FLEET SAFETY
The Importance Of Fleet Safety And Maintenance
Anyone who does a lot of driving knows how unpredictable the roads can be . They also know how expensive vehicles can be to operate and how bad the consequences of accidents can become . For businesses that do hauling , general transportation , or other on-the-road commerce , fleet safety should be a high priority . Alleviating potential liabilities and protecting against damages is not only important for employees but also for the business as a whole . When automotive-related accidents cause losses , they are often huge losses .
Fleet safety begins and ends in two areas : drivers and equipment . First up are the drivers . They need to be thoroughly vetted before being hired , and trained adequately for the positions that they will hold . A key idea to keep in mind during this process is that experienced drivers are not always safe drivers . In fact , the more confident drivers become in their abilities , the more often they may be tempted to cut corners in order to complete a given task . That isn ’ t good for the employee or for the business . Regular performance evaluations should be done as well as regular training updates to ensure policy compliance .
Equipment should be covered as well . It ’ s entirely plausible that your vehicles and equipment will be the most expensive
things your company purchases . They should be covered in that way as well . Physical-damage coverage should be applied to all equipment in addition to other associated insurance . Maintenance logs should be maintained . Regular checks , inspections , and maintenance should be performed on the vehicles as well .
To bolster the protections on drivers and equipment , a thorough fleet safety plan and associated insurance policies should be put in place . Not only will this keep drivers on their toes ( and keep management apprised of the safety situation ) but it will also help to limit liabilities and losses . Finding the right policies on your own isn ’ t always the easiest thing to do , so it ’ s recommended that you work with a professional who handles fleet coverage on a regular basis . Generally , rates will be based on past losses and the record of the company and drivers on the payroll ( as well as the value of the equipment on hand ).
Finally , keep accurate and thorough records of everything . This means keeping personnel reports and records of incidents that occur . It also means you need to be tracking things like mileage , repairs , and maintenance work and everything else related to the fleet and its drivers . If a claim is made , having complete records is essential to a quick resolution .
Don ’ t let yourself or your company fall victim to huge losses stemming from your vehicles or drivers . Such losses are often large enough to put an unprotected company out of business . Take the steps now to protect yourself in the future . For more information or a thorough review of your current fleet safety protocols , contact us . +
BY : LISA BERTRAM
Lisa Bertram began her insurance career at Greenwald Insurance Agency on June 1 , 1994 . She started working on personal lines but always had a special interest in the trucking industry . Her husband , Gary , is a life-long trucker and Lisa has handled all of his bookwork during the 34 years they ’ ve been married . With her very personal knowledge of trucking , she took a special interest in learning all she could about insuring trucking risks . She currently handles all of our trucking accounts . Lisa can be reached at 320-987- 3223 or Lisa @ greewaldinsurance . com
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