As an operator of a large fleet, McGee has revolutionised the traditional pen-and-paper-based daily vehicle inspection process by ‘going digital’. Drivers previously completed a defect book as part of their daily vehicle inspection. Any vehicle issues found were reported to the Transport Office via a phone call, which typically led to a series of additional calls and emails, before the appropriate maintenance could be arranged.
Following a series of successful trials in 2014 and completion of driver training in early 2015, McGee’s drivers now carry out a 360° daily vehicle inspection using a tablet. Each vehicle is fitted with 4 Near Field Communication (NFC) tags, which are located on the front, nearside, offside and inside the cab. After the GPS location is detected, drivers are prompted of everything they need to check and are required to scan their tablet on the NFC tags.
If a defect is reported, it will reach the Transport Manager in seconds and the issue can be actioned immediately – the app’s photo-taking feature particularly helps speed up the appropriate resolution.
If there are no defects to report, the driver provides a digital signature and will ‘save and submit’ the report. Reports are stored electronically; therefore the process is fully auditable.
The vehicle inspection app is built on a Mobilengine platform and NFC technology and was designed to revolutionise the time consuming, inefficient paper-based process. It enhances vehicle safety, improves workflow and allows for the whole process to be more visible and controllable.
The system gives McGee the knowledge that every vehicle is leaving in the right condition, it provides a seamless user experience, ensures fast execution and full compliance. The mobility of the solution enables the Transport Manager to be aware of all matters concerning the McGee fleet whenever and wherever. This is especially important because of McGee’s ongoing work with CLOCS to help protect vulnerable road users.
As a company we are always looking at ways we can go that extra mile to improve the safety of cyclists and other vulnerable road users. Our membership with CLOCS has had an positive effect on the business and we take an active part in promoting vehicle safety.
The CLOCS membership is also commercially vital to our business, a majority of our work in Central London and contractors and local councils have now starting to insist certain vehicle standards are met, whether it be a CLOCS accreditation and/or a minimum of FORS Silver. Failure to have this means our vehicles are turned away from the gate.
— Ashish Gami, Transport Manager
