A motor carrier’s leadership team plays a pivotal role in shaping company culture and defining business practices. With this responsibility and influence, leaders are tasked with steering the company in a direction that best positions the organization to achieve performance goals. Arguably, one of the most important functions within a trucking company that directly impacts these metrics is risk control.
Risk control refers to a motor carrier’s efforts to prevent losses from happening and to help minimize losses after an incident has occurred. Losses can result from a variety of preventable and non-preventable incidents, such as vehicle accidents, work-related injuries, roadside inspections, and moving violations to name a few. Whatever the circumstances, a motor carrier’s leadership team should be actively involved in risk control efforts. Below are some ways leaders can demonstrate their support and be engaged in this critical function.
INFLUENCE A CULTURE THAT VALUES SAFETY
The leadership team can establish clear safety standards through defined policies and procedures. However, this can be a liability if the company does not practice what it preaches. Before any policy and procedure is implemented, ensure it will be communicated to affected workers and adhered to. Consider seeking guidance from legal counsel beforehand as well.
Additionally, promote accountability throughout the company by emphasizing that safety is a shared responsibility. This can include following regulations, obeying safety rules, and encouraging workers to report unsafe conditions. Correcting these issues sends a clear message that the company values worker safety.
IMPLEMENT RISK CONTROL MEASURES
Allocating resources for training and education are two ways the leadership team can promote risk control. New employee orientation and ongoing safety training are great opportunities to communicate risks and train workers on techniques to prevent accidents and injuries. Likewise, developing mentors and driver supervisors who can champion the risk control message is another way to keep safety top of mind with everyone.
Another way the leadership team can support risk control efforts is to invest in technology. Inward- and outward-facing cameras, collision avoidance systems, telematics, etc. can help provide real-time insights into driver behavior and vehicle performance. These technologies can also help to prevent accidents and can help exonerate a driver involved in an accident.
”PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGHOUT THE COMPANY
BY EMPHASIZING THAT SAFETY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.”
CONDUCT AUDITS AND MEASURE RESULTS
Measuring safety and compliance performance is another way the leadership team can be involved in risk control efforts. Conducting regulatory compliance audits, inspecting facilities, and monitoring individual and company results in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) can provide keen insights on the effectiveness of risk control efforts.
PROMOTE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Leaders should regularly assess the effectiveness of risk control efforts and seek ways to continuously improve. Soliciting employee input is essential since they have front-line knowledge of operations, and when improvements are made, they are more likely to buy into the change and support future efforts.
In conclusion, a motor carrier’s leadership team holds a pivotal role in the success of the company’s risk control efforts. By fostering a safety-first culture from the top-down; implementing risk control measures; conducting safety training for new employees and providing ongoing education and development throughout the year, auditing, and measuring of safety performance; and promoting continuous improvement, leaders can better position their companies to reduce the risk of losses and achieve their organizational objectives.
For more information on how to manage risk more effectively, contact your Great West Risk Control Services represeantative and insurance agent.
CALL TO ACTION
- Allocate resources to invest in new safety technology and comprehensive training programs.
Note: These lists are not intended to be all-inclusive.
This material is intended to be a broad overview of the subject matter and is provided for informational purposes only. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. does not provide legal advice to its insureds or other parties, nor does it advise insureds or other parties on employment-related issues, therefore the subject matter is not intended to serve as legal or employment advice for any issue(s) that may arise in the operations of its insureds or other parties. Legal advice should always be sought from legal counsel. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, action, or inaction alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the information contained herein. Reprinted with permission from Great West Casualty Company.