KLH Haulage are a sub-contractor with a total of four vehicles which transport asphalt and aggregate materials. They were established in 2013 and have recently joined FORS and become both bronze and silver accredited. Ever since KLH Haulage have joined FORS and implemented the FORS techniques and processes, they have seen a significant improvement in their drivers and their fleets’ fuel usage. Kurt Lawson-Hall, director of KLH Haulage explains how FORS has been beneficial to their company.
We first discovered FORS via their online platform, when searching for modules and courses we could use to improve on our drivers road knowledge and driving ability. After seeing the wide range of e-Learning modules FORS has to offer, we were convinced that FORS had the best resources to help our drivers improve on their driving skills.
We were able to achieve our first FORS bronze accreditation with ease, thanks to the guidance provided by FORS. After achieving our bronze accreditation, we were encouraged to aim for a FORS silver accreditation, after seeing the noticeable improvements within the company after implementing the processes required for a bronze accreditation.
After becoming a FORS accredited company, we decided to make more use of the wide range of toolkits FORS has to offer. In particular, the performance management toolkit, which helped us keep track of our fleets’ fuel usage and how much this usage affected our budget. Having this toolkit showed us where our fleet needed to make improvements, and also showed us whether we had made any progress on decreasing our overall fuel usage.
‘The FORS performance management toolkit has made keeping track of our fleets fuel usage and emission a lot easier and more organised.’ – Kurt Lawson-Hall
Our initial reason for joining FORS was the wide range of e-Learning resources they have for drivers. Since joining FORS, our drivers have made significant improvements on their road safety skills and overall driving ability. Due to the ease of access of these e-Learning modules, our drivers are encouraged to complete them regularly to keep their road knowledge up to date. One module in particular that helped our drivers have a better understanding of vulnerable road users, was the cycle safety module which showed our drivers a cyclists’ perspective of the road.
‘Our drivers’ are now more knowledgeable and confident on the road thanks regularly completing the FORS e-Learning modules.’ – Kurt Lawson-Hall
Our main reason for wanting to progress from a bronze accreditation to a silver accreditation, and now a gold accreditation, is due to seeing a gradual yet significant improvement in our fleet after aiming for a higher accreditation. Since implementing methods in order to gain a gold accreditation, we have seen an improvement in our fleets’ KMPL.
In the last three quarters, we have increased our KMPL by 2.78% thanks to FORS.
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KMPL | Incidents per 100,000 Kms | Number of PCNs |
| Aug 2017 – Oct 2017 | 1.44 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 17 – Jan 18 | 1.48 | 0 | 0 |
| Percentage improvement | 2.78 % | 0% | 0% |
At KLH Haulage, prior to employment, we ask of our employees to fill out a health questionnaire, declaring any health problems. If there is a health issue that may affect their driving, we will then refer them to a GP for further consultation. Furthermore, we also ask that our drivers’ have an eye examination ever six months to ensure their eye health is suitable for driving on the road.
When recruiting at KLH Haulage, we offer a paid two-week buddy plan to new recruits. This plan consists of a new tipper driving with no experience shadowing a more experienced driver in their daily duties. Once the two weeks are completed and the new driver has shown evidence of being able to complete these same tasks independently, they can begin their official employment with our business. Using this method helps tipper drivers with no previous experience join the industry. When recruiting we also like to advertise through online platforms such as gumtree.
Since joining FORS, and making use of the FORS anti-idling toolkit, our fleet has made significant improvements in our noise pollution levels. Our drivers now know when to turn off their engines when idle for long periods of time. This technique reduces noise pollution and saves on fuel.
The materials our business delivers must be kept at a high temperature. Therefore, the vehicles we carry our work out in must have an insulated body and a power turn over system. Currently, the most environmentally friendly vehicle suited for our mode of work is a diesel run automatic vehicle with a euro six engine. We plan to keep up to date with any changes made in the tipper vehicle industry, and any alternative vehicles made available for our mode of work.
Our plans for the future are to continue implementing new methods and techniques to improve on our fleets fuel usage and emission output. We also plan to continue looking for alternative vehicles to use and encouraging our drivers to complete driving modules and courses.
Being FORS Gold accredited would bring in new cliental to the business as a gold accreditation would reiterate to the public that we are working and performing using the best possible practice. Moreover, being gold accredited would also encourage our drivers that they are working to a high standard and their efforts and hard work have not gone a miss.
Please note: All published FORS Gold case studies have been submitted by the accredited company named above and transcribed verbatim.