Saints Transport has equipped its entire fleet of 195 MAN trucks and LCVs, from 7.5 to 44 tonnes, with the MAN EcoStyle driver and vehicle performance management system.
The operator has also put the MAN tracking system onto all of its 120 trailers and vans – and all units include the new driver feedback module (DFM) – the first installation of this module in the UK.
DFM is an in-cab speaker device that automatically alerts drivers any instances of over-revving, undue idling time, harsh braking and so on. The driver receives a warning as he starts to infringe.
If the driver goes on to exceed a threshold, the module records an alert onto the web-enabled MAN EcoStyle management system at Saints Transport HQ, just outside Heathrow, triggering a review of the incident.
"The objective behind our early adoption of the DFM is to help drivers understand when they are driving in a manner that affects their own performance and that of the company," states Saints Transport vice-chairman Piers Carroll.
"There are no immediate penalties for triggering an alert through the DFM. We talk each driver through what is happening and help them correct the problem, with training where needed," he continues.
"Of course, there will be times when that isn't the case... On things like over-idling it could be down to customer circumstances. So we need to know what else might be impacting our operations in this respect," he adds.
