Trucking Safety: “D” Is For Don't Hire This Driver

By Annette Estes

Trucking companies that use behavioral assessments to screen driver applicants have cut their accident rates and costs substantially, sometimes by half or more. Research and experience prove this to be true.

A study conducted by Behavioral-Values Research Associates in 1993 showed that behavioral style is a better determiner of safe driving practices than how much safety training a driver has had.

A behavioral assessment measures normal behavior in four areas: D (Dominant), I (Influencing), S (Steadiness), and C (Cautious, Compliant to Standards).

The D factor determines how drivers tend to handle problems and challenges, the I factor looks at their interactions and influence with others, the S at how they respond to the pace of the environment, and the C at how they respond to rules and regulations set by others.

A DISC behavioral assessment shows how the applicant ranks in each of the four factors from 0% to 100%. Fifty percent is the midline; above this the person is said to be high in the factor, below 50% - low. The higher or lower the ranking, the more intense the behavior will be. In this article, we'll look at the highs and lows of the D factor.

Research shows the safest drivers are low in the D factor. Here's the reason why.

Drivers who score highest in the Dominant factor have a Core D style. They are bold, daring, results oriented, argumentative, and quick to challenge. They tend to be impatient. A slow-moving vehicle may cause them to take risks that can cause an accident.

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Trucking Safety: “I” Is For The Interactive Driver

By Annette Estes

Safety research shows drivers' behavioral styles and attitudes are a better predictor of safe driving practices than their level of safety training. A 1993 study conducted by Behavioral-Values Research Associates showed significant behavior and attitude differences between injured and non-injured workers.

Trucking companies that obtain this information to pre-screen driver applicants have significantly reduced their accident rates, costs, workers' comp claims, and have increased driver retention.

A behavioral assessment measures a driver's normal behavior in four areas: D (Dominant), I (Influencing), S (Steadiness), and C (Cautious, Compliant to Standards).

The D factor determines how drivers tend to handle problems and challenges, the I factor looks at their interactions and influence with others, the S at how they respond to the pace of the environment, and the C at how they respond to rules and regulations set by others.

A DISC behavioral assessment shows how the applicant ranks in each of the four factors from 0% to 100%. Above 50% is considered high, below 50% is low. The higher or lower the ranking, the more intense the behavior will be. In this article, we'll look at the highs and lows of the Core I driver.

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Local Trucking truck jobs Are Very Popular For Those Who Want To Stay Close To Home

By LeeAnna

Ever since ancient times, civilization has been aware of the benefits of teak. The wood is easy to work with, and its resistance to decay has made it not only a popular timber tree, but also a valuable resource. The strong structural properties of teak made it the favorite choice for shipbuilders since the middle ages. The main advantage of teak is its unique ability to prevent rust and corrosion when in contact with metal. This makes it invaluable in the shipbuilding industry. It is said that the first outdoor teak benches were actually made of decking from old sailing ships.

The decking on these ships was in such good condition when the ships were about to be scrapped, the wood was recycled and remade in teak outdoor furniture. In the late 1800s, teak began to be used seriously for outdoor furniture. Heavily admired in its native India , teak soon traveled to Victorian England. Teak benches and chairs became the perfect compliment to an English garden. Public parks all over England are furnished with teak outdoor furniture, some of which are nearly a century old. An outstanding material, teak continues to be a choice for boat materials even in this day and age. Elephants are still used to haul teak from inland jungles to the waterways. Transporting teak has always been a difficult problem because of the heavy weight of the wood. The logs are so heavy they will not float. Instead the elephants drag the teak logs through the thick undergrowth in the rain forests. These forests are usually a great distance from the coast. They have even been trained to stack the logs in even piles. And when a bell sounds to end the day, the elephants know to stop their work, without any human direction.