LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Erb International has won the 2012 Volvo Trucks Safety Award, consisting of a $25,000 prize to be put towards safety-related programs.

Erb was recognized during the American Trucking Associations Management Conference for its record in the high-mileage category of 20 million miles or more.

Munoz Trucking of El Paso, Texas won the award for the less than 20 million mile category.

The award is run by Volvo and sponsored by Michelin.

“Volvo is synonymous with safety. It permeates our company culture,” said Magnus Koeck, Volvo Trucks vice-president, marketing and brand management. “Erb International and Munoz Trucking have clearly demonstrated the importance of safety within their organizations. We’re pleased to acknowledge those commitments and how they translate into safe performance on the road.”

Fleets were ranked by their accident frequency rate using US DoT data and then evaluated on their accident prevention programs.

Erb International, with its 240 trucks, in 2011 recorded an accident frequency rate of just 0.294 while logging more than 27.2 million miles.

The company boasts an employee and driver wellness program, encourages participation in truck driving championships, offers a driver performance incentive program and collects driver performance data for use in developing driver risk assessment reports. They also have a hazard prevention program, present safety-related information in all terminal driver’s rooms and have driver supervisors and trainers available at each terminal, Volvo reported.

“We are absolutely thrilled to win the Volvo Trucks Safety Award,” said Wendell Erb, Erb International president and CEO. “When there is proven technology like Volvo offers that can improve safety for us, we will be right there to add it to the spec of the truck. What we see with Volvo is the safety side of the equipment is definitely an added bonus. Volvo is competitive in everything and at the same time, they are a very safe truck.” 
“I’m just so proud of everyone at Erb International for their achievements,” added Tom Boehler, director of safety and compliance for Erb International. “It’s the employees’ willingness to participate in our programs that makes us a success.

Volvo has produced a video on Erb’s safety program, which can be viewed here.