Challenges
by PETER GOLDING
The past 10 years has created some challenges, how do we manage this?
This is an important year for FleetCheck as
T we celebrate our 10 th anniversary. As the founder of FleetCheck I have attended hundreds of meetings over the years and worked with people operating fleets of all sizes. Of course, fleets and their structures vary considerably, but one thing is abundantly clear: regardless of fleet size, vehicle types or industry sector, all companies face the same set of challenges.
One of the greatest difficulties for fleet operators is that they are dealing with a constantly changing sector. Changes to legislation, technology and‘ best practice’ are frequent, and fleet managers must stay ahead of the game. Furthermore, the dramatic impact of the financial crisis left many companies endeavouring to manage fleets with diminished resources and expertise.
Some of the most critical changes affecting fleets in the recent past revolve around legislation. The much talked-about Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007 transformed fleet management, and was closely followed by a series of further changes, culminating in the new sentencing guidelines that came into force in February 2016. The scale of change has left many companies fighting to keep up. So it’ s no wonder that they feel vulnerable.
October 2014 saw the end of the paper road tax disc, and in June 2015 the paper counterpart of the driver’ s licence disappeared. These moves were meant to reduce‘ red tape’ and save the Government money, but the aftermath created monumental challenges for companies. A 100 % increase in untaxed vehicles has led to a dramatic increase in fines, and no-one could have anticipated the headaches associated with finding new ways of inspecting drivers’ licences. But it’ s not all doom and gloom: one very positive advancement in the past decade is the evolving accessibility of online data. Fleet managers benefit enormously from new capabilities to access vehicle data from DVLA, road tax and MOT records, driver licence information and much more.
What else has changed? Advancements in mechanical technology and engine lubricants has seen widespread extension of manufacturer service intervals. Consumers and fleet managers alike are enjoying the resulting savings, but don’ t forget that tyres, brakes and other components still deteriorate at the same rate. The overwhelming consequence of extending service intervals- often up to 30K miles and two years – is that the primary responsibility for maintenance has shifted from the garage to the company operating the vehicles.
It’ s now more crucial than ever that advisory repairs identified at a service or MOT are recorded and actioned by the company. Failure to do so could easily result in legal breaches – consider the consequences of a vehicle driven with worn tyres or brakes that you have failed to replace, and it’ s easy to see how a simple oversight could very quickly snowball.
“ One of the greatest difficulties faced by all fleet operators today is dealing with the ongoing number of changes that have been imposed on us all.“
With infrequent visits to garages, it is more important than ever that your drivers conduct pre-use safety inspections. I know from first-hand experience that ensuring drivers complete these checks can be difficult, but this is a great example of where we can turn to technology. Smartphones are commonplace among most companies, and you can use a simple online solution that not only records that the check has been completed, but can also generates photographs of vehicle damage. In 2014 FleetCheck launched its own mobile solution, and we are pleased to say it has been adopted by thousands of drivers. Another great use of technology to solve a common, very real fleet problem. �
Peter Golding is the Founder and MD of FleetCheck, the fleet management software
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