- New intervention and retention policy
- Technology upgrades
- Safety lane changes
- In-person training restarts
Here at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we put drivers first — always. The overarching theme of everything we’ve been trying to work on lately is to dramatically shift our culture so it’s less talk about putting drivers first and more about doing.
Check out some of the things we’ve been doing the last few months to prioritize your success as a driver, including the new safety program, upgraded in-cab technology, a new safety lane initiative, and reinstating annual in-person visits.
Introducing IRP (Intervention and Retention Policy)
Across the industry, the norm seems to be that when a negative incident occurs on the road (let’s say a minor violation like bumping a curb) the driver is berated and threatened with adverse consequences. At ATS, we’re trying to change that.
The new Intervention and Retention Policy Program (IRP) is designed to be a collaborative partnership between you (the driver) and leadership. Built on commitment, fairness, transparency, and trust, the goal is to educate and improve safety behaviors while giving drivers like you the support you need.
The program sets clear expectations and identifies drivers who need help complying with safety processes, pinpoints the reasons for those struggles, and provides positive coaching and development opportunities.
All staff members — operations and safety, most notably — have been trained on the new program. Everyone is committed to being a team and working with you to help you become the best driver you can be. We know that we’re equally responsible for your success.
With effective coaching in place and more of a collaborative relationship, the hope is that the overall driver experience will improve — resulting in better-educated drivers. In turn, we hope to see a reduction in accident frequency and severity.
We hear people in the transportation world talking about drivers who are just “steering wheel holders,” and that’s not the vision of ATS drivers. We’re proud to foster drivers who are constantly trying to improve themselves or making a concerted effort to be better, safer drivers.
Technology Upgrades
One of the biggest complaints we receive regularly is that some of the technology being used isn’t cutting it.
ATS took that feedback to heart and took action. We researched the problem, scoured the industry for solutions, tested out options, and piloted a program. The drivers who piloted the program gave their enthusiastic support.
After many months of working to resolve the problem, we’re confident we’ve come to a technology solution that everyone will be excited about.
You deserve technology that supports you and streamlines your process; it shouldn’t make it more difficult. You shouldn’t have to worry about technology with a ton of little issues that add up to a big problem.
Stay tuned in the next few months for the launch of new technology that is more reliable, intuitive, and faster.
Safety Lane Changes
A new safety lane process has been introduced in the last several months that is having a big impact.
The expectation is that all drivers passing through the St. Cloud, Minn. or Porter, Ind. office should pass through the safety lane. Your truck will be brought into a bay where technicians will inspect your tractor and trailer.
They’ll do a quick inspection to check for any obvious violations or problems, or address any issues you may not have had time to address yet on the road. You won’t have to worry about having your truck stuck in the shop all afternoon; it’ll take just a few minutes to have your truck looked over.
That second set of eyes has proved to be immensely helpful. We’ve noticed a decrease in drivers receiving violations during roadside inspections. These numbers are promising, especially when you consider that a majority of drivers who have recently received a violation haven’t been through an ATS shop in over four weeks.
Be sure to utilize this service to decrease time spent out-of-service and increase your operation time.
AIP (Annual In-Person) Training Starts Up Again
Annual In-Person (AIP) took a backseat during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we recently started it back up. The feedback has been positive all around.
The meeting is a mandatory safety meeting that highlights things the fleet has been doing well and things to improve as a team. The AIP meeting brings together a group of drivers, which adds another level of support.
During the meeting, drivers are recognized for their safety achievements, from receiving a Safety-Driven Driver award to having one million safe miles. Veterans are also recognized.
This gives everyone a chance to talk to each other about questions they have or problems they’ve been having on the road. It’s a great space to find a driver mentor! Sometimes it’s a lot easier to go to a fellow driver for an answer to your question than it is to hear it from someone in the office.
Stay Tuned to ATS
Quarter 1 at ATS has been all about turning words into action and making sure that when we say “drivers first,” we truly mean it.
From launching the IRP program and improving technology to rolling out the safety lane and bringing back annual in-person meetings, we’re committed to supporting your success every mile of the way.
Together, we’re building a safer, stronger, and more collaborative future on the road. Stay tuned: There’s even more to come!
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