A number of fleet management companies (FMCs) have seen overall increases in truck fleet accident management costs, including Emkay (8 percent), PHH Arval (4 percent), and LeasePlan USA (1 to 3 percent).

Fleet Response reported that it experienced a small increase.

"For the most part, accident management costs have remained consistent with 2010's numbers," said Stuart Braun, adjuster and maintenance supervisor for Fleet Response. "However, the small increase we have seen is due to the rising costs for raw materials for parts." Fleet Response is a strategic business partner with Fleet Solutions, powered by Merchants Leasing.

Bucking the trend, CEI saw average truck accident repair spending decline by more than 6 percent. But, according to John Wolford, senior manager of provider and network services, "the figure varied widely by truck class. Average spending rose between 9 and 11 percent for Class 3 and 4 vehicles, while it fell by just as much or more for other classes." According to CEI data, average spending fell most dramatically for Class 7 trucks, where, at CEI, it dropped 22 percent.

Steve Jansen, CTP, manager, regulatory compliance and truck services for Donlen, noted there were a number of factors that caused accident costs to rise, "including higher accident repair shop labor cost, higher parts costs, increased traffic congestion on major highways and thoroughfares, and more miles driven."

Reviewing the Causes

The weather was a major factor in increasing costs. "In 2011, we saw unprecedented weather events, such as an earthquake and multiple floods in the East, floods and droughts in the Midwest, and fires in the West. Weather delays increased the handle time at accident repair shops, which increased costs. We also saw an increase in vehicles impacted by these acts of nature, thus needing repair," said Eliot Bensel, director, vehicle accident services and risk and safety for PHH Arval.

Automotive Resources International (ARI) also saw Mother Nature as a key factor. "Last year had its fair share of natural disasters, most notably the March Japan earthquake and tsunami, which resulted in the near nuclear meltdown," according to Richard Torres, insurance and subrogation supervisor for Automotive Resources International (ARI).

But, natural phenomena were not the only factors - manmade causes also played a part. The increased use of complex componentry has impacted truck accident costs as well.

"New vehicles are featuring more complex electronics and more use of plastics and non-metal parts. This includes fiberglass fairings, which we're seeing more frequently, as fleets are making greater use of them to increase aerodynamic efficiency and reduce fuel consumption," noted Greg Neuman, quality control supervisor and senior staff appraiser for CEI.  "All of these are more expensive to repair and often need to be replaced instead. That's setting the stage for higher repair costs across the entire spectrum of truck vehicles in the future, as fleets begin to replace aging vehicles at a faster rate than they have in the recent past."

And, underlying all of this is the rising cost of raw materials.

"In 2011, there was a noteworthy increase in the cost of raw materials, including steel, copper, brass, and composite materials. Additionally, the price of both fuel and electric power has steadily increased throughout 2011," said Torres.

Brad Vliek, VP of Client Services for Emkay also noted increased labor rates.

"The major factors in the increase of accident costs have been the prevailing labor rates and component costs. Although the average labor rate ranges from $80 to $150 an hour, we've seen an increase of approximately 3-4 percent over the last year," Vliek said.

The number of available repair facilities is also a concern.

"As the truck class increases, there are fewer available repair facilities to utilize. Most are not generally partnered with a fleet management company or part of a managed network of certified repair shops. Also, given the economic challenges, repair facilities have had to reevaluate their business models in regard to purchasing updated, yet costly, equipment to repair the newer more sophisticated vehicles," said Dan Shive, VP, risk management services for LeasePlan USA. "In addition, we've noticed that some of the repair facilities no longer will stock parts due to the carrying cost."

Fewer repair facilities available to work on trucks have created more demand on the facilities that are available. "Those repair facilities, in turn, can be overworked, which can sometimes create delays in the complete repair process," Shive said.

While Wolford of CEI believes it's still too early to tell exactly what drove the changes in 2011, he did have insights into why some costs decreased.

"Where spending declined, we think it is, in part, due to efforts by truck fleets to reduce driving speeds. More fleets continue to reset engine governors to lower speeds, while they continue to make efforts to change driver behavior. So, this may have resulted in less severe damage, on average," Wolford said.

Another factor is continuing efforts by fleets to cut repair costs by using less expensive aftermarket and used parts, Wolford added.
Finally, where possible, truck fleets are postponing some repairs, as long as they don't affect functionality or safety, according to Neuman of CEI.

New & Current Trends

New trends in accident management include a focus on safety, with additional safety equipment and increased use of telematics.

"Increasingly, trucks are more complex with extra safety equipment including airbags, crumple zones, and high-strength steel. In diesel trucks, reduced noise and exhaust levels have come a long way to contribute to a healthier work environment for drivers," said Bensel of PHH Arval.

Restrictions on cell phones and other electronics during a vehicle's operation continue to gain momentum.

"The recent NHTSB decision is a contributing factor; however, our belief is that truck and service fleet managers had already determined the need to address this issue," said Ted Lewin, manager of risk management services for Wheels, Inc. "While cell-phone blocking technology has become a more popular discussion point, so, too, has changing driver behavior through education and awareness. Behind-the-wheel training is gaining popularity among truck fleets, as well as online training programs."

Improving safety has been a high priority for truck fleets for years.

"Now that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's CSA program (Compliance, Safety, and Accountability) has been in place, truck fleets are making greater efforts to reduce crash rates than ever before," according to Luann Dunkerley, business development manager, truck and service fleets for CEI. "They're cutting truck speeds by adjusting engine governors, installing more electronic onboard data recorders, getting better brake systems, putting in more anti-rollover technology, adding more driver warning devices, stepping up their safety training and education efforts, and offering drivers safety bonuses. But, while [this technology] can make trucks safer, they can also make them more costly to repair."

Based on data from the National Private Technology Council - of which CEI is a member - the roads are getting safer for trucks with 2011 seeing 4.6-percent fewer crashes than in 2010. This could be due to many of the safety factors, including technology that may be adding to maintenance and acquisition costs.

"We're continuing to see growing interest in the trucking industry in [CEI's] accident management services. By and large, the trucking industry is in a similar position as corporate sedan fleets were 30 years ago - most do not outsource their accident programs. Over the past few years, while the country was experiencing a recession, the trucking industry was going through a depression, and carriers were struggling to make sure they stayed in business. There weren't many fleets looking to innovate in accident management. Now that the industry has consolidated and business has improved, we're seeing more interest in how we can help them control their costs and leverage their administrative staff," Dunkerley said.

One of the new trends Fleet Response is seeing in truck safety and accident management is that more manufacturers are installing collision avoidance systems to assist drivers in becoming more aware of driving safety hazards, "such as lane encroachment and backing too close to a vehicle or object. Also, many manufacturers are installing back up cameras that will alert a driver when they are backing too close to another vehicle or object," said Braun of Fleet Response.

Jansen of Donlen sees increased use of technology with safety options. "There are a number of safety options that are available when spec'ing new vehicles. Some examples are back-up and proximity sensors, six-wheel ABS, traction control stability, backup cameras, and lane drift warning systems," he said.

Even with all of the safety technology that's becoming common on the market, Vliek of Emkay saw an increase in preventable accidents and a decrease in non-preventable accidents. "Statistics show that preventable accidents are at their peak during the winter/summer months. Although on a percentage basis preventable accidents are up, on a total accident count, accidents are flat," Vliek said.

The safety mentality is also influencing how repairs are handled.

"We continue to see a trend toward selective repairs. Rather than repairing every truck that is in an accident, fleet managers are making safety-only repairs as a result of the poor economic conditions and limited budgets. For the same reasons, trucks are being driven longer," said Torres of ARI.

Facing Challenges Head-On

The biggest challenge to truck accident management is the driver.

"After a survey of many of our truck customers, the biggest challenge cited with truck and accident management safety is driver turnover. There is a small labor pool for hiring experienced truck drivers. New, inexperienced drivers have a longer learning curve leading to constant training and higher accident rates," said Vliek of Emkay.

According to Tony Vinciguerra, vice president & general manager for the Center for Transportation Safety, a PHH Arval company, "Fleet and risk & safety managers are starting to realize that more than 90 percent of all accidents are due to driver error or behavior. The biggest challenge to combating this is developing a cost-effective program that identifies high-risk drivers, providing education built to change behaviors, and creating a feedback loop to determine the program's success."

After managing fuel costs, attracting and retaining good drivers is the biggest challenge the industry faces. "The industry is mandated to control the quality of drivers, and fleet managers report an enormously high percentage of driver applicants are being disqualified for reasons related to MVR records, criminal background checks, substance abuse, and medical conditions," said Dunkerley of CEI.

The phrase "doing more with less" is well known in truck fleets.

"In the aftermath of the recession, when many fleets downsized, the trucking industry is trying to do more with fewer administrative and management personnel. We believe outsourcing accident management services can help them accomplish that, while getting better control over their accident programs and increasing the dollars they recover from third-party drivers responsible for causing accidents that involve their vehicles. More than 75 percent of truck accidents are caused by third parties at-fault, which translates into an opportunity for truck fleets to recover damages to offset their repair costs," Dunkerley said.  

Policy compliance is also an issue. "Safety policies are quite varied and incentives (both positive and negative for compliance) are not enforced as well as they could be. We see changing driver behavior as the largest factor in any vehicle safety program," said Lewin of Wheels, Inc.

Instituting proactive driver training is one way to combat this challenge. Driver training helps ensure all drivers "are trained on the differences between the truck they drive for work and the vehicle they may drive for personal use, and how the differences can affect their driving in all weather and traffic conditions," said Braun of Fleet Response. "Many companies would like to begin a safety training program; however, since a majority of their drivers are on the road most of the day and sometimes night, they do not have regular access to a computer or the Internet to complete the online safety lessons."

In addition to policy, fleet managers must take steps to ensure drivers report all accident information so damage can be estimated and repaired. "Some drivers delay reporting the incident or don't report all of the damage at the time of report. By doing this, they are delaying the repair process and ultimately getting the vehicle back on the road," Braun said.

Managing repairs can add another level of complexity. "We find that the higher the truck class, the more unique and challenging the repairs, making the documentation of those repairs even more critical. These types of repairs typically require three to four times the amount of monitoring and documentation as a standard passenger vehicle," said Shive of LeasePlan USA.

Staying Proactive

Proactive accident management is still something fleets are working toward. One of the latest trends Fleet Response is seeing in proactive accident management is that more companies are reevaluating their costs. In doing so, they are reaching out to their vendors to renegotiate pricing.

"We are seeing a number of companies more willing to unbundle their services and use multiple vendors for leasing, accident, and maintenance management," said Allison Lanzilotta, vice president, business development for Fleet Response.

Emkay has seen a shift in accountability for drivers in company-provided trucks.

"Historically, many companies that provided 'pool' trucks took little or no accountability for small damage; only major damage was reported and fixed. Small damage to the body of a vehicle was considered normal 'wear-and-tear' to a unit. Research has shown that a truck at auction has approximately 21-percent more damage than a standard sedan or SUV," noted Vliek of Emkay. "While we know trucks are treated differently and should have more damage than a standard vehicle, it's the shift to daily or weekly condition reports on trucks, trucks only allowed for work purposes and not taken home, and new policies created with consequences of not reporting damage that's become [more common]."

According to Torres of ARI, this is a good trend. "Proactive accident management is one of the best ways to mitigate costs. As a result, more clients are employing telematics to monitor driver behaviors. This addition, in conjunction with the use of safety programs, allows fleet managers to handpick training packages based on an individual driver's needs to reinforce behaviors," he said. "Managers are also putting a greater emphasis on policies and communication materials that stress the importance of reporting accidents."

Crashes can be costly (in terms of damage, lost productivity, medical and insurance claims, and third-party liability), so the investment in training and technology, while expensive on the frontend, could save more down the road.

"Safety training can be online, in the classroom or behind-the-wheel and is often provided to those with no history of driving challenges. When drivers are identified as 'high risk' through motor vehicle record checks, accident history, or traffic violations, fleet managers are creating more comprehensive safety programs to decrease the likelihood of further challenges," said Vinciguerra of the Center for Transportation Safety. "Additionally, telematics are becoming more prevalent in fleets today. Reports from telematic systems on speeding, harsh braking, and erratic driving allow managers to identify drivers who have poor driving habits and get them into a training program before a crash occurs."

New Factors Impact Accident Management in 2012

For 2012, Jansen of Donlen sees an increased utilization of the vehicles electronic control module (ECM) to control safety-orientated activities. "An example is Navistar's Diamond Logic, which can program the vehicle that if a driver turns off the key and opens the door without setting the parking brake, the vehicle will begin honking to alert the operator that the brake has not been applied," said Jansen. "Another example of the Diamond logic is how the parking brake release can also be used as the interlock to prevent vehicle movement in an unsafe condition, such as when the out riggers are not stowed or the lift gate is down."

However, the increased technology leads to increased costs.

"While new technology being built into trucks is helpful in driving down accidents, it also leads to increased costs when crashes occur," said Vinciguerra of the Center for Transportation Safety. "Bumpers with backup sensors, side-view mirrors with blind-spot detection, and other safety features are now more expensive to repair or replace due to the embedded technology,"

Lewin of Wheels, Inc. agreed. "All of the preventive measures mentioned coming with a cost. However, if you look at the potential reduction in risk, or even have one less liability incident the accident management costs become inconsequential," Lewin said.

Another new factor impacting truck fleet accident management costs are the new emissions standards that have required a major overhaul in diesel truck exhaust systems. "The costs to replace and/or repair these items have substantially increased. As more incidents occur to damage the exhaust systems, the higher the truck fleet accident costs will rise," said Braun of Fleet Response.

New Safety Trends in Truck Accident Management

One, not quite-so-new trend in safety and accident management is use of smart technology and telematics devices. While not a new technology, its increased widespread use is noteworthy.

"Many fleets have implemented telematic devices as well as instituted behind-the-wheel and online driver training," said Vliek of Emkay.

The use of telematics and safety programs such as hazard perception are being used more and more frequently.

"This is something we highly recommend to our clients, since the return on investment is so high. Similarly, designed safety modules or simulations can have a significant impact on driver safety," said Torres of ARI. "Other technological advancements and trends that have a big impact on driver safety include electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIR) and dashboard cameras."

Technology goes beyond just telematics. "Collision avoidance systems and back-up cameras are important trends that have come into the picture in relation to truck safety and accident management," said Lanzilotta of Fleet Response. "Both of these systems, combined with driver safety training can help drivers to become more aware of their driving habits and will encourage them to become safer on the road. In addition, many fleets are re-evaluating their current safety policies and practices for running employee Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) record checks and assigning safety training lessons. Fleets are putting an emphasis on new employees and making sure they are taking the proper steps when checking the driver's history and preparing them to safely operate the fleet vehicle."

Shive of LeasePlan USA is seeing greater trends toward safety in general. "The obstacles and distractions are at all-time high; however, the recent recommendation to ban cell phones is a step in the right direction," he said.

Distracted driving is still top of mind for all fleets today. "There is more need for concise, focused driver safety training. With the new Federal Motor Carry Safety Administration (FMSCA) compliance regulations, many fleets are outsourcing or using third-party providers to help keep them in compliance.  Additionally, many work truck fleets are exploring the use of mobile phone applications/software that prevent drivers from using their phones while operating a vehicle to comply with new FMCSA regulations as well as other state and local laws," said Bensel of PHH Arval.

Peer Into the Crystal Ball

Work Truck asked the experts to "peer into their crystal ball" and share what they would like to see happening in terms of safety and accident management in truck fleets moving forward.

Vliek of Emkay

 "As new data becomes available, an analysis to identify critical combinations of roadway type, roadway location, and crash type that produce the most total harm would allow researchers to combine crash frequency and severity and identify important roadway types, locations, and crash types. This type of analysis could be expanded to include additional factors such as pre-crash maneuvers, driver characteristics, and others to target existing treatments better or identify specific areas where new treatments need to be developed," said Vliek of Emkay.

  • Mandatory telematics equipment to assist with monitoring driver behavior.
  • Mandatory behind the wheel training and/or assessment.

Shive of LeasePlan USA

"Truck fleets have always been at the forefront of regulation and safety. The current regulations are all pointing in the right direction and are the 'boilerplate' for what passenger vehicle drivers will likely be subjected to in the future," said Shive of LeasePlan USA.

Vinciguerra of the Center for Transportation Safety

"Fleets need to put greater focus on eliminating driver distractions. While the media has focused on cell phone use while driving, this is only one piece of the problem. Most states are putting in hands-free regulations; however, fleets should take a more assertive stance to eliminate all use of cell phones. Additionally, fleets need to take a closer look at other distractions that force a driver to multi-task.  For example, job responsibilities such as checking meters, looking for down wires or checking computers for the next job, need to be addressed and should be eliminated while the person is driving.  If a driver is behind the wheel, and in motion, 100 percent of their focus should be on driving," said Vinciguerra of the Center for Transportation Safety.

Bensel of PHH Arval

"New technology that provides additional data and information that would provide better and more accurate repair costs estimates," said Bensel of PHH Arval.

Lewin of Wheels, Inc.

"The technology and systems exist. Having the entire fleet comply, especially in branch fleet situations becomes more of a challenge. I believe that to have the safety program operate to its fullest potential, management needs to routinely remind everyone involved the importance of vehicle safety," said Lewin of Wheels, Inc.

Torres of ARI

"Ideally, we'd like fleets across the country to continuously use of safety programs and encourage timely accident reporting, but unfortunately that is unrealistic.  However, the use of technologies is a realistic goal that can significantly impact safety.  One such example could be equipping larger vehicles with cameras in the rear/roof to minimize backing and bridge accidents," said Torres of ARI.

About the author
Lauren Fletcher

Lauren Fletcher

Executive Editor - Fleet, Trucking & Transportation

Lauren Fletcher is Executive Editor for the Fleet, Trucking & Transportation Group. She has covered the truck fleet industry since 2006. Her bright personality helps lead the team's content strategy and focuses on growth, education, and motivation.

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