2 Page Essay APA : Fleet Safety

OSH 3301, Fleet Safety 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit III Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

4. Explain contemporary practices in driver training and instruction. 4.1 Utilize information on how to select a vehicle for a fleet using onboard monitoring technology. 4.2 Determine what credentials are necessary for a driver to operate a vehicle.

5. Describe safety-related responsibilities of fleet managers and drivers.

5.1 Differentiate between the different types of onboard driver monitoring systems available for use by safety managers.

5.2 Show that proper safety protocols are followed by fleet drivers. 5.3 Identify the various methods of monitoring a vehicle for safety for the purpose of reducing

potential accidents within a fleet.

Course/Unit Learning

Outcomes

Learning Activity

4.1 Unit Lesson, Chapter 3, NHTSA press release, Assignment

4.2 Unit Lesson, Chapter 3, NHTSA press release, Assignment

5.1 Unit Lesson, Chapter 3, NHTSA press release, Assignment

5.2 Unit Lesson, Chapter 3, NHTSA press release, Assignment

5.3 Unit Lesson, Chapter 3, NHTSA press release, Assignment

Reading Assignment Chapter 3: Vehicles and Accidents, pp. 25-45 In order to access the following resources, click the links below: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor and Statistics. (2016, December 16). National census of fatal

occupational industries in 2015 [News release]. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2016, December 13).

U.S. DOT advances deployment of connected vehicle technology to prevent hundreds of thousands of crashes [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/us-dot-advances- deployment-connected-vehicle-technology-prevent-hundreds-thousands

Unit Lesson Introduction The role of the safety manager is recognized as an important part in the execution of all safety processes within an organization. There are many parts of safety management that include everything from vehicle maintenance to accurate safety training. Coordination within any company is very important; therefore, safety managers and the knowledge that they hold are the support system for the front-line drivers to execute safe

UNIT III STUDY GUIDE

Selection, Training, Instruction, and Driver Supervision

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job tasks each day to not only ensure safe performance but safe driving as well. These tasks can be the difference between on-the-job accidents and successful job performance. Management begins the safety process with fleet vehicles. A strong fleet begins with vehicles that are efficient and are well maintained. A company must consider the type of vehicle needed and the length of time it will be used. For example, a fleet should be built with consideration of the expected use of the vehicles. There are many different classes of commercial vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Commercial Driver’s License Program outlines the various classes. There are three classes of commercial drivers’ licenses in addition to various endorsements utilized by fleet drivers to operate vehicles specific to its operation (FMCSA, n.d.). The different classes and endorsements for commercial driver’s licenses can be viewed on the FMCSA website: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/drivers The classes of drivers’ licenses determine what types of vehicles are added to a fleet in conjunction with the organizational needs of the company. Drivers must be qualified based on the specific determinations outlined in the classes in order to transport the organization’s materials and products. Drivers are hired who are qualified to drive the specific fleet vehicles of the company and are also trained further by the company to safely operate these vehicles. Safety Features of Fleet Vehicles Critical components of safety include vehicle features that not only protect the driver but also protect the vehicle when in use. For example, seatbelts and airbags assist in protecting the driver, while antilock braking, traction-control, and stability-control systems help protect both the vehicle and the driver. Drivers can be trained in the operation of these safety features in addition to being trained on speed control and traffic monitoring to mitigate the possibility of an accident. Fleet tracking is another method of integrating safety features into fleet safety management. Onboard operating systems fill a variety of fleet tracking needs to monitor and carefully measure safety features and processes in live time. Onboard systems, such as Zonar, NexTraq, Coyote, PeopleNet, and SkyHawk, are utilized by many different types of companies to successfully measure safety practices in real time and assist safety managers in improving current training to facilitate improved training for the future. These onboard systems also send information back to the company and its safety manager, which can include information such as the speed of the vehicle, potential distance collision factors, and details of accidents that just took place. While systems such as Zonar and PeopleNet are utilized within larger commercial vehicles, systems such as NexTraq, Coyote, and SkyHawk are used within smaller commercial vehicles. They help maximize revenue opportunities by ensuring drivers follow-up on and carry out the training that they received. Additional Considerations In addition to fleet safety measures, management must consider not only the type of vehicles that are necessary to meet organizational needs but also the economic results of these vehicles. Companies must reduce overhead costs to comply with federal safety guidelines and improve productivity. Long-term solutions are more beneficial than short-term ideas in successfully managing an effective fleet. Low maintenance costs are one of the key factors in managing a fleet since cost projections are based on current financial analysis and can determine long-term usage by drivers. The type of engines available for fleets are also important given that, if chosen correctly, they can extend the life span of a vehicle and can increase fuel efficiency for drivers. Fuel is an important feature in ensuring the economically sound use of a vehicle. Not only can it be expensive, but if used correctly in alignment with proper vehicle maintenance, it can also lower overall vehicle costs. Diesel engines are good engines for a company to use due to its predetermined longevity and life span, which can allow a fleet vehicle to last longer than most. If the life span of the vehicle has been reached or if upgrades are necessary due to changes in usage, management must also consider whether it is more financially viable to continue with the use of the vehicle with the upgrades or if it is time to retire it. Within transportation, environmental factors such as vehicle use modification when the seasons change need to be addressed. If a company vehicle operates where heavy snow falls in the winter, upgrades must be made to ensure safety. Other examples such as towing capacity changes and snow chain requirements also affect the vehicle performance and maintenance. All types of safety measures are important in successfully managing a fleet and maintaining efficiency within all fleet vehicles. A checklist is required by the FMCSA that all drivers must complete prior to beginning and

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upon completion of their workday. These checklists can be called the pre-operation inspection list and post- operation inspection list or the Driver-Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR). These daily inspections set forth by the FMCSA and put into place by safety managers are vital to not only track effectiveness and efficiency of safety but also ensure that drivers follow the steps that are necessary to enforce safety measures. Each checklist measures and tracks safety criteria so that prior to driving, a driver can review the vehicle to ensure it is functioning properly (Haight, 2015). After the workday ends, the driver can utilize the post-operation inspection list to document all working capabilities of the vehicle for the next day. Not only do the checklists record safety procedures that have taken place but also keep a detailed record that the safety manager can utilize in documenting vehicle maintenance and operations. Accident Investigations for Fleet Vehicles When an accident involving a fleet vehicle occurs, a safety manager must understand and implement the necessary accident investigation process. The goal of a successful accident investigation is to prevent future accidents. Vehicles must be prepared for any potential investigation with the correct documentation always onboard. This documentation includes the driver’s license, the vehicle registration, and other necessary documents. This is where officials start their investigation. As mentioned before, drivers must always be able to show accurate documentation of their credentials, pre-operation inspections, post-operation inspections, vehicle insurance, and vehicle registration. Each company has its own accident investigation procedures along with an accident documentation kit that provides a driver with forms and tools to collect basic information related to the accident that is then given to their safety manager for documentation. Diagrams are also used as documentation for describing the different parts of the accident to show how the vehicles were affected. Photographs and evidence collection are other types of investigation techniques used in the process. Onboard monitoring systems are also reviewed to try to determine who was at fault in the accident. After all evidence is collected, the safety manager then reviews it in addition to checking to see if any parts of the vehicle were under recall. New and improved safety training is then administered to drivers within the organization using these past accidents as a learning tool to increase awareness of what could happen while driving and how to possibly prevent similar occurrences in the future. Proper maintenance of fleet vehicles in conjunction with accurate safety training measures need to be used by safety managers to effectively train and manage their fleets daily. While there are many different types of factors that can cause accidents, the main prevention of these problems begins with the driver. Drivers must constantly work on their skills each day as they work to help mitigate and reduce potential accidents. While safety managers are responsible for providing training on how to prevent accidents in addition to safely managing fleet vehicles, drivers are responsible for carrying out these processes each day. Severe weather, vehicle maintenance problems, animals in the roadway, and other drivers on the road play an important part in accidents. Drivers need to be trained to not only monitor their vehicle for any potential issues but to also keep an eye on the roadway for other problems that might arise.

References Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (n.d.-b). Drivers: Overview. Retrieved from

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/drivers Haight, J. M. (Ed.). (2015). Fleet safety: For safety professionals and fleet managers. Park Ridge, IL:

American Society of Safety Engineers.

Learning Activities (Non-Graded) Non-Graded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information. Click the link below, and review the information regarding the usage of event data recorder tools. In reviewing this document, research and determine how this tool can have a successful or unsuccessful impact on highway safety. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2006, August). EDR Q&As. Retrieved from

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/fmvss/EDR_QAs_11Aug2006.pdf