Small Fleet Case Study: Chamberlain Doors’

Chamberlain Doors’ have been named Business Champion as a result of their performance in the Work Related Road Safety study carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory.

Company Name: Chamberlain Doors
Business Sector: Consumer Industries
Postal Address: Chamberlain Doors Ltd, Scot Lane, Bolton. BL6 5SG
Fleet Size Overall: 40

Company Overview
Chamberlain Doors are a specialist distributor and installer of garage doors operating throughout the UK with their main focus of distribution out of their head office warehousing complex in Bolton. The installation facility is operated from the same site in Bolton and from two satellite depots in Leicester and Coatbridge. The firm’s main office is at Blackrod, near Bolton. Its staff is 78 strong, of whom approximately 45 are involved in driving for work.
Chamberlain Doors’ commitment to safe working practice covers all respective job functions. The firm participated in an evaluation of Work Related Road Safety run by the Transport Research Laboratory which reviewed the company’s policies in this area as well as its comprehensive programme of training. As a result of its performance in this study, the company was asked to become a Business Champion in the Driving for Better Business Programme.

Chamberlain Doors was established in 1974 and has grown to be Europe’s largest independent garage door specialist. The core activities of the company are the distribution, supply and fitting of electrical garage doors and openers.

Chamberlain Doors offers a specialist supply and installation service to retail customers, trade and sub-contractors for the major house builders. High levels of service and quality of operation have always been top of the company’s list of priorities and the company continually strives to improve its levels of service to all customer sectors.

Nature of Operation and Driving Activities
Chamberlain Doors operates in the region of 40 vehicles ranging from 7.5t cargo delivery vehicles through 3.5t specialist box vehicles to light commercial vans and motor cars.

Approximately 45 members of staff are involved in some kind of driving activity during their working week. This commitment may vary between a full time role as a driver and to driving for ad hoc purposes of shorter duration.

Chamberlain Doors’ Driving Policy and Safe Working Practice procedures apply equally to all members of staff at all locations.

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Work Related Road Safety Policy and Procedures
Chamberlain Doors is committed to safety on the road. The company’s policy is in accordance with HSE Driving at Work guidance. The key areas of this policy are focussed on the following:

The commitment to work related road safety is led by the Managing Director.
All vehicles are regularly inspected.
Privately owned vehicles are not used for work purposes unless the vehicle has an MOT certificate and is insured?
All driving licences are checked.
All drivers are evaluated and additional training is offered.
All drivers receive induction training.
All drivers receive a handbook giving advice and information on road safety.

It bases it policy and procedures for work related road safety on a combination of training and information which is distributed to all drivers on a regular basis. All its drivers are trained by Fleet Interventions.

The policy was originally developed in support of the company’s safety culture and reflects the Chamberlain Doors ethos of a “top to bottom” commitment to health and safety. The company is proud of the standards by which it operates. The policy is based on an evolutionary system which is regularly updated within a controlled plan.

It is extended on an ongoing basis to cover new risks, legislation or in response to specific conditions.

Whilst not originally developed for any other specific reason or cost benefit the policy has resulted in:

A fleet of which the company can be proud.
An ethos of safe driving.
Fewer vehicle accidents.
Less accidental or careless damage to vehicles.
Better care and attention to vehicles.

This has raised residual values of the Chamberlain Doors fleet.

Involvement within Driving for Better Business programme has highlighted the strengths of Chamberlain Doors’ existing systems and philosophy. The company is pleased that its involvement and recognition within the Driving for Better Business programme is providing an ‘added value’ approach for its customers and suppliers.

Chamberlain Doors is keen to extend its own experiences within its industry and trade association – The Association of Garage Door Specialists – to encourage increasing awareness of the importance of work related road safety.

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Work Related Road Safety Guidance for drivers
Chamberlain Doors provides all its drivers with Driving Manuals; Handbooks and Risk Assessment Tools. These cover the following areas:

Full and extensive risk assessments.
Individual Driver Handbooks allocated to each vehicle by registration number.
Defensive Driver Training and retraining policy.
Induction Training for new drivers.
Effective and regular communication with all company drivers.
Full system of driving licence check and recheck.
Driving offences.
Accident Management and investigation.
Systematic approach to driver eligibility to drive and control over non company employed drivers (where applicable).
A no compromise approach to employees using their own vehicles for company business.
Drivers hours, records and tachographs.
Winter Driving Programme.
Security whilst driving.
Daily Defect Reporting System and condition of vehicles.
Use of mobile phones whilst driving.
Smoking Regulations.
Loading and Unloading.
Reversing.
O-licences.
Maintenance and servicing routines and schedules.

On the basis of its experience in managing work related road safety Chamberlain Doors intends to introduce the following new elements into its policy:

Training developed by supplying dealerships with regards to warning lights, and vehicle familiarisation.
Eyesight tests for company drivers.
Advanced Driving Courses.
Closer involvement with servicing partners with respect to driver defect reporting and defect resolution.

Specific examples of procedures
Chamberlain Doors is keen to ensure its drivers avoid fatigue at the wheel. Its policy highlights the differences between sleepiness and fatigue and lays down clear guidelines for the firm’s drivers on how they are to deal with both issues. This policy is in accordance with the Department for Transport guidelines. It directs drivers to take regular breaks every 2 hours and provides advice on how to identify the signs of tiredness.

Auditing and review
Chamberlain Doors operates a comprehensive reporting and KPI monitoring programme. This programme addresses the following aspects of managing work related road safety:

Drivers Hours.
Mileages.
MPG.
Vehicle accidents.
Hazard notification from employees.
Complaints.
Accidental damage and incident.
Full monthly vehicle checks.
Vehicle Repair and maintenance costs.

Additional information
Chamberlain Doors are a founder Member of the Association of Garage Door Specialists and a Member of the International Door Association. They are also members of the Freight Transport Association.

Chamberlain Doors have provided the following documentation in support of this Business Case: