Small fleets missing out on pre-drive checks

23rd January 2014

Road safety charity Brake has published a report for fleet managers on maintaining safe vehicles.

The report, published through the Fleet Safety Forum, contains the results of a survey of fleets' management of vehicle safety, and gives guidance on how fleet managers can ensure vehicles are safely maintained.

It found that two thirds (63%) of managers outsourced all their vehicle servicing and repair.  However, only half (52%) of companies using outsourced maintenance ensured mechanics' qualifications were checked and verified.  Less than a quarter (23%) ensured regular training was provided.

Regular pre-drive checks of vehicles are also vital, but seems to be taken more seriously by fleets containing large vehicles such as trucks or buses.

All fleets operating larger vehicles required checks at least daily, but almost one in five (18%) managers of fleets with only smaller vehicles did not require their drivers to complete a pre-drive check at all.

Commenting on the issue, Brake’s Laura Woods said fleet managers had a “duty to ensure their vehicles are safe, well-maintained and roadworthy, and that the mechanics working on them are fully qualified and their skills are kept up to date.

"This report has highlighted worrying gaps in some fleets' management of vehicle risks,” she added.