The organisation is constantly looking for new ways to improve its performance across all divisions of the business and has been working with Masternaut since 2008, deploying the firm’s telematics technology across its 3,000-strong commercial fleet, including LCVs.
The technology was deployed in line with Travis Perkins’ move to introduce a number of initiatives to improve the safety of its drivers, including a Driver of the Year award, which required a way to accurately monitor and record the behaviour of the firm’s drivers and determine those who are exhibiting the best driving performance across the group. More recently, the company has introduced a group-wide “Safer Roads” policy to further improve driver safety awareness and identify drivers who require additional coaching.
This information needed to be available in real-time, to promote and enable improved safety and driver awareness “on-the-job”, as well as being recorded in highly detailed retrospective reports. The focus on safety awareness associated with the Safer Roads initiative meant that fleet and HR managers also required a system that could highlight individual driver habits, such as harsh braking, speeding or idling.
Working very closely with a Masternaut consultant, the Travis Perkins Group has developed both initiatives with the help of intelligence generated by Masternaut technology.
All information generated by Masternaut is transmitted from the vehicle in real-time, as well as being compiled into reports, which are delivered back to the Group’s Head Office for full retrospective analysis.
Together, the two initiatives have led to a significant increase in health and safety awareness and driving best practice across the Travis Perkins Group, and helping to improve the safety of the organisation’s drivers and other road users. Those exhibiting habits such as speeding, idling, harsh braking and accelerating are quickly identified so that the appropriate “on the road” coaching sessions can be arranged with one of the group’s 16 dedicated risk assessors.
As well as receiving formal coaching, drivers also receive real-time training via Masternaut’s in-cab light bar, which instantly alerts the driver when they need to alter what they are doing – whether they need to slow down or brake less harshly. As a result, accident figures over the last five years have reduced.
Meanwhile, Travis Perkins has seen a reduction in fuel costs of over £1.4m to-date, a 70% daily reduction in vehicle idling, as well as reduced depot turnaround times from 45 minutes to an average 25 minutes.
Richard Horton, head of transport development, Travis Perkins, said: ‘We have worked closely with Masternaut for a number of years, and the organisation has become an integral part of our business. And it’s not just our transport department that sees the benefits. We have seen tangible benefits across the whole of the organisation and direct impact on our bottom line, with significant cost savings year-on-year.’