Driver Tips

Top Driver Tips For a Healthy
Fleet During Covid-19 Outbreak

This is an unprecedented time in our history. We are extremely thankful of the hard work and perseverance shown by our truck drivers to ensure commerce continues. Working with hundreds of our country’s top fleet executives and safety leaders, we are in a unique position to gather the guidelines they’re providing to their drivers to remain safe while continuing to keep our communities well prepared. We want to share these best practices with you. As we prepare for the “New Normal” we’ve written a series on what to expect and how to prepare your team: Part 1 of “The New Normal”.

DRIVER SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

We would like to reward your drivers for their critical and life-saving support by offering a weekly drawing for a $100 gift card for the drivers you nominate. If you have a driver that you would like to recognize, please nominate them below.

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Start your day by disinfecting the interior driver space of the vehicle, as well as frequently touched surfaces in and around your vehicle. Examples: keys, gear shift, gas cap, steering wheel, door handles, etc.

Ask about illness in the home or at the dock before scheduling a delivery and as you arrive. For those who confirm illness, request a call-back when the person has been symptom-free for two weeks.

Wash your hands often (including your thumbs), in hot water for at least 20 seconds, especially when leaving public areas.

Practice social distancing, keeping 6 feet of distance around you and other people. As a visual, imagine there’s a truck tire in front of you and behind you.

Immediately contact your dispatcher if you begin to feel sick so plans can be made for others to complete your deliveries and then report to medical professionals. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in your chest, bluish lips or face.

Keep several meals on-hand in your vehicle so you can avoid going into restaurants and truck stops. If you do have to pick up food, choose a restaurant that has an app where you can order and purchase food directly from your phone, so there’s less interaction with people.

Keep hand sanitizer handy for when you encounter a public surface and can’t wash your hands. However, still wash your hands as soon as you can.

Avoid hand-to-hand contact with deliveries or pick-ups. Request that deliveries be put on a surface you can pick up from or drop off deliveries in a way that they can pick up from. The same is true for any required Bill of Lading – place on a surface where they can sign without you holding it. Do not share your pen.

End your day as you began it. Disinfect the interior driver space of the vehicle, as well as frequently touched surfaces in and around your vehicle, including keys, gear shift, gas cap, steering wheel, door handles, etc.

As we all continue to navigate these evolving challenges, SmartDrive is here for you. With hundreds of customers with thousands of vehicles on the road, we are uniquely positioned to help you solve the issues that may be arising in your fleet. Please call us at any time to discuss your safety needs, driver challenges, or your other questions, and we’ll share with you what we know has worked for our customers: (866) 447-5650.

RESOURCES

Where to Eat, Sleep,
and Shower

Fast Food Restaurants with Mobile Apps for Pick-up Service

States with Restaurant Closures and Restrictions

View official orders closing or restricting foodservice establishments in response to COVID-19 by state.

*SmartDrive does not endorse any of the restaurants mentioned above but was simply offering it as a resource.
Missing your favorite on this list? Email us at tryuson@smartdrive.net

FMCSA NEWS

FMCSA Emergency Declarations, Waivers,
Exemptions and Permits by State

FAQs related to the FMCSA
Emergency Declaration

INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS COVID-19 NEWS

ATA COVID-19 portal:

International Foodservice Distributors
Association COVID-19 Resource Guide

American Public Transportation
Association, COVID-19 portal

Specialized Carriers & Rigging
Association COVID-19 Command Center

Truckload Carriers
Association COVID-19