Leaders from across the fleet industry came together last week to share best practice in managing work-related road risk at Global Fleet Champions’ annual Fleet Safety Conference.
Fleet managers and suppliers travelled to the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre on Wednesday 22 May 2019 to learn more about how they could become ‘Simply the Best’ at operating safe, sustainable transport.
Headline presentations covered topics including prioritising driver welfare, recruiting the best drivers and methods for developing leadership within the fleet industry.
The conference, sponsored by Visiontrack, was the first to be run under Global Fleet Champions branding since the campaign was launched earlier this year by Brake, the road safety charity.
Jennifer Yaxley, senior HSE advisor at Jacobs, began the morning’s presentations by discussing what fleet organisations can do to encourage effective leadership among staff.
Other speakers included Adam Hindson, Acumen Waste Disposal’s director of compliance, who spoke about the need to put drivers’ welfare first, and Dr Lisa Dorn of DriverMetrics, who discussed methods for addressing the global shortage of people willing to work as drivers.
Solicitors from Woodfines also delivered a ‘mock trial’ that asked delegates to preside over the case of an at-work driver involved in a fatal crash while talking to his manager on a hands-free phone.
This ‘jury’ was tasked with deciding whether the defendant was guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, or not guilty of any charges.
After hearing evidence from Woodfines’ lawyers, delegates voted for causing death by careless driving as many believed the driver’s conduct did not meet the standard of falling far below that expected of a careful and competent driver.
Attendees were also able to choose breakout sessions covering topics ranging from grey fleet management to policies for improving driver mental health.
Ross Moorlock, business development director at Brake, said: “I’m delighted that our first Fleet Safety Conference as part of the Global Fleet Champions campaign was such a success.
“Our speakers offered fascinating insights into key topics relating to the latest developments in the fleet industry, which prompted delegates to describe it as our best Fleet Safety Conference to date. I hope to build on this success for next year’s event – and to see many returning faces to learn more about how fleets can achieve safe and healthy mobility for all.”