Most commercial vehicles in service are not the tractor-trailer trucks so prevalent on our expressways. They are vans, pickups, and straight trucks driven by technicians and employees who do not have the specialized training required of professional drivers.
Many of these technicians and employees don’t consider driving as part of their job. Driving is simply a way of getting them and their equipment to a work site in order to do their job. Even though they drive heavier-than-normal vehicles loaded with expensive equipment, their primary focus is on their schedules and production requirements. Often, these employees receive minimal, if any, training concerning the specialized vehicles they drive every day. As a result, collision rates among these types of drivers exceed those of professional over-the-road drivers.
What causes these high collision rates? U.S. government studies show that approximately 80 percent of collisions are directly attributable to drivers’ actions and behaviors. These drivers are usually familiar with traffic laws and basic safety requirements. However, to save time or stay on schedule, they choose not to obey the laws, or they decide to take unnecessary safety risks—and those decisions cause collisions that are costly for the driver and for the company.
Inexperienced and improperly trained drivers—especially in companies with high employee turnover—are most at risk for causing collisions. As the need for qualified drivers continues to grow, so does the importance of proper driver orientation and training programs. Technology has provided new and inexpensive on-line solutions for companies with these needs. To learn more about these solutions click here.
