FLEETDRIVE
Fleet Managers ’ Role in Ensuring Vehicles are a Safe Workplace
As fleet managers , we have a duty of care for our fleets and the drivers who use these vehicles as their workplace . Promoting fleet safety and minimising risk is at the core of our responsibility .
This way , we can help prevent road injuries and fatalities , keep our drivers safe in the mobile workplace , and protect our organisations from legal and moral repercussions of improper fleet management .
To achieve this , we need to have a multi-faceted approach to making vehicles a safer place to work . Some key fleet safety strategies include :
• Having a Safety Handbook . A written road risk manual containing safety procedures is an excellent tool for any organisation . It should include all fleet safety guidelines including but not limited to the personal responsibilities of drivers and other vehicle users , route planning , driver scheduling , driver distractions , health and wellbeing , and emergency procedures .
• Assess Drivers ’ Safety Behaviours and Skills . Fleet safety is largely about your drivers and their suitability in performing their work on the road . When hiring drivers , consider their driver ’ s motor vehicle record ( MVR ), conduct a road test , and discuss their driving history . For current drivers in your fleet , regularly checking health issues and conducting on-road checks of driver behaviour is a useful strategy .
• Leverage Safety Technology . Telematics systems can help create safer drivers on the road by providing in-vehicle driver coaching , reporting risk and driver behaviour , providing collision notifications , and even locating reporting stolen vehicles .
• Benchmark Your Organisation ’ s Safety Efforts . Regularly reviewing your safety policies and practices is important to know what works and what doesn ’ t for you and your drivers . It can also help to compare your efforts with other fleets so you can emulate industry bestpractices .
ISSUE 31 OCTOBER 2021 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU 7