Speedy Services has dramatically reduced its incident rates and insurance premiums through a strategic approach to managing its work-related road risk.
The leading tool, equipment and plant hire services company, which has a national fleet of more than 1,000 commercial vehicles, is a member of National Highways’ Driving for Better Business (DfBB) programme and is also FORS Gold accredited and a CLOCS champion.
Its proactive work to reduce work-related road risk and improve compliance is revealed in a new DfBB case study that shows some compelling figures on the benefits gleaned.
Business benefits
- 13% reduction in incidents 2022, year on year
- 45% fewer vehicle collisions in 16 months
- Reduction in insurance premiums of 35%
- 90% recovery of uninsured loss
- Speeding PCNs down 96%
- Fuel costs down 20% in two years
Actions include a proactive approach to fleet equipment by working with its suppliers, including inviting them to a forum day to explore how their offerings can be integrated or enhanced through partnership. As a result, its Masternaut telematics and VisionTrack cameras now work in sync, with footage arriving by email immediately after the telematics system alerts of an exceptional G-force event.
Its commercial vehicles are also extensively equipped with safety features, including front and rear crash protection, HALO systems which project illuminated turning areas onto the road and also for the use of tail-lifts, AI-enhanced side scan sensors, plus front, rear and driver-facing VisionTrack cameras on LCVs.
The company has also worked hard to ensure driver buy-in to the camera technology – including assuring drivers that the footage is only consulted in the event of an incident or third-party claim. Fleet director Aaron Powell has also had a camera in his own vehicle.
The firm’s camera footage has played a key role in defending the drivers against spurious or not-at-fault claims which in the past would have been settled 50-50 for lack of evidence.
The company’s claims have dropped by 13%, but now, most incidents are low speed manoeuvring collisions. Investment in automated braking systems for reversing to complement the cameras helps prevent these incidents.
Meanwhile, drivers are rewarded for good performance. Every month the best driver by region receives £100 voucher, and the best driver of the year is awarded a prize and recognition at the company’s annual colleague awards ceremony.
Training and accreditation is also a major focal point; Speedy Services is whole-fleet accredited to FORS Gold for the ninth consecutive year, a CLOCS champion and has DVSA Earned Recognition. It also works closely with the City of London police and other constabularies, using its trucks for ‘exchanging places’ events with cyclists.
Its training is all in-house, carried out by its own training team. Internal progression means that individuals can move from van to tanker driver, and it also runs its own apprenticeship schemes. Notably, managers also take the courses alongside the drivers.
Aaron Powell, fleet manager at Speedy Services, commented: “Logistics is a very substantial part of our business and so we have an important responsibility to make our operations as safe as possible. We want our drivers to be safe so we approach everything from a safety-first perspective.”
To read the full case study, click here.
