Brian Fielkow: Building a Lasting Culture of Safety in Trucking
Brian L. Fielkow on why safety must be a leadership choice, not a department, and the eight seconds that change everything.
Safety starts with leadership and comes to life through everyday decisions behind the wheel.
In this episode of That’s Delivered Podcast, Trucking Ray and Brian L. Fielkow explore how to build a culture where drivers can speak up, question unsafe conditions, and stop when something isn’t right.
Drawing on his experience leading Jetco Delivery, Brian shares practical lessons about driver involvement, customer expectations, technology, and the lasting consequences of distraction.
Make safety part of every decision
A safety department can support an operation, but leadership sets the expectations. Drivers need to know that protecting people takes priority when schedules, customer demands, or unexpected conditions create pressure.
That requires more than a written policy. Leaders must listen to employees, understand what happens on the road, and support drivers who raise concerns.
Give drivers a voice
Brian discusses driver committees and peer mentorship as ways to bring real experience into company decisions.
Drivers know where policies become difficult to follow. Involving them in writing and improving those policies helps create clearer expectations and stronger trust.
Don’t let shortcuts become routine
A shortcut can appear harmless when nothing goes wrong. Repeating it can make the risk feel normal.
The conversation challenges the familiar excuse, “We’ve always done it this way.” Safe operations require people to keep asking whether a practice makes sense and what needs to change.
Eight seconds can change everything
Brian highlights Eight Seconds: One Fatal Distraction, a Minnesota Department of Public Safety video about a fatal crash caused by distracted driving.
Its message reaches beyond trucking: a brief glance at a phone can leave families facing consequences that never go away.
Watch Eight Seconds: One Fatal Distraction
Use technology to build trust
Cameras and other safety tools need a clear purpose, understandable policies, and thoughtful coaching.
Drivers should understand how footage will be used and how the technology can help protect them. Trust grows when leadership follows the same expectations it asks employees to follow.
What drivers can take away
Stop and speak up when conditions feel unsafe.
Find a safe place to park before handling a conversation that needs your attention.
Question habits that create unnecessary risk.
Review your PSP record and address inaccurate information through FMCSA’s DataQs process.
Access FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program
The central takeaway is simple: drivers need the authority to make a safe decision and the confidence that leadership will support it.
Listen to the full conversation with Brian L. Fielkow on That’s Delivered Podcast.
Connect with Brian L. Fielkow on LinkedIn
Don’t stress, just do your best—and that’s delivered.
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