Truck Driver Safety - Behavior Plays a Vital Role
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Vehicles -> subcategory Trucks-SUVS.
Truck Driver Safety: Why Behavior Matters
Summary:
Trucks don’t cause accidents?"careless drivers do. Discover essential tips for trucking companies aiming to hire the safest drivers. Learn what traits define safe drivers and which ones to avoid in potential hires.
Keywords:
Truck driver hiring, hiring safe truck drivers, truck driver safety, reduce truck accidents
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The Importance of Hiring the Right Truck Drivers
Selecting the wrong truck drivers can lead to dire consequences, while choosing the right ones can save lives. Safety training is crucial, but a study by Behavioral-Values Research Associates suggests that driver behavior might be even more important.
Study Insights
The 1993 study involved maintenance workers, aged 22 to 64, at XYZ Company. Assessments measured behavioral styles, attitudes, safety rule knowledge, and reasoning abilities. The results showed that differences in safety records were attributed to behavioral styles and attitudes/values.
Benefits of Pre-Hiring Assessments
Implementing pre-hiring assessments can lead to:
- Reduced accidents
- Lower workers’ compensation claims
- Decreased turnover
- Reduced maintenance costs
G & P Trucking in Gaston, SC, has been using behavior assessments for driver applicants for seven years. Clifton Parker, G & P President, states, "The behavior testing has allowed us to understand applicants’ true beliefs and actions, helping us reduce accident costs."
Traits of Safe Drivers
Common sense tells us that cautious drivers cause fewer accidents. Trucking companies should seek drivers who are slow to anger and naturally careful. The safest drivers typically display steady, cautious behavior and prioritize others’ well-being.
Behavioral Styles
The BVRA research highlights the DISC behavioral styles, established by Harvard psychologist William Moulton Marston in 1928:
- D (Dominant): Control-driven, impatient, prone to road rage
- I (Influencing): Extroverted, people-oriented, little difference in safety impact
- S (Steady): Patient, team-focused, generally safer drivers
- C (Cautious): Detail-oriented, rule-following
Drivers with high S and C factors and low D tendencies exhibit fewer accidents. Those high in Social value are also safer, prioritizing others’ needs over their own.
Avoiding High Individualistic Values
While the study didn’t highlight the Individualistic Value, it's crucial to avoid drivers who seek power and control. Such traits can overshadow safe driving habits.
Conclusion: The Ideal Driver Profile
The ideal driver should be:
- High in S (Steady) and C (Cautious) behavioral factors
- Low in D (Dominant) factor
- High in Social value
- Low in Individualistic attitude
By aligning your hiring practices with these insights, you can enhance safety and reduce accidents on the road.
© 2006 Annette Estes. All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint granted with full text and tagline included.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Truck Driver Safety - Behavior Plays a Vital Role.
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