Blog Post
Inside Driving Dynamics’ Train-the-Coach Certification Program
By Lauren Petersen
April 1, 2020
Safety is an important element for many fleets. There’s a variety of ways to educate drivers on how to make safer decisions on the road from online simulations to behind-the-wheel lessons. Last spring Driving Dynamics, a provider of safety training and risk services for fleets, debuted a new way to ensure driver safety, its train-the-coach fleet driver safety certification program.
Interested in seeing the program in action, I along with Wheels Fleet Consulting Manager Tim Harrison and Senior Manager, Accident Management, Prevention & Safety Scott Brinker attended a three-day session of the program.
The program prepares fleet managers, risk managers and other participants to conduct its two-hour Driving Dynamics’ DriveInsight Advantage™ course within their own fleet of drivers.
“Coach-graduates will be equipped with all of the tools needed to guide fleet drivers in discovering and addressing how their behaviors and skills influence their driving capabilities thereby effecting a positive reduction in road incidents across the fleet,” said Ben Langley, director of training and development and innovation for Driving Dynamics, when the program was announced.
The training prepared me to motivate drivers to improve their own safety tactics behind the wheel, for example remembering to keep a wide following distance from other vehicles. However, an important component of the training was the behavioral assessments designed to help personalize the driver improvement coaching sessions.
After the behavioral assessment, you’re given words that describe your approach to driving. My assessment revealed the words “cautious” and “apprehensive,” which depict the type of driver I am. This education of best practices and behavioral assessments was a good combination of interactive and personalized training that helps customize the learning approach to each driver.
As someone who considered herself a good driver, I found this course invaluable. It reinforced the safety decisions I was already making and taught me new methods for cautious driving. It’s a beneficial course—even as a refresher—for drivers of all stripes.
If you’re interested in learning more about the program, contact me at lpetersen@wheels.com.