When you are managing a fleet, one of your top priorities is the safety of your drivers. Them being safe stops any issues with non-compliance, and has the obvious benefit of your drivers being safe and happy in their work. Safety is an evolving concept so ensure that you are always up to date with the latest regulations. The following are five fleet management safety tips.

Training

Training is vital to ensuring that your drivers are aware of safety regulations and what they need to do to be compliant. Never assume that your drivers are aware and provide them with adequate training that instils confidence and awareness of all the relevant safety guidelines. You can also use some of the latest technology to provide real time training that is based on real life situations.

Implement Technology

Technology is one of the easiest ways to remain compliant. It eliminates the possibility of human error, and can alert fleet managers to any issues or potential issues. In-cab cameras provide an easy solution for monitoring drivers’ habits and can also be used for training purposes. You can utilize tachograph management for live tacho status, instant analysis, and remote downloads for an all-in-one compliance solution. The benefits of technology far outweigh the costs, so don’t be put off by the investment costs.

Don’t Cut Corners

When it comes to keeping your drivers safe, you cannot cut corners. You must always keep up to date with the latest regulations and adhere to them. Even if some regulations may appear to not make sense, they are there for a reason and experts have put them in place. If you think you can save money by cutting corners, it will cost you far more in fines if you are non-compliant. Avoid all temptation to cut corners. Your business and driver safety will suffer and in the worst-case scenario, you could be out of business. GPS vehicle tracking can do double duty by allowing you to emphasize and monitor driver safety while improving customer service and communications.

Discipline and Reward

Using discipline and reward is a method to incentivize your drivers to adhere to regulations. You shouldn’t emphasize the reward aspect too much as drivers and other employees should be keeping to regulations because it is their own safety that is at risk. However, offering some rewards will produce the result of better compliance. Disciplinary action should be taken against any employees who do not keep to regulations. You must ensure any disciplinary action is fair and you use it regardless of any employee’s previous record.

Make Maintenance a Priority

Keeping your vehicles maintained will keep your drivers safe and in the long-term save you money. Small issues that are picked up early don’t have to escalate into larger issues. Pre-emptive maintenance is the best method of doing this. You can also use technology in this area to give you an early warning system and pick up any faults that a human would miss. Having to take a vehicle off the road may be costly, but not as costly as an accident or a vehicle being taken off the road permanently.