The safety of vehicles and drivers is a primary concern for business owners and fleet managers. A focus on improving fleet safety not only reduces the risk of accidents and injuries to your vehicle operators, but it also contributes to their increased efficiency and productivity while they’re on the road. What’s more, taking appropriate safety precautions will help you comply with today’s stringent regulatory requirements and reduce your liability exposure, which will also enhance your company’s reputation within your industry.
We’ve compiled the following list of truck fleet safety tips to help you achieve your organization’s safety objectives:
- Establish a safety policy: Your company should have a written safety policy that outlines the standards and guidelines that all drivers must follow, along with the consequences for violating them. Have your drivers sign a release acknowledging their receipt and understanding of the policy.
- Implement fleet management safety training: You should also conduct regular training to reinforce your policy and ensure that safety remains a top priority for your drivers. Your training program should entail a combination of classroom, online and on-the-road instruction.
- Perform timely vehicle maintenance: Shoddy fleet maintenance contributes to far too many truck accidents. Regularly review your preventive maintenance processes and keep all vehicles on a strict service schedule — with no deviations.
- Replace older vehicles when necessary: Even a well-maintained truck won’t last forever. Don’t put off replacing outdated trucks that pose a hazard for your operators as well as other drivers on the road.
- Utilize technology to monitor drivers: Use advanced GPS technology systems that allow you to stay “connected” to your drivers and track items such as speed, idling time, vehicle location and potentially risky driving behaviors.
- Offer incentives for safe driving: Motivate your vehicle operators by offering awards for safe driving. For example, you can pay a bonus or provide extra vacation time to drivers who remain accident-free and moving violation-free for a specified timeframe.
- Provide on-the-road “coaching”: Have a fleet manager or supervisor ride with drivers periodically to assess their driving habits and provide helpful safety tips.
- Use communication tools to promote a safety-first mindset: Keep safety at the forefront by using communication such as emails and company newsletters to deliver ongoing tips and advice.
- Take corrective action when required: Use a point system to rate drivers based on their safety results. If you identify any high-risk drivers, implement appropriate training measures to correct the behavior. As a last resort, you may need to terminate drivers who don’t show signs of improvement.
- Make safety-conscious decisions when upgrading your fleet: When it’s time to replace an aging vehicle, choose a model equipped with the latest safety features.
Contact Reading Truck Body for More Tips on Improving Fleet Safety
With more than 60 years of trucking equipment expertise, Reading Truck Body understands what it takes to stay safe while on the road. We can also manufacture custom truck bodies that will contribute to a more reliable truck fleet for your company. Contact us to learn more today.
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