Certain drivers causing issues for fleet managers

Employment Law & HR update 23/08/2011

Employees who escape driving bans could be causing problems for fleet managers, new research has revealed.

With 12 points on a licence usually resulting in a driving ban, certain staff members such as van drivers or sales reps with company cars manage to avoid the ban by claiming ‘exceptional hardship.’

This means that they escape the punishment by claiming that their job is dependent on them being able to drive and having a valid licence.

Losing their licence, they argue, would result in exceptional hardship for themselves and their families.

However, according to fleet management software company, CFC solutions, this kind of situation can cause untold issues for their managers, who feel torn between keeping on an employee with a poor driving record and doing what is best for their business.

Managing Director at CFC, Neville Briggs, said, “Thankfully, this is a fairly rare occurrence but it does prompt a question for fleet managers that could create a managerial headache – do you continue to employ a driver with more than 12 points because they represent such a risk to your company and, also, would it be legal for you to dismiss them?”

“Probably the best way for fleet managers to circumvent this problem is by writing something into employee contracts stipulating that there is an option to dismiss an employee if they rack up more than 12 points,” he added.

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