Nuclear verdicts arise when fleets have significant process inconsistencies, e.g., when a safety policy is applied inconsistently. Mark Murrell, president, and co-founder of CarriersEdge explain that this “makes it easier to paint fleets as negligent” and lists five steps to a safer fleet.
- Apply for Fleet Safety Programs Consistently
Use dashcams, telematics devices, and online safety training to monitor and develop safe driving practices. Don’t “cherry-pick” drivers; apply safety tech consistently across fleets to avoid “nasty surprises” in court. - Follow Up On Safety Concerns
Gather data and act on it: fleets must do something with it. It’s not enough to say drivers complete online training every month. Follow up with drivers having problems. In court, plaintiff attorneys will ask: “What did you do with this data? Did you coach the driver? Did you fill in their knowledge gaps?” - Tailor Programs to the Fleet
Use predictive analytics to pinpoint problems and driver behavior issues and tailor safety programs to fleet needs. - Keep Training Records
Lawyers will tell you: if you cannot prove it happened, it didn’t. - Develop a Safety Culture
Safety programs become more effective when all employees become active participants; it’s the foundation for better workplace culture.
Sources: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10183584/5-steps-to-create-a-safer-trucking-fleet
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