At Drivers Legal Plan (DLP), we know that a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) isn’t just a piece of plastic — it’s a credential that represents immense responsibility and skill. Recently, our Chief Growth & Strategy Officer, Marilyn Surber, took The CDL Files podcast on the road for a special on-site episode at Western Flyer Xpress (WFX).
Marilyn sat down with a great friend of DLP, Tim Hutchings, the Vice President of Safety and Compliance at WFX. In our podcast, Tim shares a powerful, straightforward safety philosophy he developed to help drivers not only stay safe but also to build lasting, respected reputations in the industry.
Tim calls this philosophy “The Three Cs to Safety.”
Inspired by a strategic management concept of “People, Process, and Product,” Tim realized that if drivers could buy into a similar framework focused on changing behavioral habits, the result would be safer roadways and better careers.
“This is your chosen profession. What do you want to be known for as a driver?” Tim asks his orientation classes. “If you want that reputation to be a safe driver, if you want that reputation to be a compliant driver, then it’s really easy just to exhibit these three behavior habits.”
Here is a breakdown of Tim Hutchings’ Three Cs to Safety.
1. Courteous
In today’s high-distraction world, being courteous is perhaps the most difficult of the three C’s to practice consistently. As Tim notes, the traffic environment changes every single mile, and professional drivers are constantly surrounded by passenger vehicles distracted by cell phones, kids, or impatience.
It is frustrating when a four-wheeler cuts off an 80,000-pound truck at a construction merge, but Tim stresses that the professional driver’s reaction defines the outcome.
“I have to remind them constantly, you’re the professional driver here. You’re the one who gets the training,” Tim tells Marilyn. He says the responsibility is to protect the general motoring public, regardless of how poorly that public is driving. Remaining courteous under pressure is what separates a steering wheel holder from a true professional.
2. Cautious
The second C goes to the core of defensive driving: expecting the unexpected.
Tim highlights a common scenario: A car is on an on-ramp trying to merge. A courteous and cautious driver will move over a lane if it is safe to do so. If they can’t move over, they slow down to let the vehicle in — even if that vehicle should yield.
“When I say cautious, expect the unexpected,” Tim explains. “Because that’s when stuff happens.”
The need for caution is backed by staggering data. It is estimated that a commercial driver makes between 60 and 100 safe decisions every single mile. That’s roughly 18,000 decisions a day. To manage that load, a driver cannot be distracted. Being cautious means being fully initiated in the task of driving.
3. Compliant
While courteousness might be the hardest C, Tim argues that this last one should be the easiest.
“I always tell them that being compliant should be the easiest one… because the rules are posted on the side of the road,” Tim says.
While federal regulations are massive, the day-to-day operational behaviors — like obeying speed limits — are clear. Yet, Tim notes that roadside inspections often catch drivers for avoidable “form and manner” log issues or minor speeding violations (1 to 5 mph over).
These violations may seem small, but they add up to damage a driver’s CSA score and reputation. Tim emphasizes that safety departments aren’t there to be the bad guys; they are there to help drivers protect the careers they have worked hard to build.
Conclusion: The Three Cs Are the Building Blocks of Your Reputation
Ultimately, the Three Cs — Courteous, Cautious, and Compliant — are tools to help drivers build the reputation they want.
“Just because a driver has a CDL doesn’t mean they’re a professional driver,” Tim says. “And I think if they apply this concept and this theory of safety, I think they’ll get that reputation that they want to have.”
To hear the full conversation between Marilyn Surber and Tim Hutchings, tune into the latest episode of The CDL Files. Learn more about the CDL attorneys at Driver’s Legal Plan on our website.