The IRTE Conference on 13 September 2012 at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon focused on strategies for cost effective fleet management and operations. The conference included some fantastic speakers covering the implications of Euro 6 legislation, multi fuel and gas truck alternatives, aerodynamics & chassis design, tyre selection & management, maintenance strategies and OCRS, steering systems, telematics, driver management and compliance and regulation adherence. Road transport operators face continual pressure to deliver cost savings and improvements in customer service whilst maintaining their regulatory compliance. Many of the delegates will have left the event with plenty of food for thought for the future. However, the key takeaway message for the present came from Beverley Bell, Traffic Commissioner – Department for Transport and Alastair Peoples, Chief Executive, VOSA. They both reinforced the importance and need for operators to comply with regulations which exist to protect drivers, the public and ensure a level competitive playing field. With 90k licenced operators and around 420k vehicles the authorities need to focus their efforts. Therefore if you can demonstrate your compliance you stand a better chance of being left alone. This is where solutions such as Smartanalysis and Smartdebrief can help. They show the authorities that you take compliance seriously and have systems and processes in place for managing it, giving them more time to focus on the operators that don’t.