Safety and risk management continues to be a major priority for fleets, with the process often beginning during the recruitment of a new employee.

This often takes the form of driver licence checks, but some organisations require candidates to undergo psychometric tests to discover their suitability for the role.

During a roundtable discussion at the Fleet200 Executive Club at St Anne’s Manor, Bracknell, fleet decision-makers heard the induction process provides an opportunity to outline driver safety policies to new starters, as well as how drivers are expected to behave in different circumstances.

Other issues discussed include:

• Driver performance can be monitored on an ongoing basis by building driver profiles for all employees who drive on company business. These can include data from multiple sources, such as telematics systems, collision history, miles driven, age of driver.
• Fleets can then use different methods to improve driver behaviour including one-on-one assessments, e-learning and classroom-based sessions. Targeted training is more effective than general training courses as it can address specific areas.
• Topical issues such as winter driving can be used to raise safety awareness at particular times of the year.
• Technology such as in-cab cameras can protect drivers from spurious complaints, while parking sensors will reduce manoeuvring incidents.
• Driver-facing cameras can also identify distracted driving behaviour, such as phone use and fatigue.
• Feedback from drivers can highlight issues with vehicles, such as insufficient racking, for fleet managers to address.
• Best practice is to treat grey fleet drivers as company car drivers and ensure they comply with licence and vehicle checks.