The upgrades will put PPL on the road to receiving its FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) Gold accreditation – an industry recognition for a company’s commitment to safety, fuel efficiency, reducing emissions and improving operations.
Adam Hopcroft, managing director at PPL, said that the initiative was part of an ongoing drive to improve safety: “At PPL, we take our responsibility to our employees and the surrounding community incredibly seriously, which is why we do everything that we can to ensure that our drivers are trained to a high standard and understand the importance of remaining alert and vigilant when driving. Upgrading our vehicles to include CCTV and side sensors further enhances our drivers’ ability to remain safe.”
Alongside this, PPL has joined forces with a new driver behaviour initiative called Lightfoot that uses a dashboard computer to ensure drivers operate their vehicles as safely and efficiently as possible.
Adds Hopcroft: “Lightfoot technology is available for vehicles that are 3.5 tonnes or less and, being based in London, our fleet consists of a fair amount of vans. This new technology works by using Formula One-style analytics to identify the specific vehicle’s efficiency sweet spot – which is ultimately the driving style at which the vehicle operates at optimum efficiency.”
When Lightfoot detects that the engine is moving out of the desired efficiency level, a driver receives a prompt to gently push them back to a safer, more efficient driving style. If these alerts are ignored, the driver receives a penalty, which is then visible to management through Lightfoot’s reporting system. Drivers who consistently drive in a safe and efficient manner become ‘Elite drivers’, and are rewarded for their efforts, including potential eligibility for discounts on insurance.
He concludes: “It’s been a great incentive for our guys, and we’re proud to have our very first elite driver, Aiden Power, who was the most consistently competent driver throughout the summer.”
PPL is a member of nationwide haulier network Pall-Ex.