Fleet Safety Starts with Strong MVR Guidelines
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
One of the biggest liabilities that any landscape company faces occurs every day. This liability has nothing do with planting, mowing, trimming or irrigation work, in fact this exposure begins before any of the actual work takes place. Auto liability continues to be one of the most significant exposures every landscape company takes on when sending commercial vehicles out onto the road.
With increases to annual auto insurance premiums and the market continuing to harden, it is essential for landscape companies to be proactive to help mitigate these rising costs. Many landscape companies are now investing in safety technology such as GPS systems and dash cameras, but also conducting daily vehicle inspection reports to make sure the trucks are suitable for the road. Implementing strong internal motor vehicle report (MVR) guidelines is another essential way for insureds to improve fleet safety while keeping insurance increases to a minimum. Insurance underwriters and carriers are placing increasing importance on fleet safety programs, and monitoring how a company is being proactive in trying to prevent claims.
Implementing and maintaining strong MVR guidelines is a critical component of any fleet safety program. Before any employee is allowed to drive a company vehicle, their MVR should be reviewed to ensure they have no major moving violations, their driver’s license is active and valid, and they have an adequate history of driving experience. The driving position in any landscape company is critical, which is why MVRs should be reviewed regularly and driver trainings conducted as often as possible.
Rancho Mesa offers a sample Driving Record Review policy through the RM365 HRAdvantage™ Portal to help clients establish their internal review policy. Online driver training courses through Rancho Mesa’s SafetyOne™ platform can also be incorporated into a company’s policy to ensure all drivers are well trained. Anyone can subscribe to Rancho Mesa’s weekly driver-specific toolbox talk emails.
Building a strong fleet safety program starts with clear MVR guidelines and taking proactive measures that help reduce risk, protect your company from auto liability claims, and help control insurance premiums.
For questions about your auto liability, contact me at (619) 438-6905 or ggarcia@ranchomesa.com.