A new driver competency tool has been added to FleetCheck’s Vehicle Inspection App to help provide more effective vehicle safety checks.
Part of a major update to the app, the new in-built function effectively assesses whether an employee is competent to carry out the safety inspection, and is applicable to all common car and commercial vehicle licence types.
Peter Golding, managing director, said: “There’s an assumption built into most vehicle safety check processes, whether app or paper-based, that the driver knows what they are doing. However, very few have ever had any kind of training, which is something of a concern.
“The competency check is designed to solve this problem by providing guidance where necessary and enabling the driver to flag up areas where they feel they need more information to assess the vehicle. It’s quite an important development.”
Other changes to the Vehicle Inspection App include an improved trailer inspection routine, providing automated prompts for the driver, and offering an option for employees to view fuel cards that are linked to themselves and their vehicle.
FleetCheck has also made it easier for users to log into the app, using a mobile number and PIN rather than an e-mail and password combination.
Golding said that usage of the app had accelerated during the pandemic due to growing awareness of the need for digital safety checks; from both van fleets providing frontline services and drivers now working from home and required to carry out auditable remote safety checks.
“We’ve made changes in previous revisions to take account of this evolving picture, and we’re aiming to continue to enhance the app on an ongoing basis to meet the needs of what remains a very fluid situation.”
