When a trucking company values safety, it demonstrates that the company cares about the motoring public and supports its drivers while they’re on and off the road. First, it’s important to know that just because a company says they’re safe, it doesn’t always mean they are. Practically every trucking company has some sort of safety training, and you want to be sure the company you work for offers more than just the minimum. In addition to safety training, find out about how the company offers extra support like preventative maintenance and 24/7 assistance for drivers on the road and can provide you proof that backs up their safety rating.
In this article, we’ll cover why driving for a safe trucking company makes sense for a truck driver and who some of the safest trucking companies in North America are.
Why Safety Matters When Choosing a Trucking Company
While protecting drivers and the people they share the road with should always be a number one priority, safe trucking goes further than just that. Trucking companies that truly value safety help save lives, protect motorists and truck drivers. Trucking companies that value safety keeps drivers on the road by preventing costly downtime, and less downtime means as a driver, you can continue to stay productive, moving, and earning.
How Safety Goes Beyond the Driver
While the driver is ultimately the one responsible for the safe performance of a commercial motor vehicle, being safe goes far beyond the person behind the wheel.
From the equipment you drive to the technicians who maintain the equipment to the people who support you as a driver, safety is a team effort. Your driving experience will only take you so far, if you can’t trust the team you’re working with and the vehicle you’re operating isn’t safe.
Why Is Safety Important to Truck Drivers
Safety matters to professional truck drivers because it gives them confidence they will return home to the things that matter most. Working with a company that puts safety first will help decrease the amount of truck related accidents, create a better driving experience, and keep truck drivers and the people they share the road with safe. In addition to keeping you and the public safe, it gives you confidence that you will be taken care of before you get behind the wheel and while operating – and that’s critical to you as a professional truck driver.
What Is CSA and How Does It Affect Me?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has safety compliance and enforcement programs in place known as Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA). The CSA holds motor carriers and drivers accountable for the role they play in safety. As a driver, CSA affects you because your safety performance and compliance will impact your driving safety records and will also impact the safety record of the company that you work for.
How Can I Check a Trucking Companies Safety Record?
You can check the safety rating for any motor carrier with an active US DOT number on the SAFER website. There, you’ll be able to view a company snapshot. All you have to do is search for a carrier by USDOT Number, MC Number, or company name.
4 Safety Measures to Consider when Choosing a Trucking Company
Knowing which safety measures should be in place will help you make the best choice when you’re deciding which trucking company to work with. Here’s what you need to know about the safest trucking companies as well as the safety measures you’ll want to look out for so that you can have total confidence in yourself when getting behind the wheel.
Late Model Equipment
Trucking companies that provide drivers with newer trucks equipped with the latest technology is a simple but important factor when it comes to safety. Look for trucking companies that have newer trucks that have the latest safety features, like lane deviation technology, on-board event recorders, and other crash mitigation systems.
Maintenance Teams
When you’re working for a trucking company, you want to know you have a maintenance team that has your back and can provide best-in-class service. The company you work with should have techs dedicated to supporting drivers. Teams that get the job done right and quickly so drivers can get back on the road and back to earning. Of course, you know a thorough Pre-trip inspection should always be performed on vehicles, and you should also have access to 24/7 assistance whenever you’re on the road.
Proof of Safety Measures
Any trucking company is going to tell drivers that they care about safety, but the proof is always in the pudding! In addition to the SAFER website, look for a trucking company that can back up their word with trucking safety rating awards, like the American Trucking Association President’s Award, which is the trucking industry’s top honor for safety and operational excellence, or the Truckload Carriers Association’s Grand Prize for Safety.
Those awards are an independent recognition of a trucking company’s safety record, and companies that win them provide detailed information about their safety programs, procedures, and equipment. That level of scrutiny means the company values and believes in safety across its entire operation.
Safety Training
Safety training offered to drivers is a must. Drivers should be taught how to stay safe while operating equipment, especially when it comes to operating vehicles in winter conditions. A safe trucking company should offer safety training at least once a year and provide drivers with regular safety communication throughout the year.
Top Safest Trucking Companies in the US & Canada
Choosing a trucking company that can back up their word with awards will give you confidence that you’re protected on and off the road. Here are the top 5 companies to recently win major safety awards.
- Roehl Transport
- Bison Transport
- FedEx Custom Critical
- FTC Transportation, Inc
- RedGuard
Holding Safety as a Value
Safety for trucking companies should be something you value as a truck driver, and it makes a difference on who you choose to work for because as a professional truck driver, along with those you share the road with, you’re putting your personal life and your livelihood on the line.
By choosing a company that takes safety measures seriously and by you as a trucker using safe driving techniques, you’re helping to protect others on the road and create the best driving experience possible.
FAQ
Roehl Transport has repeatedly won both the ATA President’s Trophy and the TCA Grand Prize for Safety. The Wisconsin-based company has also finished in the ATA’s top 3 for safety results every year since 2003, and Roehl also won the Volvo Trucks Safety Award.
Bison Transport has repeatedly won the TCA Grand Prize for Safety. Bison is based in Manitoba, Canada.
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