At a time when accidents are increasing and roads are becoming more dangerous for commercial workers, fleets need reputable safety leaders who can make an impact. A lot goes into developing great safety leaders, but becoming fleet safety certified is one way to set yourself apart.
“Becoming certified in fleet safety can help protect your business,” says David O’Neal of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, a Certified Director of Safety (CDS) and former instructor for the Arkansas Trucking Association. “Certification is a pretty good indicator of someone’s commitment to the craft.”
In this article, we’ll discuss what it means to be fleet safety certified, how to go about it, and the many benefits certification brings.
What is ‘fleet safety certified’?
People who are fleet safety certified have completed a series of fleet safety courses and taken an important step in their professional development. Safety professionals often rely on their reputations to further their careers. However, once you leave your community, your reputation may not travel with you. Getting certified catapults you into a national community where your skills are instantly recognized and valued.
“Certification offers an objective measure of your ability and performance. It shows you’ve been tested against a universal standard and have a level of professionalism that others can trust.”
— Jeff Arnold, executive director of the North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI), whose certification programs are considered the gold standard for transportation professionals.
Why certification matters
North American roads are safer now than they were in the past, but for workers, roads are getting more dangerous. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that a worker dies in a work-related injury every 96 minutes, and transportation incidents account for 38% of all occupational fatalities.
Motive’s Ultimate Guide to fleet safety shows that fleets with world-class safety programs actually reduce these risks.
Stats like these show how important fleet safety certifications are to improving performance.
How to get fleet safety certified
Becoming fleet safety certified is a straightforward process, though not necessarily an easy one. Before starting a program, safety professionals should acquire a certain amount of safety experience, which varies depending on the program. Next, they must complete courses led by an experienced fleet safety instructor. The courses typically last from a few days up to a couple of weeks, with an average length of one week.
Fleet safety training varies from program to program, with several programs to choose from. While some fleet safety professionals are looking to brush up on their skills or keep up with the latest trends, others are looking to take their career to the next level.
Whatever your reasons for becoming fleet safety certified, reputable programs like those below offer something of value.
North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI)
For fleet safety professionals wondering How do I get fleet safety certified, NATMI’s Certified Safety Supervisor (CSS) and Certified Director of Safety (CDS) classes are well-known in the transportation industry.
Safety professionals must complete the appropriate NATMI course then pass an exam. Courses last from a few days up to a week, and can be completed in person or online. Fleet safety certification cost varies depending on the program.
Safety topics on the agenda include:
- Fleet safety program objectives
- Record keeping and DOT requirements
- Hours of service violations
- Reporting and documenting accidents
- Reducing accidents and injury
- Identifying trends and root causes
NATMI’s course is designed by volunteer technical committees composed of industry subject matter experts. When the course ends, attendees take the exam. However, the real work begins after the exam, when attendees must provide 17 pieces of evidence documenting their experience and expertise.
Submissions include:
- Signatures from HR and a manager verifying job description and responsibilities
- Examples of management activities performed
- Data showing an ability to reduce accidents and injuries
- Proof of experience
- Letters of reference
Once professionals complete the course, they have about 60 days to gather the supporting documentation and submit the application. “If you ask anybody who has become fleet safety certified What’s the hardest part? they’ll inevitably say the application,” Arnold says. “Somebody can take the classes and pass a test, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they know how to apply knowledge on the job. So that last piece is pretty important.”
OSHA Academy
Through the OSHA Academy program, fleet safety managers can get certified in safety courses such as the 48-hour safety and health manager program and fleet safety management.
The courses cover important topics such as:
- Deploying effective safety management systems
- Hiring best practices
- Vehicle maintenance and inspection
- Reducing accident costs and liability
- Incentivizing and rewarding drivers
OSHA offers courses for safety professionals in oil and gas, construction, commercial transportation, and the public sector, with a series specially geared toward safety supervisors and managers. All of the courses are free, however the certificate will cost you about $30.
National Safety Council (NSC)
The National Safety Council offers courses for safety leaders looking to advance their careers. The NSC’s Safety Leadership Certification, for example, is geared toward safety leaders who’ve excelled and are ready for the next step. The program gives leaders an opportunity to enhance their skills by becoming certified in fleet safety. People take the course to:
- Strengthen their leadership skills
- Learn how to build a positive safety culture
- Maximize safety performance
The National Safety Council’s Advanced Safety Certificate (ASC) program is a nationally recognized safety curriculum based on proven best practices. Get an in-depth look at the issues safety practitioners face daily, with solutions to some of the most pressing problems.
Learn how to:
- Direct a comprehensive safety plan
- Bring a balanced approach to safety management
- Develop problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Assess safety needs for your organization
- Design a custom safety training program for your organization
Through 12 training days, this popular safety certificate program empowers safety managers to lead with greater efficiency.
Certification benefits
While becoming fleet safety certified helps safety professionals advance their careers, it also sets higher safety benchmarks for the industry.
“For individuals, safety certification has a lot of benefits,” says O’Neal. “Often, it’s a requirement to get promoted, such as when a safety supervisor is looking to become a safety director. Other times, it may be tied to a salary increase or be part of the hiring criteria.”
For individuals, a fleet safety certification:
- Improves managerial excellence
- Enhances professionalism
- Promotes national and international recognition
- Improves credibility in the courtroom
Being fleet safety certified has benefits for the employer as well. It enhances safety knowledge and expertise throughout the business, especially in driver safety and fleet management. Executives are happy to invest in safety certification if they believe it will serve the company.
“Before an employee becomes fleet safety certified, the CEO is going to ask, ‘What is certification going to buy me?’” Arnold says.
To answer that question, NATMI surveyed safety directors who went through their program. The results were overwhelmingly positive.
- 87% were more compliant after certification
- 86% reduced accident rates
- 83% achieved a lower occupational injury rate
- 80% implemented policies and procedures that reduced accident frequency and severity along with costs
“People coming out of these courses are able to go back to their businesses and implement programs and policies that address the root cause of their biggest safety challenges,” Arnold says. “So certification holds a lot of value for businesses as well as individuals.”
Improve fleet safety with Motive
Professionals who are fleet safety certified know that safety technology is integral to improving performance. Take your fleet safety performance to the next level with Motive’s fleet safety solution and request a demo today.
