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1. About Andre
Andre is an AI-powered Virtual Transport Manager ("VTM") provided as part of the DDIR fleet compliance platform, developed by Fleet Transport Consultants Ltd ("FTC", "we", "us"). Andre uses artificial intelligence (Google Gemini) combined with a curated transport management knowledge base to provide guidance on UK transport compliance topics.
Andre is designed to assist transport managers, fleet operators, and compliance professionals with general guidance on topics including but not limited to: drivers' hours regulations (EC 561/2006), Working Time Directive, tachograph compliance, operator licensing, DVSA enforcement, vehicle maintenance standards, and industry best practice.
2. Important Disclaimer
Andre is an AI assistant and may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information.
All responses provided by Andre are for general informational and guidance purposes only. Andre's responses do not constitute legal advice, regulatory advice, professional consultancy, or any form of professional opinion upon which you should rely.
You acknowledge and agree that:
- Andre may make mistakes, misinterpret questions, or provide information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or not applicable to your specific circumstances.
- AI-generated content should always be independently verified before being relied upon for compliance decisions, enforcement responses, or operational changes.
- Andre's knowledge base, while extensive, may not reflect the very latest legislative changes, Traffic Commissioner decisions, or DVSA guidance updates.
- Andre does not have access to your complete operational data and therefore cannot assess your full compliance position.
- No AI system, including Andre, can replace the judgement and expertise of a qualified transport professional, solicitor, or regulatory specialist.
3. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law:
- Fleet Transport Consultants Ltd, DDIR, and their directors, employees, and agents accept no liability whatsoever for any loss, damage, cost, or expense arising from reliance on information provided by Andre.
- This includes but is not limited to: regulatory fines, penalties, fixed penalty notices, Traffic Commissioner action, licence revocation, curtailment or suspension, business losses, legal costs, or any other direct, indirect, or consequential loss.
- We make no warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or fitness for purpose of Andre's responses.
- Andre is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without any guarantees of availability, performance, or accuracy.
4. Appropriate Use
Andre is intended to be used as a supplementary guidance tool alongside — not as a replacement for — professional compliance management. Appropriate uses include:
- Quick reference for regulation summaries and legislation references.
- Understanding the general meaning of infringement codes and penalty schedules.
- General guidance on compliance procedures and best practice.
- Identifying areas that may require further professional investigation.
- Supporting (not replacing) transport manager decision-making.
Andre should NOT be used for:
- Making final compliance decisions without independent verification.
- Preparing legal defences or responses to enforcement action without professional legal advice.
- Replacing qualified transport manager oversight or professional consultancy.
- Making employment or disciplinary decisions based solely on Andre's recommendations.
5. Data & Privacy
When you interact with Andre:
- Your messages are sent to our cloud functions and processed using Google's Gemini AI model.
- Conversation data is not stored permanently beyond your active session unless explicitly saved as part of a compliance action.
- Aggregated, anonymised usage data may be used to improve Andre's knowledge base and response quality.
- No personally identifiable driver or employee data should be shared in chat messages. Use driver IDs or reference numbers where possible.
- Our full privacy policy is available at theftc.co.uk/privacy-policy.
6. Knowledge Sources
Andre's knowledge base draws from the following sources, which are believed to be accurate at the time of inclusion:
- EU Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 and retained EU law
- Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations 2005
- Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 (Tachograph)
- DVSA Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness (GTMR)
- Traffic Commissioner Statutory Documents
- Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995
- Road Traffic Act 1988
- Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986
- DVSA Earned Recognition scheme documentation
- Fleet Transport Consultants industry knowledge (theftc.co.uk)
- FORS Standard documentation
These sources are periodically reviewed but may not reflect changes made after the knowledge base was last updated.
7. Professional Advice
For critical compliance matters, enforcement responses, Public Inquiry preparation, or any situation where regulatory action may result, we strongly recommend seeking professional advice from:
- A qualified Transport Manager holding a current TMCPC
- A specialist transport solicitor
- A professional transport consultant (such as Fleet Transport Consultants)
- Your industry trade association
8. Changes to These Terms
We reserve the right to update these terms at any time. Continued use of Andre after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms. We recommend reviewing these terms periodically.