- Purpose and scope. Who and what the policy covers.
- Responsibilities. Who owns fleet safety, who runs checks, who fixes defects.
- Drivers. Licence and CPC checks, induction, training, medical fitness.
- Daily checks. Every vehicle, before use, recorded. How the check is done and where.
- Defects. How they are reported, graded, fixed and closed. Who can authorise a vehicle to run.
- Maintenance. PMI intervals, brake tests, annual test and MOT dates.
- Drivers' hours and fatigue. Rules, tachograph review, scheduling.
- Phones, drugs and alcohol. Your rules.
- Loading and load security. Weights, restraint, sheeting, working at height.
- Reversing and yard safety. Routes, banksmen, pedestrians.
- Incidents and breakdowns. What to do and who to tell.
- Records. What is kept, where and for how long.
- Review. At least yearly and after any serious incident.
Keep it usable
One or two pages per topic is plenty. Give drivers the parts that matter to them, and get them to sign.
This outline is a starting point. Get advice for your own operation, and read the DVSA guide.
General information, not legal advice or a substitute for official guidance. Check HSE, DVSA and GOV.UK for current requirements.
Related
What fleets often forgetThe gaps that catch out fleets: unread check sheets, open defects, lapsed dates, no licence checks, untrained drivers and missing records.Driving for work: duty of careEmployers have general duties to manage work-related road risk. What that means for vehicle checks, drivers and records.