A solid safety program begins with “driver selection”. The results of your safety program and thus your losses and insurance rates are in the hands of the people driving your company equipment.
Company requirements for driver selection should be:
- a)in written form, including minimum age and experience requirements, as well as defining an acceptable motor vehicle driving record in terms of points accumulated, or citation and accident history, over a specified period of time;
- b)at least as stringent as the DOT requirements, which are at least 21 years of age for interstate operations; by reason of training and/or experience be able to safely operate the equipment driven; not disqualified under either Part 391 or 383; and be physically qualified under Part 391;
- c)at least as stringent as your insurance company’s requirements; and
- d)adhered to without exception, including hiring at terminal locations.
If a company has multiple terminal locations, hiring decisions should be reviewed and approved at the corporate level, even if hiring is conducted independently at each terminal location.
Make certain that your driver selection and qualification policies and procedures are also in compliance with other laws such as ADA, EEOC, etc. Contact a labor attorney in your state if you have any questions
