No Silver Bullets

No Silver Bullets

Pam Chandler is the Regional Fleet Operations and Health and Safety Manager at Syngenta, a leading global agricultural technology company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, that specializes in crop protection, seed, and digital farming solutions. She leads Syngenta’s North America Fleet Operations Team, overseeing a fleet of 2,000 vehicles with a focus on driver safety, incident reporting, and adherence to fleet policies and programs. Pam’s work ensures operational efficiency and safety compliance across the company’s extensive vehicle operations. Her leadership contributes to Syngenta’s broader mission of helping farmers grow safe and nutritious food while caring for the planet.​

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[2:39] Pam Chandler explains how she transitioned from health and safety to fleet management at Syngenta
[5:17] Overview of Syngenta’s diverse fleet challenges
[7:41] Addressing the impact of animal strikes on fleet safety and communication
[8:53] Managing driver fatigue during seasonal peaks and promoting a culture of safe decision-making
[15:17] Training drivers to effectively use advanced safety features
[21:46] How BlueCruise hands-free technology assists with driver fatigue without eliminating human responsibility
[31:06] Strategies for gaining senior leadership and insurance buy-in for new fleet technologies
[43:20] Pam’s advice for women entering the fleet management industry

In this episode…

When it comes to improving driver safety and fleet management, is there ever just one solution that guarantees success? Many companies hope a new technology, policy, or training method will instantly transform their outcomes. But is real, lasting improvement ever that simple?
According to Pam Chandler, a seasoned fleet operations and safety expert, no single strategy can eliminate all risks or challenges. She highlights that achieving a safer, more efficient fleet requires a layered approach — combining leadership engagement, the right technology, consistent training, and a strong culture of care. This integrated effort dramatically reduces incidents and empowers drivers to make better decisions on the road. Pam also explains how new technologies like hands-free driving tools can help when properly supported, but they must be paired with human vigilance and company-wide commitment to truly make an impact.
In this episode of Roadrageous, hosts Liam Hoch and Chad Lindholm sit down with Pam Chandler, Regional Fleet Operations and Health and Safety Manager at Syngenta, to discuss why there are no silver bullets in fleet safety. They explore building a culture of responsibility, leveraging driver-assist technologies, and overcoming challenges with leadership and insurance buy-in. Pam also shares advice for managing driver fatigue during the busy season.

Quotable Moments:

• “Nobody goes to work to crash the vehicle; nobody goes to work to fall asleep driving.”
• “You have to have a lot of components work together to build a successful driver safety culture.”
• “The vehicle took over and just rapidly put its brakes on for me when I didn’t react.”
• “If we could just send that communication to the deer, it would be very helpful, right?”
• “There’s not just one silver bullet; it’s a combination of leadership, technology, culture, and training together.”

Action Steps:
Integrate driver-assist technologies into fleet vehicles: Advanced systems like emergency braking and lane-keeping can significantly reduce preventable accidents and improve driver safety.
Conduct regular training on vehicle safety features: Ensuring drivers fully understand and use built-in technologies maximizes their effectiveness and reduces technology misuse.
Prioritize fatigue management in operational planning: Addressing driver fatigue proactively prevents accidents and protects employee well-being during peak seasonal demands.
Engage leadership early in technology rollouts: Gaining leadership buy-in creates stronger cultural adoption and ensures smoother integration of safety initiatives across the organization.
Build a multi-layered driver safety program: Combining technology, culture, and leadership engagement reduces reliance on single solutions and fosters long-term fleet safety improvements.

 

Key Theme: No Single Solution for Fleet Safety

Pam Chandler, Regional Fleet Operations and Health and Safety Manager at Syngenta, manages a 2,000-vehicle fleet across North America. In this episode of the Roadrageous podcast, she emphasizes that there’s no “silver bullet” for fleet safety – instead, success requires a comprehensive, multi-layered approach.

Main Discussion Points:

• Pam’s career transition from health and safety to fleet management
• Syngenta’s diverse fleet challenges, including animal strikes and seasonal driver fatigue
• The importance of training drivers on advanced safety features like emergency braking and lane-keeping
• How BlueCruise hands-free technology can help with fatigue while maintaining driver responsibility
• Strategies for getting leadership and insurance buy-in for new fleet technologies
• Advice for women entering the fleet management industry

Core Message: Effective fleet safety requires combining multiple elements: leadership engagement, appropriate technology, consistent training, and a strong safety culture. No single technology or policy can solve all fleet challenges – it takes an integrated approach where all components work together to create lasting improvements in driver safety and operational efficiency.

Practical Takeaways: The episode provides actionable advice on implementing driver-assist technologies, managing fatigue during busy seasons, conducting effective safety training, and building organizational support for fleet safety initiatives.