If you work in the commercial or passenger transport sector, you understand better than anyone the importance of creating the safest possible conditions for drivers. Despite insurance, damage or total loss of cargo can have serious financial consequences.
That’s why you should consider contacting ELD installers and other specialists who offer modern solutions for improved road safety. Today, many owners of motor transport businesses choose Safety Net Installations because of its wide range of technological solutions.
Creating safe conditions for transportation is a complex process that involves working with drivers, implementing specialized software, and constant monitoring. In this article, you will find five useful tips to help minimize road risks for truck drivers. Read to the end to learn about the latest solutions and methods!
1. Ensure that the Vehicle is Fully Operational
The correct trucking operation begins with a piece of equipment that functions perfectly well. So, design a preventive maintenance program that will ensure every single truck in your fleet is maintained, and not only fixed when it breaks down.
Add periodic checking of brakes, tires, steering, lights, suspension, and coupling systems. Introduce pre-trip and post-trip inspections as mandatory and demand that even minor defects be reported in writing by the drivers.
Another tip is to standardize checklists so that all mechanics and drivers will view the same important areas. Monitor the performance of maintenance software or telematics to show the real-time mileage, service interval, and fault code.
Always do not postpone repairs as a way of moving the truck, since they are repairs that are related to safety and that might cost you more in the form of an accident. Invest in quality components and certified mechanics. One of the best defense mechanisms of your drivers is a culture in which no truck goes out of the yard without its problems fixed.
2. Keep Track of Key Driver Data
The commercial transportation industry can be quite dangerous if you don’t follow the basic FMCSA rules. Hundreds of accidents involving trucks and passenger buses occur on the roads. The main causes go beyond vehicle malfunctions. Much also depends on the condition of the driver (mental, emotional, and physical). Therefore, one solution is to install an ELD system in every vehicle in your fleet. This will help you monitor indicators such as:
- Driver’s working hours to avoid excessive fatigue.
- Average vehicle speed.
- Data on sudden braking and emergency situations.
- Total distance traveled since the engine was started.
What else? Make sure you find a reliable installation company, such as Safety Net Installations, to avoid mistakes or breakdowns. By tracking critical parameters, commercial transportation becomes much safer for the driver, fleet owner, and people around them. That’s why we recommend making this a must-have for you.
3. Plan a Clear and Safe Route in Advance
When the road is well planned in itself, then driving safely becomes easy. You should not allow drivers to make things on the road. Prior to departure, check out low bridges, weight-limited roads, sharp turns, school areas, and busied downtown streets that are difficult for the large trucks. Consider trucking-specific mapping tools that take into consideration the vehicle sizes, type of cargo, and legal limitations.
Include realistic driving schedules, rest periods, and hours of service regulations to ensure that drivers are not under pressure to hurry. Check the weather forecasts and road works, and prepare alternative routes in the event of a closure.
During periods when drivers are aware of the plan and see that it is possible, they drive more calmly and make fewer imprudent choices. So, provide both written and digital directions to the driver, including safe fuel stops and preferred resting spots.
4. Monitor the Driving Style
Similar to ELD system implementation, you should also consider installing other modern technological solutions. For example, it is very important to track not only the average speed and distance traveled, but also how the driver drives. You can assess how safely they do this thanks to the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Contemporary GPS and telematics can have you not only aware of the truck’s position, but also aware of how the truck is being driven. Real-time alerts can make you act in time in case a driver is always taking chances or disobeying speed limits. With time, you will be able to observe patterns showing who requires additional coaching and routes that can be causing stress.
5. Implement a Regular System of Testing
Drivers who are not physically and mentally capable of their duty are dangerous to themselves and other people around them. This is the reason to enforce a strict guideline on regular medical examination and pre-employment screening. Collaborate with reputable clinics that are aware of trucking requirements: hours of work, sitting, erratic sleep, and pressure.
In case of an operation that is more risky or a long-haul route, scheduled drug and alcohol testing should be considered in accordance with the provisions of local law. It should not be placed as a punishment, but as a culture of safety first.
All health-related information is confidential and should be treated in a professional way. Once the drivers notice that you care about their well-being and that you do use the rules, it is more likely that the drivers will inform you about fatigue or health conditions.
Wrapping Up
In addition to all of the above tips, we would like to advise you to pay more attention to the selection of candidates for truck drivers. You should create specialized tests to assess the current psychological and physical condition of a potential driver. This is one of the first steps to minimize risks on the road.
After that, you need to make sure that all vehicles in your fleet are technically sound and comply with the current requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Now all that remains is to devote more time to the safest possible routes and to constantly monitor key indicators. For example, in the US, drivers must not exceed the permitted Hours of Service (HOS) limits, which are more than 11 hours without breaks.
We hope our article will help you make the work of drivers in your fleet safer and more comfortable!
