Workers in every job sector have certain milestones and goals they work for. Scientists hope to win a Nobel Prize. Athletes hope to win a championship or get their names in the record books. What about truck drivers? Do they have career goals worth striving for? Absolutely. One of those goals is that of becoming a member of the ‘Million Mile Safety club’.
The Million Mile club is made up of a small number of truckers who travel a million miles or more without an accident. There are thousands of them on the road, but they represent just a small fraction of the tens of millions who have driven a truck over the decades. Starting out as a new driver with the goal of becoming a member of the Million Mile club is certainly an honorable thing for both the driver and the companies he or she might work for.
At C.R. England, we make a point of honoring those drivers who make it to 1 million miles without an accident. In 2016 alone, we had several new club members who had finally reached the 1 million mile mark along with others celebrating 2 and 4 million miles. We are proud of each and every one of them.
Dedication to Safety
The truck driver does not become a member of the Million Mile club by sheer luck and circumstance. It takes an unwavering commitment to safety every time the driver gets behind the wheel. If you think becoming a member of the club is easy, think again.
First of all, consider the amount of time it takes to drive one million miles. The average trucker working 70 hours over eight days can put in up to 3,000 miles. If you factor in home time each year, a driver could put in upwards of 129,000 miles annually. That means the quickest a driver could reach one million miles is seven years and nine months. Most drivers do not reach the mark for at least a decade.
Take a look at your driving record. Have you driven for the last 10 years without a single accident? By accident we do not mean just the major crashes that result in injuries and costly insurance claims. We are also talking about those little fender benders too.
A trucker who reaches the million mile mark is clearly dedicated to safe driving. Joining the club is a testament to a driver’s willingness to go the extra mile (no pun intended) to stay safe. And for the record, C.R. England drivers who achieve membership in the Gene England Million Mile Club mostly do so on their own merits.
Top-Of-The-Line Equipment
Our contribution to safety is one of providing our drivers with top-of-the-line equipment. That is exactly what we do. Our drivers operate late-model tractors meticulously maintained to the highest standards. If our drivers ever do have a problem with their equipment, getting it taken care of is a matter of going through the appropriate channels.
We are happy to keep our fleet of tractors in top condition because it is good for all of us. Well-maintained equipment saves money with fewer breakdowns. It makes more money for our drivers by keeping the wheels turning longer. It helps our drivers be safer because they know they can count on their equipment to perform properly.
We do what we can to help our drivers stay safe. Ultimately however, reaching the million mile mark is an accomplishment that has little to do with us. It is an accomplishment our drivers achieve through their own skill, hard work, and dedication.
