Groendyke Recognized as CCJ Innovator

ENID, Okla. (June 28, 2021) — Commercial Carriers Journal (CCJ) recently recognized Groendyke Transport as the July 2020 CCJ Innovator because of the tank truck carrier’s work to reduce rear-end collisions using a pulsating amber brake light on its trailers.

After 30 months of testing showed a 33.7 percent decrease in rear-end accidents, Groendyke filed for an exemption with the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Association in April 2018 to continue testing the unique brake light. A year later, FMCSA approved Groendyke’s five-year exemption, and in October 2020, National Tank Truck Carriers’ 5-year exemption request for all tank trailer operators was also approved.

“What we initially set out to do, which is still the goal that we have now, is to increase our visibility,” said Groendyke President and CEO Greg Hodgen, who received the CCJ Innovator award on behalf of Groendyke Transport during the CCJ Innovator Summit last week in Key Largo, Fla.

In 2015, Groendyke set out to improve visibility of its trailers to reduce rear-end accidents, starting with a pilot of 12 trailers in Denver, Fort Worth and Kansas City. By July 2017, the company had retrofitted 632 trailers with favorable results.

Prior to receiving the exemption, Groendyke had been receiving violations for the pulsating amber brake light since December 2016, but continued undeterred, convinced the cause of improved safety was worth the cost.

In addition to the overall reduction in rear-end accidents, the pulsating amber brake light effectively eliminated rear-end accidents at railroad crossings during the 30 months prior to applying for the exemption.

More details on the amber pulsating brake light can be found in this CCJ article.

About Groendyke Transport, Inc.:
Groendyke Transport, Inc. provides superior, dependable transportation services and bulk logistics solutions that consistently deliver value to leading companies that place a premium on safety and performance. Groendyke Transport is a privately held, family-owned company and a record eight-time Heil Trophy winner for best overall safety record and program in the country.

Groendyke Transport Contact
Matt Palmer
mpalmer@groendyke.com
580-213-9282