AccidentPrevention-FleetManagement

PreventableAccidents

Objective:Toreducemotorcarrierfleetaccidentratesbyestablishingacompanystandardforsafedriving.

Description:Apreventableaccidentisonewhichoccursbecausethedriverfailstoactinareasonablyexpectedmannertopreventit.Injudgingwhetherthedriver'sactionswerereasonable,oneseekstodeterminewhetherthedriverdrovedefensivelyanddemonstratedanacceptablelevelofskillandknowledge.Thejudgmentofwhatisreasonablecanbebasedonacompany-adopteddefinition,thusestablishingagoalforitssafetymanagementprograms.

Notethattheabovedefinitionofpreventableaccidentisfocusedontheactionsofthedriver.Itisthecommonlyuseddefinitioninevaluatingdriverperformance.Abroaderdefinition,whichcanbeusedtoevaluatethedriver'sandthemotorcarrier'sactions,isgivenbytheFederalMotorCarrierSafetyRegulationsasfollows:Preventableaccidentonthepartofamotorcarriermeansanaccident(1)thatinvolvedacommercialmotorvehicle,and(2)thatcouldhavebeenavertedbutforanact,orfailuretoact,bythemotorcarrier,orthedriver.

Theconceptofapreventableaccidentisafleetsafetymanagementtoolwhichachievesthefollowinggoals:

  • Ithelpsestablishasafedrivingstandardforthedriver.
  • Itprovidesacriterionforevaluatingindividualdrivers.
  • Itprovidesanobjectiveforaccidentinvestigationsandevaluations.
  • Itprovidesameansforevaluatingthesafetyperformanceofindividualdriversandthefleetasawhole.
  • Itprovidesameansformonitoringtheeffectivenessoffleetsafetyprograms.
  • Itassistsindealingwithdriversafetyinfractions.
  • Itassistsintheimplementationofsafedrivingrecognitionprograms.

Management:

  • Doesthecompanyhaveaprogramforinvestigatingaccidents?
  • Isthereacompanyaccidentreviewcommittee?
  • Hasthecompanydefinedastandardforthesafedrivingperformanceofitsdrivers?
  • Isthecarrier'sstandardforsafedrivingperformancesufficientlychallengingsuchthatitwouldserve tohighlightareasforfleetsafetyimprovement?
  • Arethedriversinstructedastowhatthecompanystandardforsafedrivingis?
  • Arethedriversinstructedaboutcompanyprocedureforevaluatingthepreventabilityofaccidents?

DRIVERQUALIFICATIONSANDPERFORMANCE

Objective:Toimprovemotorcarrierfleetsafetybyrecruitingqualifieddriversandmonitoringtheperformanceandqualificationsofexistingdrivers.

Description:Thegreatmajorityofpreventableaccidentscanbeshowntobedirectlyrelatedtotheperformanceofthedriver.Itisthereforeextremelyproductivetoanyfleetsafetyprogramtohavecarefulnewdriverselectionandadequatemonitoringproceduresforexistingdrivers.

Management:

Whenhiringnewdrivers:

  • Arerecruitingeffortssufficienttoattractanadequatenumberofqualifiedapplicantsfor
  • effectiveselection?
  • Isthereanestablishedformalprocedureforinterviewing,testingandscreeningapplicants?
  • Isthereadefinedstandardofskillandknowledgetobemetbysuccessfulapplicants?
  • Areappropriatemethodsbeingutilizedtocheckoutpreviousemploymenthistoryandreferences?
  • Isthepriordrivingrecordbeingchecked?
  • Aretheapplicants'physicalqualificationschecked?

Monitoringexistingdrivers'qualifications:

  • Isthereaformalprogramformonitoringdrivers'qualifications?
  • Isthereaperiodicreviewofthedrivingrecord?
  • Isthereaperiodicreviewofthedrivers'health?
  • Aredriversmonitoredfordrugandalcoholabuse?
  • Isthereameansforidentifyingdeficienciesindrivers'skillsandknowledgeandaprocedureforremedialtraining?
  • Isthereanestablishedprocedureforterminatingunqualifieddrivers?

SAFEDRIVINGRECOGNITION

Objective:Toencouragesafedrivingandimprovedriverawarenessofsafety.

Description:Safedrivingrecognitionorincentiveprogramsshouldbeanintegralpartofaformalfleetsafetyprogram.Suchprogramsidentifysuperiordrivingperformanceandsetforththeselecteddriversasexamplestobeemulatedbytherestofthefleet.SuchprogramscanbegeneratedinternallywithinthecompanyorthroughparticipationinnationalsafedriverawardprogramsconductedbyassociationssuchastheNationalSafetyCouncilortheAmericanTruckingAssociations.

Management:

  • Doesthecompanyhaveaformalsafedriverrecognitionandincentiveprogram?
  • Isthereparticipationinacompanydriverrecognitionprogramorinnationalawardprograms?
  • Doesthecompanyhaveameansforevaluatingdriverperformance?
  • Usesafedrivingrecognitionto:

-encouragesafedrivingperformance

-heightendriversafetyawareness

-fosterdriverprofessionalism

-focusthemonitoringofindividualdriverperformanceandskills

-helpmonitorfleetperformanceandeffectivenessofthefleetsafetyprogram

DRIVERSAFETYINFRACTIONS

Objective:Toimprovefleetsafetybyremedialtrainingorterminationofunqualifieddrivers.

Description:Drivingisaprofessionrequiringskill,knowledge,physicalandmentalhealthandcharacterintegrity.Publicsafetyandcompanyreputationrequiresthatdriversbefullyqualified.Driverswhoarenotqualifiedshouldreceiveremedialtrainingorbeterminatediftheycannotbebroughtuptothenecessarylevelofcompetence.

Management:

  • Doesthecarrierhaveaformalreviewprogramfordriverqualification?
  • DoallthedriversmeettheFMCSRqualificationrequirements?
  • Doesthecompanyhaveastandardforsafedriving?
  • Isthereacompanypolicyforissuingreprimandsandterminations?
  • Isaprogressivedisciplinaryactionafeatureofthepolicy?
  • Areremedialtrainingprogramsavailable?
  • Isremedialtrainingincludedintheprogressivediscipline?

DRINKINGANDSUBSTANCEABUSE

Objective:Topreventaccidentscausedbydriversundertheinfluencebyidentifyingandcontrollingabusers.

Description:Ithasbeenwelldocumentedthatdriversundertheinfluenceofalcoholordrugshavebeeninvolvedinabouthalfofallfataltrafficaccidents.Drinkingorsubstanceabusebydriversofalcoholordrugscannotbetolerated.Companymanagementmustbeacutelyawareoftheseriousnessofthissocietalproblemandestablishprocedurestoeffectivelycontrolitwithintheirrespectiveorganizations.

Management:

Arethedrivingrecordsandreferencesofnew-hireapplicantscheckedthoroughlyforevidenceofdrinkingorsubstanceabuseproblems?

  • Hasawrittenpolicybeenestablishedwhichstipulatescountermeasuresthatwillbefollowedwhendealingwithabusers?
  • Hasaformalpolicybeenmadeknowntoalldrivers?
  • Dodrivers'immediatesupervisorsanddispatchersknowhowtoidentifypersonnelundertheinfluence?
  • Areimmediatesupervisorsanddispatchersmotivatedtonotifymanagementaboutproblemdrivers?
  • Hasmanagementeducateddriversaboutthewaysinwhichdrinkingandsubstanceabuseaffectdrivingperformance?
  • Doesthecompanyhavealistofreferencesandpotentialsourcesforhelpavailabletodrivers?
  • Beawareofmarkedchangesinworkbehavior,personalrelations,emotionalmoodsandappearanceofyourdrivers.
  • Immediatesupervisorsareinthebestpositiontoobserveunusualdriverbehavior.
  • Doathoroughjobinscreeningapplicantsregardingdrinkingandsubstanceabuse.Yourcompanycan'taffordtodealwiththeproblemsabuserswillgiveyou.

Drivers:

  • Don'tdrinkanddrive.
  • Don'tabusedrugs,legalorillegal.
  • Findoutifprescriptionorover-the-countermedicationsmayadverselyaffectsafedriving.
  • Gethelpfastifyouhave,orthinkyoumayhaveanabuseproblem.
  • ILLNESSANDFATIGUE

Objective:TopreventaccidentscausedbyillandfatigueddriversthroughtheuseofcommonsenseandbycompliancewithFMCSR'sregardingphysicalqualificationsandhours-of-service.

Description:Everyoneunderstandshowillorfatigueddriverscanbeahazardtothemselvesandothers.Nonetheless,driverssometimespushtheirbodiesbeyondreasonablelimitsandbecomeahazardanyway.Thisiswhycomprehensivefederalregulationshavebeenestablished.Inadditiontobeinglaw,theseregulationsareusefulguidestoboththedriverandhissupervisorsindefiningreasonable,sensiblelimitationsonwhenmedicalconditionsordutystatuscallsforrestandnodriving.

Management:

AresupervisorsfullyawareofalltheFMCSR'swhichrelatetophysicalqualifications,medicalexaminationsandhours-of-service?

  • Aremaximumon-dutyanddrivingtimesclearlyspelledouttoyourdrivers?
  • Doyoucross-checkdriver-logswithodometerreadings,fuelreceiptsandweightscaletickets?
  • Doyouusetachographsoron-boardtripcomputersifyoususpectdriverviolations?

  • Havedriversbeenexplicitlyinformedhowviolationswillbedealtwith?

Drivers:

  • Don'tstartalongtripunlessyougetagoodsleepbeforeyougo.
  • Whenpossible,scheduleyourtripssothatyoudrivewhenyouarenormallyawakeandyousleepwhenyouarenormallyasleep.Don'tthrowoffyourbodyclockmorethannecessary.
  • Becarefulwithanykindofmedication.Manymedicinescanmakeyousleepy.
  • Ifyougetdrowsy,don'tdrive.You'reaskingforproblems.Atleasttakeashortnapuntilyoucandrivesomewheretogetagoodsleep.

FLEETSAFETYPROGRAMANDSUPERVISION

Objective:Toimprovesafedrivingperformancewithaneffectivefleetsafetyprogram.

Description:Fleetsafedrivingperformanceisdependentonmanagementcommitmenttotheimplementationofaformalfleetsafetyprogram.Aneffectivesafetyprogramwillinteractwithmostaspectsoffleetoperationsandchallengetheskillsandknowledgeofitssupervisorsanddrivers.

Management:

  • Isthereaformalfleetsafetyprogram?
  • Doesyourfleetsafetyprogramprovidetheframeworkforsafetymanagementto:

-recruitandscreennewdrivers?

-monitordriverqualificationsandsafetyinfractions?

-providetrainingtoupgradedriverskillsandknowledge?

-provideaformalmechanismforinvestigatingandreviewingaccidents?

-implementsafedrivingincentive?

-monitormaintenanceandequipmentsafety?

-overseeandimplementregulatorycompliance?

-establishcarriersafetystandards?

-communicateprogramgoalstodriversandsupervisorypersonnel?

-monitorprogrameffectiveness?

-offerrecognitiontodriverswhomeettherequiredstandardofperformance?

  • Isthereadesignatedpersonwithresponsibilityforsafetyandcompliancewithregulations?
  • Isthesafetydirectorgivenanopportunityforprofessionaldevelopmentbyattendingtrainingseminarsandindustryassociationmeetings?
  • Doesthecompanyanditssupervisorystaffmaintainmembershipandremainactiveintradeandprofessionalassociations?

COMPANYDRIVERMANUALS

Objective:Toimprovefleetsafetythroughimprovedcommunication.

Description:Thecompanydrivermanualisakeycommunicationlinkbetweenthecompanyanditsdrivers.Itconvenientlybringstogetherinformationaboutthecompany,itspoliciesandprocedures.Itisindispensablefortrainingnewdriversandisahandyreferenceforexistingdrivers.Themanualshouldbeprogressivelydevelopedandcontinuallyupdated.

Management:

  • Doesthecompanyhaveanupdatedmanualforitsdrivers?
  • Doesthemanualdescribethefleetsafetyprogram?
  • Doesitsetforththecarrier'sstandardsforsafedriving?
  • Isthecompanyprocedureforreviewandclassificationofaccidentsincluded?
  • Arethecompany'sdisciplinaryproceduresexplained?
  • Isthemanualregularlyreviewedandupdated?

DRIVERTRAININGAIDS

Objective:Toimprovefleetsafetythroughuseoftrainingaids.

Description:Thenumberofdrivertrainingaidsissogreatthattheproblemishowtolocate,selectandevaluatethemostappropriateonesforthecompany.Itisimportanttodeterminewhatmixofaudio-visualaids,posters,manuals,pamphletsandotherliteratureismosteffectiveinimprovingthecompany'strainingprogram.Adviceisavailablefromanumberoforganizations.

Management:

  • Doesthecompanyhaveasafetytrainingprogram?
  • Areaudio-visualaidsbeingutilized?
  • Hasarecentsurveyofavailabledrivertrainingaidsbeencarriedoutbythecompany?
  • Whataboutretrainingformeetingnewregulationsandlicenserequirements?

TRUCKDRIVINGSCHOOLS

Objective:Toimprovefleetsafetybyimprovingdriverskillsandknowledge.

Description:Truckdrivingschoolsaregoodsourcesformotivatedyoungdriversandameansforremedialtraining.Therearemanyschools.Someareoperatedcommercially,othersareoperatedprivatelybylargecarriers.Eachschoolisdifferent;withdifferingobjectives,facilities,andstafforientation.Itisimportanttocheckthatthecurriculumoftheschoolmatchestheneedsofthecompany,beforetheschoolisselected.

Management:

  • Aretruckdrivingschoolsbeingusedasarecruitingsource?
  • Hasthecarrierconsideredtruckdrivingschoolsasatoolforremedialtraining?
  • Hasthecompanyidentifiedschoolswhichmeetitsobjectives?
  • Somefactorstobeconsideredwhenselectingaparticularschool:

-curriculumcontent

-adequacyoffacilities

-compatibilityoftrainingvehicleswithcompanyfleet

-staffqualificationsandexperience

-certification

-referrals

-hoursofactualdrivinginstructionandpractice.

PLANNINGSCHEDULES,LOADSANDROUTES

Objective:Tomaximizesafedrivingefficiencythroughplanningatthedispatchinglevel.

Description:Assistingthedriverwithpre-tripplanningavoidsoverburdeningthedriverwithunusualdrivingconditionscausedbytightschedules,unusualcargoes,andunfamiliarorhazardousroutes.

Management:

  • AreHours-of-Servicestatutoryregulationsenforced?
  • Arerecordsofdriverdutystatusmaintained?
  • Doesthecarrierhaveameansofforecastingavailabledriverhours?
  • Isdispatchingplannedtominimizetheneedforexcessiveon-dutyschedules?
  • Aretightschedulesminimizedandallowancesmadeforadverseweatherconditions?
  • Aredispatchersknowledgeableinmatchingcargoeswithvehiclesduringdispatching?
  • Aredriversinstructedhowtodealwithsealedcargoes?
  • Howdoesthecompanyhandletheproblemofoverloading?
  • Howdoesthecompanyinstructdriverswithregardtoimproperlyloadedorsecuredcargoes?
  • Areroutesplannedanddriverscoachedtoavoidhighhazardlocations?
  • AreschedulesreviewedtoensureagainstHours-of-Serviceviolations?