Rhys Harrhy, telematics manager at ALD Automotive, claimed fleets could reduce the risk of poor or non existent journey logging by drivers with telematics.

Harrhy told delegates at Fleet Management Live of the reduction in risk to fleets of HMRC action, by helping fleets to keep fully auditable mileage records, by producing proof of where and when journeys are made.

Harrhy said: “It provides peace of mind because with telematics, there’s no room to fabricate or duplicate journeys.

“Telematics will also help you to make sure that your expense claims are kept consistent.”

He added: “There’s also an added benefit for drivers of no longer having to keep paper records.”

Harrhy claimed that telematics could help fleets deliver improvements on costs and risk beyond compliance and fuel usage.

“Telematics will help you reduce your risk by identifying those high cost, high risk driver behaviours and demonstrate to your drivers that you have a robust road risk policy,” said Harrhy, also claiming that telematics can help fleets to measure the effectiveness of any driver training put in place, before and after it is delivered.

Telematics can also help fleets to avoid, manage and reduce recharge and maintenance costs, according to Harrhy.

"Ensuring your fleet if serviced on-time can reduce SMR costs, and cut the risk or recharges, as well as reducing any warranty problems later on.

“Telematics is a good way to deliver these savings effectively.”

Harrhy said, however, that he understood why some fleets would be reluctant to make what is potentially a very important investment.

He said: “But telematics can deliver a return on investment quickly.”

According to Harrhy, on average, fleets reduce the number of collisions their drivers have by 20% and improve employee performance by 51%, describing telematics as: “A vital weapon in today’s fleet armoury.”