Driving and Texting ≠ Safest Trucking Companies
At Brown Dog Carriers we continually strive to be one of the best Maine trucking companies. As part of that goal we list Safety as our Main Value that always comes first. And key on our list of safety concerns is distracted driving from the use of cell phones.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines driver distraction as “the diversion of attention from activities critical for safe driving to a competing activity,” such as cell phone use. The FMCSA also notes that driver distraction “increases your risk of getting into a crash.” Distracted driving is a serious problem among all drivers, but due to the size and weight of most commercial vehicles, accidents involving these larger trucks are more likely to be serious or even fatal.
FMCSA statistics show that truckers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident than those who refrain from distracted driving. In the time it takes to check a text message or answer a phone call that is not hands-free, a typical truck will cover the length of a football field. You can imagine the potential consequences from this distraction given the weight of our trucks and cargo.
Since January 2012, the FMCSA has outlawed the use of handheld electronic devices for truck drivers while in transit. This ruling accounted for commercial drivers with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more, stating:
Drivers cannot hold, dial, or reach for hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicle.
Drivers are permitted to use a cell phone after pulling their trucks to the side of the road or where the vehicle can remain still.
Drivers are permitted to use hands-free devices such as an earpiece.
Drivers face up to a $2,750 fine for each offense. States will suspend a driver's CDL (commercial driver's license) after two or more serious traffic violations.
Trucking companies that allow their employees to use hand-held devices while driving a commercial vehicle face a potential penalty of $11,000.
Brown Dog Carriers provides continuous training and regular reminders to our team members that there is a no tolerance policy regarding the use of handheld devices while operating our trucks. This includes the use of hands-free devices while the truck is moving to ensure full concentration and focus on the task at hand - getting product to the customer safely.
