In 2014, a devastating accident occurred near Odessa, Texas, resulting in the death of a 7 and 12-year-old. A pickup truck driver lost control on an icy interstate, causing the vehicle to cross the median and collide with an oncoming tractor-trailer. While the initial assumption would be to blame the pickup truck driver, the courts and jury saw it differently. In their eyes, the truck driver was not driving slow enough.
Fast forward to 2018, when a Texas jury awarded a staggering $92 million to the victims’ family. This decision was later upheld by Texas’ 14th Court of Appeals. The judges unanimously agreed on several crucial factors: the presence of black ice on the highway, the truck driver’s failure to adjust their speed for the weather conditions, and the potential for less severe injuries had the truck been operating at a slower speed.
In light of these findings, the defendant motor carrier, Werner Enterprises, was deemed responsible for creating unreasonable dangers for other travelers in hazardous weather conditions. The judges pointed out that the carrier should have reasonably anticipated the risks and taken appropriate measures to protect others on the road.
All motor carriers can learn from this landmark case and understand the importance of communicating weather-related information to drivers.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, weather and environmental factors contribute to 3% of large truck accidents in the U.S. While this may seem like a small percentage, these accidents can be costly. The good news is that most of them can be prevented if truck drivers and fleets take proper precautions.
To keep your business and drivers safe from potential danger on the road and in court, consider utilizing technology to provide timely weather information. Read on for an example of how one fleet accomplishes this using their customized driver app.
Custom driver apps can uplevel your fleet’s communication strategy. These apps connect drivers with all the tools they need for safe and efficient job performance, allowing drivers to stay ahead of the weather with in-app alerts that seamlessly integrate into their daily workflow.
“Using a custom driver app lets fleets get pertinent information to their drivers quickly, which not only helps keep them up-to-date on weather conditions but can also increase driver safety, satisfaction, and retention.,” said Kevin Survance, CEO of Eleos Technologies, a leading provider of custom apps for the trucking industry.
Integrating real-time weather tracking into a custom app enhances driver safety by providing accurate information and instructions for inclement weather conditions along their routes.
A custom mobile driver app allows fleets to quickly and safely communicate with drivers, inside and outside the cab, through hands-free communication. Urgent messages can be identified easily and accessed safely with specific alerts.
Furthermore, fleets can utilize this information in the back office to notify customers about potential delays or disruptions caused by bad weather, ensuring transparency and better customer service.
K&B Transportation, the leader in transporting perishable food products, is committed to driver safety. With their custom driver app developed and supported by Add On Systems (AOS), a certified Eleos integration partner, K&B is putting safety first. Real-time weather updates help drivers plan routes safely, with a dedicated newsfeed in the app that keeps them informed of any potential hazards.
“We put quick links to SafeTravel USA and other weather sites in the menu of our custom app so that drivers are in tune with the weather and how long it’s going to last,” said Matt Fengler of K&B Transportation, which is headquartered in Nebraska. “It’s really improved our communication with our drivers. They appreciate that we’re trying to communicate with them and doing what’s in their best interest by keeping them in the loop as to what’s happening.”
By adding this feature, K&B has been able to improve both safety and operational efficiency. Gone are the days of manually calling each driver to inform them about weather incidents and road shutdowns. Now, with their custom app, everything happens automatically, ensuring immediate and unmissable notifications.
The weather alert feature takes center stage on the application dashboard, ensuring that drivers are promptly notified when serious weather issues arise. To minimize distractions, the alert is even read aloud. Upon receiving the warning, drivers can choose to pull over until the weather clears or be re-routed to a safer path. Before accessing other dashboard features, drivers must acknowledge the alert, guaranteeing that the message is not disregarded.
“Being able to quickly deliver that information has resulted in a reduction of our DOT recordable accidents by about 80%,” Fengler said. “And, so far, this year, there’s about the same decrease in our insurance claims for weather-related accidents.”
The impact of weather on roadways this year has made these numbers even more significant.
“There’s been a lot of weather that has impacted our travel, and we’ve made it through with minor incidents and claims,” Fengler said. “And our ability to communicate with our customers as to when their product is going to get there or where it is along its route is so much cleaner this year. We can relay delivery changes to customers and really speed up the process of getting everybody back on the road and ensuring products are delivered safely.”
K&B has found a valuable solution by integrating weather warnings into its app. This strategic move will bring long-term benefits in terms of improved safety, communication, and efficiency.
Source: Transport Topics
