Every courier company wants its vehicles to be on the road constantly. But before you give the keys to any newly recruited driver, you must ensure they are well-onboarded into your company.
Properly onboarding a new driver is essential because you don’t want an inexperienced driver to take on the wheels and expose you to fines, wrong deliveries, or crashes. You also don’t want to endanger your drivers with work-related injuries or any such risks in their work lives. Any mishap on the road will tarnish the reputation of your courier firm.
The best way to ensure your drivers are ready to hit the road is to have a comprehensive onboarding process every time you recruit a new driver. When onboarding new drivers, it can be difficult to know what information to collect from the driver.
1. Right to work
One of the most critical documents to obtain during the onboarding process for delivery drivers is proof of their right to work in the country where they will be operating. This is not only a legal requirement but also a way to confirm the identity and eligibility of the driver. Acceptable documents may include a valid passport, visa, or work permit, depending on the country’s laws.
Ensuring that your drivers have the right to work helps reduce the risk of hiring undocumented delivery drivers, which can lead to legal complications for your business.
2. Toxicology and Background Checks
Safety is so important when it comes to delivery driver onboarding. To maintain a secure and responsible workforce, conducting toxicology and background checks is key. A toxicology check, typically in the form of a drug test, ensures that your drivers are not impaired while operating a vehicle, reducing the risk of accidents and legal liabilities.
Background checks look into the driver’s criminal history, searching for any red flags that might disqualify them from the position. It’s important to consider factors such as past convictions, especially those related to theft, fraud, or violence, as these could pose risks to both your customers and your company’s reputation.
3. Driving Licence
This might seem obvious, but a valid and appropriate driving licence is a non-negotiable requirement for any delivery driver. Verifying driving licenses not only ensures that your drivers are legally allowed to operate a motor vehicle but also that they possess the skills and knowledge required to drive safely. Monitoring the status of their license for any infractions or suspensions is also crucial to maintaining a high level of safety and compliance.
4. Service Level Agreement (SLA)
While the documents above primarily focus on legal and safety aspects, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) is an equally important document that outlines the expectations, responsibilities, and standards for your delivery drivers. This agreement should be clear and comprehensive, detailing factors such as delivery times, customer service standards, communication protocols, and dispute resolution procedures.
A well-drafted SLA not only helps set clear expectations for drivers but also serves as a reference point in case of disputes or misunderstandings. It provides a foundation for accountability and helps maintain a high level of service quality, leading to greater customer satisfaction.
Document management with Wise
Wise is an onboarding and compliance platform for the last-mile sector, providing a customisable onboarding solution that streamlines driver onboarding, allowing businesses to configure and collect custom evidence documentation, and much more.
Through Wise, you can request that documentation such as those mentioned within this blog be digitally uploaded and signed within the Wise app. Wise gives you a clear overview within the integrated dashboard, where you can clearly see policy completions and signed documents in one place, speeding up your onboarding process.
