The Dos and Don'ts of a Driver Safety Manual
- Cottingham & Butler
- Jun 19
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 8
Our recent webinar on fleet safety manual development brought together industry expertise and legal insight to address one of transportation companies' most critical challenges. Featuring Attorney Alex Karcher alongside our teammate, Safety Consultant Anne-Marie Naples, this session explored how to align safety policies with 49 CFR regulations while keeping them accessible and actionable for drivers. The discussion emphasized that effective safety management extends beyond documentation, highlighting the essential role of ongoing education, structured corrective actions, and practical implementation strategies that avoid common legal pitfalls.
For those who missed the session or want to revisit the core concepts, here are the key takeaways that can immediately strengthen your fleet safety program:
Aligning safety policies with 49 CFR regulations to maintain legal and operational standards
Drafting safety policies that are easy to understand and practical for drivers to follow
Implementing a structured approach to corrective actions, balancing accountability with fairness
Avoid excessive details that make the manual difficult to navigate or overwhelming for drivers
Be mindful of how safety policies are presented online to prevent legal vulnerabilities
A manual alone isn't enough - ongoing education and hands-on training are essential