Safety is the gift that keeps giving this holiday season

By JIM KLEPPER
The Trucker News Services

12/29/2008

What do you want this holiday season?

As we all know, most holiday celebrations this time of year involve the giving and receiving of gifts, so I ask you again, what do you want this holiday season?

What was the one thing you wanted for a gift as a kid?

What do you think your employer, if you have one, wants this holiday season?

As a kid, the toy I wanted more than all others was the G.I Joe with the Kung-Fu grip — the one with the red hair and beard.

I know this sounds like a cliché, but it was what I really wanted.

If you have ever seen the 1983 classic movie “A Christmas Story” you will understand what I am about to say.

I wanted that G.I. Joe like Ralphie wanted a “Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock.”

Thankfully I got my wish for Christmas thereby avoiding years of therapy.

As I have gotten older — a lot older — my Christmas wish list has changed.

Now all that I want is for my family to be nearby for the holidays and for everyone to be safe and happy.

But I have also found that this can cost a lot more than a G.I. Joe with a Kung-Fu grip. 

Finally, as an employer, the thing I want most for Christmas is a prosperous new year and for my employees to have a good holiday season.   

Now I know that nobody really cares what I wanted as a kid or what I want as an employer and I know you are probably wondering why I am going down this road.

Well, the answer is simple.

You, as a driver, are able to give these gifts to yourself, your employer and children everywhere. 

All of these things can be provided by you focusing on one thing:

Safety, your safety as well as the safety of your load.

By keeping your load safe you will be able to get that toy, electronic gizmo or necktie that lights up in the hands of the person who really wants it, thereby doing your part to spread joy and holiday cheer.

Of course, by keeping your load safe, you will also give your employer the gift they want — a prosperous new year.

Lost, damaged or stolen freight cuts into a company’s profit and can damage its reputation, thereby negatively impacting the viability of the company and your employment.

Finally, by focusing on safety, you can give the greatest gift of all to your family and friends — your presence.

Rest assured somebody somewhere wants you to make it home safe and sound for the holidays.    

In order to help everyone stay safe, a recent issues of Informer Magazine focused on safety.

According to Walt Fountain, Schneider International recently conducted an analysis of safety issues that led to the development of more than 20 initiatives to help protect you and your freight.

The first is something that we should all follow in all situations — trust your instincts.

If you have a bad feeling about a place you should avoid it.

In other words, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck — it probably is a duck.

This extends to trucks stops and rest areas alike.

As a driver you should focus on areas that are well lit and well traveled.

In order to protect your safety, and the safety of your cargo, you should take the following steps when visiting a truck stop:

• Lock your doors while you are inside or leaving your tractor 

• Always use your mirrors to check inside and outside your tractor before exiting.  If necessary, look out your windows to make sure there are no surprises waiting for you when you leave.

• Avoid walking between parked trucks, which provide ample hiding space for those wishing to prey on the unsuspecting.

• Carry a flashlight.

• Always have your keys out when returning to your tractor.  This will reduce the amount of time you are vulnerable.

• If someone confronts you with a weapon, give them what they want.  Resisting will only increase you risk of injury or death.

• If confronted, and help is available, you should seek it out by yelling for specific help immediately, and

• If confronted, and a means of escape exists, take it.

The steps noted above are not exhaustive and do not include all of the initiatives previously referenced.

 In addition, the steps above should not come as surprise to anyone, yet you would be surprised how many fail to follow this advice.

 So this holiday season— and at all times in the future — I ask you to follow this advice.

You will not only make your employer and children everywhere happy but you will make those that matter most to you happy by showing up safe for holidays.

 If you won’t do it for me, do it for the “Ralphie” in all of us (Seriously, if you have not seen the movie “A Christmas Story,” I highly recommend it!).

Listen to attorney Jim C. Klepper discuss trucking legal issues every Tuesday morning at 7 CST on Sirius Radio Channel 147. Join Host Mark Willis as drivers call in with legal questions.  You can be part of that live question and answer program by calling (888) 782-5966.

Klepper is president of Interstate Trucker Ltd., a law firm dedicated to legal defense of the nation's commercial drivers.  Interstate Trucker represents truck drivers throughout the 48  states on both moving and non-moving violations. He also is president of Drivers Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to his firm’s services at greatly discounted rates. He is a lawyer that has focused on transportation law and the trucking industry in particular. He works to answer your legal questions about trucking and life over-the-road and has his Commercial Driver’s License. 

Call (800) 333-3748 or visit interstatetrucker.com and driverslegalplan.com.

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