After a series of severe accidents in a number of major Canadian cities involving delivery vehicles, one logistics company, Eastview Logistics Group, is putting all of its focus on boosting driver safety.

Online retailers depend on last-mile delivery services, which is where Eastview Logistics Group has focused its efforts and found success. 

E-commerce made up 6.2% of Canada's retail sales in 2022. That number only seems to increase—and with it, the number of delivery vehicles on the roads. 

Companies push their fleets to deliver packages more rapidly, and that demand can translate into putting drivers in dangerous situations. Some of these situations involve aggressive or protective dogs, which should be unsurprising due to the popularity of these pets.

"Everybody says the same thing—'Oh, it's okay. My dog's friendly'—but they're not on a leash," says Nicolas Fuoco, founder of Eastview Logistics Group. "Not everybody feels comfortable with that. Dogs are a big problem."

Animal attacks are not the only issue, though. Delivery drivers must steer their vehicles through congested streets. They also face the dangers that can come from approaching a stranger's property. These hazards not only make a driver's job more difficult but also result in high turnover rates, affecting the strength of the industry. 

Last-mile delivery services face many challenges, but Fuoco has put a plan into action: enhance driver safety through in-depth training sessions. 

Just three years ago, Nicolas Fuoco launched Eastview Logistics Group. He began with eight employees; now, he has more than 175. One of the ways that Fuoco manages to maintain a dedicated fleet when other last-mile delivery services flounder is his attention to building a strong and safe team.

"We first do a criminal background check, as well as a driving abstract," he says. "Once all of those are approved and passed, we have two days of training. It's all safety-focused."

Eastview Logistics Group relies on cutting-edge technology to help prevent accidents and notify the right people as soon as possible if a collision does occur. The company has also implemented dashboard cameras and other features to combat one of the major causes of accidents: distracted driving. 

Urban deliveries present formidable logistical concerns, but giving drivers clear guidelines to follow can minimize guesswork and reduce risks. Fuoco is unbudgeable when it comes to following safety protocol, striving to make his practices a model for other last-mile delivery companies. 

With Nicolas Fuoco at the helm, Eastview Logistics Group is cementing itself as a leader in the last-mile delivery world. Rigorous training requirements and the safety measures implemented across the fleet make the workday simpler and safer for his drivers as well as others on the road. 

"My focus has always been to build a strong team," Fuoco says. From all vantage points, he appears to have succeeded.