Ep. 504 Keeping Drivers Safe with Proper Training and Vehicle Inspections

Rancho Mesa’s Alyssa Burley and Client Technology Specialist, Brenda Khalil, discuss how to keep drivers safe with proper training and vehicle inspections.

Show Notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alyssa Burley

Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brenda Khalil⁠⁠

Editor: Jadyn Brandt

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “Breaking News Intro” by nem0production

© Copyright 2025. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Transcript

Alyssa Burley: You’re listening to Rancho Mesa’s StudioOne™ podcast, where each week we break down complex insurance and safety topics to help your business thrive.

I’m your host, Alyssa Burley, and today I’m joined by Brenda Khalil, Client Technology Specialist with Rancho Mesa, and we’re going to discuss how to keep drivers safe with proper training and vehicle inspections.

Brenda, welcome to the show.

Brenda Khalil: Hi Alyssa, happy to be here.

AB: Now the Occupational Safety and Health Administration—otherwise known as OSHA—reports 39% of all fatal workplace injuries are caused by transportation incidents. And, on-the-road job crashes and injuries can cost an employer tens of thousands of dollars.

So Brenda, what should employers include in their driver training?

BK: Driver safety training should be administered regularly to all employees who are expected to drive as part of their job. OSHA has a number of recommendations for what should be included in your driver training. To be sure your drivers understand how to operate the vehicle, it’s important to include training on the capabilities and limitations of the vehicle--as well as the controls and safety components.

Company driving policies and procedures are important to highlight in training as well. And these can include distractions, aggressive driving and speeding. A focus on defensive driving and vehicle backing are also included in OSHA’s recommendations.

AB: There are a lot of topics to cover, but Rancho Mesa makes it easy for employers to build a reliable driver training program. And we offer a number of driver training courses through the SafetyOne™ platform, including Driving Safety, Distracted Driving, and Driving Defensively. And, it’s not just about the driver, vehicle maintenance is also an important part of keeping your employees safe on the road.

Brenda, what advice does OSHA give employers when it comes to vehicle care and maintenance?

BK: Good question. Drivers should always conduct pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections and document any deficiencies. And defective vehicles should be removed from service until the issue is repaired. OSHA has a list of the areas on a vehicle that should be inspected before and after each drive. They include: brakes, tires and wheels, lights and signals, steering, fuel and exhaust systems, fluid levels, windows and mirrors, and emergency equipment. There may be other areas of your vehicle that require inspection depending on what systems you have on board, so be sure to asses each vehicle individually.

Making sure the vehicles are in proper working condition, especially during the rainy months, is a key element in helping to avoid vehicle related accidents or injuries, keeping your employees safe.

AB: Yeah, and, a truck might have cargo that needs to be secured or a utility trailer, there may even be specialty equipment like a tree care truck would have. All of those things need to be inspected regularly. So, keep those kinds of things in mind.

Rancho Mesa’s Fleet Safety training, available through SafetyOne™, can improve a driver’s understanding of what is required of them before, during, and after a drive.

So Brenda, if clients have questions about using Rancho Mesa’s resources to create their own fleet safety program, what’s the best way to get in contact with you?

BK: Well, as always, clients can contact me at bkhalil@ranchomesa.com or call me directly at (619) 486-6562.

AB: Brenda, thank you for joining me in StudioOne™.

BK: Thanks for having me.

AB: Thanks for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne™. If you enjoyed what you heard, please share this episode and subscribe. For more insights like this, visit us at RanchoMesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.