An armored vehicle is supposed to represent security. Not only are the contents purportedly safe and sound; drivers sharing the road assume that the vehicle’s operator is a well-trained professional behind the wheel of an equally secure and well-maintained truck.
Evidence to the contrary, particularly with one company, suggests that armored delivery trucks are causing injuries and putting lives at risk.
Market Dominance at the Expense of Safety
Fifteen years ago, a dominant force began its takeover of the armored car industry in the United States. One by one, competitors fell by the wayside. Fast forward to the present. GardaWorld armored cars enjoy a market share just shy of longtime cash carriers Brink’s and Loomis. The Canadian company operates worldwide, generating more than $2 billion in annual revenue.
However, the international security contractor’s hopes at topping the two heavyweights are at risk, primarily due to drivers and vehicles creating dangers on roads throughout the country.
The startling statistics include:
- Accidents caused by Garda drivers have taken the lives of 19 people since 2008
- Three of those collisions occurred in 2019
- Twelve victims died due to driver mistakes or mechanical failures in the vehicles
- An average of 100 crashes per month occurred from early 2014 to mid-2016
- Of those accidents, victims suffered injuries at a rate of one out of every three days, totaling more than 320
Dangerous Conditions Causing Deadly Accidents
Former staff members are speaking up, alleging that trucks were dispatched in poor condition. Drivers admit that some vehicles were in good condition, but that was the exception, not the rule. They cited unreliable braking systems, worn tires, rust holes, and broken speedometers. In some vehicles, bungee cords replaced seatbelts, with seats re-purposed from overturned plastic bins with cushions.
The company’s so-called screening process is also putting accident-prone drivers on the road with minimal training. Many drivers who were involved in more than one on-the-job accident are still allowed to keep driving. Even worse, drivers say they feel pressured to hurry pickups and deliveries.
Not surprisingly, GardaWorld denies the claims and has used the threat of lawsuits in an attempt to silence former staff and other detractors.