• Safety management continues with a comprehensive training program, from the first orientation to ongoing and refresher courses.

Once a motor carrier has the necessary policies and procedures, has assigned roles and responsibilities, and has hired the right people, the next step is to examine the carrier’s training program. This includes initial, ongoing, and remedial or refresher training.

The initial training is often referred to as “orientation,” and it plays a critical role. It’s the company’s one chance to make a strong impression on its new hires regarding safety and how the vehicles are being operated. Rushing the orientation process tends to create the opposite impression — that all the carrier cares about is getting drivers turning miles as fast as possible.

Orientation must be followed with and reinforced by ongoing and refresher training. Communication of policies, procedures, roles, and responsibilities is critical if you want employees to be focused on compliance and safety. Training must be reinforced with ongoing communication for all safety-related positions in the company, from drivers to managers. Section 390. 3(e) requires that everyone involved in safety must know and apply the safety regulations (as they relate to the position), and it is the motor carrier’s responsibility to ensure this happens.