Where do accidents happen most? The Interstate? Think again.

Yet again we see that most truck crashes happen off Interstate. In this case research recently published by North Carolina State University and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, using fatal crash datafrom 2005-2009, found that 72 percent of fatal crashes in North Carolina, and 59 percent of fatal crashes in Virginia, occurred on non-interstate roads.

Attendees of the Transportation Research Board annual conference recently heard about the study and possible implications. As more states consider toll roads to help offset declining road funding, truck drivers will be pushed to non-interstate roads to save costs, possibly acerbating this issue. The study also points to the need for more trucking consideration when designing local roadways. By considering truck traffic in non-interstate road design, states will be able to improve safety while accommodating increasing commercial traffic.

In addition to researching the effect of road type on fatal accidents, researchers also studied the difference between fleet size and safety. Fleets with less than 10 power units were found to make up a larger percentage of fatal truck-involved crashes.

As an industry it is important for us to get involved in conversations about road design and planning. When was the last time you talked to your local road commissioner about how trucks fit into their road plans?

Every year, some of the greatest minds for fleet management come together in Europe to discuss how telematics can help solve issues facing fleets today. This year, SpeedGauge is happy to be involved and participating in the conversation. We will be at the Telematics for Fleet Management conference taking place March 26 and 27 in Amsterdam. We also have a booth at this year’s conference (booth 2 to be exact), so please stop by and see the work we’re doing to help fleets cut costs and improve safety.

We’re looking forward to the learning more about fleets and other telematics providers and solutions and will be sure to provide you with a full update when we get back.

Until then, follow us on Twitter @SpeedGauge for updates and insight from the event.

How much impact can one loose cable have? Scientists at the CERN research institute near Geneva found it can have profound impacts. Last year they announced that sub-atomic particles can travel faster than light, upending a century old foundation of physics, discovered by Albert Einstein, which states nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.

So was Einstein wrong? No. It turns out there was a faulty cable installation that affected the accuracy of the measurements.

Vehicle tracking and other GPS-enabled location-based services (LBS) might not need the exact level of precision that CERN needs in measuring sub-atomic particles, but accurate information is just as important. So how can you tell if there is a problem with your GPS receiver installation?

SpeedGauge, a leader in location-based analytics, developed the SpeedGaugeAssurance system to detect and troubleshoot problematic GPS hardware installations. SpeedGaugeAssurance uses propriety analytic techniques to monitor and asses the directional and positional accuracy of real-world data without requiring a known fixed locations to measure and benchmark accuracy.

Interested in how SpeedGaugeAssurance can help your GPS hardware installations? Contact Robert Reid at bob@speedgauge.net.

Diesel prices are climbing and there is no clear end in sight. You take steps to reduce fuel use while driving, but what can be done to reduce fuel when not in motion?

It has been estimated that on average, 1 gallon of fuel is consumed for every hour of idle time. The Center for Transportation Research at Argonne National Laboratory, a division of the U.S. Department of Energy, estimates that over 2 billion gallons of fuel is consumed each year as a result of idling trucks. At today’s diesel prices, idling costs the trucking industry more than $8.1 billion dollars a year.

Hoping to cut your idle time? Here are a few tips to help:

• Reduce your warm up time: With today’s newer engines, manufacturers routinely suggest a warm up time of less than five minutes. By following manufacturer recommendations you can reduce fuel use and reduce engine wear and tear.

• Implement idle-reduction devices: Fuel operated heaters, battery air conditioning systems and auxiliary power units all help maintain comfort in your rig without the engine wear and fuel use of idling. Many of these devices even qualify for federal tax breaks to help offset their cost.
• Take advantage of electrified parking: More truck stops are starting to incorporate electrification, which provides power for your rig, or can include self-contained units with heating, cooling, TV and even internet for a small hourly fee.

Despite your budget there are idle reduction options for every price point. Next time you fill up at the pump consider how much of that will go to idling.