If there is one thing the ELD mandate was designed to do, it was to improve safety among truck drivers. Of course, it was also designed to prevent fleets and trucking companies from getting hit with errors in paper logbooks, but safety – in relation to hours of service – was also a big driver for the mandate.

Yet now, trucking companies and agriculture trucking companies in particular are saying that everyday consumers could see their grocery prices rise as a result of the new ELD mandate. But does this view bear fruit – pun intended?

Many truckers say the problem stems from the fact that truck drivers are experiencing problems as they switch from paper logbooks to ELD devices. With the ELD mandate designed to keep truck drivers honest about their time on the road, and thus make the roads safer overall, there are unintended consequences, as with any new rule or regulation.

Not Enough Distance

The ELD mandate results in inevitable delays, which means truck drivers simply aren’t covering as much distance or delivering as many loads as they used to. Whether it be in California or Arizona, when less produce is getting to the endpoint, while demand continues to increase, the laws of supply-and-demand create an environment ripe for price increases.

Before the ELD mandate, truck drivers recorded their hours manually. And while may of them did not intentionally falsify their hours, they did have greater flexibility in how those hours were recorded. As an example, if a truck driver was stuck in traffic, or sat behind a construction zone far longer than expected, they may not have recorded that as driving time.

Another example could be a truck driver who knew they were reaching the 11-hour driving limit, but decided to push it just a little longer in order to find a safe place to have a rest. Of course, by the letter of the law, these practices were not legal, but when using a paper log, truck drivers were able to balance road safety with business interest.

Compliance is still a necessary part of a truck driver’s job, and the ELD mandate ensures that, but unintended side effects do occur. As an example, one 12-store grocery chain in the Midwest has seen the cost of goods roughly double since the ELD mandate came into effect. While the company has, for the most part, been able to absorb the cost, items like bananas and lettuce have gone up by 20 percent.

Is it the Device’s Fault?

While trucking industry companies and advocacy organizations undertake studies to determine the safety efficacy of the ELD mandate, many are wondering where the new rules will take us. It appears, at least in the short term, it may be higher prices.

Fleets are concerned that truck drivers who are delayed may try to drive faster in order to make up for lost ground. Will this cause unneeded safety problems? Consider that the amount of time a truck driver can drive has not changed. What has changed is how that time is measured.

With some farms and agricultural providers stating that they are already seeing unintended consequences, prices in the grocery store may be going up. How will this translate into consumer sentiment, no one yet knows.

Gone are the days when truck drivers could “use their best judgement” to determine when it was safe to pull over, depending on road conditions. If prices for every day goods go up at an unsustainable rate, will we see a regulatory backlash against such measures?

In 2017, the FMCSA decided to scrap several new rules and regulations set to go into effect governing safety initiatives. Yet, this year, they aren’t just ignoring safety. They have embarked on many tests and studies designed to figure out why truck fatalities on our nation’s roads are on the rise.

Today, we will look at the different safety tests and initiatives the FMCSA is undertaking to bring some clarity to the situation. With technology on the mind and the future approaching, they want to know if the trucking industry can remain safe in the face of near-constant change.

Testing Autonomous Technology

The first area the FMCSA is looking to test and come to a better conclusion on is that of autonomous trucking. The FMCSA believes that autonomous and semi-autonomous technologies may go a long way to significantly reducing crashes and injuries. With trucking accidents on the rise, the agency doesn’t seek to displace the truck driver, but rather bring a new level of safety to trucking through automation.

With autonomous and semi-autonomous trucking on everyone’s mind, a potential revolution is around the corner. Several studies underway in a few states are being implemented with the FMCSA’s implicit backing, including those in Ohio and Nevada.

Still, with autonomous truck driving now entering a critical evaluation phase, what’s next for the FMCSA when it comes to testing and evaluation?

Incremental Changes on the Horizon

While the FMCSA doesn’t plan to revisit many of the Obama administration’s trucking rules, they may make some minor adjustments to the rules currently in place. And while there won’t be a new safety rating system overhaul coming any time soon, the FMCSA is beginning a two-year-long study examining whether the safety measurement system (SMS) is doing what it was intended to do.

The FMCSA is also going to look at changes and ways to strengthen industry cybersecurity and increase adoption of certain safety technologies, from better braking systems to complementary technologies to increase the awareness of areas where truck drivers can both rest and take a break in case they are bumping up against their hours.

Still, these are merely tests, methods by which the agency can make better determinations regarding future rules. Since the Trump administration has embarked on a mission to remove lots of regulations, it is likely that these initiatives will remain in the testing phase until more concrete data can be discerned.

Is the Economy to Blame

One of the primary factors why comprehensive testing is required can be traced back to an improving economy. As the nation’s economic conditions have gotten better, more trucks are on the road, which itself can lead to more accidents. To determine if the problem is with the volume of trucks or something else, the FMCSA has embarked on these new testing regimes.

Evidence of a potential economic component can be seen in the fact that from 2006 to 2009, there was an overall decline in fatal accidents involving trucks. There could also be a correlation between the number of new truck drivers on the road and the increase in accidents.

Yet, as the federal government gets ready to take up a new debate surrounding state’s rights, infrastructure, and so much more, the trucking industry and related issues are going to come into more focus. Will safety be at the top of the minds of those making the regulatory decisions? The only way to find out is to see what 2018 brings. And we can promise we will be right here reporting on it for you.

In todays trucking safety blog, we want to look at the specific changes happening within the tanker manufacturing industry that specifically impact truck driver and passenger vehicle safety. There are many reasons why this is important. Consider that motor carriers today typically keep their tank trailers for a very long time. As a result, they want to get the most out of these expensive pieces of equipment.

Yet, getting the most bang for their buck isn’t the only thing truck tank manufacturers are focused on. Tanker safety is key. But why is a focus on this aspect of trucking so important? Consider that things change every year. Whether it be a new design on the upper coupler or new and improved landing gear, you must stay on top of what your vendors are designing.

Long life is important, but equally important is fuel efficiency and safety.

What Makes a Safe Tanker Design?

If there is one sector of trucking looking closest at tanker safety, it is the hazmat sector. While tanker fleets tend to look for the best technologies, they are also looking for the safest. While roll stability is the most obvious choice, there are tractor specs that also go a long way in improving a tanker’s safety profile. These include antilock and air disc brakes.

The greatest concern for a tanker lies in the roll over concern. While roll stability and a lower center of gravity help, roll stability control has increasingly become a popular option. For many tank manufacturers, roll stability now comes standard with the tanker.

Tanker fleets looking to further improve their safety measures are seeing client motor carriers increasingly ask for air disc breaks as a way to improve safety measures. While spec’ing advanced braking technology can present a bit of an upcharge in the beginning, these technologies generate big returns when it comes to safety in the long run.

Where lighting is concerned, active driver safety technologies like extra turn signals and high wattage mounted lights provide an answer. Motor carriers operating tankers in high numbers, from 400 on up, see increased safety benefits when they utilize these technologies.

Well-designed and aesthetically pleasing lighting systems also signal to potential clients that your fleet takes safety (and looking good) seriously. When a tanker is equipped with a bright LED that contains to filaments, shines brightly, and looks good, the motor carrier addresses several goals.

Addressing your Wheels

One aspect of tanker safety that is oft-overlooked is that of the tires carrying the tanker. Tankers are often quite heavy, which means most tanker fleets look to aluminum wheels and wide-base tires. Yet, sometimes this setup isn’t the most advantageous.

Many wide-base single tires utilize automatic tire inflation systems, which cause leakage concerns. Tankers require an utmost level of safety. While some wide-base tire manufacturers have come a long way in alleviating these concerns, they must still weigh them against tire wear, fuel economy, and inspection results.

Another area receiving greater focus is that of lift axle usage. Pneumatic tanks retrofitted with lift axles make sense because these operators don’t have a lot of backhauls, which results in greater safety, increased fuel economy, and greater truck driver satisfaction.

The most important part of increasing tanker safety lies in collaboration. Engineers and salespeople from both the manufacturing and fleet management realms must get together and help each other figure out the most effective ways to increase tanker safety. There are so many variables, which seem to change constantly, so ensuring you are on the right side of change ensures greater safety outcomes for your tanker fleet.