With Christmas just around the corner, some organisations are winding down for the festive break but for many commercial fleets there’s never a busier time. As panic-stricken shoppers place their last-minute online orders for gifts, there’s some simple steps those responsible for making these deliveries can take to reduce driver stress, ensure safety on the road and maintain compliance. Nick Butler, director at Drivetech shares his top tips for navigating the season.

 

Check and prepare vehicles

Research commissioned by FedEx shows that the 2024 festive season is set for more parcel deliveries than any other year, with 1.29 billion predicted in the lead up to the big day. This boom in deliveries relies on fleets and drivers to get parcels to their shoppers on time, so commercial vehicle preparation for Christmas is key. Ensuring vehicles are in good working condition will help avoid unplanned downtime, keep your drivers on the road and increase safety. Make sure your vehicles up are to date with servicing schedules and then regularly check tyre condition, tread depth and pressure to ensure they meet required levels. As well as the oil level, wipers, and windscreen washer fluid.  

 

Optimise delivery routes

To best manage holiday delivery schedules route planning and optimisation is essential. Many fleets now utilise dynamic route planning, using GPS-based software to work out the fastest routes, considering real-time traffic, roadworks and weather conditions. On top of this, it’s good practice to factor in driver experience and local knowledge, so avoiding areas you know will become congested at certain times or are prone to accidents causing delays.

User technology can significantly improve route planning during peak season. For example, scheduling software can distribute jobs evenly to prevent driver fatigue. Alongside this, telematics systems to monitor vehicle health can alert drivers and fleet managers to potential issues, preventing breakdowns and downtime. These systems can also feedback on driving habits, such as speeding, to enable fleet managers to provide drivers with the right training and advise to optimise journeys and safety.

 

Prioritise driver wellbeing

Put simply, calm and confident drivers are safer. It’s vital when thinking about managing the business rush to always have driver wellbeing front of mind. It will not only ensure the job in hand gets done, through minimising absence and sickness rates, it will keep your team and other road users safe. Stress is a major contributor to road traffic incidents.

Driver wellbeing should be embedded in the culture of your business and regularly revisited. Make sure your drivers know they’re supported by the business and can flag any issues or challenges they’re facing so they can be dealt with quickly. Clearly communicate rules, regulations and best practice through driver training and reinforce around busy periods. You can also utilise technology to support wellbeing. Health monitoring apps remind drivers to stretch, hydrate and take breaks and can offer up important stress management tools.

 

Ensure CPC compliance where relevant

Van drivers that drive vans over more than 3.5 tonnes as they main part of their job will require a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) which is designed to ensure safer driving and also applies to HGVs and coaches. Fleets that have this category of van need to make sure records are kept up to date and digital fleet management systems can be a great support with this, tracking expiration dates and providing reminders for training. While training courses can be scheduled around busy times for the business, ensure advice and best practice reminders are available for drivers as and when they need them.

Remember, if you’re working with seasonal or temporary drivers, verify CPC compliance thoroughly and schedule in time ahead of them getting behind the wheel to complete necessary training requirements.

 

Don’t forget winter driving safety

It’s not just more deliveries and busier roads drivers have to deal with over the Christmas period, winter weather can throw up all sorts of challenges. Already this winter we’ve experienced ice, snow and heavy winds from storm conditions, so its vital drivers are aware of how to adapt their driving depending on the weather conditions to stay safe. In addition to winter driver training, ensure you’re reminding drivers regularly of safe practices, including adjusting speeds for adverse weather and how to navigate ice and snow. In addition, vehicles should contain emergency supplies should weather lead to unexpected delays or breakdowns. This kit can contain blankets, extra water and food, a torch, and an up-to-date first aid kit.

The bottom line of this busy festive season is to keep communicating best practice with drivers, prioritise driver wellbeing, and make sure everyone has a safe Christmas.


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