A report commissioned by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) says entry-level training programs for commercial truck drivers in the country should be supported by rigorous mentorship to reduce errors and safety-related events that lead to claims and higher insurance premiums.
“Entry-level training programs in Canada are not designed to fully prepare drivers for operating heavy trucks in all conditions,” professional services firm MNP wrote in the report prepared for the IBC. “Entry-level programs are intended to provide exposure to the industry and basic skills to pass the Class 1 test. They do not cover the full range of competencies required of drivers, which means that graduating drivers do not yet have the full set of skills required to be road-ready.
“Entry-level training programs in Canada need to be followed with onboarding and mentorship. Regular one-on-one mentoring and training from experienced drivers can increase the safety of new drivers. Coaching interventions (i.e., one-on-one discussions with an experienced driver) and behaviour-based safety (BBS) methods (which include regular coaching by an experienced driver) have been found to be effective in reducing driver errors (i.e., harsh braking and cornering) and safety-related events.”
The report found a “clear correlation” between claims rate and severity and truck driver experience and training, with less experienced drivers tending to be involved in more and worse accidents.
“Improvements in road safety could reduce the risk of a claim being made and reduce the overall cost of claims,” MNP concluded. “Reductions in claim costs would be reflected in adjustments to insurance premiums.
“Our review suggests that changes to oversight and enforcement of safety violations, and driver training have the potential to improve road safety. Increasing enforcement of safety violations could increase compliance with safety measures and encourage carriers to develop a culture of safety.”
Recommendations include improving oversight of training providers, developing onboarding and mentorship programs by industry associations that could be utilized by insurers, and piloting the use of telematics and graduated or progressive licensing.
Celyeste Power, IBC president and chief executive, commented: “Canada’s trucking sector is critical to the success of our economy, transporting over 90% of all food, consumer goods, and materials to consumers across the country.
“The property & casualty insurance industry is working closely with the trucking sector to find solutions to some of the challenges it currently faces, including driver shortages and access to adequate training and risk management.
“This third-party report echoes many of the recommendations that our industry has put forward, and we encourage governments across the country to use this report as a call to action to update and improve training and enforcement standards.”
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