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Letter to the Editor:
Gold Standard for Drivers

By Jeff Clark

Thousands of drivers never get noticed because they do an outstanding job. These are drivers who do not get into accidents. They don’t get moving violations. They don’t get out-of-service violations, and they don’t do drugs. These drivers deserve to be recognized. They also have a lot to teach new drivers.

I propose that drivers who meet these qualifications receive a “gold standard” card. The gold standard must be tough but attainable. My proposal would be 1 million miles without an at-fault DOT reportable accident and no moving violations, driver out-of-service violations or positive drug tests. The reward: the right to be left alone.

These drivers have demonstrated the outstanding judgment needed to achieve these high standards. They do not need some bureaucrat in Washington to tell them how to do their job. These drivers should be allowed to throw away their log books and run the way they want.

The fear is that these drivers would be forced to run illegal. The truth is the opposite. Companies would work with these drivers. Right now the only leverage a driver has with his trucking company authority is to quit and work somewhere else. That is still the only leverage that gold card drivers would have. By separating these drivers out you would in effect limit the supply, thereby increasing their leverage.

Companies benefit by having a high percentage of gold card drivers. Who loves gold card drivers?
Everyone, including carriers and insurance companies. Right now at large companies gold card drivers and their records are thrown in the pool, thus improving the average for the company. Yet, the drivers who have earned this benefit for the company might get a free jacket. Great, we can throw that in the closet with all of our other safety awards. My system would benefit the driver who has earned it.

Trucking companies would still benefit from its gold card drivers. They could actually see an increased benefit from outstanding performance. Insurance companies would still love gold card drivers. The difference is now that insurance companies would identify outstanding performance with the individual driver. Trucking companies could market their gold card drivers to customers. What shipper would not want its loads in the hands of a gold card driver? It is even possible that a trucking company could receive a premium rate from a shipper if it guarantees to use only gold card drivers on the account.

New drivers would also benefit from gold card drivers. Right now, after they are released from their schools and instructors, these drivers still have questions. The problem is that they only hear the loudest voices. These voices are often the voices of the blowhards with the mega CB radios or the guy at the breakfast counter telling everyone that everyone else is a moron and should be run off the road. By putting a large gold card sticker on the sides of trucks these new drivers can learn from those who do it the best.

Oftentimes four-wheelers approach me to ask questions about trucking. They probably approach me because I don’t look threatening. It is a treat for me to be asked questions respectfully. Most drivers who do this job well enough to receive a gold card take pride in how they do their job. They enjoy educating people about the industry. They would become the best goodwill ambassadors that the trucking industry could ask for.

Jeff Clark is an over-the-road owner operator.

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