FLEETS need to take control of their so-called ‘grey fleet’ drivers in order to ensure full legal compliance.
Grey fleet drivers are those employees who use their own private car for business purposes.
In a webinar presentation by Robert Gorby, Chief Commercial Officer ODO Drive, and Simon West-Oliver, the company’s Strategic Partnerships Director, they both outlined the issues presented to fleets by grey fleet drivers.
In particular, they said there were worrying failings in senior management’s knowledge and action in dealing with grey fleet.
A report from Driving for Better Business highlighted that 60% of business leaders didn’t know the size of their grey fleet while more than half didn’t realise ultimate responsibility landed at their desk as head of the business.
Meanwhile 34% of grey fleet drivers had never had their driving licence checked for fitness to drive, while 33% didn’t have the correct business insurance cover. A further 74% did not carry out vehicle and tyre checks.
West-Oliver said there were three key areas to address: legal, moral and financial.
Employers have a legal duty under Duty of Care to manage driving for work properly and the organisation mustn’t do anything that puts drivers at risk, or risk endangering the lives of other road users. Policies and procedures must be in place for staff to follow.
I think that employers also have a moral duty to ensure their staff get home safely and should not be put at risk by the requirement of the business. The best businesses don’t question the need for their business to be compliant, they recognise that it is simply the right thing to do.
Finally, there is a financial incentive to manage these grey fleet drivers well. Good management can help reduce operating costs and improve business efficiency across a range of areas, from fuel use to replacement staff and vehicle costs.
Gorby added that ODO’s driver app provided a framework for grey fleet driver management thanks to the onus it puts on the driver to complete tasks, such as vehicle inspections or to get their driving licence checked, before they got in the car.
Gorby went on to say:
It’s about protecting your employees and protecting the business in terms of your legal duties. It’s about being proactive, but crucially you don’t have to worry about it – the system prompts you to manage exceptions and provides you with a fully auditable management trail.
Watch The ODO Webinar On Grey Fleet
If you want to catch up with the grey fleet management issues, you can watch the 12 minute webinar again here.
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