The fleet/fleet personality

The case for

Emma Osborn, who runs Network Rail’s 7,800-vehicle fleet, tracks half her vehicles and supports the use of telematics.

The Network Rail system is designed to balance the needs of the business, drivers and unions. “It has proved very useful and helps improve safety within the business,” says Osborn.

Although the fleet is just under 8,000 vehicles, it has about 18,500 drivers, including casual users.

Telematics reduces the company’s exposure to risk and aids compliance by acting as a logbook for its shared vehicles and to manage utilisation and mileage. Currently, data on vehicle use is collected anonymously, with reports prepared based on team and business unit performance rather than individuals.

This approach was agreed with unions to balance cost reductions and improved safety with protecting employee rights.

By feeding back team results, managers in the field are able to take action to ensure that drivers comply to improve safety on the road and improve utilisation.

Osborn says: “The teams recognise that they are all responsible and peer pressure makes sure that other employees in the group improve, so you don’t need to go as far as the individual driver.

“In the future we may look at going further, but we have to be careful. You have to balance the needs of all the parties, otherwise all the trust you have built up would be lost.”

The fleet has had requests from the police for telematics data following incidents and has a strict compliance process, with requests being passed through the legal team.

The key to smooth operation of the telematics system requires the fleet team to closely manage the whole process.

Osborn says: “I gatekeep it personally with another department and we manage it with reference to our commitment to the unions, because if you relaxed your vigilance, any mistakes could undermine the goodwill that you have built up.

“We like to meet people face-to-face and talk to them about what the system does. Most people understand why it is used.”