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possible, according to Bendix’s Thomas. front, ‘It will give you a margin of safe- able. Therefore, we believe these systems
Instead, Bendix has been making incre- ty, but the driver still should drive safe- help shape and develop preferred driv-
mental advances in the hardware and ly, observing good driving practices.’” ing behaviors, making drivers more
software since it introduced its first Joe Oleson, senior manager of conscious about safety,” Oleson said.
radar product in 2009 and then added maintenance administration for FedEx CalArk’s Hare said her company’s
braking in 2011. Carriers, he said, have Freight, said some crash mitigation drivers are trained on the equipment
done a good job of communicating their technology is now standard in his com- before they operate it, with an emphasis
needs. “We are not guessing what fleets pany. FedEx Freight started using the placed on the system’s limitations. “We
want,” he said. “We have very good Vorad system, an alert-only system once really stress that the driver is still in
dialogue with them. From there we owned by Eaton but now supported control of the vehicle,” she said. “It is
prioritize and bring the most important by Bendix, in 2003 and now uses that not a system that they can just put on
features to market relatively quickly.” legacy system along with the Wingman cruise, lay back and take a nap, and the
But even the newest technology and OnGuard systems. system will go.”
has its limits. Ultimately, drivers are in Is there a danger that drivers will Drivers, she said, have reacted posi-
control, and it’s up to them to operate become too reliant on the systems and tively to the tool, and it has changed
their trucks safely. Collision mitigation become less careful? Oleson says no. their behavior knowing the data stream
systems can’t completely compensate While passenger car systems such as being sent to the carrier will hold them
when drivers drive too fast or too close. those assisting with cornering can help more accountable for near-misses and
“What these systems do is reduce the drivers drive more recklessly, motor car- non-events. “When they know that
likelihood of an accident. They assist rier drivers don’t want these systems data’s available, it changes their outlook
the driver, but really the driver still to activate. They’re based on improving a little bit,” she said.
remains in full control of the vehicle,” safety, not performance. Maverick’s Newell said his drivers
said Meritor WABCO’s Korn. “Most system interactions – wheth- were already accustomed to the passive
“The laws of physics exist,” Bendix’s er passive (such as an audible alarm) or technology, so adding braking hasn’t
Thomas said, “so we tell the drivers and active (such as active system de-throttle been that big of an adjustment. Drivers
the technicians and management up or braking) – are not meant to be enjoy-  34

Most trucking companies
make (or lose) more

money on equipment than
they do hauling freight.

TRANSPORT ENTERPRISE LEASING LLC.

arkaNsas TruckiNg reporT | issue 6 2013 23