Taking on the EECA heavy vehicle fuel efficiency programme helped Booths Transport amalgamate some processes it already had in place, but added a few more key components to make further savings.
Booths Transport operations manager, Dave Sharp, says the company adopted the EROAD telematics system in 2013 to improve safety and efficiency, and after discussions with fuel management advisor Tony Newth, the decision was also made to enter the heavy vehicle fuel efficiency programme to identify further savings.
“The EECA programme amalgamated some processes we already had in place but added a few more key components, such as the SAFED driver training module,” says Sharp.
Sharp says the advantages of the EROAD system allows Booths Transport to identify which driver is in which vehicle, on an hourly and daily basis, and also details any events of over speed which can then be discussed with the driver, as well as fuel burn and other details.
As part of its journey to greater workplace efficiency and safety, the directors and management team at Booths Transport also initiated ‘Project Pride’ – an in-house training and incentive programme, which rewards drivers and other staff on a monthly basis.
‘Project Pride’ became an intrinsic part of the company culture – it is printed on the company letterhead and embroidered on the team’s uniforms.
There is also a presentation ceremony for ‘Project Pride’ every quarter in Tauranga and Palmerston North, where the company recognises members of staff with a certificate of achievement.
“We also have training sessions and guest speakers at our quarterly presentations, where we deliver new information and training to all staff,” says Sharp. “It’s compulsory that all employees attend, including drivers, dispatch and administration staff.
“Titbits of valuable information can get lost in the day-to-day operation of the business, which is why it’s important to have regular meetings with the staff to communicate the messages clearly to everyone in the team,” he says.
“It’s not about big brother, and it’s not about them and us. Our directors are involved with the company on a daily basis, it is all about getting the best from the staff and the company,” says Sharp.
EECA fuel management advisor Tony Newth, from Commercial Road Skills, assisted Booths Transport to put their heavy vehicle efficiency programme into place.
Newth says while it took the time to get the benchmarks in place, he says the EECA agenda and the ‘Project Pride’ programme complemented each other well.
“The introduction of the EROAD system was a new regime which some drivers immediately took on board, and helped them get to where they needed to be regarding behaviour and efficiencies, while it weeded out those drivers that couldn’t or wouldn’t,” says Newth.
Newth’s team delivered the initial round of SAFED training to the Booths Transport driver team over a six-week period starting in July 2015, which he says was a massive undertaking on behalf of the drivers and the company, to make staff and vehicles available.
Sharp says since kicking off ‘Project Pride’ and the EECA heavy vehicle fuel efficiency programme, there have been two noticeable changes in the company.
He says the first noticeable difference is the quality of people now applying for driving and other positions with Booth Transport has lifted dramatically, and the attitudes of existing staff members have also improved noticeably.
“Our existing staff members grasped the concept of ‘Project Pride’, and we find they have a much better attitude and work ethic,” says Sharp.
“The staff take much better care of themselves, the customers and work together really well, and I think this is because ‘Project Pride’ delivers the same information at the same time to everyone.
“All the drivers are eligible for the monthly financial incentive, and they know the objectives they have to meet to win it,” he says.
“The incentive goals include no over speed reports within specified parameters, and no damage to vehicles or freight, self-inflicted or otherwise,” says Sharp.
New drivers to the Booths Transport Fleet will complete a 90-day period of training and mentoring, before then moving on to the SAFED training programme, and then there will be a continual process of education and development after that.
“Our senior drivers will mentor the newer ones to pass on their knowledge and skills,” says Sharp. “Having a mentor is such an important part of our process.”
Since the programme commenced, Booths have seen a dramatic decrease in driver overspeed events, and a steady increase in fuel efficiency every month
“In my experience, line haul operators are not going to make as big a percentage saving in fuel as a metro based operator would, where changing driving styles result in a greater percentage, but nonetheless, in this case, it’s still a significant amount,” says Newth.
