Fleet Safety and Driver Monitoring

Driver behavior contributes to over 90 percent of the crashes that kill tens of thousands of people and cost billions of dollars annually. Improving fleet safety involves more than simple driver monitoring and reactive policy measures—it requires a proactive solution to verbally coach drivers in real-time to develop safer driving habits.

ORBCOMM technology is squarely focused on the driver, and offers the only real-time fleet safety solution that detects unsafe driver behavior and offers verbal coaching before a crash or fineable offense occurs.

Improve Fleet Safety with Verbal Driver Coaching

• In-cab Verbal Coaching: Send automated in-cab verbal alerts in real-time when drivers are speeding or driving aggressively.
• Speed-by-Street™: Send automated verbal alerts when drivers exceed the speed limit on any given road segment.
• Lane Departure & Collision Avoidance: Alert drivers in real-time if they drift outside their lane or get too close to other vehicles.

Keep Drivers Safe and in View

• Seat Belt Use Alerts: Ensure drivers are wearing a seat belt by sending alerts to drivers and managers.
• Crash & Roll Over Detection: Receive instant notification via phone, text or e-mail when a vehicle has been in a crash.
• Road Hazard Awareness: Allow drivers to communicate with each other regarding hazardous areas including debris, construction and severe weather conditions.
• Emergency Call/Panic Button: Call for help via hands-free cell network communication with a single push of a button.
• Signal Jamming Detection: Help prevent hijacking by detecting the use of GPS and GSM jammers. Track stolen vehicles via GPS.

Monitor Drivers for Enhanced Fleet Performance

• Automated Exception Alerts: Receive instant notifications via text, e-mail or phone call when a driver commits a serious violation.
• Driver/Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIR): Create fully customizable vehicle inspection checklists for operators to complete electronically.
• Driver/Fleet Scoring: Automate driver/fleet scorecards to identify safe drivers and those in need of additional training.
• Work Alone Timer: Allow drivers to set up timers warning management if they do not return to the vehicle within a given time frame.
• Vehicle Inspection Alerts: Send timed checklist alerts to remind drivers of pre/post-trip instructions and inspection requirements.

Source: https://www.orbcomm.com/en/industries/transportation-and-distribution/fleet-safety-and-driver-monitoring

Safety Tools Truck Drivers Need to Have

Truck drivers perform an important but dangerous work. Safety then should always be a top priority whether on the road or loading and unloading the boxes and crates they're required to deliver. The task proves to be more tiresome particularly if the driver works alone with no companion to help in the loading and unloading aspect.

In the U.S., trucks are among the vehicles that often get involved in road accidents. In 2000 alone, the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that more than 450,000 big trucks encountered accidents.

Currently, there are approximately 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S. handling different types and sizes of trucks. These people should have undergone the necessary CDL or commercial driver's license training that is one of the important qualifications considered by companies when hiring truck drivers.

Trucks need to have the right safety tools that will allow them to fix problems during their travel and navigation devices to guide them when locating their destination. For those who transport huge boxes, they also need to have the proper equipment such as levers for loading and unloading purposes.

GPS navigation device - This is a very important tool that helps drivers locate the place they're going to. With its small monitor, drivers will be able to view a map of their area of destination. There are also units that have voice features and tell drivers the streets they can take.

Vehicle backup camera - As it's hard to monitor a truck's blind spots, having a backup camera is very helpful. This is normally attached on the top part of the license plate and is connected to a monitor positioned on the dashboard or sun visor. With this tool, a driver can easily check what's behind the truck while backing up or moving along the highways before changing lanes or making turns. It's an affordable device that's a must today for all types of vehicles.

Jack and tire iron - You never know when you'll get a flat tire or your tires experience low pressure the reason why having a jack in your truck is very important. The CDL training course will teach you the right way of changing tires so this should not be a problem in case you encounter flat tires during your travel.

Tire chains - Also known as snow chains, these devices are meant to provide traction when you're driving through snow and ice. These are fitted in the drive wheels of the vehicle and are required by transportation authorities during snowy conditions. Usually, they are sold in pairs. When these are in place, you have also to reduce your speed to ensure the safety of your vehicle.

Other than these devices, a truck driver traveling on long hauls should also bring along water, food and extra clothing. There are times when you need to travel through desert areas or places wherein there are no restaurants along the highways so it's always best to be ready.

Getting your CDL training should provide you with the appropriate knowledge on truck driving safety and the tools you need to have while traveling. So never ignore its value for it will benefit you for the long term.

By Kalyan Kumar 

For great information on CDL training, visit Truck-School.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kalyan_Kumar

Who You Gonna Call? A&T Road Service - We'll Get You Back on the Road!

At A&T "Mobile" Truck Road Service we like to think of ourselves as the "Ambulance Service for Trucks." If your truck is broken down, we will come to you and perform the necessary triage to get you back on the road. Now includes towing, load adjustments, and more.

A&T "Mobile" Heavy Duty Truck and Trailer Road Service is a 24-hour, 7-days a week roadside mobile truck repair service for light and medium-duty to heavy duty commercial trucks and trailers. A&T Road Service, a subsidiary of North Bay Truck Center.

Our fleet incudes a 2014 Kenworth (Shown in video) with a 500 hp Cummins and 18-speed gearbox is outfitted with an NRC Quickswap detachable tow unit with a tag axle for extra capacity. This allows the truck to be a wrecker and also a transfer vehicle, so with the unit disconnected, it will tow mobile home units, trailers of all kinds and with the wrecker unit attached is capable of lifting up to 20,000 lb steer axles for heavy duty truck towing. This unit can easily to HD trucks, buses, mobile homes.


Not only do we provide 24 Hour Emergency service, we could come out and do light mechanical work on site to our customer's fleet and avoid the truck having to come in the shop.We will go just about anywhere for anything, at anytime. We have a wide normal service area and have been known to go beyond those boundaries by request. See our Service Area.

Below is a bullet point list of services by A&T Road Service.

 New: In-House TOWING
            Fully Equipped Mobile Repair Units
            Tire Replacement
            Load Adjustments
            Welding
            Fuel Delivery
            Lock-Outs
            Vehicle Storage
            Hydraulics
            DOT & BIT Inspections
            Crane Inspections
            Glass Replacement
            Vehicle Rentals
            Liftgate Repairs and Service
            Tens of Thousands of Parts In Stock


North Bay Truck Center is centrally located in Fairfield CA to service all of Solano County along with much of the San Francisco/Oakland bay area and Sacramento. A&T Road Service is available by calling 800-434-1205,

You can also visit our website at http://www.NorthBayTruckCenter.com

PAYLOAD PROBLEMS: HOW MUCH CAN I (REALLY) TOW? RV Truck & Trailer

How much can really be towed?

North Bay Truck Center - Home of A&T Road Service

North Bay Truck Center
Home of A&T Road Service
1245 Illinois Street
Fairfield, CA 94533

A&T "Mobile" Heavy Duty Truck and Trailer Road Service is a 24-hour, 7-days a week roadside mobile truck repair service for light and medium-duty to heavy duty commercial trucks and trailers. At A&T "Mobile" Truck Road Service we like to think of ourselves as the "Ambulance Service for Trucks." If your truck is broken down, we will come to you and perform the necessary triage to get you back on the road. Now includes towing, load adjustments, and more. Not only do we provide 24 Hour Emergency service, we could come out and do light mechanical work on site to our customer's fleet and avoid the truck having to come in the shop.

Find us at: https://www.truckmobilerepair.com/

Tire Maintenance: It’s Not Just Checking Tire Pressure

You have built a $3 to $30 million business over one or more generations, and you are making an appropriate profit most years. Do you think about liability? I bet you do, but do you relate that to tire failures and more specifically to catastrophic tire failures? What happens to your business if a worn, damaged tire fails at speed — it doesn’t even have to be high speed — and your driver loses control of your fleet vehicle and it plows into another vehicle?

If one or more of the occupants is a young to middle-aged passenger, especially a working mother or father, your liability skyrockets. I like to call this the $5 million accident. You don’t want to lose your business in the event of one of these failures just because you were lax in making sure that your tires were in good condition. Let’s see what you can do to avoid this type of situation where your tires are concerned.

learn more at: http://www.worktruckonline.com/channel/safety-accident-management/article/story/2017/11/tire-maintenance-it-s-not-just-checking-tire-pressure.aspx

Truck Tire Blowouts

This is a video that teaches drivers how to deal with a steer tire blowout

EcoSkirt™ Semi Truck Skirt

The STEMCO EcoSkirt™ truck skirt improves fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag under the trailer where air hits the trailer’s rear axles. The EcoSkirt™ side fairings streamline and guide the air around the sides and to the back of the truck trailer. By combining EcoSkirt™ with the STEMCO TrailerTail^®, fleets can achieve 8-12% fuel savings.

Ultra-Flex Panels.

EcoSkirt™ fairings are constructed of an ultra-durable and flexible thermoplastic composite material similar to that used in trailer scuff liners. The material’s fibers allow the panels to withstand frequent impacts with road elements such as concrete curbs, steep loading docks and ice banks. The material is also extremely lightweight for minimal payload impact.

Universal Application.

EcoSkirt™ technology is compatible with all trailer models and is available to be factory installed on new trailer orders or retrofitted to your existing fleet. Custom options are available for trailer applications requiring access to underside-mounted equipment such as hydraulic life-gate boxes, loading ramps and spare tire carriers.

Proven to reduce under-trailer aerodynamic drag by directing airflow smoothly to the back of the trailer.

Durability.

The EcoSkirt™ reinforced panels are designed to give with impact and return to form, resist extreme heat, cold and precipitation, and employ galvanized steel hardware for tough, corrosion-free performance, year after year.

Options.

EcoSkirt™ panels are offered in a variety of configurations to best fit your fleet profile and operating needs. Custom options, including colors, decals and shapes, are available to maximize branding visibility.

Safety.

EcoSkirt™ side fairings streamline the airflow under and around your semi-trailers, stabilizing your trailers and improving visibility by reducing road spray. The EcoSkirt™ also acts as a protective guard, mitigating the occurrence and severity of under-vehicle accidents with vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

To learn more on how much you can save with EcoSkirt™, contact a STEMCO sales representative, or call 888-283-8245.

A & T Road Service - Big Rig Capability- Big Area Coverage!

North Bay Truck Center and A&T Road Service offers heavy duty towing services. We have the most flexible and useful rigs to tow the biggest trucks on the road, along with big buses, and large RV units. See some detail below about our latest truck additions.

Our normal service area covers the best part of the bay area and Sacramento region; however, we now have capability to tow across the country if needed. Our A&T Road Service has expanded so much that we had to add towing to make it even more effective and timely.

Included in our towing fleet is the HD Kenworth tow truck shown above, its a number 30 with the Holmes D.T.U. (Detachable Towing Unit). This proven design and technology comes from the most trusted name in the towing industry. The front legs allow the unit to be easily removed in a matter of minutes so the truck can be multi-functional for both towing or pulling trailers. It has a lifting capacity of 16,000 lbs when extended and will extend up to 113 inches past the tailboard.

Our normal service area covers the best part of the bay area and Sacramento region; however, we now have capability to tow across the country if needed. Our A&T Road Service has expanded so much that we had to add towing to make it even more effective and timely.

Need a tow? Call 1-800-434-1205

A & T Road (and Shop) Service

If we need to take it to our shop, we have a full service truck repair facility with the capability to service and repair virtually any truck or trailer.

We repair engines, axles, brakes, electrical, hydraulic, tires and wheels, trailers, air brakes and hoses, transmissions and we even do a little body repair when needed. We carry replacement parts and all the tools we need to get what ever needs fixing done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Most of the time, we can do the repairs at the site of the truck breakdown. 

But if we have to tow, at our facility, we have tens of thousands of parts, fittings, filters (we have one of the largest selections of Baldwin filters in the U.S.), brake linings, belts, hoses, brake drums, electrical parts--you name it and we probably have it and if not, we can get it very, very quickly. We have a large selection of Grote lighting products including LED. We stock a huge selection of Goodyear belts and hoses for all truck uses. Our entire business at North Bay Truck Center and A&T Road Service is fixing your truck right the first time in the minimum amount of time.