HDT Reality E book 2022: Fleets Adapt to Altering Security, Regulatory Panorama – Security & Compliance

Deaths on U.S. roads soared to a 16-year excessive in 2021, in line with the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration’s estimate of visitors fatalities. An estimated 42,915 individuals died in motorcar visitors crashes final yr, a ten.5% enhance from 2020 and the very best variety of fatalities since 2005. And fatalities in crashes involving a minimum of one massive truck had been up 13% over 2020. (Observe: NHTSA defines “massive vans” as these over 10,000 kilos.)

The Division of Transportation unveiled its first-ever Nationwide Roadway Security Technique. And there are requires a paradigm shift to the Protected System Method, which takes a holistic view of all the freeway system, from planning to design to make use of, to enhance the security of all highway customers. There’s elevated emphasis on defending “weak highway customers” — pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Trucking Rules

Trucking-specific security rules proceed to enter impact and new (or reincarnated) proposals unveiled:

It’s no marvel almost half of fleet professionals surveyed within the second annual HDT/Work Truck fleet security survey mentioned they often really feel overwhelmed making an attempt to maintain up with all the security rules being launched (43%) — and with making an attempt to maintain up with all the security options being launched (46%).

On this article, we spotlight survey outcomes, together with insights into how they in comparison with final yr, key security methods, and security applied sciences used.

Security Expertise

Our inbox at HDT (and little question of fleet security professionals throughout the nation) is filled with bulletins of the newest enhancements to superior security applied sciences, in-cab cameras, and artificial-intelligence-powered options.

We requested our survey-takers about present security applied sciences and what they’re planning to undertake. Practically half already use pace limiters, and almost one-fifth plan to implement backup cameras within the subsequent yr.

Simply How Restricted Ought to Truck Pace Limiters Be?

Practically half of survey respondents have seen their automobile and legal responsibility insurance coverage prices enhance between 1% and 25% previously yr. We hear loads about “nuclear verdicts” driving up these prices, however it’s not simply the massive verdicts at fault. The smaller claims — those that occur hundreds of instances a day and lead to non-catastrophic accidents comparable to neck, again and shoulder issues and soft-tissue accidents — are actually costing the business extra money than ever earlier than.

Some fleets put money into security expertise to assist them defend themselves when a crash isn’t their fault, along with the aim of stopping accidents within the first place. And insurance coverage firms need to telematics information to assist them write insurance policies for motor carriers.

Extra In regards to the Survey

For the second yr, HDT performed a joint security survey with sister publication Work Truck. The median fleet dimension of these responding was 75, and 81% had Class 8 vans. 40% of respondents had been non-public fleets, 37% had been for-hire fleets, and 15% had been authorities fleets. The most typical industries represented had been normal freight, development/mining, and manufacturing.

This information and evaluation first appeared within the August 2022 particular Reality E book challenge of Heavy Responsibility Trucking.