Asda delivery drivers use in-cab technology to cut CO2

In-cab technology is helping Asda’s grocery delivery drivers improve road safety and save the equivalent of 2,482 tonnes of CO2 per year – enough to power 9.1 million washing machine cycles or boil 52.4 million kettles of water.

The gains have been achieved by the supermarket following the installation of Lightfoot’s driver coaching system across its entire 3,000-vehicle fleet.

Lightfoot connects directly to the vehicle’s on-board computer and converts data into live driving advice that helps the company’s drivers do their job more safely and efficiently.

The company claims it can help fleets achieve a reduction in accidents while cutting fuel and CO2 emissions by 15% each.

Simon Gregg, vice president of online grocery at Asda, said: “We are continually looking at ways in which we can improve driver safety and we are delighted that many of our drivers are now engaging with Lightfoot on a daily basis.

“Reducing our carbon footprint is really important to both us and our customers and schemes like this help us towards our goals of halving our direct carbon emissions by 2025 (2015 baseline) as we head towards our target of being carbon net zero by 2040.”

At the end of each journey, drivers are awarded a score in the app based on their driving style, allowing them to see how their driving is improving over time, as well as entering into a competition with colleagues as part of a company-wide drivers’ league.

Those drivers who achieve ‘Elite Driver’ status can enter The Drivers’ Lottery to win weekly cash prizes of up to £100 and enter giveaways.

Since the rollout began in February 2021, drivers have already claimed rewards including an Amazon Echo Dot and a mini drone, as well as cash prizes totalling over £13,213.

Gregg said: “We’ve already seen the difference that Lightfoot’s technology has made to our operation and hope the partnership continues to help us improve our driver safety and the environment.”

Rupert Lyon Taylor, CEO of Lightfoot, believes that by getting drivers to buy into the system and encouraging them to drive better through incentives and prizes, it can achieve better results for fleets and make a bigger impact on their sustainability goals.

“This has been proven over both the course of the three-month proof of concept trial and the subsequent implementation across Asda’s fleet of 3,000 vehicles,” he said.

“We are absolutely delighted to be able to play a role in helping Asda achieve the carbon neutral goals set out in its Better Planet roadmap.”