Although the ability of every driver on the road at any given time must be assured, perhaps nowhere is this more important than with commercial truck drivers. Given the size of these vehicles, one wrong move or inattention to detail could create a veritable disaster. As such, the proper training of drivers is critical to safety.
That’s where a campaign called “Truckers for Safety” comes in. The campaign hails from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which has become increasingly concerned that rookie truck drivers aren’t receiving the training necessary to ensure safety.
In supporting this conclusion, the organization points to a trend wherein driver churn is becoming increasingly common as trucking companies replace older, more experienced drivers with those new to the profession. Compounding matters is the fact that many instruction courses are taking the emphasis away from training and putting it on the course’s ability to get a trucker their commercial license as fast as possible.
Although the basics might be covered in these classes, advanced techniques designed to address the unique circumstances that can present on a longer trip are not. The Executive Vice President of the OOIDA points out that this troubling trend will reduce fuel savings, prompt congestion, and compromise cargo in the long run,.
However, the biggest impact will always be on human life. Hopefully employees and fleet owners alike will begin to understand the need for proper training.