When people think about compromised fleet safety, they often imagine dangerous driving behaviors like speeding or distracted driving. What drivers do behind the wheel, however, is only one part of a much broader safety equation.
Regular fleet maintenance and thorough pre-trip inspections are cornerstones of safer fleets – and safer roadways. At the same time, overlooked maintenance and rough inspections can lead to costly consequences for trucking companies, drivers and the entire motoring public.
Staying on top of routine vehicle maintenance is crucial for fleets aiming to improve their overall safety profile and help reduce their financial risk exposure.
When potential maintenance issues are caught and remedied early, trucking companies can help avoid emergency maintenance costs and shipment delays. Additionally, well-maintained fleets are less likely to fall victim to the increasingly common nuclear verdicts, which can cause serious financial loss or even bankruptcy.
“By having a good maintenance program in our company, we establish that we are not negligent in how we take care of our vehicles,” said Northland Insurance Transportation Specialist Anthony Slamar.
Some modern telematics solutions can help identify potential issues by sending preventative maintenance reminders and providing diagnostic information on vehicles. These services can make it easier for company management to stay ahead of maintenance issues while simultaneously aiding drivers in pre-trip inspections.
Just like it is important for trucking companies to prioritize regular maintenance, it is also crucial for drivers to consistently complete thorough pre-trip inspections. Often, issues that are caught during a pre-trip inspection and fixed promptly can save drivers significant frustration later while simultaneously helping to prevent possible injuries on the road.
“If you find an issue, let’s get it fixed. Finding it on the front end can potentially save a lot of money down the road,” Slamar said. “This will improve fleet safety and can help keep costs under control.”
When completing pre-trip inspections, there are a few areas drivers should pay additional attention to in order to have the largest safety impact.
“Tires and brakes are critical for keeping the vehicle under control,” Slamar said. “Lamps, lights and reflectors help other motorists with spatial awareness and help other motorists know if you have an emergency.”
Drivers should ensure all these features are properly maintained and in good working order, including assessing wear and tear on tires and noticing any burned out lights.
In addition to making sure the truck itself is in good working order, drivers should always check to ensure that all cargo is secure during their inspections. Load securement violations are common, and improperly secured loads can have serious consequences for both drivers and other motorists during a crash or other traffic incident.
While these things can be easy to overlook when drivers are on a tight schedule, missing something seemingly small can lead to big problems later.
“We want to emphasize that this does not take a significant amount of time,” Slamar said. “What can take a significant amount of time is an out of service violation where you’re taken off the road because of a maintenance issue.”
For fleets hoping to encourage better pre-trip inspections and promote a culture of safety, Slamar recommends incentivizing drivers through rewards. Often, carriers choose to do this by offering bonuses to drivers who get clean DOT inspections. This type of rewards program can go a long way toward improving a company’s overall safety profile.
More safety awareness within fleets leads to safer drivers and safer roadways in general, creating a winning situation for everyone involved. The best time to get started is now.
Click here to learn more about Northland’s risk control offerings.