Reversing Poor Safety Records: Identifying Best Practices to Improve Fleet Safety

Camden, Matthew C.; Hickman, Jeffrey S.; Hanowski, Richard J. · 2021 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3390/safety8010002

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Summary

This study addresses the challenge commercial motor vehicle (CMV) fleets face in improving poor safety records, a problem highlighted by the thousands of fleets annually added to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s high-risk list. While numerous individual safety strategies exist, fleet managers often lack clarity on which comprehensive approaches effectively reduce crashes and violations. The research aimed to identify best practices by examining nine CMV fleets that had successfully improved their safety performance, specifically looking for strategies that worked, those that did not, and barriers to implementation. The researchers conducted case studies using semi-structured interviews with safety directors, executives, and drivers from nine fleets ranging from fewer than 50 to over 1,000 power units. Eligibility was based on significant reductions in crashes, violations, or Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores within the previous decade. The interview data were analyzed using content analysis and organized into the Haddon Matrix to categorize countermeasures across pre-crash, crash, and post-crash phases. The study focused on six key areas: hiring practices, driver training, safety culture, scheduling, safety technologies, and vehicle maintenance. The results demonstrated that no single strategy was responsible for safety improvements; rather, successful fleets employed a comprehensive approach. However, two components were identified as critical across most cases: an enhanced safety culture and the adoption of advanced safety technologies. Specific findings included substantial reductions in crash rates, such as Fleet A’s 56% reduction in preventable rear-end crashes and Fleet D’s 100% reduction in preventable rollovers. Common effective strategies included strict hiring criteria (e.g., limiting moving violations), comprehensive driver training programs, and the deployment of technologies like automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning (LDW), and video-based driver monitoring systems (VDMS). Additionally, fostering a positive safety culture through executive commitment, open communication, and non-monetary or monetary reward programs was consistently cited as impactful. Conversely, some fleets found that safety bonuses alone were ineffective if not part of a broader cultural shift. The significance of this study lies in its provision of evidence-based, holistic strategies for fleets struggling with safety performance. It suggests that improving safety requires more than isolated interventions; it demands an integrated system combining rigorous hiring, continuous training, technological aids, and a strong organizational culture. By highlighting the specific combinations of strategies that led to measurable improvements, the findings offer actionable guidance for fleet managers and policymakers aiming to reduce CMV crashes and associated costs.

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Topics

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• fleet safety
• traffic safety culture
• bus coach

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes