How best to blend internal and outsourced fleet risk reduction strategy

As we constantly speak to fleets it is clear that everyone has differing views on what fleet risk functions should be performed internally and what might be suitable to outsource.

In addition, it seems HR, Health & Safety and Transport can easily conflict with each other as they wrangle over what elements of risk relate to employment, to safety and to vehicles.

Some businesses form a committee of all three in order to overcome these conflicts and map out a strategy that suits all three departments but this is just for oversight and doesn’t overcome the question over who is actually going to perform the operational tasks involved.

That’s when the question of available internal resources becomes relevant, so….

“WHO DOES YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT?”

A good question to ask.  Who does indeed do it? Which department and which supplier?

The problem here is that Fleet Risk Management is not a weekly or monthly task.  It’s constant.  People are driving for business and under the fleet policy every day of the week.

That means information about what is happening on the road is coming in all the time.  Some of that data needs addressing straight away, other matters can be dealt with later.

So whatever resource is utilised to deal with this issue, it needs to be both specialist in nature and constantly available.  On that basis an outsourced solution would be perfect if such a supplier could link in seamlessly with the strategic risk reduction objectives of that particular fleet.

If that link is perfect then the Fleet can simply appoint the committee of three departments to use their oversight abilities to control the quality of the risk management supplier’s work. 

However, if elements of the strategy need outsourcing to different suppliers there is an immediate job required internally to ‘consolidate’ the risk data from the different suppliers and the benefit of outsourcing is immediately weakened.

It is for these reasons that RVM has constructed its Full Circle fleet risk program to include ALL the elements that a fleet would outsource so that no data is excluded.  Also the Full Circle program is always constructed to match the strategic goals of the fleet so we’re all pulling in the same direction.

RVM manages claims, driver training, grey fleet and telematics data using only in-house teams.  The in-house teams also co-ordinate the supply and analysis of the online products and licence checks.

 

The scope of RVM’s Full Circle risk solution makes it the most comprehensive on the UK market and all 6 elements are brought together via our online portal that gives access to driver safety records that include detailed data on all aspects of the program.

If you are considering how to optimise the way you control the cost of your fleet risk then why not give RVM a call.

If you would like to know more about creating, implementing or administering a risk redcution stratergy then call RVM on 0113 224 8800 and speak to our head of risk, Angela Sorley.

At RVM our integrated approach allows us to help fleets to implement effective safety policies, analyse trends and identify high risk drivers. Our Driver Training program is targeted, timely and appropriate.  The result is lower accident rates, improved driver safety, and reduced costs.

Vehicle checks can’t be done from a remote location!!

In order to comply with UK legislation, employers need fleet drivers to adopt and apply their vehicle safety policies when driving on business.

In practice this means sticking to some straightforward rules whether driving a company vehicle or indeed a private vehicle being driven for business purposes.

These rules will include (amongst other things) routine safety checks, which the employer reasonably expects the driver to carry out.  After all, in the eyes of the police, such checks will be the responsibility of the driver, as opposed to the fleet operator.

So now we have a potential dilemma because although drivers are responsible (and may receive points and a fine), the impact of poor vehicle checking may impact the fleet in terms of increased risk of claims, downtime and cost.

So how could a fleet make sure these simple checks actually happen?   Well, here at RVM Assist we have decided to help by creating a checklist using the name of our business as a mnemonic device!  

·         Remember

·         Vehicle

·         Maintenance:

·         ACCIDENT Damage (dints, scratches, etc.)

·         SERVICING (fluid levels, scheduled checks)

·         SCREEN CHECKS (damage, wiper performance)

·         INDICATORS & OTHER LIGHTS (working, clean)

·         SEATBELTS (webbing, buckles, retractor, adjustors, markings)

·         TYRES (wear, damage, pressure, spare)

We appreciate that although these checks need to take place, many drivers cannot find time to complete them according to the detail and accuracy laid down in the safety manual.

So how do we create more time for fleet safety?

Well, at RVM we believe one of the problems is that Fleet managers are too busy dealing with matters that could be offloaded to outsourced providers, which results in them not having time to do those things that can only be done at a local level.

In other words, we can’t do certain functions from a remote location so part of our job is to take on work from fleets that can be done away from the coalface leaving local staff to focus on those tasks that can only be done locally.

This may seem to be a glimpse of the blindingly obvious but having the confidence to outsource or delegate requires the confidence to admit that you need help and not many people who are under pressure remember to use a white surrender flag when it’s appropriate because they think it’s a sign of weakness.  We don’t think that way at RVM Assist – you see……it’s in our name!