Important contributions to driver safety?

I have recently read a number of posts, railroadings really, about CDL schools and how they contribute to a terrible lack of safety in the trucking industry. A select few individuals on this forum truly believe that the level of training at a CDL school is so substandard, that perhaps we should just go back to the pre-CDL days when almost anyone with a license could hop in a tractor-trailer or bus and drive.

To hear it told by some of these guys, a person might think that CDL schools actually take good drivers and ruin them. In truth, some CDL schools are 3rd party testers and some, some I say, license drivers that probably shouldn't be licensed(but most of us who have been through a school and licensed by a state examiner can attest that this is the exception rather than the rule).

Upon examination of some of these posts, you might discover that these guys have been driving for 20 or even 30 years, were grandfathered in to their CDL and probably have never been to a CDL school. Yet by their opinions you would think they were CDL training experts. Keep reading their posts in thread after exhausting, successive thread and you will find that they post in an almost "copy & paste" fashion, because the message and the words rarely change.

I have done some preliminary research on the correlation between CDL school graduates and Trucking accidents. I have found no statistical data so far. I expanded my search to find a correlation between inexperienced drivers and Trucking accidents, and have found little so far.

What I was able to find is a PDF document on the FMCSA website which examines a number of studies done by independent groups covering many different aspects of the Industry in relation to Safety, and I have some findings to report. **Note, these studies are done in an attempt to determine ways that safety can be improved in the industry. An overhaul of the CDL school environment isn't even mentioned.**

There are certain factors that have a direct correlation to safety in the trucking industry. The most notable of these are:

1. Pay:

"...analysis showed a nearly one to one relationship between the compensation variables and crash probability. For every 10% increase in average driver compensation (including benefits and anticipated raise), the carrier experienced 9.2% less crashes. The presence of a safety bonus was also a significant variable."

"...at higher levels of pay, the income becomes sufficient enough that workers feel comfortable seeking more leisure time. The shape of the supply curve showed that, at pay rates below 31.4 cents per mile, drivers worked longer hours. For rates above 31.4 cents per mile, drivers worked fewer hours, choosing leisure time over the extra income."

2. Driving History

"Statistical analysis of the data showed that the two violations associated with the highest increase in likelihood of a future crash were reckless driving and improper turn violations. When a driver was cited for one of these violations, their likelihood of having a future crash increased 325% and 105%, respectively. Both log book (i.e., false or no log book entry) and disqualified driver violations were associated with more than a 50% increase in the likelihood of a future crash. An HOS violation and a medical certificate violation were found to increase crash likelihood 41% and 18%, respectively.
The four convictions associated with the highest likelihood of a future crash were improper or erratic lane changes; failure to yield right of way; improper turn; and failure to keep in proper lane. Drivers convicted of one of these types of convictions increased their likelihood of a future crash 91% to 100%. Finally, the results of the crash data analysis indicated that drivers who had prior crash involvement increased their likelihood of having a future crash by 87%."

Another noteworthy quote from this document which does concern training:

"...suggesting that risky drivers are more than simply those with a lack of skill or inadequate training. In an interview with Peter Van Dyne, technical director for Liberty Mutual, he explains that “many crashes are caused by drivers’ habits and practice, not by their lack of technical knowledge. For example, a driver may be careless about making lane changes, or the use of cruise control, even though he or she knows the proper procedures” (as cited in Leavitt, 2005). This reinforces the notion that safety cannot simply be improved with more training. Often drivers possess the skill and knowledge needed to drive safely, but a bad habit or outside factors, such as a weak safety climate or lack of communication within an organization, will intervene and result in unsafe driving behaviors."

The above quote directly supports a study that was done by Schneider National back in 2004 showing that the majority of their damage claims could be attributed to drivers who had between 1 and 3 years of experience. NOT, the recent school graduates that some would blame for most of the damage. The explanation of that study was almost the same as was given above.... COMPLACENCY! Not lack of training.

And one other quote from a study that makes a direct link between certain drivers and their likelihood of being cited for a moving violation:

Union members, drivers at larger firms, and drivers who learned to drive a truck at a private trucking school were significantly less likely to have received a moving violation in the last 12 months. Drivers at smaller firms, owner-operators, drivers who drove more miles in the last 24 hours, and drivers who learned to drive at a public or technical school were all more likely to have received a moving violation.

The information above can probably be attributed to one simple fact: Large firms, and union companies govern their vehicles while small firms and owner ops do not. As far as the difference between Private school graduates and Tech School grads, who knows? Perhaps the fact that private school grads pay a higher price for their training leads them to take more precautions with their investment.

Summary: These experienced drivers have every right to question the examiners who give students their licenses. But understand that in most cases it is not the CDL school that makes that determination. You should also move a huge step forward and criticize the trucking companies who evaluate these students over the course of 6 weeks of OJT and determine to give them a set of keys. Students should continue to exercises the safe practices that they are taught initially. Stop trying to run with the "Super Truckers" who taunt you on the radio and DRIVE YOUR OWN TRIP!

 

Again, filling the forums with useless rhetoric and pointless challenges.

And yes, I did cut and paste... it was a 211 page document and I was trying to find information other than my own personal beliefs for these new drivers to use. I tried to spend more time researching and less time flapping at the jaws.

I do not push school on every thread I can pull up, I originally came here for advice and information. But what kind of man would I be if I continued to let CDL School slammings to go unchallenged.

I will continue to research and post solid information, real stories of real people, both good and bad.

I DO NOT push or advocate for CDL schools in general. I do advocate for quality schools that actually train students. I do advocate people making informed decisions about which type of school to go to, because like it or not, most of these people will not get into trucking by learning the "old school way."

 

You mis-understand what I said, sir. I have no problem with driver's who have been grandfathered in.... they learned to drive in their own way and I think that is great.

What I was saying is that they have never attended a school yet they speak very lowly of them. They are not speaking from experience. All of the Instructors at my school save one, were grandfathered in, and there is nobody, not anybody that I would rather have training my students.

You say it is BS, yet you summarized my post in one sentence.

It's difficult to help a man that quit a job for no apparent reason. The story about being forced to go OTR in a daycab and having to pay his own hotel bill is BS, you know it and I know it. We know nothing else about him except that he has had 2 jobs in the past year and who knows how many jobs prior to that. We know nothing of his driving record or his criminal history. Schneider may have been taking a chance hiring him a year ago when jobs were still plentiful, and now his record just isn't good enough. Too many variables to be blaming this on anybody except the guy who quit his job without notice. What did this guy do with his truck when he quit Schneider, do you know.... I don't either.

BTW, I didn't see where you had tried to help this guy at all.