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'ACES' Wins
by Bill Hudgins
Many truck operators run afoul of regulations because they simply don't know the rules. Educating them could prevent many citations and shutdowns, and improve the relationship between truckers and enforcement officials.
That's the idea behind the Tennessee Department of Safety's innovative "ACES" program. ACES — Alternative Commercial Enforcement Strategies — seeks to educate drivers and fleet managers about complying with regulations before they get caught in violation. The program also teaches motorists how to share the road. It seems to be working.
Since ACES started three years ago, fatalities are down in the state. So are safety-related violations at participating fleets. Other states are considering their own versions of ACES.
In 1998, Tennessee Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) officers inspected more than 71,000 commercial trucks and buses, and issued almost 63,000 citations. Still, putting trucks out of service just addresses symptoms, not causes.
"Enforcement alone cannot and has not been solving the problems which can result in a crash fatality," notes Sgt. Johnny Hunter, a CVE officer with ACES. "The department has designed this program to educate the drivers of commercial vehicles, as well as the drivers of passenger vehicles."
The program includes big fleets such as Covenant, USXpress, MS Carriers and Land-Air Transport, as well as small and single-truck operations. "We're like a consultant. We know if a trucking company owner or a driver learns what it takes to be in compliance, they will be safer on the road," says ACES Officer Dave Johnson, whose 17-year career includes scales and road patrol.
ACES officers approach trucking companies about conducting on-site training sessions and reviews. Driver training sessions cover topics such as log books, hours of service, new laws, safety, and pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections. Drivers usually swamp the officers with questions, Johnson notes.
If asked they will also conduct compliance reviews that focus on a fleet's operations, including monitoring log books and hours of service, maintenance and inspection, driver qualifications, drug testing, financial responsibility, tax and weight regulations, accidents, hazardous materials handling and record keeping. CVE officers also do on-site, detailed vehicle safety checks designed to spot problems before they get on the road.
"A whole lot of smaller companies don't realize what they have to do to be in compliance. They often don't know what needs to be in a driver's file, or how to comply with drug testing or that they need to keep maintenance records," Johnson says. "A lot of drivers can hardly believe we will do this. But when they see us on the road later on, they wave."
On the flip side, ACES supports the "No-Zone" safety program. Officers speak to school driver education programs and civic groups. Johnson and fellow ACES officer Greg Tramel say some of their best audiences are kindergarten and elementary school children.
"The youngsters remember about blind spots and the No-Zone. When they're in the car, they'll tell Mommy and Daddy they are too close to a big truck," Tramel says. Adds Johnson, "The ACES program has torn down barriers between enforcement and the industry, and between enforcement and the motoring public."
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