Only zero tolerance will straighten bad fleet driver habits, says e-training boss
It’s fairly often that we’re telling you about fleet drivers and their shoddy, sometimes illegal, driving habits.
If they’re not eating on the go [link], they’re using their phone behind the wheel [link] or neglecting their vehicle altogether [link] and [link], but Graham Hurdle of E-Training World believes drivers are getting away with it because fleet bosses feel they don’t have the time or resources to straighten them out.
However, Mr Hurdle – MD of the driver training provider – insists that isn’t the case.
“We speak to a lot of fleet managers and, in many cases, they feel daunted by the task of training and educating their drivers to behave more responsibly when driving,” he reveals.
“We hear comments such as, ‘It’s something we really need to tackle’, or ‘We’ll need to allocate 2012 budget to a driver awareness and training programme next year’.
“But when I hear comments such as these I feel that people are overcomplicating what can be a very simple task.”
Scare tactics
Graham advises fleet managers should make it clear that there will be zero tolerance for dangerous and careless behaviour behind the wheel.
“First and foremost, you should notify drivers that their behaviour is being monitored,” he explains. “This instantly puts people on their guard and will help to eliminate some bad habits.
“Then provide all drivers with a simple 10 minute online course about vehicle checks.”
Mr Hurdle says that E-Training World’s modules, not only train drivers, they also provide an audit trail of who has conducted the training.
“Then run through each driver’s record of fines and other misdemeanours and provide bespoke online training on these areas too,” he adds.
“In no time at all you will have taken great steps to change the culture of bad driver behaviour and make long-term improvements. And for all of this we’re talking only a few pounds per driver and the time it takes to email a few logins – not a sizeable investment.”
Visit e-trainingworld.com for more.
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