Standard Procedures

2.7 Crash Avoidance & Response

This procedure reviews accidents and incidents involving Reliable Tank Line employees and equipment.

ACCIDENT: An accident is defined as any event occurring while operating a tractor or tractor-trailer unit that results in damages or loss to Reliable Tank Line, its customers, suppliers, public, and/or other private property. (i.e., damage to fence, bumpers, fenders, tank, signs, gate, post, other vehicles, etc.)

INCIDENT: An incident is described as any error made by or involving Reliable Tank Line employee, one of its customers, or suppliers. This error may or may not result in cost to Reliable Tank Line. (i.e., spills, mixes, mis-loading of product, incorrect delivery of product, correction of bills of lading, and/or personal injury)

Driver's Responsibility 

  1. Evaluate the situation and make sure the area is free of additional danger.
  2. Set your reflectors or cones. Give aid and/or send for medical help (if necessary).
  3. Contact your supervisor or a member of management immediately.
  4. Call law enforcement.
  5. Explain to your supervisor or member of management in detail all information regarding the accident.
  6. Obtain the names, phone numbers, addresses of any witnesses to the accident.
  7. BE POLITE to everyone around the scene (especially law enforcement).
  8. DO NOT ADMIT FAULT OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCIDENT. DO NOT OFFER ANY INFORMATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
  9. Use your cell phone or digital camera to take pictures at different angles to make sure you have documentation of any damage to vehicles or other property. NEVER TAKE PHOTOS OF PEOPLE – ONLY VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT, AND SURROUNDINGS.
  10. As soon as possible, assist your supervisor in completing the accident report. Text/email digital photos to your terminal manager. The accident must be described in as much detail as possible.
  11. Depending on the type and severity of the accident, the driver should be available to undergo drug and alcohol testing if requested.
  12. Vehicular accidents in which the Reliable driver is cited and there is tow away of any vehicle, or personal injury resulting in treatment away from the accident scene require both urine drug screen and breath alcohol tests. (Injury or towing without the Reliable Tank Line driver being cited does not require alcohol testing.)
  13. If a breath alcohol test is required, it must be completed no later than 8 hours after the accident. Urine drug screens may be completed within 32 hours of the accident. If testing cannot be performed, a written explanation must be provided.

NOTE: Accidents other than those listed in paragraph above may require urine drug testing. This includes personal injury accidents.

Terminal Manager/Dispatcher's Responsibility

  • Get all required information from driver and complete report as soon as possible.
  • Complete the accident/incident report in HSI Donesafe.

The accident/incident report is the “driver’s defense” and should include all pertinent information as to when, where, why, and how the incident occurred. Make sure all reports are legible, concise, and clear. It is the manager’s responsibility, based on this information, to determine the preventability of all incidents/accidents incurred by employees and to eliminate their recurrence. Any findings should be discussed with the employee involved.

NOTE: Preventability should not be confused with “fault.” An accident or incident known to be the fault of an outside party does not necessarily indicate the accident/incident could not have been prevented by the employee who was involved.

Suspension for Accident/Incident

Every accident at Reliable Tank Line will be reviewed by an Accident Investigation Committee. After the review of an accident has been completed and it has been deemed preventable (that it’s your fault), that employee may be subject to suspension or termination. The suspension will be without pay or the opportunity of taking vacation to cover the time missed. This does not mean it will be an automatic suspension. It means that every accident will be treated separately, and it will be up to the Accident Investigation Committee to determine the corrective measures that will be imposed on the driver. The corrective measures determined by the Accident Investigation Committee may be imposed beyond the extent the Driver Bonus Plan up to and including termination. We will be as fair as possible and will make every effort to treat everyone the same.

Eyes on the Road (3)

Defensive Driving Refresher

Visit Safety Culture to brush up on the foundations of professional defensive driving techniques for operators of large commercial vehicles.