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We’ve joined up with Freight Best Practice to show operators how improving your drivers’ efficiency can bring real benefits…
Continual learning and development are essential ingredients of sustaining efficiency improvements. It is recognised that employees are an organisation’s greatest asset, but this asset is only as good as you choose to make it. The Freight Best Practice programme has a wealth of skills development support material, all designed to help large and small operators enhance and optimise performance. And it’s available free.
When you have read this page, you can test yourself online.
One of the programme’s newest tools, which can help operators identify the most cost-effective route to improving fuel efficiency is the Fuel Ready Reckoner. This innovative web-based tool (available from the Freight Best Practice website) allows operators to quickly estimate how much fuel and money could be saved if a company decided to implement various fuel-saving interventions into their operation.
One intervention, which the Fuel Ready Reckoner credits as giving the greatest efficiency gains for minimal investment, is improving the skills of drivers. This is because drivers have the biggest single impact on fuel consumption. The more times a driver changes gear, brakes or accelerates, the worse fuel consumption will be.
Modifying behaviour means fuel consumption can be reduced, and the safety of your driver, the vehicle and other road users will be improved. Importantly, drivers are also the customer-facing part of freight operations, and, because a company is judged by the conduct of its employees. Positive attitudes and well-motivated drivers will be recognised by your customers.
With the importance of the driver identified, it is vital to train staff to their full potential with bad practice being recognised and reduced. Even experienced drivers can have bad habits. Ask yourself a few questions:
Freight Best Practice has something to offer owners, directors, managers and drivers. Products are available entirely free of charge and can be obtained by either visiting the Freight Best Practice website or by calling the Hotline on 0845 877 0 877.
A1 Paper, a leading paper stockist and distributor based in the West Midlands, has an annual turnover of around £9m and employs 50 staff, including 11 drivers. A1 Paper holds stock of around 2,000 tonnes and provides a same or next day nationwide service in quantities ranging from individual boxes to multiple pallets.
After learning about the Small Fleet Performance Management Tool (SFPMT), available free from the Freight Best Practice programme, transport manager John Claffey began using the SFPMT in January 2005. That allowed the firm to expand its monitoring beyond just measuring fuel consumption.
The objective was to gain more comprehensive coverage of the fleet’s activities to achieve greater operational efficiency. With the monitoring showing high fuel consumption, A1 Paper put their drivers through the SAFED programme, which helped reduce costs. A1 Paper conserved 3,123 gallons of fuel over a year, saving £13,444.
For more, download the SFPMT Helps A1 Paper Improve Efficiency’ study here or call the Hotline on 0845 877 0 877. Safe And Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) is designed to improve the driving techniques of both truck and van drivers. The SAFED training programme was developed by a steering group of industry experts and is sponsored by the Department for Transport.
Current funding is available and consists of:
Since its introduction, thousands of drivers have been through the one-day training course, and hundreds of driver-trainers have completed the SAFED Instructor’s Course. Widespread benefits have been reported following the completion of training, with an average MPG saving of around 10% for truck drivers and 16% for van drivers.
The training comprises a full day’s training in both practical and theoretical elements. The driver is assessed on their current driving style, and is then given tuition to improve driving technique to aid fuel efficiency and improve safety. Finally, the driver is reassessed to record improvements in driving performance and actual fuel consumption.
If you wish to subscribe to SAFED training and funding is not available, then training can still be provided on a commercial basis by trained instructors principally based throughout England. To locate your nearest instructor, or for more information on the scheme, log on to the SAFED website.
This 25-minute DVD looks at the efficiency measures implemented in four different firms and champions the role of the driver. It examines how drivers contribute to operational efficiency and the benefits that can provide. It is designed to be used for driver briefings and training to support efficiency initiatives. To obtain your free copy, log on to the Freight Best Practice website or call the Hotline on 0845 877 0 877
Now you have learned about the benefits of driver training, you can test yourself online.
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