Tim Chrulski, COO of Garner Trucking, and Rick Schmidt, Director of HR and Safety at Nussbaum Transportation discuss the hurdles and how to overcome them when dealing with implementing new safety technology.
Nussbaum Transportation
Headquartered in El Hudson, Illinois, Since 1945, trust and integrity have guided their operations. They've learned that the best way to deliver on their ideals is to hire the right staff, partner with the best customers and act with integrity.
Garner Trucking
Implementing New Safety Technology
"At the end of the day, in-cab safety tools present benefit for the driver, the carrier, and the motoring public. A companies approach toward the introduction & implementation of these safety technologies is where success truly lies. We have found that the introduction of technology like cameras, for example, document events and can potentially protect a driver by exoneration in some situations. Ultimately, adding safety technology like cameras allows a company to educate a driver, emphasize & focus on great driving habits and reward for those positive behaviors. Converging on these points helps everyone understand the logic and provides the justification for adding a new safety technology."
- Tim Chrulski, Chief Operating Officer, Garner Trucking
“Another example of new technology is our roll-out of NoCell. Cell phones are a huge distraction for all motorists. When the inward- facing cameras show a distracted driver, our goal is to address the issue quickly and help them build safe habits. As we examined the issue, one solution was to block drivers' access to their phones while moving – enter NoCell."
- Rick Schmidt, Director of HR and Safety, Nussbaum Transportation
Nussbaum's Rick Schmidt discussed the matter of implementing new safety technologies:
Consider our inward/outward facing event recorders (cameras). We've had both for nine years and were considered "early adopters." We specifically tested the cameras with drivers we knew would have negative feedback; this allowed us to "poke holes" in the system and ask the right questions. Their honest feedback during the test phase prepared us to explain our reasoning and address concerns when rolling it out company- wide. Our executives also took the time to call drivers and explain what was happening. Together, this made the roll-out phase much smoother, and we didn't lose a single driver.
For some drivers, all it takes is one conversation, and they willingly set their phones out of sight. Great! In that case, reward the driver and thank them for receiving the coaching. In other instances, kicking a bad habit isn't so easy. If the cameras observe a driver on their phone multiple times, we will have an in-person meeting to explain the situation and install NoCell on their device. The safety team thoroughly explains everything, including letting the driver see the recordings. Because of this, most drivers are willing and even want to have NoCell installed to help them curb bad habits. There's no perfect process for adopting new technology, but well-thought-out steps can improve our results. Nussbaum uses four basic questions as a guide:
What is the purpose of this technology - i.e., what are we looking to accomplish?
Will the individuals using this technology see it the same way we do?
If not, is this the right thing to implement?
If so, how do we help explain it so the end user understands the benefit?
Will the entire fleet use this technology, or is it situational?
Did we properly beta-test this technology, so people know how we will use it / how it will affect them?
By using these questions to guide our process, Nussbaum has gained significant buy-in on new technologies and avoided the costly mistake of implementing something that people wouldn't use.
New technology is not something to fear! That's why testing exists. When you hear about a new product or innovation, talk it over and test whether it would be beneficial. Nussbaum has passed over many potential technologies - not because they're bad - but because they weren't the right fit for us (remember, the four questions). But that doesn't keep us from trying out something new!