Delivery driver safety tips for horticulture businesses

Before you can improve delivery safety, you need a clear picture of where your risks lie. A short assessment can help you identify the specific hazards your drivers face and understand which adjustments will have the most immediate impact.

Consider the following questions:

• Are the majority of your deliveries local or long-distance?

• How often are your delivery vehicles inspected for potential safety or mechanical issues?

• What insurance coverages do you have in place for your vehicles and drivers?

Look closely at risk factors such as:

• Common delivery routes and driving conditions: Do your drivers typically drive on urban streets and congested highways? Or do they spend more time on rural roads, where wildlife collisions are more likely?

• Delivery timing: Do your drivers make most of their deliveries during peak traffic hours? How can seasonal weather patterns impact your delivery routes?

• Travel distance and vehicle load types: What is the average distance of your deliveries? Are you using a box truck or a tractor and trailer?

Building a culture of safety starts at the top. When your leadership team models safe delivery driving behaviors and enforces accountability, employees often understand what’s expected of them and follow suit.

Strengthen your commitment to safety by:

• Establishing a safe driving policy for workers who use company-owned vehicles or their own vehicles for company business

• Prohibiting or limiting employees from using company vehicles for personal use

• Communicating your stance on safety to all employees through training and policies

• Reviewing and updating your safety program and policy each year

Hiring drivers who prioritize safety and have a strong record behind the wheel is one of the most effective ways to help reduce overall risk while supporting a long-term culture of safety.

Include the following steps in your hiring practices for new drivers:

• Conduct formal driving tests

• Review motor vehicle records (MVRs) and accident histories

• Check references and verify past employment

• Consult with HR and legal professionals for compliant screening practices

Don’t just stop after the hiring process is complete. Conduct annual performance reviews, especially for seasonal or temporary staff.

Consistent delivery driver safety training is critical to helping protect your employees and your company. Incorporate delivery-specific training into your operations, including:

• Defensive driving

• Vehicle maintenance and inspections

• Hazard awareness such as distracted, drowsy, and aggressive driving

• Managing deliveries in poor weather and on rural roads

• Regulatory training (if applicable)

Institute training as an ongoing expectation for your staff. Hold routine safety reviews, distribute written safety policies, and offer refresher courses to reinforce best practices throughout the year.

Maintaining your vehicles helps keep your deliveries in motion. We recommend you:

• Set a regular inspection schedule

• Review tire pressure, brakes, and fluid levels before every trip

• Ensure your fleet includes the proper vehicles for transporting live plants or temperature-sensitive products

• Train your staff to document repair requests and completions

• If commercial vehicles are used, conduct daily pre- and post-trip inspections

Consider technology as a complement—not a replacement—for training and policies. Telematics tools can help build a culture of safety, reduce accidents, and strengthen accountability.

Consider adding:

• Route optimization software to potentially reduce time and choose safer roadways

• Dash cams to record incidents and promote accountability

• GPS tracking for real-time oversight and emergency assistance

• Driver assistance systems (e.g., lane departure alerts and collision sensors)

Even with the strongest safety programs, accidents still happen. Insurance coverage can help cushion your financial and operational setbacks, giving your business more flexibility to recover. Two essential coverages include:

• Commercial auto liability: Helps protect your business against liability in the event of a covered accident.

• Workers’ compensation: Helps cover injured employees' medical costs and related expenses—and helps protect your business from litigation following the incident.

With more than 135 years of experience protecting horticulture businesses, Hortica^®—a brand of the Sentry Insurance Group—can help you and your business with risk management, safety recommendations, and in-house claims service.

If you’d like assistance in training, claims analyses, and on-site consultations to help identify and mitigate driver risks, get in touch with us. We’re here to help you and your business.