Tracker is urging businesses to assess their vans to ensure they are fit for purpose after data from the Freight Transport Association (FTA) revealed that half of all vans on the roads, over three years old, are unroadworthy.

Tracker’s telematics services enables businesses to monitor their usage and book vehicles in for routine maintenance and servicing, which will help fleet owners in their efforts to ensure that they are running a safe fleet of older vans.

“The FTA’s figures highlight the fact that businesses are holding onto vans for longer, rather than investing in a new fleet,” said Stephen Doran, managing director of Tracker.

“But with 50% of vans over three years being old unfit to be on the road, some van owners may not be maintaining their fleet adequately.

“At a time when businesses are focusing on reducing costs the last thing they need is for their vans to breakdown or fail their MOT, both of which can be expensive to rectify and Tracker’s services can help avoid these costs by encouraging regular maintenance of an ageing fleet.” 

Tracker’s fleet telematics system offers businesses the information they need to maintain and enhance the efficiency of their fleet by monitoring wear and tear.

The flexibility of the system means fleet managers can be alerted to upcoming servicing dates, as well as monitoring vehicle efficiency, highlighting potential problems before they become costly repair bills.

Users of Tracker Fleet can set their own Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including whether vehicles are exceeding daily mileage allowances or speed limits.

Layers of information about a vehicle and the driver can be opened at the click of the mouse, including job status, replays of vehicle journeys and location on alternative maps.  The user can even send the driver a message through Tracker Fleet.

Doran concluded: “By monitoring driver behaviour, fleet owners can address any issues that may be causing excessive wear and tear to vehicles, as well as focusing on safety.

“Whilst servicing may seem like an unnecessary expense, running a fleet into the ground could cost more in the long run.”

“Tracker Fleet helps businesses stay on top of van maintenance, enhancing the efficiency of their fleet by saving time, fuel and money.”