What does defensive driving look like to our logistics team?
Our fleet cameras have captured near misses that lasted less than two seconds. Two seconds that could have changed everything. Here's what we're doing about it.
Every time one of our drivers pulls out of a dock, merges onto a highway, or navigates a tight delivery corridor, they carry more than cargo — they carry responsibility. Not just for the shipment, but for themselves, their fellow road users, and the reputation of every person on this team. Near-miss incidents captured on our fleet cameras are a sobering reminder: the difference between a close call and a life-changing event is often measured in seconds and inches.
Defensive driving exists precisely because we cannot depend on others to drive well. Our job is to anticipate the mistake before it happens. Other drivers' mistakes become our incidents when we aren't positioned to absorb them. Space, speed, and attention are the tools that keep someone else's bad decision from becoming our problem.
So what does defensive driving actually look like for our logistics team? It's not just a policy in a handbook. It's a culture that begins before the engine starts.
It looks like preparation.
A defensive driver does a thorough pre-trip inspection, checks mirrors, and mentally maps the route before the first mile. Knowing your load, your braking distance, and your blind spots isn't optional — it's the foundation.
It looks like scanning ahead.
Defensive drivers don't just watch the car in front of them. They read traffic patterns 12–15 seconds down the road, anticipating lane changes, braking traffic, and road hazards before they become emergencies.
It looks like eliminating distractions.
No phone call, text, or GPS adjustment is worth a moment of compromised attention. One second of distraction at highway speed covers the length of a football field.
It looks like humility behind the wheel.
The most dangerous assumption a driver can make is that other drivers will do what they're supposed to. Defensive driving means accounting for the mistakes of others — not just your own.
Our near-miss footage isn't shared to embarrass anyone. It's shared because every close call is a gift — a lesson learned without the cost of tragedy. Let's honor those moments by driving like every road is a reminder of what we're protecting.
