When your business relies heavily on a fleet of vehicles for its operations, it’s important for fleet managers to be active in driver behavior and safety. Each fleet business should have a safety program in place that fully outlines the elements of safe driving and what to do should something go wrong.
Here are some suggestions from our fleet fuel card company for creating your own fleet safety program:
Driver Screenings
Before you create a safety program for your drivers, you’ll want to actually select your drivers and this decision isn’t one to take lightly. Hiring experienced, attentive, and trustworthy drivers can make your fleet operations go more smoothly and can be the difference between success and struggle. When choosing your drivers, use a strict screening process that takes into account their driving history, employment history, drug test history, and more.
Safety Seminars
Once you start driving, it’s easy to remember the basic rules of the road. However, there are some situations that don’t happen often and if may be difficult to remember exactly what to do in that situation. That’s why it’s important to hold regular safety seminars to remind your drivers of the rules of the road as well as the rules of the company, should something go wrong during a route.
Vehicle Maintenance
When you have a fleet of vehicles that are used on a daily basis, it’s important to keep them in good condition. As part of your fleet safety program, establish a clear plan for routine vehicle maintenance (tire rotations, oil changes, filter replacements, etc.). This can help extend the lifespan of your vehicles as well as keep your drivers safe as they complete their routes. In addition, regular maintenance can give your drivers peace of mind.
Driver Behavior Monitoring
Things like speeding, braking too hard, idling for long periods of time, and more can put unwanted wear and tear on your vehicles and cause them to experience problems sooner than they usually would. That’s why we recommend monitoring your driver behavior on a regular basis. With fleet fuel cards from Fuel Express, we offer driver reports that can give you the information you need to see who’s driving responsibly.
