Card Game

When The Beer Store-the primary distributor of beer in Ontario-declared war on backing claims, fleet manager Kevin Riley knew it would be an ambitious effort. The business operates a lot of trucks-285, to be exact-mostly in cramped quarters: The Beer Store operates 430 retail stores and delivers to 17,000 bars and restaurants across the province.
It also employs 700 drivers and driver-helpers. “We have two people in our trucks at most times, and yet we continue to have backing accidents,” he says.

To make sure everyone is speaking the same language when they’re maneuvering the trucks into tight spots, Riley worked with the Ontario Safety League to create a laminated card-the size of a business card-that shows six standard hand signals driver-helpers should use. It also provides tips about how to prevent accidents and lists The Beer Store’s official policy on backing procedures.

Riley says the card is part of an ongoing training program that started a couple of years ago. The goal is to reduce all accidents by a least 20%, and the card is a cheap and simple way to make sure drivers and their helpers are able to communicate.

“Most accidents are preventable,” says Riley. “We want our drivers and the public to be safe. A nice bonus is that every accident we can prevent is money in our pocket.”