Major Components of a Fleet Risk Management Program Major components of a fleet risk management program include: Written policy. Program administration and accountability. Driver selection and review. Driver training and discipline. Drug and alcohol testing. Accident reporting and analysis. Vehicle inspection and maintenance. Recordkeeping.

Driver Selection and Review Drivers License Record Before allowing anyone to drive company vehicles, check motor vehicle department records in any state where the person previously lived or worked. Run MVRs on pre-hires, employees and secondary drivers who drive company vehicles Services are available that provide email alerts about any serious violations, suspensions or revocations on your driver roster, and monthly updates about all violations.

Driver Discipline Develop a strategy to determine the course of action after the occurrence of a moving violation and/or "preventable" crash. There are a variety of corrective action programs available; the majority of these are based on a system that assigns points for moving violations. The system should provide for progressive discipline if a driver begins to develop a pattern of repeated traffic violations and/or preventable crashes. The system should describe what specific action(s) will be taken if a driver accumulates a certain number of violations or preventable crashes in any pre-defined period.

Regulatory Compliance Ensure adherence to highway safety regulations. Determine which, if any, local, state, and/or federal regulations govern your vehicles and/or drivers. These regulations may involve, but may not necessarily be limited to the: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Employment Standards Administration (ESA)

Drug & Alcohol Tests A key component to operating a risk/safety management program is drug and alcohol testing. Motor carrier safety regulations must be followed strictly.

Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act In 1991 Congress passed the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act, requiring DOT agencies to implement drug and alcohol testing of safety-sensitive transportation employees.  49 CFR Part 40 is a DOT-wide regulation that states how to conduct testing and how to return employees to safety-sensitive duties after they violate a DOT drug and alcohol regulation. Part 40 applies to all DOT-required testing, regardless of mode of transportation. 

Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act Each employer must have a program to conduct six types of testing: preemployment, postaccident, random, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing of drivers for the use of alcohol or controlled substances.

Driver training Depending on a company’s operations, other training requirements in addition to the HMR may apply. Relevant agencies and organizations may include: United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) United State Department of Transportation (US DOT) United States Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) United States Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) United States Coast Guard (USCG) United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Transport Canada TDG regulations (TDG) International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 

US DOT Hazmat Training An example training format the DOT has for hazardous material transportation includes: Function specific training Safety training Security awareness training In-depth security training

General Awareness Training Training that provides familiarity with the general requirements of the HMR and enables the hazmat employee to recognize and identify hazardous materials. All hazmat employees must receive general awareness training.

Function-specific Training Training that provides a detailed understanding of HMR requirements applicable to the function(s) performed by the hazmat employee. Each hazmat employee must be trained on the specific functions they are required to perform.

Safety Training Training that covers the hazards presented by hazardous materials, safe handling, emergency response information, and methods and procedures for accident avoidance. All hazmat employees must receive this training.

Security Awareness Training Training that provides a general understanding of the security risks associated with hazardous materials transportation and the methods designed to enhance transportation security. This training should include methods on how to recognize and respond to possible security threats. All hazmat employees must receive this training.

In-depth Security Training Training that provides a detailed understanding of a company’s security plan including company security objectives, specific security procedures, employee responsibilities, actions to take in the event of a security breach and the organizational security structure. Must be provided to hazmat employees who handle or perform regulated functions related to the transportation of the materials covered by the security plan or who are responsible for implementing the security plan.

Motor Vehicle Accident Review Establish and enforce a accident reporting and investigation process. All accidents, regardless of severity, should be reported to the employee's supervisor as soon as feasible after the incident. Company traffic safety policies and procedures should clearly guide drivers through their responsibilities in a crash situation. All crashes should be reviewed to determine their cause and whether or not the incidents were preventable. Understanding the root causes of crashes and why they are happening, regardless of fault, forms the basis for eliminating them in the future.

Risk Factors Seat belt use Distracted driving Alcohol and impaired driving Fatigued driving Aggressive driving

Seat Belt Use Seat belts are the single most effective means of reducing deaths and serious injuries in traffic crashes. As the most effective safety device in vehicles, they save nearly 12,000 lives and prevent 325,000 serious injuries in the US each year.

Distracted Driving It is estimated that distracted driving is a factor in 25 to 30 percent of all traffic crashes. The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. Nearly 330,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving. 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving. Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk.

Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driving Alcohol use is involved in 40 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes. It is estimated that three in every 10 Americans will be involved in an impaired driving-related crash some time in their life. Alcohol, certain prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and illegal drugs can all affect a person's ability to drive safely due to decreased alertness, concentration, coordination and reaction time. Alcohol is a contributing factor in approximately 39 percent of all work-related traffic crashes.

Fatigued Driving Fatigued or drowsy driving may be involved in more than 100,000 crashes each year, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths. These crashes are seriously under-reported.

Aggressive Driving and Road Rage Aggressive driving acts include excessive speed, tailgating, failure to signal a lane change, running a red light and passing on the right. Road rage is most likely exhibited by young males. Firearms are involved in 37 percent of all road rage incidents. Half of the drivers on the receiving end of road rage behavior respond with aggressive behavior in turn. 12,610 injuries and 218 murders over a 7-year period were attributed to road rage.

Vehicle Tracking Systems Telematics is a broad term that encompasses a wide group of technologies that bring together analytics and mobility and refers to the information gathered about the operation of a motor vehicle, its engine and other mechanical and electronic systems and even the behavior of its operator.   Enhanced tracking systems, including video and telemetry, can help strengthen litigation defense, improve outcomes and reinforce training. Companies implementing telemetry systems with dash cams can verify causation. 

Telematics and the Insurance Industry For the insurance industry, telematics means the information that is collected about an insured’s driving patterns. Insurance companies are increasingly recording such information using telematic devices installed in automobiles which allow them to set insurance premiums that reflect the driving style of the motorists they insure.  

Route Planning Software Routes planning software can be used to better plan routes Avoid left turns which increase risks for accidents, increased wait times, increased fuel use Reduced accidents Increased productivity Lowered costs due to less waiting in traffic