HDT Announces the 2016 Safety & Compliance Award Winner
Kelsey Wolfe (middle), Southern Freight Services’ director of safety, human resources and recruiting receives the 2016 Safety & Compliance Award. Photo: Chris Wolski
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Kelsey Wolfe (middle), Southern Freight Services’ director of safety, human resources and recruiting receives the 2016 Safety & Compliance Award. Photo: Chris Wolski
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Southern Freight Services director of safety, human resources and recruiting Kelsey Wolfe was awarded Heavy Duty Trucking magazine’s 2016 Safety & Compliance Award during a ceremony on July 19 at the Fleet Safety Conference.
The award highlights candidates who have enhanced the safety of their companies and employees through leadership, innovation and measurable results. Nominees were evaluated by a panel of industry leaders to determine the winner of the award, which was presented at the Fleet Safety Conference.
Wolfe personally created each of SFS’s safety policies that are enforced at the carrier and was responsible for recruiting hiring and training within the company. Policies that she created included the Required Road Test and Certification policy, Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Standards, the SFS Driver Agreement with rules on attitude and professionalism as well as a strictly enforced cell phone policy and several others.
The cell phone policy calls for no texting, no talking and hands-free devices are required before a driver is qualified at SFS. Violation of the policy results in an immediate termination. The same strict adherence is called for in SFS’s compliance with federal and state regulations as well as the drug and alcohol policy.
Under her supervision, when a driver returns from a trip, the vehicles undergo post-trip inspections, checks and scheduled maintenance as well as tire checks and washings. All write ups are completed and signed off on and then turned into Wolfe for review.
The company has seen its CSA performance improve and has been recognized by customers and brokers for its service and safety. SFS placed first for fleet safety under the Tennessee Trucking Association for 0-3 million miles in 2015 and have been named a preferred carrier by Eastman Chemical for two straight years.
“I never really expected to get into trucking. My sisters have always been my role models, they worked for my dad in trucking for many years and when he retired from trucking in 2011 I never expected him to get back in it and then he started our company in March 2012 with 5 trucks, we now are at 48,” said Wolfe. “Having him to look up to has given me a lot of opportunities that many people getting into trucking probably wouldn’t have. I appreciate everybody that I’ve met and I appreciate the whole experience in general, so thank you all.”
The Fleet Safety Conference is currently under way at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Ill. For more information on the Fleet Safety Conference, visit the website here.
Related: 2015 Safety and Compliance Award Winner Announced
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