Driver Solutions You Can Actually Use

Hiring, training, and managing drivers is a full-time job. Sometimes, even each individual aspect of working with drivers can be challenging and time consuming. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if an innovative system existed that took everything and rolled it into one easy-to-use, easy-to-implement solution?

Safety as a Service: Your Source of Sanity

Safety as a Service is that innovative driver management solution. In one affordable monthly or yearly subscription, you gain access to a multitude of powerful, effective tools and training courses. Your subscription includes:

·         Driver management tools

·         Driver safety training

·         Driver compliance tools

Each section of this 3-part system is packed with valuable, practical, technologically advanced material and tools. It’s your one-stop solution for anything and everything that affects the drivers in your business.

Driver Management

Managing drivers takes a lot of time and resources when done the old-fashioned way. Safety as a Service’s Driver Management takes all of your tasks and streamlines them into one all-inclusive interface. Driver management tools include:

·         A management interface including a list of all drivers and their data. Perform tasks related to individual drivers and make important notes you need to remember.

·         Recruiting and hiring tools. Get matched up with qualified drivers who are looking for a job, keep track of digital applications in one place, and keep up with each driver’s or applicant’s drug test results and accident history without having to wade through stacks of paper files.

Share important information with the appropriate team members simply by creating personal login credentials. Safe, secure, organized, and fast, you have everything you need at your fingertips.

Driver Safety Training

Keeping your drivers up to speed on safety is crucial to operating a viable business. The driver safety interface is full of crucial tools, including:

·         Online training courses that are complete, engaging, and easy to use help drivers maintain their driver certifications while allowing you to keep up with their progress.

·         Accident management tools that keep important records and documentation.

·         Education about defensive driving techniques and speeding.

·         Mobile apps for digital vehicle inspection reports and truck rentals

Driver Compliance

As important as driver safety is making sure your drivers are actually complying with their training and your regulations. The driver compliance interface includes:

·         Tracking your drivers’ scores and completion of training courses

·         Easy-to-access records for drug tests, current driver files, and pending driver applications

·         An accident registry to keep up with all accidents and incidents that occur

Free Yourself to Run Your Business

While driver management, training, and safety are vital aspects of your business, they aren’t the only aspects. Safety as a Service frees you to streamline the management of your drivers so that you can focus on the other areas of your business that need your attention. Eliminate the clutter of paper files and the headache of tracking down the information you need by subscribing to the service today.

Safety As a Service Debuts Exclusive Recruiting Platform for Truck Companies

LCV Regulation Clarified-Again

Don't feel bad if this LCV Regulation stumps you. It stumps me at times too. Here is more clarification from our previous post.

Your experienced driver can teach and certify the skills portion. They could have written this regulation much better.

Any driver that has more than 2 years experience (with a similar type of vehicle) can teach and certify if they meet the requirements of 380.111(b).

A driver with less than 2 years experience can teach and certify if they have experience teaching the operation of an LCV within the last 2 years. That is the waiver in 380.303 (b). 

Essentially, A driver with more than 2 years experience can teach. A driver with less than 2 years can teach if they have taught. Figure out that logic.

You can use safetyasaservice.com to satisfy the classroom portion of the regulation and obtain the docs required.

LCV Skills Instructor Requirements Reg. Subpart Requirements 380.301 c Valid Class A Doubles/Triples Endorsement More Than 2 Years operating similar vehicle. 380.303 b Waived if: -1 Meets 380.111(b) -2 Operated a similar type of vehicle within the previous 2 Years -3 Has taught the operation of an LCV within the previous 2 years. 380.111 b An individual must certify that, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of application for a Certificate of Grandfathering, he/she had: -1 A valid Class A CDL with a “double/triple trailers” endorsement; -2 No more than one driver's license; -3 No suspension, revocation, or cancellation of his/her CDL; -4 No convictions for a major offense while operating a CMV as defined in § 383.51(b) of this subchapter; -5 No convictions for a railroad-highway grade crossing offense while operating a CMV as defined in § 383.51(d) of this subchapter; -6 No convictions for violating an out-of-service order as defined in § 383.51(e) of this subchapter; -7 No more than one conviction for a serious traffic violation, as defined in § 383.5 of this subchapter, while operating a CMV; and -8 No convictions for a violation of State or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control arising in connection with any traffic crash while operating a CMV.

Bloodborne Pathogen Training

Bloodborne disease affects millions of Americans, and may do not know that they have a disease in their blood.  We have all heard of HIV and know that it is the disease that causes AIDS, but this is just one example of a bloodborne disease.  Hepatitis B is the most common bloodborne illness, and between 800,000 and 1.4 million people have this virus in the United States.  OSHA requires some employers to provide training on bloodborne illness, and Now Safety as a Service offers a quick and informative class on the subject.  Check it out at safetyasaservice.com 

Back and Spine Safety

According to the Bureau of labor statistics back injuries accounted for almost 19% of all work related injuries in the United States in 2012.  Workers with back injuries missed an average of 7 days of work due to their injury.  OSHA estimates that treatment of back injuries cost $50 billion annually.  The bottom line is that back injuries are not only frequent but costly to employers.  Make sure that you are discussing the importance of back safety with your employees.  Safety as a Service now offers an engaging course on the subject of back safety that provides tips on proper lifting techniques, and treatment methods.  Check the course out at www.safetyasaservice.com

Making a reasonable suspicion determination

Making a reasonable suspicion determination is never fun.  Make sure to document the date and time as well as the observed behavior or cause for the reasonable suspicion test.  Using a standardized form can ensure that all the correct steps are followed.  Approaching an employee who may be under the influence needs to be done in a way that shows concern for the employee. 

                 First and foremost do not show anger, and do not accuse the employee.  A positive drug or alcohol test can be a career ending event for a driver, and if you show anger towards the employee it could escalate the situation.  Let the employee know what you have observed (slurred speech, odor, motor skill problems) and ask if there could be another explanation for what you observed.  Tell the employee that they are going to be sent for a drug and/or alcohol test just to rule substances out as a possible cause. 

                Never have the employee drive themselves to the testing location, because if they cause an accident on the way the company could be liable for damages.  If you made the reasonable suspicion determination try to have someone else drive them to the testing site.  The employee will be less likely to get violent if they are not alone with the person who is having them sent for the test.  Remember that this you only have a suspicion that the employee is under the influence. 

                Sometimes suspicions can be wrong, so it is important that you are polite and respectful towards employees who are sent for reasonable suspicions. Being kind and professional saves face and avoids an awkward work relationship if the employee does not test positive.  Finally make sure that only supervisors that have taken a supervisor training course are making reasonable suspicion determinations.  Safety as aService offers an online training course for supervisors. 

Dangers of road rage and technology

A woman in Florida was being tailgated by an aggressive driver in a pick up, so she decided to take out her cell to get the incident on video.   When the road rager decided to pass her he gave her the bird and then lost control of his vehicle then crashed into a ditch taking out a light pole in the process.  Talk about instant gratification, but the woman filming the whole incident could have just as easily been the one who lost control and crashed.  Remember that two wrongs do not make a right.

As professional drivers, we see road rage directed at us and other drivers frequently.  We need to remember that we are professional drivers, and should act accordingly.  Neither the driver in the video below is a professional driver, and it shows.  If another driver is tailgating you or has harsh words for your mother its better to ignore them than to get back at them.  Do not pull out your phone and start making a YouTube video while driving.  The risks of causing an accident do not out weigh the benefits of getting 4 million views on YouTube in one day.  Remember the bigger picture and please drive safe.