How to create customized transportation safety training

Safety is always a priority in the transportation industry. After all, human lives are at stake. One wrong move could lead to a disastrous accident, especially if hazardous material is involved.

Transportation safety training is essential for all drivers to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. However, standard safety training no longer fits as the industry becomes more diverse. Instead, fleet companies need to invest in customized options.

Discover how customized training can address every driver’s need, allowing you to build a team of the best drivers. 

Typical challenges of transportation safety training

Here are some unique challenges the transportation industry faces with driver safety.

1. Distracted driving

Distracted driving can include many things. It’s not just a driver on their phone, though that is often the case. Distracted driving can also come from multitasking, such as discussing a change with a dispatcher or monitoring other vehicles while driving.

And as helpful as technology is, it’s also a cause of distraction. Many drivers take their eyes off the road to look at the GPS or change a song. Additionally, it’s easy for drivers to become distracted after many hours of traveling, particularly more experienced drivers who believe they’re safer than the average driver.

2. Weather conditions

Weather is unpredictable; it can go from sunny skies to torrential downpours on a single trip. As weather changes, so do driving conditions. Roads can become slippery, and visibility can be low.

Driving in rough weather conditions requires experience and quick decision-making. If drivers are not adequately trained, they may make the wrong decisions and crash.

3. Other drivers

Truckers can’t control other drivers' behavior, only their reactions to it. This is a problem when other drivers aren’t paying attention to their surroundings or, in worst-case scenarios, try to challenge the trucks. If a driver cuts in front of a commercial truck, the trucker won’t have time to stop since the vehicle is much larger and takes longer to stop.

4. Types of material transported

Sometimes, the materials a driver is transporting are the source of danger. Hazardous materials such as oil can be a cause of concern. If something happens to the truck, the material could leak and threaten everyone around the vehicle. 

5. Bad habits

Drivers are humans, and all humans develop bad habits. Whether it’s taking corners too fast or not using the three points of contact when leaving or entering vehicles, bad habits can cause accidents.

Even ignoring proper walkaround procedures and the pre-trip checklist are bad habits many experienced drivers develop. They’ve done it thousands of times and feel safe skipping a step or two.

One final bad habit to consider is driving through fatigue. Many drivers think they can keep going when feeling tired - they’ll be fine. The problem is that fatigue can be an impairment, depending on the severity.

Fatigue makes it easier to get distracted and slows reaction time. Those precious seconds of delayed reaction can be the difference between avoiding an accident and having one. 

Creating a custom transportation safety training program

Customizing your transportation safety training program can make a real difference. One option to consider is implementing a simulator from Driver Training Solutions. Our simulator offers numerous training solutions within a single machine.

Here are the key features to ensure you can create a custom training program for your fleet.

Accessing specific situations for training

Each simulator comes with a preloaded library of scenarios you can use from day one. Simulations are customizable, allowing the trainer to choose the following:

• Time of day
• Type of weather
• Environment (urban vs. rural)
• Type of vehicle
• Road type
• Number of vehicles or pedestrians on the road

We also offer a scenario builder tool that lets you take control. Create custom scenarios for your drivers based on their individual needs, such as breaking bad habits, preventing accidents that have occurred recently, or exploring new environments.

Training with varying difficulty levels

Using a standard training program leaves out more experienced drivers who know how to operate their vehicles. While new drivers are challenged, the experienced ones may get bored.

A simulator like TranSim™ or DeliverySim™ offers scenarios with varying difficulty scales to ensure that each driver is challenged during their session. The scenario builder is effective in this situation, allowing you to create situations that directly challenge experienced drivers.

Responding to accidents

Our simulators also include access to emergency maneuver scenarios. Using them guarantees that your drivers will be better prepared if they face a dangerous situation on the road. Since they’re in a controlled environment while practicing on a simulator, they can perform these maneuvers repeatedly until they become muscle memory.

This course can also be used to review the procedures drivers should follow after an accident.

See how Driver Training Solutions improved an entire public works department’s training program.

Invest in customized safety training for long-term success

Transportation safety training is a fluid task - it’s always present and must adapt to each driver in your fleet. Discovering how to achieve this goal while staying within budget is complex, but a high-quality driving simulator can make it easier.

Learn more about our training services and other available simulators now.