Safety Programs
Deadline for entries in the Truck and Industrial Safety or Safety Director of the Year contests
due by March 31st, 2008!
Highway safety is of paramount importance to the members of the North Carolina Trucking Association. As our motto states, "Safety is Our Driving Concern." NCTA has many different programs and employs a number of resources to promote highway safety in North Carolina. Our Safety Department works hand in hand with every agency that is associated with highway travel, safety and security. All major law enforcement agencies in our state work closely with our office to keep North Carolina's freight moving under any conditions.
NCTA promotes highway safety in a number of ways. The primary work involves that of the NCTA Safety Management Council [Download Safety Council Membership Application]. It consists of the Safety Directors and Supervisors of trucking companies, along with interested Allied and Associate members as well. The Safety Management Council and its chapters meet on a regular basis to share information and ideas that they can use to maximize the safety performance of their respective companies. The members of the Council also are available to assist other trucking companies that need advice on compliance or safety issues. This is referred to as their Carrier Assistance Program. Assistance is available to anyone in the trucking business, regardless of whether or not they are a member of NCTA.
The NCTA Safety Management Council also oversees and operates a number of recognition programs that promote highway safety. They are listed below. For more information about the Council, visit their website at www.ctgrp.com/ncsmc or contact NCTA's Director of Safety and Security, Rick Cates. (919/834-0387 or rcates@nctrucking.com.)
NC Truck Driving Championship
The Council plans and manages the NC Truck Driving Championship each year. This competitive event tests the safety knowledge and skills of dedicated truck drivers. You can learn more by visiting the page on this site regarding that event.
NC Road Team - Nominations due by April 15th, 2008!
The Council also manages the activities of the North Carolina Road Team. This group of professional truck drivers compete for the opportunity to make presentations to schools, businesses, and civic groups regarding highway safety and the trucking industry. You can learn more by visiting the page on this site regarding this program.
Driver of the Month/Driver of the Year - Deadline for Entries is March 31st 2008!
Each August during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, NCTA and the Safety Management Council honor a select group of professional truck drivers with especially noteworthy careers marked by impressive safety performances. They are nominated by their companies, and selected by an independent panel of judges made up of state and federal officials.
Truck Watch Program
Even before domestic terrorism and homeland security became everyday concerns in our nation, NCTA's Safety Management Council, the NC State Highway Patrol, the then-NC DMV Enforcement Section, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recognized the trucking industry's need and opportunity to keep a vigilant eye on our state's highways. Spearheaded by Mike Webb of Family Dollar Trucking, a large number of Safety Directors for motor carriers have received extensive training on recognizing and effectively communicating security risks and hazardous highway conditions. These specially trained trucking safety professionals provide extra eyes for law enforcement. Seconds save lives.
Road Patrol
The NCTA Safety Management Council members collectively write over 100 reports per month about truck safety performance on North Carolina's highways. These reports on performance (safe driving, load securement, excessive speed, etc.) give specific details and go directly to the trucking company at issue. Law enforcement is contacted only in cases of imminent hazard. This program is performed as a service to the trucking companies that are contacted, so they have additional feedback on their drivers' and vehicles' highway safety performance. The program also serves to enhance highway safety for all travelers. The Chairman of the Road Patrol program is Bill Creecy of FedEx Ground. Creecy also serves on the NCTA Board of Directors.
Vehicle Safety Awards.
[Download Nomination Form] 2006 Winners
This Safety Management Council program recognizes trucking companies for their cumulative safety performance. Competing in several size categories, companies report their mileage and the number of reportable accidents they had in the previous year. After auditing the results, the Council recognizes those deemed to be the safest trucking companies in North Carolina.
Industrial Safety Awards.
[Download Nomination Form] 2006 Winners
This Safety Management Council program recognizes trucking companies with the best ratio of hours worked relative to time lost due to industrial accidents. As with the Vehicle Safety Awards above, the Council audits the entries for accuracy. Winners are selected in various size categories.