I read an article recently which stated that the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2000 there were over 450,000 large trucks involved in accidents. There are millions of truck drivers in the United States, which means safety training should be a top priority for the trucking industry. Considering the weight and size of large trucks, using safe driving practices can help avoid being involved in a motor vehicle accident
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Many drivers attend some sort of truck driving school in order to obtain their education for a CDL license. These schools or institutions provide the necessary training techniques for defensive driving. These programs also include discussion on safety routines to be completed prior to each ride such as: weight, tire pressure, safety lights, and fuel levels.
Large fleets/trucking companies offer on-going safety programs for their drivers. These companies often have their own “Safety Director” to oversee training and education. What about the small carrier or independent owner operator? Safety is just as important of an issue no matter how small or big the organization may be. Each company/driver is responsible for their practices in regards to safety and compliance issues.
For those small carriers and independent owner operators, creating a safety program for your company is very important. Should you happen to be involved in an accident and is then followed by a court case, you will want to represent your company/driver to the best of your ability. This can be done if you have a proven record of an on-going safety program. You will want to demonstrate to the court and those involved that you cared about safety within your company. Driver files should contain the necessary signed and dated articles, publications, and certificates for training completion, meeting notes, or any other forms/items showing valid proof that safety prevention was a top priority.
Today, we have many options in regards to education and training resources. In creating your own safety program, you might decide to review safety materials weekly, monthly, or quarterly. There are also many online classes/courses to fit your working schedule. You could attend a safety training seminar or read about safety prevention articles in various trucking industry publications. Maybe you could coordinate a driver startup safety group who could gather together to meet monthly in person or by phone to discuss and refresh on skills, defensive driving techniques, and safe maneuvering practices.
Safety prevention should be important to each of us. As professionals in the trucking industry, we can take the necessary steps to create a safety program for our company so that we’re knowledgeable and prepared to handle safety issues should they arise.