Only about half (55%) of travel programs in Europe “always” or “often” have risk-related policies related to ground transport, according to a report titled “Maximizing Duty of Care: Choosing the Safest ‘Last Mile’ Option for Business Travel” from Freenow and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). Freenow is a multi-mobility app with taxi at its core that is available in nine European markets and over 150 cities.

While a large majority of travel programs have risk management protocols for business travel in place, these often overlook ground transport risks specifically, according to data from the research. Among the report’s highlights:

• Most travel programs (62%) conduct regular safety trainings for employees about business travel, but only about half (56%) “always” or “often” include ground transport risks in this training.
• Most travel programs (89%) have a traveler tracking system in place; however, only one-quarter (24%) can “always” or “often” locate employees using ground transport data.
• The research indicates that taxis are often perceived as the safest form of third-party ground transport, with 50% of travel managers considering them among the safest options, compared with 43% for rental cars and 26% for public transit.
• The importance of vehicle safety checks (93%), partnering with reputable brands (93%) and requiring drivers to have professional taxi or Black Cab licenses (91%) were all identified as essential to ensuring safety.

Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, said the research reflects that travel programs can do more to improve how they manage risk when it comes to ground transportation for their employees. She said corporate travel managers should partner with trusted ground transportation companies known for their exemplary safety records. Additionally, said Neufang, “educating employees on the realities of ground transportation safety is crucial, helping them make informed decisions when navigating their travel options.”

Daniel Barthuly, head of business travel for Freenow, said companies must protect their employees by promoting safe ground transport and integrating it into travel risk management. Around 70% of corporate travel managers, he said, rank safety records as a top factor in choosing transport vendors.

Findings from the report are based on responses from surveys of 425 business travelers and 76 corporate travel managers in four European markets: Germany, UK, Spain and Ireland.

Image: Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com