Safety drives investment in technology for Wincanton fleet

Wincanton has invested in 360-degree cameras and telematics technology across its home delivery fleet as part of its commitment to improving safety and efficiency.

All core vehicles used for deliveries of furniture and soft furnishings to customers across the UK are now equipped with the hardware, supplied by Mix Telematics.

The investment, it said, will help to keep drivers and other road users as safe as possible, while also optimising each vehicle’s miles-per-gallon (MPG).

The cameras record footage in all directions during every journey, which can be accessed by transport managers in near real-time.

The on-road recordings are also used to personalise feedback and training for each driver, helping individuals to avoid and better respond to future incidents.

The cameras work together with telematics hardware to give an all-round view of driver and vehicle performance.

The technology measures incidents such as acceleration, braking and speed to give drivers a performance score. This score reflects how safely and efficiently they are driving.

Paul Durkin, director of home and efulfilment at Wincanton, said: “This investment is a positive step for us as a business, particularly within home delivery, as we look to be safer and more efficient in everything we do, every day.

“The telematics technology will benefit our drivers and help them to continue to deliver the market-leading service our customers are used to.

“By recording footage, we can tailor training to meet individuals’ needs and really promote keeping themselves and others safe.

“There’s also a benefit in terms of efficiency across the fleet. With accurate data, we can give detailed feedback and optimise every mile we cover, reducing our impact on the environment.”

Neil Sharpe, Marks & Spencer furniture and equipment logistics manager, said: “Safety and efficiency are crucial across all our operations so it’s great to see Wincanton investing in this technology, further enhancing the market leading home delivery service they provide.

“Whilst we’re a carbon neutral business we know there is more to do so we’re pleased this will reduce the environmental impact of the fleet.”

Wincanton has noticed a positive impact from investing in Mix Telematics’ technology across other areas of its fleet.

In 2018/19, it recorded an 84% improvement in drivers’ RAG (red, amber, green) score, which is calculated by monitoring on-road actions.

The work was recognised at the 2019 Brake Fleet Safety Awards, winning the ‘Fleet Safety Partnership Award’.