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Safety Training that Flatlines Your Insurance Rate

Insurance premiums going up? Infinit-I client Logistics Warehouse used three simple steps to flatline their insurance rates. It CAN be done!

California Quota Regulations: Changes to Safety Compliance Standards

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions, announces support for Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), a non-profit which assists governments around the world in the rescue of human trafficking and sex trafficking victims. Through the support of Infinit-I Workforce, Operation Underground Railroad will have the resources to rescue ten (10) children in 2021 from sex trafficking.

Jay Wommack, CEO of Infinit-I Workforce, said, “This pledge is dedicated on behalf of our clients, the 1,500 companies in trucking, student transportation, bussing, and warehousing who rely on us for safety training. It is because of them that we have this opportunity to support Operation Underground Railroad’s great mission. For that, we are eternally grateful.”

TOP 5 "WHAT IFS"

My days in dispatch have provided me with many stories, insights, and anecdotes about a career spent supporting truck

The Top 5 What Ifs of Safety Management
Top 5 “What-ifs” that Keep Safety Managers Awake at Night 1

drivers. Some stories help me relate to others in the industry, some create a bond with drivers, some are told just to get a laugh.

But this story, this one will stick with me forever.

I worked with a driver named Pete Greenly. About 99% of the time, Pete was the best driver a dispatcher could ask for. His trip plans were flawless. His fuel/idle percentage was low. He was always happy and made my job easy. Pete helped me achieve operating metrics, and he told me how to advise other drivers. We made a great team.

Must Service Business


Our company coined high priority loads as “Must Service Business,” or MSB loads. Whenever a planner would pop up above the cubicle and announce, “I have an MSB with a tight schedule, who can do it?” My answer was a resounding, “Put it on Pete.”

He absolutely loved trucking and life on the road. His eyes would light up after making on-time delivery on a tight load. Or getting his truck washed. He was proud of his career and his performance, and rightly so. But that 1% where he was off his game was difficult for us both.

MUST SERVE BUSINESS
Top 5 “What-ifs” that Keep Safety Managers Awake at Night 2

Mr. Greenly struggled with two addictions: gambling and drinking. And when one of his demons took hold of him, he became powerless to the other.

This story is about a particular MSB load, planned almost to the minute. We were hauling for a home goods liquidator on the east coast who paid a lot to move freight but expected perfection.

“Put it on Pete.”

If there was ever a driver who could make this load on time, it was him. The route took him right through Philly, his hometown. We even planned for him to take his 30-minute break with his daughter so they could enjoy a late dinner together. If he stuck to our very tight trip plan, he would have rolled up to the receiver with a couple of minutes to spare.

I put the load on Pete, helped him plan, and let him ride. I clocked out for the evening with no issues to report to the night shift.

The Next Morning


First thing the next morning: coffee, daily safety brief, check on Pete. He never made it to the receiver. I immediately called to check on him, no answer. I sent a panic message to his truck and called again. No answer.

THE NEXT MORNING
Top 5 “What-ifs” that Keep Safety Managers Awake at Night 3

I let the planner know we were late and would have an ETA asap. I pulled the coordinates to Pete’s truck and my heart sank. He had been parked outside a huge casino in Philly since 3 am.  He made a mistake.

As a dispatcher, I had to decide on a plan. Should I make him get the load delivered asap, as not to upset the receiver? No. I had to take care of my driver.

I called the casino and asked for security. They found Pete in the truck, awake but incoherent. I paid for a hotel room and told him to leave his keys at the front desk. I routed another driver to the casino to pick up the load.

Pete spent the rest of the day in that hotel room and was later asked to leave the company. Years of top performance from this driver were squandered in a single evening. Thankfully, everyone was safe, but I couldn’t stop asking myself, “What if?”

Top 5 “What-ifs”


What if my driver had felt pressured to deliver the load for fear of the consequences?

All too often, truck drivers feel the pressure from dispatch to perform at the top of their ability, even to their own detriment. Operations employees sometimes lose the idea that drivers are only human, with limitations, and their safety should always remain top priority. How do we keep that thought top of mind in the haze of MSB loads, on-time delivery, and pressure from customers?

If you have built an operations team that always strives to perform to the best of their abilities, congratulations to you. That is no easy task. Make sure, however, your team can weigh the pros and cons of running too hard for too long. Your team should feel empowered to make decisions together and trust one another to make the right choice.

What if my driver caused injury or death to innocent bystanders in an accident?

Of all professions, professional truck drivers are at the top when it comes to job-related responsibilities. In addition to their job duties, long hours, time away from home, etc. they are also held to a higher highway standard than most drivers. Hauling an 80,000 lb. machine at highway speeds is no easy task and always takes the drivers undivided attention.

When impaired, it becomes impossible for a driver to give his full focus to the road. To what extent are the dispatcher and the safety department responsible? This is where proactivity is key. Drivers must know the policies and procedures of your company and be reminded often. You can prove your due diligence in training by documenting their regularly scheduled safety training.

What if, in that accident, my driver lost his life?

From time-to-time in the trucking industry, fatal accidents occur. It is perhaps the most difficult scenario to navigate while simultaneously attempting to carry on business. Not only would a loss of life be a terrible situation for his family and friends, but also for his co-workers.

When a tragic event occurs, the strength of your company’s cultural relationship shines through. If you have put in the work to solidify the overall bond of your workforce, they can find the strength to overcome the tough times together.

What if my company had to face litigation because of a driver’s mistake?

Nuclear verdicts, verdicts more than $20 million, are one of the trucking industries hottest topics. When accidents occur, especially preventable accidents, these verdicts can close the doors for some less-than-prosperous trucking companies.

Professional drivers may feel that a nuclear verdict is the company’s problem. That is partly true. When a trucking company is sued, especially after injury or death occurs, it is the responsibility of upper management to take on the challenge.

What if I lose the lawsuit?

But let’s imagine that the company is sued because of an accident, loses the court case, and must pay out millions in damages. Depending on the size of the company, potentially hundreds of people could lose their livelihoods.

Hundreds of truck drivers and office staff could find themselves unemployed, all because of one mistake of one driver or dispatcher.

Infinit-I Award-Winning Training Platform – Here for You


Infiniti Workforce has business and training solutions that will decrease and/or eliminate your doubts and fears regarding these “What ifs?” Our Client Success Representatives spend their days talking to, consulting, and learning from industry professionals just like you. We gather a broad scope of industry best practices and pass that information along with the purpose of making every trucker a safer driver.

Infinit-I Workforce Client Success Team
Top 5 “What-ifs” that Keep Safety Managers Awake at Night 4

To our current clients: What are some of your “What-ifs” that haven’t been mentioned in this article? Join the discussion on our newest LinkedIn page for Trucking Safety Professionals.

If you are not a current client of ours, but you see value in the discussion, follow this link for a quick overview of what our platform can do for you, your company, your drivers, your owners, and other stakeholders such as insurance providers and business partners. Now, you can take advantage of the Infinit-I system absolutely free.

In just 30 days, we promise:

  • – Reduced Accidents
  • – Reduced Violations
  • – Reduced Training Time
  • – Reduced Driver Turnover
  • – Increased Profitability
  • – Increased Litigation Protection
  • – Fleet-Wide Communication
  • – Simplified Safety Training

Start your complimentary trial today with the most trusted, preferred, and referred learning management system in the trucking industry. Enhance your safety culture and create safer drivers with Infinit-I Workforce Solutions.

·         Tractor-Trailer ·         Over the Road
·         Reefer/Dry Van ·         Local
·         Medium Duty ·         Regional/Dedicated
·         HazMat ·         Student Transportation

 

The Top 5 What Ifs of Safety Management
Top 5 “What-ifs” that Keep Safety Managers Awake at Night 5
HOS REGULATORY CHANGES TAKE EFFECT LATE SEPTEMBER – UPCOMING EXPERT PANEL SAYS: “PREPARE FLEETS NOW.”

FMCSA Hours of Service changes are taking effect on September 29, 2020. We will be speaking with the president of Scopelitis Trucking and Consulting, David Osiecki, to review what the HOS changes mean for your drivers.

David J. Osiecki

If you are not familiar with the new HOS regulatory changes, a thorough explanation has been provided below. Join us for our upcoming webinar to learn how these changes will impact your fleet.

September 17, 2020 @ 10:30 am CST

The Fast Forward Expert Roundtable Webinars

Regulatory Changes


Pages 8-9 of the final ruling state the changes will include:

  • – The 30-minute Break
  • – Introducing the 7/3 Split
  • – Adverse Driving Conditions Exception
  • – The Short-haul Exception.

The 30-Minute Break


Drivers are still required to take a 30-minute break after 8 consecutive hours on duty. Previously, the break was only valid if the driver was in an off-duty status. (off-duty or sleeper berth). Now, the break is valid during on-duty functions if you are not driving.

Drivers can now legally take a 30-minute DOT break while:

  • – Watching Safety Training Videos
  • – Waiting in line at the shipper/receiver
  • – Fueling or waiting in line at the fuel pump
  • – Co-driver sitting in the passenger seat
  • – Filling out paperwork
  • – Loading/Unloading/Lumping

Just switch your status to On Duty – Not Driving.

The New 7/3 Split


The 8/2 split rule is just as complicated as it is helpful. This new HOS ruling expands a driver’s resting options. In addition to the typical 10-hour break or 8/2 split, the FMCSA is introducing the 7/3 split.

The New 7/3 SplitThe new 7/3 split rule works the same as the 8/2 split. It takes some drivers years to master the concept.

With the new rule, the driver can go into the sleeper berth for a full 7 hours. When he wakes up, he can use all the on-duty time that was leftover from before his break.

After completing his on-duty functions, he must go back into an off-duty status for at least 3 hours to complete his 10-hour break.

CONFUSING, RIGHT?

In essence, a split will pause the 14-hour on-duty window. When he comes back on duty, he will only have the leftovers from before his 7-hour break. So, if he drove 8 out of 11 hours, after the 7-hour break he can drive the remaining 3 hours.

When he comes out of the sleeper, the 14 starts running again. Since he was on-duty for 8 hours before the 7-hour break, his 3 hours of drive time must be used before his total 14 runs out. He would have 6 hours on duty to get in 3 hours of driving.

Adverse Driving Conditions Exception


Under this exception, two extra drive hours are available to drivers who encounter irregular and unforeseen circumstances that may have slowed your travel. This exception can now be applied to passenger-carrying CMVs.

ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITIONS EXAMPLES:

– Sinkhole or downed powerline that causes a delay

– Traffic accident that shuts down traffic

– Sudden tornado, snow, fog, etc. that was not in the forecast.

Adverse Driving Conditions ExceptionIf you qualify for this exception, you can now drive up to 13 hours as long as you do it within your 14-hour window. Keep in mind, it does not take away your 30-minute break or extend your 14.

This exception does not extend your 60 or 70-hour clock. If you only have 4 hours left on your DOT clock, you will only be allowed to drive out those 4 hours plus the additional 2 hours.

Drivers must follow up with a full 10-hour break. You are not allowed to split rest hours after taking advantage of this exemption.

NOT QUALIFIED EXAMPLES:

– Adverse weather you knew about or could have discovered by trip planning

– Traffic jams during normal rush hour times

– Snowstorm in the winter in North Dakota

– Loading and Unloading delays

The DOT strongly recommends you log that you were taking advantage of 395.1 Adverse Driving Conditions Exception.

Short-haul Rules


Short-haul RulesPreviously, drivers using the short-haul exemption, staying within an air radius of 100 miles, could not be on duty for more than 12 hours. Short-haul drivers within a 150-mile radius cannot drive beyond the 14 or 16th on-duty hour (depending on the number of days on duty).

This revision extends the radius from 100 to 150 air-miles for all short-haul drivers. It extends the maximum duty period allowed from 12 hours to 14 hours.

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For More Information:


Top 6 Trucking Industry Updates for Safety Directors – Q4 2020

Drastically Reduce Detention Pay with New HOS Regulation – Split Duty Proposal

“It’s More than Rain.” Three Tractors Overturned, My Driver Made the Right Call

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