Update: Fleet safety tips

As a fleet manager, one of your main priorities should be to keep all of your drivers, mechanics and other staff members safe. This can be done in multiple ways, from educating truckers on important safety tips to truck maintenance. The top trucking organizations like TransWood are here to give you tips on how to keep your fleets safe. 

Fleet safety tips

The top trucking organizations should implement and maintain safety policies to keep their drivers safe. One that should be implemented is a zero tolerance speeding policy. Speeding is becoming a bigger issue than ever before as truckers strive to drive as much as they can on a daily basis. However, speeding is very dangerous not only for truckers themselves, but others on the road as well. 

Another simple tip is to make sure that all of your trucks are being well-maintained. The best trucking organizations like TransWood, have all their trucks well-maintained and ready for the road. There are also apps that can be placed in trucks so drivers can report when there is a needed repair.  

Tips to stay safe on the road 

1. Always wear your seatbelt 
2. Reduce speed for turns and curves 
3. Understand the size of your truck 
4. Be aware of the weather conditions you will be driving through 
5. Know where you are going and what stops you will be making along the way 

The first tip might seem obvious but one in six truckers do not wear their seatbelts. Wearing a seatbelt is required by law,  and can ultimately save your life. Fleet managers should regularly educate their drivers on the importance of wearing their seatbelt. 

When driving your truck, you want to be cautious with your surroundings. Understand that you won’t be able to make a turn as if you were in a car. Take it slow and always watch for vehicles next, behind or in front of your truck. 

Before you leave for your trip be sure to have a plan and know where you plan to stop. Also, looking up weather conditions can help you prepare for a safe ride. If you know it will be raining in a certain area, this will let you know that when you are in that area you need to slow down because the roads will be wet. 

How mental health, sleep and diet affect road safety 

From a young age, we have all been taught that eating healthy and sleeping a minimum of eight hours a day is needed to be productive during the day. There are points when life gets too hectic and healthy habits just seem impossible.

When times get rough, oftentimes one of the first things that go is a driver’s sleep and eating habits. This can affect how alert they are while driving, thus, affecting overall road safety. If you feel the need to pull over for a snack, make sure it’s a healthy one! 

As a fleet manager, it is important to provide open communication and an open-door policy that provides a comfortable place for drivers to come to you with concerns. 

Another aspect that affects road safety is mental health. Over the road driving can cause drivers to feel lonely or isolated from their loved ones. Which makes them distracted while driving. Studies have shown that seeing a loved one’s face during long-distance relationships can make a huge difference. 

At TransWood we pride ourselves in putting our employees’ safety and health first. All of our trucks are well-maintained and we support the mental health of our drivers. Contact us for more information!