Components Of An Effective Fleet Safety Program

Every year, fleet vehicle accidents are one of the costliest injury claims for a business. If drivers do not undergo a formal fleet safety program and trucking safety and compliance protocols, there is a high chance of you putting the well-being of your employees and company at risk. Having a safety program is imperative, but it is much more effective to design a specific program that is ideal for your fleet and your organization. A fleet safety program lays down policies and procedures to help ensure a safe working environment for employees. Additionally, it can also help protect your business against any liability from vehicle accidents. We don’t live in a perfect world, and accidents are bound to happen, and the road is one of the most dangerous places for your employees. Creating and establishing a formal screening, testing, inspection and training process is important. For any organization that has a fleet of vehicles of any size, having a formal safety plan offers several advantages, including employee satisfaction and chances to improve fleet efficiency. The team at Trux Solutions can help design trucking and safety compliance for businesses across the country. For more details, get in touch with our team today. Below mentioned are essential components of an effective fleet safety program:

Comprehensive and up to date

An effective fleet safety program must be comprehensive and up to date and must incorporate your organization’s safety culture. It should concise, thorough and resonate with every employee, especially the ones that drive.

Know every driver

The business needs to identify every driver that drives on behalf of the business. You should know those employees that use personal or rented vehicles as well.

Commitment from management

To ensure the program is followed, it needs to have appropriate support from the top-level management.

Screen and select your drivers after doing your due diligence

This will help in creating a team that is safe and reliable. If you have drivers that are not safe, then as an organization, it is unlikely for your business to have a long-term safety record. Incorporate a thorough screening process for anyone who drives for your company.

Effective training programs

To ensure that all the drivers in your business understand and follow all the trucking safety and compliance protocols and procedures, ensure they have access to information on safe driving techniques, including defensive driving instructions.

Managing drivers regularly

This is crucial to ensuring all your drivers are following fleet safety rules and driving safely regularly.

Effectively managing accidents when they happen

This can significantly mitigate accident costs, and also reduce the chances of future losses. Before your drivers set out driving, they should make sure they have all the necessary paperwork like vehicle registration and a checklist of post-accident procedures when an accident occurs. If an accident occurs, the driver must be aware to take certain precautions and document the accident.

Setting up written policies and procedures

Ensure the policy and procedures of a fleet safety program are written down and have clear expectations.

Creating a sustainable plan for vehicle repair, maintenance and inspection

Regularly maintaining your fleet not only extends the life of the fleet but also reduces costly and unexpected breakdowns, including avoiding accidents due to faulty equipment. If your vehicle qualifies as a commercial motor vehicle, you will need to follow a specific checklist for maintenance and inspection. It is important to encourage them to inspect their vehicles daily before they hit the road.

Here at Trux Solutions, we have experience in helping businesses develop trucking and safety compliance protocols, including a fleet safety program to protect their business. Contact our team today to schedule an appointment.