Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/818577
May 2017 | Overdrive | 19 Logbook came from several commenters. Some states have been approaching the issue of endorsements differently. Former driver and current MCO Transport Safety Director Danny Hefner, illustrating the need for special skills, cited one of the most precarious of highway emergencies for operators — a steer-tire blowout. "Will the truck be able to maintain its lane" without immediate driver control? he asked. – Todd Dills Autonomous truck hearing: More questions than answers Industry stakeholders last month stressed to a panel of top officers from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin- istration their concerns about autonomous tractor-trailers: hours of service, the CDL and the need for manned control. The agency's listening session was held at the annual Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance workshop in Atlanta. Trucker Bryan Spoon invoked a hypothetical near- crash where the choices are to "hit this brick wall" and de- stroy the truck or "deviate and hit kids in a crosswalk." "What choice does our automated vehicle make?" Spoon asked. Those believing FMCSA ought to incentivize develop- ment of highly-automated driver-assist technology in- sisted there has to be some financial payback, and the biggest opportunity appears to be in the hours of service regulations. Consultant Richard Bishop wondered about the pathway for FMCSA to "get to a place [in the regulations] where that driver can get into the cab of the automated vehicle and he's on-duty not driving. I think the tech will get us there." He offered the example of long waits in line by dray driv- ers at ports, where two hours of waiting isn't uncommon, with the truck moving no fast- er than 5 mph. In a highly-au- tomated situation, that could make for an opportunity to get into the bunk for sleeper-line time. Starkly divergent points of view around the need for special credentialing for autonomous vehicle operation 1-800 GET HOWES (438-4693) www.howeslube.com A Cool Engine is a Happy Engine. And a happy engine has its benefits: peak performance, more power and less maintenance. Howes Oil Enhancer lowers operating temperature keeping your engine cool. It not only extends the life of your oil – it also reduces metal-on-metal wear and protects internal engine components. Use it at every oil change as part of the ultimate Howes preventive maintenance program. From the trusted makers of Howes Diesel Treat and Meaner Power Kleaner. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K HowesOverdrive_HalfPageIsland_S17_OE.pdf 1 1/26/17 11:51 AM Untitled-3 1 2/3/17 9:38 AM