HW Richardson Group (HWR) is one of the biggest privately owned transport fleets in New Zealand that has participated in the EECA ‘Heavy Vehicle Fuel Efficiency’ programme, setting an ambitious target of reducing fuel consumption across its fleet of 939 trucks by 10% which equates to nearly 2 million litres annually.
The company says that in the longer term it would also look at vehicle selection practices, but in the shorter term it would address tyre and vehicle maintenance, deliver SAFED (safe and fuel efficient driving) training to their drivers, and improve fuel data management, as well as speed and idling management, to reach its intended savings target.
When HWR joined the programme in late 2014, managing director Scott O’Donnell said that it was important to the company that the programmes focus was not solely on fuel efficiency gains, but also making sure staff got home safely every night, and that another key consideration was ensuring the public were not put at risk by the companys transport operation.
The safe and fuel efficient driving that forms part of the programme aligns with where our priorities lie for both our people and the communities we work and live in.
HWR general manager people development, John McDonald, has worked within the company for 22 years and he says the greatest personal highlight of the programme has been seeing people buying into a new idea, which has been hugely satisfying.
Seeing professional drivers adopt a different way of driving for good has been gratifying, and the greatest highlight for me personally,†says McDonald.
This programme in continuous improvement has been the biggest behavioural change initiative in the heavy transport industry.â€
He says the engagement and support from upper management, as well as branch and transport managers who saw the scheme as a ‘no brainer,’ has been part of the ongoing success of the programme.
McDonald says that many people amongst the teams of drivers were sceptical at first about the implementation of fuel management action plans, and the SAFED training programme within the HWR Group of companies.
There were a number of more experienced drivers who at first were of the opinion you can’t teach me anything but they quickly became the greatest converts, and a couple of those older more experienced drivers have themselves become SAFED driver trainers, says McDonald.
The programme has helped our drivers to minimise their risk on the road as much as possible, and it was also great to see them all sit down in the lunch room and share their experiences with each other.
There quickly became a bit of peer pressure amongst them to see who could deliver the greatest reduction in gear changes and fuel burn.
Long-term I have no doubt that we will also enjoy savings on replacement tyres and a longer life from clutches, brakes, gearboxes and reduced repairs and maintenance.
But McDonald also points out that the programme is not a silver bullet, without ongoing support from management and accurate fuel reporting.
For the programme to work, and for continuous improvement to maintain gains made, management need to be committed, the fuel reporting needs to be extremely accurate, training needs to be refreshed so that people don’t fall into bad habits, follow up and monitoring is essential, he says.
You must have controls in place to stop you running back down hill, put a chock in behind you, and then another, and then another – continuous improvement is all about maintaining the gains made while seeking to do even better.”
According to McDonald, the heavy vehicle fuel efficiency programme started out late in 2014 with HWR subsidiary Southern Transport, and was quickly followed by another 16 transport companies within the group.
He says the company will shortly start fuel efficiency programmes within the concrete and contracting companies.
The trial with Southern Transport identified an overall 7% fuel saving and a 48% reduction in gear changes, but even more importantly the myth that fuel efficient driving would mean a longer trip was proven wrong and completely dispelled.
A post-training review based on 21 trips showed there was in fact a seven-minute reduction in time spent driving on the road.
