Manito Trucking Has More Than Refined Fuels On Board
Learn how technology makes the Manito Trucking Fleet some of the safest trucks on the road
By: Kevin Frye & Sabrina Burkiewicz
The next time you pass a semi with the Manito Trucking logo on the door, you might view the truck and the driver a bit differently after reading this story. That’s because Manito trucks are outfitted with the latest technology to make them some of the safest trucks and drivers on the road.
Steve Kubsch, Director of Asset Management and Manito Transit, says they’ve invested heavily in technology designed to ensure the safety of their drivers, their trucks, and other drivers on the road. “We’re really interested in technology that assists our drivers and helps them drive more safely,” he said. “Whether that’s adaptive cruise control or collision mitigation, we value the benefits it provides.”
Ways Manito Trucking uses technology while driving more than five million miles annually:
- Adaptive cruise control automatically slows down the truck without driver intervention, helping to prevent or reduce the severity of an accident.
- Lane assist technology kicks in if a driver begins to leave their lane without using a turn signal by vibrating the steering wheel to get the driver's attention and gently resists the lane change until the driver activates the turn signal.
- If the truck veers out of its lane, technology engages to disengage the accelerator and apply the brakes which minimizes the risk of a rollover.
- Collision mitigation technology will activate if a truck approaches a stopped vehicle. It automatically applies the brakes to slow the truck and reduce its speed.
- Side detection radar technology alerts the driver with a flashing light in the side mirror and nudge the steering wheel if a vehicle is present in the driver's blind spot.
- Outward and side-facing cameras are placed on each truck as part of telematics to help accurately portray facts of any incidents or accidents.
Data generated from telematics technology also notifies fleet managers of driver performance issues such as speeding and hard braking. Managers can assess the situation and provide coaching if necessary. For example, if a driver applies breaks quickly, that is reflected on an automated report for the driver and their manager to discuss, and the driver may undergo additional training to improve their safe driving skills.
Manito continuously monitors its overall safety performance to go beyond compliance. Each month, it formally reviews its FMCSA CSA score, telematic driver performance and video data, driver files, vehicle maintenance, and driver training to determine the complete safety story. Any opportunities for safety improvement are identified and addressed immediately.
Kubsch says as safety technology continues to evolve, Manito will continue equipping its trucks to ensure they have more than fuel on board.