5 minutes

Dennis Katsnelson

Crash responders wear fluorescent vests because working at a vehicle crash site can be perilous. Their actions at the scene could save the lives of oncoming cars and the injured. They might even cut down on delays. From November 13 to 17, Crash Responder Safety Week will take place. There is a day, a week, or a month devoted to every conceivable group or hobby. It's critical to acknowledge those who step up when something goes wrong, those who depend on the road for their livelihood, and those like myself who used to enforce our highway safety rules. Additionally, preventing things from getting worse is also crucial.

Unquestionably, competent fleet managers of trucks have instructed their truck drivers on what to do in case of an accident: Call 911 and the business safety officer, use flares or emergency reflective triangles to help direct other vehicles away from the crash site, take pictures, and gather information.

Imagine that in addition to your own safety and well-being, you are also in charge of the treatment of injured people, the removal of abandoned vehicles and debris, the security of everyone else using the road, the averting of further collisions, and the restoration of regular traffic flow. That is precisely what the drivers of tow trucks, ambulances, emergency medical teams, fire departments, and police officers are required to perform as part of what is dubiously known as "traffic incident management," or TIM.

What might fail? Any TIM member will likely mention three categories of drivers when discussing the risks present in the whirling, fast-moving, unpredictable environment around a highway crash:

• The Oblivious: The most hazardous driver in any situation, the daydreaming, inattentive, and unaware driver frequently responds violently to lane closures, flashing lights, and halted traffic.
• The Gawkers: "Glad that's not me," thinks the driver, who is gazing at an oncoming crash scene rather than the brake lights that are looming directly in front of him.
• The Self-Important: Any delay in a driver's scheduled rounds is an excuse to hurry through a crash site, change lanes abruptly, or even cross a roadside median to get to an exit close by.

What might go well? You should instruct your drivers to follow these steps if they observe a crash scene up ahead:

• Allow the emergency personnel space to work by slowing down and moving aside. To signify a lane change, use your turn signals.
• If required, halt. Follow the instructions given by the police at the scene.
• Your hazard lights should be on and blinking. Inform those behind the issue in advance.
• Keep an eye out for pedestrians while accident responders and the drivers involved may be inspecting cars or cleaning up spills and debris.
• Drive conservatively and keep an eye on the road; other vehicles near the accident site might be operated by "The Oblivious," "The Gawkers," or "The Self-Important." Defend yourself.

Lastly, safeguard the emergency responders. Because working at a crash scene might be risky, the workers are outfitted in luminous vests. But what they do might just save lives. They could reduce the length of the travel time. Superheroes do wear fluorescent vests, whether it's Crash Responder Safety Week or not.

At PrePass Safety Alliance, which offers PrePass weigh station bypass and electronic toll-payment and management services, Steve Vaughn serves as senior vice president of field operations. In addition to being a former president of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Vaughn spent nearly three decades with the California Highway Patrol.

Fleet commitments 'mixed' as trailer orders hit seasonal lull

With orders still in seasonal retreat and recent near-record order backlogs, ACT's McNealy claims that this month's intake "met expectations on a consolidated level."

According to this month's State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report from ACT Research, seasonally adjusted heavy-duty trailer orders decreased by around 6% sequentially, to 14,700 units. As a result of production outpacing orders once more in August, trailer backlogs fell to nearly 136,000 units (156k seasonally adjusted), or "diminished but still strong levels," according to Jennifer McNealy, director-CV market research and publications at ACT Research.

Although there are still "clouds on the trailer-market horizon" worth monitoring, this is the "weakest time of the year" for measurements that are looking ahead. This month's intake "met expectations on a consolidated level given orders still in seasonal retreat coupled with the recent near-record order backlogs," according to McNealy.

According to Newjobs4you research, total cancellations rose to 3.2% of the backlog in August from 1.7% in July, leveling off at levels last seen in May and June. Fleet commitments were variable but overall weaker in August compared to the prior month, according to McNealy. Although we have been informed about model-year cancellation-rebooks when 2024 order boards start to open and slots being moved from the previous to the new model year, OEMs are still claiming that the majority of cancellations come from dealers.

The State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report from Newjobs4you research offers a monthly summary of market statistics for US trailers as well as OEM build schedules and market indicators broken down by all major trailer types, such as backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders, and factory shipments.