The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is giving fleets the opportunity to weigh in on ways to improve the safety of commercial vehicles. The agency is holding its 2020 Trucking Safety Summit virtually on Aug. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT.
According to FMCSA, the purpose of the meeting is to provide trucking industry stakeholders, including fleets, the opportunity to share their ideas on “improving safe operation of property-carrying commercial motor vehicles on our nation’s roadways.”
There also will be panel discussions as part of the summit. In two panels, representatives from fleets will share what is working for them in the area of safety. This seems like a great opportunity to pick up tips from fleets like Schneider, YRCW, Werner, Maverick, Knight-Swift and others. State public safety and patrol organizations will also be presenting their thoughts in another panel. There will even be a “case study” that looks at Florida’s safety story.
Another session will focus on technologies that can be spec’d to improve safety. With truck technology changing so quickly, this might be a good way to get up-to-speed on what technology is available today and how effective it is and what is coming up in the future.
The event will conclude with a public comment period. If you wish to speak during the Open Forum Session, you must register in advance — in fact you must register for each session.
If you are going to comment, FMCSA asks that you “keep public comments short and succinct.”
While I am sure all of you have instituted a variety of safety practices in your operations, hearing what other fleets have been doing in their operations, and what state safety organizations think, should give you new ideas on how you can make your own fleet even safer.
I suggest you spend a little time reviewing your own safety practices and then think about what is needed to improve safety for not only commercial vehicles on the roads but for everyone we share the roads with. You might also consider asking other people in your operation what they think needs to be done. I am betting drivers, technicians, dispatchers, etc. all have some great ideas on changes you can make to your operation to improve safety.
Even if you choose not to attend FMCSA’s Summit and share your comments, time spent thinking about ways to be safer is never wasted.
