Round the corner
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Preparing for the unexpected will save time and helps keep drivers on the right side of the law. What key things should be on their checklist?
Words: Guy Shepherd Despite th e sophistication of modern communication systems, advance warning about what is round the next corner is never guaranteed. Accidents, trafic congestion and adverse weather conditions can throw daily schedules badly off course and how drivers react to these situations can make the difference between proit and loss on each job.
Preparing for unexpected events is always advisable, but the amount of preparation needed will depend on factors such as the time of year, familiarity with the route and the type of roads being used.
Key things to consider include the reliability of sat-nav, how to gain a feel for the journey ahead and where to ind the most up-to-date trafic and weather information.
Satellite navigation
Over the past ive months, six more narrow roads where trucks get stuck because of their drivers’ over-dependence on sat-nav have been added to the list compiled by campaign group Sat Nav Insanity.
In Tubbs Road, Willesden, London, for example, front garden walls have been knocked down as drivers try to turn round and in one incident the parked car of residents’ leader Beatrice Barleon was written off. “The reality is that a lot of lorry drivers still blindly follow their sat-nav system,” she complains.
Paul Arthurton, owner of Paul Arthurton Transport near Norwich, says: “Sat-nav is a wonderful piece of kit but you must never rely on it, or it will lead you up the garden path.” Anthony Chmarny, spokesperson for sat-nav company Garmin, agrees that sat-navs should never be followed blindly: “You still have to read the road and the road signs. We always say you have to use common sense.” He adds that HGV sat-navs, which have been on the market for two years, should steer drivers clear of routes with vehicle height, width and weight restrictions. “The irst ones were fairly good, but not as good as the latest ones.”
Maps
Many operators feel maps provide a vital back-up to sat-nav. George White, who specialises in deliveries to south-west France, uses plastic-coated maps as well as a TomTom sat-nav and highlights routes in felt-tip pen beforehand. “Sometimes the TomTom will send you on the shortest route, and sometimes it’s just as well to stay on the faster route,” he says.
Andy Anderson, training and compliance manager at Warwickshire-based Woodall Transport, says: “Maps can always get you out of trouble. For example, you might not get the satellite signal with the sat-nav.” He uses Google maps and its ‘street view’ facility to help drivers know exactly what their destination looks like. “Some of the rigid vehicles have to go to farms along twisty country lanes. We can take them metre by metre along them so they know exactly where they’re going.” Neale Burdon, resource and training manager for Eddie Stobart, says maps are a good means of getting a feel for the overall journey. If drivers can visualise the route beforehand, it’s much easier for them to come up with a suitable alternative if the preferred one is blocked.
Burdon adds that drivers often mistakenly equate motorways with the most fuel-eficient route. He demonstrates how wrong they can be by highlighting two routes between Warrington and Carlisle. One, which is almost entirely by motorway, is 164 miles; while the other, using the A66, is more than 30 miles shorter.
Rest breaks
Arthurton is happy for his drivers to put their tacho on ‘break’ if they know the hold-up they’re stuck in is going to last a long time. Tim Culpin, transport lawyer with Aaron & Partners, has no problem with this approach. “I don’t think there’s any difference between being stuck in a queue of trafic and stuck in a lay-by,” he says.
However, Dermott Thomas of solicitors Barker Gotelee argues the tacho should be set at ‘other work’ because it is not the same as drivers making a conscious decision to take a rest and being free to dispose of their time as they like. Although drivers’ hours rules make allowances for unforeseen events that prevent rest breaks being taken on time, Culpin stresses the need to plan for bad trafic conditions. “You can’t continually say ‘the trafic was bad and I could not take my break in time’ .” He says identifying several potential stops on a long distance route should form an important part of preparing for the unexpected.
Equipment
Anderson says that if wet weather is forecast, drivers should pay particular attention to windscreen washers and wipers. “Apart from splits and worn areas, it’s a good idea to carry a spare bottle of screen wash,” he explains.
He adds that spray suppression equipment on mud laps is also worth examining closely. “If it’s clogged up, it will create more spray for other road users.” In wintry weather, it might be necessary to take shovels, brooms and rock salt as well as snow chains if travelling through upland areas.
Food, a vacuum lask and warm clothing are also particularly important in these conditions.
“There’s nothing worse than feeling hungry or thirsty when you can’t leave your vehicle,” explains Anderson. ■
Traffic jams
As well as considering how congestion will vary at different times of day, it’s also worth checking websites with travel and weather information before leaving on a journey. Once on the road, radios will give regular updates about any changes and by pressing the TP button drivers can automatically receive traffic bulletins covering the area through which they are travelling.
Arthurton argues that any time saved taking a detour because of traffic jams has to be weighed against the likely extra fuel consumption.”You can easily burn £30 worth of diesel if you end up going an extra 50 miles. On the margins that we’re on, that might take out the profit of the job.” He encourages his drivers to consult their colleagues when they are uncertain which route to take. “Working together has to be better than leaving them on their own. A lot of the older ones will know the route that was used before a by-pass was built, for example,” he says.
WORKING TOGETHER
Our Drivers Need to Know series is designed as a training tool. Transport managers and drivers can work through the headings at toolbox meetings. If there are any subjects you would like us to include, contact our legal editor Patric Cunnane on 020 8912 2167 or email: patric.cunnane@roadtransport.com
Further information
www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home provides advice for lorry drivers about preparing for journeys in the transport and logistics sector. The ‘lorry driving and load security’ tab also provides a link to the Highways Agency’s interactive guide to rest areas www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/ and www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/traffic.aspx give authoritative information about traffic www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ provides weather updates and forecasts www.satnavinsanity.org.uk highlights unsuitable roads for lorries that drivers regularly use due to over-reliance on satnav. www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3559_ProffessionalDriverPassengerGuide. pdf is a good practice guide from Network Rail about preventing bridge strikes