My Big Rig Tech
Have you ever received an alert and not known what it was for? You’re not alone.
This guide will explain what those alerts mean and how your vehicle’s safety systems work.
What your truck is trying to tell you:
Whether you call them tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, or big rigs, many modern commercial vehicles are using Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) designed to help drivers avoid crashes and reduce crash severity. Features like lane support, blind spot alerts, and automatic braking can complement safe driving behaviors as long as drivers understand how these systems work and what their limits are.
This website explains the safety technologies found in many commercial vehicles today, what drivers can expect from them, and how you can use them more safely and effectively.
Technology Overview
Modern commercial vehicles now offer many of the same advanced safety features you may have in your personal vehicle. These technologies are designed to improve your safety and reduce the burden on you when driving. Some of the technologies you may see include:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Blind Spot Warnings
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Pedestrian Detection
What do these technologies do?
You may hear these technologies called by different names at your fleet or by your truck manufacturer. Companies often bundle these technologies together under specific names. These systems work together to support you in many ways like helping to maintain speed, following distance, or even alerting that there are vehicles or pedestrians in your blind spot.
These features are known as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In a vehicle equipped with ADAS, the driver is still responsible for driving . The technologies are not meant to replace you, they are meant to increase safety by supporting some driving tasks.
This guide will teach you about many types of technologies offered in commercial vehicles today and how they work with the driver. However, in the growing world of technology, the specific features are likely to change, so always refer to your supplied user manual for specific details about your system.
Meet Your Truck’s Safety Systems
This guide will walk you through many of the technologies you will see in modern commercial vehicles.
Click on any of the following topics to learn more.