Businesses that operate a fleet of trucks have their own unique challenges. Primary among them is keeping their trucks operational and their drivers safe and behind the wheel. The movement of your trucks is, after all, the way in which you earn the income to pay your drivers and to invest in bigger and better projects and contracts. So in this article, it’s worth looking at how you can protect your truck fleet, keeping driver, vehicle, and cargo safe on the roads.
Insurance
All firms that operate commercial vehicles should think carefully about the insurance policy they buy. There are specific policies designed for these types of companies, which give you wide overall protection rather than protection on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis. However, insurance policies vary, with some offering a high premium, others requiring you to pay a high fee to make a claim, and others still set up with maximum claim amounts that may not cover the extent of the damage to your trucks, should they be involved in an accident. As such, shop around carefully for your fleet’s insurance policy. That’ll help you avoid a nasty surprise when you come to make a claim.
Training and Experience
It goes without saying that better-trained and experienced drivers tend to be involved in fewer crashes – and deliver better service – than newly-qualified drivers and those with little experience. So one way that you can work towards a safer fleet is to hire experienced drivers and to invest in training those with less experience in your cohort of drivers. This is an ongoing process involving new hires and new training sessions, but it’s a way to invest in safety when your workers are out on the roads.
Accident Recovery
Still, some accidents are entirely unavoidable and can be put down to other road users. In these cases, it’s important that you’re able to access the best legal advice before you decide exactly how to approach your claim for compensation. You can find the Best Truck Accident Lawyer in Sacramento to help you manage these unfortunate events, which become almost inevitable if your fleet grows to a certain size. An experienced attorney will examine your case rapidly before giving you an assessment of the amount of compensation they expect to be able to win for you. From there, it’s just a case of leaving things in their capable hands and waiting for the compensation to arrive in your bank account.
Security
Finally, trucks tend to be particular targets for criminals, who are aware that their cargo might be valuable, and the trucks themselves certainly are. So keeping your trucks secure – whether in the depot or when they’re parked overnight – is a critical precaution that all fleets should take. You can add security features to your trucks, like extra locks, to keep them safe when they’re unattended. It’s always worth asking your drivers to park up in motels that have CCTV cameras, which are an excellent deterrent to would-be criminals.
Make your fleet that bit safer and more secure by following the tips outlined above.
