Understanding Grey Fleet Drivers: Why Businesses Need to Take Notice

Understanding Grey Fleet Drivers: Why Businesses Need to Take Notice (and How DriveSense Verify Can Help)

When employees use their personal vehicles for work, whether driving to a client meeting, making deliveries or visiting sites, they become part of what’s known as the grey fleet. Unlike company-owned or leased vehicles, grey fleet vehicles are privately owned but used for business purposes.

What is a Grey Fleet?

Grey fleet consists of employees who use their own cars, vans or motorcycles for work-related journeys. While convenient and cost-effective for businesses, managing grey fleets poses unique challenges around safety, compliance and liability.

Legal Responsibilities for Businesses

Employers have a clear legal duty to ensure that anyone driving on their behalf, including grey fleet drivers, are safe and roadworthy. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, companies must:

• Verify that vehicles are properly insured and maintained

• Confirm drivers hold valid licences and are fit to drive

• Provide adequate training and risk assessments for grey fleet use

Failing to comply can lead to severe legal and financial consequences, including fines, prosecution and reputational damage.

Why Managing Your Grey Fleet Matters

Grey fleet journeys can account for a significant portion of business mileage, often exceeding that of the company fleet. Without effective management, businesses risk:

• Missing driver licence status changes (additional points / disqualification)

• Gaps in insurance coverage or driver eligibility

• Lack of data on vehicle roadworthiness 
  
  
  

Taking proactive steps protects your people, your business and your bottom line.

Introducing DriveSense Verify, Your Grey Fleet Solution

DriveSense Verify is designed specifically to help businesses manage their grey fleet drivers with confidence. It offers:

Legal Compliance: Automated checks ensure vehicles and drivers meet regulations including:

• Automated twice annual, driver licence checks 

• Evidenced business insurance

• Vehicle roadworthiness including MOT and Vehicle Tax 

• Easy-to-use dashboards for compliance monitoring and reporting

• Drivers can declare if they have ‘breakdown cover’ so that you their employer, knows they can get home safely in the event of a breakdown.

With DriveSense Verify, you gain complete visibility and control over your grey fleet, helping you reduce risk, improve driver wellbeing and meet your legal obligations effortlessly.

References

1. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, UK Legislation.

2. Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, UK Legislation.

3. Department for Transport, Managing Grey Fleets: A Guide for Employers, 2022.

4. Fleet News, The Hidden Costs of Grey Fleets, 2023.