Did You? Will You?...The Promise

Shortly after joining Reddaway I sent a personal letter to all of our drivers. My intent was twofold.  The first was simply to introduce myself prior to getting around to all of our locations and meeting people in person.  Second was the real driving force behind the letter and it was to address two areas of personal responsibility; behavior and accountability. 

The letter could have been sent to any or all groups of employees as these basic principles apply in all settings.  One definition of behavior is –“the way in which an animal or person acts in response to a particular stimulus or situation.”  Although we can enhance things like productivity, safety, and quality of the work environment with financial investments, we cannot buy any of it unless we first address behavior.

I have to share one small but appropriate anecdote that speaks to the issue.   A few years ago I was traveling north on Chalus Road, or Road 59 which takes you from Tehran to Chalus on the Caspian Sea.  My brother-in-law, his father-in-law, and I had just visited a ski resort in the Alborz Mountains, Dizin.  The weather turned ugly and it began to snow heavily.  As it was a holiday period and the traffic was extremely heavy on the twisting and turning mountain roads, I became a bit nervous when my brother-in-law seemed to be too close to the thousand foot or more drop off just outside my passenger window.  When I finally voiced my concern to Ali, he smiled and replied, "Don't worry, I have anti-lock brakes and airbags." 

Anyhow, I'll share the letter sent to our drivers and if for a moment it makes anyone take pause, it has served it's purpose.  Live and Stay Safe.

 Did You? Will You? …the Promise

Dear Reddaway Professional Driver,

 We probably have not met yet but I hope the opportunity comes soon and for all the right reasons; a safety function, service awards, etc. I certainly don’t want us to meet after you’ve sustained an injury or I’m sitting down with your surviving family members to explain insurance benefits.  I’ve had to hold such kitchen table conversations in the past and it never gets easier. 

 Looking at things from the positive side, let’s talk about accidents. You will hear more over the coming months about our behaviors as individuals and how they play a significant role in whether or not we get injured or have vehicular accidents.  As a matter of fact, the more you find out you will come to see that the term “accident” is often a misstatement.  When a person makes a choice to do or not take an action, then they collide with another vehicle or object, was that really an accident?  In reality it was the result of those choices. 

 For now I’d like to ask you a couple of questions:

 1.    When you went to work yesterday, did you do everything humanly possible to make sure that you returned home to your loved ones, your home, or whatever fills your life, alive and in possession of all the capabilities you left home with?

2.   Will you do everything humanly possible to make sure you return home tomorrow alive and in possession of all the capabilities you left home with?

 As professional drivers, you face multiple challenges every day. People that disregard vehicle laws and sometimes common sense; pedestrians, bicyclists, children, congestion, and so on.  The fact is that the second we earned that CDL, we took an oath that we must compensate for the lack of skills and judgment for all of those we encounter each day when we operate a commercial vehicle.  Hopefully, that same level of commitment carries over when we are driving our personal vehicles.  If a person cannot, or chooses not to take that responsibility, it is time to turn the CDL in and leave the profession. 

Vehicle accidents and injuries cost companies, including Reddaway, an enormous amount of money. An expense even larger than that is the life that you impact from choices you make.  A death or injury to ourselves or another person, is too high of a price to pay. 

In the solace of your home, perhaps with your loved ones if applicable, are you ready to sign a written promise that you will go out each day and do whatever it takes to not harm yourself or others? If you are, write it down and put it up on the refrigerator next to the family photos or this week’s list of “to-do” items.  That constant reminder could make a difference. 

William “Bill” Amos

Vice President of Human Resources and Safety