Compliance Management in a Mixed Fleet Environment

Integrated effective real-time compliance analysis and management reporting for Hours Law and Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations within a mixed fleet of Digital and Analogue Tachographs

The working time directive is now a reality. Operators have faced some significant challenges in managing the increase in record keeping and driver training, but for many the introduction has been far simpler than expected. Many operators have recognised that the tachograph is the most effective means of capturing accurate working time and record keeping, including all qualifying time for both driving and non-driving duties. The implementation of effective real-time analysis and reporting solutions has allowed operators to focus on improved driver training planning.

The Road Transport Directive has meant that driver availability; driver utilisation and operational costs have to be better managed than ever before if fleets are to stay competitive. Once again these challenges will grow as the industry sees the introduction and adoption of Digital Tachographs. However, a mixed fleet of Digital and Analogue will exist for a number of years - increasing the need for in-depot, integrated solutions for tachograph analysis and the wider capabilities for management reporting and integration with corporate business systems; such as Time and Attendance, Planning and Scheduling, Performance Benchmarking, Personnel and Payroll. The challenge, therefore, of managing working time and hour’s law infringements, within the mixed fleet, should be very seriously thought through as soon as possible.

The regulatory changes should not be taken in isolation of an integrated solution approach. The vision is an “effective real-time integrated solution” that supports:

• Compliance management with Tachograph analysis available within two days of duty.
• Working Time analysis (inc. Periods of Availability), infringement reporting and duty planning for up to 26 weeks of driver duty.
• A mixed fleet environment of digital and analogue tachographed vehicles. (A driver may alternate, daily, between analogue and digital based vehicles. His duty breakdown must be available to the resource planner in effective real-time to ensure that the driver is legally allowed to carry out scheduled duties).
• Extensive management reporting across the company so that effective business decisions can be taken on overall fleet performance in effective real-time.
• Integration with many other business applications where critical business decisions are taken.
• Exploitation of current day technologies and guarantees to provide a consistent level of service for the duration of a mixed fleet environment.

Such a solution already exists today. Many hauliers already recognise that near real-time analysis of driver duty is a very powerful method of driving performance improvements, reducing costs and providing effective planning capability for forward resource utilisation.

"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.

Traditional analogue tachograph analysis cannot provide reliable data in time for operational purposes. It is prudent, therefore, to consider a solution provider that has an integrated approach to your business.

The Working Time Directive and the Digital Tachograph are here and unless hauliers invest in improved processes and the associated technologies to 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.

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