On Jan. 3, 2019, a 2016 Freightliner tractor and semitrailer traveling on Interstate 75 in Alachua County, Florida, abruptly swerved out of its lane and sideswiped a passenger car before crashing through the median barrier. Crossing into oncoming traffic, the truck struck a 12-passenger van operated by a church group, ejecting 10 of the 12 persons on board.
The crash resulted in seven fatalities and injuries to eight others. How did this tragedy occur? How could it have been prevented? The keynote address for the 2021 Fleet Safety Experience — the virtual component of Fleet Safety Conference — will answer these questions and discuss other crash investigations and their lessons learned for heavy-duty truck operators.
Rob Molloy, PhD, has been with the NTSB for more than 25 years. He serves as director with the NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety, where he is responsible for overseeing crash investigations and the development of crash and safety reports.
Photo courtesy of NTSB.
In “Anatomy of a Crash,” Rob Molloy, highway safety director for the National Transportation Safety Board, will present data and analysis based on multiple investigations of medium- and heavy-duty truck crashes and discuss the NTSB’s investigative process, as well as its new Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements. The presentation will then show how fleet operators can enhance safeguards, address warning signs, and reevaluate fleet safety policies to mitigate potential future crashes.
“We are delighted to have NTSB go beyond the headlines to help us understand the many factors that cause truck crashes,” said Chris Brown, conference chair for Fleet Safety Experience. “To understand those factors will inform fleet operators on a better safety plan to prevent them.”
Presented by Automotive Fleet, Work Truck, and Heavy Duty Trucking, the 2021 Fleet Safety Experience, taking place virtually Sept. 21-23, will feature educational sessions and networking for safety and risk management professionals from all fleet types. The program will provide critical solutions to challenges and expert insights on improving the fleet safety of light- and heavy-duty truck and vehicle fleets.
The opening keynote convenes on Sept. 21 at noon EST. The full conference schedule will be announced soon. Registration will open mid-July.
