In 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics identified more than 502,000 highway accidents involving large trucks.
502,000
Imagine if safety technology could mitigate even a fraction of these accidents, what is its potential?
Will this lead to a better environment for drivers? Could this help trucking companies reduce their turnover? Could it even mean lower shipping costs?
Why do you need safety technology when transporting goods?
Advances in technology have made us safer in cars, planes, bicycles — even while walking. So it certainly makes sense that security technology has had a considerable impact on shipping freight.
Ultimately, as with any business, investing in security technology is first and foremost in huge demand. Trucking accidents cost organizations billions of dollars each year. The potential savings from security technology are enormous.
For companies that choose a supplier who uses ground transportation to transport their goods, the implementation of security technology can greatly impact your peace of mind and bottom line. This is a core area of research we recommend investigating when choosing a shipping partner, and one of the many reasons why we educate organizations about the challenges and risks of choosing a shipping partner based solely on rates.
Here are some of the latest safety tech innovations in shipping freight
In this article, we will examine the following safety technology innovations impacting the freight industry:
1. ELD
ELD is one of the most talked about safety technology topics in the trucking industry and has been around since the December 2015 ELD Authorization or Electronic Recording Device Rule.
The first compliance deadline passed more than a year ago on December 18, 2017, sending the freight and trucking industry into a storm.
ELD literally tracks driver service hours. In devices that carry property, such as trucks, the order states that drivers can drive up to 11 hours a day after 10 hours off work.
It's a logical assumption that more time on the road = more tired drivers = more accidents. Stories of overtired drivers causing accidents make headlines and affect lives. According to a FMCSA study, trucks with ELDs have an 11.7% lower accident rate than trucks not equipped with ELDs. By their estimates, ELD could prevent more than 500 injuries and potentially save 26 lives.
ELDs are capable of monitoring and recording vast amounts of data about drivers and their trucks, including date, time, location information, engine hours, vehicle mileage, and driver, vehicle, and vehicle carrier identification. In many cases, this information is shared with transportation providers in real-time so that they and the driver are on the same page. Additionally, many ELD systems integrate map and routing data, simplifying the overall use of the technology by trucking and transportation providers.
ELD can provide trucking companies with more advanced data, including hard braking, overspeeding, idling, and more.
2. Front-view camera
Rear cameras have been installed in passenger cars (and subsequently improve safety) over the years, while front cameras are becoming more commonplace.
It was only a matter of time before road-pointing cameras made their way into trucks and shipping.
While safety is always the primary goal, transportation providers are also primarily installing forward-facing video in their truck fleets to protect the company itself and its drivers in the event of any collision. Fraudulent insurance claims cost the industry millions of dollars each year, so attorneys, insurers, and of course fleet managers certainly welcome any opportunity to mitigate that cost and liability.
3. Driver Scorecard
Gamification is a very popular term these days. Gamification affects everything from the food we eat to the number of steps we walk each day and every aspect of our lives.
Yes, it's even all over trucking and shipping.
But the concept of gamification -- or scorecarding as it's known in shipping and trucking -- dates back more than a decade, when transportation providers collected data to identify problems among truckers. This information then goes into a meeting where specific drivers will be called to negatively impact fleet wear due to driving behavior.
More directly related to cost, poor driving behavior directly affects gasoline consumption. A particularly careless driver with bad habits can affect gas consumption by up to 30%, making a huge difference.
So the competition is there to improve your scorecard and avoid the embarrassment of being named on your scorecard.
Safety tech saves lives and impacts your bottom line
