drivers ed
Their training programs may vary, but most private fleets take great care to make sure their drivers operate safely.
By Amanda Loudin -- Logistics Management, 2/1/2001
There's no question that if a truck has a major accident, it's going to make headlines. That's especially true if the truck happens to be carrying hazardous materials, which tend to draw intense public scrutiny. No one's more aware of this than the private-fleet industry, where reputation is always at stake.
For this reason, the private-fleet industry takes driver safety training seriously. It also wants to ensure that its truckers are able to do their jobs safely and that the cargo they carry makes it to its destination intact.
This focus on safety training is nothing new - most companies with private fleets will tell you that safety has always been a top priority and will continue to be so. The results, they say, are well worth every dime invested in training programs. "In 20 years, I've never had to tell a family member that [his or her] loved one has been killed driving for us," says Dan Brown, general manager of marketing and transportation at Phoenix-based Tosco, the largest independent oil refiner and marketer of petroleum products in the United States. "But we can't afford to be complacent."
Another company that puts a strong emphasis on safety is Smart and Final Co. of Los Angeles, which operates both warehouse grocery stores and a food-service distribution business on the West Coast as well as in Florida, Arizona, and Nevada. "Training is one of our primary functions; everyone is very focused on it," says Dan Smith, corporate director of transportation. "We recognize that with more miles traveled and more dispatches than ever before, road safety is key."
In addition to his duties at Smart and Final Co., Smith serves as chairman of the National Private Truck Council (NPTC), which provides guidance to members on safety programs. "We also offer a number of items to help companies with their safety training," he says. "Safety is a cornerstone at NPTC." Some of those offerings include a textbook developed for companies looking to begin operating a private fleet and launch a safety-training program and programs that address crisis management and environmental compliance.
In addition, the NPTC provides members with weekly updates that include safety-related news. The council also makes safety a big part of its manager certification program and its annual conference. Programs such as the group's annual fleet safety awards, driver's hall of fame, and fleet safety manager of the year award further demonstrate the organization's dedication to safety.
Throughout the industry, concern for safety is paramount - a fact that is reflected in the heavy emphasis most companies place on safety training. How companies accomplish their training varies widely, but each takes pains to ensure that private-fleet drivers are among the safest on the roadways.
Training Roundup
Nowhere is safety training more of a priority than within those companies that transport hazardous materials. And for good reason: According to Brown of Tosco, which ships petroleum, as many as 50 percent of all rollover accidents involving tankers result in a fatality. That's not a risk the company is willing to take.
"Most companies pay their drivers through incentives for miles driven or number of trips made," says Brown. "We feel that paying through incentives leads to rushing, and we want our drivers to be able to focus on the job, not on their pay."
So instead of using incentive pay, Tosco pays its drivers on an hourly basis. "There's a definite relationship between rushing and accidents," says Brown. "We're trying to convince everyone in the trucking industry that there's a good reason to go back to hourly pay."
Tosco's safety initiative doesn't end there, however. The company has put a number of safety-related policies into place over the years. For one, the company doesn't even consider hiring drivers who don't have at least two years of tanker driving experience.
Once they're hired, these drivers find that safety training becomes an ongoing part of the job. For example, all new hires at Tosco spend the first two to three weeks driving with a supervisor or other experienced driver. That's followed up by a written exam, as well as a driving test. In addition, drivers receive training in the Smith System, a popular third-party training program that focuses on such safety issues as proper following distance and how to leave an "out."
Even experienced drivers at Tosco must attend a minimum of six 90-minute safety-training sessions throughout the year. They also are subject to annual driving checks to ensure a continued skill level. And because they handle hazardous materials, Tosco drivers receive an additional eight hours of "first responder awareness" training that educates them on how to handle hazardous materials properly during transport, loading, and unloading.
Safety also plays an important role for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. "We lease all of our drivers, so we work very closely with our lessor to put together an agenda for safety training," says Jerry Banik, Pfizer's manager of private carriage operations in Elkhart, Ind. "We also have biannual safety meetings with all of our drivers and supervisors." Topics at these meetings run the gamut of safety issues, according to Banik, but may include anything from winter driving to safe backing.
Banik, who also serves on the NPTC's board, brings much of what he learns in that position back to his drivers as well. "A good portion of what I do is to give drivers updates on the latest regulatory issues," he says. "The drivers like to be well informed and stay ahead of the curve, so they appreciate that we share this information with them."
At Smart and Final, a safety committee sees to it that safety is never far from anyone's mind. The committee consists of three members of fleet management and drivers who are elected by their peers. In order to become a driver representative, the drivers must have two years of accident- and citation-free driving. The committee regularly reviews every incident that occurs among the fleet's drivers and determines whether or not the driver is accountable, unless the incident is investigated by law enforcement.
To help encourage safe driving, the company has established an incentive system that pays quarterly bonuses. "We have two categories, vehicle accident and industrial injuries," says Smith. "If a driver goes a quarter without one or the other, he receives a bonus."
In addition, drivers with good records are treated to an annual truck rodeo. Participants contend for trophies, cash, and even choice parking spaces at work.
Training is also a big part of Smart & Final's safety program. Prospective drivers are put through a road check prior to hiring, and then new hires receive two weeks of training with company trainers. Twice annually the company holds safety-training classes for all drivers. Instructors include equipment lessors and even insurance carrier representatives.
It's clear that, regardless of the cost of training, private fleets are making big efforts to ensure that their drivers are among the safest on the road. And Tosco's Brown wouldn't have it any other way. "We're proud of what we do," he says. "Safety is our number one priority."
Amanda Loudin is a freelance writer who specializes in logistics and warehousing issues.
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