Page 20 - ATR 2 2019 digital

pendent contractors can agree. Multiple said, “The most important thing this electronic logging devices. Loggins said
studies have shown the vast majority does is allow us to move forward with all of his drivers support the eventual
of large-truck crashes are the result of other safety technology like the cam- installation of forward-facing cameras.
risky behaviors, such as excessive speed, eras, like anti-rollover, and automatic Whether it’s cameras, blind spot
distracted driving, failure to yield and braking — all the new technology that’s warning systems or speed limiters, car-
close following distances. Professional available. If we want to start asking our riers will decide for themselves what
truck drivers and carriers see the need drivers to get this, then we would be safety measures to require, how to
to address these issues, but companies able to.” implement and manage them across
whose drivers are independent contrac- Loggins said the new law could their entire fleet.
tors have often been unclear about how allow him to streamline central office
to adopt technologies and practices operations without adding an expensive WHERE THE DATA LEADS
aimed at addressing those behaviors burden to his drivers. Take, for example, Research may help the decision-
making process for everyone. A study
published in 2013 by the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration,
“Evaluation of the Effectiveness of
Onboard Safety Systems Final Report,”
used data from over 88,000 crash
“ADVANCEMENTS IN POLICY, TECHNOLOGY AND reports from 14 carriers to evalu-
REGULATION IN THE NAME OF SAFETY SHOULD ate Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
systems, Roll Stability Control (RSC)
BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY REGARDLESS OF THE systems and Forward Collision Warning
CLASSIFICATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL. IMPROVEMENTS (FCW) systems. The study found a sig-

IN SAFETY AND TRUST OF THOSE WE SHARE THE nificant reduction in crashes for trucks
ROAD WITH KEEP ALIVE THE INDUSTRY THAT equipped with LDW and RSC.
According to the report, “Drivers
PROVIDES THE LIVELIHOOD THAT BOTH CLASSES and carrier staff believed the systems
DEPEND ON.” aided in keeping drivers alert and teach-
ing them safe driving habits, such as
—MALEA MCELYEA, VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT maintaining a safe following distance,
using their turn signals when making a
AT CALARK INTERNATIONAL
lane change and reducing their speed as
they approached curves and turns.”
Professional drivers surveyed as
part of the research said using the dif-
ferent safety measures in simulators or
controlled practice environments would
without crossing the line between forward-facing cameras. Some of his be useful. They also said any training
employee and independent contractor. drivers have already installed cameras on a specific system should include the
The overwhelming support for voluntarily, but his office is unable to technical functioning and limitations
HB 1448, which passed 82-1 in the consistently monitor the footage. This is of the system – how it works and the
Arkansas House of Representatives and partly because the monitoring systems circumstances in which it might be less
unanimously in the Senate, shows a differ for each brand. reliable.
willingness by everyone to prioritize In addition to making the monitor- The AAA Foundation for Traffic
safety. A bill with nearly the same word- ing more efficient, the new law would Safety has also produced reports using
ing has also been passed by both the also allow Loggins Logistics to require data from the last decade to determine
House and Senate in Tennessee with no cameras and use them to coach their the effectiveness of automatic emer-
one voting against it. contract drivers without having to gency braking systems, lane departure
Loggins Logistics, Inc. is an exam- worry about overstepping the blurry warning systems, video-based onboard
ple of an Arkansas company likely to line between employee and indepen- safety monitoring systems and air disc
be impacted by the new legislation. dent contractor. According to Loggins, brakes, all of which show evidence of
The Jonesboro-based trucking company his drivers have been more receptive reducing crashes and fatalities.
contracts with nearly 100 owner opera- to forward-facing cameras, then they
tors. President and owner Jeff Loggins initially were to the federally mandated 

20 Issue 2 2019 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT