Carriers who took early advantage of ICSA’s First Gear™ training courses, tell us this FREE valuable training has helped them recognize safety improvements they can make at no cost. Any carrier or drivers can use First Gear and see immediate safety benefits. We are now offering members a $100 credit on their annual ICSA dues if they complete at least half the segments of the 22-segment training. (If you’re a single-truck operator, your dues are completely paid for one year upon completion of the training!)
First Gear is designed for everyone to learn something new or to refresh their knowledge, even if they’ve been behind the wheel for a while. Most importantly, the training can be easily accessed from a mobile phone or tablet – no computer necessary! Simply log in to safecarriers.org, click on the First Gear logo in your member dashboard and follow the prompts.
If you are a fleet owner, you may assign drivers the entire curriculum or customize assignments to those topics where you believe your drivers need additional training. Questions about First Gear training? Shoot us an email to contact@safecarriers.org and we will reach out with assistance.
No driver plans for a breakdown, but every driver should be ready for one. Mechanical issues, tire failures, or other unexpected problems can happen when you least expect it. Knowing how to safely bring your vehicle to a stop and protect yourself and others can help keep a minor inconvenience from becoming a serious incident.
For truckers, testing for marijuana continues. Just as with testing for cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, and opioids, testing for marijuana will continue to be conducted on a pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty basis.
As temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with tires, brakes, and overall vehicle condition. Summer heat doesn’t just stress drivers, it amplifies mechanical weaknesses, making maintenance and inspections more important than ever.