Posted: Thursday, 05 November 2015
Before hiring new members of staff that will need to drive as part of their job, you can contact us here at Fleet Licence Check to find out whether they have any penalty points, previous convictions or current endorsements.
But while this can provide you with some much needed peace of mind before your new recruits start working, what about when they are actually behind the wheel? Unless you actually accompany them on each and every journey, how do you know they are driving at an acceptable standard?
Well, vehicles fitted with a telematics device can not only track and trace their position, but also measure driver behaviour. Even though behavioural telematics have been around for quite some time now, not all fleet operators are capitalising on their advantages.
In fact, just 41.9 per cent have vehicles fitted with behavioural telematics. But why should more fleet operators choose to adopt this kind of system?
Most fleet operators will be in agreement that the biggest motivation for installing a telematics system is to positively influence the driver's behaviour. Do this and the business can create efficiencies, reduce costs, and operate a safer fleet.
By measuring driver behaviour, you will be able to identify bad and inefficient habits such as heavy acceleration or harsh braking. Not only can this have an impact on fuel economy, it may also contribute to mechanical components deteriorating before they should. As a result, the business will have to pay more money in running costs and servicing.
However, monitoring behaviour can also spot a potentially dangerous driver. If involved in an accident, you will have the cost of repairs to deal with as well as higher insurance premiums and possible remuneration for the other parties involved.
One success story of vehicle tracking is construction group Morgan Sindall. Ever since implementing Northgate's vehicle tracking system, it has managed to reduce off-hire damage, in-life damage, fuel consumption and accident damage. What's more, Morgan Sindall also recorded a 20-30 per cent reduction in speeding instances too.
Along with measuring driving behaviour, the track and trace capabilities of a telematics system can also reap various rewards. By pinpointing the exact location of a vehicle, you can find out whether drivers are exaggerating overtime claims or using the vehicle out of working hours.
Another benefit is tracking down and recovering any stolen vehicles, which could contain valuable equipment or even sensitive information.