In this blog post, we'll discuss the latest developments in the trucking industry, including the impact of association membership on safety, tips for securing terminal facilities during holidays, and upcoming nationwide enforcement campaigns. This Safety Bulletin explores the critical role of trucking in our society and express gratitude for the hardworking individuals who make it all possible. Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates straight to your inbox and stay ahead of the game.

Is your company an active member of a trucking association such as the National Private Truck Council (NPTC), State Trucking Association, American Trucking Association (ATA), or another trucking association?

Check out the groundbreaking new study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) that proves motor carriers actively involved in state and national membership associations are safer than carriers who have never been association members. This study reveals the correlation between association membership and safety, using empirical research and statistical analysis of public safety data from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS).

The research compared crash and violation data for trucking fleets with membership statuses categorized as Current, Former, or Never members, and the results are eye-opening. Current members have significantly fewer crashes and violations than Former members, and Former members have fewer incidents than new members. These findings are significant at the 95 percent or 99 percent confidence levels.

Dr. Brenda Lantz, Associate Director of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, emphasized the importance of these findings for improving large-truck safety. The study also guides how these findings can be applied to commercial transportation insurers, enforcement agencies, and academic researchers.

To dive deeper into the report, click here: https://www.mdtrucking.org/files/ATRI_SafeMembersFlyer_MD.pdf.

This research by ATRI sheds light on the crucial role of freight transportation in maintaining a safe, secure, and efficient transportation system.

Have you prepared your terminal facility for the upcoming Labor Day weekend?

Implement security measures to reduce theft risk at truck terminals during the holidays. If your trucks lack anti-siphon devices or locking caps, advise drivers not to refill them at the end of the day. Additionally, ensure that security alarms are operational and inspect the perimeter fence for any damage. Keep vehicles and other items away from the fence to prevent them from being used for unauthorized access. Consider blocking entry and exit points to the terminal and assign management personnel to conduct random checks over the weekend. These preventive steps can greatly reduce the likelihood of theft targeting your facility.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Enforcement Crackdown is Now in Place!

The 2024 nationwide enforcement campaign "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" was implemented nationally from August 16 to September 2, 2024. With impaired driving being one of the most frequently committed and deadly, yet preventable, offenses, it has evolved into a critical safety crisis in our nation. Be smart and keep yourself and others on the road safe.

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 15-21, 2024

The public in the US and Canada has shown remarkable gratitude towards professional truck drivers by taking various noteworthy actions. These include children distributing lunches and the display of "I Heart Truck" signs along highways, all of which serve as acknowledgments of the crucial role played by truck drivers. Looking back over the past three years, it's worth contemplating where we would be now if truck drivers had refused to transport personal protective equipment (PPE), food, medical supplies, and other essential items during the early days of the COVID pandemic.

Registration is Open Online for the 2024 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars! 

Idealease and the National Private Truck Council NPTC will again be hosting safety seminars in 2024. The one-day seminar this year will focus on data available from trucks today with regards to safety, basic safety and compliance, regulation changes and CSA. The seminars will be provided to all Idealease customers, potential customers and NPTC members at no charge. The seminar provides important information applicable for both the novice and experienced transportation professionals. Seminars currently available for registration have their venues secured. If you are not able to register for the seminar in your area, check back as registration availability will be added as the venues are secured. This information will be updated weekly in this bulletin. To register for an upcoming seminar in 2024 click on the following link: http://www.idealease.com/safety-seminar-registration

  • 10/1/24:St. Louis, MO
  • 10/8/24: Boston, MA
  • 10/3/24: San Leandro, CA
  • 10/9/24: Baltimore, MD
  • 10/11/24: Providence, RI
  • 10/15/24: Newark, NJ
  • 10/16/24: Atlanta, GA
  • 10/17/24: Nashville, TN
  • 10/17/24: Charleston, WV
  • 10/28/24: Stockton, CA