Las Vegas. Volvo Trucks honored Erb International, Inc. and Muñoz Trucking, Inc. on Tuesday during the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference and Exhibition for their outstanding safety performances in 2011, naming each fleet a winner of the 2012 Volvo Trucks Safety Award. Each carrier will receive $25,000 to be used toward their safety-related programs. Michelin America Truck Tires again joined Volvo as a supporting sponsor of the award.
The awards are given in two categories: one for fleets with less than 20 million miles of annual operation and the other for those with more than 20 million miles. Fleets were ranked by their accident frequency rates, using the U.S. Department of Transportation definition of a “recordable accident,” as well as by their accident prevention programs.
Among the factors Volvo and Michelin look for in winners are:
- A total commitment to safety throughout the organization
- Dedication of resources to safety
- An investment in drivers, including training
- A focus on accident prevention
“Safety has been a core value at Volvo since 1927,” said Magnus Koeck, Volvo Trucks vice president, marketing and brand management. “It permeates our culture. Erb International and Muñoz Trucking, Inc. have clearly demonstrated the importance of safety within their organizations. We’re pleased to acknowledge those commitments and how they translate into safe performance on the road.”
“Muñoz Trucking, Inc. and ERB International both have shown an outstanding commitment to the safety of their employees and others,” said Mike Cain, Michelin vice president of original equipment. “We’re pleased to join Volvo Trucks in recognizing both the safety cultures and excellent performance records of these fleets.”
Erb International earned the Volvo Trucks Safety Award in the over 20 million miles category. The Erb Group of companies began as a one-man operation in 1959 and now employs more than 1,200 plus 140 owner-operators across a network of 10 terminals.
The company focuses on employee training and performance with an employee and driver wellness program, encouraging and supporting driver participation in Truck Driving Championships, offering a driver performance monitoring and incentive program, and collecting driver performance data for use in developing driver risk assessment reports, Koeck noted. They also stress preventive safety through a hazard prevention program, active communication of safety reminders in all terminal driver’s rooms and available driver supervisors and trainers at each terminal.
Muñoz Trucking, Inc. of El Paso, TX received the award in the under 20 million miles category. They began in 1989 as a dry-van company hauling general freight. Today the fleet provides a wide range of transportation and warehousing services throughout North America. With a fleet of 79 trucks, Muñoz Trucking had a zero recordable accidents in 2011 during 10,195,060 miles of operation.
Muñoz Trucking employs a three-phase safety process that’s enforced in each department. Phase 1 focuses on staying informed of the newest safety regulations and industry trends, with specific attention on the full status of drivers, including CDL status, driver physical, driver logs and other documentation. Phase 2 focuses on enforcing the safety policies and identifying potential driver issues. Phase 3 rewards safety compliance, providing driver bonuses for every clean DOT inspection and a yearend bonus for remaining accident-free throughout the calendar year.
“Safety means everything to Muñoz Trucking,” said Juan Pablo Muñoz, president of Muñoz Trucking.”The check will be going to our drivers. They earned it.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to win the Volvo Trucks Safety Award,” said Wendell Erb, Erb International president and CEO. “This is not something you can do overnight… [Our drivers will be seeing an increase in their safety bonuses to thank them for this achievement.]”
Attendees at the safety awards ceremony also had the opportunity to meet Göran Nyberg, newly appointed president sales and marketing for Volvo Trucks North America. “It is always encouraging to meet customers who share our passion for safety,” he told the audience. We must do our best to deliver value to our customers, including: integration, pursuing alternative fuels as another opportunity and offering them support services—total business solutions.
