Commitment to Safety

Commitment to Safety

Estes Express Lines is committed to keeping our roads safe.

At Estes, we are resolute in the quest to keep people safe – both our employees and the public. Backed by over nine decades of freight transportation experience, we understand the significance of keeping our roads safe. That’s why we believe that safety starts with our men and women behind the wheel. It’s by thinking safety and acting safely that we help protect our employees and the public all across the nation.

Safety Initiatives

  • Driver Awareness Program – An active driver is a safe driver. Our active driver training focuses on keeping drivers’ eyes and heads moving while also keeping them aware of the road ahead.
  • Strict Adherence to Safety Policies – Estes takes appropriate disciplinary action — up to and including termination — on safety-related incidents to uphold our values of a safe work environment.
  • Sleep Apnea Program – Estes affirms that driver wellness is a prerequisite to safe highways. Our sleep apnea program identifies and monitors symptoms of the disorder to assist affected drivers, and helps ensure that drivers are well rested before they take the wheel.
  • Vehicle Maintenance Standards – We conduct our vehicle inspections every 90 days to stay ahead of repair and maintenance issues, which helps prevent truck breakdowns on the highway.
  • Leadership Safety Training – Every driver applicant must be approved by an Estes regional safety manager before they are hired. When a manager is hired, they are trained on terminal safety protocols to maintain a consistent level of excellence throughout the company.
  • Hours of Service –Estes evaluates each route to ensure that the run can be completed safely within the federal regulations. This helps prevent driver fatigue while on the road.
  • Driver Wellness – We understand the value of the time our drivers spend at home with their families. That’s why 80 percent of our drivers are home every night or every-other-night.
  • No-Zone Educational Workshops – Many of our drivers volunteer their time at truck stops across the country to educate the driving public about strategies for safely sharing the road with big-rigs. Highlighting safety issues such as blind spots and truck turning radiuses help to raise awareness for ways to make our highways safer.
  • Federal Requirements for Drug and Alcohol Testing – We exceed the federal-mandated requirements for drug and alcohol testing. This helps ensure that our drivers are both alert and cognizant while on the road.
  • Million-Mile Safe Drivers – Over 12 percent of our drivers have marked over 1 million miles of accident-free driving — and we are adding more each day.
  • Industry Teamwork – Estes works closely with other major carriers to share and develop techniques and practices promoting driver and public safety. Our team of industry leaders goes above and beyond to discuss and evaluate safety issues and focus on improving safety on the road.

Estes invests significant resources in driver health and safety training every year. With advancements in safety standards within the transportation and logistics industries evolving rapidly, our top priority is always to keep our roads safe.

 

Safety Technology
Collision Avoidance Systems Collision avoidance systems actively monitor the area surrounding a truck for potential collisions. They alert the driver of potential hazards, which allows more time to take corrective action.

Collision avoidance systems can help reduce the number of crash fatalities by 80%.

As a pioneer in trucking safety, Estes has installed collision avoidance systems on 50% to 60% of its tractors. These systems have been standard on all of our new tractor orders since 2012.
Forward-facing Cameras In-cab cameras play a vital role in the ongoing training of Estes drivers. Trainers and leaders review videos to identify training opportunities and address any issues with individuals and driver groups.

More than 50% of Estes’ fleet is equipped with in-cabin cameras to assist with and supplement driver training.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) ELDs track driver hours behind the wheel. Estes uses this technology to limit the length of routes and help prevent driver fatigue, as well as ensure that drivers have sufficient rest time between trips.

ELDs also maintain safety dashboards that monitor driving metrics such as speed, braking, and acceleration. Estes uses them to train drivers to correct or modify behind-the-wheel behaviors and habits.

As an early adopter of onboard safety technology, Estes has used electronic logs in its trucks since 2012 — five years ahead of the federal mandate.
Lane Departure Lane departure warning systems use audio and visual alerts to warn the driver if the truck begins to drift out of its lane.

Estes is actively enhancing its fleet by installing lane departure systems in trucks around the country.
Roll Stability Control (RSC) Roll stability control effectively reduces the chance of a truck rollover by employing multiple sensors and independent braking. This helps to stabilize the truck’s roll during cornering or evasive maneuvers.

Roll stability control has been a standard on all Estes tractors for over 10 years.


2018 ATA National Safety Awards

The National Truck Safety Contest recognizes the lowest accident DOT ratios compared over the 2017 calendar year among motor carriers of like service and mileage. Similarly, the National Industrial Safety contest recognizes the lowest OSHA Case 300 (reported workplace injuries and illnesses) ratios over the same time period among like motor carriers. The awards were determined solely on the data, and the ratios provided from the data.

First Place – National Truck Safety Contest – General Commodities LTL/Local (>100 million miles)
First Place – National Truck Safety Contest – General Commodities LTL/Line-Haul (10-100 million miles)(Estes West)
First Place – National Truck Safety Contest – General Commodities LTL/Local (10-100 million miles)(Estes West)
Second Place – National Truck Safety Contest – Industrial – General Commodities LTL (1001-5000 ees)(Estes West)
Second Place – National Truck Safety Contest – General Commodities LTL/Line-Haul (100 million miles)
Second Place – National Truck Safety Contest – Industrial – General Commodities LTL (>5000 ees)
2017 ATA National Safety Director Award – Curtis Carr, VP, Safety