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Drivers: the Key to Fleet Safety Results

Drivers: the Key to Fleet Safety Results. August 22, 2007 CTAV EXPO Roanoke, VA. Overview. The presentation examines ways that fleet managers can: screen, monitor, and coach/motivate drivers to minimize the potential for crashes and passenger injuries. . Overview.

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Drivers: the Key to Fleet Safety Results

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  1. Drivers: the Key to Fleet Safety Results August 22, 2007 CTAV EXPO Roanoke, VA

  2. Overview • The presentation examines ways that fleet managers can: screen, monitor, and coach/motivate drivers to minimize the potential for crashes and passenger injuries. 

  3. Overview • The presentation also raises the question of "how does your fleet get drivers directly involved in the safety process?" -- we believe that their involvement can make a big difference.

  4. Why do we have crashes? • There are three possible options: • Equipment Failure • Extreme Conditions, or • Driver Action or Inaction

  5. Improper Driving • Improper driving was the primary “cause” of 66% (two-thirds) of all police reported crashes during 2004 • This statistic excludes DUI related cases since DUI affects the physical condition of the driver – does not represent a driving error. -National Safety Council’s Injury Facts 2006

  6. Improper Driving • The most recent “Large Truck Crash Causation Study” confirms that at least 87% of all crashes due to driver error -Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  7. Preventing Driver Error Recruiting Qualification Improvement Training Monitoring Dismissal or Non-Driving Job

  8. Recruiting • Who handles recruiting? • Do they know the minimum, expected and ideal qualifications of potential drivers? • Do you use safety issues to recruit? • What is your turnover rate (and why)?

  9. Recruiting • If recruiting fails to produce drivers, then there’s no one to dispatch! • However, if recruiting fails to provide “qualified” drivers, then: • Increased operational costs (training, insurance, administration) • Increased risk of crash • Increased turnover

  10. Qualification • A process, not a task to be “completed” • What’s required? • DOT / Non-DOT • CDL + Endorsements • Insurance requirements • Risk management / Legal issues (Negligent Hiring, Negligent Entrustment)

  11. Qualification • Qualification costs $$$: • MVR Evaluation (risk profiling) • Verified experience • Background checks • Substance Abuse Testing • DOT Physical • Does your process eliminate drivers before costs are accrued?

  12. Qualification • Since rural operations place drivers “far away” from their dispatchers, are they able to handle themselves • What is the extent of their authority and responsibility beyond “just driving”?

  13. Training • Training makes new drivers familiar with: • Specific job requirements including passenger relations • Safety expectations and policies • Routes and general procedures • Emergency procedures • Performance monitoring

  14. Training • Can you “prove” that all drivers received all training needed to complete their job safely? • Documentation of attendance • Receipts for driver handbook • Computer records of online courses • Organizational recordkeeping may be tedious, but valuable

  15. Training • What does it cost to train one new driver? • Supervisory time • Driver handouts • Driver’s time (paid) • Documentation time • It is a substantial investment

  16. Performance Monitoring • Performance monitoring safeguards the wellness of passengers & drivers (and your organization’s investment in qualification & training dollars)

  17. Performance Monitoring • Monitor for quality & safety in the performance of job duties • Feedback leads to either: • Corrective Coaching or • Praise / Recognition

  18. Performance Monitoring • How do you monitor driver performance? • Safety Hotline Comments • Customer Surveys • “Mystery Riders” • Supervisory Evaluation • Annual Review

  19. Performance Monitoring • Formalized programs enable: • Recognition of patterns among drivers • Comparison to other fleets (benchmarking) • Leading indicator of crash risks • Documentation of corrective actions by management (policy change) or drivers (coaching or retraining)

  20. Dismissal or Reassignment • Drivers who repeatedly fail to perform to minimum standards, or endanger themselves or their passengers need: • Coaching • Retraining • Warnings / Discipline • Dismissal or Reassignment

  21. Dismissal or Reassignment • Hopefully, this will not happen often • If it does, check other processes (recruiting, qualification, training and performance monitoring) to look for “system breakdowns”

  22. Driver Improvement • Driver accountability leads to driver improvement programs: • Advanced training & certification • Expansion of optional job duties • Create “bench strength” for later promotion to greater responsibility • Peer leadership • Professionalism in daily job

  23. Driver Improvement • Driver improvement activities are an investment in your human resource “capital” • Designed to increase employment tenure among strongest performers • Could include incentives if tied to performance, not just “showing up”

  24. Driver Improvement • Your drivers, once held to standard accountability measures will be quick to suggest ways to increase job satisfaction and pride in their job: • Uniforms (or no uniforms) • Recognition (patch, name on bus, etc.) • Driver Trainer • Profile in newsletter, etc.

  25. Qualification (again) • Periodically, all drivers should re-qualify for their job (some may qualify for promotion) • People change over time and due to external influences • Technology, equipment, policies change and qualification assures that drivers can handle the “new stuff”

  26. Driver Involvement • Drivers are key to keeping vehicles on the road • They have a lot at stake: • Consistent income • Wellness (freedom from injury)

  27. Driver Involvement • If they are directly involved in safety and performance monitoring, then: • Greater and faster “buy in” to program changes • More participation in training • Peer leadership in promoting proper performance • “Step up” in emergencies

  28. Driver Involvement • How can we get drivers involved? • Surveys with management response (we read the surveys and will do the following) • Performance reviews that are “two-way” communications

  29. Wrap Up • How do we measure performance? • MVR’s • Supervisory Ride Along • Road Observation Programs (safety hotline)

  30. Wrap Up • Safety Hotline Provides… • Motorist Observation Reports • Collision Countermeasures • Coaching and Counseling • Proactive Training Support

  31. Questions? • Dan Lessnau • SafetyFirst Systems, LLC • 1-888-603-6987 • danl@safetyfirst.com • www.safetyfirst.com

  32. Copy of slides available at: http://my.safetyfirst.com/Presentations.asp

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