Insights - July/August 2017 - 17

Tom DiSalvi, vice president of safety
and loss prevention, Schneider
The motor carrier, one of the largest
intermodal truckers with more than
380,000 loads moved last year, has
demonstrated a commitment to intermodal, by acquiring thousands of new
chassis that could enhance safety.
Schneider's safety program is
focused on drivers. They introduced a
collision mitigation technology system
that has reduced rear end accident
claims by 95 percent over a multi-year
period.
"We develop a strong culture
of safety, starting with a genuine
commitment from the executive level,
to live out our corporate value of
'Safety First and Always.' Without that
commitment, buying the latest safety
gadget or pushing yet another safety
A Schneider driver prepares for a trip.
slogan won't result in sustainable
benefit. Faced with a tightening driver market, we continue to put
overarching goal is to improve safety for all constituents -
the safest drivers possible on the road and retain those drivers
workers in the facility, truck drivers, the general public and NS
once trained."
employees. A lot of our program is making sure processes
Schneider's efforts are reinforced with safety training when
are correct. Any failure to follow the processes can have
drivers are hired, and in multiple annual events during their
significant impact."
careers. There are two particularly important safety-related steps.
There are three critical focus areas for terminal and inter"Schneider has used electronic logging for about eight years.
modal safety - securement, "blue flag" protection and proper
Given the culture of Hours of Service compliance that it has
hazardous materials handling.
created, drivers know they will never be asked to violate HOS
Securement is focused on following processes to ensure that
rules. Since 2006, Schneider has also worked to develop and
trailers and containers are properly and safely placed on rail cars.
manage a sleep apnea program to detect, treat and monitor
One step that is taken is that all division managers are trained in
compliance. This program leads the industry and has been
inspecting securement practices. Booth said the division managrecognized by the National Sleep Foundation.
ers' reviews are not an inspection of contractors, but instead an
"Terminal operators have put a lot of focus on the driver side
audit of their processes in verifying securement.
of terminal operations in the last few years. Ongoing partnerships
"Blue flag" protection is a rail industry term for signs placed
with carriers, to invite carrier leadership and safety teams onon rail equipment that can't be moved or coupled to because of
terminal to observe driver safety within the terminal, is also a
safety reasons. Training also is emphasized in this area.
favorable step to assure driver and other workers' safety on the
Proper hazardous materials training is largely done through
terminal."
videos.
"There is one other important thing about intermodal
Cary Booth, group vice president, intermodal operations,
facilities. They are more modern than they used to be. That has
Norfolk Southern
resulted in safety improvements. Aisle ways are less crowded.
Technology such as express gates, smartphones and AGS tend
The company has been a repeat winner, many times over, of
to move truckers faster and more safely. As technology develops
the industry's E.H. Harriman Award for safest operator among the
further, trucker dwell time will be reduced, further improving
largest railroads.
safety."
"We focus on several areas, most intensively because the

July/August 2017 | Intermodal Insights

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