Tarmac Cement & Lime Ltd is a leading supplier of bagged, ready-to-use and bulk cement and lime with over 150 years of history and heritage. Our distinctive blue circle livery is a familiar site across the UK road network transporting approximately 5mt of product through our regional supply chains to our varied customer base.
This case study provides an overview of our organisation and logistics safety strategy, whilst demonstrating the various operational, environmental and safety enhancements that our business has benefitted from by striving for the FORS Gold accreditation.
We operate over 65 own fleet tractor unit and bulk tanker combinations as well as operating a number of own fleet curtain sider trailers to supply into the bagged market.
Keeping people healthy and safe is of paramount importance to us. We recognise that key to our long term success depends on our ability to provide an effective logistics service ensuring safe and environmentally friendly deliveries whilst continuing to build strong relationships with our communities. Our aim is to operate a zero harm culture through a keen focus on continuous improvement in everything that we do, which FORS is certainly helping us to achieve by providing the tools and focus to reinforce our transport strategy.
Tarmac Cement & Lime Ltd joined the FORS scheme in September 2014 and it has been an ambition to work towards the Gold standard once Silver was achieved in 2016. Sustained adherence to the FORS requirements have helped drive and structure improvements through the adoption of different templates and reporting tools made available to FORS hauliers.
Having a large third party haulier base a key challenge for our business has been the encouragement and support of these hauliers to achieving FORS Bronze / Silver accreditation. At the outset of this process there were discussions relating to the value of the FORS scheme yet, with the different hauliers having since been through the approval process and now accredited; each acknowledges that they have benefitted from the uptake of the standard.
As a recognised and accredited FORS company we have made the most of the benefits on offer such as use of the Performance Management tool, which has subsequently driven a review of our balanced scorecard and in particular the Safe Urban Driving training which was well received by our driver population and has undoubtedly played a key role in helping us to reduce the number of road related incidents. Moreover, as Town Planning and the different industries continue to drive safety improvements through its supply chains we are commonly seeing FORS as a minimum requirement when tendering for work, and not just for London. Demonstrating compliance CLOCS and being FORS accredited is now more than ever critical for the sustainability of our business.
“FORS continues to provide the tools and vision to enable us to continuously progress our Transport Management system” Nick Childs, Logistics Safety & Compliance Manager
The FORS workshops themselves have improved our knowledge setting a firm foundation during the recent review of our Transport Management System. Moreover, it has effectively facilitated learning across our workforce by: increasing employees’ knowledge of the scheme, helping us to understand how the standard can most effectively be implemented and providing the opportunity to network with likeminded logistics professionals.
“We continue to use a variety of training methods such as the FORS e-learning modules, Driver CPC, Safe Urban Driving, Profi Drive, TBTs, Telematics analysis to drive improvements across all areas of our operation ” Terry Scott, National Logistics Manager
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MPG | Incidents per 100,000 Kms | Number of PCNs |
| Jan-Dec 2016 | 6.5 | 0.35 | 5 |
| Jan-Aug 2017 | 7.5 | 0.29 | 3 |
| Percentage improvement | 14% | 8% | 40% |
*Annual improvement in MPG and Incidents per 100,000 Kms
Driver health and fitness review – our company is actively screening all new starters and as we class our Sales Lorry Driver role as ‘safety critical’, annual health assessments and ongoing support are ensured. This process has enabled us to identify some underlying health issues with our drivers and therefore we have been able to proactively support where possible on an individual basis.
Strategy for recruiting drivers – Whilst Tarmac C&L have a very high Driver retention rate, we supplement driver shortfalls by the use of an agency service. Tarmac C&L operates a strict policy to develop and up skill all new drivers in the operation of cement tankers through a structured two week development and assessment programme supervised by one of our six in-house driver trainers. This covers training in all of the key competences regarding vehicle manoeuvring, familiarisation, Safe and proficient driving, telematics amongst many other items. Once the new driver is signed off as competent to driver for Tarmac C&L they will participate in ongoing assessment process.
Noise assessment – The FORS standard has guided our focus and awareness on the need to minimise noise pollution across our operation. Whilst a robust process has always been in place for our Plants and Terminals a greater level of focus was identified across our Logistics operation. This has resulted in further surveys, awareness training and updated procedures within our driver handbook in order to continually improve our environmental performance.
As a business we continue to improve efficiencies and in particular investigating potential alternative modes of transport is a key factor within our ongoing Logistics development strategy. This is achieved through detailed modelling and cost analysis, which has resulted in a significant increase in our rail footprint in recent years.
Having purchased a new fleet (Euro VI) in the first half of 2017 to provide traction for our bulk tankers and trailers, we also took the opportunity to ensure that the highest environmental and safety features were incorporated into the specification through our procurement teams. All safety features and other compliance requirements are audited through a random spot-check process ensuring that the high standards that we have set ourselves are maintained.
In submitting this case study, written with the aspiration to help achieve Gold status, we are proud to be a part of the progressive and forward thinking haulier community. FORS Gold status further demonstrates our ongoing commitments to continuously up-skill our workforce (drivers and staff), make the roads safer and promote the health, safety & wellbeing of all stakeholders.
Please note: All published FORS Gold case studies have been submitted by the accredited company named above and transcribed verbatim.