Off site and out of mind?

Employee wellbeing is high on business agendas, but in the case of mobile workers, it can very much be a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’.=

Drivers are fundamental to the success of transport operations, but the stress factors they face can be far reaching – from mounting productivity pressures to personal ‘cost of living’ concerns.

Amidst a cost of business crisis that is likely to see transport management targets focused on profitability and performance, there is a risk of driver mental wellbeing being overlooked.

THE FLEET TECH ANTIDOTE

The work pressures facing fleet managers and drivers are intensifying.

An antidote, however, can be found in the shape of fleet technology, which can help relieve the impact of heavy workloads, tight deadlines, challenging job schedules and traffic congestion.

SMARTER PLANNING

Efficient job scheduling is conducive to a less stressful working environment – enter stage right, advanced fleet management solutions. Platforms such as Webfleet enable smart job allocation, helping reduce overall mileage and the time drivers spend on the road.

Routing and scheduling tools add an additional layer of planning data, which can further enhance processes and improve drivers’ working lives. With such systems in situ, jobs or orders can be dispatched directly to their in-vehicle terminals.

Dynamic planning means that when delays occur, schedules can be more easily adapted in real time, with drivers automatically notified, and sent revised routing instructions, via their navigation devices.

A ROUTE TO STRESS MITIGATION

Frustrations at being stuck in traffic can be a major source of stress for drivers.

Smarter navigation and routing systems, incorporating traffic information, enable companies to plan around delays, resulting in marked reductions in journey times and more stress-free motoring. For HGV operators, truck-specific navigation will also route vehicles around access restrictions.

Customers can be simultaneously updated with automatic notifications, helping reduce time pressures.

MANAGING DRIVER HOURS

The management of HGV driver hours is covered by robust tachograph obligations, but controls are less strict for van fleets.

Solutions such as Webfleet enable businesses to identify where drivers are spending too long behind the wheel without taking breaks, helping them better manage fatigue.

CUTTING THE ADMIN BURDEN

Drivers are exposed to a myriad of time-related pressures, from tight delivery windows to unexpected congestion, but managers can reduce their admin burden by digitising work processes.

Driver devices, such as the Webfleet PRO M and PRO 8 series, can host applications to simplify and streamline tasks, from order management and proof of delivery to mileage capture and vehicle safety checks.

THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING

At technology company Telent, long shifts are often required when dealing with emergency situations, but Webfleet is helping to manage driver hours. The system issues automatic alerts when employees are approaching the 12-hour door-to-door working time limit, triggering a dynamic risk assessment process.

Telent managers can also use Webfleet to remotely check in with engineers who have not made contact or have deviated from their work schedules. In an emergency, they can create a geofence around an incident to identify and communicate with employees at risk and, if necessary, dispatch support workers.

The business costs of poor mental health can be considerable, from low morale and reduced productivity to higher levels of absence and staff turnover. Fleet management solutions can hold the key to protecting profitability by supporting a happier, healthier working environment.

*www.webfleet.com

Published On: 16/03/2023 16:00:38

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