Archive for the ‘Industry News’ Category
Ford to Introduce Inflatable Seatbelts
Friday, November 6th, 2009
Ford Motor Co. announced this week that it will soon begin equipping some of its vehicles with inflatable seat belts that the company says will help to reduce the number of injuries from auto accidents.
The inflatable rear seat belts will first become available next year on the next-generation Explorer SUVs and will become more widespread over time, Ford said in its press release.
The increased diameter of the inflatable belts helps to secure rear seat passengers in the appropriate seating position, which will help to reduce injuries to the head, chest and neck.
“Ford is pioneering inflatable seat belt technology to help enhance crash safety protection, while encouraging more people to buckle up with a more comfortable belt,” Paul Mascarenas, Ford’s vice president engineering and global product development, said in a statement.
According to the company’s research, Ford says that 90 percent of drivers indicated that the new inflatable belts are similar to or more comfortable than traditional seat belts.
A video of the new belts in action is available via YouTube.
Photo courtesy of bennylin0724 under the Creative Commons License.
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
Improving Driver Visibility at Night
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
With the end of Daylight Savings Time in recent memory, Automotive Fleet is providing some tips for improving visibility in the dark courtesy of the Kentucky Driver Manual. Pass these tips along to your fleet drivers and keep them safe all year long!
- Use your high beams whenever there are no oncoming vehicles, except when fog or other inclement weather would make low beams more appropriate.
- Properly adjusted high beams let you see twice as far as low beams. It is very important to use them on unfamiliar roads, in construction areas, or where there may be people along the side of the road.
- Dim your lights whenever you come within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and when you are following another vehicle within 200 feet.
- Slow down and use low beams in fog, snow or heavy rain. The light from high beams will reflect back and cause glare during these conditions.
- If the lights of an oncoming vehicle remain on high beam, dim your lights and look toward the right side of the road. This will keep you from being blinded by the oncoming vehicle’s headlights. Do not try to “get back” at the other driver by keeping your bright lights on. If you do, both of you may be blinded.
For drivers who wear corrective lenses, there are some additional tips:
- Always wear your corrective lenses when you drive. If you are not wearing them and you happen to be stopped by a police officer, you may be issued a citation.
- Avoid using dark glasses or tinted contact lenses at night. They cut down the light and make it more difficult to see.
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
Frito-Lay Fleet Reduces Collisions by 70%
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
According to a statement issued by the PepsiCo-owned company, Frito-Lay North America has seen a 70% reduction in vehicular collisions since 1999, due to both its extensive safety efforts and the company’s Million Milers program.
Frito-Lay awards the designation of “Million Miler” to any driver that has driven an increment of 1 million miles without an accident. This year, 95 of the company’s over-the-road drivers passed the milestones of 1, 2, or 3 million accident-free miles. The company now has over 500 “Million Milers” active on the roads each day, almost a full 40 percent of its U.S. drivers. 7 drivers have driven over 3 million miles without an accident during their careers at Frito-Lay.
This year’s class of “Million Milers” was recognized by Frito-Lay’s top executives at an annual event at the company’s national headquarters in Plano, Texas.
The company states that Frito-Lay drivers uses driving simulators, skill-honing training courses, and team collaborations on best practices to create a positive culture of safety in its workforce and help its drivers maintain the skills they need to stay safe on the road.
Photo courtesy of austinboardman under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Frito-Lay, Frito-Lay North America, Million Miler, Pepsi, PepsiCo
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
Cargo Thieves Going to Greater Lengths
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
An ongoing study of trends in cargo theft is finding that commercial cargo thieves are becoming bolder and more sophisticated with their crimes, and even striking more often than before. There has also been an increase in the number of violent incidents during cargo thefts in the third quarter of this year.
The Supply Chain ISAC Report of Cargo Theft Activity for the third quarter of 2009 was compiled and issued by LoJack Supply Chain Integrity. According to the report, carrier terminals and yards are still the locations in which the majority of thefts take place. This trend reveals the brazen nature of modern cargo thieves- finding vehicles to rob from even when they are protected by surveillance and other security systems and targeting specific loads of cargo.
“That thieves targeted carrier facilities this quarter more so than in the past indicates they are getting more sophisticated and more organized,” Robert Furtado, president & CEO of LoJack SCI, told FleetOwner Magazine. “It takes more planning and more people to steal cargo from a carrier’s terminal. It also means they are targeting specific goods, rather than taking a ‘shotgun’ approach by stealing a load at random from a truck stop.”
As for violent incidents related to cargo theft, the survey found that seven violent cargo robberies were reported in the third quarter, with one happening at a truck stop and six occurring on streets and highways. LoJack warned that commercial fleets and cargo carriers should re-examine their protocols for the safety and security of their vehicles, cargo, and drivers based on this trend.
The most-stolen commodity in the report was food, rising to the number one spot after slipping to number three in the second quarter report. Second place on the list went to consumer electronics.
Photo courtesy of richardsinyem under the Creative Commons License.
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
Americans Support Texting Ban
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
According to a recent poll by the New York Times and CBS News, nearly all Americans now say that sending text messages while driving should be illegal, and around half say the crime should be punished at least as harshly as drunk driving.
Ninety-seven percent of respondents supported a ban on texting while driving, an unusual rate of agreement on any public safety topic. Eighty percent also agreed with a ban on speaking on hand-held cellular phones while driving.
“Someone who is texting creates just as much of a danger as someone behind the wheel who is inebriated,” said Michael Brooks, 38, from Limerick, Pa.
An additional two percent of those surveyed said that texting behind the wheel should be punished even more harshly than drunk driving. Forty-three percent said motorists who text should not be treated like drunken drivers.
Despite studies showing that hands-free use does not increase the safety of talking on a cell phone while driving, seventy percent of respondents have no problem with drivers using a hands-free phone behind the wheel. This is the same number found by a 2001 ABC News survey.
The nationwide telephone poll was conducted Oct. 5-8 with 829 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
To view complete survey results and methodology, click here.
Tags: ABC news, CBS News, driving and texting, new york times, texting, txting
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
Vehicle Thefts at 20-Year Low
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
According to a study by USA Today, reported vehicle thefts have fallen to a 20-year low even though the number of vehicles on the road has doubled. The major reasons: automakers installing sophisticated anti-theft devices and police targeting organized car-theft rings.
The FBI data provided by the study shows that approximately 956,846 vehicles were stolen in 2008. That’s less than half of the figure for 1991, when 1.66 million vehicles were stolen equaling 659 thefts for every 100,000 people. And today there are more than 245 million vehicles on the road, up from just 122 million in 1989.
“It’s a much tougher job to be a car thief today,” says Russ Rader, spokesman for Highway Loss Data Institute, a research group funded by auto insurers that analyzes data from insurance claims. “The technology in new vehicles makes it much harder to make off with a car.”
One of the most prevalent anti-theft technologies currently in use is the ignition immobilizer, an electronic device that prevents the engine from starting without the vehicle owner’s key. Alarm systems and GPS tracking devices have become more widely used as well. GPS tracking technology “didn’t exist 20 years ago,” says Charles Territo, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “There was a time when consumers rarely chose alarm systems as an option. Over time, they’ve become more and more standard.”
In 1989, fewer than 5% of new cars included an ignition immobilizer as part of the standard package, the Highway Loss Data Institute research shows. Now 86% of new cars are built with the device.
The chances of having a car on the road stolen are about 1/3 of what they were in 1989. Yet insurance rates have held steady because cars cost more, says Steve Weisbart, senior vice president and chief economist for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry group.
Photo courtesy of wonderferret under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, FBI, Highway Loss Data Institute, ignition immobilizer, Insurance Information Institute, USA Today, vehicle theft
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
Transit Connect Goes Electric in 2010
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Ford announced this week that it will be working with Azure Dynamics Corporation to build and distribute a pure battery electric Transit Connect van for the United States and Canadian markets in 2010. Azure will be integrating its Force Drive battery electric drive train into the existing Transit Connect for commercial fleet and retail use.
“We recognize an increasing interest in electrified vehicles and have an aggressive strategy to bring these vehicles to the marketplace,” said Nancy Gioia, Ford director of global electrification. “Our work with Azure to create a pure electric battery Transit Connect vehicle will allow us to offer our commercial customers an additional option for environmentally friendly transportation.”
The battery-powered Transit Connect will be one of four electric vehicles that Ford will make available over the next three years, including:
- Battery electric Transit Connect van in 2010
- Battery electric Ford Focus passenger car in 2011
- Next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012
- Plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2012
“The opportunity to work with Ford on the Transit Connect BEV is a breakthrough advancement for us at Azure and for the light commercial vehicle market,” said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics CEO. “For Azure, it’s an important evolution of our existing relationship with Ford. From an industry standpoint, we are seeing delivery fleet and utility vehicle operator’s move to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Transit Connect BEV will come to market at an ideal time to meet this growing trend.”
The Transit Connect BEV will offer fleet owners the opportunity to eliminate the use of gasoline and help to lower operating costs. The vehicle will be branded with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure’s Force Drive logo.
Photo courtesy of crazytales562 under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Azure Dynamics Corporation, Force Drive, Ford, Transit Connect, Transit Connect BEV
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
Technology to Make Truck Fleets Safer and More Efficient
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
A new global study by IBM says that the implementation of new technologies will make commercial trucks more fuel efficient, environmentally friendly, and safer. The Global Truck 2020 Study, entitled “Transcending Turbulence,” was unveiled this week at CALSTART’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum National Conference in Atlanta.
“IBM’s study shows the trucking industry is eager to transform itself,” said Sanjay Rishi, vice president and global automotive industry leader for IBM. “Increasingly, fleet owners choose cleaner, more fuel efficient trucks that also have advanced systems to make transport more efficient.”
The study indicates that the trucking industry believes smart technologies will play a major role in commercial trucking as well as other applications, such as transportation systems.
“Truck transportation drives our economy; goods movement fills our stores and supplies our factories. But those benefits come with costs that are causing rapid change,” said Bill Van Amburg, senior vice president of CALSTART, an organization dedicated to clean transportation. “That’s why IBM’s study is critical. It highlights the emerging needs of truck customers, the technical and environmental challenges for the industry and lays out a roadmap for clean and profitable growth for the future.”
For a complete copy of the study, click here.
Photo courtesy of zugaldia under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: CALSTART, fleet owners, Global Truck 2020 Study, Hybrid Truck Users Forum, IBM, Transcending Turbulence, trucking industry
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
Chrysler to Offer Live TV
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
Not to be outdone by General Motors’ plans to provide wi-fi in its new vehicles, Chrysler will soon bring live television programming, including sports and news programs, to its vehicles starting in late December of this year.
Chrysler will offer the service, called FLO TV Auto Entertainment as a dealer-installed option from the Mopar accessories unit. The service will provide up to 20 channels of live programming, including CBS, CNBC, Comedy Central, FOX News, MSNBC, MTV, and NBC 2Go.
The system is designed mainly for rear-seat passengers to enjoy on seat-mounted monitors, though front-seat passengers will be able to watch programming on navigation screens when the vehicle is in park.
Chrysler spokeswoman Ann Smith said the automaker would disable all front-seat viewing where prohibited by state law. She also confirmed that Chrysler will continue supplying the child-focused Sirius Backseat TV, which provides Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network Mobile.
FLO TV can be installed in 2008-10 model vehicles that have fctory-installed DVD entertainment systems. Among them are the Chrysler Town & Country; Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander; Dodge Grand Caravan, Journey and Nitro, Ram 1500 and 2500/3500.
Owners of 2008-10 vehicles without factory-installed DVD systems can access FLO TV through aftermarket rear-seat DVD screens from Mopar, which are installed in headrests. Early next year, Mopar also will have DVD screens that are installed lower in the seatback
Mopar’s suggested retail price for the TV service is $629 plus installation. Buyers would get a year of programming free. The normal price for a subscription is $119 a year or $299 for three years.
Tags: Chrysler, Dodge Grand Caravan, FLO TV, General Motors, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mopar, Sirius Backseat TV
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
FMCSA Forms Drug and Alcohol Strike Force
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has formed its first-ever national drug and alcohol strike force, removing 77 commercial bus and truck drivers from service and bringing enforcement action against 84 motor carriers.
During the period of Sept. 8-18, FMCSA safety investigators looked at previous drug and alcohol records of commercial drivers employed by bus companies including interstate passenger carriers, school bus drivers, hazardous material transporters and general long-haul freight trucking companies.
“Violators of our drug and alcohol policies have no business driving a commercial vehicle. Programs like the drug and alcohol strike force are helping remove the most dangerous offenders from our roadways,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
The 77 drivers who are now facing the possibility of civil penalties for breaking federal drug and alcohol regulations can no longer work operating commercial motor vehicles and will most likely be forced to pay a fine. The carriers involved are facing enforcement action for allowing drivers to work despite violations and failing to institute drug and alcohol testing programs.
The FMCSA says that the overall goals of the program were to identify motor carriers in violation of federal requirements and to identify drivers who move from company to company to evade federal drug and alcohol testing requirements. Both the drivers and carriers implicated by the task force will have the opportunity to contest the alleged violations and the extent of their penalties.
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
