Dennis Eagle joins in partnership with Together for Safer Roads

Summerville, South Carolina-based refuse truck manufacturer Dennis Eagle, manufacturer of Direct Vision cabs, has joined Together for Safer Roads (TSR), a partnership to improve and promote global fleet safety. Joining TSR, a Brooklyn-based nongovernmental organization dedicated to advancing road safety through cross-sector collaboration, is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to protect all road users.

“We are honored to join Together for Safer Roads in its mission to enhance global road safety,” Dennis Eagle President Geoff Rigg says. “Our dedication to producing vehicles with low blind-zones aligns seamlessly with TSR’s vision, and we look forward to contributing to the advancement of fleet safety on global scale.”

As part of the partnership, Dennis Eagle says it will share knowledge and expertise about reducing blind spots derived from its Direct Vision design and engineering to promote fleet safety and reduce traffic-related incidents. In return, TSR will support Dennis Eagle’s active dealer network in North America to raise awareness, assess and self-certify operators.

Estimates supplied by TSR show that one-quarter of the more than 500 pedestrian and cyclist deaths each year involve large trucks traveling at low speeds. The organization believes many could be prevented by safety-conscious Direct Vision focused cabs such as Dennis Eagle’s US-built ProView, on sale in North America since 2022 and designed specifically with features such as ultra-slim "A" and "B" pillars and unobscured side windows to offer five-star visibility. However, Dennis Eagle says, many refuse collection vehicles available in North America do not provide Direct Vision.

Dennis Eagle is rolling out a self-certification process with its dealers to demonstrate truck safety via Direct Vision Five Star Measuring Kits. DVS kits enable fleet operators, through a series of quick tests, to raise awareness of visibility around the vehicle to obtain approval and satisfy the requirements that more cities and companies are mandating. 

“Truck design is fundamental to safer roads and we are thrilled to welcome Dennis Eagle, a leader in the field, as the newest member of Together for Safer Roads,” TSR Executive Director Peter Goldwasser says. “Dennis Eagle’s expertise, especially in Direct Vision cab design, will significantly contribute to our Direct Vision work.”

Dennis Eagle dealers in North America will have access to Direct Vision 5 Star Rating Test Kit to support its fleet operators in getting certified and meeting procurement requirements, and Goldwasser adds that he is particularly excited about that aspect of the collaboration, which he says will help to increase awareness and adoption of safer trucks.