Your Quick Guide: 9 Steps to Improve Driver Behaviour

Aug 15, 2017

Being able to manage and improve driver behaviour is a key goal for any fleet manager. Better behaviour out on the road means safer driving, reduced risks, and greater rewards including significant fuel savings.

Here, Communicate Better - with the help of our friends at TomTom Telematics - brings you a step-by-step guide on how to transform your fleet and gain results.

STEP 1: Assess your current performance

Before you even begin to consider implementing changes, it's important to evaluate the current driving performance of your fleet. What problems are drivers currently facing? Begin to consider how these issues could be addressed.

STEP 2: Set realistic goals

Be clear on what you want to achieve. Set a series of minimum standards for fuel consumption, speeding, harsh steering, sudden braking, revving and idling.

STEP 3: Share your plans with senior management

Get the ball rolling. Let senior management know what you hope to improve, and by when. Be sure to set honest and realistic targets. Discuss possible incentives, and back the success of incentives with past research. Do your homework and show you are serious.

STEP 4: Involve your drivers

Bring drivers into the discussion. Share your vision. Make it clear that these are positive changes, and assure them that these changes will affect them in a positive way. Identify advocates and showcase their support. They can help you break the mould of "oh, but we've always done it this way". Highlight the benefits and highlight them again.

STEP 5: Identify strengths and weaknesses

It's time to compare current performance with projected performance. Draw up a league table - identify the best and poorest performing drivers, and make use of this valuable data.

STEP 6: Share your results

Show progress by providing weekly or monthly performance updates. Let drivers know how well they're doing.

STEP 7: Reward hard work

Recognise and reward good driving behaviour. Consider incentives such as cash, vouchers, extra holidays, or perhaps even eligibility for a vehicle upgrade.

STEP 8: Review and refine

Analyse results, and measure them up against overall company goals (quarterly, half yearly or annually). Welcome any feedback, and make changes when appropriate.

STEP 9: Find out more

Dig a little deeper, and go that one step further in learning how to smoothly run a fleet. Download our FREE '7 Ways to Improve Productivity' whitepaper, or browse through our other helpful guides.