Fleet Risk Solutions self-assessment

If an employee is to be on the road for more than four hours a day, they need to be able to drive well and safely. You can evaluate this by conducting a driver assessment during the interview. Remember, don’t employ higher-risk drivers if you can avoid it.

It’s essential that employees hold a current, valid, and appropriately classed licence for the vehicle they are operating. Avoid employing anyone with more than six points on their licence if they are required to drive as part of their work.

It’s important to be confident that the people driving company assets are doing so safely. By including an on-road assessment as part of the recruitment process, you can assess the competence of a driver before employing them.

A driver profiling session will result in a driver being given a high, medium, or low risk score, which enables managers to compare individuals.

The profiling session can be carried out pre-employment, during induction, or as an ongoing initiative.

Induction is an important part of your risk management strategy, as you can establish rules and expectations around how employees are to utilise and treat company vehicles.

When providing induction training for drivers, include a motor segment that includes applicable company policies, procedures, guidelines and standards on fatigue management, ergonomics, loose objects in the cabin, carrying passengers and vehicle-specific information.

Keep a record of the induction training that has been provided, with the record signed and dated by the driver, to state that the training has been received and understood.

A driver handbook is important to share key vehicle safety guidelines and procedures, including legal obligations, operating the vehicle, vehicle care and maintenance, after-accident obligations, and disciplinary/reward procedures. The information in the handbook can help reduce day-to-day running costs, and provide drivers with a safe and secure working environment.

Conducting a 15 to 20 question driver knowledge test a fortnight after induction is a great way to check what has been learnt and understood – and identifies further training that may be required.

This will also help you identify areas in your induction program or driver handbook that may need strengthening.

In the event of an accident, it’s important that procedure is followed. Drivers should know what to do at the scene of an accident, and what information they need to obtain from the other party and what to do after an incident.

It’s important to conduct an interview with a driver after an incident. This enables you to understand the cause of the accident and how it might be avoided in the future. Remember to collect and record as much information about the incident as possible.

By analysing fleet risk management reports, you may be able to identify what is causing claims and implement appropriate risk management strategies.

Toolbox sessions are a simple and cost-effective method of reinforcing knowledge and promoting discussion and awareness of work-related driving safety initiatives and targets.

A continuous learning and training programme for drivers is important to build a positive and safe culture among drivers.

By using telematics systems, you can create a safety score that can be used by drivers and managers to promote a culture of safety through friendly competition. It can also be important to have real-time safety feedback and coaching to assist in eliminating bad habits.

A pre-start vehicle check can help to ensure seatbelts are safe, the vehicle is free of any loose objects that could cause harm, and is free of any damage. It can also help protect the liability of all parties in the event of an incident.

We recommend you have a motor fleet risk management committee to discuss accident trends, statistics and initiatives, and make changes that could reduce exposure to accidents.

The committee should include anyone who is responsible for the care and wellbeing of company vehicles and those who are responsible for the care and wellbeing of drivers.

Offering driver incentives for good behaviour is a simple way to increase motivation, compliance, and safety, while decreasing collisions and associated costs.