Determined to prove that technology can prevent truck accidents, the federal government is plunking down $3.5 million to field-test the most promising safety gear on in-service trucks.
The money is part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Intelligent Vehicle Initiative field operational test program. It will be used in a study of collision warning systems that will feature automated cruise control and electronic braking systems with all-wheel disk brakes, industry sources say.
Volvo Trucks North America and U.S. Xpress, a truckload carrier known for being on the cutting edge of technology, will collaborate in conducting the trials. The truck manufacturer will install the equipment, along with automatic traction control, on 50 trucks operated by U.S. Xpress, based in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The program will be administered by the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, where Volvo is based.
For the full story, see the Oct. 11 print edition of Transport Topics. .
