BBB of Northeast California: 5 Ways businesses benefit from fleet training

We thank Coastline Academy for sponsoring this article.

The human and economic costs of business-related traffic accidents are massive, with employers losing a shocking $72 billion per year due to such accidents. Reports have found driving on the job to be one of the most common sources of occupational fatalities and injuries, yet education and training on this front continue to receive minimal investment.

While we may typically think of fleet training as being primarily for trucking or shipping companies, any business with an automotive fleet can benefit from it. Investing in fleet training not only reduces negative outcomes but can also promote increased growth and profitability.

Following are five of the principal benefits of fleet training for businesses:

1. Increased workplace safety. Fleet training improves overall workplace safety in a variety of ways. It enables businesses to evaluate the current state of their fleet, allowing them to identify potential hazards and proactively address problem areas. This individualized approach allows each driver to develop safer driving habits while eliminating potential risks. For new employees or employees taking on new roles in the company, this training helps them adopt safe practices from day one rather than waiting until it’s too late. Fleet training is also helpful for rehabilitating unsafe drivers, which has the dual benefit of increasing their confidence and reducing accident-related costs.
2. Reduced insurance premiums. Automotive insurance premiums are a significant but often underemphasized expense for businesses that require fleets—even very small ones. Premiums are calculated based on a variety of factors, including independent reviews and appraisals of the fleet and employees’ driving histories. Even small accidents can cause these premiums to skyrocket. A robust fleet training program can reduce overall risks and improve driver outcomes, reducing these costs both in the long and short term.
3. Saving on automotive costs. Even minor automotive accidents can come with a number of hidden costs. Not only do vehicle repairs come with a high upfront cost, but they also result in fewer cars being on the road overall, driving down productivity. Fleet training allows businesses to cut down on repair costs while also allowing them to retrain existing employees rather than hiring new drivers, saving on unnecessary labor expenses. With quality fleet training, businesses are able to keep their cars and drivers on the road longer, allowing them to get the most value out of every vehicle.
4. Encouraging greater flexibility. While many of us may assume that being able to drive one vehicle gives us the necessary skills to drive any vehicle, this is not always the case. Employees used to driving their personal vehicles may not feel comfortable transitioning to different cars, such as cargo vans or electric vehicles, and yet not all employees receive specialized training. Fleet training is exceptionally useful for empowering employees to adjust to new and unfamiliar vehicles, allowing businesses to confidently diversify their operations.
5. Greater employee satisfaction. In many cases, driving a car is not the employee’s main job. In industries such as construction or distribution, driving is only one aspect of their overall responsibilities, and yet it is one of the highest sources of occupational risk. Fleet training helps these individuals feel more confident on the job and signals that their employer is invested in their safety, boosting company loyalty and morale. The one-on-one educational experience of working with a trained professional enables drivers to truly devote their time to improving their skills, and a few short training sessions can lead to a lifetime of safer driving habits. Even seasoned, experienced drivers can benefit from this practice, as it can help them consciously refine their skills and refresh their knowledge.

At Coastline Academy, we believe that improving the safety of our roads benefits everyone. For businesses specifically, fleet training is an investment that unlocks both the quantifiable benefits of increased savings and productivity and the intangible ones of ensuring worker safety. These advantages make fleet training an important practice for any business that puts its employees on the road.

This article was prepared for BBB of Northeast California by Coastline Academy, a BBB Accredited Business.