Fleets need to use a combination of incentives and enforcement to fight driver complacency over walkaround checks.
So says FleetCheck, which reports that it regularly sees examples of businesses where the risk management effectiveness of the checks has declined over time because of familiarity.
Peter Golding, managing director at FleetCheck, said: “At one level, you need to underline from a corporate point of view that these checks are part of the responsibilities of each driver and that you take them very seriously. Failing to carry them out should be a disciplinary offence and there should be an audit system.
“At another level, you can add interest to the checks by using communications such as e-mail and social media to remind drivers why it is important to carry out these checks, and the safety issues that can arise as the result of a failure to do so. You need to keep the whole subject fresh.”
FleetCheck launched its own Walkaround Check App at the CV Show, providing commercial vehicle operators with the means to schedule, carry out, confirm, follow-up and audit all kinds of inspections from daily walkarounds to formal weekly or monthly checks.
Golding added: “Using an electronic means to carry out the walkaround check does make it easier and we believe that our app is probably one of the most robust, simple-to-use and effective electronic methods of replacing an old school manual commercial vehicle safety process available today.”
