Top-Notch Tech Solutions For Improving Truck Drivers Safety On The Road

Since the first truck was invented, drivers have been at risk of injury and death. The job is inherently dangerous: you’re operating a vehicle that weighs more than 5 tons and can go as fast as 60 miles per hour on crowded highways, all while carrying thousands of pounds of cargo.

Truckers are also vulnerable to weather storms like tornadoes and hurricanes, which can knock them off the road or overturn their vehicles with no warning.

What’s worse is that many truckers don’t know how to drive safely because they’re not properly trained for this type of work before getting behind the wheel.

In fact, most states require just 10 hours of training before granting a commercial driver’s license. This means that new drivers often lack skills such as safely driving in bad weather and maneuvering their huge trucks around other vehicles on the road.

With a projected increase in truck drivers over the next decade, it’s only going to get more dangerous for truckers, leaving them vulnerable to even worse accidents. But what if there was a way to make the roads safer for these hard-working men and women? There is.

And thankfully, there are some top-notch tech solutions that could help improve safety for all motorists—more than we ever thought possible.

#1. Cameras

What happens when you combine a camera and GPS data? You get fleet camera system technology that uses video footage, GPS data, and other vehicle measurements to pinpoint any dangerous or illegal driving behavior so that your company’s drivers can step up their game before they drive away in shame.

For example, did you know that your trailer might be out of alignment if it’s leaning too far to the left? Or that your driver is speeding if she’s covering ground faster than usual?

Now with advanced technology, you can record all of this information and use it as evidence for disqualifying potentially irresponsible drivers. The best part about cameras is that they’re also used as dashcams—and we love dash cams.

Dashcams may sound like a joke, but they’re not. These little guys boast some serious benefits: companies can save money by using them instead of having to pay employees for court appearances and minimizing the risk of fraudulent claims (claims filed by people who were in accidents caused by company drivers). Using video footage can also improve training, boost transparency, and make it easier to monitor driver safety.

#2. Sensors

Sensors are sensors, right? Well, not always. The Sentry Vibration Sensor can use tiny vibration motors to alert truckers if their cargo is shifting during transport.

Sentry Sensors also monitor the health of a truck for maintenance purposes, as well as track the driver’s speed, engine revolutions per minute (RPM), and location. Drivers can then check this information with their managers remotely to keep logs of their driving habits and improve safety.

#3. Driver alert systems

After hours of driving, it’s easy to get fatigued and start making dangerous mistakes. That’s why smart companies are starting to use Driver Alert Systems, which vibrate the driver’s seat if their vehicle goes outside the predetermined geofence.

The alert systems also include sensors that monitor your speed and can even contact emergency services in case of an accident or emergency.

#4. Electronic stability control systems

Electronic Stability Control Systems, or ESCs, are systems that preemptively engage the brakes to prevent accidents caused by rollovers. It’s sort of like airbags for cars—and just as important.

These smart systems are mandatory in most states now, but not all truck drivers have them installed yet because they can cost up to $2,000. That being said, if you have a fleet of trucks or plan on becoming a truck driver, it’s a worthy investment for your safety and the safety of other motorists on the road.

#5. Anti-lock braking systems

Just like ESCs, anti-lock braking systems are another smart technology that can help prevent accidents and protect truckers. They can monitor your speed, and brake more quickly than you could manually.

Or if the anti-lock braking system detects that a driver is about to panic or lose control of his or her vehicle, it forces them to steer in the direction they’re trying to go instead of slamming on the brakes.

#6. Forward collision warning systems

What happens when a truck driver fails to react in time and slams into another vehicle ahead of them? Or someone suddenly appears from behind? Thankfully, Forward Collision Warning Systems can help prevent these types of accidents.

We all know how risky it is for a trucker to slam on their brakes—but what if their trucks could tap into infrastructure data and detect when another vehicle is approaching at high speed?

That’s what forward collision warning systems can do—and it makes us feel a lot more comfortable knowing that we’re driving on the same roads as trucks with such advanced technology.

Forward Collision Warning Systems aren’t just for saving other drivers’ lives, though. They can also save truckers’ lives by alerting drivers if they’re falling asleep behind the wheel or drifting out of their lanes.

#7. Adaptive cruise control

Adaptive cruise control is the latest technology trend for truckers who are on long drives—it’s basically cruise control on steroids.

This system uses sensors to monitor the speed of the vehicle in front of you and maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and theirs. It can even work with other outside factors, such as road conditions and traffic patterns.

Final Words

Safety is a priority for all drivers, and it is important that truckers have the most cutting-edge safety technology available to them. The list of safety solutions we’ve discussed should help you find ways to keep your driver safe with less effort on their part.

For example, when was the last time you checked if your trailer was out of alignment? These new technologies are making it easier than ever to monitor driver behavior with video footage or live monitoring software from anywhere in the world—and they’re saving money too.

Hopefully, some of these innovations will be helpful for improving truckers’ safety on the road. Which do you think is the safest? What other technologies do you know of that help keep professional drivers safe on the road?