Van drivers keep on driving but not maintaining

Brake pad down to the metal: common, says FSG

Lack of maintenance could land business operators in jail

A VAN not working is a van not making money. But keeping vans going while turning a blind eye to maintenance issues is a dangerous strategy.

Brake pads dangerously worn – or tyres bald to the cord – are increasingly common sites says the Fleet Support Group (FSG), the UK’s largest independent vehicle management company with 50,000 vehicles on its books.

The issues are often the result of extended service intervals says FSG, which has uncovered numerous examples of maintenance failures through Masterview – a unique remote video inspection system that enables business van managers to view the condition of vans and components anywhere around the country.

According to FSG boss Geoffrey Bray, the Masterview system has “uncovered a chamber of horrors”.

Bray said: “We have evidence filmed by our garage network of employees who have ignored clear signs that maintenance is required on the vehicle they are driving.

“With long vehicle service intervals – often up to 20,000 miles – it is more important than ever for drivers to ensure their vans are mechanically sound; but drivers are not doing this because our garages are discovering bald tyres, worn out brakes and other mechanical problems on an almost daily basis,” continued Bray, who added:

“Companies may think they have a vehicle maintenance policy in place. But it is not being followed by drivers in many cases. The images we see regularly on Masterview highlight that this is a major problem.”