Tag Archive for: driver safety

SPOTLIGHT: BACK TO SCHOOL BEST PRACTICES

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) on their podcast, The Bus Stop. Stephanie Wilcoxson joined NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn to discuss how current clients are benefitting from the IWS platform and creating safer spaces for students and drivers.

National School Transportation Association (NSTA)

Stephanie is the National Account Executive for the Student Transportation Division at Infinit-I Workforce Solutions. She hopes her contribution to The Bus Stop will raise awareness to an issue about which we are passionate, safe student transportation.

Student Transportation


Infinit-I Workforce Solutions began as a training course system to train truck drivers on safe practices. We began hearing chatter about the need for continued training in the student transportation space.

Back to School Best Practices for Student Transportation

At that time, IWS began producing DVDs for school bus driver training purposes. The product was widely utilized by school districts and private transportation companies. As technology moved to support cloud-based systems, IWS evolved to maintain the needs of the market.

The Infinit-I platform is fully digital with mobile capabilities. Users can access their assigned training anytime, anywhere. Since we provide a cloud-based system, our content is constantly being re-evaluated and updated. As laws or regulations change, or information becomes outdated, IWS will temporarily suspend inaccurate videos. Our in-house video production team allows for timely and accurate rerelease.

Customize


Currents clients can browse our current resource library which boasts 400 safety training videos specifically regarding student transport. Admins can browse these titles and select the most relevant content. After a fleet evaluation, management can select the areas of driver behavior that need to be strengthened.

Admins who regularly evaluate their employees can easily pinpoint weaknesses within your fleet.  If a certain group of employees is struggling, management can deploy specific training for specific groups. Many clients state this is helpful before and after audits, tackle your lowest scoring sections and experience immediate improvement.

Customize Your TrainingIn addition to our current course offerings, the IWS platform allows each individual district or company to upload specific content that pertains to their company. There are no two school districts or bus companies that operate with the exact same policies and procedures.

Upload content that is specific to your company’s culture or performance expectations. Whether it is your own videos, PDFs, or existing slideshows, you can assign it to your drivers along with our video content. Drivers can be tested on custom content. Management will receive the same documentation that it was completed and understood.

Bus Drivers


Your drivers will receive their own unique login information. Their assignments will be streamed to their computer, tablet, or mobile device. After completing the coursework, users can be tested on their knowledge retention.

Scenario: One of your drivers was recently in an accident and needs remedial training. Management can access the course library, locate courses that are specific to the type of accident, and assign courses directly to the individual rather than the entire fleet.

Every lesson, task, and test are recorded. Admins can view how long it took the driver to complete the course. The number of attempts will be recorded so you’ll know if they failed to reach the acceptable grade. You can also view which test questions were missed, and from there, assign additional hands-on and specific training for areas in which the driver is struggling.

Student Transport and COVID-19


With new accommodations required by social distancing, in-person meetings have become increasingly difficult and risky. We’ve experienced many layoffs and furloughs due to school closures.

Social distancing is a major issue that is driving new clients to IWS. However, the main concern we receive from transportation executives is the need to properly communicate policies and procedures that are constantly changing.

Student Transport and COVID-19

Bus companies have taken this “down-time” to put a hard focus on training. New considerations must be made as we begin to expand and onboard returning or new employees.

Transportation departments must communicate these changes during onboarding. Now is the time to have a platform in place with communication capability to support your onboarding influx.

IWS has recently experienced a surge in interest, referrals, and users as transport companies are returning to a pre-pandemic level of operation, but with new and ever-changing operating procedures. The documentation functionality of IWS eliminates the, “I didn’t know we are supposed to do it that way now,” reasoning you often receive.

WEBINAR: NSTA EXCLUSIVE


Thursday 9/24 at 11:30 am ET / 10:30 am CT Join Stephanie as she presents a live demonstration of the IWS platform. Get a visual of how easy it is to use and how it will improve your safety culture. We will be taking live questions during the webinar.

What you can expect:

  • Intro from NSTA guest speaker, Jessica Pinkerton
  • Live presentation of INFINITI
  • Operational scenarios INFINITI can address
  • Administrator’s view of the platform
  • A glimpse from the driver’s perspective
  • Open dialogue through Q&A

WEBINAR: NSTA EXCLUSIVE

Click here to register

"IT'S MORE THAN RAIN"

With hurricane season upon us, it’s time to talk about inclement weather. As a former dispatcher, I have seen many severe tractor-trailer accidents that easily could have been avoided.  I used to pass around a phrase to my drivers any time the weather started to turn: “It’s more than rain.”

“It’s more than rain.”

I repeated this phrase often; I wanted it to resonate with my fleet. I always wanted it to be in the back of their mind. At any moment, even a sprinkle shower on a sunny day can turn into a life or death situation.

And in one case, it did.

Jeremy Reynolds was a Rookie


A serial over-achiever striving to prove himself. He always performed to the best of his abilities, but sometimes to his own detriment.

Jeremy was a rookieAfter delivering a load of flash-frozen veggies to a packaging plant in Nebraska, Jeremy called in to report his delivery. We made small talk about the trip and I started looking for another load. The only load I could find near his location would require 85 miles of deadhead to pick up, but he wanted to run it anyway.

He mentioned some drivers down the highway were talking about a storm that was forming right along that route. There had been no storm reports or warnings from my company’s weather department. On the surface, it seemed there would be nothing to worry about.

I asked him to consider three things in this circumstance:

  1. Boots on the ground drivers were warning of bad weather along the route.
  2. The route was a long straight stretch of highway along the flatlands of Nebraska.
  3. His trailer was now empty.

I told Jeremy that since he was the one behind the wheel, it was his call. I also asked him to consider our mantra, “It’s more than rain.”

I put Jeremy in charge of his truck, and I supported his decision. He decided not to take the risk. I rescheduled the pickup for the next morning and he started his 10.

The Next Morning


I arrived at work to an email encouraging all dispatchers to check on all drivers currently not moving in the Midwest. Overnight, the storm winds raged, and 3 trailers had been blown over.

It wasn’t the rain or the wet roads that led to these accidents. It wasn’t a flooded street or downed branch. It was the wind. One strong gust of wind was all it took to catch these drivers off guard and push them off the highway. The exact highway Jeremy would have been traveling.

The Next Morning

Thankfully, the drivers were not injured. Two of the trailers were loaded, however, costing their companies thousands of dollars in OS&D and damaged equipment.

I called Jeremy immediately to see if he was ok. He told me he was surveying the damage along the highway while driving to the pickup location. He saw one of the trailers, still on its side. It was more than rain. He and I both learned a lesson that day. Yes, we turned down a load, but even though it seemed like a small rain shower, the unforeseen risks turned out to be much higher.

The Lesson


The LessonMake sure your fleet managers know it’s ok to shut their drivers down in bad weather. On-time loads should never take precedent over a driver’s safety.

Fleet managers should then empower their drivers to make sounds judgement calls about operating in inclement weather.

I was often questioned about my decision to give all the power to the driver in these situations.

“What if your drivers take advantage of it, just to get some time off. What if they shut down when they could have made the delivery on time?”

My response was always a resounding: “So, what?”

So, my driver felt it was better to shut down than risk driving in weather that made him uncomfortable. So, we picked up a load a couple of hours late. Everyone was safe.

The benefits of empowering my drivers more than outweighed the risk:

  • No loads were damaged due to an accident.
  • My driver was not injured due to an accident
  • My driver did not injure any other person on the highway.
  • All equipment remained undamaged.

Most importantly,

  • My driver and I bonded. Trust was born out of the situation.

How IWS Can Help


Current Infinit-I Clients:

Request An Infinit-I CatalogCheck out the September 2020 Catalog release for current courses specifically designed to encourage safe driving in inclement weather. There are also existing training courses to prepare your drivers for emergencies such as rollovers, runoffs, jackknifes, etc.

Contact your CSR today! We can assign these videos, along with any of your custom content, to your entire fleet! The inclement weather conversation must be ongoing; get your driver’s talking about it.

Future Infinit-I Clients:

We offer 850+ safety training videos designed to enhance safety culture and create safer drivers.

And now, take advantage of our 30-day complimentary trial. You’ll be able to train your entire fleet at absolutely no cost.


My Best Friend, the Trucker: How We Transformed the Dispatcher & Driver Relationship

Spotted Lanternfly: Operating Without a Permit Could Cost You $20,000

Nuclear Verdicts Entice Fraudsters in New Trucking Exploitation Scheme

Top 5 Surprising Ways Lawyers Attack Trucking Companies – Know Your Risk

Spotted Lanternfly: Operating Without a Permit Could Cost You $20,000

Spotted Lanternfly

Add another quarantine to the list of 2020’s challenges to overcome. This year, the state of Pennsylvania has nearly doubled the number of counties placed under quarantine due to the spotted lanternfly. This travel quarantine applies to 26 Pennsylvania counties through which commercial vehicle operators must be permitted to travel.

The spotted lanternfly was first spotted in the United States in 2014 and have since rapidly expanded their U.S. population. Originating from China, India, and Vietnam, this invasive species has taken favor to many different types of fruit-bearing trees and plants on the east coast.

This year, they are back with a vengeance. Agricultural departments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey estimate 500% and 1000% increases, respectively, in the spotted lanternfly population. Projections by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences show the spotted lanternfly could cause a loss of $324 million to the state’s economy and eliminate close to 3,000 jobs.

The Spotted Lanternfly


While these animals aren’t dangerous to humans, they can be devastating to a wide variety of agriculture and produce. Lanternflies are attracted to grapevines, figs, hops, avocados, and many other fruit-bearing plants. After infestation, they secrete a sweet and sticky substance that adheres to the plants. This secretion is attractive to a type of black mold that can be harmful and even cause plant death.

The spotted lanternfly reproduces by laying dozens of eggs at a time. There is no population control because this species has no natural predators. Without human interference, the lanternfly population has grown exponentially.

At least 26 counties in Pennsylvania are under a strict spotted lanternfly quarantine to stop the spread of the pest. Any business that moves goods through one of the quarantined areas must be permitted to do so. Penn State Extension offers a free training course through which you can receive a permit.

Manager’s Responsibility


At least one person in your company must complete the course and pass the knowledge along to the rest of the fleet. Any company that operates out of compliance could face a civil penalty of up to $20,000. The free Spotted Lanternfly course is available and teaches:

  • The importance of stopping spotted lanternfly
  • Lifecycle and habits of SLF
  • How quarantine zones work
  • Find and destroy SLF
  • Quarantine zone best practices

Each unit of your fleet who moves through one of the quarantined zones must be properly trained and carry a permit. Through the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions platform, you can assign custom training to all your drivers and issue their permits. Drivers can access that permit at any time through their resource library, should they be asked to provide it to enforcement officers.

Trucker’s Responsibility


Especially when crossing state or county lines, truck drivers should take special action to ensure they are not contributing to the spread of the insect. Instruct your drivers to complete a thorough search for spotted lanternfly nests on their equipment during their pre- and post-trip inspection.

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions offers comprehensive training content on how to manage spotted lanternfly occurrences. Current clients already have access to these materials and it’s ready to “plug and play” with their current training system.

Lanternfly resources and topics we cover:

  • – Destroying Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses
  • – Development Stages of the Spotted Lanternfly
  • – How to Comply with Spotted Lanternfly Regulations Fact Sheet
  • – How to Identify and Destroy Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses
  • – If You See A Spotted Lanternfly, Report It!
  • – Lanternfly Quarantine Zone Map
  • – Spotted Lanternfly Permit Training (Parts 1-5)
  • – Spotted Lanternfly Training Quiz

The US Department of Agriculture recommends destroying spotted lanternfly egg masses if found. Spotted lanternflies make nests on hard surfaces, your drivers should thoroughly check their wheel wells, bumpers, and in/around trailers. The nests, which can resemble tree bark, can be removed easily with any tool with a rigid surface. Scrape the egg mass into a plastic bag filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to eliminate the offspring.

We Can Help!


Remember, the state of Pennsylvania requires fleets to carry permits with them throughout the quarantined areas after proper training. We must do our part to suppress the expansion of the spotted lanternfly population.

For Current Infinit-I Workforce Solutions Clients:

Contact your Client Success Rep today to become spotted lanternfly certified and receive your fleet’s permits. Our content catalog has all the training you need to become a certified spotted lanternfly trained fleet.

For Future Infinit-I Workforce Solutions Clients:

Receive your spotted lanternfly training and certification today for free! We are offering a 30-day complimentary trial, no obligation. We can help you choose your designated spotted lanternfly trainer and have you certified by end of business today.

Get a free demo for more information about how to receive your fleets certification and permits.

Additional Resources:


What Your Drivers Need to Know About CVSA’s Upcoming Brake Safety Week

Nuclear Verdicts Entice Fraudsters in New Trucking Exploitation Scheme

Top 5 Surprising Ways Lawyers Attack Trucking Companies – Know Your Risk

Chuck Norris Says “Thank You, Truckers!” In This Touching Video

Nuclear Verdicts Entice Fraudsters in New Trucking Exploitation Scheme

Why Nuclear Verdicts Are Rising

The term “Billboard Attorney” describes those aggressive and high-energy lawyers who thrive on huge lawsuits. They are pictured standing atop a tractor-trailer shouting, “Have you been injured in a Big Truck Accident? Call Me!” Their commercial ends with a “1-800” number and promises fortunes to accident victims.

Nuclear verdicts, lawsuits with a reward of $10 million or greater, are on the rise in recent years due to their tactics. Not every trucker is completely innocent; some may be neglectful in the way they operate and cause at-fault accidents. However, 90% of CMV accidents are found to be caused by four-wheeled drivers.

With these statistics in mind, other outside influences must be penalizing trucking companies with these massive payouts. The answer is not always in the actions of the one behind the wheel. Trucking companies who aren’t diligent in the training process, or who are found to “slack” on prevention, are coming under fire too. These prosecutors will look for any weakness in the trucking companies’ structure, procedure, or safety culture.

Now, it has gone a step farther than these billboard attorneys waiting for the right call. What was once an opportunistic exploitation of an accident, is now sought by money-hungry fraudsters.

How Trucks Became Targets


Mastermind and scam leader Damian Labeaud was caught red-handed defrauding trucking companies around the New Orleans area. He has entered a plea agreement in an attempt to thwart a harsher sentence. He and his group of six participants, created an intricate scheme in which they would purposefully crash into a tractor-trailer with the intent of suing the trucking company for damages.

This detailed operation involved a driver, or “slammer,” who was the soon to be victim of the accident. A “spotter” stayed behind and acted as an impartial witness but was actually a plant. Labeaud was the driver, usually with other passengers on board; his would either sideswipe the trailer or stage a “near-miss.” After the incident, Labeaud fled the scene in a getaway car to avoid being identified in multiple trucking lawsuits. The spotter flagged down the trucker, who was often unaware of an incident, and filed a fraudulent accident report when police arrived.

Court documents reveal at least two attorneys participated in the scheme; however, they remain unidentified to the public. Participants received thousands of dollars for their involvement. According to the court report, Labeaud staged at least 40 accidents with one of the attorneys.

One of the participants claims her attorney encouraged her to undergo neck surgery to receive a larger settlement.

“[In Louisiana,] We have a litigious culture, and we have a significant amount of marketing for lawsuits against trucks… Self-defense is our best approach.”

Chace McNeely, Executive Director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association

Your Best Defense


First, your drivers must be aware of the possibility of becoming a target. In the event of an accident, whether at fault or not, make sure they know the proper procedures according to your company handbook. Any variation from procedure could mean punitive damages for your company.

Communicate frequently and clearly about and updates or changes to your accident policy and obtain acknowledgment signatures. This will not only protect your drivers in the event of an accident, it will protect your company from risk.

One of the most proactive measures trucking companies practice is frequent and consistent safety training. Keeping safety practices top of mind leads to changed behaviors. Drivers who are constantly learning and being exposed to training make better decisions and create safer habits.

In addition to your on-board cameras and in-cab technology, add transportation’s #1 learning management system. Infinit-I Workforce Solutions offers a library of 850+ safety training videos, ready to go.

Encourage safer driving habits with Infinit-I Workforce Solutions. Request a demonstration, in just 30 minutes, we can show you how to enhance your safety culture and reduce your litigation risk.

Additional Reading

Top 5 Surprising Ways Lawyers Attack Trucking Companies – Know Your Risk

How to Sue a Trucking Company and Win Big – The Impact of Rising Nuclear Verdicts

TOP 5 SURPRISING WAYS LAWYERS ATTACK TRUCKING COMPANIES

Every trucking company knows the risk involved with hauling an 80,000 lb. machine down the highway. Don’t feel hindered, however, by the mountain of liabilities. Simply be prepared. Below are the weaknesses that prosecuting attorneys will try to take advantage of in the event of an accident.

Driver Fatigue

Every decent truck driver knows to pull it over when they are feeling tired. They know the risks of driving while fatigued. But how often do they actually pull over when they should?

Truckers juggle many pressures while on the road: Traffic congestion, highway construction, dispatcher’s expectations, etc.

Take a look at these messages between a truck driver (grey) and their dispatcher (blue):

Driver Fatigue

A good dispatcher would see the warning signs. The driver didn’t sleep well last night. This dispatcher should have asked about the driver’s ability to safely perform that day. Instead, the dispatcher was concerned with their own performance. Perhaps, feeling the pressure from their own manager. The conversation continues below.

A good dispatcher would see the warning signs.

The driver has now admitted to being fatigued, asked to pull over, and coerced into rolling anyway. The driver could nod off again, injuring or even killing themself or other innocent bystanders.

This conversation is now recorded and creates the kind of paper trail that prosecuting attorneys love. They would use this conversation to prove to a jury that your company chose to further the load over the safety of the public.

A delicate balance must exist between management, dispatchers, and truck drivers. Each must be aware of and truly understand mounting pressure and weighing the risks. While is it is a fine goal to want every load delivered on time, it should not be achieved at the expense of safe driving.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can take many forms. According to the CDC, distractions are categorized as visual, manual, and cognitive.

Distracted Driving

Driving an 18-wheeler takes intense focus and coordination. Any of the things listed above could bring about a life or death situation for your driver or the people around them.

Train your fleet not only the signs of distracted driving, but they should also be aware of the potential outcome severity. Visual demonstrations can be assigned fleetwide to prove the importance of maintaining proper attention to the road.

Let’s say your driver is eating a big, greasy cheeseburger while driving down the highway.Let’s say your driver is eating a big, greasy cheeseburger while driving down the highway. After driving over a small pothole, the driver drops a pickle on the tractor seat. The driver leans over to place the burger onto the passenger seat and begins the pickle search.

At the same time, traffic up ahead has abruptly slowed, causing some cars to swerve or pull on the shoulder. When your driver finally finds the pickle and returns their eyes to the road, it is too late. The driver locks up the breaks, jackknifes the trailer, and bumps into 4 cars that were leading the way.

In a scenario where your driver has an accident due to distracted driving, an attorney will look for any reason that it was the company’s fault. In the event of a lawsuit, the prosecuting attorney will consider:

  • – What policies do you have in place?
  • – Cell phone usage while driving
  • – Eating meals/snacks behind the wheel
  • – Volume restrictions on the radio
  • – Have the drivers been properly trained on these policies?
  • – When was the last time a driver was trained/re-trained on this topic?

Driving Under The Influence

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a crime whether a truck driver or civilian, 18-wheeler or 4-wheeler. Truck drivers, however, hold much more responsibility. The more you communicate with your employees about your drug and alcohol policy, the more likely you are to be protected in court.

Pre/Post-Trip Inspections

A proper pre-trip inspection is the ultimate proactive measure a driver can take. If your drivers aren’t properly trained, it might be difficult to spot a faulty brake line, damaged mud flap, or a loose lug nut.

Inexperience or Improperly Trained

A proper post-trip involves over 50 points of inspection. Expert drivers might be able to recite all the inspection points from memory, but that skill should not be expected. Provide all your drivers with DVIR checklists. Since these are required to be on file for 90 days, you should require your drivers to fill one out every day, for every load, even if it passes inspection.

Inexperience or Improperly Trained

Perhaps the most important base to have covered. Do you drivers know how to avoid accidents? Do you drivers know what to do in the event of an accident?

You probably have policies in place that explicitly instruct drivers what to do if they get into an accident. Our recommendation is to send this policy out to your fleet at least once a quarter. Test them on the material. Require their signature. Your attorney will easily establish your credibility if you have these documents available.

Review the Webinar

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions presented an exclusive webinar in late July featuring Attorney Peyton Inge. Peyton specializes in defending trucking companies after an accident occurs. You can review the past webinars as well as the rest of the FastForward series.

Get your free training management demo. Infinit-I Workforce Solutions will protect you in a courtroom. Give us 30 minutes to show you how.

Free training management demo

CHUCK NORRIS SAYS “THANK YOU, TRUCKERS!” IN THIS TOUCHING VIDEO

Kudos to Truckers! Thank you for keeping America going through the pandemic


The coronavirus has challenged sectors across America, but one sector has proven the lifeblood of the American economy and kept it going: American truckers. They have risked their own personal safety, and they have done a lot of hard work; keeping the U.S. economy rolling while putting products in motion to businesses across the nation. Without them, we’d be in for a lot of hurt.

Action Star Chuck Norris Thanks Truckers


Chuck Norris, an action star famous for his role in Walker Texas Ranger, recognizes the role that American truckers have played in keeping America supplied throughout the extended crisis. Norris teamed up with GP Transco, an American trucking carrier out of Illinois, to send a message of gratitude to those who have served on the frontlines of this crisis.

Norris even acted a role in the 1977 classic “Breaker! Breaker!” Chuck Norris continued in saying that without American truck drivers, we wouldn’t have medical supplies, food on the store shelves, or many of the other things that we require. Norris’s grateful message sends goosebumps up your arm.

 

Social Media: Thank a Trucker


Truckers have had such importance that social media has turned the gratitude spotlight toward them with the hashtag #ThankATrucker. These people have been the real heroes in the COVID-19 crisis among others, but we shouldn’t forget how they have helped us to stave off further disasters that could have caused greater harm.

Without truckers, we’d have empty shelves across the nation, and there would be people who would starve. It’d make our situation far more dire. We have seen people from diverse backgrounds on Twitter thanking truckers for their service. Team Penske, for example, was one example of a professional motorsports organization that was thanking truckers, and you had others as well like eCapital Corporation, Blackburn Energy, and even President Donald Trump has reminded America to thank truckers for keeping the United States moving.

Tough Job That Deserves a Thanks


TOUGH JOB THAT DESERVES A THANKSTruckers do a tough job, and many times, they don’t even receive recognition for it. They stay on the road sometimes for weeks or even months at a time away from family. Truckers work for up to 11 hours per day, day in and day out. This takes its toll, and we have to recognize the sacrifice that truckers make every day helping to keep the American economy in blossom. We have to salute those on the frontlines because, without them, our way of life would change greatly.

Many times, you see these harsh stereotypes about truckers that make people even look down on them, but if it wasn’t for truckers, we would have no food on our shelves or medical supplies in our hospitals right now.

Essential at All Times


One of the things that we should keep in mind is that truckers matter at all times. The work that they do matters, not just during a crisis. Without them, the American economy would grind to a screeching halt. An important thing that we have done has been to promote unity across the nation. We don’t want divisions at a time like this. You have many people who put their lives on the line with this pandemic, and they have done it selflessly to help other people.

We should also take the time to honor the other essential workers even above and beyond the truckers like:

  • Police officers
  • Grocery store workers
  • Hospital workers
  • Farmers
  • Home health aides

Everyone who has worked during the pandemic as an essential worker deserves recognition for their hard work and serving the nation in a time where it is vulnerable. As the coronavirus cases within the United States hit 4.11 million people, we have seen an increased risk that people will get exposed to it. Without taking the right precautions, this will harm our nation.

Who All Has Said Thanks to Truckers?


You have a few different businesses that have given their thanks to the truckers on our American highways. Some of the other businesses that have noticed what truckers do for America include:

  • Peterbilt Motor Co.
  • Pilot Flying J
  • TravelCenters of America
  • FMCSA
  • Bestpass

Essential to the Economy and Our Lives


What semi-trucks do for America is keep the economy rolling, but they also protect our lives because society couldn’t operate this essential job. We need people who can deliver the goods to businesses across the United States. You have short-haul truckers who might spend one night out on the road per week at a minimum, but you have other truckers who are known to spend months at a time out on American highways.

Running in and out of COVID-19 Hotspots


Truckers go everywhere. You’d be hard-pressed to identify a single place in the United States where truckers haven’t been. In fact, some have even gone into Canada and Mexico. The job takes you all over the nation, but during a pandemic, this means running in places where you might have a high number of COVID-19 cases. That increases the risk that you will catch COVID-19 while on the job, and these American heroes do it selflessly and without complaining.

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week


From September 13th to September 19th, we celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in honor of the truck drivers who continue to operate on the road today. An estimated 3.5 million truck drivers on the road help to supply this demand, and not only do they deliver goods, they usually do it securely and on time. Americans in all 50 states have recognized the importance of truckers, and we have seen a number of things done for truckers. For example, you have kids passing out meals to truckers, and at other times, you have people holding signs that say, “I heart truckers.”

We love our trucker

How can we observe this week in honor of truckers? To show our appreciation, you might send a simple thank you note to a trucker. You’d be surprised what a simple thank you means to them. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week first began in 1998, and they have continued it ever since.

Awareness of Resources


During this time of difficulty, we should understand where to get the necessary resources as truckers. Groups like the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association posts on social media about the different places that you can go to get takeout, showers, and laundry facilities. We want to go the extra mile to make things as easy for truckers as we possibly can during this time. We would not be able to survive the current crisis without the esteemed help of our brothers and sisters on the highway.

Some truckers have decided not to even come home because of how they fear that, with their job, they might bring something home to the family. That shows selflessness and commitment. A lot of truck drivers aren’t accustomed to receiving acts of kindness, so it can be unusual when they experience it from someone. Small gestures of kindness to our trucking brethren can go a long way to boosting their morale and making the long and lonely drive a little more comfortable than what it would have been otherwise. If you know a trucker in your life, please give them a thank you.

 

Thank you

Check out this great post dedicated to all the truck drivers that need some love so lets thank a trucker today

HOW ONLINE TRAINING SAVES YOU TIME, MONEY, AND RESOURCES

Save Time


The most precious commodity. Online training offers numerous ways to increase your efficiency; the most effective being through online orientation.

Traditional in-person orientation for a trucker is about 3 days on average. Every day that one of your drivers is sitting in a classroom and not on the road is potentially 500 miles per new hire. That’s money lost for your bottom line.

You might be thinking, “It’s not always about mileage, safety is a big part of orientation.”

Absolutely, we couldn’t agree more. Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the entire business structure has shifted. Companies are now realizing the need for remote capabilities.

Our learning management system allows your new hires to start orientation as soon as the job offer is accepted. Instead of dozing off during orientation presentations, your drivers can

participate in online orientation from the comfort of their homes.

If you eliminate just 2 days of in-person orientation, you are looking at an additional 1,000 miles per new driver! Increased your efficiency, capacity, and revenue instantly.

Bonus: Since your drivers can work at their own pace while online, they get to spend more time with their family. This means, when your drivers do show up for their truck assignment, they aren’t worn out by several days of repetitive workshops or classes. They are fresh; ready to hit the road and make some money.

“Infinit-I is the pioneer and the leader for online truck driver training. For instance, we were able to cut our new driver orientation from two days into 2.5 hours with Infinit-I.”

-Bobur Hasan, HR and Recruiting

Save Money


The industry average cost of onboarding a new truck driver is around $10,000 each. How many new drivers do you take on each year? Most trucking companies have a turnover between 85-105%.

If you run a fleet of 100 drivers, your onboarding cost for one year could be up to $1 million dollars. That’s cost to hire, before rolling. How many miles would your new driver have to run before your company breaks even? And since the majority of turnover happens in the first 90 days of employment, how many of your drivers stay on that long?

Our safety program has proven to decrease our client turnover by up to 53%. That means is possible for Infinit-I Workforce Solutions to take you from 100% turnover to just 47%. A reduction in turnover like that would save you over half a million dollars per year in onboarding costs. Incredible!

Let’s say, however, that the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions platform reduces your turnover by a modest (very modest) 5%. Here is a simple formula to show your annual savings:

With a fleet of 100 trucks, a 5% reduction in turnover would save your company $50,000 annually.

Save Resources – Drivers, Equipment, Fuel


Our #1 goal is to support you in your effort to create safer drivers. Hopefully, you aren’t willing to put a price on a driver’s life. If our frequent and consistent safety training saves even one life, driver or civilian, our platform proves invaluable to your company.

We can, however, put a price on accidents. The average cost of an accidents/incidents in the trucking industry is around $5,000. Our learning management system has shown some clients up to an 18% reduction in accidents.

“The Infinit-I platform has streamlined our orientation process…resulting in lower CSA scores, reduced worker’s compensation claims, and decreased vehicle incidents and accidents.”

-Shepard Dunn, President & CEO

What could a just a 5% reduction in accidents return to your bottom line? If we figure one accident/incident per week for an entire year, your potential savings could be around $13,000 annually. Plug in your numbers below to figure how much your company could be saving.

Remote training can save you resources in so many other ways too. In-person training sessions, no matter how frequent, will always increase wear & tear on your equipment and unnecessary fuel consumption.

Not to mention the loss of revenue while your drivers are traveling to and from the terminal, not making money for your company. These are opportunity costs that aren’t typically considered when planning for safety training sessions.

And since social distancing is here to stay, in-person training presents even more challenges:

  • – What are your legal responsibilities to your employees?
  • – Can you accommodate a 6-foot distance between attendees?
  • – Will you require your drivers to wear masks?
  • – Will you provide masks?
  • – What types of masks are acceptable?

Too good to be true? Nope!


See for yourself with a complimentary, one-on-one, 30-minute demonstration with our experts. In just half an hour, you’ll experience the power of the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions platform.

Our learning management system will not only create safer drivers, but will save you time, money, and resources. We can prove it.

Sign up for our next Infinit-I Training Management demo to enhance your safety culture in just 30 minutes.

Want to know more…


More New Content Coming Soon! Check out these new additions to our library.

Out-perform, Out-shine, and Out-grow your Current Safety Culture

Why A Positive Dispatcher & Driver Relationship is Key

Why You Should Be Focused on Your Employee’s Cultural Relationships Now More Than Ever

LEGISLATION PASSED TO IMPROVE U.S. HIGHWAYS

The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956


The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, signed into law by Dwight D Eisenhower, allowed $25 billion to construct a roadway system to efficiently connect the states. The bill is also known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act; its purpose to allow access for military defense during war.

While most drivers are aware and appreciative of this action, most do not know it was inspired by Eisenhower’s personal experiences in the Army. Lieutenant Eisenhower was a participant in the Transcontinental Motor Convoy in 1919, long before his presidency or the interstate system we know today.  The convoy left Gettysburg, Pennsylvania via the Lincoln Highway and headed to San Francisco.

Budget Appropriations for the Department of TransportationThey experienced numerous infrastructural challenges along the way. The convoy damaged bridges, became stuck off-road, and damaged equipment as a result of roadway conditions. The trip across the country took two months.

Because of this experience, Eisenhower was an advocate of constructing an interstate highway system to support national defense. In times of conflict, the US Army will be able to efficiently move troops and supplies across the country in just a few days, rather than months.

While truck drivers, along with the American public, still reap the benefits of this interstate system, it is aging and in need of major reconstruction.

2021 Budget Appropriations for the Department of Transportation


 

On July 14, 2020, the House Appropriations Committee voted on a $158 billion legislation to support the Department of Transportation, among others. The bill, passed in a vote of 30 to 22, will focus in part on the country’s aging transportation system.

 

“The departments and programs funded by the THUD bill are integral to our way of life – housing and transportation connect us to jobs, services, and education.”

-Chairman David Price, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

The Secretary of Transportation received $1 billion for highway infrastructure program. From the full committee print, the allocation requests are listed below.

In the coming years, we are likely to see major reconstruction of interstates across the country. With improved highways, trucking companies will experience increased fuel efficiency and lower mechanical maintenance costs.

For You


As long as we have highways, however, we will always have construction. You do not have to wait until this project is complete to benefit from increased fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs. Infinit-I Workforce Solutions can help you get a jumpstart on those issues and improve your bottom line now.

Over the course of two years after implementing our system, American Central Transport experienced a fleetwide increase of almost 1 MPG. The Director of Safety states it was because of continual training and counseling through the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions platform.

You can do it too. We will show you how. We are offering free demonstrations of our system to anyone interested in enhancing driver performance. Give us 30 minutes to demo. If you like the program, and you will, we will give you 30 days to utilize the system absolutely free.

Free Demo

Further Reading


8% of Truck Drivers Could Lose Their Job if their Employers Do This To Save Money

More New Content Coming Soon! Check out these new additions to our library.

Out-perform, Out-shine, and Out-grow your Current Safety Culture

Why A Positive Dispatcher & Driver Relationship is Key

IT’S A TRAP! SAFE DRIVER WEEK – SPEEDING BLITZ

Guest Speaker Spotlight

Safe Driver Week is upon us once again; this year’s focus is speeding. The industry expects to see an increase in the number of citations and warnings issued this week compared to normal. Especially since excessive speeds have become common during the pandemic.

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions is working to support trucking companies throughout speed week by getting advice directly from the source. We assembled a panel of experts whose advice will drive us to success.

Webinar Sign Up

A live webinar will take place July 9th, 2020 at 10:30 am CT featuring the following speakers:

Mark Rhea, CDS  Mark Rhea, CDS  

  • Truck Transportation Executive, 34 years
  • Certified Safety Director (NATMI and TXTA)
  • Licensed CDL and CMV Inspector, Texas DPS
  • Freight/Logistics Advisory Board, Council of Governments for North Texas/Cedar Valley College
  • Commissioned Officer, U.S. Army
  • Trucking Industry Consultant

Christopher J. Turner, Esq.

Christopher J. Turner, Esq.

  • Director of Crash and Data Programs, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
  • Past President, CVSA
  • Former Kansas Highway Patrol Officer

Major Chris Nordloh

Major Chris Nordloh

  • Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Coordinator, Texas DPS
  • 20+ years in the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Service of the Texas Highway Patrol
  • Secretary, CVSA

Their credentials alone should be more than enough to prove that you need to be here.

But if you need more proof, here you go:

Speeding


Looking for the most efficient way to slow your drivers down without sacrificing profitability? Keep talking about it.

Speed is a constant factor that takes continual adjustment. Your drivers must be hard-wired to think about speeding as soon as they climb in the tractor. There are two main reasons why a truck driver feels the need to operate at an excessive speed:

  • Indifference or Lack of training – Some drivers out there just don’t care about speed limits. And they will admit as much. When they see their speedometer reaching the upper limits, the only thing on their mind is, “more miles, more money.”

However, they fail to recognize that being pulled over for speeding or a traffic accident will slow them down. A severe accident could slow them down for days, if not forever.

  • Pressure from Dispatcher – The relationship between a driver and dispatcher requires a delicate balance of management, cooperation, and friendship. When the balance is disrupted, you may have drivers or dispatchers intentionally underperforming.

The relationship between a driver and dispatcher

Are your dispatchers and drivers friends or simply acquaintances? It is difficult to maintain a healthy relationship over the phone or through dispatch messages. A healthy relationship will not only improve employee morale but will also enhance your safety culture. You will experience an increase in productivity when everyone is committed to working together.

And Infinit-I Workforce Solutions has two solutions:

  • – Our 850+ training videos are an effective way to drive the right behaviors over time. It has been proven that frequent and consistent training keeps safety top-of-mind.
  • – Infinit-I Workforce Solutions offers a 52-week course that focuses directly on improving the relationship of your drivers and dispatchers. You will see immediate results in communication and cooperation with The Dan Baker Cultural Relationship Program. Learn more here.

And Infinit-I Workforce Solutions has solutions

Seatbelts


Is there ever an excuse to operate sans-seatbelt?

Simple answer: NO!

We know it’s illegal. We know it’s unsafe. We know the likelihood of injury or death is much higher without one. So why do some drivers choose to go without? Accountability.

“I didn’t know I was supposed to wear a seatbelt.”

How well do you think that would go over with a DOT officer, especially during Safe Driver Week? The good news is: Infinit-I Workforce Solutions recognizes this as a real, conquerable issue. We have training ready and available to be assigned today.

Our learning management system will allow you to assign training videos based on the areas of your company you would like to strengthen. We will automatically track all training, testing, and acknowledgment in our database. You will have immediate access to all your training records anytime, anywhere.

Seatbelts

Cellphones


Since the adoption of touch screen technology, large truck occupant fatalities have maintained an upward trend. Correlation, in this case, may not necessarily mean causation. We do know, however, that mobile phone usage is a huge problem.

Officers will be on the lookout for “cellphone drivers” during the blitz. Make sure your drivers are aware of your company’s cell phone/mobile device policy as soon as possible.

Ideally, you would like to have their signature on file as proof of acknowledgment of your policy. This practice not only encourages safe driving, but also reduces your company’s liability in case of an accident. Readily available documentation will prove your due diligence and mitigate risk.

Cellphones


You MUST prepare for Safe Driver Week. Infinit-I Workforce Solutions already has a process in place to help you accomplish these goals. Don’t worry about developing a training plan, getting it approved, and maintaining participation after deploying it to your fleet.

We’ll do it for you.

An enhanced safety culture is just a few minutes away. Call today. We’ll walk you through it.

Keep Reading…


Gearing Up for Safe Driver Week; Preparing Drivers for Speeding Blitz

7 New Social Responsibilities of Truckers; COVID-19 + July 4th

Out-perform, Out-shine, and Out-grow your Current Safety Culture

Why A Positive Dispatcher & Driver Relationship is Key

GEARING UP FOR SAFE DRIVER WEEK

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is an international effort between industry participants, focused on improving roadway safety. They maintain efforts to educate all drivers in several categories, including International Roadchecks, Brake Safety, Hazardous Materials, etc.

The Operation Safe Driver Program was created by the CVSA to bring awareness to the significance of proper driver behaviors.

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver

Safe Driver Week takes place July 12-18 this year with speeding as the main target. Officers will especially be looking for drivers who are operating at excess speeds. Last year, over 17,500 speeding tickets were issued to commercial and passenger vehicles during the weeklong blitz.

Last year during the same week, CMV drivers received more speeding tickets than the following, combined:

  • – Failure to Wear a Seatbelt
  • – Using a Handheld Phone/Texting
  • – Improper Lane Change
  • – Possession/Influence of drugs or alcohol

Last year during the same week, CMV drivers received more speeding tickets

Why is it important?

Most accidents involving a CMV are caused by driver behavior, but most often, it wasn’t the trucker’s fault. With crowded highways, speeding four-wheelers, and governed big rigs, traffic accidents are inevitable. Proper training and awareness can significantly reduce the likelihood of an accident involving you or your drivers.

Speed-related issues cause 9,378 crash fatalities in 2018.

Late won't kill you, Speeding will. Operation Safe Driver Week

9,378 people are dead because someone was driving too fast. Excessive speed is always avoidable and always unacceptable.

No load is worth your life or the lives of others around you.

What are we doing?

Infiniti Workforce Solutions is sponsoring an exclusive webinar for all safety personnel. We will be discussing CVSA’s Safe Driver Week focused on speeding. Three industry experts will be giving best practice advice to help you prepare your fleet.

Here’s the lineup of guests:

-Mark Rhea, Industry Consultant, Infinit-I Workforce Solutions

-Chris Turner, Director of Crash and Data Programs, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance

-Major Chris Nordloh, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Coordinator, Texas Department of Public Safety

If you want to be proactive during the weeklong blitz, do not miss this webinar. Registration is free. Sign up here.

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions is offering a 30-Day Complimentary Trial to new users.

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions is offering a 30-Day Complimentary Trial to new users.

Absolutely free, no-obligation. Because 30 days is more than enough to prove our value.

And if not, you’ve had access to transportation’s #1 learning management system for free. No cost, whatsoever!

Here’s what you’ll gain:

Automatic Documentation – A rock-solid LMS that captures training and tests your employees on what they learned

Content Library – More content than any other transportation LMS. 850 training videos.

Unmatched Service – Dedicated Client Success Rep who works for you.

Enhance your safety culture today, click here to learn how.

Additional Resources:

7 New Social Responsibilities of Truckers; COVID-19 + July 4th

Out-perform, Out-shine, and Out-grow your Current Safety Culture

Why A Positive Dispatcher & Driver Relationship is Key

Why You Should Be Focused on Your Employee’s Cultural Relationships Now More Than Ever