If you operate a large fleet of delivery trucks, it can be difficult to keep track of your many employees. Whilst this is a fantastic business model, and one that is ripe for expansion, it can lead to problems with oversight and management. Most importantly, you’ll want to keep all your drivers safe on the road, and give them all the required tools and training to ensure they’re able to carry out their trips quickly, safely, and efficiently. This desire can be difficult when it is coupled with a business model that requires your drivers to be spread out across large areas. However, with a mix of technology, training, and documentation, you can create the best possible working parameters.
Create Your Own Schedules.
Of course, there are legal limits to how long a driver can be on the road before they have to take a rest. However, these should be seen as exactly that: absolute limits. Ideally, you should implement your own company policy alongside these legal requirements, asking your drivers to rest and log their hours at a rate that improves upon government legislation. This creates room for error that wasn’t there before and helps your drivers to feel valued.
Use Technology
Tracking technology has reached new heights recently, and it can be a brilliant way for you to keep an eye on your drivers for both productivity and safety. For example, a dash cam with GPS fitted to each of your fleet will allow you to track your drivers’ schedules and ensure they are resting within the limits, and that they aren’t taking unscheduled detours! The dash camera itself could also become vital evidence if your drivers are involved in accidents that aren’t their fault, allowing you to protect them and the reputation of your company.
Top-Up Training
All your drivers will have had to complete extensive training before taking up their truck-driving license. However, this does not necessarily mean they are mentally equipped for the long journeys you might be asking them to make. Creating a thorough onboarding model in which you provide specific training for anything unique to your company, plus a buddy-system where new drivers shadow an experienced colleague for one or two trips, is a great way to ensure everyone operates from the same page. Implementing top-up training is also vital, as it will keep each driver at the height of their skills and prevent standards from slipping over the years.
Documentation
As you probably already know, documentation is a vital part of any delivery or transportation business. Your drivers will need to keep extensive documentation regarding their fuel usage and costs, the goods they are transporting, the routes they are taking, and the rest stops they are using. Making sure these documents are collected and filed in an organized and effective way, so you can easily access any information, will undoubtedly help you ensure you have an overview of operations. In turn, this will allow you to keep your drivers safe both on and off the road.