Great West Casualty Company Blog

Jul 16, 2019 3:00:00 PM

Why You Should Make Road Tests Part of the Hiring Process

By Great West Casualty Company

One of the most important responsibilities a motor carrier has is to hire qualified drivers. This critical task, if conducted haphazardly or not performed at all, could have a negative ripple effect across the company and affect productivity, downtime, morale, expenses, and profitability. Due diligence should be given to screening applicants and conducting required background checks, but, arguably, the most reliable method to gauge a driver’s abilities and safety attitude is with a comprehensive road test.

Jul 9, 2019 3:01:00 PM

What You Need To Know When Uncoupling A Trailer

By Great West Casualty Company

Working around the truck can be just as dangerous to a driver as getting involved in a crash. One daily task a driver performs is uncoupling the trailer. This activity, if performed improperly, can result in shoulder and back strains, head injuries (e.g., cuts, abrasions, and concussions), as well as slips, trips, and falls. Read the information below, and determine if there are areas of your uncoupling technique that can be improved.

Jul 2, 2019 3:02:00 PM

It's Time to discuss summer driving hazards

By Great West Casualty Company

Summer is here, and a new set of driving hazards is sure to raise a driver’s stress level as fast as the temperature gets warmer. Operations personnel are likely to be the only friendly voice a driver hears during the day. This makes dispatchers, driver managers, and safety personnel important advocates for drivers as well as champions of the company’s safety message. Below is a short list of summer driving hazards. Share this information with drivers and complete the “Call to Action” tasks.

Jul 1, 2019 10:00:00 AM

Prevent Cargo Theft Over The Holiday

By Great West Casualty Company

Motor carriers should be mindful of the increased risk of theft as the holiday approaches. Fewer employees around the facility and warehouses and trailers potentially full of valuable cargo, makes for a target-rich environment to would-be thieves. Here are some loss prevention tips that can help motor carriers and drivers decrease the risk of theft.

Jun 25, 2019 3:00:00 PM

What Can You Do to Prevent Distracted Driving?

By Great West Casualty Company

Distracted driving is any activity (including fatigue and illness) that diverts your attention away from driving. Drivers must devote their full attention to driving. Any non-driving activity is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing. Read the information below on the types of distractions and defense techniques, then ask yourself if there are ways you can improve.

Jun 11, 2019 9:54:00 AM

Ask the Safety Rep: How Can I Improve Driver Retention?

By Great West Casualty Company

Great question! Unfortunately, there’s not a magic pill to resolve this issue, but motor carriers would be wise to consider retention solutions from the driver’s perspective if they hope to remain competitive and limit the business interruptions caused by driver turnover. Below are the American Transportation Research Institute’s (ATRI) critical issues in the trucking industry for 2018; on this list, you can see that drivers and motor carriers do not share the same concerns. This difference in views is important to point out because if a motor carrier wants to attract and retain quality drivers, it needs to create a culture and work environment that addresses driver concerns.

Jun 4, 2019 3:00:00 PM

Preventing Crashes from Outside the Truck

By Great West Casualty Company

There is nothing worse for a motor carrier than receiving a call that one of its drivers has been involved in a crash. Everything stops as you react to the situation and start gathering details about who was at fault and whether the driver could have prevented the incident. While drivers are ultimately responsible for the decisions they make behind the wheel, the root cause of a crash could run deeper. There could be mitigating factors within management’s operational control that are contributing to losses – or worse – have lulled the organization into a false sense of security if a loss has not occurred yet.

May 21, 2019 3:00:00 PM

Ask the HR Professional: How Can I Better Manage a Geographically Dispersed Workforce?

By Great West Casualty Company

Great question! Engaging and managing a geographically dispersed workforce is a challenge most motor carriers struggle with, especially those trucking companies that utilize over-the-road drivers who may not see their home terminals for weeks on end. This is an issue that is expanding beyond drivers, though, as more and more companies are weighing the risks and benefits of utilizing remote employees.

May 14, 2019 3:00:00 PM

Preventing Rear-End Crashes Today

By Great West Casualty Company

Rear-end crashes typically result in severe losses and can be catastrophic for everyone involved. Preventing rear-end crashes requires drivers to recognize the hazards that increase the odds of a crash, know the defense, and to react properly. Read the information below, and ask yourself how you can improve your vigilance and driving style.

May 7, 2019 3:00:00 PM

Is Your Driver Retention Problem Right in Front of You?

By Great West Casualty Company

The trucking industry focuses a great deal of attention on preventing large truck crashes and workplace injuries, but what about preventable turnover? The shortage of drivers entering the occupation and the fact that an aging workforce is leaving are problems motor carriers must contend with. However, these staffing issues are not to be confused with the causes of driver turnover. Turnover occurs when an employee driver or contractor leaves the company voluntarily or is forced to leave. According to HR Drive, “75% of the causes of employee turnover are preventable.”¹ Whatever the reason for the turnover, there’s a good chance it could have been prevented.

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