Distracted driving training is valuable for any employee who drives for work, whether they operate a commercial truck, a service van, a sales car or a personal vehicle on company business. It also helps supervisors who set driving policies and schedules, since fatigue and time pressure are common sources of distraction behind the wheel.

No single OSHA standard requires distracted driving training for every employer. However, FMCSA rules prohibit commercial motor vehicle drivers from texting or using hand-held mobile phones while driving, and many states restrict phone use for all drivers. Employers often add distracted driving training to fleet safety policies to reduce crash risk and liability.

Phones are only part of the distracted driving problem. Fatigue, frustration, complacency on familiar routes, eating, adjusting controls and passengers can all draw attention from the road. Distractions often compound, such as a tired driver who gets irritated in traffic and then reaches for a phone, so controlling one source helps limit the others.

Drivers can cut distractions by preparing before the vehicle moves: set navigation and climate controls, secure loose items, silence or stow the phone, and plan stops for food and rest. Checking their own condition matters too, since a driver who is tired, upset or rushed is far more likely to lose focus on the road.

There is no fixed legal schedule for distracted driving refresher training. Many fleets cover it at hire, after a crash or near miss, and again as a yearly refresher. This 10-minute course, available in English and Spanish, is short enough to repeat during safety meetings or pair with a written phone-use policy.