Let’s do some simple back-of-the-envelope math. How much would it cost to retrofit a trailer? The current estimated cost would be:
Rear guard $ 500
AngelWing Side guard $2,900
Equipment total $3,400
(TrailerGuard SafetySkirt side/rear underride protection system estimate $2,500)
Estimated years of service for a trailer = 15 years
$3,400/15 years = $227/yr
$227 yr./365 days = $0.62/day
So, for $0.62 per day, the trailer owner has the following benefits:
- An underride crash with fatalities or life-altering injuries can take a settlement beyond insurance policy limits. Current minimum liability is $750,000; many carriers carry $1 million — large carriers may carry more.
- Underride crashes can lead to bankruptcy for independent owner operators and small motor carriers.
- Those opposing the bill are not doing a favor to truck drivers, owner operators, and small carriers.
- Truck drivers, in general, don’t understand that underride protection will benefit them. It will save their livelihoods.
- It will keep truck drivers, who are at fault in a crash, from going to jail if an underride death can be prevented.
- It will decrease liability costs, which should decrease their insurance costs.
- It could prevent PTSD from being involved in a fatal truck crash (no matter what caused the crash).
- A “closed casket crash” impacts truck drivers for a lifetime.
- If truck owners would break down the costs of adding the protection over the life of a trailer (10-15 years), it comes out to a very small amount/month — approx. $ .62/day.
- Tax deduction from IRS Section 179 for safety equipment purchase.
- When side guards are combined with side skirts, it can provide additional fuel savings.
- By the way: Allowing underride crashes wastes all of the safety R&D which the auto industry has put into improving the safety features of cars (crush/crumple zone, airbags, seatbelts).
Underride Protection Retrofit Cost_Trailer
Excellent!