Business owners who insure commercial drivers and vehicles under a commercial property and casualty policy need to put safety protocols at the top of their management priorities. Establishing policies and procedures is just half what companies must do to contend with driving-related risk exposures.
The Safety Protocols to Follow
They must also implement protocols for enforcing compliance with internal policies, agreements with insurance providers, and DOT guidelines.
Insure Your Company’s Drivers Under a Property and Casualty Insurance Policy
You need comprehensive insurance protection covering every vehicle your company owns and all staff members who drive within the scope of their employment. For example, in obtaining commercial insurance in Orlando that includes auto coverage, a carrier will probably need to check individual employees’ driver’s license numbers to view their records from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
It is also a good practice for owners to run their own records search as a part of their onboarding process. These reviews help to verify that drivers are qualified to drive on the company’s behalf.
Repeating record checks at fixed intervals during insurance renewals and personnel file updates can alert employers to potential red flags. Furthermore, ongoing assessments reinforce the importance of safe driving practices in a business’ corporate culture.
Establish Guidelines and Offer Formal Training
Your employee handbook or standalone policies on safe driving practices should set clear expectations for how your team members conduct themselves behind the wheel. Key provisions should include a prohibition on talking and texting while driving that is consistent with applicable state law. Likewise, you should establish unequivocal directives about transporting passengers or materials safely.
Rather than simply circulating a policy and having staff sign an acknowledgment, it is a good practice to hold formal trainings on your company’s policies for personnel who drive. An interactive setting will help to ensure that the message really sticks. It also gives people an opportunity to ask questions. Furthermore, a group setting reinforces a sense of shared responsibility and staff’s collective accountability to one another.
Utilize Monitoring Technology To Track Safe Driving Practices and Potentially Reduce Property and Casualty Premiums
Look for technological solutions in considering how to enforce safe driving among your drivers. A device that plugs into a vehicle’s OnBoard Diagnostics port can be an excellent resource for large enterprises that oversee a fleet of vehicles as well as small businesses that employ a handful of delivery drivers. These devices determine the precise location of a vehicle and alert you if it has deviated from an assigned route.
In addition, OBD devices can generate real-time alerts when a driver is speeding or engaging in other unsafe driving practices, such as hard braking. You could also generate customizable reports for specific vehicles or drivers over a fixed period of time. These features allow you to review potential issues with your drivers directly, offer appropriate coaching and counseling, or take disciplinary action as necessary.
Casualty and property insurance providers encourage clients to use this innovative technology. Capturing substantive data about individuals’ safe driving habits gives insurers meaningful methodologies for assessing risk. A stable track record enforcing driving directives could ultimately help you save money on commercial auto insurance.
About The Hilb Group
Deciding what coverage you need and what limits and deductibles make the most sense can be tricky. Founded in 2009, the Hilb Group has been helping clients to make sense of their options and make the smartest choices for their circumstances. Whether you need Warehouse Insurance or any other type of business or personal coverage, we encourage you to contact our friendly, experienced, and capable team today. Call us at (800) 776-3078 for a consultation.