Heavy Duty Trucking, January 2019

JANUARY 2019 HDT 59 WWW TRUCKINGINFO COM unloading product for example can be an easy way to enhance driver retention and productivity Safer and easier delivery methods can definitely help fleets attract drivers especially in the foodservice market where the job is physically demanding agrees Eurell Eubanks director of national accounts for Great Dane Trailers Making the job safer and easier is absolutely critical to retaining drivers And the fleet benefits because providing drivers with safer equipment can help prevent accidents which means fewer workers compensation claims and fewer drivers out of commission See and be seen Trailer and body safety begins with visibility says Brett Johnson president and CEO of vehicle lighting supplier Optronics Im old enough to remember when youd step into a truck body or trailer and there was literally no lighting whatsoever he says with a laugh If you were lucky maybe you had an old dome light on the ceiling But it usually didnt work And often the only light you had to work in was whatever filtered in from outside the vehicle Johnson believes lighting is soon going to be even more critical for efficient fleet operations If you look at where this industry is headed in terms of more online generated orders as well as explosive growth in the in home grocery delivery market segments there is no doubt that working after dark and into the night is going to become the norm for many urban delivery fleets he says And that means that good reliable lighting systems both on the interior and exterior of a truck are going to be critical for safety and efficiency Truck Lite for instance offers perimeter lighting adding up to 5 feet of light for visibility in areas where dome or back up lighting will not reach The company says its ideal for use with liftgate trailers and body vehicles Inside trailers and bodies Johnson says a new emphasis on reliable lighting has led to new corner mounted LED lamps that can illuminate an entire van interior while being immune from damage from forklifts and shifting cargo And he believes that as time progresses the use of sensor activated lighting will become the norm so when workers are present lights are on Good interior and exterior visibility helps everyone Johnson says Your employees will be more aware of your surroundings And your vehicles will be more conspicuous to other vehicles and pedestrians around them Going hand in hand with better lighting is the increased use of camera systems both inside and outside trailers and bodies says Steve Mason Midwest regional manager for Mickey Truck Bodies Back up cameras even on small units are becoming much more common The majority of the bodies and trailers Mickey Truck Bodies sells will be doing delivery in city streets and parking lots venues with a great deal of auto and foot traffic A back up camera can be your only defense when trying to navigate backing up in a parking lot Great Dane which makes both trailers and bodies is also introducing electronic technology to boost collision avoidance and pedestrian safety The ReverseAlert 4 in 1 backup alarm system combines all stop tail turn and back up functions into one single industry standard size lamp Eubanks explains It activates sounding a horn and activating lights when the trailer wheels turn backward providing greater safety for both drivers and pedestrians We have also partnered with ASA Electronics to design the industrys smallest wireless rear mounted camera system which gives drivers increased awareness of the action behind their rigs on the road in parking lots and during docking maneuvers These cameras can help avoid accidents and increase driver and pedestrian safety More features are coming soon adds Chris Lee director of engineering for Great Dane He says the company is developing its FleetPulse telematics system which uses sensors strategically placed throughout the trailer to help monitor things such as tire inflation lights out open and closed doors cargo weight and more These sensors collect data that can help users maximize the utilization of their assets and better manage the maintenance and repair of their equipment Lee says But they also provide real time alert notifications to inform drivers and fleet owners of issues while on the road to help enhance safety improve equipment uptime and prevent potential CSA violations and fines Other trailer telematics systems are available that offer similar capabilities such as Truck Lites Road Ready Grote Guardian and TrailerNet from Phillips Connect Technologies Read more about smart trailers in our October 2018 issue In short theres a new way of thinking about safety in the truck body and trailer which has clear benefits for heavy and medium duty fleets cutting costs and keeping drivers healthier and happier There is no doubt that working after dark and into the night is going to become the norm for many urban delivery fleets Brett Johnson Optronics Camera systems are becoming increasingly common for medium duty urban fleets PHOTO MICKEY TRUCK BODIES