Commercial fleets often face multiple accidents per year, and one accident can end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars. And if your company has higher risk drivers, you are even more likely to face a workplace accident. Safety should be a priority, and there are a few steps you can follow if you do have riskier drivers.
Identifying riskier drivers
Aggressive habits on the road are dangerous for the safety of your fleet, so it is critical to correct this. You should start by checking your records and any prior history of accidents. The ones who have had the highest number of accidents or violations are the riskiest. You can divide them into groups based on how many prior issues they have had. Annual training courses are important for all your employees. And the ones at highest risk should take multiple courses each year. Consider putting certain employee in monitoring programs, which can give you statistics on their activity, as well as any changes in their habits. One way of monitoring them is to use dash cams that have GPS tracking. With GPS enabled dash cams, they can increase the safety of your fleet and help you keep an eye on employees who do not have the best habits.
Creating a safety policy
Your safety policy should be specific and outline consequences for employees who do not meet your expectations. It should focus more on safety than any other company policy. You can include things like:
- How often vehicles should be maintained
- Clear and concise safety messages communicated to drivers
- Policies on when and how much training drivers need to take part in
- Risk assessments for your drivers
- Pledges to drive better
- How to report incidents
Coming up with this policy allows you to enforce your safety protocols. As the business owner, you will be more successful by putting this policy in place to cover all your employees.
Offer training
There are common mistakes to avoid in any startup, improper training is certainly one. Training should be required for all employees, but the ones at higher risk should be prioritised. Regular training allows employees to improve their skills while on the road and become more responsible. They will also be more aware of risks while on the road. Those who do not have that many issues can simply receive training on the areas where they have the most trouble, such as backing up or speeding. Others can learn crash prevention and better scanning techniques. And certain workers might need even more one-on-one training so they can stay productive.
Getting managers involved
If your business is large enough to employ managers, their managerial role and responsibilities should include training, they should be involved and on board with the safety policy as well. Good mangers are critical when you are working with the highest risk employees. That’s because they have such close contact with the drivers. They have a big role to play when it comes to reducing accidents. Make sure you and all mangers prioritise safety with the drivers and communicate it through email and team meetings. They should be reminded of existing policies and hear about any updates.
Darren is an expert on driving and transport, and is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists
