Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/802476
Driver Safety A Focus at the Convention and Trade Show (Continued from Page 1) Put a program in place to ensure seasonal help understands your safety culture. James Baxter, Baird's Sep tic in Upper Onslow, Nova Scotia, helps run a somewhat smaller company – and a good part of their work is seasonal. This means he is looking for help annually and having to train a lot of new people. To do this, James makes use of retired company drivers t hat can help assess the new hires, ride with them and teach them "the tricks of the trade" in an efficient manner. In addition, James' company uses its periodic staff meetings to go over safety - related policies and procedures at a very granular level, ensu ring that everyone understands what is expected and how to be successful. Driving simulators can be worth the investment. Dwayne Siegmann, Cambium in Enid, Oklahoma, has run a portable sanitation business for more than 40 years. Recently he has been 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 has purchased time for 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 practice has been highly beneficial to his drivers and safety record s. 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 outcomes you want to see. Derek Pauling, Biff s Inc in Shakope e, Minnesota, echoed what the other panelists said about driver selection and onboarding. He also added that his company has found it essential to manage his employees' work experiences to ensure the hours, workload, and equipment on the truck are all alig ned 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 Derek has developed a proprietary incentive program that balances a variety of facto rs 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 gift 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 resour ce, 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. W EEKLY EDITION MAR 22, 2017 P AGE 12