Letters to the Editor: SafeStat Scores, Hypermiling

These letters appear in the June 18 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

SafeStat Scores

In response to the letter headlined, “SafeStat Scores”: I am not sure what kind of experience the letter writer has, but several states target companies with higher SafeStat scores. (Click here for previous letter.)

The SafeStat score is lopsided in that it unfairly gives a small carrier a higher percentage score. If you have three trucks and one gets put out of service, a third of your fleet affects the score. But if you have 100 trucks and one gets put out of service, it means nada, zip, nothing.

Many of these Department of Transportation officers have openly stated, “If I pull them around, I’m going to write them.” My company logs are perfect; we have never had an accident in eight years of operation. But my SafeStat score is over the top because of two drivers I had for a period of eight months out of 30 and whom I terminated. I have worked very hard to maintain my equipment, but I now forbid drivers to go to Missouri or Colorado.

Michael Boyle
Chief Executive Officer
Frigitrans Inc.
Tampa, Fla.

Hypermiling

I have read the article on hypermiling. (Click here for previous article.) So so why is it dangerous? You say it is dangerous, but what are some of the problems with it? Are there any statistics that show crashes related to hypermiling? Driving in general is dangerous; should we not do that all together? I found the article as written not very interesting or useful.

Matthew Lipscomb
Engineer
Virginia Department of Transportation
Lynchburg, Va.