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“We’ve included better information on fuelefficient driving, and some drivers

10th March 2011, Page 14
10th March 2011
Page 14
Page 15
Page 14, 10th March 2011 — “We’ve included better information on fuelefficient driving, and some drivers
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have said that it has inspired them to be more efficient”

times, locations and odometer readings, as well as areas that drivers need to check during their daily walk-round such as brake defects, fuel/oil leaks as well as load and coupling security.

Although the new handbooks cost £1,500 to produce, Wyvern believes the savings made through improved fuel economy alone means it will reap the beneits many times over.

Green says: “We’ve included better information on fuel-eficient driving in this handbook, and some drivers have said that it has inspired them to be more eficient. We mention common sense things such as every time you drop down a gear, fuel consumption increases, or keeping the vehicle moving, even at walking pace, uses considerably less fuel than moving from standstill.”

Cost-conscious

“In these cost-conscious times with runaway fuel prices, the tips the handbook provides on fuel eficient driving are invaluable,” he adds.

As we look out over the yard from Wyvern’s neat ofice building, trucks scurry in and out of the depot. Most of the trailers are in the distinctive orange and black livery of the company, transporting pallets for the likes of Dorset Cereals, but a few are in the red and white colours of another major customer, Focal Point Fires.

Wyvern Cargo chairman John Probert says all these movements could be made much more smoothly if only the government invested in infrastructure on the South Coast. Probert, who set up freight forwarding company Dorset Star Warehouse in 1975, which morphed into Wyvern Cargo in 1983, has a pet hate: the road network around the Poole area, and the problems this causes for hauliers. He says: “Hauliers in Dorset are suffering because of a lack of progress on vital upgrades to the A350.

“Because the road is single carriageway in large stretches, drivers are subjected to major hold-ups when transporting goods to customers in Bristol and south Wales.” Although the A350 Corridor Study, carried out by local authorities back in 2005/06, highlighted three sections of the corridor for improvements, Dorset County Council says regional priorities mean they are unlikely to be made “in the next 10 years” .

But Probert is adamant about the needs hauliers have in the region. “We have lots of industry here, especially around the harbour, but very poor road links, particularly northbound towards the west.

“Plymouth, Southampton and Ports mouth are well connected, but we seem to be stuck in the middle and ignored.” Be it driver safety, or the roads they drive on, Green insists his drivers are central to his business. They are the public face of the business and he believes it is vital they maintain a professional attitude at all times.

“The general appearance of the drivers must be good and the cabs must be kept clean. Our policy is one driver, one truck, and each driver must take pride in their vehicle.” Getting the right mix of information and clarity to drivers may be a dificult act to pull off, but it seems Wyvern Cargo might just have got the balance right.

Green concludes: “We believe handbooks are vital, the industry needs to take them more seriously. It is the key to good performance from the public face of your business – the drivers.” ■

Tags

Organisations: Dorset County Council
People: John Probert

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