Your drivers are the most important people within your fleet.
As a fleet manager, boosting driver performance is one of the most effective ways of cutting fuel and maintenance costs while also improving road safety.
Safety affects your entire business, from vehicles and maintenance to operations and equipment. No matter what technology you have in place for vehicle safety, what it really comes down to in the end, is how safe your driver is behind the wheel.
To get the most out of your drivers, you need to know what metrics to track, how to interpret the data, and how to provide them with valuable, constructive feedback.
Feedback, analysis & tracking
In short, the easiest way to boost driver performance in your fleet is to be able to understand how your drivers are driving and how to actually gain this data in the first place.
Here are some simple steps you can take :
- Determine which factors (efficiency/safety should be monitored while evaluating driver performance
- Implement the right tools to measure and analyse your data
- Gather insights to optimise driver behaviour
- Take appropriate corrective action, such as providing feedback and training to avoid repeat incidents
Fortunately, certain fleet management platforms such as Prolius Fleet can provide fleet managers with all the tools they need to identify at-risk drivers and implement the best solution.
Metrics
To build an effective system for improving driver performance, you must first define what data you will track around your drivers and how that data will help you to improve their performance.
Through the use of GPS Tracking and Telematics, you can view a vehicle’s location in real-time as well as monitor the performance of your drivers against various criteria.
These deeper insights provide valuable data around speeding, harsh braking, engine idling, acceleration and harsh cornering which all contribute to the efficiency and performance scores of your driver and their vehicle.
Driver training
Training is one of the most effective techniques for creating better drivers. Investing in continuous training will ensure your team stays up-to-date on evolving techniques, policies, and regulations to improve their performance.
Many drivers develop certain bad habits over the years however by implementing regular training programmes around essential road safety, awareness, and accident prevention they can address these areas to make improvements.
Using a mix of courses, videos, and hands-on instruction is often the best way to approach driver training to keep them more engaged and motivated.
League tables & incentives
Compiling league tables comparing the performance of individual drivers against their peers to spark healthy competition can often be beneficial and a great way to get drivers to constantly think about their driving behaviour. These tables can be as simple as developing a scoring system using your fleet software based on incidents of speeding, idling and driving events such as harsh steering, acceleration and braking.
You can also offer occasional incentives and recognition to those drivers that are consistently performing well and making improvements to their driving.
League tables can also be hugely effective in ultimately helping to boost your company’s bottom line through being more efficient on fuel and reducing maintenance costs.
Company policies
Creating a company policy that outlines the requirements for operating a vehicle safely, reinforces a firm understanding of your expectations.
For example, establish policies to cover items such as mobile phone use (or the use of any mobile electronic device) while in charge of a vehicle on company business, drinking alcohol or usage of drugs and unauthorised medication. As well as ensuring that drivers are medically fit and able to be behind the wheel of a company vehicle.
Not only do your drivers affect the overall performance and efficiency of your fleet, they also reflect how the public perceives your brand. So it’s essential to take every possible measure to refine and put policies in place to reflect this.
Communication
A fundamental way to improve your fleet’s driving habits is to ensure an open line of communication with your drivers. If you use telematics to generate data on their driving behaviour, you should share with them what needs improving regularly but also praise them for what they are doing right.
As legislations and laws can change, make sure you keep your drivers up to date with these as they will impact them as well as your business and advise them on what they need to do to adapt accordingly.
By keeping a close relationship with your drivers, they will not only feel engaged and valued but will also feel more motivated to succeed.
How Prolius can be the game changer in helping you enhance driver performance?
A lot goes into developing a smooth operating fleet. In addition to keeping your vehicles safely on the road, instilling good fleet driving habits and putting policies into place promotes driving best practices, and most importantly safety.
Prolius Fleet makes it easier for you to improve your fleet’s driving performance by providing you with the tools you need to track, analyse, feedback and take action on all aspects of fleet driving and create safer, more efficient driving habits.
Schedule a demo and see how Prolius can make a difference.