We have discussed the importance of implementing a driver safety program in previous blog posts. However, one crucial aspect that requires further exploration is driver coaching. Driver coaching plays a vital role in imparting safety knowledge to drivers. Naturally, certain methods of driver coaching are more effective than others. In this blog post, we will provide you with valuable tips to optimize your coaching sessions and ensure maximum benefits for both you and your drivers.
3 Driver Coaching Tips
- Create Targeted Coaching Sessions: Recognize that every driver is unique, with specific needs. Focus on addressing issues that are specific to each individual driver by utilizing video clips that highlight their areas of improvement, including dashcam footage from their trips.
- Provide Clear and Direct Feedback: Effective coaching in any field necessitates providing specific feedback. Offer detailed examples of behaviors that need improvement, ensuring clarity and avoiding future problems.
- Be Proactive and Timely: Avoid delays in reviewing data after an incident. Promptly provide feedback while the event is still fresh in the driver’s mind. Timely feedback enhances retention and improves coaching outcomes.
4 Topics to Coach Drivers On
While coaching after an incident is crucial, regular and general coaching is equally important. Here are four key topics to focus on when coaching your drivers for enhanced road safety:
- Rest Stops: Drowsy driving poses significant risks, especially for long-haul drivers. Regularly coach your drivers on creating and adhering to their rest-stop plans. While electronic logging devices (ELD) can assist, it’s essential to have a contingency plan in place for tired drivers and provide necessary support when they follow the plan.
- Inclement Weather: Accidents often occur in inclement weather conditions. Since fleet drivers cannot simply pull over whenever it rains, they need to be prepared for changing weather patterns. Coach your drivers on operating in various weather conditions, and regularly provide coaching sessions to prepare them for upcoming seasons and potential challenges.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Faulty brakes account for 5% of all truck accidents, most of which can be prevented through regular maintenance. Ensure your drivers are familiar with the maintenance checklist and coach them on basic tasks they can perform if they notice any issues while on the road. Additionally, guide them on appropriate actions to take if they cannot handle the maintenance themselves.
- Distracted Driving: Distracted driving remains the most significant danger on the road. Emphasize the importance of avoiding distractions in your safety policy and utilize fleet technology to enforce compliance. We will delve into specific strategies on how to accomplish this in the following sections.
3 Fleet Technology Solutions for Coaching
Technology can greatly enhance driver coaching efforts. Here are three specific technology solutions that can maximize the effectiveness of your coaching sessions:
- Dash Cams: Utilize AI Safety Cam. This innovative camera serves two primary purposes in coaching. Firstly, it records footage that can be used during regular coaching sessions, allowing you to analyze incidents in detail and identify areas for improvement. Secondly, the AI-powered system detects problems in real-time and provides alerts, enabling you to provide coaching feedback immediately via the vehicle’s speaker system.
- Comprehensive Reports: Leveraging fleet management software, track and collect valuable data continuously. This data serves as evidence when addressing operational issues within your fleet. Utilize the reports generated by the software during coaching sessions to highlight the severity of problems and focus on specific occurrences. With this information, you can engage in more productive discussions with your drivers and investigate the root causes of issues effectively.
- Safety Coach: Safety Coach is a comprehensive program that offers a wide range of video lessons covering various topics. These lessons encompass maintenance issues, such as tire pressure, and safety concerns, including aggressive driving. By utilizing telematics data, the program identifies relevant lessons for individual drivers and assigns them accordingly, addressing their specific needs.