Great West Casualty Company Blog

Oct 22, 2020 10:00:00 AM

Try blended learning to improve safety training

By Great West Casualty Company

Are your safety meetings effective? The traditional instructor-led approach involves one person standing in front of a group of drivers, telling them what they think the drivers need to know. This delivery method may work in some cases, like explaining a new regulation, but it is less effective when trying to change behavior (ex. prevent a rear-end crash). In reality, each worker has a learning preference. Some learn best by doing, while others may prefer online, self-paced learning. Attempting a one-size-fits-all approach to safety training could be the reason your training efforts are unsuccessful and not achieving your desired results. To improve your results, consider using a blended-learning approach to reach a broader range of learning styles.

Oct 19, 2020 9:15:00 AM

5 ways a safety mindset can lower your insurance rates

By Great West Casualty Company

Being safety minded has its benefits for any employer. For motor carriers, however, it is crucial to keeping your drivers on the road and your operation running smoothly. Putting a focus on driver and operational safety has many upsides. It can reduce expenses due to accidents or employee carelessness, it can help attract new business, and it can increase revenue for the company.

Oct 5, 2020 3:00:00 PM

5 ways to Improve Fuel Economy

By Great West Casualty Company

Fuel is a major expense. Because it is a variable cost, meaning it can fluctuate and be challenging to predict, trucking companies are always looking for ways to improve fuel economy to help keep costs down. Read the information below and ask yourself if there are actions you can take to improve your driving skills and save fuel.

Oct 1, 2020 11:50:00 AM

Fall driving hazards include schools, farming and changing weather

By Great West Casualty Company

Driving in the fall creates a new set of seasonal risks for drivers. From shorter days to increased road obstacles, drivers need to be on guard for fall-related hazards and know how to prevent a crash. Read the information below about various fall driving hazards and decide how you can improve your driving techniques.

Sep 29, 2020 7:45:00 AM

Leaders do not have all the answers

By Great West Casualty Company

Contributed by John Graci, Graci Leadership Solutions, LLC Being a leader means many things, but it does not mean that you must always be the smartest person in every room.

Sep 24, 2020 1:45:00 PM

Generational Leadership for a Diverse Workforce

By Great West Casualty Company

Motor carriers are not strangers to the challenges of leading a multi-generational workforce. Each group of workers have its own unique set of characteristics and values, which are reflected in the group’s likes, dislikes, and attitude towards work. Because of each group’s uniqueness, a one-size-fits-all leadership style may not produce the best results. Leaders must be dynamic in their approaches and apply the appropriate leadership style to the person in front of them. A key to success is engaging all employees and building individual relationships to better understand what motivates each employee to perform at his or her best. This approach will not only help improve communication and operational effectiveness but also help you grow as a leader. Below is some brief insight into each generation and some leadership tips to consider.

Sep 1, 2020 10:00:00 AM

Post-pandemic planning

By Great West Casualty Company

At the time of this writing, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is still with us. Stay-at-home orders are in place or are gradually being lifted, and the world is trying to figure out the safest way to return to whatever our new normal will be. COVID-19 caught everyone by surprise and forced us to respond in a trial-by-fire fashion. Many employers already had contingency plans in place that were adaptable to the pandemic, while others struggled to respond. Now, with some hindsight, it is increasingly evident why risk management is so important for motor carriers. The world may never see another crisis like this pandemic, but other events can certainly take its place. Here are some basic contingency planning ideas to consider.

Aug 17, 2020 1:45:00 PM

Are you ready for Brake Safety Week?

By Great West Casualty Company

Contributed by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week is scheduled for August 23-29, 2020. Enforcement officials will inspect commercial motor vehicles throughout the week. Vehicles found to have critical out-of-service brake violations, or other critical vehicle out-of-service inspection item violations, will be restricted from traveling until those violations are corrected. Vehicles that pass eligible inspections may receive a password-inspection CVSA decal.

Aug 3, 2020 3:00:00 PM

Time Management

By Great West Casualty Company

Time management is an essential skill for any professional driver. Managing your available driving and work hours can be challenging, especially when dealing with forces outside of your control, like the weather or delays at a shipper or receiver. Skillful time management can save you precious time and reduce stress. Read the information below and ask yourself if there are actions you can take to improve your time management skills.

Jul 27, 2020 11:00:00 AM

Engage Drivers to Decrease Turnover

By Great West Casualty Company

It is no secret that the trucking industry as a whole struggles with driver turnover. On average, drivers stay with their employers for only one year, and that turnover can cost a motor carrier approximately $8,200 each time a driver leaves, according to a recent study by McQuaig. Obviously, making a fair wage is important to drivers, but it may come as a surprise that not all drivers hop jobs for financial reasons. Even if the grass looks greener working for a competitor, company culture could be the root cause of driver dissatisfaction and turnover.

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