KING CITY, ON – John Deere Canada, Home Hardware Stores, and Bridgestone Canada all collected private fleet safety awards tonight during the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada’s annual conference.

John Deere Canada was recognized in the mid-sized fleet category, with under 75 power units, while Home Hardware was recognized in the large fleet category. Bridgestone was most improved. The honors were sponsored by Aviva.

John Deere, operating in Canada for more than 40 years, has 52 power units and 140 trailers running 10.8 million kilometers per year, distributing agricultural parts. The fleet – with a CVOR violation rate of 5.5% — is C-TPAT, CSA and FAST approved. Of the 71 employees, 67 are supplied by Huron Services. This was the fleet’s fourth win.

The fleet annually updates written safety policies, and relies on prior experience, education and reference checks in hiring processes. Potential new hires must have three years of verifiable driving experience, and receive two days of in-house training if hired. The company also uses Electronic On Board Recorders to monitor compliance around vehicle speeds.

Home Hardware – a six-time winner — has run its Canadian fleet for more than 52 years, and now has 160 fleet personnel operating 130 tractors and 510 trailers. This year they have operated more than 18.4 million kilometers. The company’s hiring process for drivers include application and abstract reviews, as well as up to two interviews, reference checks, and a road test.

New drivers receive three days of in-class orientation training, followed by loading dock training, and a minimum of three days accompanied by a driver coach, PMTC noted. A formal performance review is undertaken after three months, all before a full-time job is offered.

Other safety initiatives include an annual driver safety meeting and participation in truck driving championships. The fleet also operates under the CSA Carrier Management System, and has two locations audited by CSA/QMI. Its CVOR rate is 12.4%.

Bridgestone Canada has been operating its private fleet for more than 27 years, with 11 power units and 15 trailers that ran 926,000 kilometers in the most recent year. Its 25 drivers are supplied by Huron Services as well.

Safety initiatives include a written safety policy that is reviewed quarterly, while driver candidates need to have five years of verified driving experience. The company’s orientation and training process lasts a full two weeks, and also matches drivers with driver-trainers.

The fleet had a CVOR rating of 47.4% in 2011, which has since dropped to 7.4%.