The smallest mistake can result in grave consequences and this is something all HGV drivers know. Not all mistakes carry such consequences, but the small things that drivers fail to do can reduce the safety of the fleet. It can also impact a business’s productivity and profitability. If you want to find out what types of mistakes HGV drivers do that drive their companies mad, then continue to read on.
1. Not Putting The Driver Card In
HGV drivers know that the tachograph is where their card is supposed to go. If they don’t put it in there, then this can lead to massive headaches back at the company’s office. This is because they’ll have to do extra work sorting out payroll and time sheets.
Furthermore, no qualified driver will be inside the vehicle. At least that’s what the tachograph will think. This can make things even more complicated, especially in the event an insurance claim is made.
2. Recording Breaks As Other Work
Another issue that often arises is breaks being recorded as other work. This might not seem like a big deal, but it is. In fact, this can lead to a number of legal issues and it skews the hours the drivers are putting in.
Breaks have to be taken due to it being a law. This is why they have to be recorded properly. Recording breaks properly mean drivers get their breaks, which allows them time to get rest and avoid being overtired. It also helps back at the office because the workers there will know that everything is going smoothly.
3. Not Scheduling Breaks Effectively
Drivers often work insane hours, and this is one of the reasons it’s easy for them to forget to schedule their breaks in an effective manner. Not doing so can create challenges for managers of fleets because they have to balance deliveries and drivers’ breaks. It might seem like a small thing, but it’s not.
The legal limit is 4 1/2 hours. Drivers need to plan their routes in an effective way and this means planning in advance. Doing this will reduce the chances of delivery times being jeopardised.
4. Not Reporting Hours Correctly
One way to make a fleet manager mad is to misreport your hours. This can create a lot of havoc in regards to payroll and time-sheets and everyone wants to be paid the amount they are owned. At worse, managers could believe their drivers are breaking the law when they actually are not or the reverse could happen.
It is crucial to report hours correctly. This will ensure they are paid what they are owed. Not only that, but it means they remain on the right side of the law.
5. Not Being Accessible While Driving
Fleet managers and drivers need to be in communication. This is especially true when drivers are on the road. Driving and talking on the phone is something drivers shouldn’t do because it can create an unsafe situation.
This is why drivers need to provide fleet managers with updates whenever they can. This allows managers to remain in the know with everything. Plus, it gives fleet managers peace of mind when their drivers are constantly updating them.
Keep the above in mind and do your best to avoid such mistakes. HGV drivers need to do what they can to help their company run a smooth operation and reduce the amount of stress fleet managers deal with. In turn, a safer work environment will be created.
If you want to reduce the chances of making mistakes, then use a Mobile Resource Management platform. This will keep fleets safe and will allow you to get things done in a more efficient way. The sooner you use a platform, the better because you’ll be able to reap all of the potential benefits it has to offer. Furthermore, you could refresh your HGV driving skills by going on a course – for example, Surrey and Hampshire HGV Training is a good way to reinforce skills and also stay safer on the road.