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YEAR END EDITION DECEMBER 26, 2019
Implementing a Fleet Safety Program
By Karleen Kos, PSAI Executive Director, continued from page 2
Implementing Your Program
No matter how good your program is on paper, it will make little difference if it isn't effectively
implemented. Below are action steps adapted from a resource provided by Capital Lease Group.
1. Start
by Refining Your Driver Recruitment Process. Fleet safety starts at the source—meaning, the
drivers that you hire at your company. When hiring and recruiting drivers, select your employees
carefully; look into their history of motor vehicle violations, employment history, drug and alcohol
violations, and perform other such background checks. See last week's Association Insight for an
example of how to set up required driving criteria that can be used for screening applicants and
making retention decisions. By screening out dangerous drivers or those with a history of accidents,
you can enhance fleet safety, and make sure you hire drivers who take their road safety seriously.
2. Implement Mandatory, Regular Training for
New and Existing Drivers. Most portable
sanitation companies have their new drivers
ride along with more seasoned people for
the first several days or weeks. This is
partially to train them on the job and partially
to observe their driving habits.
For an effective fleet safety program, take
driver training further. New drivers must be
trained on safety and driving best practices,
perhaps driving certain courses and/or
demonstrating techniques with various load
levels before being allowed to drive routes alone. Veteran drivers should also be trained regularly, to
refresh their memory and ensure that they adopt safe driving principles. This may seem excessive, but
it's necessary to build a truly safety-focused culture at your company.
3. Monitor Driver Performance and Behavior. Today, it's easier and more affordable than ever to
purchase and install GPS monitoring equipment, in-cab cameras, and other equipment on every
vehicle in your fleet.
Installing monitoring equipment helps you make sure your drivers are abiding by your guidelines for
road safety, speed, and proper driver behavior—such as avoiding hard braking and acceleration,
cornering too fast, and other dangerous habits. You can discuss these issues with drivers who are still
not driving safely, coach them on ways to improve, and hold them accountable to make those
improvements.
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