Deadly Truck Rollovers Are Preventable

There is nothing more deadly plaguing the trucking industry than rollover accidents. Although there have been some improvements in technology, road design and driver education, rollovers still account for more than 50% of all truck driver related deaths.

You’ve no doubt seen the horrific remnants of a rollover accident snarling traffic for miles. A 2012 study of truck rollovers has cited several leading factors contributing to rollovers, with many being avoidable. Most often rollovers occur on a highway entrance or exit ramp that wasn’t designed or maintained for today’s driving conditions. The crumbling infrastructure across most of North America’s highways are a major contributing factor, however driver error is still one of the leading causes in rollover accidents.

Speed, usually a by-product of either driver impatience or ignorance is the leading cause; sometimes as slow as 10 kms an hour. In some cases, novice truck drivers don’t realize that the posted speed limit on ramps are for cars.

Catch a shoulder or one tire slips off and the danger of a rollover increases exponentially.

Add an unstable or improperly secured load to the equation and the chances of a rollover increase 3 fold.

Driver education can eliminate most of the contributing factors, however most driver education is written. One study recommends video training as one solution to illustrate the issue of speed and ramps and the causes of rollovers.

But does this cover securing loads in depth and do the drivers ultimately understand their responsibility in ensuring the load is safe, secure and road worthy?

I often hear from some drivers that they’re not permitted on the dock and have to put their trust in the shipper, ultimately leaving the driver responsible.

While shoring or decking beams are a key tool in securing loads, they’re only as effective as the posts on the trailer. Shoring beams secure into the vertical logistics posts of the trailer. These vertical posts have a ‘track’ in them where the load bars or shoring beams connect into. The bar then is able to secure the loads (usually on pallets) from shifting in transit. But what if the load falls a few inches short of the vertical posts?

The Industry’s dirty little secret is to use some rag tag solutions for securing loads especially in the LTL industry. ( Less Than Truck Load) . Pallets stuffed in between pallet loads to secure against the load or logistic bars to keep the load from sliding or sheets of plywood or 2X4s strategically placed to support decking of loads. Not only are these band aid solutions unsafe, they can be costly as most shippers will never see that wood or dunnage materials again, increasing the shipping cost which ultimately gets passed onto the customer.

A Canadian company has invented an innovative solution that solves the problem. Their Exact-A-Track product clicks in between two vertical logistic posts on most trailers, creating a vertical track with many increments for the load bars to click into. Think of it a as a mobile E track.

They have solutions for trailers that have different spacing between the vertical posts. Whether they’re 12”, 16” 24” 48” or even 50”, Exact-A-Track has a solution that fits most trailers and can be installed at virtually any height making it more versatile than standard installed E track. Think of it as mobile E track. 

When JT from Accolade LTL first saw the Exact-A-Track he was amazed. “It’s so simple, but solves such a huge problem that shippers, logistic companies and drivers all face.” He said. “ E track has been around forever on straight trucks and some trailers but the versatility of this product is like a moveable e-track to help shippers stack more product, more efficiently and most importantly more securely. It’s ingenious”

Exact-A-Track Starting at a mere $60 for a pair of 24” Exact-A-Track load bars.
It’s not only efficient but cost effective as well.

“We sometimes use wood to further secure the load or sheets of plywood to deck the pallets and I never get them back. That’s lost money for me and quite honestly doesn’t do the job as well as these bars do. “

After a 2 month test of the bars, JT is now outfitting all of his fleet. He figures the bars will allow him to better load and stack his shipments and increase capacity by almost 30%. “30% in this industry is pure profit- the bars pay for themselves”

Exact-A-Track is a Canadian invention and proudly Canadian Made. For more information please visit www.exactatrack.com or call 1-888-812-1192.