With £2.2 million in government funding spent on eco-friendly training, is it the end of the road for the archetypal white van man, asks Tracy Edwards.
Poor white van man. Cruelly labelled as an aggressive tailgater who thinks signalling means giving the V-sign to unsuspecting Mondeo drivers, this old folk devil is about as likely to win an award for conscientious driving as a Millwall fan is for world peace.
Yet it would seem all this is set to change. Secretary of state for transport Ruth Kelly has just allotted an extra £1.2 million to train van drivers in safer, more eco-friendly driving techniques as part of the Safe and Fuel-Efficient Drivers (SAFED) scheme.
The programme aims to encourage driving techniques that save fuel, thereby cutting costs and CO2 emissions.
Kelly says: “White van man is turning green. By learning safe, fuel-efficient driving techniques, van drivers are playing a vital role in cutting CO2 emissions. They’re helping tackle climate change, saving money and improving safety without impacting on customer delivery times.”
SAFED is a one-day course involving a mix of classroom and on-the-road tuition. It teaches drivers how avoiding over-revving and unnecessary gear changes and keeping correct braking distances can result in significant fuel savings. Better road awareness is also a key focus.
Since the scheme’s launch in 2006, the Department for Transport has invested nearly £2.2 million in it. Those who have completed the training find they achieve an average 16% improvement in miles per gallon, giving an average annual fuel saving of £425 and a reduction in CO2 emissions of around 1.2 tonnes for each driver.
In the engineering sector, the results were even more impressive. Drivers saw a 22% drop in miles per gallon and 35% reduction in gear changes.
The course has been immensely popular. So far, nearly 7800 white van drivers have chosen the green route, which could lead to potential savings of £3.3 million and a CO2 emissions reduction of 9350 tonnes.
The extra £1.2 million is available on a first come, first served basis, to part-fund trainers, in-house assessors and up to 6500 drivers in SAFED techniques up until 2010.
Participants are expected to contribute to the cost of their training on a sliding scale.
Pump action
The company
Name: C&A Pumps
Head office: Bowburn, County Durham
Fleet: 17 transit vans
Total annual mileage: 340 000 miles
Total annual fuel use: 50 000 litres
Potential environmental / cost savings per annum
Average miles-per-gallon improvement: 10%
Company fuel savings: 5000 litres
Company cost savings: £4000
Carbon dioxide savings: 13 tonnes
C&A Pumps supplies a number of installation, servicing and fabrication services to the water, chemical and manufacturing sectors. The company has been operating for the past 23 years in the m&e sector.
Director Alan Roberts recognises that driver training is an area of weakness within the firm’s guidance programme. He adopted the SAFED for Vans scheme in order to improve fuel efficiency and comply with its health and safety requirements. He was also keen to check that the company drivers were competent against an independent standard.
The training was undertaken during a busy time for C&A Pumps, but the flexibility of SAFED instructors Fleet Technique enabled the company to fit it in around order commitments.
The programme was well received by the drivers, although admittedly some questioned why they needed to go on a course since they had been driving vans for several years.
Despite the initial misgivings, the majority of the drivers have benefited from the course and have been able to adjust their driving styles to make them smoother and more efficient. The benefits have included reduced fuel consumption, longer tyre and break life and increased driver awareness.
Roberts says: “Although we received the SAFED training at a discounted rate, we would have still carried out this training if it had been charged at a commercial rate, as the benefits to our company and employees are greater than the cost and lost production time.”
Roberts has rewarded drivers who achieved the ‘excellent’ mark during the training and gave a trophy to the top driver. A driver league table based on fuel consumption is also set to be created, with quarterly cash rewards as an added incentive.
Keep it in check
British van drivers and their businesses are losing £150 million every year in lost earnings by failing to carry out simple routine checks on their vehicles, according to figures from small business insurer More Th>n Business.
More than 1.3 million commercial vehicles require breakdown assistance each year, with each incident eating into valuable working hours. On average, each breakdown results in £114 of lost earnings alone, while associated repairs can cost thousands more.
Yet half the most common causes of commercial vehicle breakdown could be easily avoided through firms taking greater care of their vehicles and understanding
basic vehicle maintenance.
By far the most prolific cause of vans breaking down is problematic batteries, while thousands more are put out of action by punctured tyres and overheating engines. While many may consider these disruptions unavoidable, simple routine checks on integrity of tyres, engine fluid level and condition of the battery can all dramatically reduce the likelihood of failure.
The top 10 causes of breakdown also include an avoidable mix of driver errors. Leaving battery-draining lights switched on topped the poll, while motorists locking themselves out of their vehicles caused the third highest volume of calls. Drivers filling their vans with diesel rather than petrol or vice-versa ranked sixth.
To help keep British business on the move, More Th>n Business has launched a van breakdown service starting at £64.75. Roadside Assistance and Recovery provides cover anywhere in the UK, and the service can be increased to include home callout.
Both options offer round-the-clock cover from a network of 2000 patrol vehicles, with a response time of 40 minutes or less. Cover also includes free onward recovery.
For further information call 0800 197 5876 or visit www.morethanbusiness.com
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
Postscript
Fleet managers and van drivers interested in the scheme should call 0870 190 8440 or visit www.safed.org.uk.
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