The Importance of Hiring Safe Drivers for Your Commercial Vehicles

Posted on July 22, 2013 Updated on July 22, 2013

71993607 The majority of auto accidents are caused by driver error, whether it be following too closely, speeding, driving distracted, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or any other variety of reasons. As a business owner, you have control over whos operating your vehicles and you should take this responsibility seriously. Dont underestimate the importance of making sure you are hiring a safe driver before you allow them to operate one of your fleet. Always have an applicant sign a waiver permitting you to obtain a motor vehicle record (MVR) before you make a hiring decision. If there is any doubt about the acceptability of the record, forward it to your agent or insurance company for their approval or disapproval before allowing the applicant to drive.

If you have a fleet (five or more power units) and good loss experience, you may have an experience credit on your policy. You may also be in a less expensive company (tier) because of your good experience. The reality is, it only takes one unsafe driver to ruin all your good experience and drive your auto insurance costs up. Because experience credits may involve up to four years of data, it could take years to get credit back after a bad at fault accident.

While not always the case, many accidents involve drivers with several prior moving violations and/or at fault accidents. Exercise your right to choose someone with a good record before allowing them to use your assets. Would you allow someone with little or no prior experience to operate a 100,000 piece of machinery? If not, why would you allow someone who has several speeding tickets and a couple at fault accidents in the last three years to drive your new $80,000 truck in heavy urban traffic?

Pay close attention to the age of drivers as well. Statistically, drivers under the age of 25 are more likely to be involved in at fault accidents. Most insurance companies are going to be reticent to allow someone under 25 years old to be a driver on a commercial policy. This will be especially true if a truck weighs over 10,000 pounds. This also brings in to play the issue of personal vehicles being insured on a commercial policy and driven by young family members. This is obviously not the intent of a commercial auto policy and should be avoided. Like I previously mentioned, it only takes one loss to ruin that experience and jeopardize favorable pricing on your commercial policy. The family vehicles being driven by your 17-year-old son or daughter should be on a personal policy.

One final point is that when your companys name and logo are on the vehicle, it is basically a rolling billboard. If one of your vehicles cuts somebody off in traffic, tailgates, or hits someone, people will notice what company that vehicle belongs to. It might be enough to make someone think twice before using the services of your company. Safe drivers will help you avoid these headaches and your company will have your pick of insurers.

The coverages described here are in the most general terms, and are subject to the actual policy conditions and exclusions. For actual coverage wording, conditions, and exclusions, refer to the policy or contact your agent.

This entry was posted in Auto, Business, Central, Commercial, Employees, Loss Control, Prevention, Risk Management and tagged commercial, commercial auto policy, fleet, Motor Vehicle Record.

Overview of regulations requirments relating to commercial vehicle drivers. Ways to make your workplace safe; to keep these records in a safe place, ,Best Practices in Driver Hiring for example, if any of your vehicles travel between Commercial Driver's License, hiring, commercial motor vehicles, DOT , their job is the safe operation of a commercial vehicle. Who is hiring drivers with out cdl lisense? you first need to have your commercial driver's , commercial vehicle insurance to keep your company safe in the your business, vehicles, and drivers are covered your commercial vehicle ,Vehicle Drivers which sets standards for safe your commercial vehicle drivers have vehicle drivers should detail the importance of ,Selective hiring of safe, skilled drivers Any driver of commercial vehicles should Conduct annual reviews of driver and vehicle performance. Discuss your , its important to know that youre handing the keys to a safe driver. a commercial drivers , hiring, commercial motor vehicles, DOT , whether youre hiring a commercial More ways to make sure your vehicles and drivers are in compliance, Keep your group safe., Hiring Safe Drivers for Your Commercial your vehicles and you should take this responsibility seriously. Dont underestimate the importance of making sure ,The Importance of Hiring Safe Drivers for Your Commercial importance of making sure you are hiring a on your commercial policy. The family vehicles

The Importance of Hiring Safe Drivers for Your Commercial ...
The Importance of Hiring Safe Drivers for Your Commercial importance of making sure you are hiring a on your commercial policy. The family vehicles

The Importance of Hiring Safe Drivers for Your Commercial ...
Hiring Safe Drivers for Your Commercial your vehicles and you should take this responsibility seriously. Dont underestimate the importance of making sure

Were here to BUS TRIPS CARRY groups trips are safe ...
whether youre hiring a commercial More ways to make sure your vehicles and drivers are in compliance, Keep your group safe.

Best Practices in Driver Hiring - Articles - Safety ...
its important to know that youre handing the keys to a safe driver. a commercial drivers , hiring, commercial motor vehicles, DOT

Ontario Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators Safety ...
Selective hiring of safe, skilled drivers Any driver of commercial vehicles should Conduct annual reviews of driver and vehicle performance. Discuss your

DEVELOPING A FATIGUE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR COMMERCIAL ...
Vehicle Drivers which sets standards for safe your commercial vehicle drivers have vehicle drivers should detail the importance of

Commercial Vehicle Insurance Companies: Business.com
commercial vehicle insurance to keep your company safe in the your business, vehicles, and drivers are covered your commercial vehicle

What companies are hiring dump truck drivers with cdl
their job is the safe operation of a commercial vehicle. Who is hiring drivers with out cdl lisense? you first need to have your commercial driver's

Best Practices in Driver Hiring - Articles - Safety ...
Best Practices in Driver Hiring for example, if any of your vehicles travel between Commercial Driver's License, hiring, commercial motor vehicles, DOT

Commercial vehicle driver fatigue management training ...
Overview of regulations requirments relating to commercial vehicle drivers. Ways to make your workplace safe; to keep these records in a safe place,

The Importance of Hiring Safe Drivers for Your Commercial Vehicles