DRIV FFICI TO NCY
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The mechanical tachograph could soon be outmoded. Mary Arigho reports on one of its possible electronic replacements.
As the debate in Brussels grinds on, it is likely to be only a matter of time before the EU finally gives the thumbs up for in-cab computers to replace the plain old mechanical tachograph. Meanwhile, over and above giving drivers' hours analysis in seconds, the new data logging systems have become a new ball game and developed into advanced management tools.
Even after EU approval, it will be some years before use of the systems becomes mainstream but a number of companies, attracted by fuel and cost savings, as well as environmental considerations, are already using the new systems to educate drivers and gain valuable management data The Vemis system, developed by Midlands-based Leafield AMY, was introduced by Wincanton Logistics two years ago and has already been installed in more than 1,000 vehicles by nearly 40 companies, says Wincanton Logistics which markets, sells and also uses the system in its vehicle fleet.
Drivers have no choice but to use in-cab computers, once they are adopted, so how are they motivated to become happy with "the spy in the cab"? Unions support the systems for Health and Safety reasons and, as this is one area which directly benefits driver, they may be encouraged to link improved driving with reduced stress and fewer accidents.
The key to accepting the new technology is understanding, says Wincanton, which uses Vemis in 1000 of its own vehicles. "It needs to be introduced properly. We explain that it is not to spy but to give them better quality information and help to steady up their driving style".
Information
Wincanton encourages operators to produce weekly information about driver and vehicle performance, to be summarised by supervisors into the all-important driver grading "league" table. Differences between vehicles should not affect results because each is set up for the system, it claims.
Drivers are able to see how well they have driven and their relative position in the league against their colleagues. Payments or incentives are not used. "Broadly, it is peer pressure that motivates," says Wincanton.
Thorntons has recently installed Vemis in its 28 vehicles. The company was sold on the idea of data loggers after it took part in an EC-sponsored project two years ago, which aimed to find easy ways for truck operators to become more environmentally friendly.
Results showed this was the way to go, says site manager Jon Pollard. "You can give training but when the driver has left the yard you have no control over what he does."
Based on the league tables each month "the driver at the top gets a crate of beer and those at the bottom get a talking to by the transport manager". There was some initial resistance, as well as positive comments, from drivers, says Pollard, but mostly they rose to the challenge by driving economically and appreciate the benefits of a steadier, more relaxed style.
The result has been an improvement in fuel consumption of nearly 15%, says Pollard, or a saving of £250,000, which "has pegged the duty increase back to a minimum". Because of the mixture of vehicles and low mileage through stationary time, it is too early to tell whether the company is gaining on maintenance, he says, but "we underspent our tyre budget last year for the first time in three years".
British Salt uses the Vemis system in all its 17 vehicles and expects a fuel saving of 7-10%, says transportation manager John Wykes. Drivers have reacted positively to the system and the league tables are working well, he says. "It's the peer pressure thing. When they see their name at the bottom of the list, they don't want it to be there next week".
According to transport manager Philip Lang of Sun Valley Foods, which uses the system in its 14 vehicles, the system "took some selling" to drivers but they now tend to view it as "friendly competition". The company stressed the health and safety and educational aspects of the system. It also employs three full-time driver trainers to assess drivers' performance annually.
Drivers also appreciated the facility for accident information which proves to the police exactly what the driver's activities were before it happened, he says.
Comparisons League tables have not proved so easy in making direct comparisons between drivers. Vehicle make and engine size "have a great bearing on the score," says Lang. "Vehicles are graded as well and the drivers can score themselves against that. You can compare drivers if the vehicles are the same but they are never on the same ones every week. It depends if the fleet are all on the same vehicles."
Fuel savings have been between 5 and 6" within the UK. fleet, says Lang "but we haven't realised the full potential yet". However, the company has found wear and tear "difficult to monitor within the Vemis system," says transport co-ordinator I.orraine Whinney.
The company has used information from Vemis to purchase new vehicles Evaluation showed some were over powered for the kind of country road driving for which they were used, she says. "We found that lowerpowered vehicles gave better readings." Settings are checked by garage fitters every week, "although some drivers complain their vehicles are not set up properly" However, not all truck operators are in a position to adopt on-board technology on a large scale. Ryder does not feel that the majority of British and European trucks is technically advanced enough yet for this equipment. The company uses data logger systems with diagnostics extensively in the US where trucks are electronically more advanced and is in partnership with a manufacturer to market its own product, says director of integrated logistics John Stocker.
But, in Europe, the diagnostic function would not be possible for most vehicles and "they would be missing a crucial bit of information." On its latest trucks, Ryder uses on-board computers for managing driver's loads but not the drivers themselves. On some trucks hand-held bar codes are used to capture point of delivery information but the company has 13,000 trucks "of all different makes and ages" and only a very small percentage could use the system, says Stocker.
Many non-users are interested in new systems hut cost is a strong consideration, particularly with dedicated contracts. According to Jo Robbins, human resources director of United Transport: "The problem with that kind of technology is we need a direct benefit for the cost. Unless we can promise on a cost benefit basis the client will not be interested." Nevertheless, she says, UT might consider putting a system on trial in the future.
Tracking The company uses a satellite tracking system at its gas division in Stockton, but only to monitor traffic. It helps to ensure the safety of the product, increase efficiency and reduce telephone calls Although it could give feedback on driver performance, it was not brought in for that purpose and it would be unfair to use it in that way, says Robbins.
It would also be inappropriate because only "the cream of the fleet" drive in that division and they are a close-knit team. You have to be sensitive to the fact that drivers take a while to accept the system".
Robbins is in favour of harnessing the peer pressure element to improve driver competence and is "a great believer in league tables. The best thing is to treat it like a football competition and make no comment".