National Highways safety resources added to fleet walkaround app

Safety resources from National Highways and a new technology stack have been added to a Fleet Check app.

The app, which has been used to carry out more than 10 million car and van walkaround inspections in the past three years, is designed to streamline the inspection process for smaller fleets.

An improved interface has been added thanks to the new technology stack while the Van Driver Toolkit, created by National Highways through its Driving for Better Business campaign, provides practical advice to drivers of light commercial vehicles about day-to-day safety issues. Fleet managers can review which drivers have read the guidance.

Peter Golding, managing director at Fleet Check, said: “The technological enhancements we have added make it easier to use and, thanks to the National Highways driver resources, the app also helps to promote best practice.

“We’re confident it remains market-leading in delivering robust inspection processes alongside a range of effective, additional safety tools for this sector.”

Fleet Alliance rated Best Workplace for Women 2023

Fleet Alliance has been voted A Best Workplace for Women for a third year in a row.

The Glasgow-based company’s award, in the category for medium sized businesses with 51-200 employees, follows hard on the heels of its eleventh Best Place to Work Award from the Great Place to Work Institute. The company is also a Platinum-accredited Investor in People.

Fleet Alliance CEO, Andy Bruce, said: “We are delighted to win this award for the third successive year, operating as we do in a male-dominated automotive industry, and proud to be the only fleet management and leasing company in the medium category.  

“We have always sought to make Fleet Alliance a happy, inclusive and welcoming environment without prejudice or bias of any kind, so this award is fitting recognition of that ambition,” he said.

“This third ‘Best Workplace for Women’ award demonstrates what we hope are consistent values and, in a wider context, forms part of our highly important environmental, social and governance agenda,” he added.

The qualifying criteria for the Best Workplace for Women require a minimum of 25% of women in the workforce; a minimum of 20% women in mid-level management; and a minimum of more than one woman on the board of directors or at executive level.

Fleet Alliance’s corresponding figures are 54%, 45% and 36% - well above the national average.

New technology allows fleet managers to check licences instantly

Fleet managers can check a driver’s licence instantly when onboarding a new customer, significantly reducing the time required to undertake essential compliance checks, says Digital Innk.

The new technology allows users to conduct a licence check within 30 seconds on Digital Innk’s ViSN platform.

When a driver signs a mandate, their licence can be automatically and instantly checked with a flag if there is a problem.

Angela Montacute, CEO of Digital Innk, said: “We are pioneering new levels of automation in the fleet industry to help managers operate more efficient and safer fleets.

“The launch of instant licence checks means that any compliance issues can be spotted before the onboarding process begins. In a time of rising business costs, it’s our mission to help our customers save money through better business processes.”

The ViSN platform offers compliance tools that allow fleets of all sizes to keep their drivers safe.

The ViSN compliance tool also allows fleet managers to check licences every three, six or 12 months, depending on the risk profile.

Any issues are automatically flagged, and driver legal acceptance is completed with an e-mandate.

Fleet managers can monitor progress on a cloud-based dashboard, which provides status and exceptions at a glance.

While the driver app allows health inspections to be scheduled for completion. Drivers can self-certify that they are fit to drive.

Urgent Services chooses multi-camera system from Inseego

Urgent Services is using a connected multi-camera system from Inseego to improve road safety, reduce operational costs and better protect its reputation.

The video telematics solution – fitted on a fleet of new vans that handle deliveries across London and nationwide – has provided added visibility and support to both drivers and office-based managers.

The connected multi-camera system incorporates forward, rear, side and load cameras for a 360-view of the vehicle and cargo space, as well as and in-cab monitor that allows the driver to view all blind spots.

Video is displayed based on specific actions, so the rear camera is shown on screen during when reversing, while the use of the indicators triggers live footage from the appropriate side camera to support any left-and right-hand turns.

Meanwhile, the video telematics solution has been used to determine the exact circumstances of a vehicle collision, helping Urgent Services to defend liability and challenge any 50/50 claims by having access to irrefutable video evidence and supporting data.

There have been three incidents where third parties have knocked off a wing mirror when driving past an Urgent Services vehicle, which has been captured by the side camera and allowed the company to prove exactly what has happened.

There have also been multiple occasions where Urgent Services has used historical video to resolve customer disputes, with the multi-camera system configured to continue recording after the ignition has been switched to validate proof of delivery.

Where recipients have claimed non-delivery, the company has used footage from the customer location showing the driver unloading and delivering the package.

In addition, the load-facing camera has proven useful for monitoring how drivers are handling and securing cargo, especially when items are of high value or fragile.

Derwent Jaconelli, managing director at Urgent Services, said: “We have an excellent standing in the marketplace and the Inseego multi-camera system is helping to maintain this positive reputation and ensure we are operating safely and responsibly.

“There were some initial concerns amongst our drivers, but within a matter of weeks, we were able to use video footage to thwart several dishonest claims for non-delivery claims, so this was quickly overcome.”

Steve Thomas, managing director of Inseego UK, said: “We are seeing a growing number of fleet operators turn to video telematics as an effective way of safeguarding drivers, keeping other road users safe and protecting their business.

“Our comprehensive range of connected dashcams and multi-camera systems means we can create tailored solutions that meet the precise needs of our customers.”