Safety

TruckPark brings healthcare to truck stops with UrgentCareTravel

The hunt for parking for one healthcare visit can cost a driver hours.

By Jim Stinson • Sept. 22, 2020

What KPIs should fleets measure? 4 experts weigh in.

It's a myth that one set of KPIs is ideal for a given sector of the transportation industry, one analyst said.

By S.L. Fuller • Sept. 08, 2020

IIHS: Automatic braking and warning systems could cut 40% of front-end collisions

Many fleets remain reluctant to install AEB, due to concerns about unforeseen maintenance costs.

By Jim Stinson • Sept. 04, 2020

Texas court orders new trial in $36M nuclear verdict case

A court originally ordered oil-tanker firm FTS to pay one of the largest trucking-related awards.

By Jim Stinson • Sept. 01, 2020

Fleets take a hit as K-12, higher ed closures jumble back-to-school freight

As students head back to school, some transport firms are still absorbing the damage from spring shutdowns.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 26, 2020

Sensors or a ruler? Why brake monitoring tech hasn't proven its ROI to fleet managers

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Brake Safety Week serves as a reminder to focus on brake safety, but high-tech diagnostics have yet to receive widespread adoption.

By Amanda Loudin • Aug. 24, 2020

Fleets struggle to recruit, bring back drivers for growing volumes

Training schools that have been closed or limited, competition for drivers, and federal benefits are hurdles for bringing more drivers to work, according to a report by Transplace.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 21, 2020

From Knight-Swift to Rollin' B: How fleets large and small get driver buy-in on safety tech

If J.B. Hunt were to take a heavy handed approach to tech adoption, drivers wouldn't accept it, the SVP of safety, security and driver personnel said at the FMCSA Truck Safety Summit. 

By S.L. Fuller • Aug. 06, 2020

Study: Bad driving behaviors likely to happen at start, end of shifts

Samsara gave recommendations for spotting preventable driving behaviors, which can cause accidents and higher insurance claims.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 06, 2020

Revised CDC isolation timeline may prompt workplace policy changes

The agency's guidance is a reminder to employers that return-to-work policies should not be static, an attorney said.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 03, 2020

Column

Roads are becoming less safe. How can fleets reaffirm safety culture?

Safety experts reveal alarming data points during the pandemic. While mileage is going down, fatality rates and distracted driving are on the rise.

By Shefali Kapadia • July 30, 2020

US traffic fatality rate increases, even as pandemic shutdowns clear roadways

The Governors Highway Safety Association said speed is one contributing factor to the increased traffic fatality rate.

By Kristin Musulin • July 22, 2020

Deep Dive

Why coronavirus controls freight's fate in 2020

Transport economists don't expect a volume recovery until the latter half of 2021, and fleets are drawing on lessons learned in past economic disasters.

By Jim Stinson • July 15, 2020

Which face coverings are best for preventing jobsite coronavirus spread?

While any mask will help mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, new research shows the types that maximize safety.

By Kim Slowey • July 15, 2020

FMCSA, CVSA alert drivers about safety, traffic issues

The CVSA's 2020 Operation Safe Driver Week begins as scheduled, during which police will look for speeders and other violators.

By Jim Stinson • July 14, 2020

XPO relies on data to help prevent workplace coronavirus spread

Findings indicate technology is being used as fervently as soap and water, in efforts to prevent spread and avoid hot spots.

By Jim Stinson • July 10, 2020

Surging jury awards and 3rd-party litigation hike insurance premiums, hit trucking profits

Despite double-digit increases in premiums for fleets, commercial automotive insurers lost $4 billion in 2019, the worst loss in 10 years.

By Jim Stinson • July 08, 2020

Teamsters, safety orgs cite driver fatigue concerns in petitions to delay HOS final rule

Advocates praise the flexibility the revised regulations promise, but the petitions argue FMCSA does not take into account historical data and public safety. 

By S.L. Fuller • July 02, 2020

Lawsuit worries heighten as awards increase, social-distancing measures lift

Tort cases are top of mind, though related financial burdens and rising insurance costs are industry concerns beyond the pandemic.

By Jim Stinson • July 01, 2020

HR management report: Small businesses reopening with flexibility and optimism

Business owners are re-evaluating business protocols while also working to retain clients and avoid lawsuits, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.

By Sheryl Estrada • June 29, 2020

Trucking braces for next phase of coronavirus

Wave, sequel or fade: Trucking officials say March prepared them for a new possible spate of infections and shutdowns.

By Jim Stinson • June 29, 2020

The unpredictable market's effects on driver turnover, recruitment

Drivers may flock to carriers who restart operations earlier and haul in-demand loads such as CPG products for grocers and retailers.

By Lori Lovely • June 25, 2020

'The virus is not done with us': Carriers foresee lingering COVID-19 challenges

Trucking firms are likely struggling with lack of freight, closed customers, low rates and driver absenteeism, Morgan Stanley said.

By Jim Stinson • June 19, 2020

How XPO, Estes kept workers safe and planned around coronavirus

Communication and technology have become big parts of the new normal for trucking, executives said.

By Jim Stinson • June 17, 2020

1 in 4 employees at high risk for COVID-19 as workplaces reopen

Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation could throw a wrench in employers' plans to reopen as more than half of states report rising infections.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 15, 2020