A local innovation by a trucking company owner Olexandr Momotok could radically change road accident statistics

According to FMCSA data, between 143,000 and 166,000 truck-involved accidents have occurred annually in the U.S. in recent years, accounting for 6% of fatal crashes. These numbers keep growing year after year—already, in the first month of 2025, 5,820 truck-related accidents and 102 fatalities were recorded. Existing preventive safety measures and electronic control systems are insufficient.

Mitigating when prevention fails

Why is this happening? This may be due to the exponential growth in freight transport. Outdated safety equipment standards may be to blame. Or perhaps there’s simply a shortage of qualified drivers. Whatever the reason, one of the most sought-after “anti-accident” solutions today is technical innovation—something that, if not eliminating crashes, can at least mitigate their consequences. Last year, Volvo Trucks introduced its collision avoidance system with active braking, while Daimler Trucks North America unveiled an upgraded sensor system.

High-tech developments in this field significantly drive up production and operational costs. That’s why locally developed innovations that reduce accident risks are especially valuable. One such solution has been proposed by Ukrainian-born entrepreneur Olexandr Momotok, owner of OM&B Trucking Inc. His original trailer hitch design, aimed at reducing collision impact force, is now in the final stages of patenting.

A dual perspective

The idea stemmed from Momotok’s diverse life experience—he has analyzed road safety both as a heavy truck driver and as a law enforcement officer investigating accident causes and outcomes. Momotok worked as a prosecutor in Ukraine, dealing with numerous fatal road incidents. In the U.S., he got behind the wheel of a heavy truck himself, facing all the risks that come with operating a large vehicle daily.

“I didn’t have that kind of experience before—I used to drive a passenger car and had to train at a Chicago trucking school,” recalls Olexandr. “Truck driving rules mostly teach you to avoid accidents not by braking but by maneuvering—keeping distance, swerving. But if a crash is unavoidable, the tractor and trailer can collide like scissors closing. If you’re hit from behind, death is a real possibility.”

Witnessing accidents on the road, Momotok began thinking about how to soften the impact when a crash is inevitable. His experience led him to sketch a concept for a new tractor-trailer coupling mechanism, which later evolved into a full-fledged invention that experts believe could significantly improve road safety.

Innovation based on existing solutions

Various trailer hitch designs exist to reduce the impact force transmitted from the trailer to the towing vehicle. The hitch—a metal beam connecting the trailer to the truck—transfers pulling force but also absorbs shocks during braking or collisions. In an accident (e.g., if another vehicle rear-ends the trailer), the force travels through the hitch, potentially damaging both the trailer and the truck.

“What solutions exist today?” Momotok lists. “Either spring-based hitches, like those used in older Soviet trailer models—they softened jolts during movement but didn’t protect against strong impacts. Or rigid hitch mounts, common in modern trailers—reliable but offering no shock absorption.”

Instead, Olexandr proposed adding a damping system to the hitch. Momotok’s invention combines the advantages of both solutions and adds a new element – multi-stage energy absorption.

How it works

Olexandr explains the working principle of his invention: inside the hitch, there’s a spring and support sleeves—metal cups between which the spring compresses. The hitch consists of two parts: the main beam, fixed to the trailer, and a movable beam assembly, connected to the truck. A locking pin holds these together. Upon impact, e.g., if the trailer is hit from behind, the force breaks the pin, allowing the beam assembly to slide along the main beam, compressing the spring. This absorbs much of the impact energy instead of transferring it fully to the truck.

Thus, the system is built on a multi-stage energy absorption mechanism: when the trailer receives an impact, the force of this impact is transferred to the drawbar. Part of the energy is absorbed due to three things: the locking pin breaks, acting as a “fuse,” the metal reinforcing profiles inside the drawbar bend or collapse, and finally, the spring compresses – when the pin breaks, the movable part of the drawbar slides forward and presses on the spring, which “damps” the remainder of the impact. “Simply put, the drawbar works like a shock absorber – specially designed breakable and bendable parts and the springs take the impact upon themselves, protecting the vehicle,” Momotok states.

The advantages are clear: it is a simple, reliable solution that reduces destructive force and protects both truck and trailer from severe damage.

“We aimed to create a mechanism that activates at the critical moment, regardless of external conditions or electronics,” emphasizes Olexandr.

Potential effect 

“While working as a prosecutor in Ukraine, I led and supervised legal investigations into serious traffic accidents, working closely with law enforcement agencies to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and reconstruct crash sites, drafted official legal documents, maintaining strict records of evidence and procedural steps for each case,” recalls Oleksandr. “And even then, I started to think about how I could minimize the severe consequences of such situations.”

Such an innovation will unequivocally and significantly increase road safety. For example, it will reduce the risk of losing control upon impact because, in the event of a rear-end collision, the spring mechanism will soften the sharp jolt and decrease the risk of the vehicle jerking, which can lead to skidding or rollover. It will protect the driver and passengers: without shock absorption, the impact is transmitted directly through the drawbar to the tow hitch and the vehicle’s frame, whereas with the new system, the impact energy is partially absorbed. It will reduce damage to the trailer and cargo since a rigid impact often bends the trailer’s frame and ruins the cargo, but this system minimizes deformation. It will prevent complex chain-reaction accidents, in which a trailer that suddenly jerks the vehicle can send it into oncoming traffic.

The technology must be universal for different types of trailers—it can be applied to cargo, residential, and specialized trailer transport, for example, boats or equipment. The more trailers are equipped this way, the safer the roads will become.

Effective doesn’t mean complicated

Essentially, the key difference between Momotok’s mechanical solution and electronic collision avoidance systems lies in its simplicity: it requires no power source, works even if the electronics fail, is unaffected by weather conditions unlike cameras and radars, and activates after the collision—making it the last line of defense. He didn’t invent a high-tech device packed with sensors and cameras, but that’s precisely what might save a driver’s life if those sensors and cameras fail.

“My goal isn’t just to create a product but to change the approach to freight safety,” stresses Olexandr. “If even one accident ends without fatalities thanks to this invention, the effort will be worth it.”

His project is one of many steps being taken in the industry today. And it reflects an interesting trend: alongside high-tech, expensive innovations, simple, local, and reliable solutions are becoming a vital part of the future on the road.