Continued investment in van driver management will help fleets combat the ongoing operational challenges caused by the pandemic.
So says Fleet Service GB (FSGB) as it highlights that robust management of operations can deliver reduced costs, crashes, incidents and maintenance costs.
The challenges faced by the sector are particularly tough at the moment; vans are getting older and more expensive to maintain as semiconductor shortages compromise new vehicle supply, while vehicles are working harder and covering more miles due to the meteoric growth in home shopping. And competition for drivers continues to grow.
But FSGB’s van fleet management programme – developed on the back of years of working in partnership with its van fleet customers – has been designed to provide an efficient and deliverable process, focused on work-related road safety, driver wellbeing and involvement.
It’s already brought about proven benefits for housing association Live West. Fleet manager Paul Ayris and FSGB have worked together for the past three years to create a detailed behavioural overview for 400 drivers through FSGB’s Achieve vehicle and driver management programme.
Benefits include a reduction in fleet maintenance costs from 3.43p per mile per van to 3.09p in just 12 months, thanks to a reduction in driver vehicle abuse.
And incident rates have halved, with at-fault crashes reducing by 40%, while driver-related damage costs have also fallen by 50% during that time, leading to self-insured insurance policy rebates and reduced premiums.
Crucial factors in the success of such programmes include 100% buy-in from the company’s board, as well as driver communication, which is why FSGB has spearheaded the ongoing development of its Achieve driver app.
Geoffrey Bray, FSGB’s chairman, said: “Working with van fleet operators of all sizes across the UK, the results are clear to us; if drivers are well managed, communicated with and supported by an integrated IT management system, then the drivers will feel valued, vehicle utilisation will improve, all impacting positively on operational efficiency.”
Bray added that as companies face increasing pressures in the recovery from the pandemic, there has never been a better time for van operators to revisit their van policies and embrace an integrated, fully inclusive vehicle and driver strategy.
“As time pressures increase on a driver, stress levels go up, resulting in more crashes,” he continued. “Employers must have in place a comprehensive driver, vehicle, journey management programme capturing and joining up all of the measured performance data. As the data is analysed the appropriate and necessary support initiatives and interventions are applied.
“Safety and compliance must never be compromised, a fully integrated approach will produce positive results. It should also improve driver retention, which is particularly pertinent in this current employment environment,” Bray added.
