Maximising today's technologies to support tomorrow's legal requirements for the management and development of drivers

Road hauliers today are faced with increased challenges brought about by ever more regulatory change. The implementation of the Working Time Directive in spring 2005 requires operators to have undertaken a thorough review of current working practices. This will necessitate the implementation of working process changes well before the directive becomes law. In addition, the expected arrival of the Digital Tachograph will be close behind.

So what should the operator be doing today to prepare for the significant changes that will be introduced in the very near future? How can improvements in Driver, Vehicle and Route analysis be implemented now, to provide a firm foundation that demonstrates conformity and improves performance well in advance of these changes?

TruTac believes that to support these changes suppliers to the industry will require a good understanding of the current performance of the transport function of every haulier. It is not enough to simply demonstrate basic conformance to the current 'hours law' and processes to reduce driver infringements by sampled tachograph analysis. It requires a detailed understanding of the working time, available time and forward planning for all drivers and vehicles; meaning - near 100% analysis is essential.

The tachograph provides a wealth of extremely valuable information that can and should be used for both the historical analysis of previous days duty, plus a measurement of the overall working time and available time looking forward. To really exploit data requires the analysis to be performed in “effective” real-time (less than 24hours). Cost effective depot based computer technology exists today for the capturing and reporting of tachograph data. It only requires anunderstanding of how the analysed data can be turned into a powerful management decision-making tool. It is this “ effective” real-time information that the digital Tachograph promises, but why wait? The capability exists now and will be fully compatible with the digital devices and, therefore, will support the mixed fleets operators for many years to come.

Many hauliers already recognise that near real-time analysis of driver duty is a very powerful means of driving performance improvements, reducing costs and providing effective planning capability for forward resource utilisation. TruTac has been delivering such capability with TruControl for many years.

“Effective” real-time analysis of the tachograph means having the information available as soon as the day after duty. The understanding of the risks and exposure to the new legal framework is, therefore, current, accurate and immediately useful in business decisions.

The Human asset (the driver) is a valuable resource in short supply. Drivers need better support and training to be able to do their job more effectively from both the employer’s perspective as well as the haulier’s customer. “Effective” real-time analysis is directly relevant to the driver; consequently they will be more diligent about their working time, because they will benefit from the immediate turnaround of duty information that will be fresh in their minds. They will also take more responsibility for their time management and recording their activities, particularly as it could have an effect on their income and working hours.

Technology today, offers a fantastic opportunity for the management of any size fleet to welcome the legal changes and to plan to maximise the benefits. The Working Time Directive and the Digital Tachograph will be introduced in the near future and unless hauliers invest now in improved processes and the associated technologies that will ensure the introduction is smooth and as pain free as possible - the risks to their business continuity will be considerable.

Chris Telfer, Sales & Marketing Director – TruTac Ltd.

End