Best Practices to Ensure Your Fleet is Compliant
Ensuring fleet compliance is vital as a fleet manager or owner, as you want to keep your drivers safe. You also want to make sure your vehicles are consistently in good repair so they can be driven to and from their destinations safely. This keeps your business safe and it is the law. There are several ways to start managing compliance better and ensure you stay on top of local regulations.
Define Commercial Vehicles Properly
As you document important aspects of your fleet, you may feel that any vehicle used for your business is a commercial vehicle. However, a narrower definition is provided by the FMCSA. The type of work and vehicle will determine if an employee needs a commercial license. You can learn more about commercial vehicles and the requirements you’ll need to meet.
Log Hours of Service
It’s common to feel fatigued while on the road, and this can lead to accidents on highways and other roads. There are restrictions on the number of hours each driver can be on the road without taking a break. Take some time to learn about hourly limits, when breaks need to be taken, and sleeper berths from the FMCSA’s website to get the most updated information. Many employees need to have electronic logging devices to make it easier to track compliance. You’ll also need to train drivers accordingly so they know when they need to stop driving and take a break from the road.
Keep Inspection Reports
Ensuring your fleet is safe also means you will need to maintain vehicles that are safe enough to be out on the road. Your fleet works hard, and it is under a lot of abuse while it is on the road. This adds up, and it can lead to a breakdown if you are not careful. To prevent your equipment from malfunctioning, your employees will need to fill out inspection reports on a regular basis. These reports cover the systems that keep your vehicles safe while in operation. When your employees fill these out regularly, you’ll also have a record of wear and tear on the fleet. You can also include any repairs you make to keep things operating regularly. Many drivers try to take shortcuts with these inspection forms or skip the inspection because it is hard to document. Luckily, your fleet management software allows drivers to quickly document each thing.
Keep Driver Safety Scores Updated
A good reputation where safety is concerned can help you stay ahead in a competitive industry. You’ll also need to keep your employees’ safety scores on file. The score is made up of factors like the driver’s habits while on the road, the frequency of collisions, whether they are using controlled substances, and other factors that can impact their driving. There may be inspection points along the roadways where your employee’s habits will be checked. If your employee has a good score, you won’t have any issues, but if the score is not within the acceptable range, your business can face penalties, and the employee may not be able to work any longer.
