Delivery drivers keep the wheels of your business on the streets.  When the weather gets bad, more customers will choose a delivery over take-out or dining in to save themselves the hassle of going out into the elements.  From assaults to auto accidents, delivery-related injuries are an unfortunate fact of pizza life.  Here are some tips to help ensure your delivery drivers stay safe while they’re on the road.

• Make sure routine maintenance is performed on your vehicles.  Regardless of whether you own the cars or your employee does, make it a priority to routinely check air pressure in the tires, fluid levels, brake pads, etc.  Help subsidize the cost of any maintenance so you can make it a requirement that the employee gets the vehicle checked on a regular basis.
• Provide your drivers with First-Aid kits, flashlights, blankets, flairs, etc.  If the delivery car breaks down in a remote area during cold weather, these items could be a life saver.
• Use a caller identification system in conjunction with your Point of Sale system.  If the address the caller gives does not match the address on your POS screen, question the caller before dispatching a driver.
• Have accurate mapping systems.  Unless you’re in a small town, your drivers simply are not going to remember all of the streets.
• Ensure all of your drivers have cell phones or a way of communicating with you, or the authorities, in the event of an emergency.
• Prohibit calling or texting while driving.

If circumstances are bad enough, ensure your drivers’ safety by keeping them off the road.  No pizza is more important than your employees’ safety.

« Back to Tips & Articles