Venson is at this year’s CV Show and will be on hand to offer advice to visitors on best practice to ensure vehicles are safe and legally road compliant.

It is reminding fleet managers to ensure their vehicles are fit for purpose by equipping them correctly for the job at hand. The worst offenders include overloaded vehicles, poorly secured equipment and a lack of pedestrian warning systems.

Venson says businesses need to take into consideration how their vehicles are used, including the working environment and the payload of the goods and equipment they are carrying. Where drivers need to access the vehicle, both inside and outside, all this should be discussed prior to production of the conversion specification.

Organisations also need to make sure staff are equipped with the knowledge they need to operate the vehicle and the on-board equipment, so a thorough vehicle handover and understanding health and safety implications related to vehicle loading are key, it says.

“When it comes to equipping vehicles, it’s essential to keep in mind the payload quoted by the manufacturer,” explained operations director, Gil Kelly, at Venson Automotive Solutions.

“Fitting crash tested storage equipment such as racking and including a bulk head in the vehicle helps improve driver safety. And, while equipment can be recycled, where appropriate, any products being reused should meet current legislation.

“Fitting telematics can also help with some aspects of driver safety and security. It also provides businesses with the data they need to improve operational and business efficiency.

“Too many businesses cut corners when it comes to equipping their vehicles, or don’t recognise the impact an inferior product could have on vehicle or driver safety. Some of the most common sights you see on the road with dangerously equipped vehicles include;

over loaded vehicles – carrying more than is appropriate for the vehicle size and/or weight, poor distribution of the load between axles, equipment poorly secured and lack of pedestrian warning systems such as reversing beepers, reversing camera and light beacons/bars.”

Kelly concluded: “Getting the vehicle specification correct at the outset can save businesses time, money but more importantly improve staff safety.

“We work closely with clients, using years of experience, to fit all sorts of vehicles for all kinds of industries. Our purpose built workshop in Yorkshire means we can adapt a broad range of fleet vehicles, providing businesses with expert conversions that boost the efficiency and safety of their fleet.”

Venson Automotive Solutions is at the CV Show on stand #3C80 at the NEC Birmingham today and tomorrow (April 27-28).

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