I have worked with hundreds of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation companies over the years and have come to find that only a handful are offering driver incentive (recognition) programs as part of their overall loss control management plan.
Some companies might feel as if these programs are too much of a hassle or expense, but in the long run, a driver incentive program could help the transportation company develop a favorable loss history with little or no claim activity, which ultimately lowers commercial auto and general liability premiums.
Driver incentive programs are designed to promote safe driving, not necessarily “speedy delivery” of passengers. While being on time is important for both your client and the company’s schedule, driver speeding and quick decision making are the result of many claims, such as rear-end collisions, improper securement of passengers, etc.
These incentive programs promote safe driving amongst the drivers. Rewarding good performance on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis will not only help to lower a company’s claims activity and premium rates, but it will also help boost driver morale and reduce employee turn-over. In my experience with these programs, drivers enjoy the positive reinforcement and want to continue to perform well for their employer as a result of the rewards. These rewards don’t have to be extravagant, they could range from gift cards to a local restaurant, Visa gift cards, a paid day off, etc. One of our clients once rewarded a driver with a four day cruise after keeping a perfect safety record for two years.
Ultimately, no matter how big or small the reward might be, positively reinforcing drivers that are performing well for your company is a simple way to help reduce your company’s claim activity and keep premium costs down. If you want to discuss these incentive programs or any other programs that might help reduce premium costs please feel free to contact me at any time.
Author: Taylor Westbrook
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