Driver safety is a core piece of our overall safety initiative and remains a top priority for our company. We operate one of the United States’ 50 largest commercial vehicle fleets made up of nearly 1,500 tankers, trailers and power units across the country. The majority of these vehicles are used in our used cooking oil recycling, grease trap maintenance and inedible meat byproduct collection services. We collect fats and proteins from our food industry customer base and process them at our 80-plus operating plants throughout the country.

The material we collect is converted into ingredients used in the production of renewable diesel – a cleaner burning fuel that reduces carbon emissions by up to 85 percent per gallon – as well as ingredients used in a variety of consumer products.

We are committed to cultivating a more sustainable future, and we are equally if not more committed to ensuring we do that in a safe, responsible and efficient manner. From our people to our processes and tracking our progress, we are constantly evolving to ensure we are operating in the safest possible way.

Establishing clear, concise policies

The technicians who operate our service vehicles are vetted in the hiring process and trained in all necessary legal and company policies. Our drivers must be a minimum of 21 years of age and have a commercial driver’s license (operating vehicles in excess of 10,000 pounds). They complete extensive training on all our company equipment, electronic logging systems, guidelines and processes before getting out on the road on a service route.

We adhere to all Department of Transportation regulations concerning hours on the road such as the 11-hour driving limit, the 14-hour on-duty/driving limit, and the 60 or 70-hours of service per week rule. We also closely monitor our service routes to try to provide the most optimal and efficient routes, scheduled stops and overall time spent on the road. We make sure our drivers are set up for success when they occupy a company vehicle.

Our vehicles are equipped with a dashboard camera to monitor driver activity and all our trucks have a detailed safety guide for drivers to reference when needed. Why? Because we take the safety of those on the road around us in the communities we serve very seriously as well. These dash cams are designed to provide feedback and coaching for our drivers so they can continually get better, and in turn, safer, which works to the benefit of everyone on the road.

Adhering to our detailed processes

The process of preparing for a route often starts the day before the route begins. Prior to embarking on a service route, our drivers must complete a pre-trip inspection of the vehicle. Any part of the vehicle found to be defective or unsafe is reported to the plant’s Transportation Manager or General Manager immediately and must be fixed before the vehicle gets on the road. This process is repeated upon the conclusion of a route as well. The process is repeated up on the conclusion of a route as part of our post-trip inspection policy. It’s of paramount importance that our vehicles are safe to operate, and the best way toward ensuring that is regular, diligent inspection.

As part of their onboarding training, our drivers are taught specific practices for backing, parking, collection methods, as well spill and accident procedures. Having clear and detailed processes in place for how we provide service to our customers is the best way to ensure it is done safely and responsibly.

Tracking our progress

What good are the policies and procedures we outline if we cannot measure their effectiveness? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Compliance, Safety, Accountability initiative inspects and scores commercial transportation fleets. We are committed to maintaining satisfactory scores in this program. We’re able to measure our progress in doing this by reducing violations and accidents related to commercial motor vehicles.

International Roadcheck May 17-19

Another specific piece of this initiative dedicated to improving commercial transportation safety is the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual International Roadcheck. CVSA’s program dedicates 72 hours during the first week of June to performing roadside inspections of commercial motor vehicles and their drivers at inspection sites, weigh stations and roving patrol locations across North America.

This International Roadcheck program started in 1988. Since its inception, more than 1.7 million roadside inspections have been conducted. In 2021, more than 40,000 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted. Approximately 83.5% of the commercial motor vehicles examined had no out-of-service (OOS) violations.

CVSA’s Roadcheck initiative directly impacts Darling’s CSA scores, and our company is committed to producing and maintaining satisfactory scores as we continue to strive for better roadside safety from our transportation fleet.

You're the expert on frying. We're the expert on what to do with the grease when you've finished with it.

“Our continued focus on quality pre-and post-trip inspections and great maintenance programs significantly reduces the risk of crashes and injuries that can result from operating defective equipment,” said Shalonda Henley, Darling Ingredients’ DOT Compliance Coordinator. “Successful Roadchecks help decrease Darling’s CSA Vehicle Maintenance basic score and keeps our focus where it needs to be – safety, front and center.”

You can check out last year’s Roadcheck’s results here. To view our CSA scores and inspection history, you can find that information here. We are eager to continue to find ways to improve how we approach driver safety as we strive to provide superior service to our customers across the country.


DAR PRO Solutions is a thought leader in the industry for used cooking oil management and grease trap services. Our innovative equipment solutions, strong customer support, and service expertise will make handling grease a worry-free part of your business. Reach out to a DAR PRO representative today and find out how your ghost kitchen or restaurant can benefit from our partnership. Call us 24/7/365 at 855-DAR-PRO1 (855-327-7761).

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10/10/2019