Yet another area where industry and DOT could work together is driver training. Private financing for truck driver trainees and driver training schools is not a favorite of the banking community these days. There is, however, a tremendous demand for the services of quality drivers. Correspondingly, quality driver training schools are much needed as well. Our industry has voluntarily developed an effective minimum training standard with the Professional Truck Driver Institute, but it is expensive to train to this proven standard.
Federal assistance is much needed.
There are indeed many ways for DOT and the trucking industry to work together to accomplish the goal of cutting the number of truck-related fatalities in half. Excessive intimidating, mandating, regulating and penalizing will only slow progress. Working in an environment of trust, DOT and key people from trucking could virtually guarantee the success of the national safety initiative.