When it comes to driver safety, culture is key. Creating a culture of safety at your trucking company sends the message that safety is important to everyone – from the top down.
And when drivers feel like they’re a part of something bigger, they’re more likely to take ownership of their own safety and that of their fellow drivers. So how do you go about creating a driver safety culture at your company? Check out our top five tips!
1. Implement driver safety policies and procedures and enforce them consistently.
Fleet managers should take a number of steps to ensure the safety of their drivers, including implementing driver safety policies and procedures and enforcing them consistently. This includes setting rules about how much driving can be done in a day, how long drivers can be on the road, and how often they are required to take breaks.
Additionally, fleet managers should provide driver safety training to all employees who drive for the company, and enforce safe driving practices. By taking these steps, fleet managers can help ensure that their drivers are safe while on the road.
2. Encourage driver communication and feedback on safety issues.
Fleet managers should encourage drivers to communicate with one another about safety issues. This will help ensure that potential problems are identified and corrected before they cause an accident.
In addition, it is important for fleet managers to provide feedback to drivers about their safety performance. This can help drivers stay aware of their own safety habits and improve their driving skills.
3. Promote safe driving habits through driver training and education.
Driver training and education is one of the most important ways to promote safe driving habits. By teaching drivers how to be safe on the road, we can help reduce the number of accidents and keep our roads safe for everyone.
But how do you do that with limited time and resources? Some suggestions:
- Online training courses that new hires can take independently
- Apprenticeship programs alongside other drivers
- Free print and electronic resources
- Driver training partnerships with larger companies
4. Reward drivers for safe driving practices.
Rewarding drivers for safe driving practices is a great way to show your appreciation and improve safety on the road. Some ways you can reward drivers for safe driving are with gift cards, points towards a bonus or a plaque or trophy to display in their vehicle.
Items like these not only promote safe driving practices but also help drivers to take a greater sense of pride and show more loyalty towards your brand. To help with this, choose rewards and incentives that drivers will appreciate and that will encourage them to keep up the good work.
5. Implement cameras and other safety-first technology if you haven’t already.
Dash cameras might feel like “spying” to some drivers, but it’s also a sure way to know if your drivers are obeying the rules of the road, using their turn signals, obeying speed limits, and being aware of their surroundings. Safety sensors built into the electronics of your fleet will help as well, especially when it comes to diagnosing driver performance for evaluations and possible re-training.
If you can cultivate this safe-driver mindset in all of your drivers from the most experienced to the least, then you stand a good chance of safety permeating throughout your entire organization.
Creating a culture of safety at your trucking company is one of the most important things you can do to protect your drivers, your equipment, and your reputation. At the same time, it’s not always easy to do when you’re also trying to grow your fleet and maintain profit margins.
But with driver safety policies in place and communicated effectively to all employees, driver communication, and feedback encouraged, you’re well on your way. Also, promote safe driving habits through driver training and education, positive reinforcement for safe practices, and top-down leadership that sets the example.
This will help you succeed in creating a culture of safety at your trucking company that lives well beyond you. For more safety tips or to supplement your efforts with the very best in fleet equipment safety, keep J&A Fleet Services at the top of your bookmarks, or reach out to us today!