CheckedSafe: a decade of digital compliance
Compliance platform CheckedSafe, which has recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, offers a complete digital, cloud-based fleet management solutions package.
The system allows operators to monitor vehicle compliance across every vehicle in the UK and even whilst abroad, says the company, via a cost-effective paperless reporting system.
“These multiple award-winning solutions have entirely digitised vehicle compliance, significantly streamlining the daily operations of both fleet drivers and management,” said the company.
“Bus, HGV, van, car, grey fleet, plant and machinery (any commercial vehicle) drivers can download a handy app onto their mobile devices to use tailor-made vehicle checklists. The app even functions whilst in remote areas with no phone signals to enable checks to be completed on the move…
“The main office then receives each report, allowing for a complete audit trail across the company.”
The system seamlessly ensures that vehicles are Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) compliant, says CheckedSafe, and automatically generates scheduling slots for ad hoc vehicle repair, as well as routine MOTs and servicing.
Discussing the platform’s developments during 2024, director and co-founder Gary Hawthorne explained: “We expanded our portfolio of compliance tools to include Driver Licencing Checks and GB Domestic Hours modules – these have all been successfully completed and launched.
“We are delighted to say that the GB Domestic Hours App is a market-first in the UK and was the result of intensive R&D. We created the algorithm around a complex set of rules that are currently managed by paper systems only.”
CheckedSafe was co-created by Gary and Darran Harris ten years ago. Darran has over 20 years’ industry expertise as a litigation solicitor, specialising in road traffic issues and has worked as a solicitor with major logistics companies, successfully representing them at public inquiries. Gary has more than 30 years’ experience as a transport professional, including as a driver, manager, owner-operator and DVSA-accredited Earned Recognition auditor.
“Our unique joint partnership has thrived in the commercial fleet community, as we know our product inside out and why it’s required,” he said.
Commercial fleet compliance has historically remained heavily paper-based, says CheckedSafe, but the trend is now moving towards technology, especially with increased grey fleet ownership.
“Moving people from paper to technology ensures huge savings in time, paper and storage – all of which impact the environment,” Gary continued.
“You can now effectively manage a 100-strong vehicle fleet from your mobile phone, if you so wish (though a laptop is advisable, with secure back-office options). Therefore, there really is no need to store copious boxes of reports – plus everything is received in real time so any defects/issues can be resolved quickly.
“This reduces overall long-term costs and downtime as better repair planning can be achieved.”
He added: “We are professionals in our respective industry, not salespeople or tech people. We both have a passion for compliance, facilitating change for the better. As an ex-operator, I fully understand the issues at hand and as an accredited auditor, I know the challenges companies face daily.
“This has allowed us through CheckedSafe to develop our product base from an expert knowledge base. After designing our ideas on paper, we hand it over to our tech wizards to digitise those concepts. This ‘old school’ format allows us to really thrash out the ideas on paper first before committing to the tech stage.”
Looking ahead, CheckedSafe says it is focused on building further on its product line by tweaking existing products, providing add-ons to new products and back links to other areas of the platform. The company reports growing client demand and says it is looking forward to future collaborations.
“We have a very exciting project for early 2025 but are keeping tight-lipped for now. It will be a very exciting addition to our existing product portfolio,” said Gary.
“We take great pride in our customer-centric focus, developing off the basis of customer feedback. All requests are evaluated and then we develop and launch that feature for the whole CheckedSafe client base. We do not charge for this, as we believe in sharing good practice and one idea may actually benefit many others.”
More information on CheckedSafe, and access to a 30-day free trial, is available via the website.