Commercial auto insurance is absolutely necessary if you use a vehicle for your business. Safe fleet drivers lower insurance premiums by lowering accident and claim rates. Unsafe practices raise rates by increasing business insurance claims.
Throughout college and law school, I drove a truck. Safe driving, thinking ahead, staying focused and not distracted are skills developed by the fleet professional. Risk managers and business insurers have studied drivers to identify key unsafe practices. Training, education, and zero-tolerance for unsafe practices lower business insurance rates. One company conducted a study of concrete and construction drivers to identify the top risky behaviors engaged in by fleet drivers that drive up accident and claims rates. I think the list is applicable to all fleets and all commercial drivers.
Do any of your drivers do the following:
- Following too Close
- Not Looking Far Ahead
- Allowing Distractions
- Accumulating Traffic Violations
- Failing to Keep an Out
These are the "Top 5" risky behaviors engaged in by concrete and construction drivers (and, I bet, some of your drivers). An "out," number five on the list, means leaving a way out of a dangerous driving situation--always. The top offending traffic violations were rolling stops and running red lights. While following too close was the most frequent and most dangerous behavior.
And, finally, lest you believe that construction vehicles are more prone to accidents, the study found that passenger cars used in the fleets "have a collision rate (15.2%) nearly twice that of pickup trucks/vans (8.7%)." Good information and good facts to keep in mind for any fleet.
Like other types of business insurance, commercial auto insurance is directly tied to your claims history. Safe drivers = lower rates.