Resolving the Driver Inspection Conundrum
A decade ago, the industry’s first mobile app for fleet engineers was launched at Euro Bus Expo 2016. This development from Freeway enabled, for the first time, the complete elimination of paper from the workshop, with digital data synchronised in real time with the central fleet management system.
However, achieving complete digitisation has been challenging, where data is required from outside the workshop – notably data from driver walkaround inspections. Defects reported by drivers are crucial to managing the workshop and are critical to the smooth operation of transport services.
Drivers are managed by transport operations and they rely on equipment such as ticketing machines or digital devices for navigation and proof of delivery. To undertake their mandatory walkaround checks, drivers often still rely on paper and where digital reporting has been introduced, existing devices are used. The result is a mismatch of different systems, further complicated by varying operator-specific reporting requirements.
As a result of these complexities, obtaining driver check data is problematic and without this data, digitisation of engineering operations is incomplete. To address this issue, Freeway has taken a multi-pronged approach by firstly creating an open environment to make it easier to extract data from external systems; secondly, by developing two-way integration with onboard devices; and lastly, by developing purpose-built apps to run on any mobile device.
Over time, Freeway realised that a driver check app could offer far more than a simple ‘tick-box’ solution to meet basic compliance requirements. Customers had raised concerns about burdening drivers with too many questions and were worried about the consistency and quality of data being reported. As a result, Freeway developed its Driver Walkaround Check (DWC) app that would be quick and easy to use, but with stringent data-entry controls and added performance metrics.
With the new DWC app, drivers are guided step-by-step through each inspection, with only questions relevant to the specific vehicle or asset being inspected. This customisation also extends to defect reporting, recognising that commonly occurring defects are often vehicle-specific.
To enforce a mandatory ‘first-use’ inspection, drivers are presented with the task at login and cannot proceed until the inspection is completed. The app also provides a full audit trail for compliance verification, with reports enhanced by photographic evidence.
Information provided through driver checks is important – a critical defect, for example, might require a vehicle to be taken off the road immediately, with serious implications for transport operations. With real-time data, defect rectifications can be immediately prioritised and intelligently scheduled to help optimise resources and productivity.
Crucially, all inspection data from the app feeds directly into Freeway’s smart dashboard environment, providing real-time visibility, trend analysis and actionable intelligence. This enables management teams to streamline workshop operations, identify recurring issues and assess weaknesses in the timely capture of inspection data.
As the leaders of fleet management across Africa go paperless, the Freeway Driver Walkaround Check app provides a solution to digitising the driver walkaround check. This provides fleet operators with real-time data and analytics, improving efficiency, and tightening defect reporting and tracking.
Click the link (https://zfrmz.eu/WKFrLH5um3lOnw9YFCTo) to request a FREE Driver WalkAround Check app demo and discover how the Driver WalkAround Check supports safer, more efficient fleet operations. Our team is ready to walk you through it and show how it supports your drivers and day-to-day operations.
