By Fleet Management Weekly Staff
September 11, 2024
Lytx’s Chief Product Officer Angus Norton knows how to identify a problem, discover a solution to that problem, and then apply that solution to resolve the issue. He’s been doing just that for more than 25 years in the high-tech sector. In this article, he discusses the challenges – and perils – of finding a safe place for truck drivers to park their rigs. Lytx offers up a valuable solution that will promote safer parking for trucks and allow fleet managers to breathe easier, knowing that both drivers and assets are resting easy in a secure location.
What is the larger issue facing the transportation industry when it comes to truck parking safety and availability?
The Federal Highway Administration reported that ~ 98% of drivers struggle to find safe parking for their trucks. In addition, studies by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) have found that drivers spend an average of 56 minutes a day to ensure a safe parking spot. This waste of valuable time costs drivers about $5,500 in lost compensation or a 12% cut in annual pay*. The larger issue 
facing the transportation industry is that unsafe truck parking on the shoulder of a highway/interstate or ramp can pose a public safety hazard including collisions resulting in severe injury or death. This issue is so significant that it garnered the attention of the U.S. government. The U.S. Dept of Transportation is improving truck parking as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the largest long-term infrastructure investment in US history. In addition, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act provides $755 million in grants over four years (2023-2026) to expand truck parking capacity. (*Source: ATA Cheers USDOT Commitment to Expanding Truck Parking Capacity Nationwide | American Trucking Associations)
How does this impact drivers and fleet managers?
The Parked-Highway/Ramp feature can help prevent “sitting duck” situations in which a truck is parked outside of a legal area and is struck by another vehicle. This feature can also help avoid nuclear verdicts and/or expensive citations resulting from injuries or fatalities that can result from dangerous parking situations. Keeping drivers and their trucks safe prevents loss of vehicle downtime and loss of driver wages. According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), truck parking was the second most important issue for truck drivers in 2023 and has been a top priority for the trucking industry for a decade†. (†Source: https://www.ttnews.com/articles/2023-ATRI-Top-Industry-Issues)
How does Lytx’s Parked-Highway/Ramp feature fit in as a new technology solution emerging to help truckers find parking and keep roads safe?
Using GPS data and conducting geospatial awareness, Lytx can identify when a vehicle is stopped on the side of the road on highways and ramps in what may be considered an unsafe manner. This allows Fleet Managers to see when and where their drivers are parked and help them plan their route with known and safe rest stops along the way. Fleet Managers can also help manage scenarios when drivers need to stop driving due to Hours-of-Service limitations, vehicle disabilities, and more.
Could you walk us through how Parked-Highway/Ramp works?
The Parked-Highway/Ramp feature triggers when the Lytx DriveCam Event Recorder identifies a stopped vehicle (for 10 minutes or more) and assesses if it is located on the shoulder of an interstate or highway or on an off/on ramp where other vehicles may be passing by. Fleet Managers can set up notifications for when a Parked-Highway/Ramp event occurs so they are alerted and can quickly intervene by contacting the driver to discuss nearby safe parking locations. An example screenshot from the Lytx Driver Safety Program is shown below highlighting the information a Fleet Manager or other Fleet Executive can receive about a Parked-Highway/Ramp event along with options for next steps.
To learn more about how Lytx can protect your fleet, click here.
