Truck Driver Training: Take No Shortcuts!

The greatest threat to the trucking industry today isn’t automation or poorly maintained roads—it’s the devaluing of quality driver training by trucking companies. Smart-Tucking.com highlights this disturbing trend, and what can be done to reverse it.

It’s a sad truth—some trucking companies would rather spend their money on the latest technological bells and whistles to avoid expensive accidents than invest in qualified, well-trained drivers. Sure, crash warning alert systems, anti-rollover systems, and speed limiting and monitoring technologies are great steps toward an accident-free highway, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of forgetting the fundamentals—great drivers. Truckers are more than just “warm bodies” behind the wheel—they are skilled professionals that are tasked with making key decisions on the road, ensuring that precious cargo arrives on time and in tact. Many smaller companies are more apt to recognize the value of driver training, which might be why their accident rates are often far lower than the big companies! Bottom line: Poorly trained drivers are a bad investment. Sure, it may be a quick way for companies to divert their cash into other areas, but anything that puts the safety of truckers—and their fellow drivers on the road—at risk is a bad idea. Proper training will help save lives and make the roads safer for everyone. What’s more important and valuable than that?