The Australasian Fleet Managers Assoc tell us that fleet safety managers have experienced massive change over the past few years and that with fleets of all sizes now investing heavily in new technology, 2018 is set to be another year of evolution for fleet safety. Luckily the first few months of the year are a chance for a fresh start and big picture thinking and it’s the perfect time to set the business up for a successful year. The AFMA profile advice this month from Teltrac Navman that provides a valuable summary of topical issues:
PUT FLEET SAFETY FIRST: With 64% of all workplace deaths involving a vehicle safety should be a top priority for anyone operating a vehicle fleet of any size. It’s crucial that businesses start to fully embrace a culture of safety across the entire organisation – including fleet operations. This should be a colaborative process involving education for all staff, real-tie driver behavior data and management support. There should never be a question of whether to act in an unsafe way to the the job done faster.
FOCUS ON WHAT’S IMPORTANT: A narrow focus on the bottom line can mean strategic thinking and company culture around fleet safety take a back seat. With access to valuable business driving behavior data it’s easy to pinpoint areas for improvement in fleet safety and efficiency. Maybe driver’s are idling and burning through fuel or breaking too harshly resulting in increased maintenance costs. Or perhaps smarter routing and job scheduling will highlight under-utilised vehicles that can be put to more profitable use – or sold! Easing these cost pressures offers a chance to focus on more important elements of business, such as customer and employee wellbeing.
KEEP YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE: Technology has already changed the status-quo in fleet safety management. Implementation of innovations like the internet of things, autonomous vehicles and drone deliveries are gathering speed all over the world. In a recent Australasian example, the NSW government has announced a fleet safety focus and will install emergency safety technologies access to its entire vehicle fleet, including advanced breaking systems and vehicle automation. Any fleet that’s seen as an early adopter of these innovations will quickly be miles ahead of its competitors by gaining the advantage in safety and efficiency.
STAY A STEP AHEAD: Successful businesses look to the future. Get a head start on an efficient and productive year, whether it’s by analysing fleet data or by using technology to improve fleet safety and preventative maintenance schedules. Rather than waiting until a vehicle has reached breaking point and is stranded on the side of the road, telematics data can be used to notify staff when the vehicle is due for a scheduled service.
The next 12 months is likely to involve a lot more change. With a little forward planning and the right tools you can position your business to withstand any hurdles and get a few steps ahead of the pack.
Tui Kane
Good basic tips and reminders. NZ does have some of the worst traffic accident stats in the world and the H&S implications still are not being adequately addressed by the business sector. Sadly most H&S practitioners are still overlooking the obvious. The tips in the article are helpful and should be considered. Based on your suggestions some of our fleet vehicles have been modernised to include more safety features and better technology, and the GPS data does allow us to understand driving behavior better. All this has helped us reduced our accident rates. Thanks Crash Management for working on these improvements with us and our leasing company and for the excellent 24/7 accident management services and driver benefits you deliver to us.