Any transportation company that routinely hires truck drivers for its CDL home daily jobs must also ensure their safety with the implementation of some protocols to be followed at work.

When truckers are particular about rules such as defensive driving styles and adherence to speed limits, they not only keep their and others’ lives safe but also uphold the brand image of the company they serve.

Here are some ways to make fleet operations safe for the drivers who manage a company’s trucks:

Documenting safety policies for the organization

Whenever it hires a new group of drivers for its Class A trucking jobs, a transportation firm must provide them documents mentioning the organization’s safety policies.

During the induction program, the drivers must be particularly instructed to follow the policies strictly. It is also good to keep reviewing the documents from time to time and ask the drivers if they have any suggestions to improve safety protocols.

Rewarding compliant drivers

To keep the drivers motivated, it is advisable to recognize and reward the ones who consistently display safe handling of the trucks entrusted to them.

Today, companies can install advanced GPS fleet management systems in their vehicles that keep a record of a vehicle’s real-time location, overspeeding incidents, excessive idling, and other parameters around truck driving. On the basis of reports from these devices, drivers can be awarded safety scores and the ones who have the highest should be appreciated publicly.

The rewards and recognition for safe driving may be in forms of certificates, trophies, bonus with salary, gift cards, or shopping hampers. Such incentives motivate all drivers in the fleet handling group to maintain safe driving habits.

Encouraging defensive driving

When they follow a defensive driving style, drivers have more reaction time if they make a mistake or see a mistake made by another person on the road. They do not turn aggressive or get into road rage if someone’s action seems annoying to them.

A transportation company can include various defensive driving requirements in its fleet safety policy documents:

• Focus on visibility

  – Drivers must always stay alert and be aware of their environment – this includes keeping a check on what others are doing on the road.

• Make proactive use of communication systems

  – It requires drivers to always use their turn signals and other lights to show their intent to others – such as taking a turn, lane changing, emergency stoppage, and others.

• Maintain right distance 

  -It is important for all drivers and more so for truck drivers to maintain sufficient distance between their truck and the ones around them on the road. Driving too closely to a car, trailer or other vehicles increases the chance of accidents, putting everyone’s lives in danger.

• Avoid distractions 

  -Globally, distracted driving has resulted in millions of deaths every year. Some drivers not only talk on cell phone while driving but also take the risk of texting or participating in a video call. Transportation companies must have strict rules against such behavior.

If at all it is necessary to respond to a phone call, the driver must carefully park the truck in a corner and then go ahead with the conversation. Helpers who accompany the drivers in some vehicles can also handle such calls when required.

 

Staying compliant to speed limit in all zones

Respecting the safe speed limit is a prime factor that all drivers in Class A CDL permit jobs must pay attention to. They must actually drive their vehicles below the maximum speed mentioned for a road. A transportation company must mention this clause very clearly in its policy manuals and during the induction and training programs for drivers.

Also, to ensure that drivers do not try to rush for meeting the delivery schedules, they must see rosters are provided in advance and no one is overburdened with consignment pickup and delivery tasks. If the drivers report to a hub in time and their truck gets loaded with stocks without delays, they will be able to start their journeys to assigned destinations punctually and will not want to overspeed for timely deliveries.

Taking extra care for safe driving behavior during bad weather

Heavy rains, flooded streets, snow, icy roads, and fog are major hazards that drivers face – these become more dangerous when the vehicle to be controlled is a large truck laden with goods.

While experienced CDL drivers know how to manage their vehicle in such conditions, transportation companies should also mention some points on care to be taken during bad weather. Driving slowly, using hazard lamps and staying alert for signboards that mention speed limits or road conditions are some of the things to take care of.

Summing up

Any transportation company that employs truckers for home daily CDL jobs also has the responsibility to see that its own trucks are well maintained to be driven safely. They should be sent for scheduled maintenance and must have secure electronic to help the drivers check their routes, park the vehicle safely using reverse cameras, and provide alerts if they tend to overspeed.

Fleet operations are critical for the economy and transporters are always eager to employ experienced truck drivers. While inspiring their drivers for safe driving, they should play an equal role in keeping them safe and happy. Supplementing monetary compensation with medical benefits and insurance plan is also a good way to build such safety.