What is the hyperlink between driver shortages and distracted driving habits amongst business drivers?

The business auto trade has been going through an ever-growing scarcity of drivers within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, pushed by decades-long points corresponding to an ageing workforce and traditionally low wages.

However is the extended expertise crunch compounding security dangers for fleet operators?

New analysis has proven a possible hyperlink between staffing shortages and longer driving hours, extra stress on drivers to conduct enterprise on the highway, and distracted behaviour behind the wheel.

Nationwide included business drivers in its newest driving behaviour survey, which revealed {that a} third (34%) are sometimes or typically distracted whereas driving for work.

On the similar time, 4 in 10 say their employer is struggling to seek out certified drivers. In line with the survey, drivers imagine the scarcity has led to:

• Elevated workloads (61%)
• Being required to work longer hours (58%)
• Elevated stress to satisfy deadlines (47%)
• Their employer being compelled to decrease hiring standards (42%)
• Decreases within the high quality of worker coaching (39%)

Most business drivers surveyed additionally expressed concern about their security and legal responsibility behind the wheel, and 72% mentioned they need extra security coaching to stop highway accidents.

Distracted business driving heightening legal responsibility and authorized dangers

These challenges additionally come amid intensifying authorized and legal responsibility dangers for fleet homeowners and operators.

Claims related to trucking accidents, pushed by elevated litigation, have risen significantly. A research from the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Authorized Reform confirmed that between 2020 and April 2023, the common jury award for transportation litigation was $27.5 million.

This enhance in litigation is pushing up general prices, that are handed on to customers via greater insurance coverage premiums and protection limits for business auto insurance coverage.

“The variety of claims which are litigated, even earlier than first discover of loss to us, goes up each single yr,” mentioned Nationwide mid-market business traces chief Kristina Talkowski (pictured).

The driving behaviour survey additionally underscored the significance of prioritizing security protocols in business fleets. Talkowski famous the willingness of business drivers to have interaction in security coaching and embrace new technologies as a stunning but constructive discovering. “They respect being acknowledged as professionals and welcome measures that guarantee their security on the highway,” she mentioned.

Business drivers constructive on telematics use

The adoption of telematics technology, which includes utilizing units, sensors, and GPS to gather and analyze car and driver knowledge, has grown within the business auto trade over the previous few years.

Nonetheless, whereas firm drivers (small to mid-duty business automobiles) are overwhelmingly supportive of sprint cams and telematics, solely 38% of enterprise homeowners require these with their fleets, in response to Nationwide’s survey.

Talkowski urged corporations with giant fleets, particularly these with over 50 items, to leverage telematics knowledge successfully to realize substantial security enhancements and cut back loss ratios. She mentioned companies have seen as a lot as a 30% enchancment of their enterprise auto loss ratios.

“You may’t simply have telematics and never put it to use to provide that necessary info again to the driving force to enhance how they’re driving and the issues that might be thought-about riskier,” she mentioned.

Telematics use can be a draw for high-quality drivers, serving to fleet homeowners fill staffing gaps. “For an employer, the takeaway is that secure, high-quality drivers welcome this know-how,” Talkowski added.

Amid persevering with challenges for business auto insureds, brokers should proceed to emphasize improved security measures amongst purchasers to raised handle the price of their dangers. “Having good controls and an excellent fleet security management program, utilizing telematics and different instruments as an organization goes to be an necessary piece of what all of us discuss with our business purchasers,” Talkowski mentioned.

Do you’ve got any ideas about driver shortages and different dangers within the business auto trade? Please share your feedback beneath.