We all agree that safety in trucking is job #1 for everyone and every company, no matter what part you play. Recently, an ATA report helped underline the industry efforts and investment in Truck Safety.
The American Trucking Association reports that the US trucking industry invests $14 billion annually in technology, training, and other expenditures to improve highway safety. That’s a massive monetary investment.
Chris Spear, the president and CEO of the ATA, recently had this to say during the presentation of a recent report on trucking safety. “The trucking industry’s highest commitment is to keep our roads, drivers and the entire motoring public safe. This report demonstrates that safety isn’t just a slogan for our industry; it is our mission. While others talk about their commitment to safety, the trucking industry is doing the work and investing in life-saving technology and training every day.”
According to the ATA’s Safety Spend Survey report, the industry invested $14 billion in 2022, more than 40% higher than the previous survey, conducted in 2015.
The survey estimates the annual industry spending on safety. It provides a benchmarking resource for carriers of all sizes to measure their safety expenditure against others within the industry—the ATA surveyed truck carriers of all sizes and types. Included were fleets with only a few trucks up to carriers with over 10,000 power units on the road. This broad spectrum analysis approach conveys the absolute truth on how the industry prioritizes safety.
Companies responding to the survey accounted for almost 170,000 drivers and nearly 160,000 trucks. It should be noted that getting responses from all carriers in such a large industry is complex.
Dan Horvath, senior vice president of Regulatory Affairs and Safety Policy, ATA, said. “Trucking is a diverse industry, but our survey results show that regardless of carrier size or type, these companies are committed, just as ATA is committed, to reducing crashes and making our highways safer. These investments go far beyond simply complying with existing regulations. Our industry’s commitment to deploying the latest technologies, providing additional training, and incentivizing safe driving behaviours show how seriously we take the job of reducing crashes on our highways.”
The ATA’s Safety Spend Survey looks at five categories of spending on truck safety: onboard safety technology, training, incentives, safety-related maintenance, and compliance costs.
