

There are many courses which cover the safety issues drivers will most often have to face along urban and residential routes. These challenges include: common distractions, planning, fatigue, hazards, stops, space management, parking, speed control, loading, unloading, and customer interaction and communication, said ITI.

“Whether driving is the job, or driving gets your employees to the job, good defensive driving habits are essential for preventing crashes and injuries, and limiting a company’s liability,” said CEO and founder of ITI, Jim Voorhees. “According to the 2019 Travelers Risk Index, one in four businesses have had an employee get in a distraction-related crash while driving for work. ClearDrive can cost-effectively deliver the training your mobile workforce needs to reduce that risk and improve safety for your employees and other motorists.”

All courses utilize ITI’s unique advanced learning management system, which is backed by the company’s quarter of a century in training truckers. The program is based on master-level learning principles that require drivers to score 100% at each step of the course before moving on to the next section.

“With the increase in deliveries to homes and businesses during the coronavirus shutdown, risk mitigation is even more important for delivery and light-duty vehicle fleets,” Vorhees explained.

ClearDrive, while focusing on hazards that are often associated with driving operations in which drivers move in and out of vehicles frequently, also offers short and simple courses. ITI says its programs use easy-to-understand presentation methods that are logical and progressive, along with fast-moving narration, so that drivers can learn about important safety techniques quickly and efficiently.

Instructional Technologies, Inc. also has course add-ons that aim to help drivers prevent injuries on the job, with programs like OSHA and warehouse courses. Additionally, companies can implement methods offered by ClearDrive to create custom-made courses tailored to a specific company’s standards and needs. A transportation company can work with ITI’s production team to make a unique course program just for its employees.

Voorhees explained that these courses are especially important to fit into a company’s new business practices with all the changes brought on by COVID-19. “A ClearDrive professional defensive driving course is the first step toward keeping drivers on the front lines, and others, safe.”

A particular innovative system offered by ClearDrive uses ITI’s Sentix Pro, a learning management system with seat-based pricing. ITI says Sentix can simplify the on-boarding process for new and beginning drivers as well as manage training outlines, and that it gives automatic assignment tools for training based on telematics and hiring dates.

Users can track progress and course competitions in Sentix, as well as schedule courses for any specific group in ongoing training. The learning management system implements HR systems into its programs.

ITI is currently offering free training regarding operating during this time of pandemic. The course is called “COVID 19: What Delivery Drivers Need to Know,” and helps delivery drivers better understand the effects that the coronavirus will have on their work and on the industry as a whole, as well as how it can affect their safety on the job. The course trains these drivers by using step-by-step directions on how best to keep themselves and others safe while they continue delivering essential goods in the wake of the virus.

“[While] hauling critical supplies across North America every day, professional truck drivers are on the front lines of the global COVID-19 pandemic,” said Voorhees. “This information will help stem the spread of the virus and keep drivers safe during this critical time.”

The online course also offers up-to-date information straight from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding coronavirus systems, how the disease is spread, and what to do if you get sick. Some of the driver-specific topics it covers include: how and when to clean or avoid frequently-touched areas both inside and outside the vehicle, what important regulatory changes are in place at this time (such as Hours-of-Service rule changes and CDL expiration guidelines), operational concerns (such as shipper closures), ways to avoid distracted driving, how to manage stress in a difficult situation, and lifestyle changes (like reducing person-to-person contact in break rooms, driver lounges, and at vending machines).

Operation Safe Driver Week Will Happen as Planned, CVSA Says

June 23, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

This month, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced that its 2020 Operation Safe Driver Week would take place as scheduled–from July 12th to July 18th.

The CVSA did in fact postpone the International Roadcheck Inspection Campaign indefinitely, which was scheduled to occur from May 5th to May 7th, due to COVID-19 challenges, but said it has no plans to reschedule other safety enforcement efforts happening during the summer of 2020.

Additionally, Brake Safety Week is scheduled to go on as planned from August 23rd to the 29th.

During the weeklong initiative in July, law enforcement across the country will be on the lookout for any drivers operating vehicles in unsafe manners. 2020’s Safe Driver Week will have a focus on speeding, but any drivers showing unsafe driving will be pulled over by law enforcement personnel and potentially given a citation.

CVSA explained that speeding has become a much more prominent issue on the nation’s roadways over the past few months because roads have been so much clearer due to stay-at-home orders in place in response to COVID-19.

“It’s essential that this enforcement initiative, which focuses on identifying and deterring unsafe driving behaviors, such as speed, [goes] on as scheduled,” said Delaware State Police’s Sgt. John Samis, who is also president of CVSA. “As passenger vehicle drivers are limiting their travel to necessary trips and many commercial motor vehicle drivers are busy transporting vital goods to stores, it’s more important than ever to monitor our roadways for safe transport.”

Law enforcement will also be paying extra attention to other dangerous behaviors, including distracted driving, following too closely, reckless or aggressive driving, improper lane change, evidence of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, failure to use a seat belt, and failure to obey traffic control devices.

“According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, less traffic may be encouraging some drivers to ignore traffic safety laws, including speed limits,” said CVSA on its website. “Despite there being far fewer vehicles on the road due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, many jurisdictions are seeing a severe spike in speeding.”

CVSA explained that although the number of vehicles on the road decreased significantly throughout March and April, there was a sharp increase in average speeds measured during the first week of April in the largest metropolitan areas of the country. Recent data show average speeds in those areas increased by 75% in comparison to January and February.

New York City transportation officials reported a 60% increase in the number of March’s speed camera tickets compared to the same month in 2019–even though the amount of traffic during this time was down 90% in comparison to January.

Washington, D.C.’s traffic decreased by 80% between January and March, but officials still reported a 20% increase in speeding tickets during the month of March. The number of citations for driving 21 to 25 miles per hour over the speed limit rose by almost 40%.

In California, officials saw an increase in speeding violations and in crash severity, even though the California Highway Patrol’s overall call volume has decreased.

Tucson Police saw an increase of 40% in single-vehicle wrecks–which typically occur when a driver loses control due to excessive speed.

Other countries are experiencing similar issues. In Toronto, Ontario, Canada, police charged 18 different drivers with stunt driving at speeds between 80 and 106 miles per hour on the Don Valley Parkway, a freeway with a limit of 55 miles per hour, in just one weekend.

During the Operation Safe Driver Week of 2019, law enforcement issued 46,752 citations to passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts report’s data from 2018 showed an increase in the number of fatal large truck-related crashes by 0.9%. On a positive note, the NHTSA also found a 2.4% decrease in overall fatalities.

“While, of course, we’re pleased to see a decrease in the overall number of fatalities, it was also devastating to learn that the number of fatalities involving large trucks increased,” Samis said. “Any increase whatsoever in roadway fatalities is unacceptable.”

The CVSA said it will continue to pay close attention to the circumstances around this pandemic and will announce the new dates for the International Roadcheck as soon as possible, and will update the status for Operation Safe Driver Week and Brake Safety Week if needed.