It’s no secret that we depend on the ease of at-home delivery services, especially since COVID darkened our doors. These days, we rely on package delivery services more than ever.
Drivers already face the almost impossible challenge of quickly delivering every single package on their trucks during a shift, but you may not realize how incredibly unsafe being a delivery driver can be!
Drivers have to contend with threats ranging from unsecured dogs to actual gun violence, all while just trying to do their job and stay on schedule. So what are some of the ways your company can help keep drivers safe en route?
Hazards Faced by Delivery Drivers
For one whose entire job takes place in a moving vehicle, there is the obvious risk of auto accidents. Here are some ways you can help protect your drivers on the road.
- Teach employees defensive driving. This could be as simple as implementing a safety handbook or as involved as offering your delivery drivers defensive driving courses as part of their training. You can even purchase online courses from The National Safety Council.
- Invest in route-optimization software. From planning more efficient routes to step-by-step directions, these types of programs keep drivers focused on the road.
- Properly maintain your delivery vehicles. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2 percent of crashes can be attributed to mechanical issues. The most common culprits are tires, brakes, steering, transmission, suspension, and engine issues.
- Adopt company policies that prioritize safety. Establishing actions that are unacceptable while driving such as speeding, texting, and working under the influence.
- Don’t penalize drivers who fall behind schedule due to circumstances they can’t control. This will cut down on speeding or reckless driving when a driver is attempting to make up lost time, which increases the risk of accidents.
The Risk of Violence
The threat of violence against delivery drivers is up. In fact, last spring, almost 2,000 drivers signed a petition calling for stricter safety measures after several drivers were actually shot at!
While you as an employer can do your best to protect on-the-job drivers by installing cameras and panic buttons in delivery vehicles, much of what happens during a shift is largely out of your hands.
Here are some tips to share with your drivers:
- Stay aware of your surroundings. Pay attention while you’re traveling between stops in case you’re being followed by other vehicles.
- Watch where you park. Be sure to park in safe, well-lit areas at night. You can also use your headlights to light the path to the door.
- Know where you’re going. Familiarize yourself with the route. Idling when you’re lost or stopping for directions puts you at risk of carjacking.
- Lock up when you can. If you’re going to be away from your truck for more than a few seconds, lock the vehicle and carry the keys.
- Don’t stop if it seems unsafe. While you can’t predict when nature will call, you should never take a bathroom break in an area that doesn’t seem safe. Carrying sanitary, portable toilet solutions like the Brief Relief Liquid Waste Bag will allow you to take necessary bathroom breaks without leaving the safety of your vehicle. It holds up to 20 oz of liquid and is ideal for all drivers, no matter their gender.
Workplace safety is of the utmost importance, and the world of package delivery services is certainly no exception. And what better way to increase productivity than to have a convenient, fast solution that cuts down on the possibility of lost time, product, fuel, or the drivers’ risk of an incident?
At Brief Relief, we truly care about the safety of delivery drivers. We’re also an industry leader in the innovation of safe, convenient products that allow users to manage waste in a dignified, reliable, and environmentally-friendly way.
To learn more about how Brief Relief’s waste bags are providing safer, more sanitary solutions for all, check out our full product line.
