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MANY businesses in the UK are playing a balancing act between meeting their legal obligations and not overspending on their fleet budget as post-recession finances remain tight, it is claimed.
But according to Graham Hurdle, managing director of online risk assessment and e-learning specialists E-Training World, delaying legal compliance in favour of holding onto cash resources is a completely false economy.
‘We’re talking to a lot of companies who are very hesitant about investing in risk assessing and training their fleet drivers,’ said Hurdle.
‘The explanation we receive on countless occasions is that the budget simply isn’t available for driver training which means it may have to wait until next year.
‘However by taking no action at all not only means company directors are allowing their staff to drive cars without meeting their legal requirements, in many cases money is haemorrhaging from their fleet budget by paying for accidents and huge fuel expenditure.
‘We have seen many instances whereby a very small investment in risk management would not only ensure the company was compliant, but by using our services would more than pay for itself in reducing the number of accidents including minor knocks and scrapes, and would drive down the company fuel bill.
‘The problem is that many of the headlines regarding fleet risk management are to do with the law. This results in fleet managers and company directors seeing it as a cost rather than an investment which will deliver a financial return.
‘And whilst the tide is turning regarding the numbers of companies each year adopting risk management strategies, all too many continue to delay due to cost concerns even though they would save money almost immediately, and these savings would more than outweigh their spend.’
But according to Graham Hurdle, managing director of online risk assessment and e-learning specialists E-Training World, delaying legal compliance in favour of holding onto cash resources is a completely false economy.
‘We’re talking to a lot of companies who are very hesitant about investing in risk assessing and training their fleet drivers,’ said Hurdle.
‘The explanation we receive on countless occasions is that the budget simply isn’t available for driver training which means it may have to wait until next year.
‘However by taking no action at all not only means company directors are allowing their staff to drive cars without meeting their legal requirements, in many cases money is haemorrhaging from their fleet budget by paying for accidents and huge fuel expenditure.
‘We have seen many instances whereby a very small investment in risk management would not only ensure the company was compliant, but by using our services would more than pay for itself in reducing the number of accidents including minor knocks and scrapes, and would drive down the company fuel bill.
‘The problem is that many of the headlines regarding fleet risk management are to do with the law. This results in fleet managers and company directors seeing it as a cost rather than an investment which will deliver a financial return.
‘And whilst the tide is turning regarding the numbers of companies each year adopting risk management strategies, all too many continue to delay due to cost concerns even though they would save money almost immediately, and these savings would more than outweigh their spend.’