Coming soon to a highway, interstate or street near you: the premiere of deer rutting season. Deer on the move this fall means a higher percentage of deer-vehicle collisions, resulting in more potential damage to your fleet, increasingly expensive repairs and frustrating downtime for your drivers. Part by part, day by day, the number of this year’s deer versus truck showdowns can quickly rack up and put a serious dent in your company’s bottom line.

The deer-vehicle collision stats are startling

While deer-vehicle collisions can happen anytime throughout the year, the months of October, November and December are most prevalent, when deer are migrating and more active. U.S. drivers filed an estimated 1.8 million animal collision insurance claims in the U.S. between July 2022 and June 2023, with November being the most dangerous month for incidents. [1] And the toll on vehicle damage, economic losses and human casualties is deer-in-the-headlights startling:

• Around 2.1 million deer-vehicle collisions occur annually.
• These collisions cause more than $10 billion in economic losses
• Each year, deer collisions account for some 59,000 human injuries and 440 human deaths[2]

Your risk of colliding with a deer is higher depending on where you are in the U.S. West Virginia is the state with the highest risk of your vehicle striking a deer, followed by Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Iowa.[3]

In Iowa, drivers can face multiple factors that contribute to increased encounters with deer, according to Sgt. Alex Dinkla of the Iowa State Patrol. “Since Iowa is primarily a rural state, there is a robust deer population moving across more rural roads. When you combine that with the fact that it’s rutting season as well as harvesting season where deer are moving from field to field, motorists really need to be on the lookout.”

Dinkla, who has also served as a patrol officer during his 20+ years in law enforcement, has witnessed numerous deer-vehicle collisions, with results ranging from no damage at all to simple property damage, all the way to vehicles being totaled. And the damage doesn’t always stop with the vehicle who struck the deer. He adds, “There are incidents where the deer will be struck by a vehicle and then thrown into oncoming traffic, causing damage to even more vehicles.”

The cost of big rig repair is increasing

One in nine trucks experience a collision each year, and according to industry data compiled by PPG’s AdjustRite commercial estimating system, the cost of repairing front-end severity, which includes parts, supplies, materials, etc., is on the rise for Classes 1 through 8. Factoring for any front-end damage (left front, front, and right front), AdjustRite reported increases from 2021 to 2022, with tractor repairs rising the most with 24% to $13,317.4

Chances are a collision with a deer won’t total out a semi-truck. But it could damage the hood, body and grille, as well as more critical components, leading to extended downtime – on average two days or more – and expensive repairs. In fact, AdjustRite estimates the average labor hours for a heavy-duty truck front-end collision were:

• Body: 20.7 hours
• Frame: 12.9 hours
• Mechanical: 15.1 hours
• Paint: 12.5 hours

That’s a total of 61.2 hours if all areas need to be repaired.[4]

And the repair costs can really hit home, like it did for this driver who weighed in on thetruckersreport.com: “I have hit five deer in 15 years of driving trucks, in Nebraska, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas and Ohio. The one I hit in Georgia was the most devastating. It was intense – there were pieces of the truck everywhere. I had to get towed and the whole coolant system was destroyed. That was almost 10k in costs, hotels and damage.”

Downtime, towing and CSA costs are often missed

In addition to the hard costs to repair an animal strike, too often fleets don’t recognize their biggest expenses – the opportunity costs of missed days of revenue from each downed truck. According to a recent white paper from Ex-Guard, the average cost of a day of downtime for fleets is $1,200; which can take the total cost of an accident north of $50,000.

According to Ryan Holt, General Manager of Ex-Guard, fleets can feel the regulatory and contractual pinch when their towable accidents get recorded in the CSA database. “These accidents affect fleets’ status with the government, with customers and can even lead to the loss of their ability to operate. When a truck receives enough damage that it is no longer deemed roadworthy, contracts, licenses and livelihoods are at stake.”

Guard against deer collisions

Ex-Guard (https://go.ex-guard.com/deer-season-2024), the largest manufacturer of semi-truck and van grille guards in the United States and Canada, has been protecting drivers and fleets from animal strikes for more than 15 years. “We have customers that have seen an 80% decrease in their towable accidents by following a few simple steps, including the installation of Ex-Guard on their fleet. With deer season getting into full swing shortly, fleets need to act as soon as possible,” noted Holt.[5]

About Ex-Guard:

Ex-Guard Grille Guards are available at more than 1,500 dealers in North America. For more information, visit Ex-Guard.com or call (888) 902-2777.

[1]https://newsroom.statefarm.com/likelihood-of-hitting-an-animal-while-driving/

[2]https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(22)01615-3

[3]https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/deer-car-accidents/

[4]https://www.fleetmaintenance.com/in-the-bay/article/53058139/how-much-deer-collision-damage-costs-fleets

[5]https://go.ex-guard.com/reduce-80-hp?

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Standard-setting front end protection has six new features; are the only grille guards that are verified to be compliant with all current collision mitigation systems.

Des Moines, Iowa – Ex-Guard is pleased to announce a radically upgraded line of grille guards that set a new standard for protection and ease of use while boasting verified compliance with all current collision mitigation systems.

“This new generation of Ex-Guard helps further fulfill our mission to protect our customer’s most valuable assets with the safest, smartest and strongest products,” said Ryan Holt, General Manager of Ex-Guard. “Our previous generations of guards helped major fleets decrease their towable accidents up to 80%. This generation of guards take that protection one step further; making them easier to lift, taller, with more bars of protection, stronger latching and verified as being compliant with all collision mitigation systems on the market today.”

These 6 new features are available for order immediately and will begin shipping in mid-August. 

• ClearZone® CMS Verified: Ex-Guard XG and EX Generation 3 guards are the only grille guards that have been verified by the collision mitigation system (CMS) radar manufacturer to avoid the radar’s “Keep-Out Zones.” This allows the CMS to function without inhibition. Ex-Guard has been verified to meet the requirements of CMS radar systems for Freightliner®, Kenworth®, Peterbilt®, International®, Volvo®, Mack® and Western Star® as of August 1, 2024.

• Xero-G™ Lift Assist: XG Generation 3 guards include Ex-Guard’s stunning Xero-G™ Lift Assist that reduces the effort to raise and lower the guard by more than 95%! This allows drivers and maintenance team members of any shape, size or strength the ability to do under-hood inspections easily. This increases a fleet’s ability to accommodate a more diverse driver set.

• LEVRLock™ Latches: LEVRLock features a new double cam latch operation, ergonomicnhandle and a rattle-resisting, adjustable design – making it by far the strongest and most durable Ex-Guard latch ever.

• Extra Cross Bar & Height: Every XG model now includes an additional 3”-7” of height, an additional cross bar and 30% smaller area around the CMS for maximum protection.

• License Plate Bracket Included: Every XG model also includes our most popular XG-LP10 License Plate Bracket in the price of the guard.

• Fewer SKUs: Generation 3 guards also now fit many more models, meaning fewer styles and SKUs of guards are needed to outfit a fleet. This allows both fleets and dealers to optimize both space and budget in a tight trucking economy.

“For many years, Ex-Guard has been compliant with all of the collision mitigation systems on the market. This year we were able to verify them officially with the major radar and software manufacturers,” mentioned Holt. “We’re especially excited about the new Xero-G Lift Assist because drivers regardless of size, height or strength need to be able to do their daily inspections. Xero-G allows drivers to easily raise and lower the guard with minimal effort. In testing, we found most drivers and maintenance teams could raise and lower guards with a single finger.”

About Ex-Guard: Since 2009, Ex-Guard has provided fleets and owner-operators with high-quality,100% made-in-the-USA products. Ex-Guard works every day to embody the values of Safe, Smart and Strong – helping businesses be resilient against impacts and challenges. 

 

Ex-Guard and Premier Truck Group of Salt Lake City assist driver 
in getting back on the road after a tragedy was prevented.

Des Moines, IA, May 16, 2024 – in late August 2023 owner/operator Vince Fazio had a life-changing run-in with an out-of-control drunk driver.

Fazio, based in Nevada, operates for a major owner/operator carrier out of Florida. He was on one of his normal routes on Highway 93 by Wickenburg, Arizona when a drunk driver involved in an active police chase slammed into Fazio’s truck at more than 50 miles per hour. The intoxicated driver of the 6,000-lb F-150 struck the Ex-Guard and front fender.

“I honestly think I would have died if an Ex-Guard would not have been on my truck. My lower bumper was destroyed but I lived. The guard took 95% of the impact and I have the chance to work another day,” noted Fazio. “Ex-Guard prevented my truck from being totaled – saving me at least $60,000 in expenses.”

After the accident, Fazio needed some time to heal from the bumps and bruises while working through challeng

es with his insurance carrier. Because of these setbacks, he wasn’t able to get a new Ex-Guard put on his truck.

width=”179″ height=”300″ alt=”Damage from drunk driver on grille guard” class=”wp-image-48539 alignnone size-medium” />“When we saw Vince’s story and heard he wasn’t able to get a guard for his truck, we knew it was the right thing to help Vince and his family with a new Ex-Guard,” said Ex-Guard’s Head of Sales, Joel Wooten. Ex-Guard connected with Chris Fjeldsted, Parts Sales Manager at Premier Truck Group of Salt Lake City. Chris had just the right guard in stock that would fit Vince’s truck. “We have hundreds of stories of customers that have been protected by Ex-Guard. We’re glad to be able to keep another one of our customers on the road and safe,” said Fjeldsted.

The drunk driver involved in this case recently pleaded guilty, helping close this chapter of Fazio’s life. He noted, “Not only did the guard protect me, but it helped push away the F-150, keeping both vehicles from being more damaged. It does save lives!”

About Ex-Guard: Since 2009, Ex-Guard has provided fleets and owner-operators with high-quality, 100% made-in-the-USA products. Ex-Guard works every day to embody the values of Safe, Smart and Strong – helping businesses be resilient against impacts and challenges.

Ex-Guard Industries – A Truly American Brand

Humble Beginnings

Ex-Guard^®, is an American made product. A small team of friends, experienced in the front-end protection industry, envisioned a guard that would revolutionize the market. A guard made of more than just steel, one that could epitomize strength and redefine protection. This idea would then develop our 1/8” Corrosion Resistant Ex-Guard^® patented PVC coating. A bonded layer would add durability that both complemented and protected the steel. Finally, a proprietary hinge mechanism which allows single or dual hand accessibility options.

The time, energy, and technology built into the Ex-Guard design would create a product with high-impact resistance, economical maintenance, and most importantly, protection for the driver.

About Ex-Guard

From this prototype design to a successful international company, Ex-Guard^® Industries established a manufacturing facility in Des Moines, IA and introduced a line of guards to the North American trucking industry. A small dream that would move on to protect drivers, their trucks, and their lives. Our first and foremost objective is offering the right amount of coverage to keep drivers safe and trucks secure while on the road. Ex-Guard’s have the ability to sustain multiple wildlife collisions with little to no damage to the truck. For fleets, having a well-designed guard can help mitigate downtime expenses, loss of business opportunities, and overall truck repair expenses.

Custom Solutions

What have you been replacing? Headlights? Bumpers? What is your average annual downtime expense? Have you lost an opportunity from a truck in the shop? Ex-Guard^® looks to provide a solution and not just a product. Our guard designs offer different levels of durability and coverage for customer-specific variables. From the Owner-Operator looking for peace of mind to the Maintenance Manager whose trucks battle dense, deer-populated routes, Ex-Guard will tailor fit a solution to your needs.

Consultation

Your Ex-Guard regional representative (American or Canadian) is available to help your company select the Ex-Guard that best meets your needs. To schedule a consultation, email [email protected] or call 888.902.2777. For many customers, Ex-Guard is a product that pays for itself within the first 6-12 months.

Remember, it takes just one impact to make a difference with downtime. The strength, the ease-of-use, the durability, and the protection an Ex-Guard offers makes it more than just a grille guard. It’s a solution.

New to 2023 production of Ex-Guard, a steel plate will be attached to every Ex-Guard that identifies the guard by its part number and serial number.

This serial number is linked to all production data related to the guard and will be required for inquiries about the product warranty or information about the product.

Also, to register an Ex-Guard, this serial number is what will be requested.

For more information about how the part number identifies a product, check out our nomenclature chart – https://ex-guard.com/product-ordering-guide/