There are a lot of priorities to juggle when your auto transport dispatch company has drivers out there, but the top one will always be safety. Keeping your drivers and team members protected on the road and bringing them home safe and sound is the cornerstone for any auto transport operation.
But auto transport safety also goes beyond that: Complying with regulatory requirements, protecting customer data, and slowing the spread of viruses like COVID-19 are important too.
Here is what you need to know to ensure safety, both on and off the road:
Regulations and Requirements
There are a lot of transportation safety regulations to help keep our highways and roadways safe in the United States. These rules and requirements are set by federal, state, and local government agencies, and it’s important for auto transport dispatch companies to take the time to make sure that their routes, trucks, and drivers meet any applicable rules.
…it’s best to stay up-to-date with the latest regulations for driver and road safety without the fines.”
While ensuring regulatory compliance may sometimes seem overwhelming, these rules and requirements serve an important purpose. For example, there are specific rules on resting called hours-of-service regulation by the FMCSA. This is to ensure that drivers are getting the rest they need to keep themselves and their neighbors on the road safe. Additional FMCSA rules ensure drivers are following the rules of the road, that vehicles meet safety standards, that environmental guidelines are honored, and more. And if you’re still not convinced, noncompliance can result in fines, penalties, or other consequences. So, as always, it’s best to stay up-to-date with the latest regulations for driver and road safety without the fines.
Taking Precautions
When it comes to physical safety, your best two bets are to know what you’re doing and where you’re going. Rushing, taking shortcuts, or not knowing exactly what you’re doing are the fastest ways to cause accidents or put someone’s safety at risk. Plan your trips ahead of time based on pickups and deliveries so you’re not scrambling on the road to find the right exit or for your next stop.
Courses like the one offered by NSC will teach drivers how to safely and responsibly drive from before you get into the truck to post-accident.”
Ensure your vehicles have up-to-date safety inspections, use the right tools and equipment for the job, double-check your loads, and prioritize safety over speed. There are many courses that offer defensive driving tips for professional truck drivers. Courses like the one offered by NSC will teach drivers how to safely and responsibly drive from before you get into the truck to post-accident. It can be tempting to race against a clock, especially if you already feel behind schedule, but a safety issue can only make things worse.
Communication, Communication, Communication
One of the most vital components to assuring safety is, of course, clear communication. Auto transport dispatch companies have a lot of moving pieces to keep track of, and even minor changes can become major obstacles if not everyone knows what’s going on.
…instant notifications and tracking every step of the way helps drivers stay off the phone and on the road, while enabling the back office to be better informed for safety of the driver and less disruption.”
Cutting down on those problems helps you avoid costly issues—and helps everyone stay safe. Making sure everyone is on the same page is critical, and using an all-in-one software platform can help you ensure nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
With a single place fully connected so you can manage loads, drivers, and trips – instant notifications and tracking every step of the way helps drivers stay off the phone and on the road, while enabling the back office to be better informed for safety of the driver and less disruption.
Preventative Maintenance Schedule
When we think of truck maintenance, it’s most commonly associated with costs. But when it comes to staying in your rig for long periods of time, that expense is nothing compared to the cost of potential safety issues.
Build out a maintenance schedule based on your biggest needs, budget, and inspection schedule.”
There is a lot to keep up with when it comes to your truck – this can vary based on miles, seasonality, and road conditions. To start, keep a record of your ongoing maintenance. Next, list all of your required inspections like from the FMCSA and know the six levels of the DOT inspection. Based on these needs, and with the knowledge of your most and least recent maintenance, break out a list of every item from tires to breaks to electrical. Build out a maintenance schedule based on your biggest needs, budget, and inspection schedule. This will ensure you’re safe on the road and will save you money in the end.
Touchless Delivery
Safety measures are constantly evolving in order to meet best practices, and that’s why precautions related to the spread of COVID-19 have become an important factor in auto transport owner-operator and fleet companies’ processes.
Through the Touchless Delivery feature, drivers are able to collect signatures and pickup and delivery without ever having to make face-to-face contact.”
By using the Super Dispatch mobile app, pickup and delivery contacts can sign off on orders without ever having to touch your personal device—making the pick-up and delivery signature process easy and safe for all involved. Through the Touchless Delivery feature, drivers are able to collect signatures and pickup and delivery without ever having to make face-to-face contact.
The Super Dispatch team is committed to helping auto shippers and carriers move faster, smarter, easier, and safer.
Find out more about how Super Dispatch can help you ensure auto transport safety, keep drivers safe, and offer exceptional service for your customers. Sign up for your free trial today!
