• Public Image
• March 1998 Commercial Accident Reduction Target "Rear-Ender Crashes"
• Hidden Costs of Bad Roads
• Expectations
• Slip and Fall Prevention 
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Public Image 

He asked that we not use his name. Not to protect himself, but to spare his family any additional pain. He is a 16-year veteran driver. He has an excellent safety record, even today. He was judged not at fault in the incident he will relate here. "But the guilt remains in my heart," he says.

He hopes relaying his story to other truckers will prevent a similar accident. It's a message everyone should take to heart, especially anyone behind the wheel of a big rig. Please share it with your drivers.

"A four-wheeler cuts you off, so you decide to teach him a lesson. You'll tailgate him and really scare him. Or maybe you'll just slam on the brakes and show him who's boss. Well, my friend, let me tell you what it feels like to get into an argument with a four-wheeler and win.

"First, you feel the sickening thud of the impact. You leap from your cab and run to where the four-wheeler lies crushed. As you approach, you pray that miraculously, the driver is unhurt. Amazingly, you hear only silence.

"You're lucky. There's not a lot of blood and gore. You find a man a lot like you, you'll later learn. A family man, active in his community. Popular. Here on the street, it feels like you're the only two people in the world.

"You stay with him. Talk to him. Comfort him. Maybe you even hold his hand, big macho man that you are. After what seems an eternity, the ambulance arrives. They remove him from his vehicle and race away.

"You mechanically go through the routine of the accident investigation. Take your pictures. Talk to the police. Again, if you're lucky, they won't place the blame on you.

"Since your truck is operable, you drive to the nearest town and find a payphone. You call the hospital. The switchboard connects you directly to the emergency room. You swallow a lump in your throat that threatens to choke you and strain to hear through the pounding in your ears. A kindly nurse asks if you are a relative. No, you're not family, you tell her, you are the other driver in the accident.

"She hesitates, then says softly that she is very sorry, but Mr. So-And-So has expired. You thank her and hang up the phone.

"You finally compose yourself enough to make the arrangements for the mandatory drug and alcohol tests. If you are lucky, a technician will come right to you because you won't be able to drive for awhile.

"Then you pick up the phone again to call your family to tell them you'll be delayed coming home. You lose it again.

"Finally, the technician has come and gone and you are free to go. You walk shakily back to the truck, up past the big dent and marks on the trailer that weren't there this morning. You climb into your seat and start it up. You are six hours from home. How do you get there? Minute by minute.

"When you reach home, you're met roadside by your family. The horror of what has happened hits you again full force. You think about that other man and his family. You dissolve into a sobbing mass in your wife's arms.

"Get used to it pal. This is only the beginning.  In the future will come almost certainly the civil case.

"Maybe even a criminal case. And regardless of the outcome, you will have to live with yourself. You will hear the sound of the crash. See the victim's face. Hold his hand. Thousands of times.

"Oh, you'll get your outward emotions under control. You'll be able to function. Probably even drive truck again, especially if you have a family to support. But inside, it never goes away. Believe me, I know.

"Motorists have no idea how they risk their lives around big trucks. Do they deserve to die for their ignorance?

"If someone cut you off in the supermarket line, would you pull out a gun and shoot them?

"Don't hold that 80,000-pound gun to the back of a four-wheeler's head. You're the pro. Act like one.

"God go with you."

-Heavy Duty Trucking, by H. Whistler 
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March 1998 Commercial Accident Reduction Target "Rear-Ender Crashes"

Monthly Crash Influence, a historical review of truck losses reported to Great West Casualty Company in January identify Rear-Ender Crashes as this month's loss spike.

How do you defend a rear-ender crash? The quick answer:  With your checkbook. The best explanations why a rear-ender crash occurred are quickly lost in the aftermath of soft tissue injuries, whiplash claims, medical specialties and the inevitable lawsuits. So, with all of this trouble, why does a rear-ender crash occur? It normally boils down to a NO answer to one or more of the following questions:

1. Was the driver trained in early spring hazards avoidance driving technique?

2. Did the driver try the correct hazard avoidance technique?

3. Did the driver care enough to avoid the crash

The only effective defense against a rear-ender crash is AVOIDANCE.

Professional drivers can avoid rear-ender crashes with the use of the correct protective driving technique. Protective Driving is a new way of driving and it is at the heart of SOLUTION 1998 - SAFETY!

-Great West Casualty Company
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The Hidden Costs of Bad Roads

Studies have shown that the operating costs for a tractor trailer averages nearly 10 cents per mile higher on a road in fair condition versus one that has been recently resurfaced. Combine this with the cost of federal, state and local fuel taxes, and it really affects a company's bottom line.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) identified these increased additional costs from poor highway conditions:

fuel consumption
tire wear
vehicle maintenance
oil consumption
depreciation
accident-related expenditures.
The deteriorating infrastructure of roads and bridges is progressing on a massive scale with the government’s deferred highway maintenance schedules. Costs for all motor vehicles exceeds $22 billion in increased operating expenses from driving on roads in poor and even fair condition.

- Inside Coverage 
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Expectations

Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy those are who already possess it.
- Francois de la Rochefoucauld
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Slip and Fall Prevention

There are several behavioral, physical and environmental aspects to preventing slips and falls. Here is a brief overview:
From a behavioral standpoint, employees should:

Use the three-point contact climbing method. Keep three limbs (one hand and two feet, or two hands and one foot) in contact with the handholds or the steps. If a hand or foot slips, two other limbs will be in contact with the vehicle to catch the driver. Also, training in this method is required by U.S. Federal Motor Carrier regulations.

Always face the equipment. Drivers may be tempted to exit the cab facing forward, which makes the three-point climbing method awkward. Facing the truck increases the driver's control.

Avoid jumping. Some of the most frequent and serious injuries are the result of jumping from the cab, deck plate or steps.

Keep hands free. Drivers should avoid carrying items while entering or exiting the cab so their hands are free to use the grab rails.

Get a grip. The hookup area behind the cab is the scene of many slips and falls. Drivers should place their feet solidly on the surface of the catwalk and use a secure handhold, leaving one hand free to do the work.

From a physical perspective, the following will help prevent injuries:

Select or retrofit equipment. Newer trucks are incorporating better steps and ladders with non-slip surfaces that drain without retaining mud, ice and snow. Square edges and perforated surfaces on the steps reduce the chance of slips while entering or exiting the cab, especially during poor weather.

Keep equipment in good condition. Pre- and post-trip inspections should include steps, deck plates and grab rails. Repairs should be done immediately. Preventive maintenance for scheduled services should also include safety equipment inspection.

Select proper footwear. Drivers should be required to wear sturdy footwear with slip-resistant soles.

Clean the deck plate/catwalk area. When drivers need to connect, unhook or check brake and electrical connections, the work should be done from the ground, if possible. If not, the area should be equipped with as many footholds and grab rails as possible. Deck plates commonly become slippery from fuel and moisture, so it's critical that proper material be used.

Finally, environmental aspects can influence trucker safety:

Adverse conditions. Snow, ice, rain, mud, grease and even morning dew can increase slip-and-fall potential. Drivers should be instructed to clean handholds, steps and truck platforms before entering the cab. When exiting, they should use extra caution. Also, drivers should not install carpet on the steps to keep the inside of the tractor clean. Carpet can freeze in cold, icy conditions and be very slippery during wet weather.

Housekeeping. Although most truckers aren't going to win awards from Martha Stewart, a clean cab is essential for safety. Drivers must use trash bags to keep the floor clean. Loose wires from CB radios, cellular phones and other equipment can catch the driver's heel upon exit; drivers should keep these hazards off the floor.

-John Aubin, Risk Management, November 1997