safety device legislation for carhaulers and truckers

Crystal Glisson Sweet

From: East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales [[email protected]] on behalf of East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales [[email protected]]

Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 2:21 PMTo: Crystal Glisson SweetSubject: Safety Device Legislation Newsletter

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2/7/2012

Winter 201 January is gone. As a kid I was promised that 2012 would be a world where we would all travel into deep space and float around on hovercrafts to our destination. I have news for you...not happening yet! We still drive cars, we still cling to earth, and we still use gas. Oh well, I guess the technological innovations of 2012 are a little more subtle than I had expected. For car haulers, one of the biggest pushes is the migration from chains to straps. Many car hauler professionals still favor chains, while car manufacturers continue to dictate the use of straps. We take a look at both arguments here. We also look at some new legislation that could potentially help drivers. Please continue to send in any article ideas you might have. Sincerely, Michael Saks Editor of Haulin [email protected]

I N T H I S I S S U EStraps Versus Chains

Lower Speed Limits For Heavy Trucks

Tax Breaks To Truckers

STRAPS VERSUS CHAINS One of the biggest dilemmas for car haulers is whether to buy a strap unit or a chain unit. While chaiare still popular among many auto haulers, many manufacturers will only allow their cars to be haulewith straps as the tie down method. Some Manufacturers like Toyota require 100% compliance wthe total strap use policy. The reasons are pretty simple. Chains put pressure on the frame of the car. After one or two trips wchains there WILL be damage to the vehicle. While chains offer the ability to reduce height, straps amuch safer on the frame of a vehicle. Some vehicles don't even have eyelits any more for chains. This a risk that car sellers just do not want to take. Thus a migration has begun for many car haulers anfleet managers to begin outfitting their vehicles with straps or purchasing new strap units altogether. Another huge advantage that straps have over chains is that they put a lot less pressure on the drive

Chains require the driver to secure the vehicle on top of and under the ramp. This requires additional reach and strain on both yoback, shoulders, and knees. Over time this can lead to a repetitive strain injury. Straps prevent this by requiring that the vehicle onbe secured on top of the ramp from a standing position. For this reason alone, straps have a huge advantage for the long term heaof the driver. Regardless there is still a big following of car haulers who prefer chains. There are some interesting solutions. Some drivers purchastraps and use them in tandem with their chain unit. "Some car haulers come in and buy 30 to 40 straps at a time to outfit their chaunits" according to a car hauler specialist at ECTTS. As long as the customer does not require a truck that was designed for strap uonly, this is a versatile solution. While we still sell a lot of chain units, strap units are definitely the future. Manufacturer mandates, coupled with huge improvements driver loading ergonomics, give strap units a lot of appeal. Here at East Coast Truck and Trailer, we still carry both types. We also sstraps individually that are made in America, both in our store and online. Whatever direction you choose to go, we have yocovered.

LOWERING SPEED LIMITS FOR HEAVY TRUCKS

Usually the thought of regulation makes my stomach churn, but this one doesn't sound too bad. I recently read a Transport Topics article that documented NHTSA's desire to lower speed limits for heavy trucks. On the surface I thought, great, more regulation. Now trucks with a limited driver pool will be going even slower to make their deliveries.

Upon Reading Further, Some Interesting Facts Emerge:

A major trucking company found that when speeds were reduced from 65 to 55 there was no significant change in productivity

Reducing the speed, even by a small margin, can increase fuel economy by .6 mpg Lower speeds have been shown to lower the number of accidents Less speed puts less pollution in the air

If the data is true and untainted, this could be huge for car haulers and truckers. If the reduction in speed limit reduced the productivity, I would probably rail against it. The sixth largest carrier in the country has found that it has not affected them. The reason this is so, is because of good route planning.. To make this speed reduction work, trucking companies, fleet managers, and owner operators will have to plan their trips with the lower speed in mind. The key to productivity is getting the cargo their by the deadline the customer needs it. As long as the lower speed makes it possible with the total available amount of time, it could work. Basically, all you are doing is budgeting more time to save the environment, save money on gas, and save lives. You are trading one benefit, getting to a destination at a faster clip to get three other benefits. Considering the fact that lower speed limits will put more money in your pocket, help keep you alive, and make it possible to breathe the air, I say give it a chance.

TAX BREAKS TO TRUCKERS Here it comes again. A bill to give tax breaks to truckers and fleets is going into Congress. This will be the third time it has been attempted. The bill will allow up to $3,500 of tax deductions if used for safety systems purchases that involve: Brake Monitoring Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Vehicle Stability I say...go for it. Get this passed. No one wants truck accidents. The cost in life, injury, and lost work time, more than merit the purchase of these systems, with or without a tax credit. All of the

technologies listed above focus on areas where a large percentage of the accidents occur. There are always freak accidents, but any insurance company will tell you, you play the percentages. The areas where problems and deadly accidents occur do tend to focus around a few key areas. Imagine the collision alarm cutting out 60% or 80% of all the collision based truck accidents. That could equal 25,000 to 100,000 lives a year alone. I would say that is worth it. What gets lost in the statistics is that every 'percentage' involves the injury or death of at least 2 people. It is very easy to stop looking at these as victims, and seeing them as cold statistics. The benefits become very real when you say that a collision alarm could prevent the death of 25,000 people. All the sudden, the reality hits home that safety devices are in the best interest of the ENTIRE road going public. I cannot see why Congress did not pass this the first time. The Department of Transportation has added 5 billion dollars of costs to the industry. All this was done in the name of safety, and with devastating economic consequences. Focusing on devices that save lives makes more sense than some of the CSA regulations. These devices prevent cataclysmic truck accidents that impact everyone. Compare this with the CSA regulation involving points for a broken taillight. I can tell you there have been ten times more fatalities in a head on collision (which a collision alarm would help prevent) than a broken taillight. I certainly hope Congress sees it this way...

East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales wants to be your premier dealer for truck and trailer sales, parts and service. We sell a variety of parts from tie down bars, chains & clusters, strap technology, chrome, dollies, safety gear, and more. Please call us anytime at 1-866-849-2178. Sincerely, Michael Saks, Internet Commerce Manager East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales [email protected]

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2/7/2012

safety device legislation for carhaulers and truckers

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