Fleet Driver Training Guide
Employing people to drive comes with plenty of obligations, such as ensuring that your employees can drive a vehicle based on their age and driving licence. However, fleet driving involves much more than simply being a good driver: it means being the best possible driver for your specific task and also helping the business you work for by driving in an efficient manner.
This is where fleet driver training courses can be so important.
What are the benefits of fleet driver training courses?
Recently an article appeared in Fleet Car Magazine in which the owner of a large fleet of vehicles for an estate agent described how the accident rate among his company’s drivers had dropped from 95 per cent to 44 per cent. Not only did reducing this accident rate allow his company to save on associated costs; it also allowed it to negotiate a £200 saving per vehicle on car insurance premiums. He believes that advanced driver training courses are the primary factor in how these savings were secured.
Certainly advanced driver training can help to reduce accident rates and in turn limit driver injuries and subsequent sick time; as well as meaning more drivers are available to carry out tasks as and when needed, making your business potentially more productive.
However, fleet driver training can do much more than simply help your fleet drivers avoid accidents. Some of the benefits to your business may include:
- Reducing costs: Drivers may be more efficient which can reduce fuel costs, vehicle wear and tear, insurance premiums and loss of man hours.
- Indirect benefits: There are a number of indirect benefits from better driving training such as increasing resale values of vehicles because drivers are less likely to be involved in accidents; and increasing overall profits.
- Improving image: It simply looks better for your business to provide driver training and meet your duty of care to your employees. It could also boost driver morale.
In addition, there are numerous benefits to the drivers themselves, including:
- Less risk: Fleet driver training may help to reduce fatal accidents by as much as 40 per cent according to the Fleet Driver Training website. It will also limit the likelihood of prosecution and reduce stress levels.
- Personal pride: Investing in fleet driver training can boost a driver’s morale and personal pride; make them feel more loyal to your company; and increase their perceived value.
So what types of fleet driver training courses are available?
There is an array of fleet driver training courses available including:
- Pre-employment driver assessments: Helping you to determine how potential employees perform behind the wheel and their strengths and weaknesses. Chances are that simply holding a driving licence is not enough for your fleet to truly prosper: you need drivers that can prove to be skilled and efficient behind the wheel.
- Defensive driving and practice: These fleet driver training courses can help drivers to avoid accidents such as by anticipating problems before they occur; driving within speed limits; identifying hazards; and more.
- Efficient driving courses: Help your drivers to be more “green” behind the wheel – by learning eco driving techniques such as avoiding harsh braking and acceleration. This can offer great benefits to your business by reducing its overall CO2 emission output and fuel expenses.
- Specialist courses: There are a number of fleet driver training courses available that reflect a number of specialist forms of driving. These may include: towing courses; 4x4 courses; rapid response courses; blue light training; chauffeur courses; and more.
Is there anything else you should look for?
Generally look for fleet driver training from companies approved by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). Trainers should be fully qualified and approved driving instructors.
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