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Do your drivers need training?
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If your drivers all have the current clean licences, of the right categories, you
might assume that they need no
further training.
That could be an expensive
assumption, costing your business money every time that a vehicle takes to
the road. Acquiring the knowledge and skills to pass a driving test is only the
beginning of learning to drive.
Few people drive with maximum cost-efficiency. Almost all drivers could
benefit from appropriate training to reduce fuel consumption, reduce vehicle
reduce wear and tear, minimise service and repair costs and increase their
safety on the road.
Effective training
need not even be vehicle-based,
although this will depend upon the course objectives.
Significant benefits are available from classroom-based training, which
offers the advantage of allowing a number of drivers to receive consistent
training concurrently. Potential topics could include journey management
and safety, driver risk workshops. As an example, the classroom is an ideal
forum for minimising future risk to drivers, and limiting corporate exposure,
through teaching the correct actions following a road accident.
E-learning and simulator training can deliver lasting impact in such areas as
hazard perception and speed awareness. These methods can be especially
appropriate when training needs to be conducted outside of normal working
hours. E-learning is particularly suitable for quickly and cost-effectively
targeting a geographically dispersed workforce, such as a national sales team.
Sometimes, there is no substitute for in-vehicle training, which allows the trainer
to observe a driver in real situations and, where appropriate, demonstrate.
Training can range from improving whole-life vehicle costs through eco-driving
courses, to reducing on-site bumps by teaching low-speed manoeuvring.
Action point:
Compare fuel consumption figures to identify drivers
who would benefit from improved driving habits.
Ensure that all drivers know what to do following an
accident to protect themselves and the company.
Consult drivers themselves, in confidence, on their
own and colleagues’ training requirements.
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Best practice in fleet management - Issue 01
1,2,3 5,6