The numbers are impressive. In the 24 months before mid-January, Breckenridge Trucking's inspections scored well above the average carrier. The fleet has about 85 tractors and 130 tank trailers that run more than 5 million miles annually.
Based on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration SAFER data, Breckenridge Trucking's equipment underwent 190 vehicle inspections over the past two years, scoring only two out-of-service violations. This 1.1% OOS rate falls well below the 22.26% national average. Over the same period, the carrier had 212 inspections of its drivers and 186 hazmat inspections without any violations, compared to nationwide out-of-service rates of 6.67% and 4.44%, respectively. Those successes demonstrate how safety is ingrained into Breckenridge's operations. At the Wenona, Illinois-based tank carrier, noted owner Daniel Breckenridge, the culture of safety begins with every employee.
"Everyone is involved, from office personnel to drivers, technicians, management, and ownership," Breckenridge said. "Starting with an extensive orientation program and through ongoing initiatives, we train everybody equally. The goal is to make sure everyone understands and practices safe operations so at the end of the day, our personnel, our customers, and the public are safer."
Family-owned Breckenridge Trucking was founded in 1973 by Donald Breckenridge, Daniel's father. Daniel owns and operates the business today with his wife, Susan, and their daughter, Courtney.
As a 100% tank operation, Breckenridge Trucking is a bulk hazmat carrier that transports a range of alcohols, petroleum products, and food-grade commodities. In addition to its focus on the transportation of refined fuel products, such as ethanol, gasoline, and diesel, the fleet is also expanding its food-grade division.
See also: Giving drivers a reason to stay
With its fleet of late-model Kenworth T680 tractors, averaging less than six years old, and Polar tank trailers, the company operates mainly in the Midwest and Texas, but the carrier routinely covers a footprint that extends from Colorado to the East Coast and Florida as it hauls loads for customers across the 48 lower states and Canada.
"Part of our focus on safety has been on adopting the latest technologies," Breckenridge stated.
"We use ELDs and forward-facing cameras, for example, to track driving behaviors and manage hours-of-service compliance. Knowing we have well-rested and safe drivers is extremely important to safe operations."
Breckenridge Trucking's commitment to safety also includes spec'ing safety solutions from Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems. In selecting the technologies, the carrier did extensive homework that included demos and test drives, where Breckenridge noted they were able to re-enact real-life situations.
"That's why we were sold on Bendix ADB22X air disc brake systems and became an early adopter in 2010," Breckenridge related. "As a tank operation hauling hazmat loads, we believe the shorter stopping distance of air disc brakes is a huge factor. We've also found that the quicker pad replacement and longer pad life of ADBs leads to greater uptime and lower maintenance costs."
Breckenridge Trucking was also an early user of the Bendix ESP full-stability system when it launched in 2015 and later began using the Bendix Fusion advanced driver assistance system. "We were immediately convinced that this technology helps assist drivers in potentially mitigating crash situations, including rollovers and loss-of-control scenarios," Breckenridge said.
Additionally, Breckenridge Trucking specs Bendix TABS-6 Advanced trailer roll stability and Bendix BlindSpotter side object detection systems on trailers to enhance vehicle safety.
"Our drivers appreciate our investment in safety technologies," Breckenridge said. "That's part of the reason our turnover rate is much better than the industry average, even while we're expanding and always looking to hire new drivers."
Breckenridge Trucking has also boosted its recruitment and retention efforts with programs that allow two-thirds of its drivers to be home daily and regional operators to be off the road every weekend. Company drivers receive weekly settlements and vacation; PTO; holiday and detention time pay; a company-matched 401(k); and fully paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums. The drivers are also compensated for orientation and provided with uniforms and personal protective equipment.
According to Daniel Breckenridge, the carrier has always prioritized customer service while never compromising safety. This is why, as the data shows, Breckenridge Trucking continues to rank among the safest motor carriers on the road.
