Safely does it
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Safety first are the watch words at Yusen Logistics, particularly when the company is trialling longer semi-trailers
Words: Roger Brown / Images: Graham Richardson Parked proudly in the spotless modern yard at the Yusen Logistics HQ at Grange Park, just outside Northampton, is a new 15.65m longer semi-trailer from manufacturer Lawrence David. It is one of a batch of five the company has ordered for its trunking operations around the country.
One of the first things Yusen did when it got hold of the first model, says technical services director Mark Le Montais, was to create a safe working guide for drivers using them.
“When out on the road drivers need to be aware of steering on bends, junctions and roundabouts, as they will need to use more of the road than they would normally require,” he says.
“Drivers need to be aware of the length of the trailer when manoeuvring, when parking in services to take a break, and they should use bays for long vehicles when available.”
Aerodynamic efficiency
Yusen’s longer semi-trailer incorporates a Formula One-style diffuser at the rear, which channels air to maximise aerodynamic efficiency. There is also an extra-strong Omega floor.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has allocated five trailers to the company at the longer 15.65m length, and Le Montais says: “We get the feeling among operators that the 15.65m length is proving to be more popular than the 14.6m option, simply because you can get more pallets in it.
“We are looking forward to monitoring how they perform and will be keeping a close eye on them for safety.” Yusen has placed a big emphasis on health and safety issues in all areas of the business over recent years and has certainly reaped the benefits.
Company statistics are impressive: a 35% decrease in employers’ liability claims in 2010-2011 compared with the previous year, and an 11% decrease in minor accidents over the same period.
Le Montais says the firm’s recent overhaul of its driver handbook has been key to the improvement.
Flicking through the handbook, there are lots of useful photos, diagrams and symbols to help drivers make sense of the vast amount of regulations that govern the industry.
“The handbook is a crucial communication instrument for drivers and we felt if we could simplify and make it more visual we could keep the drivers interested and help maximise retention of the knowledge,” says Le Montais. “We tried to avoid producing a handbook with pages and pages of dull text and no illustrations. Keeping it simple and visual is the philosophy of Yusen, very much part of the Japanese way of doing things of our parent company, and one which we try to follow whenever we can.” Following several particularly harsh winters in the UK, the company has also produced a booklet that provides tips and advice on driving in poor conditions.
As a result of its proactive approach, the company saw LGV accidents for the 2010-11 winter drop 15% on the previous year.
Wary of bad weather
“We are always keen to supply our drivers with winter bulletins on driving in poor weather, and find the Freight Transport Association’s weather warning website very useful,” says Le Montais.
“Drivers are encouraged to get in touch straight away with the traffic office to let them know about any problems.” According to Le Montais, Yusen always buys pillarless curtainsider trailers for safety reasons. The company recently took delivery of 14 new teardrops from Don-Bur, which Le Montais believes will offer a 6% fuel savings benefit.
“We have refined our systems for the opening and closing of curtains over the years. It is all about good manual handling techniques, and the fact that you can cut accidents by moving a bit of the curtain at a time.”
Training options
Yusen employs a driver training co-ordinator, supported by two full-time driver trainers and several local part-time driving assessors. The team delivers its own in-house Driver CPC training for 350 LTK drivers at sites from Avonmouth to Glasgow.
Co-ordinator Colin Stringer has been with the company since 1994 when it was known as NYK and its transport contract with Toyota in Derby was in its infancy. “The company believes there are three things a driver must bear in mind if he or she has an accident, or anything else out of the ordinary,” he says. “Stop, make a call [to the traffic office] and wait for an answer.
“We don’t want drivers to do something they might regret following an accident; we want them to get the best possible advice on how to deal with a situation.” Yusen offers its employees training on how to avoid bridge strikes and rollovers, and gets AA Drivetech to provide a course on safer city driving. “The course discusses the relationship on the road between truck drivers and cyclists, which is a particular concern in London,” says Stringer.
“With regards to cyclists, we tell drivers to keep checking their mirrors all the time while they are parked at traffic lights.” Yusen runs a mixed fleet of Daf, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Scania trucks fitted with telematics from SupaTrak. The vehicles come on repair and maintenance agreements from dealerships Brian Currie Daf, Volvo Truck and Bus Wales and West, and TruckEast.
No more bad trucks
“There is not really a bad truck on the market these days,” Stringer says. “Ours are fitted in the main with automatic gearboxes, which we find brings the standard of the lower performing drivers up faster, but there are a few manuals left in the fleet; 09 registrations mostly.
“We have reversing bleepers on the vehicles. However, we prefer our drivers to look as well as listen and be alert to danger at all times.” Everyone who visits the Grange Park site undergoes a strict security check similar to that at an airport.
Inside the main warehouse the walkways are carefully colour co-ordinated to minimise the chances of an accident occurring – a red route means no one is allowed to walk in that area, while a green route means a person is free to walk there.
There are also cameras strategically placed around the building for security reasons so that accidents can be recorded and lessons learned.
Le Montais concludes: “We want to develop a culture of excellence that encourages everyone in the organisation to play an active part in establishing a safe and healthy workplace.
“Our aim is to create an accident-free environment and provide the highest-quality service to customers.” ■
YUSEN’S SECURITY TIPS FOR DRIVERS
• Always question any changes to your delivery if not made by your office or manager, and report any discrepancies.
• Report any irregularity in loading, locking or sealing, or in delivery documents as soon as possible.
• Avoid pattern routines that make you a predictable target.
• Verify with your transport manager any instructions to change the delivery address.
• Keep quiet about the nature of your loads or journeys.
YUSEN’S GUIDE FOR PULLING LONGER SEMI-TRAILERS
• Before coupling to the new longer trailers, drivers should ensure the rear-steer control block is not at an angle. If it is, the tractor unit must be reversed under the trailer at the same angle or the coupling process cannot take place.
• When parking the trailer, it must be left in a straight line to ensure the rear-steer control block is not left at an angle.
• When moving off from the roadside, the driver must be aware that if he/she applies a full left-hand steering lock, as soon as the vehicle starts to move, the rear steering will automatically start to apply a full right-hand lock to the rearsteered axle. This could result in the trailer mounting the kerb or colliding with anything parked alongside at the time.
• Reversing – the extra-long trailers are exactly the same as a standard length trailer when it comes to reversing. As soon as the vehicle starts to go backwards, the rear-steer control block will lock into position allowing the trailer to be reversed in the same way as a standard trailer.
YUSEN’S TIPS FOR WINTER DRIVING
• In heavy rain, allow twice as much separation distance as you would in dry conditions.
• In icy weather keep a safe distance from vehicles in front. Allow 10 times the normal stopping distance.
• In foggy conditions never park up where your vehicle could be a hazard to other road users.
• The brilliance of rear fog lights can mask brakelights, allow more distance between you and the vehicle in front and aim to brake gently.
• In windy conditions, pass on local information for other drivers via your base, if possible.
• If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, engage diff-lock (if fitted) to regain forward traction (switch it off as soon as the vehicle is moving).