The Department for Transport and Defra have announced financial support of up to £850,000 from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund to support greener, safer driving techniques for 2,100 truck drivers in the aggregates sector. To benefit from the part-funded programme, operators must devote 50% of their time or mileage to aggregates haulage.
The Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) scheme for HGVs was set up in 2003, and was aimed at encouraging safe and fuel-efficient driving techniques. The SAFED Aggregates driver development programme has been immensely popular over the past two years, assisting some 5,000 truck drivers from within the aggregates sector.
Aggregates truck drivers who completed the driver development programme have found they achieved an average 12% improvement in fuel efficiency and a further 32% reduction in gear changes.
"The SAFED programme is evidence we can all change and improve our driving techniques. We ask one simple question: 'Give it a try, what have you got to lose?'," says Kevin Taylor, managing director of Liquid Management Solutions, the company responsible for marketing the programme.
"Since introducing the SAFED programme into our training, we've seen significant changes in driver behaviour. These manifest themselves mainly as improved mpg, but drivers also comment on the reduced stress levels as a result of a more relaxed driving style."
Interested aggregates sector fleet managers and truck drivers can register by texting the word 'SAFED' to 80010 or phoning Liquid Management Solutions on 0845 450 7373.