As safety systems become more prevalent, so too do pressures on fleets to actively manage them. Learning to manage systems, as well as convince drivers to buy into new safety systems can be challenging — but the rewards are incalculable.
That was the sentiment from participants in the “Adopting Advanced Safety Technology” panel at CCJ’s Spring Symposium 2015 at the Ross Bridge Golf Resort outside of Birmingham, Ala., on May 19.
The panel, hosted by CCJ Technology Editor Aaron Huff, consisted of Dennis Dellinger, president of Cargo Transporters, Chris Wright, senior regional safety manager, Saia LTL Freight, and Jeff Mercadante, vice president of safety for Pitt Ohio.
All three panel fleets are early adopters of myriad safety systems from anti-lock brakes years ago to advanced collision warning systems and in-cab cameras today.
Dellinger noted that Cargo Transporters has a long culture of safety. “We actually used to say we had a ‘family,’ culture at our fleet,” he said. “And over time that we realized that ‘safety’ and ‘family’ go hand-in-hand as a corporate culture. And really, ‘safety’ is the paramount issue. Because safe drivers go home to their families in the evenings.”
“We did lose some drivers over them. But my sense there is that if a driver leaves you over in-cab cameras, chances are they’ve got a problem they don’t want you to know about. It could be drugs or alcohol. Or something like taking a dog or a girlfriend along on their route. But if you have a professional driver, they’ll work through it.”
— Dennis Dellinger
Still, Dellinger says the adoption of new technologies can be upsetting at fleets, with drivers often offering resistance. “We’ve learned over the years that not all drivers are coachable,” he notes. “We’ve had to discipline drivers for not wearing seat belts, for example. And that’s the most basic safety system in a vehicle.”
