2/18/25 Event Recap:

In our latest TSR Talks, Brian Galonek, President of All Star Incentive Marketing and creator of the AllSAFE recognition and rewards platform, addressed the challenges confronting professional drivers in terms of safety and well-being. Beyond the obvious risks of crashes and road incidents, drivers face an environment that often promotes unhealthy lifestyles and related health issues. In fact, Galonek noted that long-haul drivers have a significantly lower life expectancy compared to the average American.

Both Galonek and panelist Bryan Fenster stressed the importance of implementing strategies that actively engage drivers in safety and wellness initiatives. Studies indicate that higher employee engagement not only enhances safety protocols and health outcomes but also leads to better organizational performance, including increased profitability and customer loyalty.

One effective approach to fostering this engagement is through employee reward and recognition programs. Here are several key strategies shared by our panelists for designing a successful program:

• Consistency is Key: Ongoing programs with regular, timely nudges help reinforce the connection between positive behaviors and recognition.
• Tangible Rewards: Providing rewards that drivers can experience or use reinforces the benefits of their positive actions.
• Leverage Existing Data: Utilize the data you already collect—whether from your Learning Management System (LMS), in-cab telematics, or wellness apps—to identify and reward positive behavior.
• Public Recognition: Regular, face-to-face acknowledgment in group settings is critical to maintaining momentum and program success.

By integrating these strategies, companies can better motivate their drivers to prioritize safety and wellness, ultimately leading to healthier, more engaged workforces and stronger organizational outcomes.

Click here to view a recording of the session.

8/7/24 Event Recap:

This conversation in our TSR Talks series dove into the evolving landscape of road safety. We examined how the road safety community is leveraging technology to enhance safety through a combination of robust data analytics and essential interpersonal skills.

This TSR Talks covered:

• Collaboration and Research: Exploring how industry stakeholders are working together to utilize data from telematics and event recorders to inform research and share best practices.
• Macro-Level Communication: Highlighting the importance of sharing insights and collaborating with peers across the industry to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Micro-Level Coaching: Demonstrating how data from in-cab telematics and event recorders can be used to coach drivers more effectively, blending quantitative analysis with qualitative feedback to promote safer driving behaviors.

Industry leaders shared actionable insights to help enhance your road safety initiatives, including:

Jeff Martin, Vice President of Global Sales Strategy, Lytx
Shawn Mandel, Vice President of Safety, Waste Connections
Joanna Cornell, Safety Consultant Specializing in Technology Integration
Jim Olson, Safety Consultant

2/20/2024 Event Recap:

On Tuesday, February 20th, we launched our 2024 TSR Talks series with a focus on Driver Training. Leading the session was Daniel McGuigan, EHS Director at PepsiCo Global Operations. Joining him were Chris Jobson, Senior Director of Safety at Green for Life Environmental, and Tony McNeal, Director of Training and Leadership Development at Waste Connections. Together, these panelists represent organizations overseeing 100,000 drivers on our roadways.

Daniel outlined three levels of driver safety training:

1. Professional Driver Training: Entry-level programs preparing and licensing drivers for commercial motor vehicles.
2. Organizational Onboarding: Training professional drivers to safely operate your organization’s vehicles.
3. Coaching: Supporting drivers in maintaining safe driving skills and improving their performance.

The discussion centered on selecting and training individuals to provide effective onboarding and coaching, enabling drivers to excel in safety, operations, and customer service.

Daniel shared Pepsi’s Test Drive Program, featuring 10 simple numeric tools defining defensive driving strategies. These tools serve as a teaching framework during onboarding and coaching sessions. PepsiCo invests in training their behind the wheel instructors and coaches on not only the 10 tools, but also on how to deliver them for maximum impact on driver performance.

Key Insights:

• Drivers represent your brand on the road; it’s crucial to teach them how to drive your vehicles during onboarding.
• Skills can degrade over time; invest in coaching to refresh and enhance defensive driving skills.
• Selecting the right trainer/coach is vital; consider coaching ability and motivation, not just driving skills.
• View driver onboarding, coaching, and performance management as an integrated system within your organization.

To learn more about Train-the-Trainer programs for your organization, contact Peter at Peter@TogetherforSaferRoads.org or Jesse at Jessica@qworky.io.

We’re excited to present more TSR Talks throughout 2024. If you have topic ideas or wish to participate as a presenter, please let us know! Stay tuned for upcoming talks as we continue to unite industry leaders to share knowledge and expertise.