Do you find yourself wondering about how to make your company’s truck fleets safer? It’s a common mental process for anyone whose job encompasses driver safety, insurance claims, and general transportation management. The good news is that there are many excellent ways to approach the question, from wide-ranging safety programs and dash-mounted cameras, to better maintenance, driver screening, and anti-distraction policies. Here are a few ways to add a strong dose of prudence to your organization’s fleet.
Implement a Comprehensive Safety Program
Maybe you already have a program in place. Is it written? Does everyone know its main components? Has it been updated in the past year? Do its provisions align with both company and federal transportation guidelines? Do you routinely ask on-the-road employees for feedback and criticism of the plan? If you answered no to any of those questions, it’s time to get busy and refocus on creating a safety program that covers all the bases, meets best-practices standards of insurance industry and federal government policy, and into the centerpiece of job training and certification for all your company’s drivers.
Install Dash Cams
Want to ensure the fleet stays safe? Install dash cams. Charlotte trucking fleet managers and truck drivers have more control over their total safety situation with multi-functional dash cams. A few of the benefits include fewer accidents, better visibility, much lower collision expenses, and valuable video footage to back up insurance claims. Fortunately, you can review an in-depth online guide about the different types of dash cams for trucks. It helps to know about the most reliable units and the wide range of options. Knowledge is power, so check out the guide and enjoy smooth, safe roads for your company’s truck fleet. When managers have access to extensive camera footage, they can design more effective, highly targeted training programs to make sure drivers know common sources of on-the-road events that could lead to trouble.
Stay Ahead of the Maintenance Curve
It’s easy for owners and managers to view driver safety as being in the hands of the vehicle operator, 100 percent. Too often, those in control of company purse strings don’t fully see their side of the issue, and that means timely, meticulous vehicle maintenance. Regular inspections lead to fewer accidents and roadside breakdowns. Don’t assume that manufacturer recommendations for maintenance milestones are good enough. Go beyond what’s required, especially for core system checkups on brakes, tires, fuel lines, and lights.
Face the Cell Phone Problem
There’s no need to use code-words and euphemisms like distracted driving. Drivers and support employees don’t appreciate being talked down to, nor do they want to play word games with managers and owners who refuse to speak plainly. Implement a strict no cell phone policy for drivers, enforce it, and amend it as needed. What’s a smart policy look like? It includes four prohibitions, all of which are closely monitored and can negatively affect a driver’s job security: no receiving of phone calls, no calling out, no sending texts, no reading/receiving of texts while operating the vehicle. Companies who use such programs typically see good results in terms of accidents or safety events, and costly citations.