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> 1.2 million trucking companies in the US, most of which have fewer than six trucks And thousands get shut down each year by the DOT. Being the Uber for truck
by ryanmarsh 11y ago
> 1.2 million trucking companies in the US, most of which have fewer than six trucks
And thousands get shut down each year by the DOT. Being the Uber for trucking is great and all, but enabling these small trucking companies to pass DOT safety audits with flying colors could be the biggest advantage of all.
Safety rating is one of the biggest factors involved in selection of carriers because Union Carbide doesn't want their toxic chemical spilled all over the highway.
The safety rules for trucking are written in blood, meaning much of the rule book exists because people died. Trucking is immensely dangerous. If they get the safety part right, they'll take over the industry. If you knew how the trucking industry works you'd be amazed anything gets anywhere.
- ArkyBeagle 11y agoI would think that being able to package the passing of audits would be a service by now. FWIW, the people who carry permit loads are more trained and at least when last I checked, not necessarily competing with the rank and file of truckers. Your last sentence is 100% spot on. I wish people driving in mixed traffic including lots of trucks understood. They clearly do not.
- ryanmarsh 11y ago> I would think that being able to package the passing of audits would be a service by now. Most of the software out there for this is crap. It is a big job though, mainly dealing with driver logs.
- ArkyBeagle 11y agoThat's the part I'd most like to see automated. I'm sure it's not that simple.
- paulbaumgart 11y agoSome people I know are building this: https://keeptruckin.com https://keeptruckin.com
- revelation 11y agoIf safety is such a big deal, how do trucks still have blind spots, drivers sitting too high and non-mandatory side guards? These are design flaws. It seems the "safety" interpretation here doesn't apply to everyone else not involved.
- MadManE 11y agoI think the problem is that you're assuming that safety rating == safety. The big deal is to make sure that the companies are able to operate and pass the safety checks with a sufficiently high mark. Since those are based on the existing vehicles, there is no reason to redesign everything to get the same rating at the end.
- ryanmarsh 11y agoYour state DOT truck enforcement division very much cares about things like this and it's likely that they've tried to get rules changed or legislation passed on exactly these issues. Frankly there are much scarier issues to deal with, such as trucks losing their load, tire quality, "running the scales", etc...
- s73v3r 11y agoYou're forgetting that they're trying to be the Uber of trucking. Meaning they don't give a damn about safety, because the truckers are not working for them. They're contractors.