Simon National Carriers invests in significant safety measures

Simon National Carriers is a national freight carrier based in Brisbane, Queensland, which has continually expanded since officially incorporating in 1973.

The business runs a fleet of approximately 220 trailers including curtainsiders, flat tops, drop decks, ramp trailers and skels which specialise in a range of transport tasks throughout Australia.

Within its operations, increasing and maintaining safety standards is a top priority for Simon National Carriers.

“Safety is a big part of Simon National Carriers,” says Simon National Carriers National Transport and Distribution Manager, Mick West. “We spend a lot of money on safety within the business. We buy the latest equipment with the latest technology and the latest safety features, and we’ll continue to do that.”

Chief among these investments is Guardian Seeing Machines. Simon National Carriers has installed 54 of the driver monitoring systems in its linehaul prime movers in a bid to reduce the chances of on-road fatigue-related accidents occurring.

“It’s a big investment,” Mick explains. “Each unit is quite expensive to have in the truck, but they’re proven. There hasn’t been a fatigue-related incident that hasn’t been picked up by the machines.

“Driver monitoring systems save lives, and that’s what we’re about. We want to get our drivers home safely, so we’ll continue to invest in technology that will make their jobs safer.”

Simon National Carriers has built a reputation on prioritising safety and compliance. With Seeing Machine units and In-Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS), it is able to monitor the behaviours of its fleet and drivers in real-time in terms of speed, acceleration/deceleration, harsh braking and more. But around that, it also preserves extensive maintenance programs.

As Simons National Carriers National Fleet Manager, Scott Horwood, explains, this includes having a dedicated training department which educates all operators, truck drivers and mechanics on road rules, fatigue management, defensive driving, compliance with regulations, cab assessment, basic maintenance and load restraint.

“Our maintenance procedures are first-class,” he says. “We have a really stringent maintenance program as well as preventative maintenance processes which are just as important as getting the safest and newest equipment into the fleet.

“Training is also a very important piece of the puzzle. Without the education of our staff, we can’t do what we all do.” 

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