National Safety Month 2025: A Trucking Industry Guide to Safer Roads, Drivers, and Fleets

June marks National Safety Month, a nationwide observance led by the National Safety Council (NSC) to raise awareness around the importance of safety at work and at home. For the trucking industry, which is responsible for moving 72.5% of the nation’s freight by weight, safety isn’t just a legal obligation—it’s a business-critical value that protects lives, property, and brand reputation.

In 2025, NSC’s National Safety Month focuses on four pillars that resonate deeply with trucking companies: Continuous Improvement, Employee Engagement, Roadway Safety, and Workplace Wellbeing. Below is a week-by-week breakdown tailored specifically for transportation and logistics leaders seeking to create a culture of safety across their operations.

Week 1: Continuous Improvement in Fleet Safety

June 1–7 also aligns with National CPR and AED Awareness Week, highlighting the value of first aid training—something every trucking operation should integrate into driver onboarding and refresher courses.

Why It Matters for Trucking Companies

Accidents, whether on the road or in the yard, can happen in seconds. Drivers and dispatchers trained in CPR and AED use can mean the difference between life and death during medical emergencies in remote locations. But continuous safety improvement also means strengthening inspection routines, data analytics, and driver performance monitoring.

Best Practices for Fleets:

• Conduct Weekly Fleet Safety Audits: Proactively inspect braking systems, tire conditions, and electronic logging devices (ELDs). Use data from DVIRs and telematics to pinpoint recurring issues.
  
• Implement Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Processes: Use NSC’s 5-minute safety talks to discuss pre-trip and post-trip inspection protocols, load securement, and warehouse docking hazards.
  
• Incorporate Emergency Medical Training: Train all long-haul and regional drivers in CPR and AED use. Partner with NSC for certified workplace first aid programs.
• Use Dashcams and Safety Software: Monitor and coach behaviors like speeding, following too close, taking turns or exits too fast, hard braking, rapid acceleration, or distracted driving to reduce risk and foster real-time improvements.

‍Week 2: Employee Engagement and Driver Safety Culture

Engaged drivers are safer drivers. A disconnected or disempowered workforce is more likely to take risks, ignore protocols, or suffer burnout—all of which can lead to costly accidents or violations.

How Trucking Firms Can Drive Engagement:

• Create Safety Committees: Form driver-led safety teams that review near misses and offer feedback on policies or safety initiatives. Involve terminal managers and operations in monthly safety reviews.
  
• Recognize Safe Behavior: Reward drivers who go above and beyond—zero violations, fuel-efficient driving, or timely maintenance reports—with bonuses, shout-outs, or leaderboard recognition.
  
• Leverage Digital Tools: Use driver apps to push safety alerts, surveys, and training quizzes to keep safety top-of-mind between dispatches.
  
  

Week 3: Roadway Safety for Professional Drivers

In 2023, roadway crashes accounted for 38% of occupational transportation fatalities. Truck drivers spend long hours exposed to the most hazardous element of the job: other drivers. Roadway safety should be a daily conversation.

‍Strategies for Reducing On-the-Road Risks:

• Implement Defensive Driving Courses: Make this part of your onboarding and annual recertification process. Use simulations and real-life dashcam footage to train responses to tailgaters, merging traffic, road rage situations, or unpredictable weather.
  
• Focus on Distracted Driving: Use NSC’s Distracted Driving resources to create a zero-tolerance policy for handheld devices. Install AI-based dashcams that can alert to drowsy or distracted behavior.
  
• Encourage the “Six-Second Rule”: Reinforce following distance practices, especially in high-traffic zones and bad weather.
  
• Monitor Driver Fatigue: Use HOS data and ELD alerts to prevent excessive driving hours. Provide access to rest stops, wellness checks, and fatigue management tools.
  
• Promote the “Just Drive” Pledge: Encourage drivers to commit to distraction-free driving and share NSC’s pledge across your terminals and newsletters.
  
  

Week 4: Prioritizing Driver Wellbeing in the Trucking Industry

The connection between well-being and workplace safety is particularly critical in trucking, where isolation, long hours, and physical stress can contribute to mental health struggles, substance use, and burnout.

Practical Approaches to Support Driver Wellbeing:

• Build Mental Health Awareness: Share NSC’s videos and resources on stress, fatigue, and substance use. Normalize conversations around mental health during driver meetings and safety huddles.
  
• Provide Access to Counseling and Support Lines: Offer anonymous mental health support hotlines or EAP programs that drivers can access from the road.
  
• Encourage Sleep Hygiene: Distribute tip sheets on circadian rhythms and proper rest habits. Provide blackout curtains, earplugs, or hotel vouchers for overnight stays.
  
• Monitor Substance Use Risks: Implement regular DOT-compliant testing, and educate drivers on how opioid prescriptions or over-the-counter meds can impact safety.
• Use NSC’s Opioid Overdose Response Tools: Equip terminals and long-haul vehicles with naloxone and train drivers on how to respond to overdose incidents.

Additional Resources for Trucking Operations

Here are a few NSC resources trucking companies can integrate into their safety strategy during and after National Safety Month:

• Workplace First Aid & CPR Training
• Driver Safety Training (including NSC’s Fleet Essentials course)
  
• Safety Technology Trends Report
• Workplace Wellbeing Hub for managing fatigue, stress, and mental health
  
• Safety Posters and Campaign Materials for use in breakrooms, dispatch centers, and cabs
  
• NSC Employee Perception Surveys to identify safety culture gaps
  

Conclusion: Drive Safety Forward—All Year Long

National Safety Month is not just an awareness campaign—it’s a call to action for every fleet manager, safety director, and driver behind the wheel. Safety isn’t just compliance; it’s a mindset and culture that must be nurtured continuously.

By prioritizing continuous improvement, fostering employee engagement, reinforcing roadway safety, and supporting driver well-being, trucking companies can reduce accidents, improve CSA scores, lower insurance premiums, and, most importantly, protect the lives of their drivers and the communities they serve.

As you reflect on your fleet’s safety initiatives this June, use NSC’s resources to assess gaps, set goals, and make 2025 your safest year yet.

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