p>With the purchase of nearly 1,300 Freightliner Cascadia 2010 tractors equipped with an integrated suite of advanced driver alert and truck control technologies, Con-way Freight (NYSE: CNW) is taking the next step in safety with aninvestment totaling more than $100 million.

The package includes systems to provide rollover stability, front collision and lane departure warnings and an in-dash entertainment system. The suite of systems represents $5.4 million of the $100 million purchase, all designed to improve the safety profile of the carrier.

“We know, and research shows, smart technologies like these have the potential to prevent accidents,” Bob Petrancosta, vice president of safety, told Fleet Owner. The approximately 1,300 vehicles represent about 15% of the total fleet for the LTL carrier.

Testing of the technologies began back in February 2009. In partnership with FMCSA and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), Con-way Freight participated in the Dept. of Transportation-funded Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety System (IVBSS) program. As part of its participation, Con-way Freight purchased ten Class 8 tractors equipped with the IVBSS suite of technologies and placed them into service.

The testing is part of an UMTRI study on safety that will be released this summer.

“Advanced technologies that have proven safety benefits hold great promise for making our highways safer,” said Bill Graves, president & CEO of American Trucking Assns. “Con-way Freight’s significant investment illustrates their leadership and commitment to further developing and testing these technologies.”

Petrancosta said the company had tested both forward-collision warning systems and lane departure systems prior to the IVBSS program, but that the technology has improved significantly since then.