Execs at Smucker’s, Exel promise to do much better by drivers
Quite a few Truck Drivers countrywide have grown to be outraged over the treatment of fellow truck drivers who had been not allowed in to a Cincinnati, OH warehouse overseen by Excel Transportation. On October 26, 2010, storm sirens sounded as wind gusts topped eighty miles per hour, leaving truck drivers lacking cover from the 100-year weather event. Company spokes people from Excel Transportation and J.M. Smucker Company have assured drivers and freight corporations they will equally do much more in order to give protection to truckers as well as personnel whenever severe weather threatens the well-being of professionals at or around a facility.
A Wisconsin-based driver named Duane Soderstrom ended up being not granted safe entry into the J.M. Smucker Company owned storage facility during the tornado sirens. A security guard declined Mr. Soderstrom entry and also demanded he go back to his tractor until the storm was over and that Mr. Soderstrom would be advised as soon as he was allowed to get into the facility once once more.
Maribeth Baderstcher, Executive for the J.M. Smucker Company conveyed her overwhelming disappointment with regard to the way that truckers had been treated at the premises and also assured the public that future procedures would increase basic safety of all personnel for future instances. Ms. Baderstcher went on to point out that the safety expectations for individuals while on the J.M. Smucker premises was not really attained and acknowledged the significance of promoting a safe climate for all, in the course of not only extreme conditions but all occasions in which a person's safety is jeopardized.
All individuals involved in this potentially dangerous circumstance in Cincinnati appear to acknowledge partial responsibility. The Lease-Operator of the facility (Excel Transportation) has discovered mis-communication as a important cause of the situation stating that the contracted security workforce appeared to be plainly performing responsibilities to the written requirements of the agreement rather than taking good judgment into consideration while making important safety judgements. Lynn Andersen, Executive of Communications apologized to the driver operators for the procedures implemented, and the danger these procedures may have prompted to the basic safety and wellness of all involved.
Both firms have made plans to extend their apologies directly to the drivers. The tactical problem as identified by Ms. Andersen was that safety procedures for personnel during emergency situations were not extended to all individuals on-site at the moment, but instead merely staff and personnel of Excel and or J.M. Smucker Corporation. Ms. Andersen reassured truck drivers that all security personnel and facilities management would extend emergency procedures to take care of all personnel, individuals, and truck driver on property during emergencies and disasters.
Regardless of the action taken by management, the Fruit company left drivers with a bad taste in their mouths. Mr. Soderstrom mentioned this event topped any adverse treatment he has experienced in more than 25 years on the road. He had been extremely thankful a tornado did not indeed touch down close to the facility and that no one was injured in the course of adverse conditions. Mr. Soderstrom feared what could have transpired to the stranded drivers had conditions worsened and even now stays bitter at the lack of regard for the stranded drivers.
The events of October 26, 2010 must serve as a excellent reminder to all of us in the industry that we as fellow inhabitants of earth need to reach out a hand to those in need. This event reminds us that we must apply common sense whenever interpreting procedures as well as continue to keep in mind the basic safety of others throughout all emergency situations.
By Brad Hollister
Freight Access, Inc.
Full Article Here: http://blog.freightaccess.com/2010/11/truck-drivers-safety-engangered-during-tornado-by-corporate-supply-chain-red-tape/
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