A Manager’s Guide to Ensuring Compliance with Driver Hours Regulations
Does your job involve managing a large fleet of trucks? If so, you’ll know how important it is getting your drivers to follow drivers hours regulations. Want to know more? Then, join us as we examine the finfo you’ll need to stay on the right side of the law, and what happens when you don’t. We’ll also cover how to get buy-in from your team.
Understanding the Regulations is Key
Naturally, familiarising yourself with domestic and EU rdriver hours is the first step which means understanding the rules that govern rest periods, and breaks. It’s an on-going process, too, as you need to keep updated with changes to the regulations to ensure continuous compliance.
Good Record-Keeping is a Must
Keeping up-to-date records is also imperative, so you should mplement robust systems for recording and monitoring driver hours, breaks, and rest periods. As such, you should think about using digital tachographs to automate the process.
It’s not a set-up-and-forget process, either, as you need to cast a watchful eye over how you’re doing by conducting regular audits of all operations. This useful exercise allows you to spot discrepencies, as well as maintain a continuous overview of your fleet’s compliance status.
Offer theTraining Your Team Needs
You can’t just assume that your drivers and other team members understand everything that’s involved or grasp how important compliance is. That’s why you should offer training sessions to support awareness of what’s expected and reinforce the message. This can be offered in the form of online training platforms that allow them to fit their learning in around their other obligations.
It’s worth reiterating that any training you provide must focus on the heavy penalties that can occur when rules like these aren’t followed. Fines, prosecuction, and even operator licences being taken away are all consequences of non-compliance, so it’s in everyone’s interests that no guidelines are breached.
Strategies for Compliance
If you want your whole company to follow driver hours rules, you must create an environment in which compliance is valued. Whatever strategy use, be it incentivisation or some other kind of reward, this hammers home the message you’re trying to convey.
Should you be in need of inspiration on how to achieve this or you’re wanting to check if your strategies are sound, speak with law transport experts for guidance. If a breach does occur, you need to have a clear protocol that’s followed and one that everyone is aware of while keeping open channels for reporting concerns and taking corrective actions.
A Well-Structured Approach is All That’s Needed
Navigating this regulatory landscape can be challenging, but if you have a well-structed approach, it’s much simpler and more manageable. When you have a clear understanding of the rules while implementing robust record-keeping, compliance is a much easier taks.
Furthermore, when you get everyone trained and bought in to the ramifications of non-compliance, you’ll be able to enhance your company’s reputation, minimise the financial risks and do your part in making the UK’s roads a safer place.
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