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INSURANCE: Top Tips for Driver Safety
May 1, 2002
3 Min Read
Joseph Catanese
In today's tight trucking insurance market, there's incentive for waste companies to make safety a priority.
A study by the Washington, D.C.-based Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that the average accident involving a truck costs approximately $217,000, which includes medical expenses, emergency services, property damage, lost productivity, and pain and suffering. If the accident involves a death, the expenses can total as much as $3.5 million.
Instating a formal safety program can demonstrate that a company takes action to prevent accidents, works to correct safety problems and ensures compliance with regulations, all of which can help lower insurance premium costs.
Whether a business has one truck or an entire fleet, the rules of a company-wide safety campaign should include four principles:
Keep rules short and sweet. This will help workers remember and understand them.
Management should always set a good example by following the rules like everyone else.
Develop ways to correct safety violations. Promptly address any safety compliance failures through educating the group rather than only punishing an individual.
Rules should not require behavior contrary to human nature or infringe on the basic rights of individuals.
Additionally, safety rules should be consistent with a company's overall philosophy, which will help to communicate that management is committed to the effort.
The safety checklist can be divided into categories, such as the:
Basic safety policy:
States the company's overall commitment and involvement to safety.
Addresses driver and supervisor responsibilities.
Asserts the importance of maintaining safe vehicles.
Reinforces the need for initial and ongoing driver training.
States substance abuse policies and the use of seat belts, cellular phones, and vehicles for personal and family reasons.
Driving record examination:
Reviews driving records and accident histories with potential employees. A company may decide that more than three moving violations in past three years is unacceptable. Also, a business may decide not to hire someone who has been convicted of any alcohol-related or drug-related driving offenses during the past five years.
Checks references by contacting previous employers, assessing experience and skills.
Verifies that driver licenses are valid.
Conducts periodic reviews of motor vehicle reports (MVR), which should be kept confidential.
Establishes specific, progressive penalties for any driving violations. For example, after two chargeable accidents or a DUI, a hauler loses driving privileges.
Accident reporting guidelines and investigation procedures:
Has a policy on how to report accidents and establish procedures, including media relations procedures.
Requires vehicles to carry accident kits to help the driver follow procedures.
After an accident, determines how the incident could have been prevented and what actions should be taken next time.
Vehicle inspections and maintenance procedures:
Drivers should document daily pre- and post-trip inspections.
Has procedures for reporting and repairing defects.
Implements preventative maintenance schedule.
Maintains vehicle maintenance and inspection records.
Driver training program:
For new hires, requires a defensive driving course, certification to operate equipment, and a training class for company procedures and policies.
For employees, provides an ongoing driver safety program that includes all important safety topics.
Requires attendance at regular safety meetings.
Launch a recognition program:
Includes performance evaluation guidelines and rewards for safety.
Create a disciplinary program:
Issues a written safety policy to drivers, making sure they understand and can follow each point.
Creates specific consequences for each safety violations.
Additionally, companies should ask their insurance carrier what other important checklist rules demonstrate a commitment to safety and hopefully reduces accidents and insurance costs.
In the end, establishing a written safety policy will help to emphasize the safety program's rules, as they can be an important part of daily operations and employees responsibility.
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