Commercial fleet briefs: Latest from Webfleet, XPO, Podfather, Radius, Microlise, Prohire and Aebi Schmidt

XPO launches new Driver Excellence Academy

XPO has developed a new XPO Logistics Driver Excellence Academy to offer opportunities to those both from within and outside the business who want to qualify as heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers.

The academy is already running at four XPO sites in Kirkby Thore in Cumbria, Leeds in West Yorkshire, Ilkeston in Derbyshire, and Dordon in North Warwickshire with 100% pass rates for some cohorts.

XPO created an Academy toolkit so that any site can implement the programme where there is demand.

XPO is looking for people from all backgrounds to join the academy. The only classification is that the individual must be aged 21 to drive a HGV, but this reduces to age 18 if someone is on an apprenticeship.

Each Academy trainee would work towards receiving the relevant qualification for the type of vehicle they want to drive. For example, a Cat B licence entitles someone to drive a car, which can be upskilled to a Cat Class C (Rigid) or Cat CE (Artic). It is possible to go straight from a Cat B to a Cat CE licence.

Lynn Brown, vice president of human resources for the UK and Ireland at XPO Logistics, said: “The XPO Driver Excellence Academy will welcome all individuals irrespective of training and will provide a route into our industry that offers a great career choice.

“This initiative will help reduce the driver shortage in the UK by investing in training more people and offering them permanent roles following successful training.”

There will also be a specific push to increase the number of female drivers trained through the XPO Driver Excellence Academy via a targeted recruitment campaign.

Radius fuel card users now able to pay and pre-book HGV parking

Radius fuel card customers offering are now able to pay and pre-book HGV parking and washing at truck stops across the UK. 

The initial rollout is in partnership with Travis Road Services, an online marketplace that facilitates the pre-booking of HGV parking and washing.

As of this month, Radius fuel card users with vehicles over 7.5 tonnes can now pay for and pre-book vehicle parking and washing at 119 sites in the UK, as well as paying when they arrive without pre-booking.

Fuel card users can use Radius’ e-route site locator to find sites and plan their journey accordingly. Radius’ rollout will be extended across the Republic of Ireland and Europe in 2024. 

Jonathan Haseler, chief revenue officer for the UK and Ireland at Radius, said: “The inadequate availability of purpose-built parking facilities that guarantee safe and secure parking for HGV drivers, whether they’re stopping for a break or overnight, has long proved a challenge and is well recognised in the haulage sector. 

“Our partnership with Travis will provide a convenient and cost-effective one-stop solution for fuel, HGV parking and washing, that not only benefits fleet managers but alleviates the impact of insufficient and highly contested on-site purpose-built parking availability for Radius fuel card users.”

Jochem de Graaf, chief executive officer at Travis Road Services, added: “With Radius fuel cards giving access to 97% of postcode areas across the UK, we had no hesitation in partnering with Radius and furthering our commitment to enabling HGV drivers to easily find, book and pay for road services.”

Traffic congestion ‘biggest concern’ for UK van drivers

Spending less time stuck in traffic has topped the list of things that would most improve the working lives of UK van drivers, a new research study has found.

According to the 2023 European Driver Study from Webfleet, almost half (46%) of UK van drivers said it would help improve their job satisfaction.

This was closely followed by better road infrastructure, cited by 44%, while increased road safety took third place with 36% of the vote.

“Commercial fleets are under mounting pressure to boost productivity as they strive to navigate challenging economic waters, and this pressure can filter down to drivers in the field,” said Beverley Wise, Webfleet regional director for Bridgestone Mobility Solutions.

“By supporting them with digital solutions to improve their lives behind the wheel, fleets can not only help to promote a happy and engaged workforce, boosting talent recruitment and retention, they are also better placed to deliver higher standards of customer service.”

Europewide, 68% of drivers cited traffic congestion as either extremely challenging or challenging when asked to rate potential issues on the roads, making it the joint most challenging factor cited in the report.

Italy ranked top for this issue, with 80% of drivers scoring traffic congestion as extremely challenging or challenging. This was followed by France at 77%, Poland 71 %, the Netherlands 63%, Germany 63%, the UK 61% and Spain 56%.

Increased road safety was the most commonly cited response among van drivers Europewide, when asked what would make their jobs better.

The issue was found to be particularly prevalent in Italy, where more than half (51%) of those drivers surveyed said they wanted safer roads. This compares with 48% of drivers in Germany, 45% in Spain, 43% in Poland, 41% in the Netherlands and 40% in France.

Despite the challenges that UK drivers face, job satisfaction remains high, with 91% reporting that they are either extremely satisfied or satisfied with their job. More than half (51%), meanwhile, said that doing their job well was important to them.

“This research paints a very clear picture of the work our van drivers do, the problems they encounter and the support they need,” added Wise.

“There are variations between countries, but it’s clear to see that traffic, safety and infrastructure are persistent pain points across the continent.”

The full Webfleet European Van Driver Report 2023 is available here.   

Aebi Schmidt extends IVA test facilities to cover M1 specialist vehicles

Aebi Schmidt UK has extended the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test facilities at its Peterborough head office having gained a green light from the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to cover M1 specialist vehicles.

Aebi Schmidt has been offering testing services at Peterborough for several categories of non-standard vehicle requiring IVA tests for around eight years.

These include N1 vehicles, primarily light good vehicles up to 3,500kgs, and N2 and N3 vehicles which are typically heavy goods vehicles over 3,500 kgs.

However, this is the first time it has been able to cover M1 specialist vehicles, a new initiative that required a number of adaptations to its test lane at Peterborough.

Katherine Daunt, after sales services manager at Aebi Schmidt, explained: “Following consultation with the DVSA, we had to carry out a number of adaptations to the IVA lane for it to be suitable, and then the Agency carried out an audit to ensure we met their approved standards.

“Having gained approval as a result, we are now able to offer testing services for a wider class of specialist vehicles, which customers like Blue Light Services will be able to take advantage of going forward.”

The IVA tests, typically between five and seven a day, are carried out by a qualified DVSA inspector, so that customers can be assured that they are completed to the most stringent standards.

Although the IVA facility is currently available for only one day per week, there is capacity for further expansion depending on demand.

A fixed price offering, structured around volume, is available in addition to the DVSA fee.

Lilley’s Cider picks Podfather software to drive paperless deliveries 

Lilley’s Cider is implementing logistics planning, route optimisation and electronic proof of delivery software from Podfather to drive efficiency, improve the customer experience and reduce administration.

The drinks manufacturer and distributor offers a nationwide delivery service, supplying more than 3,000 pubs and shops, as well as festivals.

Using Podfather software, Lilley’s will replace its paper-based processes with automated fleet utilisation tools designed to save time and money and reduce the company’s environmental impact. 

Mia Brixey, sales and marketing manager at Lilley’s Cider, said: “Having reviewed a few routing systems, we selected Podfather as it was the most user friendly.

“It was visually appealing, with an easy to navigate interface, and the functionality, although advanced, was easy to use. Podfather also integrated with our existing business tools.” 

Before selecting Podfather, Lilley’s management of its delivery operation was completely manual. Using Podfather, routes are produced and optimised, based on locations, item volumes and weights, and customer requirements, and automated ETA notifications are issued.

Nominations open for Microlise Driver of the Year awards

Microlise Group has opened nominations for next year’s Driver of the Year (DOTY) awards, which celebrates the outstanding contributions of professional drivers who excel in safety, efficiency, and customer service within the transportation industry.

Now in its 10th year, they honour the men and women who go above and beyond to ensure the smooth and reliable movement of goods across the globe, acknowledging drivers' critical role in delivering products to our communities and sustaining the economy.

The Group’s 2024 awards will feature five nomination-led categories – Young Driver, Most Improved, Extra Mile, Driver Hero, and Lifetime Achievement – as well as four data-driven recognitions based on performance data from the Group’s product suite.

Nominations are welcomed from all sectors of the transportation industry irrespective of whether they are users of the Microlise system, and the winner of each category will be determined by an independent panel of industry experts – Jemma James, managing director of TruTac; Andy Stewart, editor of Truck and Driver; Richard Smith, managing director of the RHA; Victoria Davies, Traffic Commissioner for Wales; and Phil Roe, president of Logistics UK.  

Speaking on the awards, Nadeem Raza, Microlise Group’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to open nominations for the 2024 Driver of the Year Awards.

“Our drivers are the lifeblood of the transportation industry, and their dedication and skills deserve recognition and recognition. We look forward to receiving nominations and learning about the remarkable individuals who keep our industry moving."

Nominations close on Friday 8th December and entries can be submitted here. The 2024 winners will be announced at a dinner on Monday, March 18.

Prohire achieves environmental management standard

Prohire has achieved the internationally recognised environmental management standard, ISO 14001, a key objective of its ESG strategy.

Following an independent audit, Prohire’s environmental management system meets the requirements for ISO 14001.

The standard helps organisations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste.

ISO 14001 also includes the need for continual improvement of an organisation’s systems and approach to environmental concerns.

Organisations are also assessed to ensure the increased prominence of environmental management within the organisation’s strategic planning processes, greater input from leadership and a stronger commitment to proactive initiatives that boost environmental performance.

Jay Edwards (pictured), chief operating officer at Prohire, said: “The accreditation provides a framework for a systematic and integrated approach for all employees, which allows the environmental management system to become part of the fabric of our business.

“Through the implementation of this standard, we are already seeing increased employee engagement that aligns with our ongoing ESG plans.”

The accreditation is the result of a process taking over six months led by Prohire’s asset finance & training manager, Arlene Steele, which involved a GAP Analysis, Stage 1 and Stage 2 assessments.