Truck Driver Safety Tips To Keep Your Team Prepared

Truck drivers spend days or weeks traveling from one location to another. It is a tiring job and one that comes with many safety concerns. Driving-related incidents can be caused by many factors including exhaustion, weather, other drivers, or a lack of knowledge about how to properly maneuver a truck in small areas. Truck driver safety should be one of the top priorities of any business with a fleet of vehicles on the road.

Plenty of companies focus on truck driver safety during the onboarding process. Many fail to offer training when drivers need it most after an incident occurs. Truck driver safety is better when it is an ongoing priority for businesses. It can be challenging to provide post-incident training, especially if drivers don’t return for weeks after the accident. Lack of follow-up after a problem will result in a far worse outcome if the incident goes to court.

Tips for Post-Incident Training

• Transition to Digital Training
  Since drivers are often on the road for lengthy blocks of time, they usually don’t have access to training. One way for companies to make sure drivers can review the training they need immediately after an incident is to transition to a digital training program. Digital training programs are accessible from cell phones, tablets, and computers so drivers can watch, listen, and review policies and procedures during their non-driving time.
• Break Training into Smaller Sections
  Most truck driver safety programs are lengthy, requiring hours to complete each section. Truck drivers don’t have hours to spend on completing training, especially if they are on the road. By pulling key points from existing training manuals, companies can create more manageable pieces of information for drivers to review while traveling.
• Test Drivers on Training
  Merely providing drivers with a training program isn’t enough. It is also critical that drivers complete tests to confirm they understand the training and expectations. Testing helps companies identify weak spots in the training as well as shows where drivers may need additional one-on-one training.
• Document the Training
  When a truck driving incident is taken to court, one of the first things an attorney requests additional information about is the risk training that drivers complete. This includes what steps the company made after the incident occurs. The court views lack of training as a sign the company is not invested in truck driver safety or the impact of the incident on third-parties. In most cases, this results in higher payouts on behalf of the company.

Driving incidents are one of the top areas of concern for companies that manage a fleet of vehicles and drivers. To minimize incidents and associated expenses, it is essential that companies invest time in creating both new driver training as well as post-incident training.

Econo-Courier offers courier services, rush trucking, tractor trailer services, and warehousing options to businesses in the Tri-State area. Learn more about our services by contacting us at (800) 526-9094.