February 2009, Work Truck - Feature
Reducing Risk with Driver Assessment Programs
By Staff
Next, specific risks the program is meant to assess should be outlined. These include:
Finally, once the program has been developed, approved, and implemented, each driver should be provided a copy of the fleet safety policy to review and sign, before hire for new employees and after hire for existing drivers.
Safety Begins with MVRs
A basic fleet management function is providing for the safety of fleet drivers and the public with whom they interact. Assessing driver safety risks begins with MVR reports.
MVRs are available from every state and come in several different formats. In addition, most large fleet lessor and service companies offer MVR programs. The primary advantage of such programs is a single format for all reports.
Safety risk assessment should be initiated before a driver is hired. An MVR review should be part of any pre-employment screening and continue on a regular schedule (quarterly, semiannually, or annually) for as long as the driver is employed.
Clearly, some violations carry the potential for greater risk than others:
■ Equipment violations do not presage serious safety risk and are often simply a matter of bad timing (a bulb burns out and the driver is cited before having it repaired).
Don’t, however, overlook these minor issues completely. A record that indicates a pattern of such violations might reveal a lack of care for the vehicle, which can ultimately incur additional expense.
■ Moving violations pose a serious risk at various levels and should be acted upon. At the lowest risk level are violations such as failing to signal or yield right-of-way. Higher up in the scale of risk are more serious violations, such as failing to observe traffic controls (stop signs or lights) and speeding. These violations can pose serious risk to the company if a vehicle is assigned, and they demand immediate action by the company.
■ The most serious violations can be felonies, such as driving while impaired or reckless driving, even speeding beyond a state-imposed threshold (more than 25 mph over the posted limit, for example). For new-hire candidates, these violations should bring a pause to hiring, and for existing drivers, serious penalties such as suspension of driving privileges and up to and including termination.