In all sorts of businesses especially for those that closely deal with life and safety at all times like fleet management, crucial driver selection and training is a crucial step. Aside from the fact that drivers can make or break the success of the business, having trained and responsible fleet drivers can help the company reduce costs and prevent accidents.
Here are proven ways you can raise the bar on human resources in your fleet management business. Read on.
Identify Key Driver Requirements
Set your standard straight by enforcing non-negotiable driver requirements. For those running a fleet management business, a driving licence, compliance records, driving experience, and knowledge of driving rules and regulations are basic requirements to look for.
Familiarity with routes, number of years of driving experience, as well as having aligned goals and values with your company are preferable qualifications to add. Considering drivers’ soft skills such as patience, determination, and attendance in the hiring process can also help.
Work with Reliable Recruitment Connections
You can also save time in the recruitment process while ensuring that your standards are met by connecting with reliable recruitment companies. Connect with companies that have an established recruitment system starting from screening resumes up to on-boarding.
You may also connect with industry partners in fleet business or encourage your current employees to refer candidates. However, it is highly recommended for these referrals to undergo the recruitment process so you can assess if they are indeed qualified for the post.
Instil a Culture of Safety and Transparency
Having the best roster of drivers in fleet business does not end in recruiting the most qualified. The real deal starts at the time they start driving your fleet. To empower your drivers, the company needs to instil a sense of responsibility and accountability among them.
Aside from face-to-face seminars and memoranda to remind drivers to drive safely at all times, reinforcing it with the help of technology can make a significant difference. Installing commercial fleet cameras in vehicles can boost drivers’ accountability since they know that they are being monitored; thus, resulting in safer and more efficient driving practices.
Nevertheless, fleet managers/owners need to explain the goal behind this program. Make it clear for both parties that this does not call for a lack of trust but to ensure safety as much as possible.
Provide Comprehensive Training and Development Programs
Drivers in fleet businesses make up for the business’s success. Hence, empowering them with recognition of their exemplary performance means a lot. You may consider increasing their salary giving performance-based incentives as reinforcement.
Providing your drivers with hands-on training and practice programs to enhance their driving skills is also necessary to ensure safety and customer satisfaction. This goes with regular performance evaluations with each driver to personally discuss with them how they can improve their driving skills and behaviour.
Conclusion
Investing your time, resources, and effort in selecting, keeping, and training your drivers in a fleet business brings a significant amount of ROI. More than the increased revenue maintained vehicles, and skyrocketing profits, having the right drivers in your team brings safety to everyone. And that is priceless.
