In this episode of Get a Load of This podcast, Cameron Pechia is joined by Roger Whitworth.
Roger currently holds the position of Sr. Transportation Specialist for Travelers Insurance and he is based in the Hartford Field office. He comes to Travelers with over thirty-five years of experience in the transportation field, specializing in regulated fleets.
He started out loading trucks in his early twenties and gradually progressed up through the ranks until his last position, prior to coming to Travelers, was Director of Training for a national trucking company. He was directly responsible for administering the training program for over 1800 drivers nationwide.
Over the course of his career, he has driven tractor-trailers, taught CDL, managed fleets of trucks, served as DOT Compliance/Safety Director, served as a consultant to several large trucking firms, and has conducted numerous accident investigations (including several fatalities). In addition, over the course of his career, he has been the systems administrator of several different Telematics/Vehicle Video systems. He became adept at using the systems to positively influence driver behaviors and decision-making through offering drivers timely feedback, as well as remedial counseling.
Roger still holds a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License with the Hazardous Materials Endorsement and he has found this to be very helpful when dealing with drivers. The fact that he can still drive a truck earns him a level of respect with drivers that they do not offer up so easily.
Episode Highlights:
Roger shares his experience in the transportation and trucking industry, including 30 years of working in trucking before transitioning to insurance. (4:37)Roger discusses his unique perspective on staying connected with his family while on the road and how his blunt approach benefits his work in the trucking industry. (12:35)Roger explains the importance of defending decisions made in hiring and managing drivers, as it can have legal and criminal consequences and the need for documentation and evidence to support a positive defense in case of accidents or lawsuits. (19:24)Roger discusses the importance of driver safety training, including behavioral expectations, continuing education, remedial actions post-incident, having clear cellphone policies, and utilizing telematics and video technology to monitor and improve driver performance. (22:19)Cameron mentions that it is important for truck drivers to prioritize safety and take proactive measures to protect themselves in case of incidents or accidents. (30:10)Roger explains that it is crucial to consider the driver's character and behavior when entrusting them with your equipment, as human error accounts for the majority of crashes, and the potential consequences of neglecting this aspect. (39:51)Roger discusses the challenges faced by truck drivers including parking issues, delays caused by shippers and receivers, law enforcement hostility, rising costs of diesel, brakes, and tires, difficulty finding good mechanics, and the additional paperwork and documentation required after driving. (52:07)“I learned that the trucking industry is a very viable profession. And it's an honorable one. And you can do well by your family if you're diligent and well-intentioned and passionate.” - Roger Whitworth“The reality is, with the technology we're mentioning, we also need to be managing and monitoring our drivers' behaviors, as well. So that means either the telematics systems actively engaging with those, or even the vehicle video systems, and then using those as remedial measures to help improve our driver behaviors to meet our written and documented expectations. ” - Roger WhitworthRoger Whitworth LinkedIn
Travelers InsuranceCameron PechiaThomas ComstockRyan YoungValley Trucking Insurance