One of the greatest complaints that most millennials have about their workplace is the feeling like they aren’t making any contribution to the larger scheme of things. Well, those working as fleet managers never have the chance to complain about this, seeing as how they can clearly see that without them, everything would simply collapse.

Apart from feeling needed, this line of work also allows one to put their communication skills, technical knowledge and administrative abilities to the test, which makes this occupation even more interesting. Still, not all is sunshine and roses here and the job of a fleet manager is filled with various legal traps you would do well to avoid. Here are some of them, as well as several tips that could help you out find a way around them.

1. Safety programs are your number one priority

The first thing you need to keep in mind as a fleet manager is that your number one priority is traffic safety. Sure, an accident can occur no matter what you do but if it happens due to the lack of effort invested on your part, it could become an issue for both you and the company. Some habits, like tailgating, are not illegal in a lot of countries, yet they pose a substantial risk for everyone’s overall safety.

The best way to deal with this is to enroll your drivers into an online safety course, where they will learn about road safety through a well-structured module. Of course, this doesn’t mean that a course will make them see the errors of their ways with 100 percent success rate, but you’ll know you did all that you could to improve their driving habits.

2. Make sure vehicles are in a proper working condition

In the previous section, we talked about the issue that is out of your hands for the most part. However, if the vehicles in your fleet are not in a proper working order, you will definitely be the one to blame. Scheduling a regular check-up with the mechanic is the best way to take care of this but you need to be mindful of the way you go about this in order to avoid employee theft.

Imagine a scenario where your driver has an agreement with a certain mechanic, where the latter doesn’t spend time or money checking the car they both believe is in working condition anyway. The two would split the money and leave the safety of your fleet compromised. The best way to deal with this is to find a mobile mechanic, who can just check your vehicle in your headquarters, where you can supervise it. This way, you get to keep your fleet’s functionality and your finances firmly in your hands.

3. Read their driver’s abstract record

Finally, prior to admitting any driver to your company, you need to read their driver’s abstract. Since you can’t access this record without the consent of the driver, you need to list this as one of the most important conditions in your hiring policy. While it is true that people change their driving habits as they get more experienced, you simply cannot risk hiring someone who has proven themselves to be a reckless driver over and over again.

Conclusion

By adhering to these three simple principles, you can avoid numerous legal issues for both yourself and the company you work for. Not only will this make your job easier, but it will also minimize the chance of getting in trouble for something that was clearly not your fault. Finally, due to the fact that each of the three above-listed tips also affects the overall safety of the traffic, pursuing them vigorously also means doing the right thing from an ethical point of view.