Top 5 tips for managing the risk of accidents in a fleet of commercial vehicles

Top 5 tips for managing the risk of accidents in a fleet of commercial vehicles

As owner of a fleet of commercial vehicles, its effective management can be a real struggle. Especially considering that the risk of motor vehicle accidents is higher because motor vehicles run daily a high number of kilometers.

Beside the costs associated with necessary repairs after an accident, there is also the responsibility for your employees' security, who are in the end your most important resource.

Regardless of the model of vehicle you have in your fleet (Volvo, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, etc.), in order to manage the risks of accidents, to keep the company's repair costs under control and to reduce vehicle downtime due to repairs, see below 5 useful tips that you can apply.

1. Establish clear procedures

Accidents are inevitable no matter how safe you consider your fleet. Unfortunately, this is the harsh reality in this field; accidents are not something that can be removed, but they can be successfully managed. In this respect, make sure that you are prepared for situations in which your employees are involved in accidents with vehicles belonging to your fleet.

The best solution is to establish a clear post-accident procedure. Essentially, the steps to be followed in such proceeding are:

  • Reporting
  • Recording
  • Investigating
  • Evaluating

A well-established procedure can help you manage more easily the situation so as to quickly identify the cause and to lower the risk of accidents in the future.

Note: constantly update these procedures to make sure they conform to the current needs and trends.

2. Create a clear perspective

A good manager knows that one of the best ways to find solutions is to take a step back and look at the big picture. In the case of some accidents, verifying and analyzing all data can bring you a real benefit.

Create and maintain a program that records the road events and the behavior of your drivers. Thus, you are able to identify the aspects that have a high risk of accidents, which are the most frequent causes and so you can take action to remedy them as quickly as possible.

3. Frequently organize trainings for employees

The trainings for employees bring significant benefits for the entire company. They include:

  • creating a workforce more aware of risks
  • lower repair costs and insurance bills
  • developing effective accident management schemes

In addition to defensive driving courses, it is recommended to introduce post-accident courses as well. Each of these preventive measures will help you support your policies in the management of the commercial vehicles fleet.

4. Perform periodic evaluations of employees

Also regarding your employees, an evaluation once in approximately six months can help you make sure that the employees operating the vehicles in your fleet are fit from all viewpoints (medical, psychological). Also, remind them periodically about the company's policy regarding safe driving.

5. Implement measures to motivate employees

Another tip to implement a program for the management of accidents risks is to create projects for drivers' qualities recognition. Giving awards such as "Best Driver of the Month" can motivate employees to behave proactively in avoiding risks and encourage them to be more cautious when driving, which translates later in the decrease of the risk of accidents.

Since the risk of accidents for fleets of commercial vehicles remains an issue that should not be overlooked if you want an effective fleet, the 5 tips above will help you manage this aspect in an effective way. Moreover, see here another five ideas to help you keep costs under control, so as the fleet maintenance does not affect your profit.