Waypoint Insurance - Risk & Business Magazine Waypoint Risk & Business Magazine 2018 | Page 8

FLEET SAFETY
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BY: JOHN PARADISE,
WAYPOINT INSURANCE
Important Elements Of
Fleet Safety Programs
or many companies, their fleet
of vehicles is one of their most
costly expenses. Fleet Insurance is
available for businesses with 5 or
more vehicles and the maximum
safe driving discount can be as high as
63 percent. You do not need to declare a
Principal Operator on fleet vehicles and
even trailers can qualify for a fleet discount.
Keeping a maximum discount on a Fleet
Plan can be an important cost saving
tool and enacting a Fleet Safety Program
can help you keep a high discount. Fleet
safety programs establish the policies and
procedures which shelter a fleet workplace
from injury and liability, and there are five
vital aspects of a good fleet safety program:
1. TRAINING DILIGENTLY
All of your drivers need to be on the same
page and understand not only the vehicles
but also your own safety procedures.
Safe driving strategies, techniques, and
defensive driving information should
be readily available to them if they need
it. Training programs can also affect
insurance premiums, so implementing a
good one could even save you some money.
2. HIRING CAREFULLY
Creating a team isn’t as simple as throwing
together a bunch of hires from a temp
agency. Selection of drivers is a careful
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process. Not only should you vet drivers
based on their qualifications and safety
records, but you should also be trying to
find individuals who will fit with your
company culture.
3. ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT
Know exactly what needs to happen in
the event of an accident. This helps you
mitigate costs, understand exposures, and
implement modifications to your program
to reduce potential repeat incidents. It also
gives your employees some peace of mind
so that, should an accident occur, they will
know what to do, whom to contact, and
how to handle it.
4. FORMAL PLANNING
Expectations should be communicated
clearly to all employees and formally
written down. This helps maintain a
level playing field and keeps consistency
throughout your operation. Policies and
procedures need to be outlined not only
so that you will have a way to measure
performance but also so that you have a
clear outline of how you operate in the
event of an incident and can identify any
anomalies which may have occurred.
5. MAINTENANCE
This may be one of the most important
aspects of your program not only in
terms of the safety of your employees and
equipment but also in terms of dollars
spent versus dollars saved. Having your
fleet maintained on a consistent basis
through regular inspection, repair, and
general maintenance is going to be much
less expensive than a sudden, unexpected
breakdown on the road or accidents
stemming from faulty equipment.
How does your fleet safety program stack
up? Do you believe it may be lacking in
some areas? Unsure what you might need
to do next or too overwhelmed to start?
We’ve got you covered. Our professionals
at Waypoint Insurance have had years of
experience developing and reviewing fleet
safety programs and are ready to help! +
John Paradise takes pride in giving his
customers the best experience possible
and strives to make the process fun!
Bringing a passion for service and a
unique understanding of Commercial
Fleet insurance, John works to make the
insurance process simple and beneficial
for his clients; both monetarily and in
time management. Contact John, or
any one of our Waypoint professionals
at 310-8442 or visit us online at
waypointinsurance.ca.