ATA, OOIDA Ask U.S. to Study Crashes to Improve Safety Standards for Truck Cabs

Motivated by concerns over driver safety, American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association united in asking the federal government to research the idea of national standards to improve a driver’s chances of surviving an accident in a Class 7 or 8 truck cab.

Officers of ATA and OOIDA on June 8 asked the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations to “commence research and data analysis on how crashworthiness standards for the tractor/truck cabs of commercial motor vehicles . . . could have safety benefits for professional truck drivers.”

The joint letter recommended research on post-crash safety that would address im-proved cab structure; restraints such as seatbelts and air bags; stronger windshield and doors; and “more forgiving interior surfaces,” such as energy-absorbing steering columns and padded surfaces.

DOT research found an average of almost 723 commercial vehicle driver fatalities per year from 2000 to 2009.

“Making our highways safer, especially for our drivers, is one of ATA’s highest priorities. ATA has made setting crashworthiness standards a part of our progressive safety agenda, and we’re proud to stand with OOIDA in calling on the federal government to take these important first steps that will reduce injuries and fatalities among America’s professional truck drivers,” the trucking group’s president, Bill Graves, said in a June 8 statement about the joint request.

“The most valuable — even most precious — cargo truckers haul is themselves, and it’s time that our standards reflect that value,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president. He and David Osiecki, ATA senior vice president, signed the letter to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland and FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro.

Trucking shows such as Mid-America in Louisville, Ky., and similar events feature safety technology from suppliers such as Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Meritor Wabco, Eaton Corp. and others, that keep trucks stable and reduce rollovers. However, ATA director of engineering Ted Scott explained that the new effort tries to address safety from a different angle.

“Those systems are electronic devices related to the engine control module that handle braking and tire rotation. They’re somewhat like anti-lock braking. What we’re talking about is surviving in the space of the cab,” said Scott, adding that ATA is only asking for research now and not regulations.

The joint letter said that the associations were approaching NHTSA because the agency has historically done similar work for cars and light trucks, but now it is time to look at Class 7 and 8 trucks as well.

Although there are similarities between cars and large trucks, Spencer said there is also a substantial difference in that trucks can have about 50,000 pounds of trailer and freight slamming into the back of a cab in case of an accident.

Spencer said he thinks a coordinated effort by NHTSA would result in improved safety, and that it might not add much to the cost of a new truck.

“We generally believe the collective knowledge to improve survivability is already available. It just needs to be harnessed in one common direction,” Spencer said. Added costs would “pale in comparison” to the cost additions from other recent truck requirements on emission controls and safety, he said.