4 Overlooked Benefits of Improving Fleet Safety

Fleet managers and truck drivers work constantly to combat the various risks threatening the trucking industry. Improving safety practices presents several obvious benefits, particularly related to cost savings. Safe fleets are less likely to accrue fines or cause expensive avoidable accidents. A track record of safe operations also helps keep insurance costs down. However, the benefits of improving trucking safety go beyond the bottom line. The following are some of the overlooked benefits trucking companies can reap by focusing on safety improvements:

1. Safe fleets appeal to truck drivers. Truck drivers’ safety records follow them wherever they apply. Potential employers can see years’ worth of their crash and inspection history. Drivers are beginning to give the same level of scrutiny to fleets. While driving behaviors often effect a driver’s violation history the most, some violations stem from fleet management and safety culture. Many drivers aren’t willing to work for a trucking company with a litany of safety violations.
2. Safe fleets have less turnover. Trucking turnover rates are astronomically high. They reached a staggering 91% in 2019, and 2020 didn’t fare much better at 90%. Safety is often a driving factor. For example, finding safe parking is challenging for nearly all commercial drivers. Private trucking companies tend to enjoy lower turnover rates for several reasons. One is that their drivers spend most of their nights at home and rarely find themselves on the road for days or weeks.
3. Safe fleets have lower (better) CSA scores. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) scores fleets using its Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. A fleet’s score can significantly affect its prospects, as many organizations don’t want to work with trucking companies that have high CSA scores.
4. Safe fleets have better public relations. No news is good news is particularly true for trucking companies. Fleets rarely make major headlines unless they’re involved in an accident. A single accident can rack up negative publicity and cause excessive public scrutiny. Court costs and settlements are expensive, but regaining public trust isn’t something trucking companies can buy. It takes time, and the internet ensures the event is never fully forgotten. Some trucking companies may not be able to recover from bad press.

Underdeveloped safety initiatives in the trucking industry can have catastrophic consequences. However, it’s not always a straightforward process to reduce risks and enforce safety standards. Contact the experts at Interstate Motor Carriers to learn more about improving your trucking company’s approach to safety.