Smith to deploy E-Smart speed technology
Refrigerated transporter Smith Trucking now is implementing E-Smart’s dynamic speed management system across its entire fleet in a bid to lower potential claims, fuel expenses, and other costs.
“E-Smart’s dynamic speed management technology is a more effective investment than the umbrella insurance coverage we’ve been buying because it gives us better control for the money,” Mike Smith, Smith Trucking vice president and general manager, said in a news release. “Speeding was a factor in our higher CSA scores, so we knew that managing speed would help greatly reduce that issue and better protect ourselves from liability and potentially very costly litigation.”
The family-owned, Worthington, Minnesota-based carrier plans to use the E-Smart system to limit truck speeds on interstates and local roads with lower posted speed limits. System installations are expected to be completed this fall, the parties reported.
Smith also expects effective speed management to improve fuel mileage and lower costs associated with tire replacement and equipment wear. “Controlling speed also improves safety for our drivers and other motorists,” he said. “It will take some time, but we believe we will be able to look back and say that E-SMART paid for itself and really changed things for us.”
Using advanced positioning technology, the E-Smart system determines the location of assets in real time to actively govern their maximum safe speed a company sets through the customer portal. E-Smart communicates with an ECU installed in the truck to control the throttle and can be used to set verbal notifications for each zone.
“With insurance costs for motor carriers rising, Smith Trucking’s decision to invest in preventing accidents by utilizing our advanced speed limiter technology is an effective and forward-thinking approach,” said Joe Thell, E-Smart senior vice president. “We are pleased they have decided to use our system to reduce their risk, lower costs, and improve safety.”
