Can AI Predict Your Next Accident Before It Happens? | Ben Jones on Behind The Wheelhouse

In this episode of Behind the Wheelhouse on Trucker Talk Radio, Ben Jones, Safety Director at Mass Trucking, joins Jon and Justin to break down what modern fleet safety actually looks like when it is built by someone who has sat behind the wheel. Ben started his career in engineering and IT, made a detour through real estate, and landed in trucking as a driver for Werner Enterprises before finding his way into the safety department at a local Detroit-area fleet. That hands-on background shapes everything about how he approaches his role today.The conversation dives deep into Ben's most ambitious project: an AI-powered predictive risk model that pulls together telematics data, HOS records, driver behavior metrics, and fuel efficiency scores to identify at-risk drivers before an incident happens. He explains how a strong correlation between poor driving scores and low MPG ratings became the foundation of the model, how he used AI to write the programming itself and help weight the data points, and why focusing attention on the top 15 percent of at-risk drivers is changing how his safety team spends its time.Ben and the hosts also get into the bigger picture of AI in trucking, covering everything from office productivity and dispatcher training tools to the longer-term question of autonomous vehicles. Ben offers a perspective that most guests haven't brought up: Tesla-style robots that can climb in and out of a cab could be the most practical near-term bridge between human drivers and full autonomy. He also makes a strong case for outward-facing cameras as a driver protection tool, sharing a real example where video footage shut down a fraudulent lawsuit before it ever gained traction.The episode closes with a discussion on freight fraud, driver retention, the value of putting office staff in a truck for a day, and how Mass Trucking's in-house CDL school is trying to fix what traditional truck driving schools leave out. If you run a fleet, manage safety, or are thinking about a career in trucking, this episode is packed with practical insight from someone who has worked every angle of the industry.Chapters0:00 Intro0:58 Ben's Background: Engineering to Trucking2:39 Why Ben Left Driving for Safety3:03 How Trucking Has Changed Over 20 Years4:39 The Accident That Shaped Ben's Purpose5:04 Reefer Safety and Maintenance6:02 AI Predictive Risk Model Explained9:01 How the Model Was Built13:44 AI in the Trucking Office20:09 AI Behind the Wheel: The Future of Autonomous Trucks24:43 Cameras as a Driver Protection Tool28:24 ELDs, Telematics, and HOS Strategy33:50 Driver Retention and Relationships37:24 Freight Fraud and Identity Verification44:02 Bringing Drivers Closer to the Table45:25 Where AI Takes Safety Long Term49:33 Mass Trucking and CDL School51:39 Sponsor Shoutouts and OutroFollow Us!X: https://x.com/trucktalkradioIG: https://instagram.com/truckertalkradioTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@truckertalkradioFollow Ben JonesWebsite: https://masttruckinginc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-jones-23252913/Powered by Ready AppThe driver-verification platform protecting brokers, carriers, and shippers from identity fraud, onboarding risks, and unsafe hires.Learn more at: https://ready-app.comSupport GreyCross.orgA 501(c)(3) supporting families affected by roadway tragedies across America.Donate at: https://greycross.org#truckertalkradio #behindthewheelhouse #truckingsafety #aiintrucking #predictivesafety #fleetmanagement #driverretention #trucking #truckingpodcast #owneroperator #cdldriver #telematics #autonomoustrucks #freightfraud #truckdriver #logisticspodcast #masstrucking #truckinglife