Brokers Should Warn Courier Firms of Duty of Care Obligations

-       theft peak reminds how duty of care extends outdoors

Insurance brokers are being urged to ensure their courier firm clients are fulfilling their legal obligations with regard to duty of care over employees and contracted drivers.

Vehicle security and technology expert, HH Driveright says many such firms are sleepwalking towards potential legal nightmares, as they enter the six-week annual ‘Danger Zone’ in which goods and vehicles are most at threat of theft.

With the yearly surge in vehicle attacks and thefts now being fairly common knowledge, HH Driveright says courier company owners, who send drivers out without the right sort of security, could potentially face legal repercussions, due to not fulfilling duty of care requirements over their contracted drivers and employees.

It also stresses that insurers should be encouraging brokers to signpost courier clients towards technology that can not only make a huge difference in terms of reducing thefts of both vehicles and goods but also prevent such clients suffering a declination of claims. Thefts unfortunately often happen in cases where drivers leave keys inside the vehicle.

With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Christmas period looming fast, the team at the Leeds-based company is already seeing a surge in enquiries about its GM 2020 device.  The device’s effectiveness in foiling organised gangs and opportunist thieves has been clearly proven. Usage by the world’s best-known parcel delivery company, led to an 82% reduction in thefts in high-risk delivery areas. 

Where the device was not deployed – in what had been considered lower-risk delivery areas – the trend was reversed.  There, thefts rose by 42%.

Despite this indication of the technology’s positive impacts in the fight against crime, the security specialist warns far too many couriers are operating with little or no protection against the increasing number of organised gangs targeting delivery drivers on their routes.  

This is exposing drivers to real risks, including threats to life, often at knife-point.  Some drivers have also been injured after trying to protect their vehicles and goods from theft.  Lack of the right security is forcing drivers to enter into high-risk situations.

HH Driveright says courier firms have legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and must ensure they take positively foster driver safety. It says that, for as little as £10 per van per month, they can demonstrate the duty of care the law expects to see.

Data demonstrates that the GM 2020 device, winner of the Keeping Your Show on the Road Awards at the Logistics UK Van Awards in 2022, can stop theft in its tracks, whilst also helping drivers to better protect themselves.  

The multi-functional device can report on driving behaviours, CO2 emissions and much more but also has the ability to automatically immobilise any van which the driver vacates and does not lock.  This happens within 10 seconds, if the driver does not respond to an audible alert.  If the vehicle is compatible, the GM 2020 can also auto-lock the doors of the vehicle.

This prevents a thief from driving the vehicle off or unloading the parcels whilst the driver is delivering goods.  If there is no threat to the vehicle or goods, a quick call to the HH Driveright control centre can re-mobilise the vehicle in just a few minutes.

Should the driver be threatened and forced to comply with thieves’ requests to hand over keys, the driver does not have to try to be a hero.  They can allow the vehicle to be driven off but alert HH Driveright, who can remotely immobilise the van when the driver exits the vehicle. 

The exact location of the vehicle will be pinpointed, to assist police.  This can make a huge difference to vehicle recovery.  Swift action increases the chances of it being returned, rather than stripped down into parts and sold on the black market, or shipped overseas.

The functionality helps protect the driver but also the asset-base and reputation of the courier firm.  They do not have to face a declined insurance claim, if the keys are accidentally left inside a vehicle.  This avoids having to finance the purchase of a new vehicle and suffer delay in sourcing a new vehicle, accompanied by loss of earnings, whilst off the road, or the incurring of sky-high vehicle hire charges and associated costs.

Having the security in place also prevents loss of customers, as it better protects their goods on the road and allows couriers to fulfil their promises to their own customers, along with contractual obligations, by delivering on schedule.

HH Driveright’s managing director, Rebecca Hall, says: “Brokers should be advising courier clients to not ignore the fact that drivers are now often operating in highly dangerous, high-crime areas in which their vans and goods are defined targets.  Employers – and those using contracted workers – have a legal duty of care to keep those who are performing services for them as safe as possible.  We feel it is only a matter of time before we start seeing legal cases in which drivers feel they were not sent out with the right level of protection, particularly when the cost of such protection is so low.  If a driver’s health and well-being is not worth £10 per month, we have to question why.”

Courier firms can quickly get their legal house in order, even now ordering GM 2020 devices online at www.hhdriveright.com  Once fitted, they will have a new barrier of protection for both vehicle and driver.

For further advice, call the HH Driveright team on 01937 830 144.

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Editors notes

HH Driveright is an award-winning vehicle security and compliance specialist, with exciting and advanced solutions for van drivers, caravan owners and car drivers wishing to protect their vehicles, livelihood and reputation. It won the 'Keeping Your Show on the Road' award at the 2022 Logistics UK Van Awards and is continually finding ways to achieve that goal, to keep vehicles and their drivers or owners safe and protected.