Do you have a business that employs fleet drivers? You need to make sure that you take their concerns seriously.
There are a lot of things that fleet business owners need to make priorities. You probably invest a lot of time and resources trying to appeal to them by offering competitive salaries and great benefits. However, there are even more important factors that you must focus on if your company wants to get the most out of your fleet.
One issue that your business can’t overlook is the safety of your fleet drivers. You have to make sure that you minimize the risk of accidents, robberies and the threat of constant stress. The well-being of your employees and the fate of your business depend on it.
Safety Measures Are Very Important as a Fleet Business Operator
Driver safety is a top priority of any fleet. Those in charge will constantly be on the look for new initiatives available that will help mitigate risk and reduce the frequency of accidents. Fleet safety is a dynamic sector in the transportation and logistics industries. Every year there are new ways to update your fleet’s safety plans and equipment. There are lots of new and innovative safety trends, from vehicle selection to new assistance safety technology and GPS fleet management devices, each of which will reduce the chances of accidents for fleet drivers.
Dash Cameras
Dash cam services are available that can be used in fleet vehicles and help reduce the frequency of accidents. Vehicle safety technology like dash cameras can monitor driver behavior, which can both historically and in real-time depict drowsiness, aggressive driving, and distractions. This level of surveillance is integral to understanding the causes of previous accidents, as well as preventing those in the future. The use of artificial intelligence camera systems in the cabin will alert drivers on any unsafe practices and mitigate risk.
Manage High-Risk Drivers
Statistically, it is an average of 10% of drivers that cause over 40% of road accidents. It is integral to then enforce fleet safety and hold dangerous drivers accountable. This means that they have to follow safety tips as a truck or bus driver.
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One way to do this is to use in-cabin cameras, which can be used for driver coaching. Similarly, analytics can help monitor which drivers are frequently causing accidents and make sure vehicle safety procedures are enforced. Those that commit regular driving offenses need to be prohibited from the road until they have completed several hours of remedial driver training.
Vehicle Checks
Running thorough vehicle checks is a really good way to prevent accidents on the road. It is integral that managers make sure all fleet vehicles are up to date and safe for the road. This includes passing all state and federal regulations needed. There are also several daily checklists that fleet managers can provide to maintain the safety of their drivers. All managers are in no doubt aware of the serious consequences that can occur from road accidents thus, all vehicles must meet compliance checks.
Driver Fatigue
Distracted driving and driver fatigue are two of the greatest and most common risks to fleet drivers. When a driver is fatigued or distracted, it means they have less time to react to oncoming hazards. Tiredness affects a driver’s alertness and ability to make quick judgments since their concentration is impaired. This can have fatal consequences for anyone on the roads if an accident does occur.
In essence, distracted driving is fatigued driving; they are the same. It is very important to make sure that employees are not overworked or pushed too hard. From mobile phones to tight deadlines, there are all sorts of distractions on the road. Fleet managers must implement policies that restrict overworking while using technologies that help restrict distractions.
Cameras in the vehicle can help to increase a drowsy driver’s safety since they will alert the driver and encourage them to stop and take a break. This is a great way to ensure that drivers are meeting all road regulations by taking enough breaks. Cameras can alert drivers if they are making dangerous maneuvers and hopefully prevent anything too serious from happening.
Telematics
Telematics is a technology used to monitor a wide range of information concerning an individual vehicle or a fleet. Telematics help identify drivers at risk. It can be used in fleet safety programs to mitigate dangerous driving and risky behaviors. They can help pinpoint specific driving behaviors that need to be amended, such as hard braking, sudden lane changes, and aggression. Once pinpointed, drivers that are prone to making these driving dangers can be held accountable, as well as be coached in remedial driving skills.
The Pandemic
The pandemic has imposed an unprecedented safety concern on fleet drivers. Fleet managers are now coming up with innovative ways to ensure the safety of their drivers against Covid-19. New safety protocols should be enforced in fleets to avoid contagion and the spread of disease. These could be filtering systems in truck cabins to purify the air and sanitation of all surfaces before and after drivers switch between shifts.