Implementing a fleet driver training program can deliver many tangible benefits to your organisation. If you're looking into setting up a training schedule for your drivers, it's important to implement best practice solutions that result in truly effective driver training.
Who provides driver training programmes?
A number of companies and organisations provide driver training programmes throughout the UK. These cover a diverse range of topics.
However, you may also develop your own in-house training modules for certain tasks - perhaps because a relevant module is not available, or in order to control costs.
Make safety your top priority
First and foremost, additional and ongoing training can help ensure your drivers carry out their duties in a safer manner. Improved safety results in fewer accidents - and a much-reduced chance of injury or death (both for drivers and third parties).
Company drivers make up as little as 12% of UK licence holders, yet they are involved in more than half of all road traffic accidents.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), "Drivers with high proportions of work-related mileage have up to 53% more injury collisions per mile travelled than otherwise similar drivers who do no work-related mileage."
With this in mind, the potential benefits of fleet safety programs are clear. Ultimately, fleet stakeholders and managers have a moral duty to minimise the chances of one of their drivers being involved in an accident.
But employers also have a legal duty to optimise fleet safety; if someone is injured or dies, the organisation could face hefty penalties or even Corporate Manslaughter charges.
Road risk needs to be managed in the same way as other aspects of occupational health and safety.
Safety will, therefore, be at the heart of any good fleet safety program.
Best practices for enhancing driver safety
- Safety Incentive Programmes: These reward drivers who display consistently high levels of driver safety, and can play a key role in fleet safety training.
- Regular Communication: Team meetings, newsletters, and group emails can all be used to hammer home critical road safety messaging.
- Management Support: Get 'buy-in' from management to help ensure the safety training program gets the support it needs to succeed.
Identify your fleet driver training needs
Training modules are invariably designed around a particular required skill or defined risk.
Company policy might dictate that all drivers undergo certain modules as standard. But it might also stipulate that if a particular driver falls short of safety standards (for example, they receive a speeding fine), they are asked to undertake a remedial training module.
Other training initiatives might help drivers adapt to certain existing or new technologies - such as understanding tachographs or alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs).
You should also think about seasonal challenges ahead of time. For example, instituting additional winter driver training in summer or autumn will help ensure drivers are ready for the colder months - where wet, icy, and snowy conditions can present significant additional risks.
Industry-specific training
The training needs of a last-mile delivery firm will differ from those of a long-distance haulage firm. Your industry-specific knowledge will help you build a training programme that meets your operational and commercial needs.
Example driver training modules:
- Daily vehicle checks
- Driver compliance
- Highway Code
- Manoeuvring and reversing
- Managing speed
- Fuel efficiency
- Winter driving
- EV familiarisation
Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
If your fleet operates heavy goods vehicles, buses, or coaches, your drivers will need to undergo at least 35 hours of training every five years to keep their Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
With this in mind, it's critical that you are aware of any mandatory training your drivers might require in the near future.
Training for new drivers
By providing in-depth training to new drivers, you'll be able to head off an array of problems.
You should ensure new drivers understand all company safety protocols, reporting procedures, and vehicle maintenance responsibilities.
New drivers must also have an excellent understanding of how to control fleet vehicles and any associated equipment.
Regulatory compliance should also be covered in training sessions, including hours of service, weight limits, and all relevant general and industry-specific laws.
Incorporate ongoing training and refresher courses
New legislation and the evolving nature of our road network mean that ongoing fleet safety training is a necessary part of managing any fleet. And no matter how experienced some of your drivers are, they will always benefit from relevant refresher courses, helping to keep them safe while preventing costly collisions.
On-the-road assessments, workshops and seminars, and e-learning modules can all be harnessed to promote safety, improve fuel economy and stay up to date with new technologies and legislative updates.
Fleet management training
It’s not only drivers who need ongoing training. Fleet managers and other non-driver support staff will also benefit from ongoing training, in order to keep abreast of legislative and regulatory training, and to understand the changing goals of the company.
Fleet management training might be delivered through third parties or internally.
Look to harness technology
Telematics can be used to monitor how well (or how poorly) a driver is performing behind the wheel. It can identify things like heavy braking, harsh acceleration, speeding, and even signs of driver fatigue.
Armed with this data, fleet managers can plan driver-specific corrective training programmes.
Driving simulators enable drivers to experience a wide range of driving scenarios without the risks of doing so in the real world.
Online training platforms allow drivers to undertake training and assessments from any location, at any time. This technology can be especially useful for larger fleets whose assets and staff are spread across a wide area.
Evaluate and improve your training programme
A good fleet safety training programme is never finished; there's always room for improvement. Harness data analytics and accident reports, and seek out feedback from drivers to see where training programmes can be improved.
You may also find that some modules are unnecessary for some drivers.
Maintaining a focus on cost
Aside from improving safety and avoiding legal problems, a good training programme can deliver tangible cost reductions.
Fuel consumption, in particular, is a large cost for fleets, so it's good practice to set up training modules that focus on this.
Encouraging drivers to drive smoothly—and avoid speeding followed by hard braking—can significantly reduce fuel consumption. Accelerating gently, maintaining a steady speed, and anticipating traffic are other skills covered by reputable training programmes.
Other training modules might focus on vehicle checks. If your drivers can spot minor issues before they develop into serious ones, you should be able to avoid bigger, more costly repairs, as well as vehicle downtime. Needless to say, regular vehicle checks will also improve safety.
You should also think about fines: the police can issue penalty notices and impose penalty points if they find defects with a fleet vehicle (e.g., a damaged tyre).
While instituting a good driver training programme will come with certain costs, it is likely to save a great deal of money—and stress—in the long term.
Conclusion
An effective fleet training program helps ensure your drivers have all the knowledge and skills necessary to stay safe on the road, while adhering to relevant legislation and regulatory responsibilities, minimising fuel consumption and achieving daily tasks as required.
Harnessing the latest in learning technology, IoT systems and data analytics will help streamline this process, while controlling costs.
The end result should be a safer, happier and more productive team of drivers.
Breakdown Cover from 
