Safer, but Slower?

By Mike Howe

March 1st, 2010

The challenges that face the trucking industry are many, and there are generally no easy answers regarding how best to tackle them. Safety issues and economic issues seem to be the priority of the trucking and regulatory industries right now. As the United States struggles to climb out of one of the worst recessions in its history, the

trucking industry struggles as well. And, despite having seen impressive safety results recently, regulatory agencies continue to put the thumbs on drivers.

Actually, it might be better stated that regulatory agencies are limiting the use of thumbs by drivers. It was only last September that a Distracted Driving Summit was held. One of the items discussed was texting. At the time of this writing, fewer than half of the states ban texting while driving, yet in January the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented a federal ban on texting for commercial truck drivers.

In making the announcement, Ann Ferro, administrator for FMCSA, said, “Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab. We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit.”

This move was supported by most in the trucking industry, and let’s be honest, it is not an easy one to argue against. The problem some, including myself, have with this is that it is still legal for drivers of personal vehicles

to text in more than half the states. Perhaps trucking is regulated first because it is easiest to accomplish as a result of federal oversight, but equality is also important. Why does the government not “encourage” states to ban

texting in personal vehicles? The government “encouraged” the raising of the drinking age to 21 several years ago by threatening to hold federal highway funds.

As it stands now, truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750. The question one might ask is, why does the federal government appear concerned about only a portion of the driving population?

While safety is a priority for truck drivers, trucking companies and regulators, it may be difficult to fully measure the effectiveness of the new safety measures if the economy continues to struggle. The American Trucking

Association (ATA) announced in late January that 2009 saw the biggest drop in truck tonnage (the amount of goods shipped) since 1982. It dropped 8.3 percent in 2009.

November and December saw some modest increase in truck tonnage, but that trend is not expected to continue. ATA chief economist Bob Costello says that while tonnage jumped again on a month-to-month basis, the rate of increase may slow in the coming months. “The robust tonnage numbers in November and December were aided by better economic growth as well as a positive inventory effect,” Costello notes. “However, economic activity is expected to moderate in the current quarter, which will keep a lid on tonnage growth.”

There are indications, however, that the economy is turning around. “While the index was moving toward positive year-over-year readings in recent months, December’s gain was due, in part, to a 7.8 percent plunge a

year earlier. There is no doubt that the industry is moving the right direction, but the level of freight will not be as strong as the year-over-year increases suggest because of how terrible it was in late 2008 and much of 2009,”

explains Costello.

Interestingly, the trucking industry tends to serve as a barometer of the U.S. economy. Before sales and revenue pick up, goods must be shipped. So, as the tonnage rises, that will suggest an increase in other areas in the near future.

The trucking industry will continue to see new regulations related to safety, and will continue to be a barometer for the U.S. economy. Will the ban on texting work? Will there be revised hours-of-service regulations in the

near future? Will the economy rebound, thus resulting in an increase in truck tonnage? If it does rebound, that is the time to really measure and determine the effectiveness of the new safety regulations. Until then, the industry

may be safer because it is slower.