Roadside VOSA inspections rising, claim 42% of transport companies

Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 09:00
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VOSA

RISE: More VOSA roadside checks?

Almost half of transport companies believe VOSA roadside inspections are increasing, according to research by TomTom Business Solutions.

The study, among companies operating vehicles of 3.5tonnes or more, revealed 42% feel VOSA are cranking up the number of spot-checks.

A further 46% claimed risk of prosecution for tachograph offences is a growing concern, while 20% admitted infringements had been recorded against them in the last three years.

Convictions for drivers’ hours violations and tachograph offences can lead to fines of up to £5,000 and, in some cases, prison sentences of up to two years.

Giles Margerison, UK and Ireland Director of TomTom Business Solutions, said: “The severity of these penalties and potential damage to a business’s reputation makes compliance crucial.

“Systems should be in place to ensure the process is managed effectively, while minimising time-consuming administration and impact on precious business resources.”

The study also found 32% of transport companies currently spend in excess of an hour per vehicle manually downloading digital tachograph data.

A further 15% have also missed download deadlines, which are set to ensure data is not overwritten.

Meanwhile, 25% spend more than two hours a month analysing tachograph data to ensure legislative compliance, while 28% claimed they never do so.

“Advanced software solutions will automatically schedule remote downloads to ensure deadlines are never missed and incorporate reporting analytics to detail driver infringements at the touch of a button,” added Giles.

TomTom’s WEBFLEET Tachograph Manager brings fleet management and working-time compliance together in one, unified system.

By eliminating the need for separate solutions, businesses are able to cut back on admin and improve efficiencies.

Remote download of tachograph data is achieved through a connection with TomTom’s LINK on-board unit, meaning no additional hardware is required.

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