Fleet management is not easy. Being a fleet manager, you have to manage operations, reports, orders, ensure timely deliveries and manage your drivers.
Drivers are what make fleet operations successful. Only if they are well-trained can they ensure that they represent your company in the best way possible.
After all, they are the face of your company who ultimately deals with the customers.
In modern times, a fleet management system is a must-have software for every fleet management company that wants to gain a competitive advantage over its customers.
It includes dash cam trucks, vehicle tracking systems, fuel management systems, GPS tracking devices for trucks, etc. It is also helpful in training your drivers and improving their truck driving skills.
Top 6 Tips For Improving Your Drivers’ Skills
Your fleet drivers may be responsible for accidents while driving, and in severe cases, they might be responsible for taking lives.
It not only causes irreparable damage, but it also gambles with your reputation. Thus, improving your truck driver’s skills is essential for the company and the general public’s safety.
There are certain tips to improve their driving skills.
Enforce Stricter Policies
Establish company policies that prohibit drivers from doing certain activities while driving. They may be general guidelines but establishing them is crucial, and even more important is their communication.
You have company policies for truck drivers, but they are in vain if they are not aware of them. They can include-
- No drunk driving.
- No mobile phone usage while driving.
- No frequent braking.
- No unnecessary acceleration.
- No risky overtakes.
- Wearing a seat belt.
The drivers must be aware of these policies and apply them strictly. You can use dash cam trucks to ensure that these policies are followed.
Driver Training
Your drivers bring some experience to the table, but it might not be suitable for your company. Thus, you must train them to mold them as per company requirements.
Say, a driver who has experience of driving cabs cannot be handed over a lorry truck on his first delivery. You must train them with practical training.
Practical training means giving them hands-on training about the roads and how they should behave.
You can also adopt a mix of classroom and practical training where they learn about the company policies and the consequences of not following them and try their hands on the vehicle for a better experience.
Embrace The Technology
Fleet management systems come with dash cam trucks technology. It keeps a close eye on drivers while they are driving.
So managers can see if their drivers are following the rules or not, whether they are speeding in residential areas, whether they are braking too harshly if they are overtaking in all the wrong places in all the wrong ways, or whether they are idling the vehicle more than the specified time.
The technology is proving to be a great help in keeping a check on driver behavior.
It makes your driver conscious that you can catch their actions and they behave in an orderly manner. If they don’t follow the company driving policies, you can talk to them about it.
Initiate A Rewarding System
Whether you believe it or not, the fleet management system can help you save money.
The fuel management system helps keep an eye on fuel expenses, the maintenance system helps keep the vehicles updated, and dashcam trucks help deal with driving behavior.
You can use this money to motivate your drivers.
Launch a reward system where the drivers get a reward if they keep their vehicle safe, keep it properly maintained, and do not break a rule.
It can be monthly or weekly as per your convenience. It will act as a motivation, and more drivers will follow the rules and drive carefully.
Vehicle Maintenance
Machines cannot be trusted. They can betray you anytime if they are not properly maintained. Thus, get a fleet management system that keeps a tab on your vehicle’s maintenance.
Driver safety is as important as the general safety of people on the rod. While driver training keeps people safe, vehicle maintenance keeps drivers safe who are the most important asset of your organization.
Because of an auto-part breakage, the delivery can be late or even cause an accident. So, keep your vehicles maintained for your drivers’ and fleet’s safety.
Talk To Them With Data
Often, drivers don’t believe that their driving skills are costing the company unless they see it with their eyes. They must be aware that they are the company’s assets, and if they are not cautious, they create unnecessary liabilities for the company.
Fleet management software records every data based on the GPS tracking system, vehicle tracking system, fuel management system, and dashcam trucks.
The data is auto-generated. You can use this data while talking to your driver so they learn the implications of their careless driving. As they improve, the data will improve, and they shall be rewarded.
Conclusion
Driving skills can be improved only on the road. But they are improved only when drivers have the motivation to do so. So, fleet managers must install a system where truck drivers don’t feel obligated to follow company policies but make it their responsibility.
A responsible culture can change the fleet operations, and your drivers are the frontline workers in doing so.
For further help in managing your fleet, get fleet management software and make your life easier.
