Essential Tips To Selecting The Best And Safest Drivers For Your Fleet

Your employees are a reflection of your way of doing business. One of the most critical factors under your control affecting the insurance premium rates with a company like Rideshur will be how responsible you are for your hiring process. The track record of your drivers will become a factor when deciding your insurance rates. If your drivers aren’t great and there is proof of that, you can expect higher insurance premium rates.

Your fleet will only be as good as the drivers you hire. While you may think investing in the latest and most incredible vehicles and truck technologies will help make a difference, it means nothing if you’re unable to onboard and retain competent drivers. This is also exceptionally important given the current competitive hiring landscape and shortage of fleet drivers. In a recent report, The American Trucking Association (ATA) estimates that by 2024 there will be a shortage of 160,000 drivers in the U.S. trucking industry if the current trend continues.

Ideally, you want a clean slate, but with the shortage mentioned above, the best way to create a safe team of drivers is by improving your hiring process and only getting the best and most dedicated people on the job.

This short guide will help you do just that, from the best tips to learning about other benefits that come along with a safe team of drivers.

But first, let’s see why your driver’s matter and how the insurance company weighs your staff in terms of safety ratings for your business.

Why Do You Need Good Drivers

Simply put: it’s business – you’re not just giving away jobs to people who need them. You need to hire professionals who offer results and ensure complete safety for your fleet vehicles. And this is precisely the message you need to send across to the negotiator from your insurance company – this way, you’ll be able to avoid overpaying for your insurance protection.

All fleet vehicles must be insured, this much is a fact, but you don’t have to make it a burden on yourself. Instead, find a way to get maximum benefits without overspending on your insurance coverage.

The best way to go about this, of course, is by hiring a team of responsible drivers and taking steps to ensure better safety for your fleet vehicles; this is imperative.

Now, let’s see exactly how you can accomplish that.

Hiring The Perfect Team Of Drivers

Right off the bat, you should first try and figure out the insurance company’s expectations of you in this regard and then try to align your hiring process with those guidelines. But generally speaking, here are some proven tips and tricks to help you get the perfect team for your fleet vehicles:

• Research about the background of the drivers you’re hiring
• Be sure to ask them about their experience in the industry
• The age and sex of the driver also matter
• Ask if your drivers will be fine with being tracked via telematics
• See if they take your safety guidelines seriously during the probation period
• Note small things like seat belt use, daily inspections, and so on
• Screen independent contractors just as you would a regular employee

Generally, try to act according to your insurer’s demands and expectations. It’s also important to note; there’s not a perfect answer to hiring a good driver; depending on people is challenging, there are constant letdowns, and sometimes it seems no one cares about your business except for you. However, if you can streamline your process and follow the above tips, you’re at least setting yourself up for success and can nail down your approach to be perfectly aligned with how you want your employees to act and drive on the roads.

Comparing candidates

Comparing drivers is an essential step in selecting the best and safest drivers for your fleet. It involves gathering and analyzing information about potential drivers to determine their qualifications, experience, and safety records. This process can be time-consuming and challenging, especially if you have a large pool of candidates. However, with the help of modern technology and comparison platforms like iCompario, it has become easier than ever before. These tools allow you to compare driver profiles side by side, highlighting key differences in their skills, experience levels, driving history, and more. This enables you to make informed decisions about which drivers are the best fit for your specific needs and requirements.

Benefits Of Having Good Drivers

Above, it was about why you need good drivers, but there are tons of additional benefits for your company when hiring good drivers. Let’s take a look:

• Reduce the cost of loss- Did you know fleet vehicle accidents are among the most costly injury claims for business? Yes, the average loss cost related to an accident is around $70,000. Using safe drivers for your fleet business can ultimately help lower the possibility of loss due to accidents.
• Lower liability in case of loss- When effectively screening, hiring, training, and monitoring, it can potentially give you a leg up in reducing liability.
• Boost your business’s public image– With the number of people on the road daily with kids, pets, family, friends, etc., your drivers need to send positive vibes when on the road. If people know your company takes safety and the hiring of drivers process seriously, it gains you more respect, which is ultimately great for businesses.

Is there really a reason not to take this process more seriously? Again, it’s not only great for insurance premiums and your business but also the people’s safety in this world.

Bottom Line

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel or anything. Some simple modifications and tweaks to the hiring process will be more than enough to get the desired results. In the end, it will not only help you secure concessions from your insurer but will also help you create a safer, more productive work environment. While also potentially making the roads safer. And honestly, there needs to be a way to make roads safer.

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, car accidents happen every 60 seconds. That equates to approximately 5.25 million accidents across the United States on a yearly basis.

A team of responsible and purpose-driven workers will take your business forward in the competitive arena, help you lower your insurance premiums, and press down the risk of accidents on the road. It is a perfect win-win for your business! So, try the above tips today, and you’ll quickly learn just how safe you can make your fleet business and how many other benefits your business can gain from doing so.