The casual motorist on the highway may observe some of the obvious changes to truck technology such as trailer tails, wind fairing, blades, wings and slick tires which make the 18 wheel rig more aerodynamic and fuel efficient. However, the average person driving to work is probably not aware of the new big rig safety technology designed to make the road and all drivers more secure. There are some exciting safety features now available to the purchasers of big rigs. Upon reading articles about vehicle safety systems, I found some discussing several mechanical improvements such as radar guided automatic braking, camera guided lane adherence, vehicle to vehicle communication, radar cameras to help trucks stop earlier, cameras that will help alert dozing drivers when their truck swerves, rear backup cameras, parallel parking systems in addition to anti-lock brakes. There are also reports on the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association demonstration held on May 17th, in which attendees were able to observe and even ride along to get a first hand glimpse at some of the new safety equipment manufacturers have invented.
New transportation technology always has its critics. Recently the concept of self driving vehicles has become a topic of great discussion. Unfortunately, a tragic accident occurred on May 7 th of this year when a Tesla Model S automobile and a big rig collided killing the Tesla driver. The Tesla involved was in autopilot mode when the accident occurred. The investigation is still in progress but one source said the driver was watching a movie on an external device and may have been solely relying on the autopilot feature to maneuver the car even though the company warns against that. The Model S is still in the beta research phase of autopilot which means it is still being fine tuned and cannot be left to drive itself. When a motorist activates the autopilot mode the car instructs the driver to "Always keep your hands on the wheel. Be prepared to take over at any time." Several Tesla drivers cited in an article by the L.A. Times have said the autopilot works so well they became careless and relied on it too much. The point taken from them is when operating vehicles with new technology we must still be alert and engaged. Truck and car drivers are still the most important solution to the equation of transportation safety. All drivers must be thoroughly trained on new equipment, and can become even safer drivers with the new technology. Truck technology that can reduce accidents, insure a safer environment for the truck drivers, and others is worthy of our attention.
Transportation Broker, LA Dry Division
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Ty Tallakson is an alumni of Occidental College, Los Angeles, and has been with the Allen Lund Company for 17 years. Tallakson is a Transportation Broker in the Los Angeles office, Dry Van Division.
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| About Allen Lund Company: Specializing as a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices and over 400 employees, the Allen Lund Company works with shippers and carriers across the nation to arrange dry, refrigerated (specializing in produce), and flatbed freight; additionally, the Allen Lund Company has an international division, which is licensed by the FMC as an OTI-NVOCC #019872NF, and a logistics and software division, ALC Logistics.
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