Accident Management – A Nuts &
Bolts Approach
This webcast will cover ...
• Industry Best Practices,
• Essential Elements of Compliance,
• Accident Management at Cory, and
• Question & Answer
Moderator
Dr. Gary Petty, President & CEO, NPTC
Panelists
Tom Moore, Vice President of Education, NPTC
Bob Rose, Editor – Transportation Management,
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Scott Roberts, Safety Director, Joseph Cory LLC
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Introduction
Dr. Gary Petty
President & CEO
National Private Truck Council
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Introduction
• Industry Best Practices – Tom Moore
• Elements of Accident Management Training
– Bob Rose
• Accident Management at Cory – Scott Roberts
• Housekeeping issues:
Gary Petty
National Private
Truck Council
 You will be muted during the event.
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Panelist. We’ll try to answer them during the Q&A period if they are
not covered in the presentation.
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Introduction and
Disclaimers
• Check out the archives for last year’s Accident
Gary Petty
Management webcast:
National Private
http://www.jjkeller.com/nptcinfo
Truck Council
• The content in this webcast is intended for
information purposes only and should not be
construed as providing legal advice.
• This is an introductory course and is intended
to highlight critical safety and compliance topics. Time
constraints limit our ability to go in depth.
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Tom Moore, CTP
Vice President of Education
National Private Truck Council
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Accident Statistics
60,000
Motor vehicle crash deaths and deaths

per billion vehicle miles traveled
80
deaths per billion vehicle miles traveled
55,000
60
50,000
motor vehicle deaths
45,000
40
40,000
37,261
20
35,000
12.8 per billion
30,000
0
1950 55
60
65
70
75
80
85
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90
95 2000 05
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Why Trucking Cases Are
Different
• Experienced litigants
• A mountain of regulations







Driver Qualification files
Employment
Pre-employment
Drug and alcohol screening
Road tests
Equipment and maintenance
Fuel tax documents (e.g., trip reports, toll receipts, fuel
receipts)
• Document intensive
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Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Best Practices
•
•
•
•
•
Investigation and reporting

Emergency procedures
Training
Incident kits
Incident investigation/event management
process
Primary focus is prevention of emergency events so maximum
effort is applied to observation, compliance, near misses, and
data analysis with appropriate intervention –coaching,
training, discipline, etc. – before events can occur.
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Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Bob Rose
Editor, Transportation Management
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
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USDOT Recordable
Accidents
• What accidents to report:
Bob Rose
 Hearse – accident produced a fatality
J. J. Keller &
 Nurse – accident produced an injury requiring
Associates, Inc.
medical attention
 Tow – as a result of the accident, a vehicle involved in the
accident was not able or legal to be driven on public
roadways
• USDOT recordable accidents require drug and
alcohol tests that meet USDOT requirements
 Fatality - Driver must be tested
 Injury or Vehicle Towed - Driver tested if cited
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What Goes on an Accident
Register
Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
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What Goes on an Accident
Register
Motor Carrier Legal Name
(DOT Registration)
Date & Time of
Accident
Accident File Number
(Not Required)
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Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
What Goes on an Accident
Register
City or Town
and State
Equipment Number
(Not Required)
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Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
What Goes on an Accident
Register
Accident
Register Dates
Driver Name
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Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
What Goes on an Accident
Register
Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Number of
Injuries
Number of
Fatalities
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Property Damage
(Not Required)
What Goes on an Accident
Register
Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Hazardous Materials
(Other than fuel spilled
from fuel tanks)
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Driver Post-Accident
Procedure
1. Stop immediately
2. Prevent additional accidents


Flashers
Emergency warning device (Parts 392, 393)
Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
3. Notify law enforcement (location, # vehicles, #
people)
4. Check for injuries
5. Document details including a diagram
6. Notify company
7. Complete preliminary accident report
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Driver Information
Gathering Checklist
□
□
□
□
□
□
Exact location of the accident
Time of the accident
Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Estimate of injury/damage
Associates, Inc.
A description of damage to vehicles and/or property
Names and addresses of persons involved in the accident
Names and addresses of insurance companies of all persons
involved
□ Type, make, and model of vehicles involved
□ License numbers of all vehicles involved
□ The names and departments of the investigating officers
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Accident Reporting Kit
Elements
□ Reporting envelope to store all accident-related
A standard
informationaccident report kit should be kept
Bob Rose
in
each
vehicle.
It
should
include:
□ Report form for recording information at the scene
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
□ Accident notification card for use when the driver is unable
to
leave the scene of an accident to notify his/her employer
□ Witness cards to ensure that minimum data has been obtained
from witnesses of the accident
□ Pencils
□ Disposable camera to visually record information
□ Safety vest
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Tips for Photographing the
Accident Scene
• Safety first!
Bob Rose
• Use polarized lens to limit glare and a
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
flash for night and vehicle interior pictures
• Do not photograph injuries to others at the accident
scene; however, do photograph those involved if
they appear unharmed
• Include landmarks to help denote scale and position
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What to Photograph at the
Accident Scene
A driver should photograph the following
items at the scene of an accident:







Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Position of vehicles – where they came to rest
Vehicle damage – before they move it!
Debris and tire tracks/skid marks – position and length
Both vehicles' tires – contact points and tread depth
Obstructions – viewed from in the vehicle if possible
Witness view – at eye-level and position
Interior of any vehicle in an injury or fatal accident – body
contact points on vehicle’s interior
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J. Scott Roberts, CTP
Director of Safety
Joseph Cory Holdings LLC
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Cory Fleet Operations
• Fleet consists of :
 450 Vehicles
 65 Sleeper & Day cab Tractors
 385 Straight Trucks
• 60 Locations
• 505 Drivers (167 CDL)
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Dispatcher is Critical!
• Dispatchers need to understand an accident
will disrupt the normal logical thought
process of those involved, especially if the
incident involves an injury or death.
• Dispatchers must “red flag” accidents and
notify a supervisor or manager.
• Do your best to keep the driver calm and
focused.
• Have a procedure or action plan posted near
by to stay on point.
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
First Responsibility:
Check on Other Party
• You may very well be the only person on
scene who could call for help.
• While state laws vary regarding this (check
local laws), most states have laws that require
anyone over the age of 16 to notify law
enforcement or emergency services if they
are aware of an injury or property damage
following a motor vehicle accident.
• Always call Police!
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Second Responsibility:
Prevent Further Injury
• Whenever possible do not touch or move
anything especially a person.
• Place flares, triangles and other emergency
devices so they are as visible as possible.
• Only in rare instances is it absolutely
necessary to move a vehicle(s) or person.
 “Good Samaritan” & “Reasonable Man”
laws/standards
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Communication on Scene
• Never Admit Fault – This is obvious;
however, understand this is a critical item.
Not all accidents are as they appear…
unlicensed or intoxicated drivers are
common as well as other violations.
• Make No Offers of Payment or Settlement –
Same as admitting fault, regardless of how
minor the incident
• Be Factual and Direct in Answering Law
Enforcement or Emergency Responders –
Do not be afraid to say “I don’t know”.
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Documenting the Scene
• Pictures, pictures and more pictures! Will
someone who reviews my accident feel like
they were there?
• Cory drivers are asked to photograph:
 all 4 sides of all vehicles involved, including plate
and truck numbers
 vehicle relation to each other (often determines
fault)
 close up shots of damage (protects against false
claims)
 identify location (a must if reconstruction is
needed)
• Never photograph an injured person!
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Best Practice
• Cory supplies all drivers and supervisors
with:
 Digital camera
 Blank accident report
 Accident procedure checklist or wallet card
• Supervisors are encouraged to respond to
accident locations if reasonable
• Accident training and regular re-training
 Post accident reviews during driver meetings
 Includes MVR and MCMIS roadside performance –
Patterns?
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Photographing:
Vehicle Relation at Collision

Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Vehicle Relation at Collision

Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Documenting Location

Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Skid Marks & Other Evidence
Skid
Marks
Truck
Rollover
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Photographing:
Skid Marks & Other Evidence

Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Skid Marks & Other Evidence
Tire
Marks
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Crash
Debris
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Photographing:
Full Scene View
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Side, Distance at Rest
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Front and Side Damage
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Front and Side Damage,
No Skid Mark

Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Front Damage

Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Signage, No Skid, Tags
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Pushed Into Intersection
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Photographing:
Truck Rear Damage, Tags
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Information Gathering
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Names (Everyone)
License Number
Often completed with
Vehicle Information
Police Information
Insurance Information
exchange form
Contact Information
Witness Information
Obtain a card from the responding officer and a
case number (often Police reports will take days
to obtain)
• Final accident reports should be completed by a
supervisor during a one on one with the driver
regardless of severity.
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Preservation of Documents
• Freeze documents in any injury case
 Photographs and Evidence from Scene: maintain a chain
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
of custody for film/image (use experts and document!)
Holdings LLC
 Driver Records: driver’s daily log (previous 7 days or from
last reset), time card data, driver qualification files (including
testing and physicals)
 Trip Records: manifest/trip report, fuel and toll receipts
 Equipment Records: pre-trip and post trip inspections, vehicle
maintenance records (from annual inspection to present)
 OBC and ECM data:
 ECM Time/Date information is not accurate take pictures of the ECM
Odometer/Vehicle
 Do not start/move the vehicle because that resets the ECM memory
 Use a 3rd party (e.g., Engine Manufacturer) to extract the data
to avoid claims of tampering
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The Internal Accident
Report
• Beyond the basics
 Every Supervisor and Manager receives
training/education on completing accident
reports, including drawing.
 Provides a comparison once the Police report is
received.
 All accident reports are reviewed weekly by an
accident review committee.
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Being an Artist is not
Required
• Templates are available
• Teach the importance of details, not scale
• Police reports are standardized for federal
reporting purposes. Tailor your internal report
similar, but more user friendly… capture the
same information.
Helpful Tip: Provide or have
match box cars to help visually
recreate the accident
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Actual Drawing
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
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Accident Review Committee
• Determine follow-up and feedback




How did the manager and/or staff perform?
What post-accident retraining is appropriate?
Is disciplinary action necessary?
Driver notification
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Driver Notification
The classification of the above referenced accident is:
Preventable
Non-Preventable
Estimate of injury/damage
1st Accident
2nd Accident
3rd Accident
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Negligence:
Yes
No
Due to the referenced accident the Safety Committee’s recommendation is
indicated below (to be completed in 7 days unless otherwise noted).
No action
Safety Seminar Specify:_____________ (Attach receipt of completion)
Road Test Re-evaluation Specify:_____________(Attach receipt of completion)
Department of Motor Vehicle approved course to be completed in 30 days.
Driver removed from delivery schedule Date removed:_____________
Driver is disqualified from operating under Cory’s operating authority. Effective:_____________
Other Notes:_____________
Contractor Acknowledgment: ___________________
(Print Name)
___________________
(Signature)
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___________
(Date)
Accident Meetings
• Mission – Make the reactive process a
proactive learning tool
• The follow-up process provides an
educational opportunity to serve the company
in the future
• Cover accidents in detail…
 What can we learn?
 What can we apply?
 What if all accidents had the potential to be a
disaster?
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Post Accident Results
• Mandatory ride evaluation – under similar
conditions
• Mandatory retraining – should be specific to
the type of event
• Additional Options:
 Approved driver improvement course
 Removal from operations schedule/suspension
 Disqualification from driving
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Pro-Active Approach
• Starts with the MVR Review – Identify good
drivers and train marginal drivers…especially,
under similar conditions of operation
• Orientation should include mock accident
reporting
• Manager, Supervisor or Trainer ride
evaluations are key during the first year – 1
per quarter minimum
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Checks and Balance
• Use OBC data and call-in number or require
random spot checks as part of your program
• Benefits:
 Builds accountability
 Sends a clear message to drivers that safety is
serious and part of the culture
 Tie into both disciplinary and rewards program
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Cory Results:
Safe Stat Accident Data
Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Over 50% reduction
in accident costs
since 2007!
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Question & Answer
Gary Petty
National Private
Truck Council
Bob Rose
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Please submit questions to “Q&A”
using the Q&A tool
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Scott Roberts
Joseph Cory
Holdings LLC
Closing Remarks
• Checkout the archive of past topics at:
http://www.jjkeller.com/nptcinfo
 PowerPoint slides up in 1-2 days
 Recording up in 1 week
Gary Petty
National Private
Truck Council
• Topics for 2010:
 February 3 – DOT Regulatory Update – CSA 2010,
Enforcement Measures and More!
 March 10 – Private Fleet Viability – Customer Service
 June 2 – Enhanced Driver Qualification – Testing, Physicals
and Background Checks
 October 20 – Private Fleet Viability – Driver Recruiting &
Retention
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