Vehicle Safety Checks: Driver Toolkit helps drivers remain safe and compliant

Written by

Commercial vehicles are an essential part of our economy and transport infrastructure. They play a critical role in the supply chain, transporting goods and services across industries and ensuring that businesses run smoothly. To keep these vehicles operational and compliant with regulations, it is crucial to maintain high safety standards. In the UK, for instance, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) sets specific guidelines to ensure that commercial vehicles meet safety and performance standards. Adherence to these standards not only ensures road safety but also prevents costly fines, downtime, and legal complications for fleet operators.

 

The Fuel Store is focused on providing comprehensive fleet management solutions.Our new web application, DriverToolkit, has been built specifically for commercial fleet driver – offering a range of tools to help drivers manage their responsibilities more effectively. It also provides fleet managers with the ability to oversee their operations more seamlessly, ensuring that vehicles remain compliant with DVSA standards and operate at peak performance.

 

DriverToolkit is designed to streamline the day-to-day vehicle safety checks by digitising the process. The result is a tool that can track and store data on vehicle health, driver behaviour, and maintenance- ensuring both drivers and vehicles meet regulatory requirements.

 

What are my responsibilities as a fleet vehicle driver?

GOV.UK states that it is mandatory for drivers to ensure that their vehicle is safe before setting off on a journey. They states that drivers should complete visual, walk round checks of their vehicle which include:

  • Lights
  • Tyres
  • Wheel Fixings
  • Bodywork
  • Trailer Coupling
  • Load and Other Equipment

In addition to the mandatory visual inspection, common vehicle safety checks that need to be performed are:

Brake Inspection

Ensuring the vehicle stops safely. Brake Pads, drums and rotors should be inspected for wear and tear with brake fluid levels being checked regularly.

 

Tyre Inspection

Tyres should be inspected regularly for any signs of damage, wear or underinflation. Proper tyre maintenance can improve fuel efficiency, increase lifespan, and improve safety.

 

Fluid Levels

All fluid levels including oil, coolant, power steering and transmission fluid, should be checked regularly to ensure the correct levels are maintained.

 

Lighting

All lights including headlights, taillights, brake lights and indicators need to be checked to ensure bulbs are working and there are no defects.

 

Steering

The steering system should be inspected for any looseness or play that can affect the driver’s ability to control the vehicle.

 

Electrical System

The electrical system and specifically the wiring should be inspected regularly to ensure no corrosion is present.

 

Why Are Vehicle Safety Checks Important?

Commercial vehicle safety checks are crucial because they help to prevent accidents and ensure that the vehicle is in good condition and all components are working correctly. Regular safety checks can detect issues early, preventing the problem from becoming more severe and potentially causing an accident. 

 

It is a Statutory Compliant Requirement that commercial vehicles complete and pass a DVSA Inspection as failing to perform regular checks can result in fines and other penalties, so it is integral for drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe before beginning a journey.

 

Vehicles that weigh more than 3.5 tonnes will need to ensure DVSA inspections are completed daily, and it is crucial to remember drivers are responsible for confirming their vehicles are road worthy.

 

How Can The Fuel Store Help?

Inside our DriverToolkit, a feature called VehicleCheck allows efficient documentation of the condition of commercial vehicles ensuring they remain compliant with the latest inspection requirements.

 

  • £1.00 PER WEEK PER VEHICLE – UNLIMITED VEHICLE CHECKS
  • DVSA COMPLIANT – PEACE OF MIND
  • QUICK & EASY FAULT MANAGEMENT

 

What Should I Do If I Find Defects With My Vehicle?

As drivers are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are road-worthy, they are additionally responsible for reporting defects within their vehicle.

 

According to GOV.UK, if a defect/s is discovered, drivers must report this to the individual in charge of monitoring vehicle defects within their organisation and include the following in their report:

 

  • Vehicle Registration/Identification Mark
  • Date of Inspection
  • Details of the defects
  • Name of individual reporting defects

 

In addition to our DriverToolkit, we also offer a vehicle tracking solution, providing you real-time insights into vehicle usage, vehicle journey history and much more! Learn more about FuelConnect here. 

 

If you’re looking for a compliance solution that will help streamline your operations, improve safety, and stay on top of legal requirements, then look no further than our NEW DriverToolkit.

 

Visit GOV.UK for additional information regarding the legal requirements of commercial vehicles and how to properly perform vehicle checks.

 

For questions about our DriverToolkit, contact our team of experts for support or alternatively, you can call them on 0121 272 7780. They are always happy to help!