STATER BROS. TRAINING DRIVES TRUCK-SAFETY STATS

PATRICK SCIACCA

COLTON, Calif. -- At its Safe Driving banquet late last month, Stater Bros. Markets here honored its drivers as traveling the most accident-free miles of any southern California retailer -- no small feat with a fleet servicing 112 supermarkets and traveling 7 million miles a year.

The retailer calculates 15 years of safe driving as 1 million accident-free miles. This year, 35 of its 290 drivers were honored for traveling 1 million accident-free miles, and three were honored for traveling 2 million accident-free miles.

Short hauling distances, a commitment to truck maintenance and an extensive driver-training program all contribute to the retailer's safe-driving record, according to Jack Brown, chief executive officer for Stater Bros. Markets.

"On average our drivers haul 33 miles," Brown told SN, adding that with long-haul drivers fatigue can play a part in the accident frequency rate.

Many of these short hauls, however, are in the notoriously difficult driving area of metropolitan Los Angeles. Brown, a former driver himself, noted that the trucks are carrying 65,000-pound loads. "The [trucks] don't stop on a dime," he said.

Stater Bros., whose average driver has been with the company 11.5 years, requires that employees receive 200 hours of training before taking the Class A driving test necessary for driving the big rigs in California.

"They get a tremendous amount of drive-along time," Brown said, noting that Stater Bros. offers driver-training opportunities to its warehouse workers.

The retailer said that constant maintenance also aids the retailer's safety record. "We maintain our trucks on premises," Brown said, noting that there are mechanics on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The retailer can perform routine maintenance on its truck fleet as well as major overhauls such as a new engine installation, he added.

The 35 honorees were entered into the "One Million Miles Safe Miles Club" and presented with jackets and caps to commemorate the achievement.