Plumwood has launched a new online portal to allow LGV operators and fleet managers to view how well their employees are driving.

The technology can be used to highlight which drivers regularly fail to meet compliance checks - such as speeding, not taking frequent breaks, or conducting daily walkaround checks - potentially saving operators from facing hefty fines or loss of their operator licence, it says.

With around 400 miles of road already converted to Smart Motorways - and even more in the pipeline - experts have warned that more checks will be needed as cameras are likely to catch more drivers falling foul of speed limits.

Drivers who fail to observe Smart Motorway speed limits could rack up sufficient penalty points on just a single journey so as to be unfit to drive, increasing the onus on fleet managers to check their licences on a more frequent basis, says Plumwood.

The dynamic hard shoulder – when the hard shoulder is temporarily opened up to traffic – also means drivers cannot get complacent with conducting walkarounds. Tyre debris caused by cuts on tyres can not only cause a blockage in the lane, but also a significant danger to other road users.

Gary Wood, co-founder of the company, hopes launching this new technology will help him meet his ambition of doubling the size of the business over the next couple of years.

He attributes his confidence to invest in this new software to the financial insight into his business provided by QuickBooks.

He said: “We know that the introduction of Smart Motorways has been daunting for vehicle operators, especially when it comes to ensuring their drivers are safe and compliant.

“The latest iteration of our technology will help managers identify drivers putting their business at risk.”

With QuickBooks, businesses can organise all their financial records and access a real-time dashboard showing their business performance. Its invoicing tool reminds customers of payments, tracks transactions and makes direct deposits, helping save time and make processes more efficient.

Nick Williams, director of sales at Intuit QuickBooks, said: “One of the biggest challenges for growing businesses like Plumwood is taking control of your finances. To help solve these challenges, QuickBooks provides a smarter way to run a small business where owners can have the confidence to invest and drive growth.”