That’s the finding of new research carried out by TomTom Business Solutions with nearly a thousand car and van fleet drivers across Germany, France, Britain, Ireland and the Netherlands.

The survey showed that the majority (49%) of respondents use paper-based mileage records, while a further 21% of drivers record and submit records via their computer and 26% use a mobile device.

In addition, more than half of drivers (55%) have to reproduce mileage records into another format or computer system when they get back to their office.

‘Lost productivity can have a major impact on a company’s ability to remain competitive in an increasingly challenging economic environment and mileage registration is proving a drain on resources,’ said Thomas Schmidt, managing director, TomTom Business Solutions.

‘Antiquated systems for recording mileage mean many businesses are suffering a significant blow to productivity – which could run to more than 800 hours a month for companies employing 100 drivers. This represents a major concern for management but one that smart systems can help them overcome.’

The study, conducted among company drivers not using an automated mileage recording system, also found that more than a third (36%) submit inaccurate mileage when claiming expenses, with 29% doing it regularly.

‘It is worrying that such a large proportion of European business drivers are submitting inaccurate mileage claims as this can dent business profitability and have repercussions for tax compliance,’ added Mr Thomas.

‘Advanced fleet management technology helps to simplify the mileage registration process, allowing businesses to guarantee the accuracy of records and maximise efficiency.’