Field Fleet & Route Safety Specialist

Ryan Lawn & Tree Inc; Merriam (KS); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Ryan Lawn & Tree Inc. in Merriam, KS seeks a Field Fleet Safety Specialist to own safety on the road, coach drivers, and uphold DOT compliance. You will ride with drivers, review telematics, and lead training across branches and job sites to reduce risk.

This safety-sensitive role requires a Smith System Instructor certification, 4+ years of field experience, and a willingness to travel about 50%. A strong commitment to safety culture is essential.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in safety-related field.
• 4+ years fleet safety or DOT compliance experience.
• Smith System Instructor certification required.
• Willingness to travel ~50%.
• Valid driver's license with clean record.
• Experience with telematics and dashcams for coaching.

Responsibilities

• Ride with drivers weekly for real-time feedback.
• Deliver on-site training at branches.
• Collaborate with Safety Manager and Learning Specialists.
• Conduct route observations and inspections.
• Lead progressive coaching until behavior improves.
• Deliver safety modules within Foundations Academy.

Skills

Coaching

Training delivery

Safety culture

Communication

Public speaking

Education

Associate degree

Tools

Telematics systems

Dashcam platforms

MVR data tools

Job description

Description

Ryan Lawn & Tree is one of the most respected names in lawn and tree care — a $100M+ company serving Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. We're on a mission to raise the bar for our industry, and that starts with hiring great people and treating them right.

Field Fleet & Route Safety Specialist Salary range of $75,000-$85,000 depending on experience

At RYAN, safe driving is how we protect our people, our customers, and the communities we work in every day. The Field Fleet Safety Professional is the on-the-ground owner of that mission — spending their days at branches, in the passenger seat, and on the routes with our drivers. Reporting to the Safety Manager and working alongside our Field Safety Specialist and Learning Specialists, this person sets the standard for how RYAN drivers operate behind the wheel, from a new hire's first day in Foundations Academy through every mile they drive with us.

Core Responsibilities

Coaching & Safety Culture

• Ride with drivers across branches every week, providing real-time feedback using Smith System techniques — both with drivers flagged by data and as a standing part of the coaching cadence.
• Deliver defensive driving, in-cab technology, and driver onboarding training on-site at branches, shop yards, and job sites.
• Partners closely with the Safety Manager, Field Safety Specialist, and Learning Specialists — together, RYAN's safety ecosystem — along with branch leaders, dispatchers, and drivers company-wide.
• Conduct route observations, roadside checks, and job-site inspections to see how driving standards hold up in real conditions.
• Lead in-person, progressive coaching with drivers and branch leaders when standards aren't met, and follow through until behavior changes.
• Deliver the driving and fleet safety modules within Foundations Academy and Foundations Academy 2, and partner with Learning Specialists to keep training aligned with what's happening in the field.

Telematics, Data & Investigation

• Review telematics, dashcam footage, and MVR alerts to decide which branches, routes, and drivers to prioritize for the next round of ride-alongs and coaching.
• Investigate collisions, incidents, and near-misses on-site whenever possible — determining preventability and driving root-cause corrective action with the branch involved.
• Track fleet safety KPIs — collision rate, speeding, harsh braking, idle time — along with CSA and FMCSA Safety Measurement System trends, and report field-level findings back to the Safety Manager.

DOT & Fleet Compliance

• Set and enforce towing and load-securement standards company-wide through hands-on field training and spot-checks in the yard.
• Show up on-site to support fleet safety standards and driver onboarding during new-branch openings and acquisition integrations as RYAN expands.

Requirements

• Minimum of an associate’s degree in related field (occupational health and safety/safety management etc.)
• 4+ years of fleet safety, DOT compliance, or driver safety experience in a multi-site or field-based organization operating a large vehicle fleet, with most of that time spent in the field.
• Smith System Instructor certification required.
• Comfort and confidence coaching drivers one-on-one, in the cab, in real time.
• Working knowledge of FMCSA/DOT regulations, hours-of-service, and driver qualification requirements.
• Experience with telematics and/or dashcam platforms, with the ability to translate that data into direct coaching conversations.
• Willingness and ability to travel to branches regularly — approximately 50% travel to branches, including overnight stays.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in landscape, tree care, construction, field services, transportation, or utilities.
• Experience supporting a DOT audit or CSA score improvement initiative.
• Familiarity with load-securement standards for trailers and outdoor equipment.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to walk, stand, and push/pull equipment for extended periods, including up to 3 miles per day in the field
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, year-round

SAFETY-SENSITIVE POSITION: This is a safety-sensitive position requiring the operation of vehicles and equipment. All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen (including marijuana), criminal background check, MVR check, and DOT physical (where applicable) before starting employment. Candidates must meet all screening requirements as a condition of employment.

We hire great people for our employee-owned company. As a member of our team, you'll become a partner in the highest-quality lawn and tree company in the Midwest.

Why work at Ryan?

In addition to being a non-smoking, EEOC-compliant company with real advancement opportunities, we offer:

• Starting compensation of $75,000 - $85,000 depending on experience, plus bonus opportunities
• Excellent benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance
• 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) with company match
• 11 paid holidays plus 1 floating personal holiday
• 17 Paid Time Off (PTO) Days