The growing sanitation market: key solutions for safety, efficiency and training

As the waste management industry grows, estimated to be worth $342.7 million and expected to grow 5.2% annually, waste-collecting fleets must always be at peak performance. However, it is easier said than done due to how complicated driving a waste-collecting vehicle is.

Learn how a simulator can address this issue while improving driver safety and efficiency. 

Prioritizing safety in sanitation driving operations

When operating any specialized vehicle, safety is crucial for both the drivers and other cars around them. Waste collecting is no different. Between hazardous waste collection, other drivers, and potential machinery malfunction, there are many opportunities for injuries on the road.

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) reports that in 2022, 46 waste industry workers died - an increase compared to the 28 deaths in 2021. According to SWANA, common reasons for the fatalities involved the waste collector vehicle. Many people fell off it, were hit by it, or had the vehicle run over them.

SWANA also reports 83 public, or third party, deaths with other drivers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists being the top three categories.

Hope is not lost for the industry, though. There are many preventable causes for accidents that fleet and safety managers can directly reduce such as:  

• Drivers backing into a passenger vehicle
• Limited visibility behind and around the collection vehicle
• Being rear-ended by a passenger vehicle
• Taking a turn too quickly
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Fatigue/Impairment 
• Weather conditions
• Mechanical failure
• Jumping off the collection vehicle before it fully stopped
• The collection vehicle backing over a person

Taking safety precautions such as additional cameras around the vehicle or garbage truck sanitation facility and inspecting regularly is helpful. It is best to focus on honing drivers’ skills so they can adapt easily to various scenarios.

Improving efficiency in waste collection routes

There are many ways to improve efficiency with waste-collecting vehicles and routes. Updating to the latest technology can help create the most efficient route for drivers to follow. Efficient routes will be easier to drive through due to less backing up or difficult turns. 

Depending on the technology employed, route planning can easily adapt to real-time changes such as traffic, a roadblock, or construction. This will prevent your drivers from being stuck on the road.

Route efficiency will also reduce your “missed pickup” rate, where collectors forget to pick up waste from either a single home or an entire street. Missed pickups require drivers to return to that part of the route which wastes time and fuel. If they do not go back, it damages your reputation as a waste collector.

It is important to note that you do not have to focus only on route efficiency. You can also invest in the latest technology for the vehicle as well. Along with the aforementioned cameras, you can install driver monitoring systems. These systems will collect driver data which can inform where training is needed. 

Effective training programs for sanitation drivers

As mentioned above, waste collection is a dangerous job both on foot and in a vehicle. Proper training is crucial since driving a waste collector is vastly different from driving a passenger vehicle. Between the weight, size, and center of gravity, it is difficult to fully comprehend what it is like behind the wheel of this type of vehicle.

However, fleet managers can improve their drivers’ skills easily using a driving simulator.

Driving simulators allow experienced and inexperienced drivers to develop their skills in a safe and controlled environment. Using Driving Training Solutions simulators provides a realistic behind-the-wheel experience due to its immersive features.

The simulator uses sight, sound, and touch to create a realistic experience in a controlled environment. The force feedback within the steering column mimics the feel of the vehicle, meaning it will be difficult to turn and cause users to feel the physical heaviness of the vehicle. We also offer 180-degree screens so the user’s vision mimics what it is like in the cab. There are also environmental sounds, seat vibrations to mimic being in the vehicle, and changes based on road conditions.

In addition, Driver Training Solutions simulators allow for scenario replayability, which is perfect for drivers who are struggling in specific areas. Drivers can practice repeatedly until they successfully complete the scenario. We also provide instructor tools to create more effective training sessions.

Have drivers practice without worrying about injuries or vehicle damage, and save fuel costs as well. 

A holistic approach to waste management success

If you want to create better and safer waste collection drivers, it is time to invest in a driving simulator. A single simulator can provide customized training for an entire fleet through scenario customization and difficult scales.