Risk Managers Stay Awake at the Wheel

When it comes to driver safety, rest is best.

Jeff Cotton, clinical director for the Sleep Center at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rogers, said that applies to all drivers, not just truckers. But because there’s so much pressure in the trucking industry to maintain time schedules, it’s even more important for commercial drivers to get sleep.

Dean Cannon, chairman and president of Cannon Express Inc. in Springdale, and Jim McFarlin, director of safety and security for ABF Freight Systems Inc. in Fort Smith, concur. Both executives said their companies work hard to make sure their drivers are vigilant.

Cannon said his company operates by the “do right” rule. He said Cannon Express’ 800 drivers are told, “if you’re tired, then rest.”

“We monitor drivers’ progress on a daily basis,” Cannon said. “We make sure they don’t overdo what the law and common sense requires.”

About 35 percent of Cannon Express’ non-driving personnel deal in some way with risk management. Cannon said the firm spends about $1.5 million or nearly 2 percent of its sales on risk management, which is close to the industry standard.

According to a 1997 study by the U.S. Congress’ General Accounting Office, about 5,000 people die annually because of accidents related to commercial motor vehicles. The average cost of a single-vehicle accident involving a tractor trailer is $51,000, but if a fatality occurs, that jumps to $2.7 million.

The trucking industry curbed is fatal accidents by 42 percent from 1983 to 1995. Still, studies by the National Transportation Safety Board estimate that as much as 31 percent of all commercial driver fatalities are fatigue related.

Despite the strides that have been made, and efforts by the Department of Transportation to upgrading its regulations, Cotton said not enough prevention work is done for commercial drivers. He said driver unions have stalemated much of the progress, since they’re fighting to get drivers more mileage that means more pay opportunities.

Cotton said Sleep Center is closely monitoring fatigue among truck drivers to reduce fatality and accident risks.

“The trucking industry is a very rich environment for sleep disorders,” Cotton said. “They’re the same as alcohol or drugs when you’re talking about impaired vigilance.

“The point is, drivers can be more productive with better sleep and better diets and ultimately that affects their company’s productivity.”

McFarlin said devices that govern ABF trucks at 58 miles per hour and safety courses have helped mitigate the company’s losses. The company is a Teamsters’ Union shop.

“We start from the ground floor with our hiring practices,” McFarlin said. “Our drivers must be at least 25 years old and have at least two years of tractor-trailer experience before we will even look at them … The average age of our drivers is 55 years old, and our annual turnover rate is about 8 percent.

“Also, all of our routes are predetermined to be less than 10 hours. After that shift, our drivers are required to be down for eight hours.”