Without commercial drivers, businesses certainly wouldn’t be able to get products or goods to their customers or clients. An integral responsibility of a commercial driver is to abide by the safety rules that are set by an employer, and to understand the importance of them for maximum safety of their wellbeing. As an employer, it is crucial to outline any requirements and steps to your employees so that they can perform both professionally and productively. Read on to find out how to control the risks within the workplace to ensure the health and welfare of your drivers.
Identity Safe Drivers
Once commercial drivers have confirmed that they own a commercial driver’s license, any additional training they receive is to ensure the future safety of their wellbeing. Drivers who are identified by employers as high risk should receive vehicle training that is needed to qualify for the commercial driver’s license. This training can assist in detecting unsafe behaviour and eliminating it. As many people have different driving behaviours, habits and abilities, employers can often be challenged with selecting appropriate candidates. Effective fleet management begins with the election of professional drivers. It is important to remember that the quality of the driver’s job performance can greatly affect the success of the entire fleet operation, and will directly influence the fleet safety performance. Through remedial driver training, employers can focus on specific driver behaviors, and refocus training on any corrective actions that are needed for the role.
Provide a Handbook for your Drivers
A well established and regularly updated handbook will allow your employees to understand what is expected of them. It should outline their responsibilities, penalties for misconduct, and offer advice for any potentially hazardous situations that they may encounter while driving. As an employer, you need to ensure that your drivers are aware of the legal circumstances such as load security and the prevention of overloading. Commercial vehicles including vans, lorries, buses and coaches can all be penalised for the overloading of goods due to the hazardous issues that can occur. For smaller vehicles, invest in innovative products such as Rola Case, which offers optimum storage solutions for maximum safety and efficiency of drivers. As both the employer and employee will be held accountable for any insecure loads, it is strongly advised that you train your drivers in loading and securing techniques to avoid any injuries or danger. Your handbook should also provide awareness of speeding, using mobile phones, emission standards, vehicle restrictions, as well as the prohibition of drugs and alcohol.
Implement a Driver Safety program
Whether you manage a fleet of vehicles, oversee a mobile sales force, or employ commuters, employers bear the cost for injuries that occur such as through motor vehicle collisions. By implementing a driver safety program in your workplace, you can greatly reduce the risk faced by your employees while also protecting your company’s reputation. You can ensure the safety of your commercial drivers, control liability costs that are associated with work-related vehicle crashes, and improve productivity.
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