In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Rob Carpenter, President of Carpenter Compliance.

Rob Carpenter has devoted his work life to the Compliance side of transportation. He’s currently the President of his own business, Carpenter Compliance, and works with primary mega clients like Gallagher Bassett and TruckSafe Consulting. He also works with a number of haulage companies to ensure that everyone trucks safely and legally.

[02:56] Rob started out as a driver, drawn in by the practical side of things. He then moved into managing companies and owning some, and even starting his own broker authority. He wanted to get involved in the operational side of things, wondering how the cash flow actually worked. So, how did he get into compliance? Well, it came from a tragic incident. He had always been a wild driver, and rules didn’t matter to him until he ended up getting hit by a truck, rendering him unable to walk for a while. This kickstarted his focus on safety, realizing how important it really was.

[14:28] Anybody who can read a book can grasp compliance at its most basic level, but you still have to be aware of exposure. You can be compliant and still face exposure, after all. Taking road tests as an example, you can use CDL in lieu of a road test and still be compliant. However, if your driver then gets in an accident, the plaintiff’s lawyer will say, “Yes, you were compliant, but how much time would it have taken to do a road test just to check if the guy could drive?” opening up a whole can of worms. Exposure is a huge part of the litigious society we are in today, and compliance leaves a lot of holes in your system. You’ve got to find those holes that a plaintiff’s attorney could extort and fill them, limiting your exposure. 

[27:15] No matter what, if you could have changed a process and didn’t, you’re liable for any accidents that happen as a result. Leaders should thus explain to their drivers why they are implementing new processes to keep them exposure-proof and incentivize them while they start actioning them. Giving them the knowledge behind it will make them more likely to appreciate and adhere to processes. 

[34:23] Quite often, small companies, including Rob’s own, miss the maintenance part of compliance. If you don’t upkeep your maintenance, it can cost you a huge expense and cause you to lose a lot of customers. Many people are also not aware of service hours regulations. Violating service hours can result in huge civil penalties and unsatisfactory safety ratings that can negatively affect your future business. You also need to be aware of driver fitness and ensure they are fully qualified for the seat. If your drivers aren’t right for the company, and don’t follow your processes, you can end up with violations that affect you all. 

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