(Thank you Doug for sharing your knowledge and thoughts with us.)
ATRI Driver Crash Indicator
What violations can tell you for hiring and training
Doug Marcello
ATRI-PAST BEHAVIORS THAT PREDICT FUTURE CRASHES (2022 Ed.)
Stock brokers (or their attorneys) claim that “past performance is not indicative of future results”. However, ATRI, trucking’s think tank, has studied the correlation between driver violations and potential for their involvement in a crash.
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Recently, the Fourth Edition was released (priors-2005, 2011, and 2018). The results are interesting and useful to defend your drivers.
While no predictive analytic is absolute, the study provides information to assist in 1.) hiring decisions and 2.) training needs. I can be the basis for your development of a “defensible driver” should they be in accident.
The Findings
The 2022 edition identifies the top actions and increased risk of accident as follows:
1. Failure to Yield ROW-141%
2. Failure to Use/Improper Signal-116%
3. Past Crash-113%
4. Reckless Driving-104%
As in any studies, the more data, the more potential for accuracy. Over the four editions of the study, the overall predictive actions are as follows:
1. Reckless Driving-114%
2. Failure to Use/Improper Signal-89%
3. Past Crash-88%
4. Failure to Yield ROW-85%
5. Improper/Erratic Lane Change-79%
The Value
Nuclear verdicts and settlements don’t come from the facts of the accident. They come from systemic failures of the trucking company.
A primary target is the driver—hiring, training, supervision, and entrustment. Their background will be scrutinized and your judgment and efforts will be challenged.
ATRI’s study gives you a foundation for what I call in a presentation I do as “The Defensible Driver.” Utilize ATRI’s findings as a foundation for your defense.
First, align your hiring requirements with the findings in this study. It doesn’t mean you absolutely disqualify.
But you start with whether any of these violations are on her record. None? Great! You have a basis for defending your hiring.
Second, if there are these violations on the MVR, use it as a basis for specific training. Smith System. On-line course. Ride along.
The key is to document both your recognition of the issue AND your efforts to correct it. Document the driver’s training to the specific violations that are a problem.
Third, use is as a guide for your current drivers. If they have one of these primary violations, go to the training and documentation.
The Bottom Line: The study gives you a foundation for defending your drivers…and your judgment. Use it.
