In recent years, fleet management has become an essential part of many businesses, big or small. The implementation of fleet management solutions has enabled companies to optimise their operations, minimise costs, and efficiently manage their resources. However, when it comes to fleet tracking, several legal aspects must be taken into consideration. Fleet tracking involves monitoring the location, speed, and behaviour of drivers, and it is essential to comply with legal requirements to avoid any legal implications.
Employee Privacy and Data Protection
Fleet tracking involves a great deal of employee privacy concerns, and it is essential to handle them legally. The recent GDPR rules set by the EU and UK governments ensures that businesses collecting and storing data that may be identifiable to a particular individual must be handled correctly. Firstly, the employee in question must be informed of the tracking of their company vehicle or fleet.
In order to comply, businesses must protect the confidentiality of their strategy and take all necessary steps to ensure that the data cannot be accessed by unauthorised personnel.
If found not to be adhering to data protection and GDPR laws, businesses may be subject to large fines and risk their company name and image. As well as potentially losing custom and staff, as a result.
Tracking Driving Hours
For commercial drivers the long hours and large journeys require full concentration and energy. Those sitting behind the wheel completing driving jobs for their companies will become tired and overworked if not given the appropriate amount of time for breaks and rest. To ensure the safety of drivers but also other road users, tracking driver hours and breaks is incredibly important.
The law in the UK states that domestic drivers driving more than 8 hours and 30 minutes per day must not drive continuously for more than 7 hours and 45 minutes, requiring a 45 minute break within the working day. This break can be made up of smaller breaks that add up to at least 45 minutes. Extra breaks must be taken if the driver is driving more than 8 hours and 30 minutes. Exceeding 10 hours of driving per day is illegal.
For companies to ensure drivers are getting the breaks they need and are not spending excessive amounts of time behind the wheel, fleet tracking or fleet management systems are the best way to observe this behaviour in line with the law. In fact, these systems have enhanced the safety of HGV driving and improved the efficiency of logistics operations.
When it comes to the legality of fleet tracking, these systems, incorporating GPS technology, are incredibly useful and 100% legal, as long as data protection is adhered to.
