Arkansas DOT and Trucking Association partner with Drivewyze to provide free in-cab safety alerts for truck drivers

Technology

Arkansas provides traffic alerts to truck drivers by partnering with Drivewyze

May 14, 2024

Aside from real-time alerts, Arkansas is also providing drivers with virtual sign messaging that may help them prepare for special traffic conditions or provide alternative routes.

FleetOwner Staff

Drivewyze has announced that the Arkansas Department of Transportation and the Arkansas Trucking Association have collaborated to provide free in-cab safety alerts for commercial truck drivers traveling on Arkansas interstates and freeways. These proactive safety alerts are provided free of charge to commercial carriers, thanks to the Arkansas DOT and Arkansas Highway Police, with the support of the American Trucking Associations. The alerts are delivered via the Drivewyze-connected truck network.

“With so much truck traffic in our state, we wanted to find a way to inform truckers traveling on major roadways of sudden slowdowns,” said Joe Hawkins, state intelligent transportation systems engineer from Arkansas DOT. “It’s clear that if a truck driver knows of an upcoming sudden slowdown before he or she sees brake lights, accidents can be avoided. It takes a lot of time for a truck to slow down, and the extra time afforded by these alerts can make all the difference in preventing a crash.”

Through Drivewyze’s Smart Roadways service, which helps state agencies extend the reach of their safety messaging programs right into the cabs of commercial trucks, more than 800 miles of roadways in Arkansas are monitored for real-time traffic activity. In addition to real-time alerts, Arkansas is providing drivers with virtual sign messaging that can help drivers prepare for special traffic conditions or be advised of alternative routes.

Arkansas is the 10th state to offer these alerts, which provide visual in-cab messages such as “sudden slowdown ahead” along with an audible chime. The alerts are configured to allow ample time for trucks to slow down or stop. The program is provided for free to drivers and fleets as part of the Drivewyze Free safety service, which runs on most ELDs, telematics devices, smartphones, and tablets.

Arkansas provides a major corridor connecting California and North Carolina, with I-40 handling most of the traffic. Between Little Rock and Memphis, it’s estimated that more than 60% of the traffic consists of 18-wheelers. The state is also home to some of the largest trucking companies in the U.S.

“We’re thrilled that the Arkansas DOT and its highway police division have come on board to invest in safety with in-vehicle alerts designed especially for truckers,” said Brian Heath, CEO of Drivewyze. “The state has a great partnership with the Arkansas Trucking Association, and it was gratifying to see the collaboration the two organizations have and are building on with the rollout and support for this new safety program. With so many trucks residing and passing through the state, we know we can move the needle on highway safety.”