Irrefutable proof of compliance with the exacting demands of the Working Time Directive is now available to hauliers and fleet managers thanks to ClockWork from Navman Wireless.
The vehicle tracking specialist's reporting tool, which monitors the activity of drivers as well as vehicles, has been upgraded making it more comprehensive and intuitive than ever before.
ClockWork automatically alerts drivers when they need to take rest breaks, tells them how long the breaks must be and enables fleet managers to react instantly to stop drivers from working longer than the stipulated limits.
The tool allows businesses to fulfil their legal and moral obligations in the event of spot checks by VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) or the HSE (Health and Safety Executive).
"Duty of care obligations and the Working Time Directive remain a considerable challenge for UK hauliers and fleet managers," explains Tony Neill, Executive Vice President, Navman Wireless.
"Many managers have no way of knowing, in real time, exactly when a driver is taking a rest break or is on a period of availability. ClockWork, improved in response to customer feedback, makes the process of improving driver safety, and complying with drivers' hours regulations, a painless one."
Management are offered up-to-the-minute reports on driver schedules – with clear warnings when a driver is entering the danger zone of non-compliance. These highlight which drivers are within eight hours of the specified limit, allowing transport managers to reallocate resources appropriately.
Furthermore, non-compliance reports highlight any major differences with normal working practices, such as extended rest breaks.
Drivers are automatically prompted to update management on their status, every time it changes. Pop-up on-screen reminder messages, combined with a clear audio prompt, compel them to update head office with details on whether they are loading, waiting for a customer or travelling on a ferry, for example.
Navman Wireless's new system even takes the possibility of human error into account and, if necessary, allows the user to amend reports. Where changes have been made – as a result of a driver having confirmed he was working when he was in fact taking a rest break, for example – ClockWork will generate an audit trail detailing the alterations made and the reasons for them.