Setting Driver Policies

Have drivers sign an agreement, and make sure they understand why the policies are in place.

Why?
You need to make your drivers aware of your policies. If you ask them to sign a statement saying they have read and understand your policies, you can hold them accountable.

What can happen?
YOU are responsible if your drivers don’t follow your policies. If they don’t log their hours properly, or report something like a vehicle defect or a Notice and Order, that goes on YOUR record as the carrier.

Case Study: One Carrier’s Experience with Policy

Company B spoke again and again to a driver who violated the policies. When the company fired the driver, she went to the Labour Relations Board and said she’d been dismissed unfairly, and never said anything about all the times she’d been spoken to about the policy. After that, Company B put a four-step policy in place for driver discipline:

1. Verbal warning, with a note (signed by the manager and the driver), placed into the driver’s file.
2. Written warning, with a note (signed by the manager and the driver), placed into the driver’s file.
3. A final written warning, with a copy (signed by manager and driver) placed in driver’s file.
   AND: Driver is suspended from driving for 30 days.
4. Immediate termination and dismissal.

Company B found that the company found their 4-step program very effective in reducing driving violations.