A new app has been launched which allows van chauffeurs to complete their car inspection checks on a smartphone or tablet.
It’s called walk around check and its maker – the Freight carry association – believes it will cut down on the inefficiencies of a paper-based check and help fleet managers monitor the efficiency of their drivers.
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It uses a system of weather-resistant barcode labels that are placed on the vehicle’s essential inspection points. These barcodes include information about the driver, vehicle, inspection point and the components to be checked.
The chauffeur walks around the car scanning each code in turn, and either gives the point an all-clear or selects faults from a pre-defined list of defects and advisories. 
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The app automatically transmits the results of the check to a protected database on a site that can be checked at any time of day by authorised users.
As well as ensuring that chauffeurs conduct a extensive inspection and confirm the car is safe to drive, it also flags-up any defects in real-time, stores a full history of inspections and times the duration of each check. 
The app is compatible with iPod, iPhone, iPad and a selected range of Android devices. It also complies with the car and operators services Agency’s safety and maintenance guide and is available for vans, trucks, coaches and busses. It costs £22 plus VAT per car for the first year and £12 per car for subsequent years.
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