While most operations with an automotive or trucking fleet focus on safety, few businesses are actually monitoring their drivers to make sure they are adhering to the company’s rules, a new study has found.
Many companies only pull reports on their drivers’ records on an annual basis, which means they miss important developments like a DUI or a few moving violations that will increase the cost of insuring them.
In fact, 70% of companies with fleets do not even monitor their drivers and 60% don’t have a safety program in place, according to the study by SambaSafety, a firm that provides background screening and driver safety records for companies.
The key to having a successful driver safety program in place requires management buy-in and a company-wide culture focused on safety that encompasses not only a company’s fleet drivers, but also anybody in the operation that may drive their personal vehicles on occasional company business.
SambaSafety recommends:
Motivating staff to be safer – The company advises against just issuing warnings like “slow down” and “put away the phone”, and instead focussing on what’s at stake if they don’t. Instead of numbers and checklists, make a presentation that lets them think in terms of their well-being, or even loss of life, for the best response.
Providing strong safety leadership – Creating a safety culture requires leadership to model the behaviors that all employees should adopt.
Not just focussing on fleet drivers – Any employees that use their vehicles for work must also be part of the training and they should know that you expect the same safe behavior of anybody you employ that drives.
Drive home the point that an employer can be responsible for anything that happens when employees are conducting company business, even if they are running to the office supply store for you.
Being consistent – Just because you have a safety policy, it may not be enough to get you off the hook if one of your drivers causes an accident. Companies can be held responsible if they do not have proactive intervention policies and detailed documentation.
Using data to your advantage — Collecting data on your employees’ driving habits can greatly improve your ability to make sure you have a safe fleet of drivers. And the best way to do that is through continuous driver monitoring.
“The right data can help employers accurately reward those who are doing well, too, and securely keep up with disciplinary actions toward those who are missing the mark,” SambaSafety says in its report.
Do you have a strong safety policy for your drivers? The company recommends that you ask the following of your safety program:
- Was the policy established with input from key stakeholders?
- Has it been clearly communicated to all employees?
- Does it tie in to company goals and mission?
- Do employees receive regular reminders and updates about safety policies?
- Is it aspirational and values-based rather than simply disciplinary?
- Is there complete buy-in from top management?
- Is the policy uniformly enforced?
- Is there a fair, diverse, professional board for incident review?
- Is data properly used to increase compliance?
- Is it time for an update?
