Anthony LaFaziaCEO, Atlantic Training · CEO at Atlantic Training | EdTech & Safety Compliance Leader

5 Safety Checks Every Fleet Manager Should Make During NTDAW

18 Sept 2026 · 2 min

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1:51

In this video, Anthony LaFazia highlights the importance of coupling gratitude for drivers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with concrete safety training. He emphasizes that large trucks are involved in thousands of fatal crashes annually, making safety training a critical component of fleet operations. LaFazia presents a concise five‑point checklist for fleet managers: (1) verify that drivers and schedules are compliant with Hours of Service regulations; (2) ensure drivers are up‑to‑date on cargo securement practices to prevent load‑shift hazards; (3) provide defensive‑driving refreshers for both new and veteran drivers; (4) confirm that drug and alcohol policies are current and enforced for both managers and drivers; and (5) recognize and address driver fatigue by teaching signs and mitigation strategies. He stresses that these safety actions should be practiced year‑round, not just during the appreciation week. To support managers, he offers a free Driver Appreciation Safety Playbook that includes recognition ideas and a detailed safety checklist, with links provided in the video description.

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It's National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, and if you manage a fleet, there's no better way to back up thank you than making sure your training is actually where it needs to be. Your drivers move the freight that keeps the country running, often in conditions most of us never have to think about. Large trucks are involved in thousands of fatal crashes every year, and transportation incidents remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in the U.S. That's not a knock on your drivers. It's the reality of the job, which means the training around them matters more than almost anywhere else in your operation. So while you're planning how to celebrate your team this week, here's a quick checklist worth running alongside it. Hours of service. Is your team current on what counts as compliant, and does your scheduling actually support it, or does it quietly work against it? Cargo securement. A load that shifts is a hazard all along the transportation and delivery pipeline. When did your drivers last refresh on proper loading and securing? Defensive driving. The roads haven't gotten any easier. Refreshers on defensive techniques keep your most experienced drivers sharp, not just your newest ones. Drug and alcohol compliance. This one's non-negotiable, and it's worth checking that your managers are just as current on the policy side as your drivers are on the driver's side. Fatigue. Long hours are part of the job. Recognizing the signs of fatigue in yourself and in your team is what keeps a long haul from becoming a dangerous one. None of this replaces the thank you. It reinforces it. Appreciation without training behind it is just a hashtag. The fleets that get this week right are the ones already living it the other 51 weeks of the year. We put together a free Driver Appreciation Safety Playbook. Recognition ideas for this week, plus a safety checklist to review with your team. Links in the description.