A plea has gone out to make safety a priority for drivers amid rule changes around their working hours.
Furthermore, fleets are being called upon to not compromise when it comes to driver safety.
Drivers are now able to be behind the wheel for 10 hours a day – up from nine.
However, there’s concern in the industry that the measure is “madness”.
For example, the RHA’s Richard Burnett, has spoken out with his fears.
“Loading more hours onto drivers that are already exhausted isn’t the answer,” he said.
Meanwhile, others in the industry have offered help to those affected.
Brigade Electronics’s Emily Hardy believes the situation needs to be managed effectively.
“Technology can help fleet managers keep on top of their workload,” she said.
For example, Brigade has developed a remote fleet management system.
“This system can meet many of the challenges facing today’s haulage professionals.
“Fitting safety devices will also help operators attract new recruits by providing additional peace of mind,” added Hardy.
In addition, she said it would allow drivers to operate their vehicle with more confidence.
Furthermore, vehicle CCTV, such as Brigade’s mobile digital recording systems (MDR), will help the situation.
For example, it allows fleet managers to live track vehicles.
Also, it provides additional benefits for operators when linked to its 4G cloud service, BRIDGE.
Firstly, it includes location tracking to help managers find their fleet at any time.
Secondly, it offers geo-fencing capabilities so managers can identify when vehicles are entering or leaving specific areas.
Finally, it can trigger warnings that instantly notify fleet managers of incidents.
Vehicle CCTV can also provide drivers and operators with an additional layer of safety and security.
As a result, it can act as a digital witness and provide evidence in the event of an incident or false claims.
