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consumption data for you to
Page 43
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analyse." Alan Parker, TNT UK.
"If you are a major, multi-site company, then make sure you get the local managers on board," he advises. "If they see some benefit too then they're going to ensure the programme works.
"It should also be emphasised to them that careful and frugal driving doesn't have to mean longer journey times, and Late deliveries. Racing up to a roundabout, then having to slam on your brakes at the last moment won't get you to your destination any quicker—but it will mean that you use more diesel."
Before you start to draw up a league ladder showing which employees are the most frugal at the wheel, and which the least, then you've got to be certain that your fuel figures are spot-on.
"Increasingly you can tap into onboard engine management systems that will generate all sorts of accurate fuel consumption data for you to analyse," says Alan Parker, outgoing director of engineering at TNT UK. "And unlike all the add-on fuel monitoring systems that are available, it's all for free."
It also makes sense to introduce fuel bonuses in conjunction with a driver training programme.
Training drivers to drive frugally also involves training them to drive defensively. That's going to mean fewer accidents, lower bills for damage, and should help the operator keep his insurance costs under control.
Employing a driver trainer for a day typically costs £290 to E350 (ex-VAT) and travelling expenses. "He should be able to help employees achieve a 4-5% fuel saving if they haven't been trained before, although a 1-2% saving will more than meet the cost of his services," says Doug Jenkins.
All truck manufacturers employ demonstration drivers, and they can provide advice on frugal driving too.
A senior executive from one wellknown distribution company, who asked not to be named, calculates that this type of training will cost him £30,000 over the next 12 months. "However a 5% overall drop in fuel usage will put £150,000 on my bottom line," he adds.
"Deduct the cost of training, split the remaining £120,000 50/50—or 60/40—between the company and the workforce, and I've come out ahead. That's on the basis of drivers picking up an annual bonus of i300 to £500." he says.
Bonus
You have to be thinking about a bonus of at least a tenner a week," says Coyle.
The senior executive's big concern is what happens over the following 12 months, and during the 12 months after that.
"We won't keep improving fuel returns by 5% a year, so we'll have to offer a smaller incentive linked to a smaller target in a bid to at least maintain the status quo," hew says.
"The big risk of course is that such bonuses can end up being consolidated into the employee's pay packet. That means they stop being an incentive, and you're likely to run into trouble if you try to remove them—especially given the driver shortage."