What Makes a Safe Ready-Mix Concrete Truck Driver?

Lisa Lamons is an skilled in building driver coach and has served since 2016 because the Security Coaching and DOT Compliance Director at Concrete Methods, a St. Louis-based contractor working in seven states. She additionally has 15 years of expertise working with the Missouri Dept. of Transportation. ENR Correspondent Elaine Silver talked to Lamons concerning the coaching system she makes use of, when she has to take a truck away from a driver and whether or not she believes driver-facing cameras are a good suggestion. The conversion has been edited for readability.

Why had been you introduced in to Concrete Methods?

 I actually developed our program right here from floor up. Once I began 9 years in the past, we had a really minimal program. Our DOT document actually wanted enchancment. We have actually grown quite a bit since then. Our scores are actually phenomenal.

Inform me about your completely different vans…

We now have about 156 autos and rising.  We now have concrete mixer vans, a water truck, semi-tractor trailers, pump vans, roll off vans, mechanic vans, volumetric vans, dump vans, one- ton vans and three-quarter ton vans. We even have a wide range of trailers to haul gear. 

And what about your drivers?

We now have about 50 accepted CDL drivers and 77 accepted non-CDL drivers. All of them don’t drive each day nor are all of them assigned a particular car. Some have assigned autos they usually drive for us based mostly on want. Nevertheless, our mixer drivers at our batch plant do each day driving.

What’s the most distance that they’re allowed to drive? 

Our concrete mixer drivers are thought of short-haul drivers they usually solely drive inside their 150 air-mile radius of their regular work reporting location and are launched from obligation at that location no later than 14 hours after they begin work. With that mentioned, our batch crops are sometimes positioned in very shut proximity to our tasks.  

Do you’ve hassle discovering and hiring drivers? 

As with everybody in our building trade or driving trade, discovering certified drivers may be difficult. A number of components play an element on this, however the largest is that there’s a nationwide scarcity of certified CDL drivers, particularly within the building trade, the place expertise with heavy gear and particular building security coaching is usually required. Because of this our driver coaching system is so essential. 

How a lot of your coaching is within the classroom and the way a lot on the street? 

All new worker drivers undergo orientation and driver coaching. It consists of computer-based coaching adopted by hands-on abilities evaluations or computer-based abilities analysis, on-the-job coaching and a driver {qualifications} file evaluation earlier than they’re accepted to drive for our firm. Yearly we conduct refresher coaching.

And that entails?

Pre and submit journeys, distracted driving, fatigued driving and our firm Security and Health Digital Data with the Federal Motor Carriers Security Administration.

And that entails….

Scores for car upkeep, crash indicators, medicine and alcohol, unsafe driving, hours of service, driver health, and hazmat compliance.  

Whew. Do you share these scores along with your drivers?

Sure! Our drivers finally management these outcomes with their driving and roadside inspections they usually have to be concerned and in seeing our yearly numbers. We now have discussions on what new coverage or process is being put in place or evaluation present insurance policies and procedures that decide the end result of those numbers. 

What are your ride-alongs like?

I conduct periodic ride-alongs with drivers and we implement the Smith System, the place as they’re driving, they should name out driving distraction or points, whereas driving secure. This tells me they’re conscious of their environment and are additionally driving as we count on them too. 

Do you prepare additionally in non-driving facets like sustaining and utilizing the gear?

Sure. Our drivers are usually not solely drivers, however they sometimes are area staff as properly. They’re required to grasp and be licensed within the gear they function. 

I’ve by no means pushed a truck, so I need to know what the coaching is prefer to make turns with a multi-ton spinning barrel? 

Working a concrete mixer entails numerous dangers because of the dimension, weight, shifting of the load, and surroundings they’re driving in. Most of our jobsite have uneven terrain. Their onsite coach will evaluation with them that unbalanced or improperly blended concrete could cause instability and that uneven terrain, curves or inclines could cause points. The masses are heavy and stopping distance can play an element. The onsite coach may also trip with them or watch them carefully earlier than they log off on their abilities analysis.

Masses are heavy and stopping distances can play an element in working a prepared combine supply truck.
Picture: Vera Tikhonova/Getty Photographs

What telematics are you utilizing?

We use Verizon join and SureCam Cameras and that’s truly that may observe pace and harsh, breaking. 

What punishments or disincentives do drivers get once they don’ observe protocol?

Often it’s a pair reminders, after which it’s a written teaching. In the entire time I’m right here. I’ve in all probability had to remove a car twice. Once I say I take away a car, it could possibly be a one month or three months. If I’m writing you up, it’s as a result of we’ve had some conversations, and also you’re not taking it significantly.

If somebody does one thing mistaken, then I retrain them. Say I write any person up as a result of that they had a foul roadside inspection, they usually didn’t do their pre-trip accurately. It’s not only a reprimand. They then must go in and do a coaching module. 

How have you learnt if the motive force is onboard with the protection protocols?

The most important praise is, a driver calls me and says, ‘Hey! I caught myself rushing. I’ll be in your report.’ Or, ‘I used to be daydreaming, and I nearly handed up my exit, and I slammed on my brakes.’ This tells me one in all two issues. That they perceive, they usually caught themselves and we have now respect for one another as an organization. I am going to say, ‘Okay, the place was it at. Thanks for being conscious.’ I am going to make a remark of it. After which I hear, ‘Oh, Lisa, you are like so in my head that I am now watching my very own pace in my very own private automotive.’ That’s what I need to occur.

How else do you get them to buy-in?

I additionally need them to see that their driving has a direct impact on them due to the form of car they’re in. I allow them to know, if they’re in an accident, let’s say in a five-car pileup they usually didn’t even trigger the accident, however as a result of there’s a title on the facet of the truck, some lawyer goes to attempt to determine how they had been the reason for an issue. I inform them, “Don’t get your self caught up in that, even when it’s not your fault.” 

You’ve advised us concerning the stick, what concerning the carrot?

Each week we have now driver of the week. We’ll look via all of the drivers, pre-trips and submit journeys, and we discover these which are constantly doing it proper. That week they get put in a pool for a $100 reward card. In case you get a clear roadside inspection, they get a present card. In case you go six months with not hitting my pace report, you are acknowledged, and also you get a present card.   Then on the finish of the yr, all these those that gained issues all year long are all acknowledged within the driver conferences. 

What’s your opinion of driver going through cameras?  

Driver-facing cameras, also known as in-cab programs, can provide invaluable security and coaching advantages however additionally they increase legitimate considerations the place the motive force looks like they’re below fixed surveillance which causes distraction to the motive force behind the wheel when their principal job is specializing in being conscious of their environment whereas driving safely.

So, you don’t use driver going through cameras?

We now have forward-facing cameras and telematics that monitor the important thing security metrics–speed, fast acceleration, sharp turns and swerving and harsh braking. These cameras get turned on when triggered occasions happen…Do I want that digicam to actually pinpoint what they’re doing? No, as a result of I am utilizing one other instrument to make them concentrate on their driving. 

What’s subsequent to your program? 

We’re increasing our fatigue administration program, which we need to fine-tune it. 

What’s your recommendation to an organization constructing a program like yours?

Be clear. Contain your drivers within the course of. Don’t simply slap cameras or telematics on them with out explaining why. And prepare, prepare, prepare. Make it about their security, not simply compliance.