What Safety Strategies and Technologies are Trucking Fleets Using in 2024

October 7, 2024

In today’s trucking industry, safety and compliance are critical components that fleet managers prioritize to ensure smooth operations and reduce risks. As the industry evolves, so do the technologies and strategies that fleets use to maintain high safety standards. The HDT/Work Truck 2024 Safety Survey provides insights into how medium- and heavy-duty truck fleets are addressing these concerns. This blog will explore the strategies, technologies, and regulatory developments shaping the future of trucking safety.

Top Safety Strategies in Trucking Fleets

The 2024 Safety Survey reveals that fleet managers continue to focus on proven safety strategies. Let’s dive into the most popular approaches trucking companies are taking to maintain safety on the road.

1. Well-Maintained Vehicles

Maintaining vehicles in top condition is the leading safety strategy, as highlighted by 100% of survey respondents. Well-maintained vehicles reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and accidents, ensuring trucks are safe and roadworthy.

2. Written Safety Policies and Procedures

A structured approach to safety management, including written policies and procedures, ranked second in the survey, with 67% of fleet managers implementing this strategy. Clear safety policies help ensure that all drivers and employees understand the safety expectations, reducing risks across the fleet.

3. Strict Driver Hiring Standards

Hiring the right drivers is crucial for fleet safety. Strict hiring standards ranked third, with 59% of respondents emphasizing the importance of vetting drivers thoroughly before they get behind the wheel.

4. Driver Training and a Culture of Safety

Driver training programs (57%) and cultivating a culture of safety (56%) round out the top five safety strategies. Ongoing training helps drivers stay up to date on safety protocols, while a strong safety culture promotes responsible behavior across all levels of the organization.

The Role of Technology in Fleet Safety

With advancements in technology, trucking fleets now have more tools at their disposal to monitor and improve safety. Let’s look at the top safety technologies highlighted in the 2024 survey.

Top 10 Safety Technologies in Use

The most commonly used safety technologies include:

Speed Limiters (51%)
Air Disc Brakes (48%)
Forward-Facing In-Cab
Cameras (39%)
Lane Departure Warning
Systems (38%)
Forward Collision
Warning (35%)
Adaptive Cruise Control (32%)
Backup Cameras (32%)
Electronic Stability
Control (31%)
Collision Mitigation with
Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB) (30%)
Side Blindspot
Monitoring (26%)

These technologies allow fleets to prevent accidents, monitor driver behavior, and ensure that trucks operate within safe limits. Among them, speed limiters and air disc brakes stand out as the top two, with more than half of fleets using these systems.

Differences in Adoption Among Fleet Sizes

While large fleets (100+ trucks) are more likely to adopt advanced safety technologies, smaller fleets (under 25 trucks) lag behind in implementation. For example, more than twice the percentage of large fleets use speed limiters compared to small fleets. This discrepancy may stem from budget constraints or a lack of regulatory pressure on smaller operators. However, forward-facing cameras show consistent adoption across fleet sizes, with 39% of respondents using them. Larger fleets (40%) are slightly ahead of smaller fleets (30%) in adopting this technology, which is gaining popularity as it helps monitor driver performance and provide visual evidence in case of incidents.

Emerging Safety Technologies for the Future

The survey also sheds light on the top safety technologies fleets plan to implement in the next year. These include:

Air Disc Brakes (18%)
Forward-Facing Cameras (16%)
Backup Cameras (16%)
Speed Limiters (15%)
Side Blindspot Monitoring (12%)
Dual-Facing In-Cab Cameras (11%)
Forward Collision Warning (9%)
Collision Mitigation Systems (9%)
Lane Departure Warning (9%)

The adoption of dash cams has significantly increased, climbing from eighth place in 2022 to third place in 2024. This growing trend shows that fleets are investing more in technologies that improve driver accountability and provide evidence for insurance and regulatory purposes.

The Debate Around Speed Limiters: Should They Be Mandatory?

The use of speed limiters has been a point of discussion for over a decade, with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considering making them mandatory for heavy-duty trucks. While the rule is expected to be proposed in 2025, some industry experts, such as retired FMCSA official Jack Van Steenburg, believe the proposal is unlikely to pass. Despite this, many fleets have voluntarily adopted speed limiters as part of their safety protocols. 51% of survey respondents already use speed limiters, with the most common settings between 68 and 70 mph. Additionally, 15% of fleets plan to implement speed limiters in the next year, showing a steady increase in voluntary adoption. Speed limiters not only enhance safety but also contribute to fuel efficiency, making them a win-win for many fleet operators.

The Crash Preventability Determination Program: An Underused Resource

The FMCSA Crash Preventability Determination Program, launched in 2020, offers fleets the chance to reduce their Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores by identifying non-preventable crashes. These include incidents where the truck was not at fault, such as accidents caused by another vehicle running a red light. However, the survey revealed that only 20% of fleets have taken advantage of this program, down from 23% in 2022. Many fleet managers may be unaware of this opportunity, or they may find the process too complex or time-consuming.

Conclusion: The Road Ahead for Fleet Safety

As the trucking industry continues to grow, so do the challenges related to safety and compliance. Well-maintained vehicles, driver training, and advanced safety technologies such as speed limiters and forward-facing cameras are proving essential for fleet managers who want to reduce risks and improve safety outcomes. While larger fleets are leading the way in adopting these technologies, smaller fleets are gradually catching up. With potential regulations on the horizon and the ongoing development of new safety tools, it’s clear that safety will remain a top priority for fleet managers in the years to come. As we move toward a future where automated emergency braking and other advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) become standard, the trucking industry must continue to adapt to ensure safety remains at the forefront of every journey.