Department: Safety & Compliance
Pay:$120,000-$140,000 (Including Bonuses)
Reports To: Vice President of Safety, Compliance, Maintenance & Facilities
Supervises: Safety Managers, Driver Trainers, Compliance Specialists, and Safety Coordinators
Position Summary
The Director of Driver Safety & Compliance provides strategic and operational leadership for the Company's driver safety, regulatory compliance, driver training, and risk management programs. This exempt leadership position is responsible for developing, implementing, and directing comprehensive safety initiatives that promote regulatory compliance, reduce organizational risk, improve driver performance, and foster a culture of safety throughout the organization.
The Director partners closely with executive leadership, Operations, Fleet Maintenance, Human Resources, and Risk Management to establish safety objectives, ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local transportation regulations, and implement operational strategies that support safe, reliable, and efficient transportation services.
Driver Safety Program
- Develop, implement, and administer Company-wide driver safety policies, procedures, standards, and best practices.
- Establish strategic safety initiatives designed to reduce preventable accidents, injuries, claims, and operational risk.
- Monitor organizational safety performance and develop corrective action plans to improve overall safety outcomes.
- Promote a proactive safety culture through leadership, coaching, communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the Company's subject matter expert on driver safety and regulatory compliance.
Regulatory Compliance
- Direct and oversee compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local transportation regulations, including FMCSA, DOT, CHP, DMV, OSHA, FTA (as applicable), and other regulatory agencies.
- Oversee Driver Qualification Files, Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) monitoring, DOT medical certifications, Employer Pull Notice (EPN) monitoring, FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse compliance, drug and alcohol testing programs, and all required driver records.
- Develop and maintain regulatory compliance programs, policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Direct regulatory inspections, audits, corrective action plans, and compliance reporting.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and implement operational or policy modifications as necessary.
Driver Training & Development
- Direct all driver training programs, including new-hire training, behind-the-wheel instruction, recurrent training, remedial training, and continuing education.
- Establish training standards, curriculum, instructional methods, and performance expectations.
- Ensure driver trainers maintain required certifications, instructional competency, and regulatory qualifications.
- Evaluate training effectiveness through performance metrics, audit results, accident trends, and operational performance.
Accident Investigation & Risk
- Direct investigations involving vehicle collisions, injuries, customer complaints, regulatory violations, and significant safety incidents.
- Lead root cause analyses and determine appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
- Review preventability determinations and ensure consistent application of Company safety standards.
- Partner with Risk Management, Human Resources, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and legal counsel on accident investigations, litigation support, and claims management.
- Analyze safety data and loss trends to identify emerging risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
Leadership & Administration
- Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management to Safety Managers, Driver Trainers, Compliance Specialists, and departmental personnel.
- Develop and administer departmental objectives, strategic initiatives, operating budgets, staffing plans, and key performance indicators.
- Oversee hiring, interviewing, hiring, employee development, succession planning, and disciplinary actions.
- Foster collaboration with Operations, Fleet Maintenance, Human Resources, Risk Management, and executive leadership to support organizational objectives.
- Exercise independent judgment in resolving complex operational, regulatory, personnel, and safety matters.
Continuous Improvement
- Analyze safety trends, regulatory performance, accident data, audit findings, and operational metrics.
- Develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives that enhance driver performance, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and customer safety.
- Evaluate and implement safety technologies, training methodologies, reporting tools, and compliance systems.
- Recommend operational improvements based on regulatory developments, industry best practices, and organizational performance.
Key Performance Indicators
- Reduction in preventable accidents
- Reduction in DOT-reportable accidents
- Maintain full compliance with applicable Driver Qualification File requirements.
- Maintain compliance with FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse requirements.
- Ensure timely completion of required MVR, EPN, and DOT medical certificate monitoring.
- Timely completion of all required driver training
- Successful completion of regulatory audits and inspections
- Reduction in workers' compensation and vehicle liability claims
- Budget performance and compliance
- Achievement of departmental safety objectives
Minimum Qualifications
- Seven (7) years of progressively responsible transportation safety, regulatory compliance, or risk management experience.
- Minimum three (3) years leading safety, compliance, or transportation operations personnel.
- Experience supporting passenger transportation, school bus, transit, motorcoach, charter, or commercial fleet operations preferred.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Safety Management, Transportation, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Occupational Safety, Risk Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, technical training, professional certifications, and progressively responsible leadership experience.
Preferred Certifications
- Certified Director of Safety (CDS) or equivalent
- Smith System Driver Trainer or Defensive Driving Instructor Certification
- DOT Drug & Alcohol Program Manager Training
- OSHA 30-Hour Certification
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Comprehensive knowledge of FMCSA, DOT, CHP, DMV, OSHA, EPN, Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse requirements, and applicable transportation regulations.
- Thorough understanding of accident investigation, risk management, regulatory audits, driver qualification requirements, and transportation safety best practices.
- Advanced proficiency with Google Workspace, including Google Sheets, dashboards, KPI reporting, pivot tables, formulas, and operational analytics.
- Experience with Samsara, Connecteam, electronic driver qualification systems, telematics, and driver safety technologies.
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, coaching, investigative, conflict resolution, and organizational skills.
- Strong analytical, strategic planning, and operational decision-making abilities.
- Ability to interpret complex regulations, exercise sound independent judgment, and communicate regulatory requirements effectively.
- Exercise independent judgment and discretion in administering safety programs, interpreting regulatory requirements, evaluating operational risks, and recommending corrective actions affecting Company operations.
Software Proficiency
- Samsara Fleet Management Platform
- Connecteam
- Google Workspace (Advanced)
- Google Sheets (Advanced)
- Electronic Driver Qualification and Compliance Systems
Physical Requirements
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
- Travel regularly between Company locations, terminals, training facilities, and customer sites.
- Conduct field observations, ride-alongs, safety audits, facility inspections, and accident scene evaluations.
- Frequently walk through transportation terminals, maintenance facilities, parking lots, and operational work areas.
- Stand and walk for extended periods while conducting observations, inspections, investigations, and training.
- Occasionally climb bus entry steps and inspect vehicle interiors and exteriors.
- Operate a motor vehicle while traveling between Company locations.
- Occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
- Use computers, mobile devices, and safety reporting systems.
- Ability to effectively observe driver performance, inspect vehicles and facilities, identify safety concerns, review documentation, and communicate effectively in office and field environments, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Work Environment
- Combination of office, transportation, training, and field environments with regular travel between Company facilities, terminals, training locations, customer sites, and accident locations.
Leadership Competencies
- Safety Leadership
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Strategic Thinking
- Decision Making
- Communication
- Coaching & Employee Development
- Collaboration
- Continuous Improvement
- Risk Management
Career Progression
Safety Manager → Director of Driver Safety & Compliance → Vice President of Safety, Compliance, Maintenance & Facilities
Success in This Position
Success is measured by maintaining a safe, compliant, and high-performing transportation operation through effective leadership, full regulatory compliance, reduced preventable incidents, exceptional driver training programs, continuous operational improvement, and a strong organizational culture of safety and accountability.
The duties and responsibilities described above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify or assign additional duties as business needs require.
Pay: $120,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- How many years of leadership experience do you have managing safety, compliance, or transportation operations teams?
- Which transportation environments have you supported? (i.e Coach, Charter, School Bus, Trucking etc)
- What is the largest fleet or number of drivers you have been responsible for?
- Please indicate which transportation regulatory agencies, programs, or compliance areas you have experience with.(i.e FMCSA, DOT, Clearinghouse, EPN, OSHA, CHP, etc)
- Have you successfully managed a DOT, CHP, FMCSA, or OSHA audit?
- Have you managed safety managers, compliance specialists, trainers, or similar leadership positions?
- Describe your experience with accident investigations & root cause analysis.
- Describe your experience with Insurance claims and litigation support.
- Have you managed driver training programs?
- Have you supervised driver trainers?
- Describe one significant safety initiative you implemented that improved compliance or reduced accidents.
- Tell us about the most complex regulatory issue you've resolved.
- Are you willing to travel regularly between company locations, training sites, and accident scenes?
- Do you possess a valid Class A or B CDL?
- What is your desired pay?
Work Location: In person
