Facing up to the future
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Knights of Old can trace its history back to the 1860s but it looks to the future to stay compliant
Words: Guy Sheppard/Images: Nigel Spreadbury Although its name might suggest otherwise,
innovation rather than tradition characterises Knights of
Old’s approach to compliance. One example of this is the ▼ Peter Hancox way vehicle speciications are being changed to reduce accidents.
Earlier this year, 48 trailers were bought with enhanced safety features, which included sliding suzie boxes to avoid the need for climbing when drivers connect up air and electric lines. In addition, retractable steps for leftas well as right-handed people were itted to ensure safer access.
For compliance director Peter Hancox, the world of “rufty-tufty” truckers is as outdated in haulage as the charging knight, depicted in Knights of Old’s logo, has become in warfare.
One reason he gives is that lost working time among employees adds to costs and, potentially, damages the company’s reputation. Where once there might have been a tendency to shrug off injury accidents as part and parcel of the job, now there is an emphasis on inding the root causes. “I am a believer that there’s a direct correlation between managing your business, including safety, and your ability to sustain the business.” Another reason is that, in order to be an employer of choice in a labour market where quality drivers are at a premium, Knights has to be able to show concern about their welfare. “You don’t want to be in a position where you are telling someone’s family that a loved one has been injured while working for your company.” Kettering-based Knights currently employs 150 drivers, more than double the number it had 10 years ago when it began concentrating more on distribution than on international haulage.
The irm is also a major shareholder in Partnerlink, the national network of mainly family-owned businesses that enables each member to compete for much larger contracts than normal. Hancox describes compliance as a “huge” consideration for the organisation because the truck, trailer and freight for each consignment could potentially be the responsibility of three different members. “If something goes wrong, it relects badly on everyone.” To avoid this, there is a contractual obligation to work to certain standards and members have the right to insist on an external audit of another’s operations if there is a loss of conidence in their ability to remain compliant.
Knights uses legal irm Aaron & Partners to conduct audits of its own transport management systems every year. Hancox says this is an important way of ensuring the company is focusing on the right areas. “It also ensures that we are working within the spirit of what we are expected to do where legislation has been adjusted.” Personal and vehicle accident rates together with MoT pass rates and OCRSs are included among several key performance indicators that are made available to clients.
“If people see you have that detailed understanding of your business, then to me that’s saying ‘we care so much about our own business, so rest assured we are going to care about yours’ , ” explains Hancox.
He denies that gathering such information is time consuming. “It works like a Swiss watch.” A similar attention to detail is apparent in the vehicle servicing agreements negotiated with TruckEast, the Scania dealership, and KRS Thrapston. “We have worked hard to get these in place so everyone knows what is expected of them,” says Hancox. “It is not designed to catch people out but, when constructing such an agreement, you include certain things you might normally have overlooked.” Together with rigorous record keeping, he believes personal observation has an important part to play in monitoring compliance. “We believe in management by wandering around. You can still have an impact just by being visible and talking [to drivers] and hearing about some of the issues they have to deal with every day.” The company’s full-time driver trainer, Lee Russell, is responsible for inducting new drivers, developing safe and eficient driving techniques and delivering CPC training.
Although Scania, which accounts for nearly all of Knight’s leet, offered CPC training, Hancox insisted that Russell was trained to actually deliver it. “We do it all on a one-to-one basis. We see value in actually spending time with individuals.” Both Russell and, during its annual audits, Aaron & Partners randomly check that daily defect report sheets are completed accurately. “Some people who have been doing the job for years are meticulous,” says Hancox. “Others feel that because nothing has ever gone wrong for them, they can continue to get away with not doing it properly.” Although face-to-face meetings are the main way of communicating any legal and procedural changes to drivers, Hancox believes other methods are important. With the new trailers, for example, drivers were issued with brieing notes and photographs to help explain new features.
Knights has its eye on the future in other areas of compliance as well. “What we’re trying to start doing is use in-cab messaging systems to remind and focus drivers on certain safety messages,” says Hancox. “These could include ‘watch your speed’ and ‘don’t drive tired’ . If we think we can tell someone once and that’s it, then we’re mistaken. We have to keep covering the same message over and over again.” ■