7 minute read
Peter Morrow, Northern Ireland Manager FORS
from ExF Nov-Dec
by 4SMNI
Peter Morrow
FORS Manager – Northern Ireland.
TRAINING IS THE KEY TO STAFF RETENTION AND FLEET EFFICIENCY
The commercial vehicle driver shortage across the UK is unprecedented, adding yet more strain to already stretched hauliers as we enter the busiest quarter of the year ahead of Christmas.
The package of measures announced by the UK Government in late September involved temporary visas and £10 million towards skills bootcamps to train an additional 3,000 HGV drivers. However, the success of these short-term measures will take some time to be realised and many operators will still have vacancies this winter. As FORS members are all too well aware, HGV drivers are highly skilled operatives who receive regular professional training in driving safely and efficiently. The return on this investment in training for operators is staff retention, and an engaged driving workforce. So, while the hunt for new drivers must be a priority, investment in the existing driving workforce must not be forgotten if operators wish to improve staff retention. Even when schedules are stretched this winter, it is vital that those drivers still in the profession have every reason to stay. FORS has always been a proponent of robust training as a means to embed best practice and upskill drivers. Training is built in to all three levels of the progressive FORS model and providing those who drive as part of their job with the knowledge they need to action these safety practices plays a big part in how FORS works. At each step of the FORS journey, there are driver training requirements in place which seek to make sure job-specific tasks are completed as safely as possible, with learning ranging from understanding how to drive in busy urban environments and improving safety for vulnerable road users, to understanding potential threats from terrorism. FORS now has over 4,900 members across the UK, and each member is required to get drivers of all vehicle types, including HGV drivers, to undertake specific training. FORS Professional driver training courses arm drivers with the skills they need to minimise carbon emissions in urban environments during their everyday routes. Drivers are taught how to reduce fuel usage, while reinforcing safety practices to help mitigate work related road risk. The FORS Professional LoCITY Driving course shows HGV drivers how to avoid engine idling, one of the biggest contributors to urban pollution, and how to avoid congestion. This also provides a financial benefit to the operator by helping them to save fuel. Such professional development for drivers plays a really key role in ensuring that driving staff are engaged in their job. While releasing drivers for training is very tough on schedules in the current economic climate, investing in their professional development will pay off for operations in the longer term, with drivers who feel valued in their role more likely to remain in position. In fact, part of the FORS requirements at Gold, the highest level of accreditation, is to actively attract, recruit and retain drivers, in order to ensure a sustainable fleet operation and help position the transport and logistics sector as a profession of choice. Investment in frequent role-specific driver training is investment in your business – a business which relies on its driving staff to survive. FORS training seeks to deliver the reallife working tools which will help keep drivers engaged and driving as safely and efficiently as possible for the good of all road users.
FRIGOBLOCK Refrigerates UK’s First Fully Electric Large Goods Trucks
FRIGOBLOCK has collaborated with NRG Riverside, one of the fastest-growing fleet management companies in the UK, to create the first battery-electric (BEV) temperature-controlled trucks to operate on the roads here.
Following a successful launch of BEV refuge collection vehicles in London, NRG Riverside was determined to provide the same environmental benefits to the frozen and chilled goods distribution sector. Together with its strategic partner and manufacturer of electric HGVs, Electra Commercial Vehicles, they reached out to FRIGOBLOCK to provide high capacity refrigeration unit capable of being fully powered by their vehicle’s batteries. FRIGOBLOCK EK25R refrigeration unit fitted with the RE22-2 evaporators ticked all the boxes. As a result of the project, NRG Riverside created four temperaturecontrolled distribution vehicles ranging from a 19-tonne rigid vehicle to a 13.6m trailer, all equipped with FRIGOBLOCK inverter-driven refrigeration systems. All vehicles are currently supplied to operators for trials and enable them to experience the benefits of zero-emission refrigerated transport. “One of our main priorities is to constantly innovate and apply the latest technologies to provide our clients with the most valuable solutions. With this electrification project, we wanted to prove that multi-temperature BEV’s are a viable solution to eliminate exhaust gas emissions - particularly in urban, multi-drop operations – without compromising the cold chain,” said Sid Sadique, chairman of NRG Riverside. “We chose to collaborate with FRIGOBLOCK because, with the electric transport technology being new to the UK market, it was important to work with established partners, and we knew we can count on their proven products and support.” The FRIGOBLOCK EK25R chassismounted refrigeration unit delivers high refrigeration capacity and is linked with RE22-2 remote evaporators. The unit uses a FRIGOBLOCK inverter to efficiently manage the power supply directly from the vehicle’s batteries, without excessive reduction to the vehicle’s range or operational duty time.
Logistics Provider Responds to Suggested Relaxation of Cabotage Rules
Perishable Movements Ltd – the provider of world-class logistics and supply chain solutions - has responded to reports relating to a potential relaxation of the rules governing the number of permitted deliveries a transport operator from another EU Member State can make within the UK – known as cabotage (Regulation (EC) 1072/2009).
Currently, under the terms of the UK-EU trade deal, non-UK EU hauliers are entitled to perform up to two extra cabotage operations within a seven-day period, commencing the day after delivering a load into Britain. This is in contrast to the three cabotage operations that are permitted within EU member states. The original purpose of the ruling was to improve the efficiency of road freight transport by reducing empty trips after the unloading of international transport operations. European hauliers have called upon the Prime Minister to change the UK rules to enable drivers to perform three cabotage operations to make any trip to the UK worthwhile whilst also resolving the country’s current supply chain crisis. “However, whilst we welcome the valued support of the European driver workforce, PML does not believe that this plan – if it comes to fruition – would be in the best interests of the drivers concerned,” says Perishable Movements Ltd. “Once again, this would represent a total disregard for driver safety and welfare. As a business, we have already spoken out on a number of occasions on the poor working environment for HGV drivers operating in the UK, who frankly, are regularly exposed to unsatisfactory – even inhumane – conditions. In this country, there is an abject failure to meet the basic needs of drivers to ensure they are able to perform their duties. “As fellow human beings, they are entitled to access to facilities which provide them with a safe and secure place to park without fear of a break-in; essential shower and toilet amenities; healthy food and drink and designated spots for a well-earned break and sleep without fear of abuse or disruption. “By not providing these essential services, we are putting the safety of drivers at risk. And let’s not forget, a driver who has not had sufficient sleep or who is hungry / thirsty is potentially a driver more pre-disposed to causing an accident and therefore represents a significant danger. “Increasing the number of operations, EU drivers are able to perform in the UK – a country which, when compared with its European counterparts, has a very poor track record for the provision of services to encourage driver welfare and wellbeing – is a recipe for disaster. “At a time when HGV drivers are under such tremendous pressure, PML is working hard to demonstrate its duty of care to these essential workers, and we have exciting plans afoot at our new Lympne, Kent operation which will offer a suite of services to support driver health and comfort, delivered in a safe and secure environment.”
