If Tires Could Talk

If Tires Could Talk

If tires could talk, they would tell of their work to keep large trucks rolling safely down America’s highways despite hazards – extreme weather, snarled traffic, and a driver shortage. Government and industry are mobilizing to ensure that commercial truck drivers are highly trained and alert at the wheel as they carry perishable foods and medicines, live animals, explosives, even nuclear waste.

A semi-truck carrying corn crashed on Oregon’s Interstate 84 highway.
A semi-truck carrying corn crashed on Oregon’s Interstate 84 highway in the Gorge near Multnomah Falls, August 16, 2024. (Photo courtesy Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)

If tires could talk, the stories they would tell are of the essential work of keeping large trucks rolling down America’s highways despite hazards such as extreme weather and heavy traffic. Ensuring that commercial truck drivers are highly trained and alert at the wheel saves lives as they pilot 18-wheelers carrying perishable foods and medicines, live animals, explosives, even nuclear waste.

Their tires tell stories of flaws, cracks, or road wear as they hum, squeal, grind and thump along. They can signal that they are the wrong tires for the truck they’re bearing, or that they are under- or over-inflated. Their voices can inform knowledgeable truck drivers of problems before they happen – or not.

For instance, on August 16, 2024, drivers endured major delays on Oregon’s section of Interstate 84 in the Gorge near Multnomah Falls after a crash involving two semi-trucks. One driver was airlifted to hospital. One truck was carrying whole corn, and corn cobs were scattered across the highway.

In July, five people were killed in a crash involving three tractor-trailers and two SUVs on Interstate 95, the main north-south Interstate Highway along the U.S. East Coast. A tractor-trailer driver hauling orange juice crashed into two SUVs and another tractor-trailer carrying a load of eggs. The truck hauling orange juice burst into flames. The truck filled with eggs careened into a ditch, scattering wasted eggs everywhere. A third tractor-trailer, which was hauling sand, was also hit, said the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP).

The tractor-trailer driver, who NCSHP says caused the crash, has been charged with five counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

And in the city of Nashville, Tennessee in February 2024, a semi-truck carrying radioactive waste caught fire, closing lanes along busy Tennessee Interstate 40.

“NFD crews are working to fully extinguish a fire in a semi-truck, which is carrying hazardous materials, near Exit 204A I40 W,” the Nashville Fire Department wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Traffic to the immediate area has been blocked off. Seek an alternative route.”

Fortunately, the Nashville Fire Department said the hazardous material was low-grade radioactive waste and was isolated in its packaging.

The Role of Tires

Tire blowouts were responsible for 5.6 percent of all trucking accidents, according to the most recent study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from 2001-2003. In most cases, the tire blowout accident could have been prevented, the agency said.

Manufacturing defects, failure to conduct the routine tire inspections required by law, poor tire installation by service personnel are among the reasons for blowouts, the study shows.

Some, but not all, large truck accidents are preventable. As defined by the National Safety Council, a “preventable” accident is an accident in which the driver “fails to do everything reasonable to prevent it.”

The truckers are expected to conduct routine inspections after every 24 hours of driving to prevent overlooking an overworked tire that could lead to a tragic traffic accident, wanrs the Florida law firm Halpern Santos & Pinkert.

All law firms that handle large truck accident cases recommend that drivers take precautionary measures – common sense actions like maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles on the road, following speed limits, and paying attention to traffic and weather conditions. Ignoring these guidelines can result in an accident that may be identified as preventable by the court and impact a truck driver’s safety standing and ability to drive commercially.

Which tires are installed on a large truck can determine many aspects of driving from fuel efficiency to accident prevention.

Tire dealer Bauer Built Tire and Service, in business for 75 years, and now in 30 locations across nine states, carries many brands of semi=truck tires. Still, the company says, “Michelin continues to define the tire industry, from innovative truck tires to quality control to research and development.”

Michelin’s X One® tires can help lower a commercial driver’s fuel bill, the tire company says, pointing to “30 percent Rolling Resistance Reduction” of these tires based on “two sidewalls instead of four and advanced tread and casing technology.”

More Than Zero Crashes is Too Many

In honor of the 3.5 million professional truck drivers in the United States, the Biden-Harris Administration’s Department of Transportation is offering millions in funding to improve the training offered to commercial truck drivers, as part of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 15-21, 2024.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration this week announced US$143 million in grants to states and educational institutions through the agency’s High Priority and Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation grants. These funds are intended to advance states’ technological capabilities and improve the national commercial driver’s license program.

“Two of our department’s top priorities are improving safety on our roadways and strengthening supply chains, and today’s awards will help with both,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Biden-Harris administration is proud to deliver these funds to get well-qualified truck drivers on our roads and to ensure commercial vehicle safety programs are administered with less bureaucracy.”

Addressing this deadly and destructive issue, the FMCSA states that of the roughly 494,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2021, there were 5,149 (one percent) fatal crashes and 110,000 (22 percent) injury crashes.

In all those large truck crashes, 42,939 people lost their lives in 2021, the highest number of fatalities since 2005, the FMCSA reports.

The greatest danger occurs in rural areas, on weekday nights, on interstate highways, the FMCSA reports.

Collision with a moving vehicle was the first event during a crash that resulted in injury or property damage in 74 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks, in 84 percent of large truck injury crashes, and in 75 percent of property-damage-only large truck crashes.

The critical precrash event for the majority of the large trucks in fatal crashes was another vehicle, person, animal, or other object in the large truck’s lane or encroaching into it. Twenty-four percent of the large trucks in fatal crashes had critical precrash events of their own or loss of control.

Tires and brakes were the most common vehicle-related factors for large trucks in fatal crashes, at approximately one percent each.

Statistics from ConsumerShield, a group of consumer rights advocates that connects accident victims with lawyers, show that in 2020, there were 142,632 semi-truck accidents.

By 2021, this number had increased to 165,706. In 2022, the number slightly dropped to 164,134, showing that safety improvements or stricter regulations might work, the consumer group advises.

The trend toward fewer semi-truck accidents continued in 2023, with accidents decreasing to 151,675. “This decrease is likely due to enhanced vehicle safety, tougher traffic laws, and greater safety awareness among truck drivers,” ConsumerShield says.

As for 2024, still incomplete, at the end of July, there had been 73,133 semi-truck crashes on U.S. roads.

Causes and Prevention of Large Truck Crashes

Semi-truck accidents happen due to poor driver mental health caused by long hours on the road without proper rest. Trucks that aren’t well-maintained are more likely to break down and cause accidents. Bad weather and roads in poor condition also raise the risk of accidents. Heavy traffic, particularly in cities, can increase the risk. A higher number of truck drivers in some years could also cause more accidents. “Even inappropriate clothing such as driving without boots can lead to a crash,” ConsumerShield explains.

Results of a crash causation study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration show that overall, the truck bore the blame for just over 55 percent of collisions with other vehicles. Of these, truck driver mistakes caused about 87 percent of crashes, truck or trailer issues accounted for 10 percent, and environmental conditions accounted for three percent.

Although this might seem high, studies show that truck accidents make up about six percent of all fatal accidents on U.S. roads, although heavy trucks account for about 10 percent of vehicle miles traveled.

Truck Driver Shortage Slows U.S. Growth

The trucking industry is currently facing a shortage of 80,000 drivers, with some estimates showing that number could reach 160,000 by 2030. Trucking shortages have a ripple effect throughout the nation’s supply chains, worsening bottlenecks and delaying delivery times.

To help cope with the shortage, the U.S. Congress is moving to offer veterans commercial motor vehicle training.

On September 25, 2024, the industry group American Trucking Associations applauded the bipartisan passage of the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act that would cut red tape and enable veterans to obtain their commercial drivers licenses (CDLs) more easily. The bill cleared the House by voice vote and had previously passed the Senate unanimously. It now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“When the brave men and women in our armed forces return home, the last thing they should have to worry about is red tape preventing them from achieving the American dream that they fought to defend,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. 

The Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act was introduced by U.S. Senators Deb Fischer, a Nebraska Republican, and Alex Padilla, a California Democrat; and Representatives Chuck Edwards, a North Carolina Republican, and Chris Pappas, a New Hampshire Democrat. 

Currently, if an approved trucking school opens a secondary facility in a new location, the law requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and state regulators to deny the branch’s ability to receive GI benefits for two years. The new law, The Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act, will remove this arbitrary roadblock.

“Improving veterans’ access to CDL programs will open the door of opportunity to good-paying, in-demand jobs in the trucking industry.  We are appreciative of the leadership by Senators Fischer and Padilla and Representatives Edwards and Pappas on this important bill, which will help veterans secure rewarding careers and alleviate the truck driver shortage,” Spear said.

Funding Commercial Driver Training Upgrades

The new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) grants include $88 million in two types of grants. The High Priority Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) grants to state departments of transportation are designed to provide support to state commercial vehicle safety efforts.

The High Priority Innovative Technology Deployment (HP-ITD) grants provide financial assistance to advance the technological capability and promote the deployment of intelligent transportation system applications for commercial motor vehicle operations.

A full list of this year’s HP-CMV grant recipients is available here, and a full list of this year’s HP-ITD grant recipients is available here.

In addition, $55 million in Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grants provides financial assistance to states to improve their Commercial Driver’s License programs by reducing wait times, ensuring conviction and disqualification data is electronically exchanged, implementing regulatory requirements, combatting human trafficking, and achieving compliance with FMCSA regulations concerning driver’s license standards and programs.

A full list of this year’s CDLPI grant recipients is online here.

AT FMCSA, WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT OUR MISSION OF REDUCING CRASHES AND FATALITIES ON THE NATION’S ROADWAYS THAT INVOLVE LARGE TRUCKS AND BUSES. TOGETHER, THESE GRANTS REPRESENT OUR COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN AMERICA AND OUR DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING STRONG STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT HELP ENSURE SAFE AND QUALIFIED CMV DRIVERS ARE ON
THE ROADS.
” – Vinn White, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

In total, more than 50 percent of FMCSA’s annual budget provides states and local communities with funding to promote commercial motor vehicle safety.

At least 120 local governments, businesses and NGOs have joined the Department of Transportation to help accomplish the National Roadway Safety Strategy by responding to the department’s Call to Action.

In 2023, the department awarded $1.7 billion to over 1,000 communities, representing over 70 percent of all Americans, for roadway safety planning and demonstration projects.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in training and support for Commercial Driver’s License holders will help meet the nation’s growing demand for truck drivers and better prepare for the future,” Secretary Buttigieg said.

In addition to the grant awards announced September 20, FMCSA awarded nearly $3.5 million last month through its Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Grant Program to improve driver safety and create career opportunities in trucking for veterans and those in underserved communities.

These programs support implementation of the Transportation Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy, issued in 2022.

“OUR VISION IS SIMPLE: THAT EVERY TRIP OF EVERY KIND ON OUR NATION’S STREETS. ROADS, AND HIGHWAYS SHOULD END WITH A SAFE ARRIVAL. WHETHER YOU ARE A PASSENGER OR DRIVER, WHETHER IN A VEHICLE, ON FOOT, ON A BICYCLE OR IN A WHEELCHAIR, EVERYONE USING THE ROADWAYS OF OUR COUNTRY AND ITS COMMUNITIES SHOULD GET TO WHERE THEY’RE HEADED, SAFELY. THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR SAFETY WORK.” – Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation, United States.

Buttigieg is relying on new vehicle to everything, V2X, technology in the effort to stop the carnage on American highways caused by large truck and other accidents. The Saving Lives with Connectivity: Accelerating V2X Deployment Discretionary Grant provides up to $40 million in funding and is focused on road safety, mobility, and efficiency through technology that enables vehicles and wireless devices to communicate with each other and with roadside infrastructure.

“V2X connectivity is a transformational technology that advances safety, enhances mobility, bolsters efficiency, improves equity, and reduces negative environmental impacts, the . Accelerating V2X deployment now is a crucial step toward saving lives with connectivity,” concludes the department’s August 2024 report, “Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment.”

Secretary Buttigieg aims to have the V2X connectivity technology fully deployed on the National Highway System, and V2X installed at 75 percent of the nation’s intersections in the years 2032-2036.

Sources: Statements from Pete Buttigieg, Vinn White, Chris Spear, additional material from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, ConsumerShield, the White House, National Safety Council, Nashville Fire Department, Halpern Santos & Pinkert, Bauer Built Tire and Service, Michelin, American Trucking Associations

Tags: trucks, large trucks, semi-trucks, tractor-trailer, highway safety, road accidents, crashes, fatalities, hazardous materials, tires, tire blowouts, brakes, Michelin, government grants, Pete Buttigieg, veterans, V2X, National Roadway Safety Strategy, commercial driver’s license

By Sunny Lewis, journalist, founder of Environment News Service (ENS) at: ens-newswire.com, and expert in the field of sustainable mobility in the United States and around the Pacific Rim.

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