The festive season intensifies the demand for delivery drivers, creating heightened risks. As the industry faces a shortage of drivers, organisations must prioritise safety training to mitigate potential hazards.

MasterDrive’s CEO, Eugene Herbert, emphasises the need for extra support and training initiatives during this busy period for delivery drivers.

Growth in deliveries that was accelerated by the pandemic continues to surge, with a 30% increase observed in 2020. With the approaching festive season, the demand for delivery and just-in-time drivers is expected to soar even further. To ensure the safety of drivers and meet customer demands, Herbert recommends additional support and a focus on training.

He highlights the high-pressure environment in which delivery drivers operate, citing statistics from the USA in 2019 in which delivery and truck drivers faced a significant number of fatal on-the-job incidents, emphasising the importance of ongoing training.

During the festive rush, MasterDrive recommends concentrating on training solutions targeting these common accident scenarios:

Parking

• Promote reverse parking for clear visibility when leaving parking spaces.
• Instruct drivers to assess spots and choose those not requiring reversing.

Manoeuvring

• Encourage drivers to walk the delivery path to identify potential hazards and determine the best route.

Stationary safety

• Address carjacking and robbery risks, emphasising safety procedures.
• Guide on minimising risks and adhering to safety protocols.

Re-entering traffic

• Train drivers to enter traffic with a buffer for evasive action.
• Emphasise optimal mirror usage, avoiding rushing into traffic, and awareness of changing conditions.

Load-shedding

• Consider the impact of load-shedding on drivers and delivery schedules.
• Train drivers to navigate intersections during load-shedding, addressing impatience and frustration.
• Implementing extra training initiatives during the festive season is crucial to prevent tragedies and losses for employees, their families, and the organisation.

Source: MotorPress