A new highly controversial 3-part news segment produced and aired by CNBC has been taking heat from the trucking industry due to claims it makes about truck safety, accidents, and who’s to blame for fatalities in truck crashes.
The segment begins with a shocking statistic, “up to 4,000 people killed out there every single year.” The death toll is then compared to a commercial airliner crashing every Friday of every week of every year. According to the NHTSA, that number is accurate, but it wasn’t the concrete number that ruffled feathers – it was the implication that appeared to some to accompany it.
“Your piece painted a picture where every fatality in a truck-involved crash was the fault of the truck driver,” wrote Bill Graves, President and CEO of the ATA in a letter to CNBC. “This just simply is not true.”
The ATA may have seen the message as anti-trucker due to a few other statistics as well. The segment claims that there are currently over 2 million trucks on the road that are dangerously unsafe. The reasoning behind that number comes from data that says that 20% of trucks inspected in 2013 had mechanical problems. The voiceover says that trucks “had problems like faulty brakes or bad tires and shouldn’t be on the road at all.” It appears that they extrapolated that since 20% of trucks inspected had mechanical problems, it must be true that 20% of all trucks have such mechanical problems.
Other reasons given as to why there are so many truck crashes are “any number of causes from driver error to fatigue and serious mechanical problems.”
As Graves’ letter to MSNBC points out however, about 70% of fatal truck-related crashes are actually not caused by the trucker. And though this point was brought up briefly in the segment, it was quickly followed by a statement from John Lannen, head of the Truck Safety Coalition, who placed the blame immediately back on drivers saying “unfortunately, there’s a cultural aspect that this industry has a tolerance – too high a tolerance level – for deaths and injuries.”
The segment discusses several other statistics in the first installment of the report that the ATA called “outrageously inaccurate.” You can also see further criticisms from the ATA, OOIDA, and other industry forces.
Next Story: Cargo Thieves Using Jammers To Defeat GPS Tracking
Source: overdrive, ttnews, ccjdigital
Image Source: cnbc
Joe Skeptical says
Every rig should have 4 cameras to prove the crazy, stupid things cars and some truckers do.
Southbound I-35 in Iowa, 78,000, uphill, 2 lanes, speed dropping to 50, I approach stopped disco lights & customer. Clear left lane, a white tractor about 500′ back, no other traffic. I signal a lane change, look again, lane still open, I start over. White cab flyboy fakes left, swings right to pass. I cover the zipper and block him. He was going 65+ uphill, happy to blow past IN THE RIGHT LANE next to the boy scouts. No markings, white Freightshaker.
79 west from Memphis, heavy again approaching the split to 64 north, 55 mph, right lane. I signal to the center, which splits, then rises as it goes left; I slow to 45. Green Volvo 600′ back center lane going WAY TOO FAST lays on the horn, jerks into the left lane, flashes highs and lays into the horn again as he passes.
Where do they find this bear bait? Who pays these clowns to join the circus?
trailwinds says
I had a dash cam that helped me prove the fault of a woman that pulled out in front of me and my company told me to take the camera out of my truck.
james says
Coming down 191 through Price canyon pulling a load of hay and I guess I was going down the grade too slow for a four wheeler who blew by me on a blind curve almost clipping my front bumper over corrected almost hitting the guard rail over corrected again almost hitting the rear end of my partner pulling another load of hay whips out to pass him and gets right up behind our third driver who promptly went to the zipper. Amazingly when he got the chance he passed the third driver but even scarier it was dusk and this person wanted to treat this like his own Audubon. But no there is no way that four wheeler drivers have any fault whatsoever in auto accidents.
plumkrazee says
“…who promptly went to the zipper.” Sounds like THAT Buddy, was contributing to the problem. Because some idiot does something stupid, is a driver actually REQUIRED to do something even MORE stupid? I have NEVER understood that, and I drove for 38 years! Oh yeah, 38 accident free years!
Ray says
“… a cultural aspect that this industry has a tolerance – too high a tolerance level – for deaths and injuries.” ???
I’ve found this statement to be false in my own experience. Most of the drivers I’ve met seemed safety conscious. John Lannen needs to not make blanket statements like that.
ben says
It’s pretty ridiculous how our industry is portrayed. When I worked in the north dakota oilfields there was a truck related fatal accident ever 3 to 5 days and who did everyone want to blame? Truckers of course! But the statistics showed that 96% of those accidents were caused by the 4 wheelers!!
Rambo1 says
Oh yes, we deliver oil field pipe out of Houston. From Belfied to Williston is like playing PACKMAN in real life !
David Dunne says
Like all Broadcasters…the more controversy the higher the Listenership irrespective of Truth which is always in short supply these Days…
Kamkor says
I go up the minor grade out of Santa Rosa NM west on I40 twice a week. I can say pretty honestly that once a week on that grade, a 4 wheeler will pass all the slower traffic ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER during that left turn and climb. And if they are passing trucks they will have no clue if someone is disabled. They take that pass AT speed not even slowing down, and just squirt up the shoulder. Yet we are the dangerous ones?
LayDownAndDie says
Road rage on the forums. If people would learn when to quit, and quit being so vengeful on the road, that might cure half of the problem.
I drive otr, but I’m not one way or the other. I see wreck less acts every day from both sides. Most of the time it is because of someone playing around in traffic and no one is ever around to see it.
Personally, I don’t really care. “Let em go, world’s getting crowded”. Just don’t take food out of my mouth because some immigrants are acting like rookies on the road. (Bad breaks and bad tires) 😉
Eric says
I have never flown, but Im pretty sure that those airliners do not have 4 wheelers pulling out in front of them, cutting them off and all the other stupid crap they do just to save a few seconds of time to get in front of a truck. All the while at the next stoplight the truck is right behind them. And this goes for these fly by night truck drivers, git off our roads you are ruining us good drivers lives…
Moving Forward says
CNBC is a joke and I sincerely hope more people will recognize that fact and not believe much of their so-called reporting. They have a major political agenda, and it becomes visible in many of their stories like this one. With a little luck, our industry will do more to promote some positive PR about trucking and everyone involved.
Two Thermos says
That’s what flashed through my mind; who watches CNBC, anyway?
geargrinder says
Look at your fellow drivers. A bunch of overweight, dirty, and barely house trained animals. Some habits are just ridiculous – 10-mile turtle races to pass a truck going 0.05-mph slower, intimidating tailgating of 4-wheelers, and dumping garbage anywhere and everywhere. The offensive drivers are precisely the ones who DON’T read these articles.
Doug says
I notice they don’t give car/car accident numbers. Maybe if the government spent a little time educating the general public on the dynamics of big trucks, there wouldn’t be as many accidents. Instead, the government, which has no right reaching into private industries, will restrict truckers even more. I retired today. Having a CDL burning party tomorrow.
Enjoy, it’s only going to get worse.
Scotty Carr says
I drive and I see many discrepancies to the official Statement being made by people who look at this industry as the old Smokey and the Bandit trucking … Its not and it 100s times safe now then in the late 70s early 80s..Trucks don’t cause all the problems.I do admit that there are some bad drivers out there in this industry but many of us are hard working stiffs just enjoying life and make a fair living… CNBC needs to get out in a truck and see what’sup ddon’t use numbers crunched but the talking heads….
Two Thermos says
“Smokey And The Bandit” was one of the worse things to ever happen to this business. I think a lot of yahoos got into just from seeing that movie. Veteran drivers I knew, at the time it came out, usually said it was the dumbest damn thing they ever saw.
John says
Yea, so all the accidents have nothing to do with unskilled, inattentive, DUI, or reckless motoring public. Its all the truck drivers fault? Go through any construction site and watch how many vehicles in general go the posted construction speed limit. That gives you a good ideal of the shear number of drivers who do not adhere to being a safe driver. That goes for trucks, cars, and even construction vehicles. Even police cars don’t obey and act properly. Then you have states raising speed limits to satisfy who? The truck driver who is many times govern at a speed below that. Its times we all recognize that nobody really cares about accidents. Any statistic can prove trucks are safer per mile then the average motorist on the highway. But nobody will do anything to improve their skills or remove bad drivers from our roads. It will never happen.
Kurt Tumbleweed Arnold says
I agree we tell people not to drink,text while driving teach them to drive around trucks
Mike says
I’m a new driver so I have not become numb to some things that cars are doing around trucks. Just yesterday I had countless cars cutting me off. The recommended following distance for a truck is approx 4-5 seconds or about 400 feet. Cars will cut over with 10 feet of clearance and then jam on their brakes to make an exit. Things like this and passing on the right are the biggest risks that I see. If everyone would follow the rules of the road, the need for additional safety features would not be there.
Donna Kelly says
My Husband is a driver he has over 3 yes “3 million miles “of safe driving no accidents no tickets . He drives as he calls it the big picture. He drives past the hood of the truck. I cannot begin to tell you the number of times hes been cut off short by a auto. Truck drivers on a whole are safe drivers your going to have a few who aren’t but you have automobile drivers who aren’t safe drivers and those are the ones the big trucks get over one lane to the left for asc they are on the emergency lane getting tickets by the local police. Trucks are inspected at scales and are safer than cars are in most respects. They don’t do safety inspections on cars in most states just emissions inspections.
Todd Shaw says
Well said Donna! Congratulations and career well done, by your husband. He is truly a “Hall of Fame” driver.
Zack Fogarty says
80% of accidents involving class A drivers (semis) are not caused by the class A driver. This is an established statistic provided by the insurance industry, who has no reason to obscure or exaggerate the truth, considering it’s their money on the line. So what exactly is the debate about? Some 17 year-old girl talking on the phone and fiddling with the radio is less dangerous than a trained professional with 17 years of experience behind the wheel? Please. That’s just an absurd position to take. Auto accidents are the leading cause of all non-disease forms of death. We all know this. It has been this way for over half a century. Suddenly professional truck drivers are the culprit? Large metal objects moving at high speeds are the culprit. And unlike the 17 year old girl going to the beach, truck drivers are carrying your food, your clothing, your fuel… you know, keeping civilization running. Once you realize that everything you see around you and put in your body was carried on a truck to get it to you, you’ll figure out why there are 3.921 deaths involving trucks in a given year. Meanwhile billions of miles are being covered every week in the US. And the comparison to the airline industry is just dopey. There are several million trucks on the road on any given night in the US, versus several thousand jets. The next time you feel like cutting off some trucker who’s moving too slowly for you, remember that there’s a good chance he’s carrying at least one product that you’re actually on your way to the store to go buy. Stupid. Stop biting the hand that feeds you.
Ricky says
I know little about statistics, but I do know as a 35 year Long Haul, Over The Road Veteran with over 3 million safe miles under my belt, the international truckin industry is not what it used to be!
There are way too many big trucks involved in collisions with four wheelers, too many incidents on our roads involving big trucks!
Something is terribly wrong that so many so called professional drivers are either rolling over, running off the road, colliding with other trucks, cars, overpasses, trains, guardrails, lamp posts, etc. etc.
I mostly blame government ( FMSCA – DOT ) for their meddling in North America’s trucking industry with their impletation of this law and that law, laws that make absolutely no sense at all!
Lets face it ….. When the rubber hits the road, Bureaucratic pencil pushers sitting behind a desk in some climate controlled office away from the road wars, know absolutely nothing what so ever of the reality of trucking!
FMCSA’s constant foolishness and beaureaucratic bumbling, including the heavy handed enforcement by DOT has chased the Old School, no nonsense, take charge, Truck Drivers away from Trucking.
Most of the time, Old School Driver’s have been replaced by cheap imported labor including wannabee drivers who just can’t seem to fit into societies main stream, run of the mill employment so are oriented by greedy trucking companies and their dream weaving Human Resource specialists to driving a big truck, just another job they will never, ever master!
The real professional Truck Drivers will continue to leave the industry, as long as wages remain below the poverty line, as long as Truck Drivers are treated like 2nd class citizens, as long as bumbling bureaucrats continue to meddle in the affairs of the working class truck driver, the trucking industry will only get a whole lot worse! ….. Old School Truck Drivers predicted today’s exact scenario 25 years ago ….. The Chickens have come home to roost!!
Bob says
You wouldnt be Rick Kelly? Just wondering ,he had 3 million miles and 30 or 35 years in. Supposed to be hauling oversize loads in Washington state.
RIchard M says
You hit the nail firmly on the head. Good drivers are leaving all the time. I refuse to hire steering wheel attendants so I sell off trucks each time a good driver leaves the industry. 4 more trucks to sell off and I am done too after 30+ years.
Hasan Z. says
Hello i am a CDL A driver in Chicago, bad combination drivers over here have no idea and do not care about a giant rolling piece of metal and diesel they just wanna drive and cut off drivers going 55+ in the 35 city streets, they want to brake check and test their fates
with trucks that weight tens of thousands of pounds and don’t care because the truckers insurance is a gold mine to these fools. I suggest ALL truckers setup a camera black box in their rigs and save you the headache of the complex steps we have to do to ensure everyone’s safety when a little mini copper tries to cut us off. Maybe, and it’s sad for me to say, but after a couple hundreds of the fatalities that uneducated people in the field of journalism say it’s the truckers fault get proved it wasn’t his fault, just maybe that 103,000 pound truck(max legal for my rig) will get some respect driving down the road.
Patrick says
Don’t worry, it’s CNBC…they have hundreds of viewers.
James M. says
This battle of who’s at fault has been going on since I can remember. Truth be told, half of the CDL drivers out there today should have never been given there CDL. Companies process people through CDL training as fast and cheaply as possible with one goal in mind, moving freight, not safety.
When I trained to receive my CDL I had two driver trainers due to vacations. The very first time I was behind the wheel the trainer sat there for about a half hr and then said ” well… you can hold a lane, wake me up when we hit North Carolina.” and jumped into the bunk. NC was 7 hrs away.
The second rear ended a car in front of us on the Washington DC beltway. No major damage. Car owner didn’t call the authorities, no insurance exchange. Never the less my “trainer” was at fault. Though I won’t release the name of the trucking company I trained with, they were a major “player” in the industry based out of the mid-west with terminals all over the country.
Drivers need to be more safety orientated. We are the ” professionals ” when we are on the road. Knowing that people dislike big trucks, or understand the reason why CDL drivers take some of the actions that comes with driving a truck, should put the driver on top of his game every day. Knowing that every day we are in some of the unsafest environments and the only thing we can control are our own actions.
State by state DOT facilities should be mandated to train motorists, or have it in their guidelines, the basic fundamentals of commercial trucks. What to do and not to do around them. Comparison of stopping distance between a truck and a car. Weight difference and so on. You and I both know that motorists have total disregard for speed limits and the environment around them. So if train 10 motorists and 3 of them actually grasp and utilize this knowledge… that to me is moving forward.
flatbed70 says
Amen James! Every state should have, as part of their curriculum of people getting a regular license, an education course and test on how to drive when you are around big rigs!!!
Jraulpilot says
Research:: They should assign a Newscaster from each state….assign them to be with a Company/ or Independent Truck driver for a minimum of Two weeks……better yet One month..and document all activities and experiences throughout that month. Guaranteed;;; their perceptions and their stories will take a new direction.
Darrin says
Ill take em. I got an emty jump seat
Eric says
I volunteer also…..
juliano trucking says
Ha, ha, ha…. give every single person a small plane to fly and see how you compare statistics to commercial airliner pilots.
Non sense CNBS, sorry.
Bob R says
Here we go. seems to me that additional and probably not needed “NEW”
regulations are on its way. I have been around a long time. Anytime the GOVT.
wants a new reason to show they are “doing something” it generally starts like this.
You know its serious when the rest of the GOVT. mouthpieces go off. Watch for more
“hit” pieces on ABC, CBS, the View, The Chew etc. maybe a newspaper or two.
“they” did this with other “sociatal” wrongs, generally loaded with false or totally wrong
“facts”! Remember “Blood Diamonds”? that was was one they lost on. But, seatbelts,
Anti-smoking, Fracking, Global warming, campaign Finance reform and on and on.
think back, ALL of these “social” fixes started out such as this. Many times culminating in
Actors and actress’s making statements while getting their Oscars………..it’s called Propaganda!
Bob R
rob says
4000 truck fats out of a total of about 50,000 total annual deaths. That’s only 8%. 30% of 8% boils down to 2.4% of all trucker fatalities are the fault of the trucker. Considering near 100% turnover and the number of rookie drivers…
flash1994 says
Just sent cnbc an email stating my complete loss of respect for them
Steve Bell says
Why does anybody still drive a truck anymore???
Joe Skeptical says
I don’t anymore
I will not tolerate:
1. Not enough parking; trucks and freight have increase, parking does not.
2. Idiot dispatchers, in every way. Your dispatcher experience is good? YOU’RE THE EXCEPTION.
3. Cargo thief receivers and gate idiots.
4. DOT jerks
5. California, the love milk hate cows state that loves freight and hates trucks.
6. Pay
7. Unpaid work, LOTS of it.
8. Filthy, smelly truck stops, dirtbag drivers, other trucks idling all night, crap food….
9. Trucking company asshole, two faced liars.
Please add to the list.
Darrin says
Screw that load till next morning. If i get sleepy, it gets shut down. If they don’t like it then they can repower it. They will get their frieght in good condition but a couple hours later. No harm to anyone.
Darrin says
Because I always wanted a winnobago but will never be able to afford one. Yes the pay is dirt. But I get to see places I never would have even dreamed of. So I chose trucking as a lifestyle. When I want to come home I will.
Phillip Sebree says
I think one of the main points that is missed is the interstate and highway infrastructure.
The roads are in various places along them actually very dangerous. I would invite any journalist to join me are another trucker to see just what I am talking about. There are repairs (patching) that just sends a truck rumbling even at 50 mph. It appears that almost any company can be allowed to to interstate and highway construction or repair. It is my belief as one who considers themself a professional that the federal and state governments as well as the media should study what criteria should be me before a contractor can do any patch work or major interstate construction. The next time you see patching of interstate or highway notice how the semi trucks bounce around. I believe that only proven and certified contractors should be allowed to erect and repair any highway or interstate, and from my daily drive on almost any road one can easily see that is not the case.
Also there needs to be more enforcement of four wheelers and semi drivers as well that tailgate and try to force people out of the way at speeds above 40 MPH. There are some wreckless truck drivers that speed when weather conditions warrant otherwise. But there are many more drivers of automobiles that flirt with death by not moving over or passing other vehicles in a proper or safe manner. If we could get only the correct and qualified contractors to work on our highways I believe a lot of lives could be saved. You can see what I mean by driving over most overpasses and bridge transitions, watch the next time how much of a bump that the ramp that takes one across any type of bridge going at highway speeds, just look at what happens when a semi go across a bridge or navigates through a jungle of patches on any road at speeds over 40 mph.
That’s the real story of safety driving for all on our interstate and highway infrastructure.
Phillip Sebree says
I fogot to add the 70 hour week rule that we as drivers have to adhere to. That needs to be rethought! I took off 14 hours after using my 70 driving time to only gain 2.3 hours of driving time which actually forced me to drive after midnite when earlier I was very well rested and ready to drive after my forced 14 hour break. So I had to take another 10 hours off duty when I was not sleepy the least bit and forced to drive in the pitch black of night in the rain. That just doesn’t make any dare since….. Please excuse any typos but I think you get my point because it’s all about being safe for everyone driving out there
Phillip Sebree
317-459-6506
Darrin says
Screw that load till next morning. If i get sleepy, it gets shut down. If they don’t like it then they can repower it. They will get their frieght in good condition but a couple hours later. No harm to anyone.
Charlie says
Why is it no one can drive at night anymore?
George says
Just reading some of the posts and it’s no wonder people think we are dangrous idiots. Half u posters should sit home and watch cartoons and dribble all over ur self and stay off the roads and most of all off the Internet.
Between the ones who think they are cops in big trucks to the ones who consider them self better then all the rest it’s amazing America gets its freight when it does.
frankie says
Imagine that, nbc strikes again with falsehoods. This is the same nbc that blew up a pinto back in the 70’s or was it a pick-up, not sure. showing the falsehood of faulty gas tanks. And wasn’t it nbc that took out the word “God” out of God Bless America during a show or something on that network. And wasn’t it nbc that edited the George Zimmerman 911 tape leaving out the ” I think he’s black comment. All we heard was “HE’S BLACK. Well, no surprise here people, NOTHING too see. It’s just good ol nbc doing what nbc does VERY well. LIE!!!!!
T Owens says
George you must be a cnbc subscriber. Somehow somewhere someone with too much money should have a new reality show depicting the life of real truck drivers Not like the ever so scripted crap they show now. But how it really is! Have a lottery type drawing every week to see who the new driver for the next episode be. Have cameras live documenting all the bulldung we deal with. Especially dot inspections to shipper/receiver. No editing of language or incidents. Show it exactly how it is. Let America see and decide for themselves what we really are. Don’t let those anusses at cnbc negatively influence the Naive public into thinking like them.
Anthony says
It’s CNBC for heavens sake. If yoou tune into the channel most of what you’ll hear are crickets chirping. These people never consider for one moment as to where their groceries or gasoline,or meds come from. I drove a big truck for 20 years sidelined by a mild heart attack in 2011. The same nonsense was being spewed then as well. For decades truckers have always received a bad rap for what happens on the road.
Regardless. All you dudes,and dudets hold your heads up high. Just because the people at CNBC,and others like them are under the delusion that all their goods are delivered by the good fairy train we all know differently. With out you on the road gear jammin America comes to a complete stop. Be Safe out there.
Coy Callahan says
I owned trucks and was a truck driver for 30 years. I do beleave that we have severa thousand trucks on the road that are unsafe, I knew many companies that hide, park and wait. when scales are open wating for them to close, afraid the unsafe trucks the owned and drove would be pulled in for inspection.
Many companies do run unsafe trucks!
Especialy owner operators. They do have many stupid reasons for doing this. Some claim they make no money in the trucking industry, and they can’t afford repairs.
This is one of the reasons I quit trucking. I always did my best to keep my trucks up but the reality is, I could not afford to own and drive a truck.
No money in the business. I never hid from the scales I was one of the only drivers I knew that would take saftey serious.
The reasons why big companies lease trucks and claim you as the owner, is to escape truck repairs.
After years in the business, I think any one that drives for a living is a fool, this is not a money making business.
I strongley beleave many truck accidents are caused by truckers with attitudes they are bigger so you better move or else. Coupled with tired drivers and unsafe trucks.
Bill says
No one watches CNBC!
Todd says
Ya know what? When these jackasses go to the store or try to get gas or need their mail and nothing is being shipped anymore or delayed they will cry like a bitch because the trucks are what move this country. Plain and simple.
vani says
Every day all across America, drivers deliberately cut you off, they think if they can get you to hit them and claim injury, big money lawsuit. They like to go by the name on your door, the more well known the harder they try. If someone follows you and keeps cutting you off, call 911 and give them details. Cover your bottom line. It’s our livelyhood and CDL record at stake.
CC says
In my new career, I end up watching an unhealthy amount of CNBC for market info, so I can confirm the sentiments you real truckers have. Every ‘report’ on CNBC is an infomercial designed to sell something and therefore has the same predictable message: outdated equipment and under-regulation are the causes of all the world’s problems. The conclusion is that only new, expensive, and intrusive technology, combined with big-goverment mandates to implement it, will solve them. I watched every segment of CNBC’s ‘Collision Course’ investigation, and it was no exception.
It’s no surprise that CNBC committed an entire segment of the report to advertising Volvo’s supposedly ‘safer’ tractors with silly things like automatic braking, speed alarms, and lane departure warnings. Don’t be amazed at how quickly lawmakers will move to mandate these things on your future truck–or maybe even the one you drive now.
Shockingly, CNBC didn’t interview a single trucker; not even a rep from a drivers’ organization (of which, despite the nice comments from Mr. Graves, the ATA is not one, although CNBC went to them to get the truckers’ side of the story–more CNBC cluelessness). If they had, they might have discovered how the crushing ‘safety’ regulations they support have been almost impossible to comply with, have not enhanced safety, and have driven many good drivers out of the industry–only to be replaced by irresponsible, unqualified steering wheel holders who will only grow in number and make our roads even more unsafe as regulations continue to increase.
The ultimate goal, of course, is to replace truckers with robots–and, yes, that was explicitly stated in the CNBC report. Volvo–again–was pumping these business-minded folks’ heads full of Orwellian promises of driverless trucks within just a few years. Don’t laugh–somebody will invest a lot of money in this fraud.
As someone who’s now mercifully far removed from the trucking industry and its asinine, ineffective rules that are only going to get worse as the CNBC audience–which consists mostly of urban, wealthy individuals who characteristically have a favorable view of government regulation–is influenced by this nonsensical report, I take my hat off to anyone who still manages to stay on the road even as the whole business/government/media establishment works against you. I don’t know how you folks do it.
corey jackson says
Every time I hear a story about some nimrod claiming all truckers are homicidal maniacs preying on innocent traffic law-abiding 4-wheeler drivers, I laugh . Where were these fools yesterday when I was traveling on I-85 south in Anderson,South Carolina to see one of their innocent victims in a white minivan pass an Old Dominion truck pulling doubles on the shoulder? These self righteousness clowns are never anywhere to be found when cars cause massive wrecks, but as soon as a truckdriver blows a tire, or has to run in the ditch or median to avoid hitting one of these jackass four-wheeler drivers that just cut him off, they pounce all over it to further their half-witted agenda. Lol, I guarantee these same people do the exact bad driving that we see every day. But they can only focus on us.
agreenbee says
I was surprised when my spouce changed careers to truck driving. After riding as a passenger for 2 years I learned a lot. First, 4 wheel autos do not know how to merge or use on and off ramps. 4 wheel auto have no clue about the limitation of the semis, expecially when they have been modified by the major trucking companies down to 60 mph no matter what or have automatic breaking systems that take away the drivers ability to operate the semi when they have been cut off. Semi drivers have more to do than just drive and are often driving under a lot of duress due to their employeers bad management, mostly data base issues or employer driver relations. It is no surprise to me the numbers because frankly who can drive after you just found out you did not get paid correctly, the equipment needed wasn’t available or in proper working order or you are fighting with your employeer to get all your stops accounted for. For changes to occur the employment conditions in the major trucking companies needs to change. Seriously, safe operation needs to be a priorty not just a slogan. Now driver leaders and management are more concerned with the amount of monies they can skim out of a drivers work order to achieve a higher bonus. I can not belive the time that is spent and the great deal of effort that pumpkin drivers have to go through to get a correct work order, to get paid correctly, to find equipment, to get home, to understand the pay structure or even follow the bonus pay because it is changing constantly to keep the most profit in house. In fact my spouce lost his job because he would not stop asking his leaders and management to correct work orders to match duties and additional stops shippers required. An unhappy, pre occupied or frustrated driver does not make a safe driver. This is where the most change can make the biggest impact. The reason truckers laugh so much at the major trucking companies is because of the 300% turn over which keeps wages low and profit high, that is until your accidents eat up all your profit, duh. The only other thing worse than the working conditions is the living condition, the garbage and the drivers that shit and pea everywhere. Many are considerate but honestly why would any of you stay the night with out a toilet or running water to wash your hands. Why your employer routes you to no bathroom facilities or expects you to spend your off duty hours with out one is completely out of my understanding.
Fyi…..DOT needs to spend some time at loading docks. At least one of the major trucking companies does not understand the rules you ask us drivers to follow. 70 hour rule has lot of room for planning but if you run by the seat of your pants, I can see the frustration. Personally 11 hours of driving in 14 hours work day was tiring enough. I really dont want to be on the road with those who think they are fit for more than 14 hours work day and are behind the wheel.
Norsequeen says
I was a truck driver for about 8 years when I was fired due to a minor incident in New Jersey. During a lane change when I’d checked my mirrors at least twice, I clipped the passenger side mirror of a four wheel vehicle who had ignored my signal & was attempting to pass me. The company I worked for, J. B. Hunt, had the five unforgivable accidents rule which included the lane change incident. So they pretty much had to fire me. It ended my career driving trucks, rendered me homeless & unemployed back there when my home state was Oregon, but I completely understood the company’s consequences. If more companies followed up on safety violations, there might not be as many drivers at fault.
On the other hand, I’ve read the statistics that prove that over 70% of accidents involving trucks are caused by the other vehicles’ drivers. I was involved in near accidents when learning to drive a truck due to smaller vehicles making left turns right in front of me, pulling into my lane in front of me then slamming on their brakes, etc., & for the next 8 years, I prevented hundreds of accidents by being a defensive & conscientious driver. The vast majority of truck drivers are like I was, very safety conscious. CNBC like other news media, did a biased job of “investigative reporting”, reporting only what they want the general public to get upset about. This is why I try to avoid watching any types of news programs. They are all biased in one direction or another.
Cliff Downing says
This is all a big yawn. CNBC’s market share is so low, that it is doubtful that it will make much of a blip on the radar of the viewing public. We have had hit pieces like this done in the past. I just shrug them off. A lot of folks need to not take this kind of thing all that seriously, when you consider the source.
matt says
I agree with you cliff. the media or news is about 10% truth. the best thing that congress can do. is block the media from running stories about truckers. and making us out to be something we’re not. it seems they are focusing on the 5% part of the trucking industry. what about the other 95% of the industry. they are going to keep going until every truck is off the road. and there is nothing in the stores to buy. then money will be useless.
Vance Chapman says
These stupid trucking companies are causing accidents everyday. They have cut the power back and limited the speed and have made their trucks and their drivers a rolling HAZARD, that other trucks and cars have to dodge. The government and these trucking companies have caused our roads to be unsafe.
A loaded truck that starts up a hill at 63 MPH will be a serious hazard in about a 1/2 a mile or less.
dmdriver says
have told many a dispatcher. if they wanted it at 5pm on Thursday, they will really love it at 8 am Friday! c.d.l can deliver late!
schooner427 says
First, the statistics show that most accidents involving both a truck and an automobile is usually the automobiles fault. It only takes one profesional driver out of fifty to drive poorly that gives the fifty a bad name. 90 percent of the driving public believes they are above average drivers.
My company has cameras that are built into the system of the truck. If a driver has to slam on his brakes for instance the video will mark automatically 1.5 minutes before to 1.5 minutes after the event and automatically notify the safety dept of the incident. Along with the video the computer will record things like brake pressure, speed what gear the truck was in. The GPS marker or location. If the feul pedal was used and how much pressure. The rpms of the motor as well. This has saved the company a lot in lawsuits . This is a system that can save a driver from wrong lawsuits . But it can also bite you in the ass if you aren’t driving like a professional. Proper following distance (4 seconds minimum) as well as following the speed limit.
CNBC is really nothing more than a televised version of the supermarket tabloids letting us know that aliens have invaded New Jersey and no one is aware of it yet.
Continue being a true professional. It is all of our responsibility to be safe and professional as we do our jobs on a daily basis. We are responsible for all our lives, as well as those driving around us. Just remember, each automobile that does something stupid and you are able to avoid a crash. You have saved their life even if hey didn’t care about it or realized it. My admiration is there for each and everyone of you that continue to be the driver you should be each day. I thank you all.
Paul says
I’ve got an idea! Since no factory or chemical plant or other place of hazardous employment allows ‘civilians’ to randomly roam around in their work places due to insurance issues and safety, then, why don’t we give the same respect to truck drivers? The interstates are their hazardous workplaces. Before ‘civilians’ are allowed to occupy that hazardous area, let’s certify them by having them ‘ride along’ as passengers on 18 wheelers for …. oooohhh…. let’s say …. about 3 months…. then they can test out to ‘qualify’ for a permit that would allow them to travel on interstates! After all… interstates were built for A) military cross country transport first and foremost…. that’s why they were part of the DOD budget…. B) COMMERCIAL/INTERSTATE/INTRASTATE COMMERCE….. and LASTLY, C) tourists roaming around making sudden abrupt and dangerous changes in their travel plans every time they see a new travel stop or when junior suddenly decides he can’t hold it anymore…..
Robin says
What really gets me angry is that when you look at percentages meaning how many trucks there are in the road, how many miles that are traveled, 4000 is not that many comparably.
Don’t get me wrong… It’s unfortunate if anybody dies in an accident and based on my experience when I used to work traffic control, a lot of accidents are caused by just plain stupidity.
Nowadays, rollovers are such a commonplace because the cars are so light that when they get into a crash, they just bounce… Literally.
In my opinion, when it comes down to trucks, looking at the statistics… Were not doing that bad especially if you compare it to the number of cars that get into accidents.
missjanenc says
I live in Charlotte, North Carolina and several years ago a driver in a compact car was killed on I-77 when he tried to thread the needle between two trucks in an attempt to access the exit. Needless to say, the vehicle looked like an accordion. All I can say is that when I finish school, get my license and start working, one of my first purchases will be for a dash cam. With all the idiots out there on the road, I am NOT going to take any chances and will do whatever I can to cover my butt. My motto – document everything.
Bill Lyon says
Trying to keep my comment focused toward the point of this article, I only have one truly poignant thing to say…. walk a mile in another person’s shoes before you judge them. I think CNBC should seriously “man up”, put their big boy pants on and send their sorry ass investigative hacks out on the road in a big rig for a period of not less than 3 months so that they can fully experience and appreciate what it’s like to be a trucker dealing with the general motoring public out there, right alongside all the harassment from the governement entities and the regulatory nation they’ve created. THEN we can talk about just how bad truckers are. Until then, CNBC, go kiss George Soros’ ass some more. Oh, by the way… you got some brown on your nose. Right there.
Jim M says
Everyday people are in a hurry going to their destination and this is a huge factor when driving. This increases risk taking, increased speeds which can lead to reckless driving. The end results are accidents in some cases. Four wheeler’s drive as if they were never taught about the necessary requirements for big trucks to actually slow down or stop. They continue to drive in a wolf pack surrounding the trucks and boxing them in leaving no escape for truckers to avoid accidents. The weight of a semi fully loaded is 40 to 1 over cars and small trucks. Increased following distance is a must for semi drivers. I see four wheeler’s everyday exiting the hwy from the hammer lane and cutting off semi’s. My observation of driving habits on the hwy clearly shows a disregard to hwy safety and laws. Courtesy between other drivers has severely declined. The article above is very ambiguous in light of all drivers on the road.
andrew says
this is what happens when you pull cheap freight just to put a $1000.00 a week in your pocket and say that’s all I need . You can’t maintain your equipment properly. No independent o/o or small fleet should operate under $2.65 per mile, based on the inflated cost of parts and maintenance. Trucking is a serious business and its got to be treated that way. 70 % of accidents that happens is the fault of automobile drivers,and the government. The government fails to educate the public when they go to driving school to learn to drive. The government put lives on the line to save a dollar on advertisement. Safe driving the responsibility of everyone that is behind the wheel of a vehicle whether your on public street or a race track. The trucking industry needs to fight back with proof of accidents with pictures or videos and post them to a database and YouTube . The new trend in the industry is lawyers targeting the trucking industry because they are so hungry for anything. So f— sickening.
Ron says
And CNBC don’t think Police officers will lie to protect their state employees when they run a red light into the side of an out of state truck driver, and kill the Ohio state driver’s car passenger. The Ohio Highway Patrol just manipulated the facts of the accident report to cover up for the Ohio state owned car,driven by an Ohio. State employee. The police cover up cost me my CDL. The Ohio police are covered up by the Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. And you wonder why I couldn’t get a fair trial in Fostoria Municipal Court on Feb 14,2005 .?
Kimberly Price says
Im a future wife of a truck driver but before I met my love I still had great respect for truckers.Taught at age 5 or continue to be reminded of the fact that without truckers how else do you get what you buy?Even in online buying how does it get to your doorstep.I drive a boxtruck with my job and those same idiots who thinks its fun to playgames or whatever their thinking should be reminded of every possible aspects if you choose to be stupid at driving.Alsi companies should be reported and fined on a regular basis to insure that the trucks on the road are inspection and fixed before going back on the road.If a driver doesn’t report it to get fixed then they should be fined.If a driver does report it and company says go anyway then have it reported to DOT and have the company fined.By the way I do know how that contradiction works thats why the trucking companys hate it when the driver has proof in whatever way to show forth what a company says to go ahead and do.Their GOd would love to know.But the history of truck driving goes back to horse and buggys days history channel or whoever should show how not to blamed all truckers for one or many bad apples in the bunch that makes the rest look bad.For all truckers please be careful and watch your back in all situations.I pray you always get where you are going safe.And you know of one four wheeler who let you do your job safe no games played here.My driver license is a privilege well earned for my freedom to drive and i will not be stupid to lose it.
larry Giglio says
hello. I agree there are too many deaths from truck/auto collisions. It is time our lying, thieving, criminal government cartels built dedicated truck lanes everywhere, with tunnels through all the mountains.
Don Miller says
Haha, dreaming on…………
Don Miller says
I just finished a couple of days on roads in Michigan and Indiana and am wondering if any of these safety experts have thought about road conditions affecting 4-wheeler and big truck behavior. Dodging chuck holes and enduring road rage generated by having to drive through huge holes in the road surface with no way to avoid them, even left lane is dangerous. Is frustrating to pay road use taxes and fuel taxes and see them apparently not being used on the roads. Some of those holes in the surface in Mich on 94 were the size of a basketball, and that is certainly large enough to cause a person in a small 4-wheeler to swerve violently to try and miss it.
I see plenty of vehicles that should have better tires and possible complete fenders and some horrific air leaks but consider the money most of these may have to deal with these problems, even the big companies with deeper pockets have to juggle the numbers to get things properly repaired on their trucks if and when they decide to do it while new owner ops probably will not have the money to fix things that absolutely must be fixed without borrowing moneys to do so.
This cost cutting frenzy affecting the country right now does not generally promote road safety or safety in many areas of life. I came upon accident debris on a bridge the other day which consisted of a fender from a wreck with an orange safety cone indicating that it was there. This was a reletively narrow bridge with no real room for a fender laying on the roadway, instead of picking it up and removing it, just put a cone by it and leave it. This is highly conducive to general road safety! All of us working together might help this situation somewhat as truck drivers are very good at taking care of business. So, lets all vote and hollar where we can.
Dave Oas says
I’m a retired Kansas state trooper who served the last nine years of my career as a MCSAP enforcement and education/training officer. My responsibilities included conducting post-crash investigations on CMVs, loads and truck drivers involved in serious injury or fatality crashes. After doing more than 30 of these investigations over a nine year period I clearly saw a consistent “trend”. Greater than 80 percent of these crashes were the result of contributing factors other than CMV driver error/fitness, mechanical issues or load securement. When I began looking at NHTSA statistics I found my own informal findings were nearly identical with national statistics of similar investigations.
When I gave safety programs I explained that, based on national statistics and my own experience, more than three-quarters of all fatality and serious injury crashes involving large trucks and busses were not caused by the truck/bus driver or the condition of his/her vehicle or load – typically these crashes were the result of non-CMV driver error. This information was very often met with a lot of skepticism from those not closely familiar with the motor carrier industry including law enforcement officers who didn’t routinely investigate CMV crashes.
I did not hesitate to pursue reasonable prosecution of any driver when the evidence indicated negligence or violation of law. On the other hand, I knew it was also vital to provide testimony (courtroom, depositions or informal) in support of CMV drivers and carriers when the evidence didn’t show negligence or violation of law on their parts. The problem I did have and still have today is when a group or individual, including law enforcement, permits bias to affect what information is collected, how it’s collected, and the way it’s organized and disseminated. It never serves a common good when responsible parties, like journalists, safety advocates and law enforcement intentionally taint, bend or omit information in pursuit of a noble end.
Data viewed through uncolored lenses will best provide the kind of information we can all use to make our roadways safer for everyone – a fair and just means of promoting a noble cause.
Mwhitelaw says
Such a bandwagon op-ed piece!! As a kneejerk reaction we should all stay home for a week or so to give the lamestream media a chance to see who really causes the vast majority of accidents. A society full of inattentive, selfish, self-centered gimmie-gimmies that will freak out at the drop of a hat. THE TIME IS NOW PEOPLE!!!
LayDownAndDie says
First I’d like to say sorry if offended by my previous “imigrant” comment. It wasn’t meant to be racial, even though you have to be knowledgeable about the issue to know who I was referring too.
There really just needs to be better training and more importantly, laws that serve a purpose other than the ones that just hurt the otr drivers. I single them out because of the difference in strain one endures while spending long periods in a vehicle. Seems like they are robbing Peter to pay Paul. Make sense?
matt says
that sounds about right! mega fleets don’t care about brains or abilities. they only care about if the body is warm and they have a pulse. I been out of work for a while now. but i’m not so desperate as to wanna go to work for another lying treat people worse then the dirt on the floor mega fleets.
Road champion says
Wow some of these responses are so juvenile an to the poster who worries about a person’s grammar you are pathetic . I have issues with the 4 wheelers as well but I am also prepared I deAl with these unskilled drivers my problems are dealing with my fellow truckers who take safety as a joke
matt says
I do want to ad one last thing. thanks to anne ferro and the fmcsa for breeding hate against truckers. this story is a testament on how it is being allowed for the people to attack there own people. using blind ignorance or consideration of what kind of damages things like this have on the economy. and the way of life of the people it effects. so I think in light of the morgan/walmart wreck in new jersey. I think it would be appropriate the congress puts order out for the media to stop running stories about the trucking industry. that is making tens of thousands of truckers out to be something they are not. the driver of the walmart truck will not get a fair trail due to stories like this one.
trailwinds says
Two biggest causes of truck accidents:
1. Excessive speed
2. Following too closely.
I’m a trucker but I have to admit that it seems like all the psychiatric hospitals have been emptied out and the patients/inmates have been placed in 18 wheelers.
Listening to the CB is like sitting in on a conversation with lunatics and I weep for those poor brave truck stop porters that have to walk around the truck stops and pick up after some of these drivers. And sorry, it is not just one or two bad apples that are doing it. I say it’s half.
Half the drivers are really nice people and the other half will spit in your face and charge you for a soda.
And really, does someone have to tell you that it is not safe to tailgate a car at 70 + mph when you are fifteen feet off their bumper?
My solution: Get rid of the logbooks and have stricter traffic enforcement.
Keaton says
My biggest safety concern is all these trucks that are limited 10 mile per hour below the average speed limit cause when you come up on one of these trucks you know who they are you start backing down to safely pass them and your stuck there for hours cause the four wheelers don’t care and then the bad driver comes up behind you and doesn’t slow down and slams into your trailer and gets hurt or even worse killed and who’s to blame for it we the professional drivers even though we can’t control other drivers and everyone says we don’t care when I’m a young driver only 25 but I’ve been riding in tractor trailers for 15 years I’ve seen the ups the downs the good the bad but in my opinion everyone should have to ride in a tractor trailer for three months as part of the licensing process it would cut down on the accidents
Ryan says
4,000? That’s it?! So far this year almost 550 people have been killed in traffic related fatalities in Illinois alone…
Bob B says
I would say it’s a percentage being I have been a truck driver for 20 years and thank god I never had a bad accident,minor fender benders. A large fault or almost have the blame goes directly to the company….THE COMPANY?, YES ! WHY? drivers time and time again write up the problems with their trucks and get no results,just grab another clunker !.Meanwhile those clunkers that are not driven are driven they just turn around give the truck to another driver and some drivers don’t catch the problem till it’s to let.I can go on and on about this but I’m not you know why? NOBODY CARES ANYWAY.
Tnt says
If there is such big money in purposely causing trucking accidents why haven,t insurers required dash cams…every Russian truck seems to have them…see youtube. I would welcome them. One thing I also think we need is to post in large letters that we can,t do the speed limit on speed limited trucks…folks get pissed of at us & it is not our fault.
SawedOff says
Just like a libtard news agency! Piss poor reporting of anything but the TRUTH. Wouldn’t want that to get in the way of a story now would we, PMSNBC?? I’ll concede to the fact there are numerous mechanically unsafe trucks on the road, I see them every day. The vast majority of them are container haulers, and who is behind the wheel? 95% of the time it is a Mexican, and NOT of American descent. No, I’m not being “racist” as you “feel guilty for being white” losers want to scream. Yes, I can tell the difference. Mexican Americans for the most part spend lots of money keeping their equipment up to spec and cleaner than most major fleets. Also, by the way they dress and conduct business, a heck of a lot more professional than you baggy shorts, dirty t-shirt, flip flop wearing white dudes (and for your info, I am white). But one thing I don’t see is the state DOT boys pulling their asses over for a level 1. No, they want to screw with the white and black drivers trying to do things right. Too much hassle with the language barrier I guess, and wouldn’t want to get reprimanded for profiling. I have been with a company that have cameras installed that not only look out, but also in. No, they don’t run continuous, but they are apt to be activated for hard braking, rough roads (thank you Mississippi), abrupt lane changes, over speed etc. They CAN NOT be activated remotely, they are monitored by a third party outside of our home state. In short, they have saved several of our drivers’ jobs, license and kept the company’s money where it belongs… in their pocket. It took a while to get used to, but I have found after nearly a year, I like the added protection. Trust me, if I am doing something unsafe, I will get a call from our safety department within a few days. So far, to date, I have not had ONE call yet. Plus, the nose picking and occasional fart is just added entertainment for the poor soul on the other end reviewing a few minutes of boring footage.
Macgyver says
Another piece of crap to denigrate truckers. Maybe they should just get tired of us and shut us ALL down, and be done with it.