The Fleet Industry Advisory Group (FIAG) has released a series of recommendations on how companies should face up to a post pandemic future.

It has published a free 14-page ‘Road Safety Pays Dividends’ guide, which addresses the numerous challenges that have been thrown at fleets since the first lockdown involving both the driver and their vehicle.

“It is vital to begin the recovery from this unprecedented experience by ensuring best practice processes are implemented that cover drivers, vehicles and journeys,” said FIAG chairman Ian Housley.

“Companies need to recognise that drivers of company vehicles need to be an inclusive component of a pandemic recovery plan.

“As well as protecting the considerable investment made in vehicle fleets by employers it will help improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and make driving safer,” he added.

The guide covers issues including: home working drivers that are no longer using their vehicles, restricted servicing and MOT facilities being open and the increasing number of fleet professionals being furloughed, made redundant or retiring.

It also provides advice on embracing the green revolution, including the adoption of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles in the future. It also reminds everyone of a company’s health and safety responsibilities which may have been compromised by the people and structural changes recently made in many organisations due to Covid. 

“The squeeze on fleet managers is getting worse as more than ever vehicle fleets are being managed by someone as part of a much wider remit and often without any true fleet management experience,” said Housley.

FIAG member Graham Bellman recently retired as fleet director of Travis Perkins and urges fleet operators to sign up to the ‘Road Safety Pays Dividends’ philosophy.

He said: “Act on the guide’s recommendations and it will not only ensure you comply with current legislation, but as we proved the savings achieved within the fleet operation were around 15% based on driver management, improved systems and reporting and proactive driver engagement.”

For a free copy of the FIAG guide download it here: www.fiag.co.uk/road-safety-pays-dividends/