Tracking the Use of Onboard Safety Technologies Across the Truck Fleet

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) initiated the Onboard Safety Technologies project in 2007, supported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), to collect detailed information about the penetration of onboard safety technologies in the trucking fleet and future use of these technologies. This study focused on six technologies: lane departure warning systems (LDWS), electronic stability control (ESC), forward collision warning systems (FCWS), side collision warning systems (SCWS), automatic cruise control (ACC) and vehicle tracking systems (TRACKING). Using a stratified random sample survey of the entire truck fleet, the study provides estimates of current and future usage of each technology. The source for the sample was the 2007 Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) file. Interviews were also conducted with companies with high penetration of the technologies as well as system suppliers of the technologies, in order to gather more detailed information about usage and future technology direction. The results of the survey show the expected low levels of usage of LDWS, FCWS, and SCWS, slightly higher levels of usage of ESC, and much higher usage of TRACKING. Analysis shows higher usage related to larger company size. Company usage of these technologies is expected to double over the next five years. The main factors noted by participants for using the technologies that vary little among the technologies include: proven safety benefits of the technologies, positive feedback by drivers, driver improvement, improved safety culture, reduced cost of accidents, and insurance benefits. The interviews yielded important views about the cost advantages of usage, the difficulty of justifying the purchase of the technologies, alternatives to safety technologies, and the future of technology integration.