A talented fleet training provider that improves drivers’ productivity, lowers the number of crashes and improves risk management results is key to success for commercial fleets. Unfortunately, many fleet operators, when experiencing declining results or just minor improvements, believe their options are limited and choose to do nothing.
The good news is that making the switch is not difficult if companies know what to look for in a quality fleet training provider. The following list includes some of the qualities of the best fleet training providers. Look for those that meet these criteria. It can make both your fleet and the nation’s road that much safer.
Qualities of Good Fleet Training Providers
Even though they share the same goal of improving driver performance, not all fleet training providers are the same. But even fleet managers who have no previous experience in making a switch to a new training company can do so with ease by focusing on what is important when it comes to driver training. The following offers a good place to start.
Ensure They Have Qualified Trainers
Some fleet training providers use trainers who may have work experience that in no way relates to safety performance. Look for companies that have trainers with experience in the field of driver safety, including those with backgrounds in highway safety, such as police officers, and race car driving.
Look For Award Winners
Companies that have a proven history of earned industry leader awards are the ones to pay attention to when making a list of potential trainers. It’s an unbiased account of what that company does well above any other candidate within that category.
Look at Details of Training Content
The highest quality fleet training providers not only look at changing driving behavior to improve safety but also focus on developing driving skills. Training also should include information on how companies can use innovative technology (such as Automated Driver Assistance Systems) to boost driver performance and reduce risk.
Using The Driver’s Own Vehicle
Another plus in driver training is allowing drivers to get behind-the-wheel training in their own vehicle. This can help drivers know how their own vehicle reacts in certain situations, rather than learning in a vehicle they will never drive on the job. If the time allocated for drivers to practice is less than an hour, this should be considered a “red flag.”
Making the Training Convenient
The level of service from fleet training providers varies. The best trainers provide services that make the entire process more convenient for fleets. Examples of these types of services include the following.
- Once given a list of drivers, training providers should have the ability to notify the drivers, register them for the right classes, conduct the training, and report results, all without fleet managers having to get directly involved (except in cases such as a driver refusing training)
- Multiple locations to make attending behind-the-wheel training easier to schedule
- A wide range of training solutions that cover different but equally important aspects of driving, rather than a “one size fits all” approach
- The ability to customize training to fit the needs of specific fleets
These represent some of the most important aspects of quality fleet training providers. By focusing on these areas, companies can get the best training possible for their drivers and reap the rewards of a better-trained fleet.
