Pull Ticket Program

Having managers ride to and from jobs with crews to ensure safety-conscious driving is not practical. But in California, John Serviss, vice president and branch manager, Valley Crest Tree Co., has the next best thing. His state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) runs a program for businesses that monitors drivers’ activities.

The DMV’s “pull ticket” program reports any traffic tickets or violations a driver acquires to the company for which he drives. The California DMV sends the branch safety officer driving records for every employee who operates a company-owned vehicle, including Serviss.

“At least once a year the DMV sends my branch safety officer my driving record,” Serviss says. “If I go out tomorrow and get a speeding ticket that goes through the DMV and generates activity on my driving record, the DMV sends our safety officer a ‘pull ticket’ showing that I received a ticket.”

Speeding or any other tickets that a company driver obtains during personal time count toward his or her company driving record, Serviss describes. Valley Crest’s policy includes a progressive violation system, and drivers are not usually barred from driving for infrequent violations. However, severe infractions and repeated offenses will cause an employee to lose company driving privileges.

“I sincerely can’t think of a time when we had a driver with a bad enough record where we had to stop him from driving,” Serviss recalls. “Our drivers are extremely cautious. Before they take any unsafe actions they’ll call the safety officer and speak with the transportation manager to make a decision.”

Serviss says the California DMV charges only $20 for every person the company registered for the program. For contractors who operate outside of California, Serviss says there are companies that will monitor drivers for business owners if their state DMV doesn’t offer a similar service.

Participation in a monitoring program also requires time. Managers must register each company driver with the program and keep that information current by adding new drivers and removing employees who have left the company, Serviss notes.

Similarly, David Snodgrass, president, Dennis’ Seven Dees Landscaping, Portland, Ore., says his company monitors its drivers by registering each one with the company’s insurance provider. Every six months, the insurance company reviews the driving records of every registered employee for illegal or improper activity.

“They report on our drivers, their records and what activity they have had during the last half year,” Snodgrass explains. “So we are really on top of our drivers’ records.”

Managers who are unsure if a similar service is offered in their state should call their state DMVs and their insurance providers to ask about a driver-monitoring service.

The author is a Contributing Editor to Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached via nwisniewski@lawnandlandscape.com.