DANGEROUS DRIVING ( that ’ s what it used to be called ) gets a bit of extra attention in this issue of Fuel Oil News , because it has been in the mainstream news . Lytx , a provider of in-vehicle video systems for commercial and public sector fleets , reports that risky behaviors behind the wheel tend to cluster , meaning drivers who engage in one potentially risky behavior are often found engaging in other risky behaviors at the same time . Lytx released its findings in conjunction with National Distracted Driving Awareness Month . Among its findings ? There is

STEPHEN BENNETT one very important driver behavior that is actually triggered by others .

Del Lisk , vice president of safety services for Lytx , says , “ One of our clients confidentially surveyed their drivers about their use of hand-held cell phones while driving . Through this survey , they discovered that more than half of all calls to their drivers were initiated by family members — the people who love them the most unknowingly potentially putting them in harm ’ s way . The company followed up with a program focused on educating families on the risks associated with calling their loved ones while they were driving . This is a great example of how looking for the underlying causes of risky behaviors can uncover important information .” For more on what Lytx ’ s analysis revealed , turn to page 16 . Speaking of risky behaviors … The rate of workforce drug positivity hit a fourteen-year high in 2018 , according to a new analysis released by Quest Diagnostics , a provider of diagnostic information services . To read more about drugs in the workforce , turn to page 19 .

Foster Fuels started in the emergency response business about 15 years ago . Today , the contracted fuel provider for the Federal Emergency Management Agency keeps some 150 tank wagons and transport trucks on continuous standby — “ a dedicated emergency fleet that doesn ’ t do routine business ,” says Will Rohrig , senior vice president , who oversees the Mission Critical Services division of Foster Fuels . The trucks are specially designated to be “ available to us when we need to respond to an emergency somewhere in the country .” Rohrig acknowledges , “ That ’ s sort of an unusual model . Most companies aren ’ t willing to park 150 fuel trucks — not put them to work every day .” So why does Foster Fuels , based in Brookneal , Va ., do it ? Turn to page 22 to find out .

Renewable Energy Group and Broco Oil Co . announced a partnership to provide cleaner fuel options to heating oil dealers in the Northeast . The companies are working together to provide a state-of-the-art blending facility in Haverhill , Massachusetts . For details turn to page 42 . How do you find new drivers and service techs ? Bet you ’ d like to know how your peers

( i . e ., your competitors ) do it . Well , now you can .

Fuel Oil News conducted a survey in the weeks before an April 17 webinar on that very subject . Turn to our “ Spring Literature Showcase ” ( page 25 ) to see the survey results , which complement the material presented in the webinar . And to hear the edited webinar , go to www . fueloilnews . com . ( Hold your cursor over “ Webinars ” and choose “ Hiring and Retaining Drivers and Service Techs in Today ’ s Market ” from the dropdown menu .) The featured speakers in the webinar were : Mike Estes , owner of Estes Oil & Propane in York , Maine ; Steven H . Kitchin , vice president , corporate education and training for the New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich , R . I .; and Jesse Lord of A . R . M . Solutions , a cofounder of Vets2Techs , an organization that connects veterans with potential employers in the fuel marketing industry . l FON

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8 JUNE 2019 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com