My Seven Ltd is a sub-contractor for Tarmac Industries that transports aggregate and asphalt materials supplied by Tarmac. My Seven Ltd operates using both tipper and concrete mixer vehicles to carry out their work. My Seven Ltd was first established in 2010 and since joining FORS, has seen noticeable improvements in their fleets fuel use and emission output. By implementing the recommended practices and techniques from FORS, My Seven Ltd were able to make these improvements and progress as a haulage company. Managing director of My Seven Ltd, Leonard Ciocirlan, explains how FORS has been beneficial to their company.
We first heard about FORS when carrying out work in outer London. We discovered that FORS has helped fellow hauliers improve on their fuel efficiency. This information prompted us to conduct further research on FORS to see how FORS could be beneficial to our company. During our research, we saw that FORS provides information on not only the fuel aspect of a haulage business. Seeing the wide spectrum of topics FORS covers within a haulage business, we were convinced that joining FORS would be beneficial in improving our overall business standard.
As FORS provided us with the necessary information and guidance, we were able to achieve our bronze accreditation with ease. During the process of implementing the appropriate practices to achieve a bronze accreditation, we saw instant improvements within our fleet. Seeing these improvements so early in the process of achieving our bronze accreditation encouraged us to aim for a silver accreditation. We decided to aim for a silver accreditation as we felt it would only further improve our business and help us gain more credibility as a haulage company.
Once we officially became a FORS accredited company, we decided to continue taking advantage of the resources FORS has to offer, in order to remain working at an accredited level. One toolkit we found particularly useful was the congestion toolkit. This toolkit helped us organise our routes in order to avoid late deliveries and longer journeys. This in turn then helped us save on time and fuel costs.
‘The congestion toolkit has really helped when planning our routes to our delivery destination.’ – Leonardo Ciocirlan
Our drivers at My Seven Ltd also benefited from our business joining FORS, as FORS has a wide range of e-learning resources available for HGV drivers. Having these e-learning modules of easy access to our drivers, encouraged them to take the modules regularly and kept them engaged in the business. One module in particular that our drivers learned beneficial techniques from was the cycle safety module. This module gave our drivers an insight into a vulnerable road user’s view of the road. This made our drivers more aware of vulnerable road user’s.
‘Drivers at My Seven Ltd are now much more aware of vulnerable road users and much more informed of the techniques you can use to ensure the safety of other road users.’ – Leonardo Circiolan
Our prime reason for wanting to become a gold accredited company is due to the notable improvements made after achieving both a bronze and silver accreditation with FORS. Whilst working towards our gold accreditation we have been operating at our highest standard since launching as a business. Acquiring a gold accreditation to reward our efforts would encourage us to continue operating at such a high standard, and ensure our business’ credibility.
In the last three months, we have increased our KMPL by 1.32 % thanks to FORS.
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KMPL | Incidents per 100,000 Kms | Number of PCNs |
| Sept – Nov 17 | 1.52 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 17 – Feb 18 | 1.54 | 0 | 0 |
| Percentage improvement | 1.32% | 0% | 0% |
At My Seven Ltd, we verify our driver’s health is suitable for the mode of work we carry out, by requesting drivers to fill out a health questionnaire declaring they are fit to work. In this questionnaire they must declare any health issues, and if there is a health concern we are unsure about we will then refer them to a GP for further consultation. Furthermore, we also ask of our drivers to carry out regular eye checks to ensure their high health is suitable for driving.
When looking for new drivers at My Seven Ltd, we offer new drivers with no tipper driver experience a two week buddy plan. This plan involves a new driver being shadowed by one of our more experienced drivers, who will guide and support them for a period of two weeks. By the end of the two weeks, the new driver will be assessed to see if they can begin driving independently.
Both of the tipper and concrete-mixer vehicles we use to carry out work create a lot of noise pollution. To reduce our noise pollution levels, we have begun implementing the FORS anti-idling technique. This technique is when drivers turn off their engines when their vehicle is idle for a long period of time. By implementing this technique, we have managed to save on fuel usage and costs, and reduce our fleets overall emission output.
The materials we transport at My Seven Ltd require a heated environment; therefore our vehicles must have an insulated body. Our vehicles must also have a body that allows us to easily pick up and deposit our materials. Currently, the only method of transport we have for our mode of work is in a diesel HGV vehicle with a euro six engine. However, we plan to keep up to date with any improvements or changes made in the vehicle industry and if any alternatively powdered vehicles are made available.
At My Seven Ltd, we plan to ensure our vehicles have the appropriate and up to date equipment necessary to carry out our work safely and efficiently. We will also continue to stay informed with any alternative vehicles made for our mode of work, which would be more environmentally friendly than our current vehicles. We also plan to keep encouraging our drivers to continue working on their professional development.
Having My Seven Ltd become FORS gold accredited would encourage our drivers to keep working at a high standard by using the practices and procedures advised by FORS. Being gold accredited would also show our current clients that we are continuously improving as a haulage business. Furthermore, being gold accredited would also allow us to acquire more cliental as our credibility would be at its highest level, and show the public that we are implementing the best and safest practices to carry out our work.
Please note: All published FORS Gold case studies have been submitted by the accredited company named above and transcribed verbatim.