Safety should be the number one priority of every driver. Fleet Managers in particular have an obligation to promote and monitor safe driving practices with their fleet. A car crash occurs roughly every 5 seconds, making the road a difficult and dangerous place to navigate. You cannot afford one mistake. No matter the size of your company, implementing a safety-first fleet program protects your employees and the rest of your business by reducing liability.
5 Tips to Improve Your Fleet Safety Program
In addition to state or federal regulation, following this handful of suggestions will help you to put proactive safety measures in place. Lead the way on the safety decisions for your company with these tips.
1. Stay on top of your fleet maintenance
A damaged truck or one that is overdue for an inspection can be more dangerous than sharing the road with an aggressive driver. Ensure that your drivers are behind the wheel of a safe motor vehicle at all times. Do this by staying on top of your truck maintenance, inspections, and any potential recalls. Consider an automated schedule to save you both time and money with your fleet when it comes to maintenance.
2. Enroll your drivers in defensive driving courses
Changing driver behavior may be a more difficult task of managing your fleet. Longer-tenured employees are especially ground into routine. A well-designed training program can have a lasting impact on new hires so that bad habits caught early. Training programs can be online or in a classroom. The important thing is that your employees have an instructor answering all questions that might arise. Your drivers will come out of this program equipped with a fresh perspective and the right skill set for driving safely.
3. Check Motor Vehicle Records (MVR)
With the power of technology, fleets are able to closely monitor the DMV’s database. This ensures that fleet drivers remain in good standing to be on the road. Get the information you need from these databases in a speedy manner. You can do this by creating specific alerts for whenever one of your drivers’ records are updated. This will allow for a more personable approach to correcting driver behavior as the need comes.
4. Incentivize your fleet safety program
Tried and true in every other workplace, incentives are a great way to encourage employees to model exemplary behavior. Whether it’s customer service or being more mindful about your actions behind the wheel, being rewards can make your fleet more receptive to new safety measures. Consider monthly or quarterly bonus programs that reflect the performance and goals you have for your drivers.
5. Consider disciplinary action
When all else fails, the hard truth is that disciplinary action may be needed for drivers who don’t take to a safety program as well as others. Use your best judgment in weighing consequences and determining whether a driver’s accident was preventable or not. Following all the rules in the book still won’t stop the aggressive drivers around you.
Analyzing Your Safety Program
At the end of the day, nothing replaces a written policy so that your entire fleet can follow the same safety measures. Some advice may be more effective than others depending on the employee. A good fleet manager will see what works best with each driver. If you happen to implement one of these tips in your own fleet safety program, make sure it is enforceable and in writing.