The safety of those with truck driving jobs is a rising concern. Programs have been created and steps have been taken to ensure that every possibility to ensure the safety of truck drivers is examined. However, the American Trucking Association along with the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association has discovered one area where the safety of commercial trucks is lacking.
On June 8, 2011 the ATA teamed up with the OOIDA to write a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requesting research on crashworthiness standards for commercial trucks. Crashworthiness tests have been conducted for a wide variety of vehicles in the past years, including light trucks, but not a single test has been conducted to improve the safety of large-scale commercial trucks.
The letter written by the team addressed a few main points where those with truck driving jobs can benefit most from a crashworthiness standard. The largest area where improvement can be made is the survival rate of commercial truck drivers. The letter referred to a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration where it was discovered that approximately 700 truck drivers have lost their lives each year for the last 10 years in either single or multi-vehicle large truck crashes.
Appalled by this number, the letter proposed improvements with cab structure, occupant restraints such as safety belts and airbags, windshield and door strength, and installing more forgiving interior surfaces to ensure the safety of the drivers. The ATA and OOIDA strongly urged the research saying, "We believe there may be opportunities to enhance the survivability of professional truck drivers if appropriate, research-based, uniform standards are developed."
There is great room for improvement when it comes to the crashworthiness of commercial trucks. The proposed research could result in many lives saved, and it is time the safety of truck drivers was held at the same standard as all other motor vehicle users. As stated by OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer; "The most valuable, even most precious, cargo truckers haul is themselves and it’s time that our standards reflect that value."
To read the letter submitted by the American Trucking Associations and the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, visit
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