Whenever you engage a trucking company, you are entrusting them with your property in hopes that they will fulfil their part of the bargain. This includes getting your property to its designated destination in the same condition you handed it over, and at the agreed-upon time. However, not all companies accomplish this. It can help to find out what safety protocols the transport company you hire adheres to that will ensure good service delivery.
Driver Training and Experience
Transport vehicles are larger and more complicated to operate than regular cars. Specialized training is required. This typically takes place at a truck driving school before one can get experience on the job. The trucking company should have properly qualified drivers that have undergone the requisite skill testing and licensing. Newer drivers with the right training should ideally be partnered with someone more experienced till they are considered competent to operate a truck on their own.
Regular Safety Training
There should be regular training for drivers covering various issues such as how to operate fire safety equipment and accident prevention. This will help reinforce, update and add to their knowledge, making them safer drivers that will be better at fulfilling their duties.
Rest
This is especially important with long haul drivers who operate at night. While it can be tempting to keep driving for extended periods to make deliveries faster, this is not safe. Trucking companies should adhere to DOT standards when it comes to requiring rest stops. They should monitor the number of hours drivers are on the road and ensure they take suitable rest. A tired driver is an unsafe driver. Remote monitoring of trucks can help track this movement and also better ensure the safety of the goods in transit.
Vehicle Inspections
Trucking firms should train and ensure their drivers conduct regular checks on their vehicles. Issues like worn tires and faulty brakes can prove dangerous. They should know how to detect possible problems with their equipment and ensure appropriate servicing and repairs as required.
Drug Testing
Trucking companies should have a drug testing policy. This should be done as part of the pre-employment check process and randomly thereafter. It can also be made part of accident investigations to ensure the driver was not responsible due to drug or alcohol influence.
Safety Manuals
Trucking involves many tasks that can be dangerous. The company should have a safety manual that drivers are trained on before beginning work. This includes everything from how to handle safety checks on equipment to post-accident protocols.