Driver communication is the number one problem for CV fleets trying to meet their responsibilities under the new Corporate Manslaughter Act, delegates on the CFC Solutions stand were told by leading solicitor David Faithful at CV Show 2008 today (April 15).
CFC – the market leader in fleet software - is holding a series of seminars tackling key fleet subjects throughout CV Show, with the first being given by Faithful, a consultant for both civil and commercial law specialists Lyons Davidson and risk management company Essential Risk Consultancy.
He explained: “Driver communication is the number one problem for commercial vehicles fleets trying to meet their responsibilities under the new Corporate Manslaughter legislation. “Because truck and van drivers tend to be out on the road all the time, it is difficult to let them know about basic measures that the new law may say you need to put in place, such as certain aspects of your risk management policy."
“An example could be if you need to tell your drivers about a new policy you are putting in place to control mobile phone use. There is no easy way to get the details to them, to know they have read and understood it, and that they are taking notice of it as part of their day-to-day activity."
“Driver fatigue is a linked issue, especially for smaller CV fleets where there are no tachographs. It is difficult to know how long drivers are actually spending behind the wheel because the driver cannot communicate with you easily – but this is a key area to monitor under health and safety.”
Faithful closed the seminar with a short demonstration of CFC’s SafetyNet, an online risk management tool incorporating Realtime Risk Assessment software developed by Essential Risk Consultancy.
Faithful continued: “In SafetyNet, you can solve this problem by communicating with drivers in a structured manner through e-mail, ensuring that information is received, understood and then checking that it is being carried through into everyday life on the road."
“It helps you to create the level of interaction that you need in order to successfully implement a risk management policy and fulfil your legal obligations.”
Further seminars will be taking place on CFC’s stand at the NEC (Hall 18, Stand 140) throughout CV Show 2008. They are designed to provide a brief yet informative overview of a current topic in around 30 minutes.
Seminars taking place on 16th and 17th April are:
11:00 Corporate manslaughter, an overview of the legislation
11:45 Risk management for commercial fleet operators
13:15 Fleet management basics
13:45 Fleet management software – what has it got to offer me?
14:30 Safe drive presentation 15:45 Maintenance, budget forecasting and management
For further details about this press release please contact Simon Wells at Paperchase Public Relations on 01283 711311/07768 912430 or e-mail simon@paperchasepr.co.uk.