NWRA, Together for Safer Roads expand fleet safety program to independent haulers

Together for Safer Roads (TSR) and the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) have announced the new independent “small hauler” fleets that will be participating in the Focus on Fleet Safety Training Program. The organizations made the announcement during the 2024 WasteExpo conference in Las Vegas.

The Focus on Fleet Safety Training Program, TSR’s signature workforce development safety program, helps independent fleet operators develop their safety culture with expertise and best practices drawn from TSR’s diverse group of leading fleets and technology companies. The comprehensive Focus program is structured around three key pillars—Training and Development, Safety Leadership and Technology—and includes executive coaching and before and after benchmarking.

TSR, in collaboration with NWRA, expanded this critical training initiative to address the unique challenges and needs of independent haulers in the waste and recycling industry. Additional program highlights include:

• Inclusive training: The program is designed for independent haulers, acknowledging the unique characteristics of this cohort.
• Beyond compliance: Recognizing the time and resource constraints faced by independent and midsize fleets, the program goes beyond mere compliance, offering practical insights and expertise to establish premier fleet safety programs.
• Saving lives, creating change: With a focus on creating real and sustained changes, the program aims to not only enhance road safety but also to foster positive transformations within participating organizations.

Those fleets participating in the new FOCUS cohort include:

• Troiano Waste Services Inc. in Portland, Maine;
• Carolina Trash & Septic in Angier, North Carolina;
• Walter’s Recycling & Refuse Inc. in Blaine, Minnesota;
• KAL Services, Inc. in Pella, Iowa;
• Anchor Disposal in Clayton, North Carolina;
• Rio Grande Waste Services Inc. in El Paso, Texas;
• Liberty Disposal Inc. in Hampstead, North Carolina;
• West Central Sanitation in Willmar, Minnesota;
• Sanico Inc. in Delaware, New Jersey; and
• Balcones Resources in Austin, Texas.

“We recognize the essential role independent haulers play in ensuring safer roads, and we're dedicated to equipping this segment with the tools and resources they need for a safer waste and recycling industry,” says Peter Goldwasser, executive director of Together for Safer Roads. “TSR is looking forward to working with these 10 new fleets across eight states through the FOCUS on Fleet Safety Training Program.”

“Tailored for independent haulers, the FOCUS program prioritizes their distinct needs, equipping them with practical strategies to build top-tier fleet safety programs,” says Kirk Sander, chief of staff and vice president of safety and standards for the National Waste & Recycling Association. “By transcending mere compliance, it empowers participants to enact lasting change, ensuring safer roads and transformative impacts within their organizations.”

More information on the FOCUS on Fleet Safety Training Program can be found here.