Results of the latest study conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) show driver history can be a strong predictor of their involvement in future crashes. Nearly 600,000 U.S. truck drivers were covered in the study that spanned two years, and the data collected showed that a dozen driver behaviors can make risky drivers more susceptible to crashes than their peers with clean driving records. To continue reducing the Continue Reading

Truck-Lite has announced the availability of a number of tools to assist fleets and drivers with CSA compliance when it comes to vehicle lighting. In the next couple of weeks, the company will be releasing training materials, a website dedicated to answering compliance-related questions and a roadside repair kit. In addition to these tools, Truck-Lite is encouraging customers to upgrade to its lifetime LED products for their longer reliability and Continue Reading

According to a research conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), new safety technologies, such as lane-departure warning and roll-stability control are gaining favor in the industry. Tested by Con-way Freight drivers over a 10-month period, the study found that at the conclusion, the majority drivers preferred being equipped with these technologies than without. The research also found that drivers responded more quickly to avoid potential crashes when the safety systems were on. So impressed was Con-way with the results, that the company Continue Reading

Permatex has recently launched its Liquid Electrical Tape that provides a waterproof, durable seal to bond and insulate electrical connections. When first applied, it is a liquid, but becomes a flexible, vinyl polymer seal, which completely covers wire and cable connections to prevent air, dirt and moisture from impeding the flow of electrical current. Easy to apply, especially in hard-to-reach places, Permatex Liquid Electrical Tape dries to the touch in Continue Reading

About 8 percent of the 650,000 carriers the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is tracking will receive warning letters in the next two months, according to agency. That makes for a total of about 50,000 letters warning carriers that their performance merited “alert” status by falling below acceptable levels on at least one of CSA’s Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories, or BASICs. Those BASICs, such as unsafe or fatigued driving, form the statistical heart of CSA’s safety meas-urement system, which assigns a percentage ranking on each BASIC and Continue Reading

In an attempt to help reduce maintenance costs and occurrence of CSA violations, Grote Industries is introducing a new portable Roadside Lighting Repair Kit, which contains 23 of the most practical, commonly used lighting components. Potentially saving time and dollars, now roadside repairs can be made in the field and get the vehicle to the nearest service center if more work is required. In addition to the 23 most used parts, the kit also includes a selection of zip tie fasteners to help stabilize any field repair. There’s even room to add a selection of additional parts and tools. Grote’s kit also Continue Reading

A recent evaluation of the new Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) safety measurement shows a number of trends that both drivers and carriers should keep in mind. Many of the comparisons are drawn between CSA and SafeStat, the forerunner to the latest model, and based on research evaluated by TransCore’s CarrierWatch. For starters, the new model provides a more complete picture of data. Only 23 percent of carriers have no data recorded, compared to about 50 percent under the old model. Additional information provided in the white paper includes the states which Continue Reading

Drivers of commercial vehicles not properly equipped to drive in winter weather could face fines and be denied entry into certain areas of the province, according to the British Columbia Trucking Association. Winter tires or chains are required for commercial vehicles from Oct. 1 to Apri. 30, wherever there is a sign that indicates ‘Use winter tires or carry chains beyond this point.’ As a result, enforcement officials will be stepping up checks. Drivers not in compliance with these safety rules could face fines of $128 and be forced to take alternate routes. Officials will in particular be targeting the Continue Reading

An aging truck fleet–the highest in 30 years–coupled with an industry largely comprise of Baby Boomers is causing some dealerships to scramble to keep up with the growing demand for parts and service and also address the coming generational shift in the workforce. Over the next 20 years, 77 million Baby Boomers will but they will be replaced by only 46 million new workers, according to numbers tracked by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). Dealerships are developing partnerships with technical schools to build relationships with potential employees, and also turning to OEM’s to Continue Reading

With the rollout of CSA 2010 earlier this week, only a fraction of the 758, 682 active motor carriers are ranked–barely 12 percent, according to analysis from CCJ magazine. The data detailing safety performance under the FMCSA’s new measurement tool went public for the first time on Sunday, Dec. 12, when the program was officially launched. Of the 92,184 carriers that are ranked in at least one BASIC, 52,967 carriers have at least one alert, meaning they exceeded the threshold for intervention. The greatest number of alerts, 29,207, are in the Fatigued Driving BASIC, followed by the Continue Reading