Written by Dan Agbo
The trucking industry plays a crucial role in the global economy. According to the American Trucking Association, truck volumes are expected to continue growing in 2025, reaching nearly 14 billion tons by 2035. However, with the growing amounts of transportation, ensuring safety becomes a crucial task. Olexandr Momotok, an innovative inventor and the founder of a Chicago-based trucking company, OM&B Trucking Inc., contributes to solving this challenge with his original idea. He patented an advanced trailer drawbar mechanism designed to mitigate collision impacts. With extensive experience in commercial transportation logistics and a solid legal background, Momotok brings a unique perspective to tackling trucking safety challenges.
“For nearly a decade, while serving as a prosecutor in Odessa, I worked with many cases related to road accidents,” explains Olexandr Momotok. “Seeing their catastrophic impact firsthand made me determined to seek preventative solutions.”
This determination, combined with practical experience in commercial transportation and established connections with legal and engineering teams, provided Olexandr Momotok with a solid foundation for pursuing his ultimate goal. Eventually, he developed and patented an approach that has the potential to make the industry safer for everyone. Namely, he has developed and patented an advanced trailer drawbar mechanism designed to mitigate collision impacts between trucks and trailers. This system absorbs kinetic energy during accidents. The result is a substantially reduced collision force transmitted to towing vehicles, significantly minimizing potential injuries and damages.
Currently, several approaches to improving trucking safety are being used on the roads. In some countries, stricter compliance programs are implemented to ensure truckers follow safety regulations. For instance, in the US mandatory use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) is being implemented to improve control over following hours of serving regulation. In Canada, ELDs have been compulsory since 2021 for federally regulated carriers, and on the other side of the globe, in the EU, tachograph use is enforced. Moreover, comprehensive driver training programs and sophisticated risk assessment techniques aim to identify and mitigate hazards proactively.
While improved regulations and digital safety tools continue to gain traction, they do not eliminate the need for mechanical innovations — such as Olexandr Momotok’s patented drawbar mechanism.Both types of solution complement one another to prevent accidents and minimize the damage if they still occur. Both types of solutions complement one another: preventative systems aim to avoid accidents, while impact-reducing technologies help minimize damage when incidents do occur. Preventative tools include real-time telematics to monitor driver behavior, lane departure warnings, and automatic emergency braking — all designed to support quick reactions in high-risk situations. Momotok’s invention addresses the other critical aspect: reducing the physical impact of collisions, which remains essential in a fully developed safety system.
His invention exemplifies his proactive approach to creating safe driving conditions and preparing drivers for different situations, including mitigating the damage when circumstances make it impossible to avoid a crash. It will provide real-life benefits to logistic companies across the US. However, Momotok’s ambition extends beyond that: he aims to make his patented technology accessible globally, transforming trucker safety standards worldwide.
"My ambition is to improve safety standards across the trucking industry significantly," concludes Olexandr Momotok. "One day, I want to see my innovation adopted globally. Moving forward, I plan to collaborate with industry leaders to expand the reach of my invention. This way, roads will become safer for everyone.”
Innovation goes hand in hand with effective leadership. Innovators and leaders transform patented concepts into practical solutions. Olexandr Momotok exemplifies such leadership, actively shaping safety innovations that benefit the trucking industry. Leaders like him not only enhance their company’s competitive edge but also contribute to the industry by improving safety and quality standards.
Increasing the safety of the trucking industry is of paramount importance, as the integrity of supply chains plays a crucial role in the national and global economy. Achieving the goal of increased safety requires applying efforts from multiple directions, from improving drivers’ training to implementing innovative solutions. The drawbar mechanism suggested by Olexandr Momotok has the potential to become an essential element in the improved system of safer trucking.
