Four out of ten say roadside checks are increasing

2nd December 2013

More than 40% of commercial vehicle operators believe the number of roadside inspections by VOSA are increasing, according to new research.

In the study by TomTom Business Solutions, the risk of prosecution for tachograph offences was a growing concern for 46% of transport firms.  One in five said infringements had been recorded against them in the last three years.

Convictions for drivers’ hours violations can lead to fines of up to £5,000 and, in extreme cases, custodial sentences of up to two years.

“The severity of these penalties and potential damage to a business's reputation makes compliance crucial,” TomTom director Giles Margerison said.  “Systems should be in place to ensure the process is managed effectively, while minimising time-consuming administration and impact on precious business resources.”

Around one third of the transport firms surveyed spend an hour or more per vehicle manually downloading digital tachograph data, with 15% having missed download deadlines which are set to ensure data is not overwritten.  A quarter said they spent over two hours a month analysing tacho data to ensure they comply with the law, while 28% said they never did so.

“Advanced software solutions will automatically schedule remote downloads to ensure deadlines are never missed and incorporate reporting analytics to detail driver infringements at the touch of a button,” Giles Margerison said.  “Often you may think the drivers would be resistant to this kind of system but they now realise the benefits it can have for them.”