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BUSINESS STAGE : GROWING
4 mins read
A vehicle used for the purpose of work is as much a workplace as a desk. But unlike sitting behind a desk, driving is an activity that comes with many risks—especially if you always use a vehicle for work. Traffic. Unpredictable drivers. Pressures and tight deadlines. Shifts. Fatigue and lack of physical fitness due to irregular hours. Manual handling of heavy weights, and constant distractions are all risks that may be associated with driving. For businesses that rely heavily on drivers, such as couriers, trucking and transportation businesses, drivers are an essential part of their business, and thus, their wellbeing is important. Businesses that rely on heavy vehicles such as trucks must also obey the Chain of Responsibility (CoR), a law that places legal obligations on parties in the transport supply chain, imparting accountability, driver fatigue management, speed, overloading and load restraint issues.
Learn more about Chain of Responsibility here.
But how many businesses have a driver well-being policy in place? Designing it might be challenging, but it can have great benefits to any business that relies on drivers.
To help you develop your own tactics we’re prepared a list of things you can easily implement to help improve the wellbeing of your mobile workforce.
Road safety is a shared responsibility. We all play an equal role in keeping ourselves and others safe on the road. It’s important that you ensure your drivers drive safely, and that they take reasonable care for their own safety as well as others.
Having the conversion about their personal needs and requirements while they are on the road may be hard for your employees, but it can lead to better personal relationships and show that you care, first and foremost about their safety. This doesn’t mean you necessarily need to develop a driving policy, but instead, it can help your business better understand how your drivers work.
Just as we do with our own desks, it’s important to get the basic ergonomics right for driving. Before your drivers start each journey, make sure they check the position of their seat, mirrors, steering wheel and head rest. This will allow the vehicle’s safety features to provide maximum benefit, assist with vehicle control and provide your drivers with the best vision while they are on the road.
These days vehicle safety goes beyond helping ensure protection in the event of a crash. In fact many safety features are concerned with preventing a crash happening in the first place. Toyota has a suite of intelligent safety technology called Toyota Safety Sense
A regular check-in can go a long way with any employee, but especially with drivers who spend less time in the office. Ask them how they are doing and if there’s anything you could be doing to ease their jobs.
In situations where your driver needs to make or receive a call, ensure that they pull over to a safe location and where required, turn off the engine, before answering. Road rules vary state to state, but below is a general overview of how your drivers should be conducting conversations if pulling over to a safe location isn’t possible. Please make sure to check your local road rules before advising staff.
For an extra sense of security and insurance for your fleet, a Toyota Genuine Dash Camera will ensure you always keep an eye out for your employees. Not only do dash cameras automatically record activity while driving, they can also start recording if they sense an unexpected movement while vehicles are parked at worksites, parking lots or other public places.
If you want to install a dash cam in your fleet vehicles, please make sure that you understand the legal obligations associated with cameras. Your dash cam needs to be compliant with your state or territory surveillance and workplace privacy laws. Consent may be required for audio recording, please ensure to find out your state or territory's laws before proceeding.
These days vehicle safety goes beyond helping ensure protection in the event of a crash. In fact many safety features are concerned with preventing a crash happening in the first place. Toyota has a suite of intelligent safety technology called Toyota Safety Sense
Today, fleet-operated businesses are increasingly looking for fleet management systems to help them streamline their business. Fleet management systems not only provide you with real-time vehicle tracking and data to cut fuel costs, boost productivity and provide better customer service—they assist greatly with driver safety & wellbeing, ensuring that your main assets are even more safe on the road.
Learn more about Chain of Responsibility here.
Disclaimer
The suggestions provided in the article above are of a general nature only and do not constitute legal, financial or medical advice. Employees should be encouraged to seek medical assistance by their employers if they are experiencing problems while driving. To learn more about CoR (Chain of Responsibility), please visit the following website.
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