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W EEKLY EDITION OCTOBER 2, 2019 Tip s on Dr iv er Sa fety By Karleen Kos, PSAI Executive Directo r Driving simulators can be worth the investment. Dwayne Siegmann, retired owner of Chem - Can (a company later absorbed by Cambium and United Rentals) in Enid, Oklahoma, ran a portable sanitation business for more than 40 years. In the several years prior to selling his firm in 2017, Dwayne was able to form an alliance with a local vocational - technical school that owns driving simulators – and he has found simulators to be a great way to help drivers succeed. Dwayne purchased time fo r his drivers to practice driving in a variety of conditions such as heavy traffic, wet or snowy roads, icy conditions, and the like, all while safely seated in a simulator where no one gets hurt if the driver makes a mistake. According to Dwayne, this pra ctice was highly beneficial to his drivers and safety records. If you are interested in trying something similar, Dwayne suggests reaching out to a local vo - tech or truck driving school near you to see what they can offer. Incentivize the behaviors and ou tcomes you want to see. Derek Pauling, Biff's Inc. in Shakopee, Minnesota, echoed what the other portable sanitation operators said about driver selection and onboarding. He also added that his company has found it essential to manage his employees' work e xperiences to ensure the hours, workload, and equipment on the truck are all aligned for success. He observed that companies that emphasize speed or expect too much to get done in too short a time could unwittingly contribute to risky driving behavior. So he has developed a proprietary incentive program that balances a variety of factors such as safety, productivity, customer care, and company relationships to help guide his staff toward the best outcomes. There are short - term rewards such as drawings for g ift cards and longer - term rewards such as pay increases and promotions depending upon performance across these critical areas. In summary, we know that our industry depends upon driving to deliver its services. The professionals we hire have a great deal of responsibility. Whether your company is very small – with only yourself and a family member or two driving – or quite large, with dozens of trucks on the road every day, your safety program matters. Feel free to reach out to any of the people mentioned in this article for information. Your insurance carrier can also be a good resource, as can driving schools and various government agencies focused on highway safety. Give the PSAI a call if you need help finding the right resource for you. - KK P AGE 17