A growing number of industries within the Houston area depend on corporate fleet vehicles to meet customer demands, deliver products, or perform service calls and repairs. However, companies can still find themselves vulnerable to losses and damages if employees and company drivers are not properly trained on how to safely operate a fleet vehicle. In today's blog post, we'll discuss how business owners can develop fleet driver safety programs to minimize commercial auto accidents, thus reducing company losses and protecting employees.
Complete Asset Review and Risk Analysis
The key component to developing a fleet driver safety program is determining exactly how fleet vehicles are to be used. If corporate fleet vehicles are used to transport various types of inventory, tools, equipment and raw materials, then fleet vehicles should have higher security features such as additional mirrors, extra locks, and dash-mounted cameras to protect valuables. In addition, fleet vehicles should be retrofitted to secure sensitive deliverables and products to reduce potential damages or losses during delivery. Protecting assets and minimizing risks is an important first step in developing a fleet driver safety program.
Create Driver Training Program
For businesses that rely on fleet vehicles to perform a service or deliver a product, driver safety is of the utmost importance. Before operating a fleet vehicle, drivers should first complete a driver training program that highlights the proper use of the fleet vehicle, including how to safely operate the vehicle in all types of weather, how to safely transport materials or equipment, and what to do in the event of a breakdown or accident. Thorough driver training ensures that company drivers are prepared and safe in any kind of situation, as well protecting the company vehicle and any assets inside the vehicle. Training should include both classroom and field training to reinforce safety protocols.
Develop Compliance Systems
A fleet driver safety program has no value if company drivers are non-compliant with the safety regulations. Therefore, companies should also develop compliance systems to ensure that all company drivers adhere not only to company driving programs, but also state and local traffic laws. Businesses can implement rewards for safety such as quarterly or annual bonuses for drivers with no incidents or company losses, or drivers that complete a certain number of additional training courses. For company drivers that do not comply with driver training programs, companies can document infractions and penalize drivers that receive traffic citations or ignore other safety training standards.
Company fleet vehicles are an important part of many Houston businesses, so it's crucial that these vehicles, the materials and tools they carry, and their drivers are all properly insured with quality insurance coverage from Aegis. Aegis offers a full range of Commercial Insurance policies, including Business Owners Policy, General Liability, Commercial Auto, Workers Compensation, Commercial Property Insurance, and Excess Liability coverage. In addition, the friendly and knowledgeable agents at Aegis can create a customized insurance package for specific industries or to meet unique business needs. Contact Aegis at 713-850-7622 for more information, or go online to request a free quote!