Safe drivers, safe loads: Trailer safety plays a critical role in day-to-day operations
By Gino Portaro, Vehicle Fleet Manager, Cooper Equipment Rentals. Published by Canadian Rental Service.
A few months ago, a trucking company arrived at one of our branches to pick up a few generators. The driver loaded them onto his truck and was ready to leave when someone on our team noticed a serious issue: the entire load was secured with only one strap, an obvious violation of safety standards.
We immediately contacted the company’s dispatcher to inform them the driver could not leave until the load was properly secured. What should have been a quick pickup turned into a significant delay. It’s a situation any rental provider can find themselves in – and one that’s entirely preventable.
Trailer safety rarely gets the attention it deserves, until something goes wrong. Yet trailers play a critical role in our day-to-day operations as rental providers. Projects can’t start until equipment arrives. Late equipment deliveries increase your customers’ downtime and safety violations put your workers at risk, endangering the public and potentially your reputation.
From choosing the right-sized trailer to driver training and ongoing safety practices – every step reduces risk. Pre-planning deliveries and conducting thorough equipment inspections are non-negotiables and required by law. But what you do beyond the basics sets you apart from your competitors. The most impactful step is building a culture of accountability, where safety is valued, reinforced and practiced daily.
READ the full article on Canadian Rental Service.