The baking giant attributes much of its success to Mercedes-Benz FleetBoard telematics system, which was installed across its 750-strong fleet of distribution vehicles.
The fleet – which is dominated by 7.5- and 14-tonne rigid trucks, the latest being Mercedes-Benz Atego 13-tonners – had already been the subject of a fuel reduction campaign.
Group transport manager Mark Sutcliffe explains that fleet engineers had been specifying all new trucks with AMTs (automated manual transmissions), to improve mpg, as well as automatic engine cut-off systems, to prevent idling.
The firm also employs 12 in-house driver-trainers to deliver courses in safe and efficient driving, over and above statutory Driver CPC requirements.
But, says Sutcliffe, the biggest single impact on fuel efficiency and carbon emissions came from FleetBoard telematics.
"The whole process of conducting an initial evaluation, then rolling the system out, educating drivers and backroom staff in the use of the FleetBoard, monitoring and then working to improve the results, took 15 months of hard work," he recalls.
"But through this initiative we have not only reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions but also evolved our culture of continuous improvement in distribution and levels of engagement across our teams."
Warburtons carried out two trials of FleetBoard. The first involved five vehicles operated by six drivers at one of its distribution sites.
Results suggested further investigation, so 30 drivers across several depots were invited to participate in further trials ahead of the roll-out.
As for why FleetBoard, although a Mercedes-Benz business unit, the company's products work well with virtually all vehicle makes – meaning a good fit for Warburtons mixed fleet.
N brief detail, the operator has been using FleetBoard's Vehicle Management Performance Analysis to provide feedback on the performance of each truck and driver.
Reports cover factors including harsh braking, over-revving, green band driving, engine and exhaust brake usage, as well as gear changes and speeds. They also record gvw and the route 'difficulty'. The software can also track vehicles along their routes, along with all operating data.
"FleetBoard has given us an accurate picture of driving performance throughout the working day, and how driving style impacts on our fuel consumption," confirms Sutcliffe.
"We focus on the scoring system, which gives drivers marks out of 100 based only on driving style – mpg is not a factor in this calculation – enabling all drivers to be compared equally," he continues.
"From an initial baseline score of 65, the average FleetBoard score for drivers across all our depots rose steadily through the 15 months of the implementation, to finish at a high of 90," he adds.
Sutcliffe says many individuals are now consistently scoring well into the 90s, so the company has "already achieved our business case benefits".
For him, telematics has become self-sustaining.
"The FleetBoard project, and the work we've done to implement it, has created an incredibly positive buzz at every level of the company, from our delivery drivers right up to the boardroom," says Sutcliffe.
"In terms of driving staff engagement within distribution I believe it is one of the best projects we have completed."
LCRS is the FTA's (the Freight Transport Association) industry initiative set up to record, report and reduce carbon emissions from road transport.