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Thousands of company car and van drivers are abusing their vehicles putting their employers in breach of health and safety legislation and inflating fleet operating costs, according to photographic evidence recorded by Fleet Support Group.
The company’s nationwide network of approved Masterserve garages are equipped with Masterview - a unique remote video inspection system that enables fleet managers to view the condition of vehicles and components anywhere around the country, either in real time or recorded for later transmission.
When vehicles are booked into Masterserve garages for service and repair, a video link allows Fleet Support Group maintenance experts at its Chippenham headquarters to view live pictures via a broadband link. When vehicle abuse is detected, fleet managers in charge of the damaged vehicles are informed and shown the evidence.
Fleet Support Group chairman Geoffrey Bray said: “Masterview has highlighted numerous horror stories to fleet managers as to exactly what damage drivers are causing to company vehicles.
“On viewing the live pictures fleet managers are often horrified at the condition of some of their vehicles. They then use Masterview to police the situation. The technology particularly comes into its own when vehicles are located away from where fleet managers can undertake their own vehicle inspections.”
As a result of the abuse uncovered, Fleet Support Group has launched a new campaign called ‘Are Your Vehicles Fit For Purpose’, which supports the company’s long-established RiskMaster work-related road safety programme.
“Part of the RiskMaster tool is to have random vehicle inspections to see what drivers are doing to their vehicles,” said Mr Bray.
Examples of driver vehicle abuse, which not only impacts on safety but also on a company’s image, costs money to repair and hits car and van residual values, include:
Mr Bray said: “As employers, companies have a duty to manage work-related road safety and to demonstrate that they have taken all reasonable practicable steps to ensure the safety of their drivers and other users. In addition, companies are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are fit for purpose. The range of vehicle damage that we uncover invariably results in companies taking swift action to stem the abuse.
“Our Masterview system enables fleet managers to keep an eye on their vehicles to make sure they are roadworthy, are being driven well and are properly cared for and thereby conforming with duty of care regulations. By actively encouraging drivers to care for their vehicles, fleet operating costs are reduced and vehicle values maintained.”
Fleet Support Group (FSG) is the largest independent vehicle management company in the UK and looks after approximately 50,000 vehicles.
The well-established organisation based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, has gained an enviable reputation within the industry by continually concentrating on delivering a consistent, quality service embracing full vehicle acquisition and disposal, vehicle outsourcing, fleet management, risk management and work-related road safety, maintenance management, accident management, breakdown recovery, short-term car rental and truck management.
Within the FSG team, there is significant industry experience and qualifications across the range of services provided. This in turn is supported by an in-house IT operation which is continuously upgrading the internal systems and applications to ensure that, by innovation and product development, FSG leads the field in the provision of vehicle management.
For further information contact: FSG chairman Geoffrey Bray on 0844 8000 700