​Jeff McKinney is the Vice President of Safety at The GTI Group, a company revolutionizing the future of freight by delivering comprehensive, end-to-end logistics solutions. With over 30 years of experience in the trucking industry, Jeff has been instrumental in enhancing safety protocols and significantly reducing accident frequencies. His leadership and commitment to safety were recognized when he was named the Truckload Carriers Association's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year. Jeff's career began as a professional driver, and he has since held various roles, including Director of Safety & Operations at General Logistics, before joining Jetco Delivery in 2007.

Safety in trucking isn’t just about following rules. A fleet can check every compliance box and still have accidents, unsafe drivers, and costly mistakes. So what really makes the difference between a company that just meets standards and one that truly prioritizes safety?

According to Jeff McKinney, a safety leader with decades of experience in fleet operations, compliance is only the baseline, not the solution. He highlights that true safety comes from changing behavior, not just enforcing regulations. Without a strong culture and driver buy-in, policies become meaningless. Jeff shares how hands-on training, real-time feedback, and a people-first approach create safer drivers and reduce accidents. When teams understand why safety matters — not just what the rules are — their actions follow.

In this episode of Roadrageous, hosts Liam Hoch and Chad Lindholm sit down with Jeff McKinney, Vice President of Safety at The GTI Group, to discuss why compliance doesn’t equal safety. They explore how to shift driver behavior beyond the rulebook, why management buy-in is critical, and how humor and engagement improve training retention. Jeff also shares his approach to coaching drivers through positive reinforcement rather than punishment.