Safety Tech: How Bulk Transit Protects Drivers on the Road

1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:07,960 You know, the most important safety technology in an 80,000 pound truck isn't the camera. It isn't 2 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:13,360 the collision mitigation system. It isn't the Eld. The following distance warning, the automatic 3 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:19,000 braking speed, the speed monitoring, or any of the other computers constantly crunching numbers 4 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:25,119 while that truck rolls down the highway. It's the person sitting behind the wheel. And that's not me 5 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,840 saying it. You're going to hear it from Bulk's director of safety, Tim Hamilton. And I think 6 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:35,119 that's important because the trucks our drivers operate today can do things that would have 7 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:39,800 sounded like science fiction not that long ago. They can warn you when you're following too 8 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:44,759 closely. They can detect a hard brake. They can identify patterns in the way a truck is being 9 00:00:44,759 --> 00:00:51,520 driven. Some systems can even hit the brakes when it senses danger ahead. But none of those systems 10 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:57,560 can replace a professional driver. Today we're talking about what happens when you put those two 11 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:04,280 things together. Great drivers and technology designed to make great drivers even safer. And 12 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:09,839 we've got three very different perspectives on it. Tim Hamilton sees the data from the safety 13 00:01:09,839 --> 00:01:15,839 department. He leads that department, and he does it with a lot of pride and a lot of commitment. 14 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:21,160 Terminal manager Rodney Underwood, all the way down in Sherman, Texas, sees how that data can 15 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:27,519 become coaching instead of punishment and utilizes it to make his drivers safer. And driver 16 00:01:27,519 --> 00:01:31,920 Jackie Thomas has actually lived through the moment when technology went from something he 17 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:38,440 wasn't particularly fond of to something he was damn glad he had. Because years ago, Jackie thought 18 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:44,279 cameras and trucks were basically there to spy on drivers. Like a lot of drivers do. Then came an 19 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:49,440 incident in downtown Cincinnati. There was a pedestrian in a wheelchair. There was a crosswalk. 20 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:54,560 There were court appearances, and suddenly that camera wasn't spying on Jackie anymore. It was 21 00:01:54,560 --> 00:02:01,529 evidence. And Jackie will tell you himself that camera saved him. So today we're getting beyond 22 00:02:01,529 --> 00:02:07,289 the buzzes, the beeps and the blinking lights and asking the bigger question how much safer can 23 00:02:07,329 --> 00:02:12,809 technology make trucking, and where does the technology stop and the professional driver take 24 00:02:12,850 --> 00:02:19,409 over? Tim Hamilton, Rodney Underwood and Jackie Thomas are standing by. Let's talk safety tech 25 00:02:19,449 --> 00:02:24,169 that moves trucking forward. This is always pneumatic, never static. 26 00:02:26,969 --> 00:02:32,249 You are listening to always pneumatic, never static. The Totally Pressurized podcast brought to 27 00:02:32,249 --> 00:02:37,850 you by Bulk Transit where we keep the lines clear, the tanks empty, and the conversation anything but 28 00:02:37,850 --> 00:02:42,649 dry. Whether you're running powder pellets or anything in between. Pull up a seat, crack the 29 00:02:42,649 --> 00:02:49,649 windows and let's hit it. How's it going out there? Bulk and Spur. Welcome 30 00:02:49,649 --> 00:02:55,369 into another episode of Always Pneumatic, Never static. I'm your host, Marcus. Very happy to have 31 00:02:55,369 --> 00:03:00,569 you joining us here today. Thank you so much for clicking download or heading over to the website 32 00:03:00,570 --> 00:03:07,169 podcast.bulktransit.com and clicking play on your chosen episode for the day. That 33 00:03:07,169 --> 00:03:12,329 website right there is going to have all of our episodes, so make sure you stop by and check it 34 00:03:12,329 --> 00:03:17,369 out. That's also where you can find the quizzes that come with each day's episode. You can test 35 00:03:17,369 --> 00:03:23,889 your mettle a little bit, help the memory kind of grow, connect the synapses a little bit more. And I 36 00:03:23,889 --> 00:03:28,369 haven't said this for a few weeks, but I want you to know we will be having another giveaway here 37 00:03:28,369 --> 00:03:33,489 sometime in the near future. And when we do, those quizzes are going to be the way that you're going 38 00:03:33,490 --> 00:03:39,849 to gain entry into our drawing for whatever cool prize our producer Jessica, and the management 39 00:03:39,850 --> 00:03:46,169 over at Boalt come up with. And let me tell you, last time was really cool. Cooling vests, two of 40 00:03:46,170 --> 00:03:51,329 them. And, uh, right in time to because these drivers would have had their cooling vests on 41 00:03:51,329 --> 00:03:57,020 board by the time these hot summer months rolled around. And, man, let me tell you, I would love one 42 00:03:57,020 --> 00:04:01,699 of those things for the golf course. Heck, I'd even love one of them up here right now in my studio 43 00:04:01,699 --> 00:04:07,379 because I can't run my air conditioning when I'm on the mic. So, uh, you know what? I could have used 44 00:04:07,379 --> 00:04:11,539 my own cooling vest, but I'm glad we were able to hook a couple of bulk and spur drivers up with 45 00:04:11,539 --> 00:04:16,700 those as winners in our giveaway drawings. So make sure you're taking those quizzes because you 46 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:20,899 never know when I'm going to come on and say, all right, these next quizzes that you're going to 47 00:04:20,899 --> 00:04:26,260 take are going to get you entered to win something awesome. podcast.bulktransit.com 48 00:04:26,260 --> 00:04:31,540 once again is where you're going to find those. Uh, today's episode is a very important one. And I say 49 00:04:31,540 --> 00:04:38,499 that every single time that we are discussing safety in any manner. And today's, uh, 50 00:04:38,540 --> 00:04:45,500 topic kind of leans more to the technology side of the safety conversation. There's a lot 51 00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:51,739 of advanced safety technology in your trucks. You guys know that, uh, for any four wheelers listening 52 00:04:51,739 --> 00:04:57,059 out there, anybody that hasn't seen or been in the inside of a truck or definitely hasn't driven one. 53 00:04:57,100 --> 00:05:03,539 All of the bells and whistles that you can get on the top trim of your new Chevy, or your new Ford 54 00:05:03,540 --> 00:05:10,059 or Honda, whatever it is. Uh, think about those, you know, safety features kind of on 55 00:05:10,060 --> 00:05:15,299 steroids a little bit. And I don't say they're on steroids because they're so much more advanced 56 00:05:15,299 --> 00:05:22,099 than what you might have in your Silverado or your F-150. I say it because they're built to, uh, 57 00:05:22,220 --> 00:05:28,899 be mitigation for 80,000 pound trucks, which means that they have to be on steroids a little bit. 58 00:05:28,940 --> 00:05:35,779 They have to think differently than what? Uh, maybe your Honda Civics forward collision mitigation 59 00:05:35,779 --> 00:05:41,099 system will think, because, hey, it's a little easier to stop a Honda than it is a truck with 60 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:47,579 80,000 pounds on its back. And I'm bringing in Tim, Rodney and Jackie today for these 61 00:05:47,579 --> 00:05:53,949 three very different perspectives. Tim obviously has his eye on safety. He's got his finger on the 62 00:05:53,950 --> 00:06:00,189 pulse of the entire industry when it comes to it, and he's got decades of experience in his past 63 00:06:00,230 --> 00:06:05,950 dealing with not only safety, but almost every aspect of trucking outside of turning a wrench. 64 00:06:05,950 --> 00:06:12,749 That type of experience gives him the knowledge and insight to make nuanced decisions that 65 00:06:12,750 --> 00:06:18,909 advance the safety capability of bulk and spur. And he does it all the time. He's constantly 66 00:06:18,910 --> 00:06:25,470 making changes, constantly adapting, constantly evolving. Rodney Underwood, terminal manager out of 67 00:06:25,510 --> 00:06:32,309 Sherman, Texas, and the recipient of the 2024 and 2025 Dedicated to Safety and Service 68 00:06:32,309 --> 00:06:38,510 Award. Um, that guy has a lot on his plate. We've talked to some terminal managers here recently on 69 00:06:38,510 --> 00:06:45,029 the show, and, uh, Rob Shope said it best every day as a puzzle. And we didn't even really get into 70 00:06:45,029 --> 00:06:49,789 the safety part of the terminal manager's job when we talked to those guys. And I'm really glad 71 00:06:49,790 --> 00:06:54,669 that Rodney's here for this, because, as you'll hear Tim say, the terminal managers are a lot of 72 00:06:54,670 --> 00:07:00,429 the times, the ones that are responsible for the coaching and sort of the aftermath when something 73 00:07:00,430 --> 00:07:05,829 happens that needs to be addressed so Rodney can speak to us from that standpoint. And he's making 74 00:07:05,829 --> 00:07:11,309 his first appearance on the show today, which I'm very grateful for, because going all the way back 75 00:07:11,309 --> 00:07:17,150 to when we launched this thing, Rodney slapped a temporary, always pneumatic, never static tattoo on 76 00:07:17,150 --> 00:07:23,589 his face. And that, my friends, is commitment right there. We knew we had a successful podcast when we 77 00:07:23,589 --> 00:07:29,029 saw people putting the temporary tattoos on their cheek. Uh, so really excited to have Rodney jump in 78 00:07:29,029 --> 00:07:35,389 here. And for our driver perspective, today, we're bringing in Jackie Thomas, who has some stories to 79 00:07:35,429 --> 00:07:41,949 tell us about when the technology actually saved his bacon. And he'll share a little bit on his 80 00:07:41,950 --> 00:07:48,189 thoughts about what he felt like those cameras were before they saved his bacon. And that's a 81 00:07:48,190 --> 00:07:54,988 really important piece of information because I, uh, I get to kind of occupy a fly on the wall, 82 00:07:55,149 --> 00:08:01,310 uh, situation for the fleets that I make podcasts for bulk and spur included. And one thing that I 83 00:08:01,310 --> 00:08:08,310 notice is when safety tries to innovate, there is a contingency of drivers at 84 00:08:08,310 --> 00:08:14,469 every single fleet that pushes back just a little bit. Not because they don't want to be safer. Every 85 00:08:14,469 --> 00:08:19,149 driver out there wants to make it home to their family, and they want everybody on the road out 86 00:08:19,149 --> 00:08:24,429 there around them to make it home to their family as well. Sometimes I think the drivers are worried 87 00:08:24,429 --> 00:08:29,669 about the distraction of a new piece of safety technology. There's always that little bit where 88 00:08:29,709 --> 00:08:34,029 drivers come in and say, hey, these cameras are just here to spy on us. You're watching us when 89 00:08:34,030 --> 00:08:38,829 we're not even moving. Um, we've addressed that before. We've talked about that. There's there's no 90 00:08:38,870 --> 00:08:44,029 time for such a thing. Nobody can sit back and watch the cameras for all of the bulk and spur 91 00:08:44,030 --> 00:08:49,549 drivers every hour that they're on the road of every day. First of all, that would be a 24 hour 92 00:08:49,549 --> 00:08:54,759 round the clock job. And second, there's just way too many drivers out there for it. They're looking 93 00:08:54,759 --> 00:09:00,519 at events, things that are recorded by the event recorders. Um, you'll hear Tim talk about G-Force 94 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:07,040 events, heart breaking, speeding, that type of thing. And I think it's important to have a driver in on 95 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:13,159 this conversation, because obviously Tim wants the safest drivers out there and he wants the best 96 00:09:13,159 --> 00:09:18,358 possible habits, and so does Rodney. Jackie can give you the reality of the situation that 97 00:09:18,359 --> 00:09:24,238 sometimes, uh, you get a little bit tired, sometimes you get a little bit worked up and you have to 98 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:29,679 maintain that level of professionalism that all of you bulk and spur drivers do. We wouldn't have 99 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:35,119 the safety record that we have at this company if it wasn't for you guys staying on top of it. But 100 00:09:35,119 --> 00:09:40,760 Jackie brings us the very real driver perspective here, and he's very honest with us, which I think 101 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:47,199 is exactly what this conversation needs. There is the ideal safety environment and safety culture. 102 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:53,439 And then there is reality, and those things can absolutely intersect and run side by side. But 103 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:58,679 sometimes they deviate a little bit. And that's what this conversation is going to bring you 104 00:09:58,719 --> 00:10:04,799 three separate perspectives all on the same thing, which gives us so much valuable insight and 105 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:09,319 information. This is a really good episode. I am speaking to you from the future right now, because 106 00:10:09,319 --> 00:10:14,119 I've already recorded the interview with these three gentlemen. And let me tell you, if you are 107 00:10:14,119 --> 00:10:20,840 one of those drivers that dedicates themselves to safety and is is very serious about how you take 108 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:27,879 safety seriously in your job, you're going to love this episode because it just reinforces the fact. 109 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,999 Well, Tim's going to say it towards the end of the interview. This is one of the safest and best run 110 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:36,760 companies out there. Uh, and I'll tell you right now, four years of making podcasts for truck 111 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:42,718 drivers. I don't have any argument with him at all. So without further ado, I've teased so much of it, 112 00:10:42,719 --> 00:10:47,609 and I've even spoiled some of it for you. But that's okay. It's still a really good conversation, 113 00:10:47,610 --> 00:10:54,129 so please enjoy my chat with Sherman Terminal manager Rodney Underwood, director of safety Tim 114 00:10:54,130 --> 00:10:57,049 Hamilton and bulk driver Jackie Thomas. 115 00:11:05,569 --> 00:11:10,330 All right. Welcome back in here to always pneumatic, never static. Let's bring our guests in 116 00:11:10,330 --> 00:11:17,090 today to talk about safety tech that helps move trucking forward. And really excited to have these 117 00:11:17,090 --> 00:11:22,569 three guys in here with us today. Joining us first and foremost when we're talking safety we gotta 118 00:11:22,569 --> 00:11:27,649 have him on. Here is the director of safety Tim Hamilton joining us again Tim, as always we 119 00:11:27,650 --> 00:11:31,809 appreciate the time. No you're a busy guy. Can't thank you enough for being here with us today. 120 00:11:32,489 --> 00:11:39,289 Glad to be on. We also are joined by terminal manager Rodney Underwood for the first time ever. 121 00:11:39,289 --> 00:11:46,130 And I also want to say Rodney was the recipient of the 2024 and 2025 Dedicated to Safety 122 00:11:46,169 --> 00:11:52,369 and Service Award, which he was given by Tim Rodney. Congratulations on the back to back 123 00:11:52,369 --> 00:11:57,249 victories there. And welcome to the show, man. We're very glad to have you. Thank you so much. I'm glad 124 00:11:57,249 --> 00:12:04,089 to be here. And Rodney, remind me real quick which terminal you're the terminal manager of. Sherman, 125 00:12:04,090 --> 00:12:10,369 Texas. Sherman, Texas. Well, thank you so much for being here. I really appreciate it. Also joining us 126 00:12:10,369 --> 00:12:16,129 today to bring us the driver angle of this entire conversation is our friend Jackie Thomas back 127 00:12:16,129 --> 00:12:21,889 with us. Jackie, thanks so much for being here. Where are you at today? Jackie I am in 128 00:12:22,689 --> 00:12:29,329 Indiana, almost. Illinois. Senator. Missouri. Okay, well, uh, glad that you're out there driving safe 129 00:12:29,330 --> 00:12:34,929 as always. And glad that you joined us today. Uh, fellas, this is a really fun conversation for me 130 00:12:34,929 --> 00:12:41,489 because I always learn about new tech, new gadgets, uh, new ways that we're trying to make the trucks 131 00:12:41,489 --> 00:12:48,219 safer out here. And, uh, I just want to open this up real quick and ask you guys all the same question 132 00:12:48,219 --> 00:12:54,140 right off the bat. And, Tim, I'll start with you. Uh, when you hear the phrase safety technology, what's 133 00:12:54,140 --> 00:12:58,299 the first piece of equipment or the first system that comes to mind? Tim. 134 00:13:00,579 --> 00:13:06,899 Well, when I hear safety technology, really the the number, the greatest technology we have is our 135 00:13:06,900 --> 00:13:12,419 driver. That's a really good answer. I didn't expect that. See, this is why I wanted to ask all 136 00:13:12,419 --> 00:13:16,779 three of you that question. I knew I was going to get surprised by somebody. Tim. Uh, expand on that 137 00:13:16,780 --> 00:13:21,699 for me. Well, I mean, you can have all the technology in the world in the truck, but 138 00:13:21,699 --> 00:13:28,538 ultimately, uh, we rely on the driver's ability to, uh, operate safely as 139 00:13:28,539 --> 00:13:35,099 possible. Sure. The technology just assists the drivers in that 140 00:13:35,099 --> 00:13:41,779 operation. But, you know, like I said, uh, at the end of the day, uh, the goal is to 141 00:13:41,780 --> 00:13:48,500 have the driver be as safe as he can be. That's good stuff there, Jackie. I'm going to go 142 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:54,499 directly to you now. Uh, first and foremost, react to what Tim said there. Do you agree? When when you 143 00:13:54,539 --> 00:14:01,019 hear safety technology. Are you thinking of yourself first? Yes, I am. I'm thinking of myself 144 00:14:01,020 --> 00:14:06,659 first. And I'm thinking of the people surrounding me next. And what else do you think about when I 145 00:14:06,659 --> 00:14:11,739 say safety technology? Is there anything else that comes to mind? Uh. 146 00:14:13,979 --> 00:14:20,939 Yes, there. I mean, as far as the truck goes wise, I mean, it will let you know when you're getting 147 00:14:20,939 --> 00:14:27,459 close to somebody. And it seems like if you're setting on a cruise to going down the road here, 148 00:14:27,459 --> 00:14:32,459 and then there's nobody even around you, it seems like it wants to wake you up by kicking the 149 00:14:32,459 --> 00:14:39,419 cruise off and hitting the brake. Wake you up? Uh, I know you're not driving. Staring at the back 150 00:14:39,460 --> 00:14:45,549 of your eyelids. You got too good of a safety record for that, Jackie. Yeah. Thank you. 151 00:14:46,270 --> 00:14:51,669 Uh, Rodney. I'm coming. Coming over to you real quick. Uh, when I say safety technology, what comes 152 00:14:51,670 --> 00:14:57,989 to mind first for you? And, uh, you know, if you back off of Tim, second to the drivers, of course, I 153 00:14:57,989 --> 00:15:03,750 would have to say our camera system would be the most significant aspect of our safety features 154 00:15:03,750 --> 00:15:10,549 that we have. I know Tim set through plenty of trials and, uh, depositions, 155 00:15:10,550 --> 00:15:14,629 and without these cameras, we would have probably been on the hook for a lot of accidents that we 156 00:15:14,630 --> 00:15:20,749 are not at fault at and that aren't preventable. Sure, sure. Now, do you ever get any pushback from 157 00:15:20,749 --> 00:15:24,789 drivers on the cameras? I've asked him that question before and we'll come back to him on 158 00:15:24,830 --> 00:15:29,348 that. But Rodney is a terminal manager. That's something that you might see from time to time as 159 00:15:29,349 --> 00:15:35,269 well. Um, if you do see it, how do you typically address that with drivers and sort of put them at 160 00:15:35,269 --> 00:15:40,509 ease? Well, it's it's as simple as that. You know, if these drivers are conducting theirself in a 161 00:15:40,510 --> 00:15:45,668 professional manner, and that's what we try to hire professional drivers. Those cameras are are 162 00:15:45,789 --> 00:15:50,710 simply there for their protection. You know that you can't drive 50 miles in any state without 163 00:15:50,710 --> 00:15:57,269 seeing a law firms billboard on the side of the road. So when these trucks get an accident, whether 164 00:15:57,270 --> 00:16:04,030 at fault or not at fault, whoever is on the other end of this accident is looking 165 00:16:04,310 --> 00:16:10,149 to take this to court and get as much money as they can. So. Right. This camera system definitely 166 00:16:10,149 --> 00:16:16,349 alleviates a lot of that. And it can it can save a lot of drivers that in other scenarios, would most 167 00:16:16,350 --> 00:16:23,030 likely be prosecuted before any evidence was even looked at. Sure, sure. And, you know, nuclear verdicts 168 00:16:23,030 --> 00:16:28,509 are such a big problem. I would say maybe even predatory nuclear verdicts. At this point in time 169 00:16:28,669 --> 00:16:35,508 in the trucking industry. We hear about it all the time. Um, I've done some research into it and 170 00:16:35,590 --> 00:16:41,589 man, it seems like everybody is coming for their chunk of any trucking company that even so much, 171 00:16:41,590 --> 00:16:47,189 just has a slight fender bender with you. And, uh, Tim, I assume that, uh, when you hear the word 172 00:16:47,190 --> 00:16:52,189 nuclear, the term nuclear verdict, you probably shudder just a little bit. But you've taken a lot 173 00:16:52,229 --> 00:16:57,669 of steps here, uh, with the safety of bulk and spur, uh, to prevent those types of verdicts from 174 00:16:57,669 --> 00:17:02,989 befalling this company. Um, talk to me a little bit about that. What what types of innovations are you 175 00:17:03,030 --> 00:17:08,469 maybe looking into for the future? Because this is an evolving game, right? We're always getting 176 00:17:08,469 --> 00:17:12,949 better. We're always getting safer. Is there anything out there on the market right now that's 177 00:17:12,949 --> 00:17:19,549 got your ears perked up? Well, I think I think ownership here has invested in, uh, 178 00:17:19,790 --> 00:17:26,708 the most modern technology that that's out there. It's available. Um, you know, 179 00:17:26,750 --> 00:17:32,109 there's a lot of, you know, we talked about AI, you know, there's a lot of stuff that's in development, 180 00:17:32,110 --> 00:17:39,079 I'm sure. But, uh, a lot of lot of people probably testing some things, but, uh, Yeah, 181 00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:45,719 I mean, we're always we're always looking to, uh, you know, improve the, uh, technology 182 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:52,880 to make the fleet safer. You could really tell. Um, Jackie, I, I want to come to you for this next 183 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:57,639 one, and and this is something that I'll probably ask Tim and Rodney as well, but I think the driver 184 00:17:57,719 --> 00:18:03,399 perspective is really important here. I want you to think back 10 or 15 years. Jackie. Uh, what's 185 00:18:03,399 --> 00:18:08,679 something that we take for granted today in terms of safety technology that would have seemed 186 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:15,279 futuristic or kind of science fiction 10 or 15 years ago. Anything come to mind? Uh, well, I want to 187 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:21,879 respond to the camera, but Rodney was talking about it. That's okay. Um, five years 188 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:28,280 ago, I hadn't been with Barry long. Started in February and March 4th, I'd say on my birthday 189 00:18:28,319 --> 00:18:35,040 camera. Know all about this? Uh, the cameras saved me in Cincinnati downtown because the guy in the 190 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:41,159 wheelchair, it had come through a crosswalk. And while I was turning and hit the bar we went to 191 00:18:41,159 --> 00:18:47,039 for 2 or 3 times over, that I will say the camera saved him a note went to Tim. Do you have any 192 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:53,319 comment on that one? We talked about that a little bit when I was in Plain City, I believe. Yeah, yeah, 193 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:59,679 they I mean, the cameras provide a good insight into the events. And, you know, it helps clarify 194 00:18:59,999 --> 00:19:06,879 of, uh, of what happened. But, you know, you have to realize that it's from one angle. So there's 195 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:12,479 no guarantees, you know, because there could have been street cameras in places. So you're only 196 00:19:12,479 --> 00:19:19,279 seeing it from one view. Uh, so there it's really there just to assist. You know what we see? 197 00:19:20,199 --> 00:19:26,880 Sure, sure. Uh, Jackie, were you a proponent of cameras before that happened? Was that something 198 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:31,399 that you kind of liked having on, or was that something that maybe you were a little bit anti 199 00:19:31,399 --> 00:19:38,290 until it saved your bacon? No. Um, actually, uh, one, One company I worked for before I had 200 00:19:38,290 --> 00:19:43,889 them. I wasn't fond about them then. I always thought, I. Well, you're spying on this or whatever, 201 00:19:43,930 --> 00:19:50,649 you know? But I learned over time, too, that they're not spying on it's it's actually helping us. And 202 00:19:50,810 --> 00:19:57,328 it will prevent us to, you know, losing our cables or in a hefty fine or something like 203 00:19:57,329 --> 00:20:03,650 that. So I, I agree with the backwards. Yeah. Yeah. It seems like after you go through something like 204 00:20:03,650 --> 00:20:10,249 that, it's pretty easy to, uh, to, to, you know, see the benefit of these things. And I always go back 205 00:20:10,250 --> 00:20:16,530 to a story that a driver told me a while back, and this wasn't somebody from, uh, Bulk and Spur, but he 206 00:20:16,530 --> 00:20:21,369 was really anti and inward facing camera that they had. And then he got a ticket for being on 207 00:20:21,369 --> 00:20:27,810 his cell phone, which we all know is a huge no no as a CDL holder. Uh, turned out he wasn't on his 208 00:20:27,810 --> 00:20:33,530 phone at all. He was picking his nose and had the, uh, the camera not been pointed to him. He would 209 00:20:33,569 --> 00:20:38,809 have gotten that ticket because it was his word against the police officers. So sometimes these 210 00:20:38,810 --> 00:20:43,568 things can really come in and exonerate you. And that's kind of what we're looking for here. We 211 00:20:43,569 --> 00:20:47,969 know you guys are out there driving around as safely as you possibly can. Uh, we don't want 212 00:20:47,969 --> 00:20:54,449 somebody skewed view of something that may have happened end up costing you your CDL, the company 213 00:20:54,449 --> 00:21:00,209 a ton of money. It all kind of makes sense at the end of the day, doesn't it, Jackie? Yes, sir. It sure 214 00:21:00,209 --> 00:21:06,728 does. I agree with it. Now I want to go back to that question I asked you. Jackie, if you think 215 00:21:06,729 --> 00:21:11,529 back 10 or 15 years, what's something that we take for granted today that would have seemed like 216 00:21:11,569 --> 00:21:18,209 futuristic or sci fi 10 or 15 years ago? Is there anything like that that comes to mind? Well, um. 217 00:21:20,650 --> 00:21:27,289 Not really. Not right off. Not right off my head that I can think of right 218 00:21:27,290 --> 00:21:34,019 away. I mean, like I say, if we didn't have the camera scanner, if we had the 219 00:21:34,019 --> 00:21:39,739 Canberra Center 15 years ago, it would have saved me from a fender bender at one time. I will say 220 00:21:39,739 --> 00:21:46,619 that so. And that's been about 15 years ago when it happened. So okay. But I still won't be in fault 221 00:21:46,620 --> 00:21:53,219 because the officer, you know, he can tell by the way the vehicles were setting that I wasn't 222 00:21:53,219 --> 00:22:00,179 involved. Okay, so I don't know what else. I can't think of nothing else. No. That's fine. That's 223 00:22:00,180 --> 00:22:04,459 a good answer, though. I mean, looking at it from the standpoint of how it would have been if it 224 00:22:04,459 --> 00:22:09,458 happened today versus how it was when it happened, I think is an important little thought exercise 225 00:22:09,459 --> 00:22:14,859 there. Um, I want to go to, uh, Tim and Rodney here for this stuff because this is kind of talking 226 00:22:14,859 --> 00:22:21,259 about, uh, coaching a little bit in the aftermath of something happening. Uh, Tim, when technology 227 00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:27,019 flags something, when the camera flags something, or you guys get a report that comes in, what 228 00:22:27,019 --> 00:22:31,780 happens next? How do you go about the assessment? How do you go about coaching the drivers to help 229 00:22:31,780 --> 00:22:38,379 them be better off next time. Well, I think I'm going to hand this to Rodney because, uh, the 230 00:22:38,380 --> 00:22:45,179 majority of our, our coaching, uh, is assigned to our terminal managers to do direct coaching of 231 00:22:45,180 --> 00:22:50,179 the drivers. I may have an input every once in a while if I see something that hasn't been coached. 232 00:22:50,180 --> 00:22:57,099 But I'll hand this to Rodney because, uh, you know, he he definitely does a lot more coaching one 233 00:22:57,140 --> 00:23:02,899 on one with the drivers. Uh, you know, he's a thousand miles away from me, so it's not like I, I 234 00:23:02,900 --> 00:23:08,419 can bring the drivers into the office. So, uh, you know, he he's my eyes and ears down there, so maybe 235 00:23:08,459 --> 00:23:15,299 he can, uh, uh, talk a little bit more about that. Rodney. Uh, we'll kick it over to 236 00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:20,938 you. When tech flags something, maybe it's, uh, you get a shot from a camera or you get a hard break, 237 00:23:20,939 --> 00:23:27,819 uh, notification, something like that. What happens next? Well, um, I kind of assess things on a mistake 238 00:23:27,819 --> 00:23:34,618 or a habit level. So, you know, we we get data from these guys on a daily basis. So if I see something 239 00:23:34,619 --> 00:23:39,299 that's a mistake, this might be something that's sent to the driver's app that he reviews himself. 240 00:23:39,580 --> 00:23:44,259 When I when I see that it's it's a habit developing. We'll bring them in. We'll go over the 241 00:23:44,259 --> 00:23:51,139 videos step by step and critique the things that can be and try to alleviate any bad habits that 242 00:23:51,140 --> 00:23:57,098 we're seeing reoccur. And that's actually interesting. How is it that you normally can 243 00:23:57,099 --> 00:24:03,779 distinguish between maybe a one off and and a bad habit developing? Is it simply just the fact that 244 00:24:03,779 --> 00:24:09,099 you'll see something over and over again? Or can you see a bad habit developing Rodney, the first 245 00:24:09,099 --> 00:24:15,978 time it happens? Well, it's hard to draw the assumption the first time something 246 00:24:15,979 --> 00:24:20,939 happens that that's a bad habit. Um, the good thing about our Notre Dame system that we currently use 247 00:24:20,939 --> 00:24:26,339 is it keeps a database. So I can look at this guy's performance last month, three months ago. 248 00:24:26,459 --> 00:24:32,829 Currently, day to day, however, I feel like viewing it and things like, you know, distracted driving 249 00:24:32,829 --> 00:24:38,910 and following distance and heartbreaking and red lights. Those will show you, as you know, what 250 00:24:38,949 --> 00:24:45,869 someone's driving actually is, whether it's a mistake or it's a habit. And is the would you 251 00:24:45,869 --> 00:24:52,509 say, Rodney, that the goal of the technology overall is enforcement or coaching? Well, the goal 252 00:24:52,510 --> 00:24:59,149 overall is to make everyone as best as we can, make them at the job that we are utilizing them 253 00:24:59,150 --> 00:25:06,109 to do. Um, we don't want to make it a punishment, you know, unless it's something that egregious. 254 00:25:06,149 --> 00:25:12,628 This is more of a coaching. Um, all of us can get better and everything we do every day. But 255 00:25:12,670 --> 00:25:18,828 until you're informed of that, you're kind of stuck with where you're at. Sure, sure. Tim, any 256 00:25:18,829 --> 00:25:24,709 thoughts on that? The, uh, enforcement versus coaching, uh, standpoint there? I mean, you guys have 257 00:25:24,709 --> 00:25:30,509 always, uh, told us and the drivers have told us as well that, um, you know, they receive coaching when 258 00:25:30,510 --> 00:25:36,629 something goes wrong, they receive, uh, you know, some grace and some understanding there. Um, this 259 00:25:36,629 --> 00:25:41,589 is obviously something that some drivers, it's just a stigma that comes along with trucking. 260 00:25:41,590 --> 00:25:46,949 Sometimes they think that this, uh, big upswing in the tech that goes in the trucks is meant to 261 00:25:46,989 --> 00:25:51,469 micromanage them. It's meant to peak over their shoulder. It's meant to spy on them, like Jackie 262 00:25:51,469 --> 00:25:57,149 said. Uh, but really like what Rodney just said to you, there's this is a coaching tool, and it's 263 00:25:57,150 --> 00:26:02,549 meant to help everybody become safer. Can you speak on that a little bit, Tim? Yeah. I mean, you 264 00:26:02,550 --> 00:26:08,309 know, he said he said it best. You know, we we use the data to to coach the drivers, not to punish 265 00:26:08,310 --> 00:26:15,068 them. Uh, you know, we look for trends, not necessarily an isolated event. So if we see a 266 00:26:15,109 --> 00:26:21,670 pattern develop, uh, the managers will work with the driver to address it, you know, early. But it's 267 00:26:21,670 --> 00:26:27,589 all about continuous improvement. Uh, you know, the technology there helps us make, uh, 268 00:26:28,319 --> 00:26:34,319 better decisions over time? Absolutely. Jackie, I wonder from your perspective, if there's ever been 269 00:26:34,319 --> 00:26:39,199 a time where you've received some coaching because of something that went down out there, and 270 00:26:39,199 --> 00:26:46,119 maybe it saved you from learning the lesson the very expensive way? Yes it did. Cam 271 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:51,958 Tim brought it to I think it was Scott's attention. Or it might have been James at Dundee, 272 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:59,559 Michigan. I was coming over Jellico up in Tennessee and the speed limit was 55, and 273 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:06,360 I and I actually knew that and I'm not going to say I did, but I was running with traffic and I 274 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:13,238 was running 70 and a 55 down Jellico and feeling happy. It was full attention. And 275 00:27:13,239 --> 00:27:17,679 they talked to me about it and asked me to slow down a little bit and try to keep a little closer 276 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:24,400 to speed. I said, yes, sir. That's simple huh? Yeah. That's simple. I 277 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:30,679 mean, that didn't punish me or nothing. And they said they wasn't there to, you know, punish me like. 278 00:27:30,719 --> 00:27:36,639 Take safety from me or anything like that. Kim wasn't. He just asked him to talk to me and get me 279 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:42,439 to slow down a little bit. And it is very hard out here to track, you know, stay a little slower than 280 00:27:42,439 --> 00:27:48,959 traffic. It's traffic runs out of here. They really do. Yeah, man, I think that's going down 281 00:27:48,959 --> 00:27:55,519 everywhere. I was just on I-5, uh, over the weekend here in Oregon, and the, uh, average speed 282 00:27:55,560 --> 00:28:00,319 between Eugene and Portland was running about 80 miles an hour, and I've never seen it like that 283 00:28:00,319 --> 00:28:06,599 before. But I drove that route two days in a row, and it was the same thing both days. 80 miles an 284 00:28:06,599 --> 00:28:11,760 hour, with your ears pinned back on a wing and a prayer. And, uh, let me tell you, no, thank you. That's 285 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:17,279 a little bit too fast for this guy. And way too fast for anybody in a big rig. So, uh, I get what 286 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:22,239 you're saying there, man. Traffic is running all over the place. Uh, Tim, I wonder when you hear 287 00:28:22,239 --> 00:28:27,249 Jackie talk about that. Does that make you feel pretty good that you guys were able to rectify 288 00:28:27,249 --> 00:28:32,729 that situation without a punishment? You know, everybody worries about getting in trouble. Uh, it 289 00:28:32,730 --> 00:28:36,249 doesn't sound like that's what happened to Jackie at all. It was just a conversation between a 290 00:28:36,250 --> 00:28:42,808 couple of adults. Well, yeah. I mean, I would surely like to, uh, not have to make that call. 291 00:28:42,890 --> 00:28:48,770 I'm. I'm hoping that our drivers are abiding the speed limit rather than the flow of traffic. I 292 00:28:48,770 --> 00:28:54,809 mean, it's a hell of a lot harder to stop a 80,000 pound truck than a than a 4,000 pound car doing 293 00:28:54,849 --> 00:29:01,729 70, 80 mile an hour. So I'm not, you know, the main, the main focus of the safety, you know, 294 00:29:01,769 --> 00:29:08,529 for the driver is, is, you know, let the cars do what they're going to do. You know, our focus is 295 00:29:08,569 --> 00:29:14,809 just because they're running 70, 80 mile an hour doesn't necessarily mean that we need to. I've 296 00:29:14,809 --> 00:29:21,729 seen trucks on the highway where they've, uh, seen traffic running fast, and 297 00:29:21,810 --> 00:29:26,209 they blocked. They blocked the lanes. I've seen them go three wide on purpose just to slow 298 00:29:26,209 --> 00:29:31,889 everybody down. Everybody's going around them and cutting into them so quick. And I was like, well, I 299 00:29:31,930 --> 00:29:36,770 can't really blame them for that because, you know, the, the, the four wheelers were creating a 300 00:29:36,770 --> 00:29:42,329 dangerous situation. Yeah. The old rolling roadblock, Tim, is what they call that, I think. And, 301 00:29:42,329 --> 00:29:49,329 uh, that's where a CB really comes in handy these days, isn't it? Yes. And you know, that's 302 00:29:49,330 --> 00:29:55,210 old technology, right? Right. That's nothing new. That's we've had CVS for a really, really long 303 00:29:55,210 --> 00:30:01,448 time. Uh, and the other technology maybe Jackie, you know, give him some time to think about it. Maybe 304 00:30:01,449 --> 00:30:07,968 we go to Rodney on this would be more. But we can talk about how, uh, LDS 305 00:30:08,130 --> 00:30:14,890 have, uh, really enhanced uh, uh, technology over the years compared to paper 306 00:30:14,890 --> 00:30:20,010 logs. I know Rodney wants to talk about how he works, that with operations. That would be great. 307 00:30:20,050 --> 00:30:26,579 Yeah, absolutely. Uh, the LDS, every single truck running around with one these days. Nobody running 308 00:30:26,579 --> 00:30:31,499 double paper logs anymore, and doing those West Coast turnarounds like they used to back in the 309 00:30:31,499 --> 00:30:36,939 day. Uh, Rodney, talk to me a little bit about the advancements that you've seen in the LDS over the 310 00:30:36,939 --> 00:30:42,979 past few years. Oh, it's it's phenomenal. It takes a lot of the guessing game out of it, alleviates 311 00:30:43,100 --> 00:30:49,539 hours of service violations that don't need to happen. It helps you plan out your 312 00:30:49,539 --> 00:30:56,019 days. It's I don't know where we would be without it. Um, I, I haven't managed a trucking 313 00:30:56,020 --> 00:31:02,979 operation without the LDS, and I could just only imagine the heartaches that Tim had 314 00:31:02,979 --> 00:31:09,818 to go through, you know, 25 years ago. Kind of dating the guy there, I apologize. I it's okay. 315 00:31:09,860 --> 00:31:14,819 We're very familiar with his experience on this show. Rodney. You don't have to worry about that. Uh, 316 00:31:15,060 --> 00:31:20,819 Tim, I, I always think about paper logs, and I think about the amount of file cabinets that you guys 317 00:31:20,819 --> 00:31:25,698 probably had back in the day. Uh, is that how you guys were keeping all of your records and 318 00:31:25,699 --> 00:31:32,380 everything? Was it just files upon files? Yes. Uh, the good thing is, is that, uh, Dot 319 00:31:32,419 --> 00:31:39,099 only requires that you keep them for six months. So we we could, uh, get rid of a lot of 320 00:31:39,099 --> 00:31:46,099 boxes, uh, every, every, every month we would roll over the, the six month previous to that and we 321 00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:52,099 could, uh, uh, get rid of those boxes. But yeah, it definitely took, uh, it took a lot of space up. In 322 00:31:52,100 --> 00:31:59,019 fact, I know we have a little job trailer here in the yard. Uh, that still contains 323 00:31:59,020 --> 00:32:05,939 logs that they've stored. I bet they're I bet they're paper logbooks from 15 years ago. Wow. That 324 00:32:05,940 --> 00:32:10,539 are still in the trailer. Just stacked up in there. I mean, they're they're not used. They're not 325 00:32:10,540 --> 00:32:15,939 useful for for anything anymore. Because, you know, like I said, uh, everything gets purged even on 326 00:32:15,939 --> 00:32:22,618 electronic log, uh, which is nice. All the all the information gets purged in six 327 00:32:22,619 --> 00:32:28,379 months. Well, if you ever need to make a paper maché pneumatic trailer just for show. I think 328 00:32:28,379 --> 00:32:32,660 you've probably got enough to work with there, Tim. Sounds like a lot of extra paper just laying 329 00:32:32,660 --> 00:32:39,580 around. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's for sure. Jackie, uh, from your end. How about the elder van? Did you 330 00:32:39,580 --> 00:32:46,500 ever drive with a paper log? Were you around back when that was going on? Yes, sir. I saw I used to 331 00:32:46,500 --> 00:32:53,459 run his paper log until I started football transit five years ago. And, um, I agree 332 00:32:53,459 --> 00:32:59,579 with the paper. I mean, with the l d I'm sorry about that. Um, because it actually gives the 333 00:32:59,580 --> 00:33:06,459 driver is resting needs. There's no reason saying that you can't get 6 or 7 hours of rest when 334 00:33:06,460 --> 00:33:12,100 you park for 8 or 10 hours. You know, most of the time it's better for me. Not enough from 2 to 10. 335 00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:18,899 But, um, back when it was paper, long ago, I did. I did one too long, so. Well, you know, I'm not afraid 336 00:33:18,910 --> 00:33:25,869 to admit it, you know? But. And you do get tired. You know, you're just out there alone. You feel like 337 00:33:25,869 --> 00:33:30,829 the wheels ain't rolling. We're not making no money. Right. Well, and and I'm glad that you 338 00:33:30,830 --> 00:33:36,509 admitted it, Jackie. And and that's that's, uh, you know, uh, pretty high praise for you for doing that 339 00:33:36,509 --> 00:33:42,350 here on this podcast. But if you weren't running, uh, two logs back when you were running paper, you 340 00:33:42,350 --> 00:33:45,949 wouldn't have been able to keep up and make the type of money that you you needed to because 341 00:33:45,950 --> 00:33:52,269 everybody else that was doing paper logs at the time was also running to logs, weren't they? Yeah, I 342 00:33:52,269 --> 00:33:59,149 was. Yeah. You you couldn't have done it back then. And, you know, 15, 20 years ago and no 343 00:33:59,149 --> 00:34:05,468 driver was making the money they are now, which I know times has changed. I do know that. So but, um, 344 00:34:06,390 --> 00:34:10,869 I mean, because I learned from my best, I guess my dad and my uncles and my cousins, they drove way 345 00:34:10,870 --> 00:34:16,070 before me. So I don't know what else to say about that one. 346 00:34:17,709 --> 00:34:23,869 Probably not much, man. Uh, let's see here. Rodney, I'm going to come back to you. Uh, I gotta throw 347 00:34:23,870 --> 00:34:29,869 you a hypothetical here. Uh, Tim calls you and says, Rodney, we got a driver who hasn't had an accident. 348 00:34:29,909 --> 00:34:34,949 Hasn't gotten a ticket and hasn't damaged anything. But I'm seeing something in the data. I 349 00:34:34,950 --> 00:34:39,749 don't like what happens next. You guys putting your heads together and sort of assessing 350 00:34:39,749 --> 00:34:45,589 whatever it is that Tim doesn't like? Or is it. Is it pretty much in your hands at that point and 351 00:34:45,590 --> 00:34:49,789 you're going to take off and run with it? Just talk me through that, uh, scenario a little bit for 352 00:34:49,790 --> 00:34:53,629 the drivers listening that maybe haven't experienced something like this and everything's 353 00:34:53,629 --> 00:34:58,789 been going well, uh, but maybe something happens in the future. I just want to give the drivers a peek 354 00:34:58,789 --> 00:35:04,468 behind the curtain onto how this process sort of plays itself out. You got a perfect driver. 355 00:35:04,469 --> 00:35:09,229 Everything's been going good, but the data is showing one point. That doesn't make sense. What's 356 00:35:09,230 --> 00:35:16,149 next? Rodney? Thanks, Rodney. Well, we've actually dealt with that situation here, you know 357 00:35:16,439 --> 00:35:22,878 relatively recently. Um, you know, Tim and I will review, um, the concerns he has 358 00:35:22,919 --> 00:35:29,239 and, uh, generally, I'll take it from there and I'll take that up with my driver. Um, we'll start with a 359 00:35:29,240 --> 00:35:34,759 conversation, a coaching session, and if we don't see any improvement from there, we will elevate it 360 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:41,359 from that point. Um, what that may be could be a variation of things from a, from a right up to 361 00:35:41,399 --> 00:35:48,359 maybe this guy. This isn't a safe enough driver to be driving for us. Have you had to 362 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:53,918 make that that very hard decision before? I can't imagine you take that one lightly. If you have had 363 00:35:53,919 --> 00:35:59,719 to make it where you're looking at a driver and thinking, I just don't think he's the right fit. Um, 364 00:36:00,159 --> 00:36:05,158 I mean, that's that's got to be one of the hardest parts of your job, Rodney. Um, it is. And and to date, 365 00:36:05,159 --> 00:36:11,919 I can say that I don't recall having to pull the plug for a safety aspect on a driver to 366 00:36:11,919 --> 00:36:18,718 date. These guys generally take pretty good to coaching and they try to 367 00:36:19,079 --> 00:36:23,999 correct their bad mistakes. And they're also trained really well on the outset. Right. That's a 368 00:36:23,999 --> 00:36:29,959 big part of it. Yes. Correct. Uh, what safety feature sits between the steering wheel and the driver's 369 00:36:29,959 --> 00:36:35,079 seat? Tim, just a random question for you. I know you know the answer. Well, I guess the driver. There 370 00:36:35,079 --> 00:36:40,719 we go. It's the driver. That's what I was looking for. Such an easy, so obvious. I had to. Say. What was 371 00:36:40,719 --> 00:36:46,839 he talking about? So, driver. I have in my notes written right next to that question, the word 372 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:51,559 cheesy with a question mark. You kind of already answered it earlier, but I had to get around to it. 373 00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:57,399 Okay, getting getting back to what you said off the top there, the driver is the most important 374 00:36:57,399 --> 00:37:04,320 part of this whole scenario. Um, and without a really strongly trained and just 375 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:10,878 professional, uh, fleet of drivers, we're not having this conversation, uh, in really talking about this 376 00:37:10,879 --> 00:37:15,329 stuff, we're going to be talking about a bunch of other stuff, like what we need to fix and what we 377 00:37:15,330 --> 00:37:21,169 need to be better at. But I do want to make a little bit of room in this conversation for that. 378 00:37:21,170 --> 00:37:27,129 Tim. Almost every time we have you on, we talk about some trends that you've you've seen lately. 379 00:37:27,169 --> 00:37:32,010 Um, are there any trends that you've seen lately that you would like to see cleaned up right now? 380 00:37:33,649 --> 00:37:40,409 Well, the biggest one that I've, that I run across lately is, um, seatbelt usage. 381 00:37:40,810 --> 00:37:47,728 Really? Yes. And, you know, I know, you know, people I mean, you see, in four wheelers, you see it in big 382 00:37:47,729 --> 00:37:53,689 trucks, you see it everywhere. It's like, I don't know the philosophy exactly why people don't wear 383 00:37:53,729 --> 00:37:59,969 seatbelt. I've hear some people say it's uncomfortable. I hear people say, well, if, if, if I'm 384 00:37:59,969 --> 00:38:06,569 in an accident and and car catches on fire, I can't get out. I mean, it's 385 00:38:06,730 --> 00:38:13,609 it's it's proven. I mean, the the statistics are out there that seatbelt saves lives And, 386 00:38:13,649 --> 00:38:20,409 uh, the worst case scenario that you'd ever want to see is, is the driver in a 387 00:38:20,409 --> 00:38:27,289 commercial vehicle not wearing a seatbelt get into a accident to where if there's a rollover, 388 00:38:27,370 --> 00:38:31,769 you're just going to be tossed around like a rag doll in that truck. You're going to break bone. You 389 00:38:31,770 --> 00:38:38,489 can break your neck and die just as easily. I mean, but the stats are there that 60% of drivers not 390 00:38:38,490 --> 00:38:45,489 wearing their seatbelt die in a rollover. Yeah. So you know. Yeah. Sorry. Go ahead. Yeah. So I mean, you 391 00:38:45,490 --> 00:38:52,449 know, you got a higher than a 50% chance and and also just, you know, severe injuries, uh, you 392 00:38:52,449 --> 00:38:59,290 know, you could be possibly, uh, taken off of the road, you know, and stay upright and you're, you're 393 00:38:59,290 --> 00:39:06,208 clipping trees and poles and, uh, the inside of the cab is just is 394 00:39:06,250 --> 00:39:13,169 is just chaos. And it it will, you know, you're just losing there. You're you're 395 00:39:13,170 --> 00:39:17,409 going to you're going to get seriously injured. You know, to a point possibly you can never work 396 00:39:17,409 --> 00:39:24,408 again. Uh, I think I think anybody on this on, on the podcast right now talking will 397 00:39:24,409 --> 00:39:31,129 agree that, you know, seatbelts are essential to safety. I mean, you talk about technology 398 00:39:31,370 --> 00:39:38,169 that is the easiest technology ever, ever invented. Yep. The seatbelt. Really is. It 399 00:39:38,169 --> 00:39:44,769 really is. Jackie, you ever get in that truck without putting on your seatbelt? No, sir, I 400 00:39:44,770 --> 00:39:51,769 can't because it's got a it's got a beeper on it and it will let you know and it will drive you 401 00:39:51,810 --> 00:39:57,570 crazy if you don't put it on. Good, good. That's exactly what I like to hear. I want that truck to 402 00:39:57,570 --> 00:40:02,449 drive you crazy. If you don't have that thing on. And not to put too fine a point on what you just 403 00:40:02,450 --> 00:40:08,209 said there, Tim. But I have, uh, two people in my life that I know that were killed and rollover 404 00:40:08,210 --> 00:40:12,898 accidents at a very young age. This was when I was in high school, and these were both classmates of 405 00:40:12,899 --> 00:40:19,859 mine, um, at separate accidents, but the same thing not wearing a seatbelt in the back seat. I lived 406 00:40:19,860 --> 00:40:25,699 in a very rural area. They hit bar ditches and rolled, and both of those kids were fully ejected. 407 00:40:25,699 --> 00:40:31,699 And in both scenarios, the vehicle rolled over the top of them. It's very sad. It's very dark, it's 408 00:40:31,699 --> 00:40:38,620 very grim. But it is a truth. Um, it's it's very, very possible you're getting ejected out of 409 00:40:38,620 --> 00:40:44,259 the vehicle if you're in a bad rollover. And at that point you don't really stand a chance, uh, 410 00:40:44,379 --> 00:40:50,859 you're going to be horrifically injured if not killed in that scenario, right, Tim? Absolutely, 411 00:40:50,899 --> 00:40:57,898 absolutely. And, uh, you know, at the end of the day, uh, you know, our goal is to make sure that 412 00:40:58,059 --> 00:41:04,939 every driver gets home safely to their family. And, you know, on top of that, every every motorist 413 00:41:04,979 --> 00:41:10,499 on the road, you know, we're keeping them safe as well. Man. And they don't know it. I can tell just 414 00:41:10,499 --> 00:41:14,819 by looking at some of their stupid faces out there. And I don't mean to be a jerk about it, but 415 00:41:14,819 --> 00:41:21,300 ever since I started making truck podcasts for truck drivers, I've become so in tune to giving 416 00:41:21,300 --> 00:41:26,498 them room out there, making sure that I'm letting them merge, or letting them get over when there's 417 00:41:26,780 --> 00:41:31,539 somebody pulled over on the side of the road, um, making sure to not tailgate them, making sure to 418 00:41:31,540 --> 00:41:37,820 not cut in front of them. I take pride in being a safe driver around, uh, truck drivers, because I 419 00:41:37,820 --> 00:41:43,339 know that those guys are the safest drivers out there on the road. If they weren't, uh, we would be 420 00:41:43,379 --> 00:41:49,619 waiting behind pile ups all the time. So, um, the fact that you guys are thinking about that, as 421 00:41:49,620 --> 00:41:55,060 well as your own safety, I think is very commendable and deserves a tip of the cap. Um, and, 422 00:41:55,060 --> 00:41:59,739 Rodney, I actually want to come to you with the same thing I was just talking to Tim about. Um, are 423 00:41:59,740 --> 00:42:03,739 there any trends that you've seen out there in Sherman lately that you would kind of want to 424 00:42:03,780 --> 00:42:10,229 clean up a little bit? Uh, anything come to mind? Well, I think we have shored up the seatbelt 425 00:42:10,230 --> 00:42:17,189 issue. What I see. You know, just, uh, traffic lights and following distance or or two things that 426 00:42:17,189 --> 00:42:22,988 we really need to shore up here out of Sherman. Um, I'm not sure if there's something that stands out 427 00:42:22,989 --> 00:42:29,469 bigger to Tim than then that does to me. But those are the two things that I see. Me too. 428 00:42:29,949 --> 00:42:34,829 Now, when you say traffic lights. Does that mean you have drivers that are maybe running them or 429 00:42:34,830 --> 00:42:39,190 maybe going through a yellow a little bit too late? Uh, what? What do you mean when you just say 430 00:42:39,229 --> 00:42:45,829 traffic lights? Yes. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, you're taught when you get your CDL that every 431 00:42:45,830 --> 00:42:51,429 light's supposed to be a stale light. Well, you know, as human nature, these guys get complacent 432 00:42:51,669 --> 00:42:56,989 sometimes, can be in a hurry. And they, they try to squeeze that, that light. And we see that more 433 00:42:56,990 --> 00:43:03,549 often than not. You know, it's, um, they're just not, not approaching the lights in the correct 434 00:43:03,549 --> 00:43:09,908 manner. Got it. Got it. Um, I'll keep it with you here. Rodney, I've got this question written down, 435 00:43:09,909 --> 00:43:15,389 and I, I, I kind of debated on whether or not I wanted to run with this one, but I just want to 436 00:43:15,389 --> 00:43:21,468 throw it out there and see where it goes. Uh, do you think that the advances in safety technology 437 00:43:21,469 --> 00:43:27,069 can sometimes make drivers a little bit complacent when they should be more turned on and 438 00:43:27,070 --> 00:43:33,589 tuned in to what's going on? Or are these drivers adapting to this stuff so well that it's only 439 00:43:33,590 --> 00:43:38,349 sharpening their senses, and it doesn't really ever make them complacent? Rodney, what would be 440 00:43:38,350 --> 00:43:44,269 your take on that? Well, we would hope that it is only sharpening their skills and they're not 441 00:43:44,269 --> 00:43:50,509 becoming complacent. And I believe with the systems that we have, um, the driver that's on can 442 00:43:50,509 --> 00:43:55,550 speak for me here probably. I don't think they can be complacent because, you know, our cameras are 443 00:43:55,550 --> 00:44:01,269 going to be talking to you. Something's going to be beeping. Something's going to be going off. I, I 444 00:44:01,389 --> 00:44:06,760 think it makes these guys more alert. Jackie, uh, your response there. Now, if you if you were having 445 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:11,439 a little bit of trouble here in Rodney, he said that, uh, he thinks the this stuff makes you more 446 00:44:11,439 --> 00:44:16,119 alert. And he said it's, it might almost be impossible for you to become complacent because 447 00:44:16,120 --> 00:44:22,439 of all the alerts and all the things going on. Your thoughts, my friend? Yes, I agree with that. Oh, 448 00:44:22,439 --> 00:44:29,399 well, because, um, there's, um, there's many times, I mean, even myself, you know, I've got any 449 00:44:29,399 --> 00:44:36,320 odd or just got too much going down the road is what I really call it. And, um, if 450 00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:43,159 I'm coming up on a truck or a full well or anybody that I get to close it, it allows, it 451 00:44:43,159 --> 00:44:50,079 lets me know a bit of an alert, and then it's part B and the camera system will say, you 452 00:44:50,080 --> 00:44:56,799 know, that you got far too close or something like that. Well, and the system, the 453 00:44:56,800 --> 00:45:03,639 system is good. It really is. I mean, because it got all kinds of good things 454 00:45:03,639 --> 00:45:10,479 to it. I mean, like breaking and stuff like that. This trunk of mine. And I'm talking with them 455 00:45:10,480 --> 00:45:17,319 because I know Robbie does. Um, if, um, if I run up on somebody and they're driving, they're driving a 456 00:45:17,319 --> 00:45:23,879 lot slower. Me, my truck, my truck actually, like, hit the brake. That's what I call a hard 457 00:45:23,879 --> 00:45:30,599 brake. It is. So it will stop. It will let you know the lurching way ahead. So I don't 458 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:37,159 I think the technology is good on it compared to what it was eight years ago. Sure. Now, uh, Tim, will 459 00:45:37,159 --> 00:45:42,320 that register if that happens in, in that circumstance where Jackie's just let's say he's 460 00:45:42,320 --> 00:45:47,079 doing the speed limit and he's cruising along without very much traffic, and all of a sudden 461 00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:53,519 there's a car in his lane doing 20 miles an hour under the speed limit. He comes up on it fast. The, 462 00:45:53,520 --> 00:45:59,079 uh, the tech kicks in and breaks for him. Is there any time when you're going to get that and it's 463 00:45:59,080 --> 00:46:05,610 going to read that it was an aggressive brake or a hard brake, and if so, how do you coach in that 464 00:46:05,610 --> 00:46:11,169 situation? Because we've all come up on it. You know, grandma merges onto the freeway in her 465 00:46:11,169 --> 00:46:17,249 Lincoln Continental and she just never gets up to speed. And and that's a hazard in and of itself. 466 00:46:17,449 --> 00:46:22,569 But I wonder how you go about, uh, talking through and working through those situations. And I'll 467 00:46:22,570 --> 00:46:26,969 come to Rodney after you answer this, Tim, because I want to hear the terminal manager perspective 468 00:46:26,970 --> 00:46:33,929 as well. Yeah. So a lot of a lot of alerts are based on a heartbreaking is 469 00:46:33,929 --> 00:46:40,689 based on a G-Force event. Uh, so, you know, sometimes you could, you 470 00:46:40,689 --> 00:46:47,689 could use your brake to moderately slow down and it won't trigger an event. Or you going 471 00:46:47,690 --> 00:46:53,168 to create such a G-Force event that is going to create a hard braking event. So there's there's 472 00:46:53,169 --> 00:46:59,929 several different options on that is how the driver handle handles. The braking is what it's 473 00:46:59,929 --> 00:47:06,689 going to show. Uh, but I still say, you know, the biggest thing, the, the best 474 00:47:06,689 --> 00:47:13,449 technology that we could use is driving beyond our headlights. So, you know, when 475 00:47:13,449 --> 00:47:19,809 you, you know, you should be able to understand traffic, traffic flows and you should be able to 476 00:47:20,649 --> 00:47:26,290 be have the awareness of yourself. These systems just assist us in things. They don't they they 477 00:47:26,290 --> 00:47:33,128 don't, you know, prevent things. So ultimately the driver has to be aware of his 478 00:47:33,129 --> 00:47:40,129 situation, of, you know, what's in front of him. And, uh, you can see if you're coming up on a, on a car, 479 00:47:40,329 --> 00:47:46,128 you know, start, you know, using some moderate braking, not wait till the last second to have to 480 00:47:46,169 --> 00:47:52,849 hit a hard brake. Right. This is why we say always leave yourself an out, right? Yes. Uh, 481 00:47:52,889 --> 00:47:59,649 Rodney, your perspective on that. Um, I, I know that Tim kind of, uh, gave us a pretty good look at how 482 00:47:59,649 --> 00:48:04,649 that situations looked at from your side. If you get a driver that gets caught up in something 483 00:48:04,649 --> 00:48:10,929 like that and maybe they register a hard break, um, how do you go about that, that coaching. You know, I 484 00:48:10,969 --> 00:48:15,409 the what I'm trying to get to here is we all know that there's plenty of things that can be 485 00:48:15,409 --> 00:48:21,689 prevented by good, safe drivers. But we also know that the road inherently, in its nature, is 486 00:48:21,689 --> 00:48:27,449 incredibly unpredictable. Um, how do you go about the coaching when something unpredictable has 487 00:48:27,449 --> 00:48:34,168 happened? Rodney and, uh, still have a lesson and and maybe help the driver improve for next time. 488 00:48:34,450 --> 00:48:39,649 Yeah. And see, I'm going to approach the hard break because the 80 year old woman pulling on the 489 00:48:39,649 --> 00:48:46,409 highway a little slow, the same way I'm going to approach a hard break from a guy in a red 490 00:48:46,409 --> 00:48:53,329 light. You like Tim said, you you you need to drive ahead of your headlights. And if you're alert and 491 00:48:53,330 --> 00:48:59,169 aware. Well, you seen that lady pulling onto the road. You could have judged her speed when she was 492 00:48:59,219 --> 00:49:05,499 pulling out, and you probably should have been slowing down. 100 to 200 yards prior to your 493 00:49:05,499 --> 00:49:12,019 mitigation system having to break for you. Um, these systems are not to prevent 494 00:49:12,019 --> 00:49:19,019 accidents. They are just assistance. Sure, sure. Great stuff there. Uh, fellows, I this 495 00:49:19,020 --> 00:49:24,179 has been awesome. Uh, we're kind of coming to the end of our time here. Um, but I got a couple more 496 00:49:24,219 --> 00:49:28,379 that I want to hit you guys with, and I want to go around the table with this one. And, Jackie, I'm 497 00:49:28,379 --> 00:49:34,978 going to start with you. Uh, from the driver perspective. What? Safety technology doesn't exist 498 00:49:34,979 --> 00:49:41,019 currently that you think would be a really good addition to the lineup of safety features that 499 00:49:41,020 --> 00:49:48,020 bulk already has. I'm going to be a little funny here. Okay? Okay. Please. Do they 500 00:49:48,020 --> 00:49:53,459 need a they need to put an arm in here to slap you if they see you getting to wear lots to get 501 00:49:53,460 --> 00:50:00,339 heavy up. No. But yeah, I mean, there. Um, I don't I 502 00:50:00,340 --> 00:50:07,179 don't really know what else because, um, there's all kinds of logs in here. I mean, in the camera. 503 00:50:07,219 --> 00:50:12,419 The camera tells you everything to, you know. I mean, sometimes I'll reach down and grab, get 504 00:50:12,419 --> 00:50:17,379 something to drink and then say, distracted driving. Yeah, well, I know why it's saying that. 505 00:50:17,419 --> 00:50:24,259 It's because of me. Because I'm looking straight ahead. And, um. And I agree with Rodney Cam 506 00:50:24,300 --> 00:50:31,059 on that, too. Um, like grandma coming off the way he said it is, the drivers should be aware of 507 00:50:31,100 --> 00:50:37,819 that. And we all know that we can slow down. It's just sometimes I don't know where our heads 508 00:50:37,820 --> 00:50:44,619 are, so I don't I don't know. I mean, I don't know what else to say about that, I really don't. Well, 509 00:50:44,659 --> 00:50:50,299 that's a that's a pretty good little innovation there, I imagine. Uh, if uh, now if they invented 510 00:50:50,340 --> 00:50:54,779 that arm to slap the driver when they were getting a little bit too relaxed. Tim, would you 511 00:50:54,820 --> 00:51:00,590 sit next to the button and watch the cameras a little bit more actively if you had that ability. 512 00:51:01,710 --> 00:51:08,269 No, I wouldn't want to do that to a driver. Uh, you know, the the all of our all our drivers are 513 00:51:08,269 --> 00:51:14,309 professional drivers. I mean, at the end of the day, they they know what's right and what's wrong. So I, 514 00:51:14,350 --> 00:51:20,149 you know, we rely on their their best judgment out there. Sure. Is there anything, Tim, that comes to 515 00:51:20,189 --> 00:51:26,589 mind, uh, that you would like to see invented, uh, from a safety, uh, standpoint to, to add to the 516 00:51:26,590 --> 00:51:33,509 trucks anything you can think of? Not offhand. Uh. They do such a good job with the innovation. I 517 00:51:33,509 --> 00:51:37,749 mean, it's there's a reason that really smart people are the ones coming up with this stuff. 518 00:51:37,870 --> 00:51:43,469 Yeah, yeah, much smarter than me, I'm sure. You know, like I said, the technology, you know, evolves, you 519 00:51:43,469 --> 00:51:49,589 know, daily, monthly, yearly. So, you know, I'm not I'm not an inventor, but I'm sure there's things 520 00:51:49,590 --> 00:51:56,309 coming out that that will improve, uh, safe operation of the trucks. Rodney. Your turn. 521 00:51:56,470 --> 00:52:00,789 Is there anything that you would like to see invented? Or maybe I'll add to the question for 522 00:52:00,790 --> 00:52:04,350 you a little bit, because of the way that Tim answered it there. Is there anything maybe out 523 00:52:04,350 --> 00:52:09,029 there on the market that's got your ears perked up? I didn't ask you that earlier. So anything 524 00:52:09,030 --> 00:52:14,629 you'd like to see invented or anything that you'd like to try? Maybe sometime in the future? Um, yeah. 525 00:52:14,629 --> 00:52:21,429 I would definitely like to see us expand on the camera system that 526 00:52:21,429 --> 00:52:28,188 we use on our trucks currently. Um, you know, as we started this podcast here, Tim 527 00:52:28,189 --> 00:52:34,870 mentioned we can only see certain angles. Um, we could probably add some cameras here and there 528 00:52:34,949 --> 00:52:40,669 to be able to alleviate a lot of questions that we have with the current footage that we get. 529 00:52:41,790 --> 00:52:47,189 Great stuff there. All right, fellas, well, uh, I think it's about that time we could go ahead and 530 00:52:47,190 --> 00:52:51,949 get to our final thoughts here. I greatly appreciate you guys all coming in for this one. Uh, 531 00:52:51,989 --> 00:52:57,679 safety is always so important for us to talk about. And I wanted to think of maybe a different 532 00:52:57,679 --> 00:53:02,639 way to approach it this time. That's why we went with the technology angle. I appreciate you guys 533 00:53:02,639 --> 00:53:08,719 playing ball with me. And I also want to just tip my cap to you. We know the safety records great 534 00:53:08,720 --> 00:53:14,120 here at bulk. We know we've got a full fleet of very professional, very safe drivers out there. 535 00:53:14,159 --> 00:53:20,079 Jackie Thomas is one of them. Uh, and, uh, thank you so much for your time today, Jackie. Final thoughts 536 00:53:20,080 --> 00:53:26,080 from you before we let you go. My friend. There's this guy woke me up talking about this today. I'll 537 00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:33,080 be honest with you, because I'm going down 64 here, and I've been so cautious for some reason. I 538 00:53:33,080 --> 00:53:39,399 guess it's because I'm here. I don't know, but, I mean, I, I'm good working for balls. I retired from 539 00:53:39,399 --> 00:53:45,079 here and I, you know, I like the technology. I like the way they go about talking to you about 540 00:53:45,080 --> 00:53:50,679 something about wireless and stuff like this, keeping your head up and your eyes straight ahead 541 00:53:50,720 --> 00:53:56,280 and try to decide. And I'm. I'm good with everything. We were talking about the day. I think 542 00:53:56,280 --> 00:54:02,158 the technology, it can get better. There's no doubt in my mind. But I don't have no clue of what they 543 00:54:02,199 --> 00:54:07,999 want. What else they would put in here to help you? Yeah. Leave that to the guys with the beakers and 544 00:54:08,000 --> 00:54:12,279 the eye protection. Right. They can handle that. Just go ahead and keep doing what you're doing. 545 00:54:12,999 --> 00:54:18,239 Yes. Jackie Thomas, really appreciate the time, my friend. We'll get you back on here again soon, okay? 546 00:54:18,840 --> 00:54:24,319 Okay. Thank you. Appreciate y'all. Y'all have a good day. You too. Jackie, we appreciate you. Uh, Tim 547 00:54:24,320 --> 00:54:31,119 Hamilton, safety director. Final thoughts from you today before we let you go on, uh, safety tech in 548 00:54:31,120 --> 00:54:36,559 trucking. Yep. I knew, uh, I've been on enough of these podcasts with you. I knew we would have a 549 00:54:36,559 --> 00:54:43,199 closing comment. So I wrote something out here, and I guess at the end of the day, the technology that 550 00:54:43,200 --> 00:54:50,119 we have, it helps us operate more safely. But it's only one part of the equation our drivers that 551 00:54:50,120 --> 00:54:55,679 we have, the training that we do and the commitment that Balkan Spur has to make 552 00:54:55,679 --> 00:55:01,639 continuous improvements, that makes a big difference. So, you know, we're we're we're proud 553 00:55:01,639 --> 00:55:07,560 and happy of the tools that we do use. But, you know, we're even more proud of the people in the, 554 00:55:07,600 --> 00:55:13,279 you know, the drivers that are using them. And well said Tim. I don't think you could put it any 555 00:55:13,280 --> 00:55:18,360 better than that. And it is you. You said that word in there. It's bulks commitment to it, right? You 556 00:55:18,360 --> 00:55:23,319 don't get this level of performance without a serious commitment from the company that these 557 00:55:23,320 --> 00:55:28,959 drivers are working for. And we see that every day here at Bullock and Spur. My feeling is they're 558 00:55:28,959 --> 00:55:35,759 working for the best, safest company out there in the United States. I am right there around here. 559 00:55:35,840 --> 00:55:40,878 I'm right there with you, man. Well, Tim Hamilton, you always knock it out of the park for us. It's a 560 00:55:40,879 --> 00:55:46,239 very you're in a very important position, which is the reason we bring you on here. And I think from 561 00:55:46,239 --> 00:55:51,409 all of us here at always pneumatic, never static. We can't thank you enough for the amount of time 562 00:55:51,409 --> 00:55:55,809 and effort that you give this podcast, because safety is a really big part of what we do here. 563 00:55:56,050 --> 00:56:00,888 And you guys do it better than almost anybody out there. So thank you so much for the time today, Tim. 564 00:56:01,010 --> 00:56:06,969 Thank you. Rodney, we're coming to you. I saved you for last here so you could hear Tim and Jackie 565 00:56:06,969 --> 00:56:11,929 share their final thoughts. Since this is your first episode with us. Uh, first and foremost, I 566 00:56:11,930 --> 00:56:18,569 want to say congratulations again for the 2024 and 2025 dedicated to Safety and service award 567 00:56:18,570 --> 00:56:23,488 that you received. Just sitting here talking to you for these short 45 minutes, I can tell that 568 00:56:23,489 --> 00:56:29,089 you are very dedicated to that part of the job. Uh, final thoughts from you, Rodney, before we let you 569 00:56:29,089 --> 00:56:35,329 go today. And thank you so much for joining us. Uh, thank you as well. Yeah, I, I do agree that we do 570 00:56:35,370 --> 00:56:42,369 hire have some of the safest drivers in the country. Bulk spur transit, hands down, is the best 571 00:56:42,370 --> 00:56:48,370 company I've ever been associated with. As far as safety goes, without Tim Hamilton keeping the 572 00:56:48,370 --> 00:56:53,169 standard up, I'm not sure that we would be sitting there today, so I do want to thank Tim for 573 00:56:53,169 --> 00:56:59,648 everything he does. And, um, let's just pray for a safe 2026 and soon to be 574 00:56:59,649 --> 00:57:06,648 2027. Yes, sir. Is this the only company you've ever put a temporary tattoo on your face for? Rodney, 575 00:57:06,689 --> 00:57:13,609 this is correct. The only cup. There you go. That's a level of commitment that not many have. Uh, 576 00:57:13,649 --> 00:57:18,289 Rodney Underwood, terminal manager out there at Sherman, Texas. Thank you so much for joining us 577 00:57:18,290 --> 00:57:23,889 today. You guys all did a fantastic job. We'll get you all in here again very soon. Take care. Okay. Be 578 00:57:23,889 --> 00:57:26,129 safe out there, everyone. Thank you. 579 00:57:34,409 --> 00:57:41,289 Hats off to Tim, Rodney and Jackie for that. Thank you guys so much for the time. Um, obviously a very 580 00:57:41,289 --> 00:57:46,129 important conversation. And, uh, I want to give a special tip of the cap to Rodney Underwood 581 00:57:46,129 --> 00:57:51,299 because he joined us at the very last minute for that, and he gave us such valuable insight from 582 00:57:51,300 --> 00:57:56,380 the terminal manager perspective there. Um, so thanks, Rodney, for coming in last minute for us, 583 00:57:56,380 --> 00:58:01,699 and congratulations on being the recipient of the Dedicated to Safety and Service Award. You can 584 00:58:01,699 --> 00:58:06,379 really tell, uh, that it's something that you take seriously when we get you talking about it. Of 585 00:58:06,380 --> 00:58:11,739 course Tim Hamilton always great for this show. Can't thank Tim enough. Uh, Tim starting Tim and 586 00:58:11,740 --> 00:58:16,419 Rachel are kind of leading the charge right now. As far as people that have really given us a lot 587 00:58:16,419 --> 00:58:22,259 of time and a lot of perspective on this podcast, and I can't thank them enough. Uh, Tim brought us 588 00:58:22,259 --> 00:58:28,499 some great stuff today. You can really tell that he is good at his job, man. And of course, gotta say 589 00:58:28,500 --> 00:58:34,819 thank you to my guy, Jackie Thomas. Jackie has never said no to me once. Whether I text him last 590 00:58:34,820 --> 00:58:40,219 minute or whether I call him two weeks in advance. Jackie's always game to come on the show, man, and 591 00:58:40,219 --> 00:58:44,979 I, I love him for it. We've had some great conversations. Uh, a very safe driver, very 592 00:58:44,979 --> 00:58:51,179 professional driver and great perspective for this episode. So big thanks to all of you guys for 593 00:58:51,180 --> 00:58:57,299 the help today. Obviously I couldn't do this one on my own. Um, I've brought you guys some stats 594 00:58:57,299 --> 00:59:03,099 here since we were kind of talking about stats a little bit, but sort of in a in a loose, uh, version. 595 00:59:03,100 --> 00:59:08,499 I've gone to the FM CSA's website. I've been checking out some stats here. I've got some 596 00:59:08,499 --> 00:59:15,099 numbers for you that are pretty sobering. Okay. I don't ever bring these up as a shock factor. I 597 00:59:15,100 --> 00:59:20,899 bring them up because these numbers are real, and I think it's a good from time to time to reflect 598 00:59:20,899 --> 00:59:26,059 on this and think about, uh, the world at large when it comes to this. Obviously, if you're out 599 00:59:26,059 --> 00:59:31,819 there driving in your truck right now listening to this, you are only one person out there on the 600 00:59:31,820 --> 00:59:36,939 road, and you can only affect the things that you do. But hearing about all of the things that have 601 00:59:36,940 --> 00:59:41,940 happened around you during the year kind of put it in perspective. We're getting a lot of really 602 00:59:41,940 --> 00:59:47,589 good perspective on today's episode. So let's start out with the number that is probably the 603 00:59:47,590 --> 00:59:54,509 most sobering. 4171 fatal crashes involving large trucks occurred 604 00:59:54,509 --> 01:00:00,750 in 2024. That's the most recent data we have with Fmcsa. Now, of those 605 01:00:00,750 --> 01:00:07,590 4171 fatal accidents, 4652 fatalities were 606 01:00:07,590 --> 01:00:14,069 reported. So in the neighborhood of 500 more fatalities than there were accidents, that comes 607 01:00:14,069 --> 01:00:20,310 from Fmcsa crash statistics. It's a really hard number to hear, especially knowing that that is 608 01:00:20,310 --> 01:00:25,069 only the ones that involved large trucks or busses. They're kind of looped into the same thing 609 01:00:25,070 --> 01:00:31,910 with the fmcsa. However, the one bright spot that we have with this statistic is an important one. 610 01:00:31,949 --> 01:00:38,339 Fatal large truck crashes fell about 19% from 2022 to 611 01:00:38,339 --> 01:00:45,110 2024. There were 5134 fatal crashes in 2022, and we only 612 01:00:45,110 --> 01:00:51,749 had 4171 and 2024. Only might not be the best word to use there, but 613 01:00:51,790 --> 01:00:58,229 we're moving in the right direction, and a 20% reduction in only two years time shows really, 614 01:00:58,230 --> 01:01:05,069 really good movement in the right direction. Again, getting these from the Fmcsa crash statistics 615 01:01:05,070 --> 01:01:10,909 now, as you guys probably figured out, and we didn't talk a lot about this because it's not a 616 01:01:10,909 --> 01:01:15,629 problem that we're seeing at bulk right now, at least given what Tim and Rodney told me when I 617 01:01:15,629 --> 01:01:21,988 asked them about recent trends in safety. Speeding was the most frequently recorded driver related 618 01:01:21,989 --> 01:01:28,989 factor for large truck drivers involved in fatal crashes. In Fmcsa recent crash 619 01:01:28,989 --> 01:01:35,468 data reporting, 11,288 people were killed in speeding related crashes 620 01:01:35,469 --> 01:01:42,189 nationwide in 2024. Now, that wraps everybody into it. That's four wheelers. That's passenger 621 01:01:42,190 --> 01:01:48,599 vehicles, that's busses. That's trucks. That's all of it. That's a lot. We lost or we had. Excuse me. We 622 01:01:48,599 --> 01:01:55,559 did lose 11,288 people in 2024 that I was able to source via the 623 01:01:55,599 --> 01:02:02,239 NHTSA. 29% of all US traffic fatalities in 2024 involved 624 01:02:02,240 --> 01:02:05,959 speeding, again from the NHTSA, and 625 01:02:05,959 --> 01:02:12,239 316,757 people were injured in speeding related 626 01:02:12,239 --> 01:02:18,600 crashes. That's a big number. That's a really big number. 316,000 people 627 01:02:18,600 --> 01:02:25,159 injured because of speeding, almost 317,000 people. Look, I want to get to where I'm 628 01:02:25,159 --> 01:02:31,399 going as quick as anybody else does. And I can definitely be accused of having a lead foot out 629 01:02:31,399 --> 01:02:36,159 there on the highway. Um, it's something that I try to change about myself. It's something that I 630 01:02:36,159 --> 01:02:41,199 always try to be conscious of. And I know that you drivers out there listening to this right now are 631 01:02:41,199 --> 01:02:46,079 conscious of it as well. We heard Jackie say, look, I was clipping along at 70. I was moving with 632 01:02:46,079 --> 01:02:52,959 traffic, but at the end of the day, I needed to slow it down and, um, got coached up a little bit 633 01:02:53,000 --> 01:02:58,559 real quick from his terminal manager. And it was that simple. And it's it's a conversation between 634 01:02:58,560 --> 01:03:04,519 two adults. It's not a dressing down. It's not a scolding. It's a, hey, let's keep this safety score 635 01:03:04,520 --> 01:03:10,480 up where it is. Let's keep you safe. Let's keep all the drivers around you on the road safe. And, uh, 636 01:03:10,519 --> 01:03:15,239 we'll get there five minutes later than we would have otherwise. Really, when you look at it from 637 01:03:15,240 --> 01:03:21,119 that angle, it's like, why aren't we all slowing down? I told you guys the the little anecdote of 638 01:03:21,119 --> 01:03:27,279 driving up and down I-5 twice in the last week. And I cannot believe the speed that's being held 639 01:03:27,279 --> 01:03:32,679 out there. And the other thing that I can't believe I'm used to seeing state cops all over 640 01:03:32,680 --> 01:03:39,159 that highway from all the way as far down south as Medford, all the way up as far north as 641 01:03:39,159 --> 01:03:44,718 Portland, meeting the Columbia River. There is always state cops running, and they're not out 642 01:03:44,719 --> 01:03:49,478 there right now. I don't know why. I have no idea if they've changed their enforcement or if 643 01:03:49,479 --> 01:03:56,359 they've ramped it down in recent months. I don't know what I will tell you is solid ten miles an 644 01:03:56,360 --> 01:04:03,040 hour faster than I've really ever seen, consistent traffic flow. And this was not a light traffic day, 645 01:04:03,040 --> 01:04:09,080 guys. This was a really heavy traffic day. Uh, cars bumper to bumper in the left lane as far as you 646 01:04:09,080 --> 01:04:15,399 can see. A lot of them following each other too closely. A lot of people zipping in front of big 647 01:04:15,399 --> 01:04:21,279 semi trucks, not giving them enough room, tailgating them really badly when they get over 648 01:04:21,279 --> 01:04:26,279 into the left lane to either get past the slow moving vehicle or give somebody room on the 649 01:04:26,279 --> 01:04:32,199 shoulder. I don't like to see it, but we all know it happens. So it it makes sense that keeping your 650 01:04:32,199 --> 01:04:38,399 head on a swivel, staying very vigilant about your safety is always the order of the day. 651 01:04:38,919 --> 01:04:45,249 Now, I do have a couple more stats here. Uh, because we talked about seatbelt usage being kind of a 652 01:04:45,250 --> 01:04:51,090 hot topic right now at Bulk and Spur, and this one's really serious, guys. I mean, the the numbers 653 01:04:51,090 --> 01:04:58,089 are so skewed in favor of wearing your seatbelt all the time that it's almost laughable. Um, I 654 01:04:58,090 --> 01:05:03,249 get it. Sometimes. They're not the most comfortable thing. Um, but, uh, being worried that the truck's 655 01:05:03,250 --> 01:05:09,609 going to catch on fire and you can't get out. Uh, I think is, uh, it, you know, probably something that, 656 01:05:09,610 --> 01:05:14,529 uh, that you shouldn't worry about as much as. What if somebody hammers me in the side? Uh, you know, 657 01:05:14,810 --> 01:05:19,169 you get swiped in the passenger or in the driver's side door. Are you even going to be able 658 01:05:19,169 --> 01:05:24,248 to stay in your seat and keep a hold of the wheel and keep your feet on the pedals? If you get hit 659 01:05:24,249 --> 01:05:28,249 hard enough and you don't have your seatbelt on, you probably won't. Tim referenced it. You're gonna 660 01:05:28,249 --> 01:05:33,688 be bouncing all over in that cab and a rollover accident without a seatbelt. Guys, don't even get 661 01:05:33,689 --> 01:05:39,969 me started. I've been to a couple. I've seen it. I've seen the aftermath of the accidents. I grew 662 01:05:39,969 --> 01:05:45,569 up in a very small rural community. If somebody was killed in a traffic accident, not only did we 663 01:05:45,569 --> 01:05:51,289 know, but we were only 5 or 10 minutes away from where it happened. And a lot of times as a kid, you 664 01:05:51,289 --> 01:05:56,690 go out there to see you go out there to support, be with your friends. And let me tell you, it's 665 01:05:56,690 --> 01:06:01,049 something you never want to have to run across. And I know that you drivers know that because 666 01:06:01,049 --> 01:06:07,489 you've seen a lot more out there on the road than I have. Um, but just gotta buckle up, man. Click it 667 01:06:07,490 --> 01:06:11,930 or ticket, as they say. I know that's been out there for a really long time now. I think the 668 01:06:11,930 --> 01:06:18,649 cricketer ticket adage came about back in the 90s, if I remember correctly, and it still holds true 669 01:06:18,650 --> 01:06:23,809 today. They will write you a ticket for it in a heartbeat. They're very serious about it, as they 670 01:06:23,810 --> 01:06:30,689 should be. Let me see where my stat is here. In 2024, an unbuckled passenger vehicle occupant was 671 01:06:30,689 --> 01:06:37,138 killed approximately once every 54 minutes in the United States. Now, that's passenger vehicles. 672 01:06:37,139 --> 01:06:42,099 That's not meant to scare you guys into thinking that that's the number for big trucks, because I 673 01:06:42,100 --> 01:06:48,859 had to get a lot of my seatbelt statistics from the NHTSA here. But seat belts reduce the risk of 674 01:06:48,860 --> 01:06:55,859 fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by about 45%. Now you 675 01:06:55,860 --> 01:07:01,059 heard Tim reference the 60% number. I think that's more related to trucking. And that's an even 676 01:07:01,059 --> 01:07:07,379 bigger number, and one that we should pay even more attention to. Um, it also reduces the 677 01:07:07,740 --> 01:07:14,179 incidence of moderate to critical injury by about 50%, uh, for occupants of light trucks. Seat belts. 678 01:07:14,179 --> 01:07:20,619 Release the risk or, excuse me, reduce the risk of fatal injury by about 60% and moderate to 679 01:07:20,659 --> 01:07:27,539 critical injury by 65%. So buckle it up. There's no reason to belabor this 680 01:07:27,540 --> 01:07:33,539 point if you're listening to this right now. You heard Rodney and Tim reference it. Buckle that 681 01:07:33,540 --> 01:07:37,659 seatbelt. We want you guys getting home to your family safe. We want all the people around you 682 01:07:37,699 --> 01:07:42,819 getting home safe as well. I'm going to go ahead and wrap the stats there. I think we've hammered 683 01:07:42,819 --> 01:07:48,419 this home enough. I have probably 8 or 10 more stats here that I could read you, but you guys get 684 01:07:48,419 --> 01:07:53,299 it. And again, this isn't meant to be a dressing down. It's not meant to be a scolding. This is 685 01:07:53,299 --> 01:07:59,459 always the case with our safety related episodes. This is meant to inform and to make everybody out 686 01:07:59,459 --> 01:08:05,499 there a little bit safer on the road. And I hope you got something out of this. If you did, head on 687 01:08:05,499 --> 01:08:11,099 over to podcast.bulktransit.com and send me an email, let me know what you want to hear us talk about on the 688 01:08:11,099 --> 01:08:16,099 show. If you're one of these guys that take safety very seriously and constantly has it front of 689 01:08:16,099 --> 01:08:22,499 mind and is always got their head on a swivel, get in touch with me. I'd really like to bring you on 690 01:08:22,499 --> 01:08:28,059 and talk about your philosophy and how you go about being the safest possible driver that you 691 01:08:28,060 --> 01:08:33,539 can be while maintaining that professionalism. Those on time deliveries, all of the things that 692 01:08:33,539 --> 01:08:39,909 you have to think about with safety coming in as position one either. Love to hear from you and I'd 693 01:08:39,909 --> 01:08:44,349 love to hear your suggestions on the things you want to hear on this podcast. So head on over 694 01:08:44,350 --> 01:08:51,349 there once again. podcast.bulktransit.com. We're going to wrap this bad boy up today. We're over an hour here, 695 01:08:51,350 --> 01:08:55,389 which always makes me a warm and fuzzy inside, because it means that we had a really good 696 01:08:55,390 --> 01:09:01,589 conversation and lots of really good information. Be safe out there and don't forget to tell a 697 01:09:01,589 --> 01:09:06,749 friend about always pneumatic, never static. We'll be back next week with another hour of content 698 01:09:06,749 --> 01:09:12,069 for you. Wednesday, 5 a.m. local time. Until then, be safe, bulk and spur. Thanks for listening. 699 01:09:14,349 --> 01:09:20,469 And that's all she blows for today's episode of Always Pneumatic, Never Static. Your number one and 700 01:09:20,470 --> 01:09:26,349 probably only Pneumatic Trucking podcast, brought to you by Bulk Transit. Thanks for rolling with us 701 01:09:26,350 --> 01:09:31,149 today. Till next time, stay safe. Keep those lines clear and keep it pumping.