By David Keck
enesis Transportation
In August, I had the occasion to drive on Interstate 80 from Cleveland to Lock Haven, Pa. Having worked in the transportation industry and now being co-owner of a trucking company, I was contemplating the fatigue factor of drivers on the road — and more importantly, the question of whether there were any of these drivers on the road with me.
I reflected on a conversation that my partner and I had regarding fatigue. We concluded that even though we had over 50 years of trucking experience between us, we could not recall one accident due to fatigue. It’s not to say that we have our doubts about the fatigue factor, but it has been our experience that speed, not fatigue, is the greatest cause of accidents on our highways today.
As I drove along I-80, it became very clear to me that speed is a major problem today. Even though I had my cruise control set at (OK, I’ll admit it) 70 mph, truck after truck passed me. Now, I do not mean to say that these trucks were driving 72 mph and just getting by my car. Rather, they were flying past me. My best estimate is that many had to be traveling at over 90 mph.
I am certain, as are all people familiar with trucking, that not one of those drivers traveling at such a high rate of speed was in control of his unit. And if you have ever driven I-80 in the hills of Pennsylvania, you would certainly understand why I feel certain that these drivers were out of control. Yet there they were, truck after truck, passing my car. I was amazed — and scared. Not scared that the driver was possibly fatigued, but scared at his obvious rate of speed, and the realization that he could not have been in control of his unit.
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My wife looked at me in horror as one truck passed us, and she asked if our company trucks are allowed to travel at such unsafe speeds. The fact is, they cannot. We govern our units to cruise at 65 mph. Perhaps it is a practice other companies should consider. Our industry has enough of an image problem with all the publicity we are now getting on fatigue. We should not hold ourselves open to other problems because we allow our drivers to drive at speeds I would not even consider driving my car. I have no doubt that fatigue is the issue of the day, but as far as I am concerned, the real problem is speed.
Genesis Transportation is a flatbed carrier in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.
