Perspective

Private fleets stand out as a dynamically growing transportation market. The largest sector of the trucking industry, they account for approximately 50% of all Class 8 truck sales, and own or lease some three out of four Class 4 through Class 8 trucks on the road. Around 40% of all leased trucks are to private fleet companies.

In the past several years, fleets of all sizes have invested heavily in technology, with the intent of maintaining or creating a competitive advantage.

It seems no good deed goes unpunished for the trucking industry. After climbing out of the bottom of the recession, demand for transporting goods is finally on the rise, and the industry is as steady as it has been in years. While this is encouraging, the rise in demand brings its own set of problems.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced in a Federal Register notice that starting Aug. 23, carriers and drivers will be able to request the removal of roadside inspection violations from agency data systems to more accurately reflect outcomes of judicial proceedings. What does this mean — and why should it matter to you?

As I watched the video of a man sitting passively in the driver seat, I marveled at just how easily the vehicle managed to properly steer itself. What amazed me even further was when I was told the footage was from the 1950s.

Fatigue is a problem. It’s a common one for just about every job imaginable. The consequences of fatigue, however, are far greater for those who operate motor vehicles. You put yourself and the lives of others in danger when you’re drowsy. But let’s face it, if you’re a trucker, you’ve probably driven when you really should not have because you were tired.

A lot of attention has been given recently to the ongoing driver shortage and the various strategies to resolve it. Much of the focus has been on driver pay.

While debate continues on hours of service, truck size and weight, and their effect on truck productivity, we should not lose sight of an issue that has been consistently raised by major trucking groups and relates to time lost at the loading docks of shippers and receivers.

Within all segments of the trucking industry, safety is always a priority. Two recent incidents — an extremely offensive ad from a personal injury law firm depicting a Class 8 tractor with the words “Serial Killer” at the top and a tragic accident involving comedian Tracy Morgan — have generated outside attention to perceived lack of safety in the industry.

Recent articles have stated that truck capacity is running close to 100%. Industry experts have been saying the increased freight volume that comes with sustained economic growth, plus other factors such as a long bout of poor weather, could create a truly critical situation.