Safety is one of the most important elements of the trucking industry, and managers and business owners must remember that they are responsible for ensuring standards and guidelines are met. Therefore, developing an effective truck driving safety program for their employees should be one of their priorities. This way, we will make sure we are looking after the safety of drivers and industry workers along with the safety of the general public.
One of the best ways to start implementing a truck driving safety program is by establishing written rules and policies for drivers and workers to follow. This will help us inform our employees of what the guidelines are and ensure their compliance. Such policies should include the expectations of the company, state and federal regulations, and common-sense practices.
A mistake that is easy to make is assuming written rules will be enough, without taking any further steps to ensure policy compliance. Having our managers and supervisors actively involved is an essential part of an effective safety program. This doesn’t mean having managers follow drivers and workers around reminding them of the safety policies, but having them give talks and presentations, inviting guest speakers, and meeting with recently-hired staff.
Creating a rewards program for safe driving is an excellent way to motivate our drivers and ensure they are following the company’s safety program. Even when you think it is part of their job, giving them an extra push to remain compliant and aware of the importance of safe driving will guarantee the results you expect. You can offer bonuses, plaques, awards, and certificates after a number of miles without any incident.
It is not uncommon to have a fleet of drivers with different levels of work experience, especially as younger drivers are starting to join the workforce in the trucking industry. Therefore, we should also consider tiering our safety programs and offer personalized training sessions, not only for the newer drivers, but for the experienced ones, too. This way, we will be covering possible knowledge gaps while ensuring safety standards are being met.
As we mentioned above, implementing an effective truck driving safety program is an essential part of the trucking industry. Ensuring policies, guidelines, and regulations are being met will make our company stand out, thus helping us become successful and reliable. If you have considered implementing a safety program but don’t know where to start, get in touch with us. We will help you design a program based on your particular needs.
