Prioritizing Driver Risk Mitigation to Enhance Supply Chain Safety
Today’s logistics and supply chain professionals must oversee and influence various factors to ensure goods reach their destinations on time. Vehicle operator safety is an essential aspect, especially with many roads in poor condition and routes full of other risks that people must know how to handle. How should leaders coach and prepare drivers to reduce risks and emphasize safety?
Urge Extra Caution in Rural Areas
Although both rural and urban areas have different risks, statistics indicate crash risks are higher in rural areas. Drivers face numerous threats, including narrower roads, tight curves and an increased likelihood of encountering large wildlife attempting to cross the road. These realities mean people must expect and accommodate various potential dangers.
Federal statistics also indicate that road fatalities are up to 10 times higher in rural areas than in urban ones. A contributing factor is that seat belt usage is lower in these locations, and law enforcement for not wearing them sometimes only occurs if the police stop a driver for another reason.
Supply chain managers who oversee drivers should review the overall risks with their teams and explain the particular dangers of rural areas. Additionally, parties who assign routes through rural locations should allow drivers more time to complete them, especially during inclement weather or other challenges that could negatively impact safety.
A 2024 report about rural road conditions also highlighted why supply chain professionals should consider urging policymakers to make necessary improvements, including by increasing investments. The study indicated the United States has a $198 billion funding backlog for repairing and improving rural infrastructure.
Additionally, its data found the 2022 fatality rate on rural roads was nearly twice that of urban areas. However, it revealed how rural Americans rely more on infrastructure quality than their city-dwelling counterparts, and vehicle travel is 50% higher in their communities than urban ones. Some rural residents may especially need the goods brought by last-mile delivery drivers, too. If someone lives at least a half-hour drive from the nearest store, they may decide it is much more convenient to have essentials brought to their doorstep.
Ensure Drivers Know How to Report Road Hazards
Many of the nation’s truck drivers work through the night to ensure their cargo reaches distribution centers, customers’ homes and other destinations on time. That means they often use the roads at less popular times and may notice dangers that others will not report until later.
Supply chain managers should coach drivers to remain observant and report issues that may seem inconsequential. For example, the minor displacement of a retaining wall can become a major issue if not addressed. The underlying soil can contract or expand due to its moisture content, exacerbating existing instability. Infrastructure officials must monitor at-risk areas, including those subject to frost heave. Additionally, proactive inspections could reveal impending failures before they show obvious symptoms.
Since drivers may notice problems between those official checks, they may become the first line of information that tells authorities to take urgent action. One simple but effective way to equip drivers is to ensure they can easily access the correct channel for reporting road hazards.
Some cases may be so severe that the only practical response is to dial 911. Otherwise, states, cities and counties have dedicated hotlines to alert the proper parties about nonurgent road hazards. Although many are still telephone-based, some exist as smartphone apps.
Whichever method drivers choose, they should practice confirming the location of detected hazards since those operating the reporting mechanisms will always need that detail. Providing sufficient specificity and accuracy increases the chance of a prompt, appropriate response.
Urge Vehicle Operators to Limit Distracted Driving
Distracted driving occurs when people let other activities interfere with their focus on the road. It can happen momentarily, such as if someone reaches into the glove compartment for a document or turns the radio tuner to a different station. However, it can also be more severe, like someone getting wrapped up in content on their phone or the vehicle’s interactive dashboard. These distractions can have fatal consequences, regardless of their source.
A 2024 report found that 34% of drivers had used their phones the minute before a crash. Moreover, drivers who had accidents in 2023 were 62% more likely to interact with their phones while driving. People who frequently used hands-free phone features — including audiobook or navigation apps — were also likelier to crash than those who didn’t. That point underscores how any distraction can increase the probability of wrecks.
Managers must also realize that being tired, hungry, stressed or uncomfortable can distract drivers. Scheduling sufficient rest breaks and encouraging vehicle operators to get mental health support if needed are proactive ways to reduce the chances of accidents while raising satisfaction.
Road Safety Supports the Supply Chain
Preparing drivers to respond safely to hazards is essential to keeping supply chains operating smoothly. Accidents cause costly delays and risk the lives of vehicle operators and others on the road. Although advocating for infrastructural improvements is a worthy activity for concerned parties, those enhancements can take a while. Training well-equipped drivers is a more immediate and actionable priority to pursue while urging authorities to repair and maintain the nation’s roads.
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