Commercial fleet briefs: Latest industry news from Driver Academy, Webfleet, Microlise, BigChange and TruTac

Driver Academy secures funding to train 600 HGV drivers

The Driver Academy Group (DAG) has won an extended contract with the Government’s Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving to train a further 600 drivers.

The group is led by HGV training specialist HGVC and includes Manpower and Logistics UK. 

The additional places are available for unemployed individuals or those looking to change careers across England.

The Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, enabling people to build sector-specific skills. First launched in December 2021, the programme was extended for 12 months in April.

HGVC has been awarded additional funding by the Department for Education (DfE) meaning the firm is now training more than 2,600 individuals over the next 12 months.

HGVC has also helped train 1,200 individuals during the first wave of HGV Bootcamps last year.

With cost being one of the major barriers to entry into HGV Driver training, the DfE funding offers a lifeline for both individual candidates and employers dealing with budget constraints, given the cost-of-living crisis, says HGVC.

With the additional 600 places, HGVC will offer three fully funded courses. These include novice to Category C, Novice to Category C+E, and Novice to Category C or C+E plus a specialist licence such as the ADR, dangerous goods qualification.

Overall, HGVC will deliver nearly 1,500 fully funded courses, aimed at individual candidates.

Within its existing extended contract, HGVC is also delivering 1,300 partially funded courses. These offer employers a 70% contribution to HGV driver training through the DfE funding.

James Clifford, CEO of HGVC, said: “The Government’s Skills Bootcamps have been hugely successful in helping get new HGV drivers behind the wheel.

“We know thousands of people in the UK want to become lorry drivers, and with this further funding, we’re confident we can train even more people and keep Britain moving.”

The scheme is open to anyone holding a driver’s licence for more than three years.

PHL Group clinicians go green with Webfleet

PHL Group has cut CO2 emissions by 8% across its vehicle fleet in just five months thanks to a new connected fleet management solution.

It introduced the Webfleet Work App from Bridgestone and an integrated camera system across its fleet of cars that transport clinicians to underpin a successful driver improvement programme.

The Work App combines tracking, driver communication, workflow management and navigation in one solution, while front and rear Mantis cameras integrated with the Webfleet platform offer more detailed insights into critical events on the road.

PHL fleet supervisor Chris Needham explained: “The Work app, installed on the phones of both drivers and clinicians, has been integrated with our Adastra patient management software to help streamline our operations, with the most appropriate healthcare professionals dispatched to patients alongside all the clinical information they need.”

PHL Group’s Carbon Reduction Committee has recognised its vehicle fleet as a key component of its environmental strategy, and Webfleet is being used to help reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

Needham added: “The system’s integral OptiDrive functionality is giving us a clearer picture of the performance of our drivers behind the wheel, enabling us to reduce incidents of idling by 11%, along with other inefficient driving behaviours that impact fleet emissions, including speeding, harsh steering and braking.

“Trends are closely monitored, with Webfleet detailing CO2 information about every vehicle and trip, and problem areas are then addressed during driver appraisals.

“Looking ahead, when the time comes Webfleet’s EV fleet management solution will also help to ensure we take the most cost-effective route to electrification.”

Telematics specialist and Webfleet approved partner In Car Technology advised PHL Group on both the solution and installation.

Microlise unveils new transport management system

Microlise Group has launched its transport management system (TMS) offering operators an all-in-one solution.

A result of the acquisition of Vita Software, the Group’s TMS is equipped with a range of core capabilities designed to streamline operations, reduce costs, improve cash flow, enhance efficiency, and increase customer satisfaction.

From order creation to invoice, the software solution automates day-to-day tasks, eliminating delivery paperwork and providing real-time visibility into the location of vehicles, says Microlise.

Nadeem Raza, Microlise Group’s CEO, said: “This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to empowering businesses with advanced technology solutions.

“With our TMS, we are providing logistics companies with a comprehensive solution that not only enhances operational efficiency but also sets the stage for responsible and sustainable growth.”

The Group’s TMS is currently offered as a stand-alone solution, with plans for integration into its broader suite of products in the coming months.

BigChange app alerts drivers to ULEZ and other restricted zones   

BigChange has developed a system to help commercial vehicle drivers avoid unexpected charges and fines associated with low emission and traffic congestion zones. 

BigChange is a cloud-based ‘6 in 1’ solution incorporating a mobile workforce app, customer relationship management (CRM), job scheduling, live tracking, financial management, and business intelligence tools in one system. 

The vehicle restriction warning application adds to an alert feature that is already used to provide automated notifications, such as ETA’s, tasks completed, and speeding.

“With more vehicles now potentially incurring fines, businesses are searching for reliable ways to navigate these changes without the sting of unexpected penalties,” said Jonathan Isaacs, product marketing manager at BigChange.

“With just a few simple clicks, BigChange can now alert you or your drivers the moment a vehicle enters a ULEZ or other restricted zone. It’s proactive, it’s intuitive, and it’s going to save companies money.”

The system is designed to send real-time alerts directly to an email inbox, mobile phone, or BigChange device.

Notifications can be customised, for example, to alert the driver and/or to an assigned member of staff to manage overall fleet compliance and ensure fee payment on time.

Fleet managers look to tacho providers for ‘analysis capability’

For the second year running, industry research confirms that fleet managers consider ‘analysis capability’ to be the most important factor when choosing a tachograph services provider.

Researcher, Edge Insight recently asked 343 fleet managers a range of questions, similar to those posed in its 2022 survey, and found opinions to be consistent regarding the importance of accurate tachograph analysis.

In order of ranking, ‘analysis capability’ scored 32%, with ‘value for money’ and ‘ease of remote downloading’ registering equal importance at 17% and 18% respectively.

For specialist waste and recycling management operator, Enva England, these criteria were key considerations when selecting their tachograph software systems provider, TruTac.

“We were using another fleet software system which wasn’t quite doing what we required,” explained John Stephenson, Enva England’s fleet manager, “particularly with our FORS accreditation journey in mind, so I researched TruTac and found their system wasn’t anywhere near as demanding in terms of admin’. It ticks all our boxes and works fantastically for us.”

Consequently, Enva now use the full TruTac complement of fleet management and compliance software, comprising TruLicence, TruControl, TruChecks, TruFleet, and TruLinks.