Fleet & Driver Safety - DOT Regulations

Operation, fleet maintenance and safety of commercial vehicles and commercial drivers qualifications, as well as drug and alcohol testing, is governed by Federal and State Department of Transportation (DOT).

A preventable vehicle accident is one which occurs because the driver fails to act in a reasonably expected manner to prevent it. In judging whether the driver's actions were reasonable, one seeks to determine whether the driver drove defensively and demonstrated an acceptable level of skill and knowledge. The judgment of what is reasonable can be based on a company-adopted definition, thus establishing a goal for its safety management programs.

Note that the above definition of preventable vehicle accident is focused on the actions of the driver. It is the commonly used definition in evaluating driver performance. A broader definition, which can be used to evaluate the driver's and the motor carrier's actions, is given by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations as follows: A preventable vehicle accident on the part of a motor carrier means an accident (1) that involved a commercial motor vehicle, and (2) that could have been averted but for an act, or failure to act, by the motor carrier, or the driver.

The concept of a preventable accident is a fleet safety management tool which achieves the following goals:
• It helps establish a safe driving standard for the driver.
• It provides a criterion for evaluating individual drivers.
• It provides an objective for accident investigations and evaluations.
• It provides a means for evaluating the safety performance of individual drivers and the fleet as a whole.
• It provides a means for monitoring the effectiveness of fleet safety programs.
• It assists in dealing with driver safety infractions.
• It assists in the implementation of safe driving recognition programs.

Substance Abuse

It has been well documented that drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs have been involved in about half of all fatal traffic accidents. Drinking or substance abuse by drivers of alcohol or drugs cannot be tolerated. Company management must be acutely aware of the seriousness of this societal problem and establish procedures to effectively control it within their respective organizations.

Are the driving records and references of new-hire applicants checked thoroughly for evidence of drinking or substance abuse problems?
• Has a written policy been established which stipulates countermeasures that will be followed when dealing with abusers?
• Has a formal policy been made known to all drivers?
• Do drivers' immediate supervisors and dispatchers know how to identify personnel under the influence?
• Are immediate supervisors and dispatchers motivated to notify management about problem drivers?
• Has management educated drivers about the ways in which drinking and substance abuse affect driving performance?
• Does the company have a list of references and potential sources for help available to drivers?
• Be aware of marked changes in work behavior, personal relations, emotional moods and appearance of your drivers.
• Immediate supervisors are in the best position to observe unusual driver behavior.
• Do a thorough job in screening applicants regarding drinking and substance abuse. Your company can't afford to deal with the problems abusers will give you.

Essentials for Drivers:

• Don't drink and drive.
• Don't abuse drugs, legal or illegal.
• Find out if prescription or over-the-counter medications may adversely affect safe driving.
• Get help fast if you have, or think you may have an abuse problem.

More detailed information on fleet and driver safety management can be found in the Members Library

All materials in the members area for this topic index

Program Material

Programs (written)
(7)
 Defensive Driving Policy Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
 Defensive Driving Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
 Drug Free Workplace Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Conspicuity Requirements   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Haz Trans Plan   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
 Vehicle Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
Program Development
(13)
 DQ Files   Download  MS-WORD
 Driver Safety Tips   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Cargo Securement   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Caution Letter   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Cdl Fact Sheet   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver D A Testrates   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Hazmat Security   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Veh Acc Def Driving   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Veh Acc Pre Eval   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Veh Pre Maint   Download  MS-WORD
 Servicing Single Piece Rims 1   Download  MS-WORD
 driver health   Download  MS-WORD
 flatbed safety   Download  MS-WORD
Fact Sheets
(23)
 Driver Hazards Loading Unloading Safety Topic Fact Sheet   Download  MS-WORD
 Drugfree Companypolicy   Download  MS-WORD
 Drugfree Recognizing Problem   Download  MS-WORD
 Drugfree Testing Types   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver 2012 Hos Regulations   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver 2013 DOT Cdl Hours Of Service Summary   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver 2013 Hos Comparison   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Conspicuity Images   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Drug Alcohol Rules   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Fleetwksheet Read   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Form Commercial Vehicle Pre Trip Inspection   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Fuel Island Spill   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Fuel Spill Road   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Fueling   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Hazmat Trans   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Law Alert   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Managing Security   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Security   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Trainer Lifting Tarp   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Truck Driver Stretches   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Truck Markings   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Us DOT Drug And Alcohol Testing Training   Download  MS-WORD
 Suspension Trailer Inspection Safety Topic Fact Sheet   Download  MS-WORD

Forms & Documents

Checklists
(4)
 Drug Free Workplace Program Checklist   Download  MS-WORD
 Vehicle Safety Supervisor Safety Checklist   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Fleet Wksheet Samp   Download  MS-EXCEL
 Fleet Driver Fleet Wksheet   Download  MS-EXCEL
Forms
(7)
 10 Step Program to Minimize Crash Risk   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Haz Placards   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Pre Trip   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Veh Ws Use   Download  MS-WORD
 Promote Safe Driving Practices to Protect Your Most Valuable Investment   Download  MS-WORD
 Suspension Trailer Inspection Form   Download  MS-WORD
 Vehicle Accident Report Analysis Worksheet Form   Download  MS-WORD
Inspections
(1)
 Transporting Employees And Materials Inspection General Form   Download  MS-WORD

Training Material

Accident Reports
(14)
 Fleet Driver ACC Awning   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Brake Failure   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Disconnect   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Fatal Grade   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Following   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Gas Fire   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Lowbed   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Sedated   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Utility Fatal   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Wrong   Download  MS-WORD
 Powerline And Truck Ladder Electrical   Download  MS-WORD
 Transportation Worker Overhead Power Line Electrical Accident   Download  MS-WORD
 Truck Driver Crane Electrical Accident   Download  MS-WORD
 Truck Driver Unloading Material Electrical Accident   Download  MS-WORD
Crossword Puzzle
(2)
 Driving Crossword Answer Key   Download  MS-WORD
 Driving Crossword   Download  MS-WORD
Guides
(1)
 Driver Manual Basic Template FMCSA DOT   Download  MS-WORD
Handouts
(9)
 Dump Truck Safety   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver ACC Prevention 2014   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Daydreaming   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Lifting Training Handout   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Medical Questionnaires   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Safety Rules   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Slip Flyer   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Why Safety Belt   Download  MS-WORD
 US DOT Drug And Alcohol Testing Training Handout   Download  MS-WORD
Management
(1)
 Drugfree   Download  MS-WORD
Outlines
(2)
 Drugfree Programoutlines   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Fleetsafeytoutline   Download  MS-WORD
PowerPoints
(5)
 Cargo Securement   Download  MS-PPT
 Cargo Tanks And Portable Tanks DOT   Download  MS-PPT
 Distracted Driving 2   Download  MS-PPT
 Truck Driver Fatigue and Alertness PowerPoint Spanish   Download  MS-PPT
 Truck Driver Fatigue and Alertness PowerPoint   Download  MS-PPT
Supervisor
(1)
 2 Minute Safety Brief Defensive Driving   Download  MS-WORD
Talks
(1)
 Opps Trailor Loading Talk   Download  MS-WORD
Videos
(2)
 Driving and Medication   Download  OnLine
 Drowsy Driving   Download  OnLine

Awareness

Posters
(5)
 Drug Car Poster   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Hijacking Brochure   Download  MS-WORD
 Fleet Driver Hijacking Poster   Download  MS-WORD
 Focus On Safety Poster   Download  MS-WORD
 Marijuana Poster   Download  MS-WORD

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