Canadian Carriers Bring Home Safety Awards
LAS VEGAS — If Canadian fleets haven’t already garnered a reputation for safety, they certainly have now.
Ontario’s Brian Kurtz Trucking and Manitoba’s Bison Transport are each taking home a Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) National Fleet Safety Award in their respective categories.
Kurtz won in the small carrier division while Bison won in the large carrier division. Presidents of both companies, Brian Kurtz and Rob Penner, were on hand to receive their awards.
“Safety doesn’t just happen by chance — it takes a lot of hard work. It also requires a group effort,” said Chris Burruss, TCA’s president. “From the senior leadership to the administrative support personnel, to the safety directors and the drivers themselves, the entire team from both Brian Kurtz Trucking and Bison Transport should be commended… you are the safest fleets in North America!”
“Our mission is to be the best, to constantly set the bar a bit higher, to be the fleet that others set their standards to,” Kurtz trucking put in its application for the prize. The family-operated carrier is based “on a blend of old-school values and modern technology,” TCA noted. Owners and management maintain an open door policy and know every driver by first name. Employees have a safe, healthy work environment with a series of bonus programs that reward drivers for safe performance.
TCA explained that Kurtz Trucking’s safety management programs require the involvement of not only employees, but Brian Kurtz and other upper management as well. The company only hires drivers who have two years of verifiable cross-border driving and can pass a “high-standard behaviorial and situation-based interviews,” TCA explained. A new online system gives drivers customized training that helps with their individual needs while allowing for self-paced learning.
Kurtz Trucking was also recently named one of TCA’s Besst Fleet to Drive For.
Over the last three years, Bison’s total accidents per million miles has decreased 23 percent, while its overall accident, insurance, and claims cost has been reduced by more than $1.1 million. Bison, TCA said, has created a corporate culture with the mantra “You’re Safe With Me.” TCA noted Bison’s supportive safety culture, as well as the excellent compensation, training, and tools it uses to grow their safe working environment. It also invests millions of dollars in new equipment and technology, TCA noted.
“Being the safest fleet in North America comes as a result of each person doing their very best to provide safe and reliable transportation services,” according to Bison’s grand prive application. “It is a reflection of who we are and how we work together.”
And by extension, Brian Kurtz Trucking and Bison Transport are a reflection of Canada.
Maybe we should ask them how to bring the Stanley Cup back home.
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