Safety Pays

Safety Pays

Award-winning Munoz Trucking is addressing safety from all angles

“Safety means everything,” says Juan Pablo Muñoz, president of Muñoz Trucking. “We want to be sure our drivers return to their families and that the motoring public is as safe as possible when they are near one of our trucks.”

Headquartered in El Paso, Texas, Muñoz Trucking offers dry van truckload service in the lower 48 states and Canada with a fleet of 79 tractors and more than 100 trailers. Founded in 1989, the carrier also offers transloading, storage and lumper services for loads in and out of Mexico, and operates a warehouse of over 16,000 sq. ft. where it provides short- and long-term storage, along with cross dock services.

Outweighing cost
A multi-faceted approach is helping Muñoz Trucking maintain the highest attainable safety record. “One of the ways we do that is by operating only up-to-date equipment,” Muñoz states. “Our suppliers help us stay updated on the latest safety features and their benefits, and about the safety enhancing technologies we can specify for our tractors and trailers. All of the things we are currently spec’ing more than outweigh their cost.”

Now operating in the Muñoz Trucking fleet are 70 late-model Volvo VN780 tractors. Some of the safety enhancing technologies that Muñoz points to on the tractors include steer axle disc brakes and the Volvo I-Shift two-pedal, automated mechanical transmission that features a brake program mode for maximum retardation when a vehicle needs to slow down.

The fleet’s newest tractors also are equipped with Volvo Enhanced Cruise (VEC) with Active Braking, which utilizes a radar sensor placed behind the front bumper to help maintain a safe following distance from slowing vehicles and identify stationary objects in a truck’s path.
Juan Pablo Munoz, president
The VEC system provides visual feedback on the instrument panel and driver information display, audible warnings and braking intervention to help reduce the potential or severity of a crash. If braking intervention becomes necessary, VEC with Active Braking reduces the engine throttle, applies the engine brake, and when needed, applies up to two-thirds of service brake power.

Safety process
Muñoz Trucking also employs a three-phase safety process for its drivers. In Phase 1, the focus is on staying informed of the newest safety regulations and industry trends, with specific attention paid to CDL status, driver physicals, driver logs and other documentation. Phase 2 focuses on enforcing safety policies and identifying potential driver issues. Phase 3 rewards safety compliance, providing driver bonuses for every clean DOT inspection and a year-end bonus for remaining accident-free throughout the calendar year.

The safety practices at Muñoz Trucking are enforced in each department at the company. “For example,” says Pascual Muñoz, vice president, “it’s my job to train our dispatchers and our maintenance department to work with our drivers to make sure they operate safely and have the safest equipment. That includes our maintenance/warehouse manager, the assistant manager/city driver manager, three diesel mechanics and two trailer technicians. This training is a minimal investment for such huge results.”

Award winner
Those results at Muñoz Trucking include being named a winner of the 2012 Volvo Trucks Safety Award. The annual program, now in its fourth consecutive year, also is supported and sponsored by Michelin Americas Truck Tires. As a winner announced at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition, Muñoz Trucking received $25,000 to be used toward safety-related activities.

In early 2012, Volvo Trucks invited fleets across the U.S. and Canada with more than five Class 8 trucks to apply for the annual awards. The awards are given in two categories, one for fleets with less than 20 million miles of annual operation and the other for those with more than 20 million miles. Fleets were ranked by their accident frequency rates using the U.S. Department of Transportation definition of a “recordable accident,” as well as their accident prevention programs.

Muñoz Trucking received the Volvo Trucks Safety Award in the under 20 million miles category. During 2011, the company had zero recordable accidents over 10,195,060 miles of operation. “Muñoz Trucking has clearly demonstrated the importance of safety within its organization,” Magnus Koeck, Volvo Trucks vice president of marketing and brand management, said during the awards ceremony. “We’re pleased to acknowledge that commitment and how it translates into safe performance on the road.”

The importance of recognizing the commitment to the safety of employees and others at Muñoz Trucking was noted by Michelin, as well. “By recognizing fleets that strive for zero accidents through their active safety programs, we encourage the industry to promote what we value,” said Jaye Young, Michelin Americas Truck Tires country marketing manager. “Many fleets are striving for improved safety for their drivers and all motorists using the highways. We encourage the trucking industry to adopt the best practices of this year’s award winners.”

At Muñoz Trucking, notes Juan Pablo Muñoz, everyone takes great pride in serving customers and working hard to maintain their trust. “Our customers know they can count on us to provide superior service,” he says. “We know we always strive to do everything possible to operate as safely as we can. There simply isn’t a price you can put on safety.”


Muñoz Trucking Tractor Specifications
Model: Volvo VN780
Wheelbase: 223 in.
Engine: Volvo D13; 425 HP @ 2100 RPM, 1,750 ft.-lb.
Transmission: Volvo I-Shift, 12-speed automated mechanical
Driveshafts: Meritor
Front Axle: Meritor
Rear Axle: Meritor
Rear Suspension: Meritor
Brakes: Bendix, steer axle disc
Tires: 295/75R22.5H Bridgestone steer; 445/50R22.5 Michelin X One XDA Energy drive
5th Wheel: Fontaine 6000
Air Compressor: Meritor WABCO 31.8 CFM
Air Dryer: Meritor WABCO
Fan Clutch: Kysor on/off
Batteries: Volvo
Starter: Volvo
Alternator: Delco 165 amp
Seats: National
Fuel Tanks: dual 150-gal.
Paint: Dupont

Muñoz Trucking Trailer Specifications
Models: Wabash, Great Dane, Utility 53-ft. dry vans
Axle/Suspension/Brakes: Hendrickson Vantraax, sliding; Quik-Draw pneumatic pin release system
Oil Seals: Stemco
ABS: Bendix

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