Electronic Rumble Strips LDWS

[TeamCaffee]

In view of the recent horrific expediter accident I decided to start a post on what I consider one of our worst worries. Falling asleep at the wheel and leaving the roadway.

When we first heard of a Lane Departure Warning System we scoffed as we stay in our lane... Our first system was an Itiris and we BETA tested this unit. We were in for a few surprises... One was when we reach for the phone we would put a tire on the white line more often than we wanted to admit.

A plus that we found out is we are very good at using our blinkers to change lanes. If we would change lanes without our blinkers the electronic rumble strip would squawk in the appropriate speaker.

We also found that the system warned us before we realized we were getting groggy or sloppy in our lane which 99.9% of the time happened after midnight and before six in the morning. We would either stop and take a nap or if all was pretty good we would stop and walk around for a bit.

We found that this aid was the most irritating and at the same time the best device we had on the truck.

In our new truck we quickly figured out we missed the LDWS and we needed another one. We talked with FedEx and found out what some of the other FedEx Companies are using which in the Takata system and we contacted Dave Patterson 724 449 7233 Ext 114 and talked with him about the LDWS. The Takata seems to be more sophisticated than the Itiris was and the price was right $320.00 dollars and Bob can install it.

The LDWS is more important on our dash then our GPS, EZ PASS, and Pre Pass and I highly recommend it. We all drive erratic hours and this is one more thing in our arsenal to keep us safe and profitable on the road.

Call Dave and ask him for more information and decide for yourselves.

Takata-SafeTraK

 

[LDB]

Do they have one for vans?

 

[paullud]

It looks like it would work in any vehicle, please correct me if I am wrong. For the what this device protects you from the price point is great.

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[TeamCaffee]

Call Dave and ask him about the system. I will warn you Dave is a character and fun to talk to! I enjoy calling him as he has quite a sense of humor.

 

[cheri1122]

Surprised to touch the white line when reaching for something? Did you not know, or forget, that the hand always follows the eye?
I know it, and have to remind myself constantly to counteract it, lol.
It sounds like a very smart investment in safety, until it becomes standard in every vehicle.

 

[ChanceMaster]

The price surprised me, I thought it would be much more expensive. A lot of drivers ( myself to an extent) will have to overcome pride, and admit that there is always room for improvement in their driving skills.

I'm wondering if Team Caffee's experience with the LDWS "taught" them to have better lane control ? or are you still experiencing the same average number of audible warnings, and are the warnings so loud that they would interrupt off duty drivers sleep ?

Great post, especially in light of that recent fatal FDCC crash..those photos are horrific, and made me pause and consider some things I will do immediately to correct some bad habits that I have while driving.

 

[moose]

The problem is not if they are good or not, but that those kind of devices tend to overwhelmingly becomes MANDATORY.
just one more stick in the ATA backpack to regulate the crap out of its competitions. the ATA version is recording (spying on baboons) and help increase drivers turnover.
(BTW, what horrific Expediter accident ? )

 

[TeamCaffee]

Here you go Moose:
http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/general-expediter-forum/49131-fedex-cc-fatal-accident.html

Moose as long as any device can help us stay safe on the road ATA does not enter our minds on what they want to mandate or not mandate. Some day down the road I could see the LDWS being mandated as the research shows if the device is used properly the chances of running off the road due to a drowsy or inattentive driver become very slim.

Cheri we fell pray to the thinking we are professionals and we have overcome moving the steering wheel in the direction we were reaching.

I believe, no I know our driving improved due to less audible warnings and more awareness of where are truck is constantly located. Another thing about the LDWS is that going below I believe it is 37 mph the system shuts down. The noise the LDWS makes is noise to the driver and a passenger. We found that if we are awake in the sleeper we can hear the noise in the background but were never awakened by the noise. If the driver is hitting the rumble strips the movement of the truck was more likely to wake us up as that was an odd movement.

The price has became very reasonable the first unit we had in the truck was over $800.00.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

so how does a "professional" team get tired?

 

[skyraider]

Surprised to touch the white line when reaching for something? Did you not know, or forget, that the hand always follows the eye?
I know it, and have to remind myself constantly to counteract it, lol.
It sounds like a very smart investment in safety, until it becomes standard in every vehicle.

Did u know that women drivers need 2 of those.

 

[greg334]

so how does a "professional" team get tired?

I too have to seriously wonder about this.

The problem that people don't seem to mention are this;

what happens when the system can not pick up on the white lines? A lot of places we drive don't always have nice lines to follow.

What happens with the repetitiveness of the alarm going off? I mean your mind gets used to it and ignores it after a while.

I don't know what happened with that FedEx E unit but I am going to guess that a Lane Departure unit would not have done a thing for the driver because he, like many other team members are fatigued beyond the ability to stay awake and this is one issue that isn't mentioned - being professional enough to say enough and get some proper rest BUT more importantly stick to a solid sleep schedule. THIS is one reason why I don't like the idea that this is a paid vacation and one reason why a few think H/W team don't make good professional/safe drivers. Two team members who want to take part in other activities can't regulate their sleep well enough shouldn't drive.

How many do actually keep the same sleep schedule regardless what they do outside of driving the truck under a load?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

so here it is a Saturday...both up all day doing the tourist thingee...7pm a call....now BOTH parties have been up all day and someone has to do the first shift....

 

[greg334]

That's my point, how does one get to sleep by participating with the other one.

I also think that when someone logs sleeper berth time and sits in the front seat, it is a problem brewing.

Bad habits make for dangerous people.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

That's my point, how does one get to sleep by participating with the other one.

I also think that when someone logs sleeper berth time and sits in the front seat, it is a problem brewing.

Bad habits make for dangerous people.

Multiple pick ups...and drops...bumping the dock, noise..how does one get proper sleep?

 

[The Enemy]

So if it wasnt a same household team they would not go out and do the tourist thing? One would sit in the truck while the other would go out and enjoy the sights and tourist traps? In someones perfect world that might take place........

 

[OntarioVanMan]

So if it wasnt a same household team they would not go out and do the tourist thing? One would sit in the truck while the other would go out and enjoy the sights and tourist traps? In someones perfect world that might take place........

I was referring to ANY team...2 guys go out the same as a couple....Greg mentioned H & W teams...

 

[Turtle]

I don't care if you are a solo or a team, you are not going to have a solid sleep schedule in expediting. If you are an expediter and can have a solid sleep schedule, then you're not an expediter. Because you cannot have a solid sleep schedule in expediting, sleep management is, or should be, at the top of the Most Important list.

Solo or team, doesn't matter, it's 11PM and you've up all day, just getting ready to go to bed. You get a call for a 500 mile load picking up in 2 hours, delivers direct. What do you do? A decision has to be made. Make it a good one.

 

[ts675]

I run my truck in 2 shifts. 7a-7p and 7p-7a. That being said, between the fueling time and coffee stops that kills the extra 2 hrs, so that you drive 10 hrs. I know a lot won't buy it but when its your time to sleep that's what u do, irregardless of what "touristy" things you want to do. That is how I run my truck. Not saying its better than anyone else's way, but hey at least I'm trying.

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[greg334]

Well I mentioned H/W because they are the ones likely to do things together and want to be together, while just teams may not.

Regardless how you want to cut it, the word NO needs to be added into the vocabulary of all teams and solos when it comes to sleep.

 

[leezaback]

professional-1st rule-know thy self and one's limitations. Learn your body clock-everyone has one-eneryone's is different. If there are tools available and one feels that aid will help them-great ! 2nd rule-if driving-let the phone ring !