Important Safety Considerations You Need To Know To Protect Your Drivers

Are your fleet vehicle drivers ready to hit the road? It’s an important question that every fleet vehicle manager needs to ask before sending drivers on runs. Answering it can mean the difference between a safe trip or an accident report. At Central Power Systems & Services, we know that the following safety considerations are crucial for keeping your drivers safe and your vehicles out of harm’s way.

Are Your Drivers Properly Trained and Up-To-Date?

If you are like many fleet vehicle operators, you have a mix of drivers. Some have decades of experience, while others are fresh out of school, eager to use their newly minted CDL’s. Regardless of experience level, make sure to regularly test your driver’s knowledge and invest in continued education. Reinforcing their existing knowledge, filling in gaps, updating their knowledge with regulatory changes, etc., will help ensure that your drivers are ready to go. The more they know, the less risk of hefty fines, traffic tickets, and repair bills weighing down your bottom line.

Are You Leveraging Your Personnel?

You are missing a golden opportunity if you are not pairing your new drivers with your experienced drivers. Experienced drivers are a wealth of practical information that new drivers can use to improve their performance and ability to transport loads safely. In addition, as peers, these drivers can mentor new drivers. In the process, you will boost their confidence and enhance their ability to find solutions to everything from route changes to maintenance issues.

Are Your Vehicles Properly Outfitted?

Confirm your vehicles are equipped with all the safety equipment drivers may need when they are out on the road. This includes emergency roadside kits, First Aid kits, chains, lights, radios, GPS, extra fluids, tools, and other safety gear they may need to get out of a jam. In addition, make sure your vehicles are equipped for the conditions along the route, especially if any part of the route traverses mountain roads, desert highways, or other areas where problems mean help could be hours away.

Are Your Vehicles Properly Maintained?

If your fleet is behind on maintenance, this is a problem you want to address immediately. Bald tires, tired engines, worn-out transmissions, and leaky brake lines can easily leave a vehicle stranded on the side of the road. Performing a thorough audit of your fleet’s condition can help you identify critical issues in your maintenance regimen. The data you gather can be used to identify deficiencies in your maintenance regimen and allow you to streamline maintenance processes. It may also shed light on how your drivers are driving your vehicles, allowing you to update training procedures and operational protocols to protect your fleet from further problems.

Are Your Routes/Clients Changing?

If your business isn’t evolving, it’s standing still. The past couple of years have seen an incredible increase in demand for commercial transportation services. This demand shows no sign of easing as 2021 rolls into the rearview mirror. It’s likely your fleet has shifted operations, most probably picking up new routes and clients along the way. Making sure your drivers know how to transport the new cargo, drive the new routes, and handle any new vehicles you’ve purchased is essential for the future of your business.

When you are searching for ways to enhance the safety of your fleet, contact Central Power Systems & Services at (816) 781-8070. We are pleased to tell you what works, what doesn’t, and what’s worth considering as your fleet evolves to handle the ever-changing conditions your drivers face every time they get behind the wheel.