Any business that has a fleet is likely concerned about ensuring its fleet stays safe. One way of doing this is by implementing the right practices. Ensuring drivers follow specific policies and procedures ensures everyone stays safe and saves your company money.
Using Technology
Spend some time researching and investing in technology that lets you keep tabs on the vehicle and monitor driver behavior. You’ll be prepared with more information to ensure the fleet is safe. When you connect each vehicle to an external system, you can make better decisions. Another way of improving safety is to use dash cams, which can improve visibility around the vehicle. When it is connected to a fleet management system, you can also use it to keep tabs on your drivers. If you are thinking about using dash cams, you can review a guide on how to select the best ones for your fleet.
Creating Safety Procedures
When you write the perfect business plan it’s important to have policies in place to help employees understand what behavior is safe while on the road and what things should be avoided. Make sure you include any consequences for drivers who break these rules while using your business’s vehicle. Go over the document with each employee to ensure they have read and accepted these policies and be around to answer any questions if something needs clarification. They should sign it after they have gone over it, but it’s a good idea to give them some time between receiving the document and needing to sign it. Let them know the policies will be carefully enforced once the document is in place. You could create a safety committee, depending on how large the company is. The committee can help enforce the policy and implement consequences when the policy has been broken.
Train and Reward Good Driving Practices
It’s a good idea to make regular driving and safety classes a priority for all employees. You can share tips on how to move the vehicle in the right manner. These might take place in an online setting, in person, or even behind the wheel. A mixture of different learning settings allows drivers with different learning styles to absorb the information. You can cement the information employees have learned by offering work incentives and implementing a rewards program. Create a performance-based program that rewards those who do not take part in risky behavior while on the road. Employees who are not able to get rewards right away will have the incentive to work harder. Consider offering rewards such as additional paid time off or bonuses at the end of the year.
Doing Regular Maintenance
It’s critical to regularly inspect vehicles and perform preventative maintenance checks. This can ensure the fleet is protected, and doing so allows drivers to remain safe while they are operating the vehicle. You could consider using an external vendor to check the tires, brakes, engine, and other parts. Proactively managing these things decreases the chances of mechanical breakdowns while they are on the road. This can result in delays and accidents.
