Brian Runnels

On the roadside, don’t forget the safety triangles

Well, it’s finally happened — engine trouble. Thankfully, you make it to the shoulder without any issues. Now what? 

Hopefully, you know how to handle simple repairs or know whom to call when a breakdown requires more skills than you possess. But in the meantime, do you know how to keep yourself safe?

Brian Runnels, Reliance Partners’ vice president of safety, urges drivers not to let their guard down when they pull onto the roadside. Just because you’re out of traffic doesn’t mean that you’re...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/on-the-roadside-dont-forget-the-safety-triangles

Apathetic safety compliance can be deadly

Consider this a warning to all who feel nonchalant about safety: Inaction can be just as damning as wrong action.

Take, for instance, allowing disqualified drivers behind the wheel. You may feel confident in their driving abilities, but consider the consequences if something bad happens. Ignoring red flags can come back to haunt you. 

Let’s say that your “trusted driver” — a buddy of yours — ignores a rolling roadblock in a construction zone and slams into traffic, killing a motorist or fatally...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/apathetic-safety-compliance-can-be-deadly

Heads up: International Roadcheck is imminent

Drivers take note: International Roadcheck is May 17-19.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) annual inspection is only a few days away, but that’s just enough time to take care of a few loose ends.

Reliance Partners Vice President of Safety Brian Runnels encourages drivers to be a bit more thorough with their pre-trip inspections and to take a couple seconds more to check the air in their tires or take a look at their brake linings to save them from a handful of violations.

This year,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/heads-up-international-roadcheck-is-imminent

Defensive driving key in squelching distracted driving

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which means it’s time to have serious discussions with your drivers.

Distracted driving can happen to anyone and at any time — and it happens a lot more than you think. The National Safety Council estimates that eight motorists are killed every day from a distracted driving-related accident. 

Just last month, distraction was cited as the cause of a rollover crash of a lumber truck in Prineville, Oregon, after the driver took his eyes off the road to ret...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/defensive-driving-key-in-squelching-distracted-driving

Trucking 101: Trip planning makes all the difference

On paper, trucking is pretty simple: Carry a load from one point to another. But reality isn’t so easy. 

For all the obstacles to overcome and hurdles to jump over, the best way to get from point A to point B safely and on time is through proper trip planning.

Reliance Partners Vice President of Safety Brian Runnels and Director of Safety Robert Kaferle have built careers on improving fleet safety and the well-being of drivers. They stress the importance of starting each day with a plan in place.

“...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-101-trip-planning-makes-all-the-difference

Trucking 101: Reality doesn’t always meet expectations

Commercial trucking, like any job, has its ups and downs. The road is smooth for the most part, but it can become bumpy at times and turn unexpectedly.

That said, the industry is known for its welcoming atmosphere, attracting drivers of diverse backgrounds. What’s more, pay has been increasing along with other benefits, making commercial drivers some of the best-paid individuals outside of the office.

Many have gone on to enjoy fulfilling careers behind the wheel. However, not everyone is cut out...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-101-reality-doesnt-always-meet-expectations

Trucking 101: Returning to the basics

In a technology-rich and automated industry, it’s easy to take certain aspects of the job for granted. But what if your GPS loses signal? Would you know how to get to your destination on time? Situations like these are merely bumps in the road if you’ve come prepared.

It’s never too late to learn truck driving basics, which is why Reliance Partners’ Safety Team is gearing up a new series of articles to discuss the skills that every trucker should possess but hasn’t been taught. 

“There’s so much...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-101-returning-to-the-basics

Central Freight Lines’ closure puts quality drivers on market

LTL carrier Central Freight Lines met its demise earlier this week in what many have said was a long time coming after a series of misfortunes. The biggest trucking company shutdown since Celadon’s closure in December 2019, Central Freight similarly leaves 2,100 workers, including 1,325 drivers, without a job just a week before Christmas.

For the drivers, their plans for the new year will involve more than just making resolutions. They will be finding new employment as well. What are their next...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/central-freight-lines-closure-puts-quality-drivers-on-market

Sign-on bonuses ‘double-edged sword’ for recruiting and retention

Is it worth jumping ship for a sign-on bonus at another company? 

Truckers sure think so — and with good reason. Sign-on bonuses have been getting bigger and bigger, but as carriers begin offering similar perks, at what point do cash incentives lose their luster?

That’s the topic of discussion on this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? FreightWaves’ Timothy Dooner and Michael Vincent weigh the pros and cons of sign-on bonuses, welcoming Brian Runnels, Reliance Partners’ vice president of safety, to the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sign-on-bonuses-double-edged-sword-for-recruiting-and-retention

Trucking offers many reasons to be thankful

It is hard to believe that it’s been nearly two years since the onset of the pandemic. Through all of the chaos and fears of the unknown, what’s even harder to believe is how the trucking industry overcame such adversity.

Here we are, nearing the end of 2021, and we’ve collectively found a way to rise to the challenge. The resiliency of this industry has provided us with many things to be thankful for. So with Thanksgiving just around the corner, let’s reflect not on the hardships, but on the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-offers-many-reasons-to-be-thankful

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