A new solution to take the headache out of vehicle compliance and help raise safety standards is now available for fleets.

The CHAS Vehicle Compliance Standard is a new way for companies to align their fleet safety with their existing health and safety procedures

Developed to help operators safeguard themselves and the business, the CHAS Vehicle Compliance Standard is a new way for companies to align their fleet safety with their existing health and safety procedures.

It’s the work of CHAS, a leading provider of risk prevention, compliance and supply chain management services, which has teamed up with National Highways and Driving for Better Business to improve, benchmark and ensure compliant vehicle operations.

The new scheme assesses the compliance and safety of work vehicles or fleet operations across 14 key risk areas, covering the driver, the vehicle, recordkeeping and safe working practices.

It enables businesses to demonstrate to clients and stakeholders that they are managing work-related road risk, by ensuring that the vehicles they operate are safe and roadworthy and that their drivers are trained and competent.

The new solution draws on CHAS’ existing experience as a co-founder of the Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) and the Common Assessment Standard, supporting organisations to manage and mitigate risk across a range of business-critical areas, including health and safety and environmental management practices.

CHAS product owner Jonathan Mwambingu said: “Feedback from clients and contractors shows there is a demand for a fleet compliance standard to help monitor and mitigate risks within their supply chains. Being able to assess risk management practices is an important part of the procurement process.”

Many businesses view their transport operations as a necessary function, rather than a specialist, and may lack a dedicated fleet manager to oversee vehicle operations, leading to potential oversight of crucial safety and legal requirements. These can include driver entitlements, domestic drivers’ hours rules, pre-use checks, regular service intervals, inspections, and overall roadworthiness.

To address these challenges, the CHAS Vehicle Compliance Scheme offers an effective assessment framework. Through this, fleets can ensure they operate at the highest legal standards and embrace best practices. This enhances safety and demonstrates a commitment to transport excellence.