Jim Hill, group marketing director at vehicle technology specialist Trakm8, on how plans to relax the MOT rules could affect fleets and how to protect vehicles and drivers.

Jim Hill, group marketing director at Trakm8

The news that the Government is considering changes to existing MOT legislation in a bid to ease the cost-of-living crisis is something fleet managers nationwide should be paying close attention to.

According to reports, the changes could include the scrapping of the mandatory one-year test for vehicles aged three years and above, in favour of biennial check-ups. It is hoped that such a move could ease financial burdens on motorists in the wake of spiralling energy costs and inflation rates hitting a 30-year high.

While the change could deliver some short-term financial benefits, automotive industry bodies across the UK have called for such changes not to be implemented, citing the possible threats to road safety that such a change could necessitate.

Those concerns around road safety are already being exacerbated by the ongoing vehicle parts shortage, which is forcing businesses to run ageing fleets for longer. In such a scenario, where older vehicles may be on the road for longer, regular vehicle health checks – of which MOTs are a crucial example – are vitally important.

While no such changes have been formally announced as yet, it is vital that fleets up and down the UK are considering now how they can safeguard their fleets should such legislation be introduced.

Key to this is taking a proactive approach to vehicle health. One of the surest ways of achieving this is via investment in telematics technology that can provide a holistic overview of fleet health, identifying issues before they become disabling to a vehicle.

When utilised correctly, telematics software can prove very useful to a fleet manager – giving them access to a suite of data insights that provide real-time insights into a range of key metrics including vehicular health and driver performance.

At Trakm8, we have long pioneered telematics solutions that best support the evolving needs of fleet managers. Our Connectedcare vehicle health diagnostics platform has been especially configured to give fleet managers comprehensive insights that helps ensure their vehicles are being operated as safely and efficiently as possible.

Via deep CANBus connectivity, Connectedcare gives fleet managers remote access to diagnostic trouble codes and warning lights, helping to minimise breakdowns and reduce expensive vehicle repair costs. Simply by accessing Trakm8’s Insights web portal or mobile app, fleet managers can get real-time updates on vehicular health, including vital data points such as battery health, washer fluid, traction control, AdBlue levels and tyre pressure monitoring systems – all of which form part of MOT check-ups.

What’s more, Connectedcare enables fleet managers to alert drivers to minor issues before they become major problems – ultimately safeguarding against costly unplanned downtime.

And with an increasing number of businesses looking to electrify some or all of their fleets, Trakm8 can monitor both your electric and conventional vehicles all on one platform.

These include real-time state of battery charge updates. Presented as a percentage of the total charge, Trakm8 Insight informs fleet managers which of their vehicles has the most charge and calculates their current range taking into account driving activity and behaviour, ensuring dispatched vehicles can complete the job at hand.

The solution can further ease ‘range anxiety’ concerns via its regularly updated charge post mapping function. Providing both drivers and fleet managers with up-to-date visibility of the UK’s charge point network, Trakm8’s solution supplies a detailed overview of the connectivity and compatibility of individual charge points.

Whatever happens regarding the future of the yearly MOT, vehicle health is something no business wants to compromise on. For fleet managers, it is important to remember that the power to safeguard vehicular health sits in their hands, so they should be considering now how they can protect their drivers and assets should biennial testing come to pass. Telematics might just be the answer.