As part of their commitment to safety, Pennsy Supply recently designed and built a very unique “driving range” for their employees - 18 “holes” to help improve the safety of their 180 truck drivers. Set up with flags, just like a golf course, Pennsy drivers maneuver a variety of vehicles through the course and are scored on how well they do.

Twelve of the 18 obstacles are based on backing the trucks up. “The majority of construction vehicle accidents occur while backing up,” said Ken Stambaugh, transportation manager for Pennsy Supply. “We encourage our drivers to use a GOAL approach - Get Out And Look. No matter how long you’ve been driving, it doesn’t hurt to check your work.”

“Pennsy Supply is serious about our people being our number one priority, and this course reinforces that. We expect our drivers to practice safe driving behaviors around the job site, and to encourage each other to do so as well.” Stambaugh points out that some of their toughest jobs involve backing up long, narrow, winding paths to cell phone towers, and has included this obstacle on the course. “If a new driver feels they cannot maneuver the truck safely up the path, we have them call in to the office and we’ll send someone out to spot them. Passing experience on to new drivers is crucial to maintaining a safe crew.”

The course took approximately 200 man hours to construct, and Mike Holley, assistant driver supervisor for Pennsy Supply was the construction manager for the project. The course will be used by the truck drivers of Pennsy Supply and McMinn’s Inc., another Pennsy company, based in Lancaster.

Based in Harrisburg, Pa., Pennsy Supply is one of southcentral Pennsylvania’s leading suppliers of aggregate, concrete and asphalt. The company is part of the Mid-Atlantic Group of Oldcastle Materials, Inc., which includes Slusser Brothers in West Hazleton, Pa., McMinn’s Asphalt in Lancaster, Pa., Tilcon-Delaware in Dover, Del. and Pioneer Concrete in Wilmington, Del. Serving the region for more than 80 years, Pennsy operates nine quarries producing crushed stone, sand and high-calcium limestone, six asphalt plants and six concrete plants. With more than 500 employees, the company has earned local, regional and national recognition for its community efforts.

For more information about Pennsy Supply products and services, call 717-233-4511 or visit www.oldcastlemidatlantic.com.

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