The Smith System...will it be worth it?

I learned the Smith System when i worked at UPS... every time I came back for my seasonal gig I got to study it again. And the super's do a one week ride-along refresher course with every driver that returns for seasonal work.

It's a great system when taught by the proper person... you simply can not understand it if you haven't been thru a comprehensive training from a company like UPS. Just reading it on one page does nothing...

If the Smith System was taught by the mega-carriers they would have real professionals not steering wheel holders.

 

Huh last I heard England and Knight were doing it. Nver went there just remember people talking about it at some point.

 

And just out of curiosity what do you use to direct the path of travel on your vehicle?

 

It is a quality system to better a driver. The better companies out there usually give this as part of their orientation (I've done it 3 times in the last 8 years, twice with the same employer when I transferred). Will it help get employed? Probably not. A lot depends why the hubby was terminated from the last employer and how the company applied it to his DAC report (this will cause a lot of missed job opportunities). Best bet is find out what is on the report and then hire someone to dispute the claims. I had an accident (not at fault) that was presented by a former employer that appeared I was careless and at fault. Cost me $189 through DACFIX (DACFIX.com) to dispute it and actually had it removed from my report. If you choose this route be honest and upfront with the interviewer as to the circumstances. It could get removed or changed to a more favorable disposition and allow for better responses from hiring companies.

 

Some people just aren't cut out to be professional drivers. Smith system should be called the Common Sense System. Cannot imagine how horrible someone must be to get canned for not knowing basic defensive driving. Kind of a let down that he can actually be reinstated with only a class.

 

well sounds like he didnt know basic driver skills or just flunked out adter training for the same reason. When i an backing off the trottle to allow more space to watch the traffic better i also turn off the cb to not listen to the "come on transam your holding us up" It is best not to drive faster then your ### can handle

 

And that right there is the key to getting Millions upon Millions accident free.
Good line

 

What is this smith system you fellas are talking about and if its commen sense why do they need to teach it.....

 

It's about training your mind to do your job basically. Too many people think driving is a secondary activity. You know those multi-taskers out there writing load info,texting in loaded notes to dispatchers and brokers, updating their Youtube, facebook, Twitering, applying make up, eating lunch, posting on TTR.........

It is a simple simple that people should already know whith 5 easy steps that if followed will keep you accident free. All of it is common sense but as everyone keeps commenting that is not so common in the industry.

 

It sharpens your skills as a truck driver. My company was lucky because we are local and the system can be monitored very closely. After a year the numbers proved the system works.

At first there was a little resistance because the average number of years safe driving was around 20 and most figured it would be a waste of time. Then when we got into the program we found it was the old way of defensive driving written by drivers that had tons of safe driving experience and put it to use. I taught my son when he first started driving and he's an excellent driver at 23. It looks good on your record but more importantly it does work if you work the system.