Tesco.com in the vanguard of at-work driver safety with savings worth
millions of pounds
The online shopping arm of Britain’s biggest retailer, Tesco, is savings
millions of pounds following the implementation of an industry-leading
occupational road risk management programme.
Tesco.com, which operates a fleet of 2,200 vehicles delivering goods to online
customers across Britain, and employs 8,000 drivers, has introduced a raft of
initiatives that has resulted in:
 Vehicle incident rates - all damage from a broken rear light to a writeoff must be reported - cut by 26% since 2005/6 during which time the
van fleet has expanded from 1,200 vehicles
 Damage to the 3.5-tonne fleet of Mercedes-Benz and Ford vans cut by
90% thus saving more than £1 million
 Traffic offences committed by drivers reduced by 60%
 Fuel consumption down 11% saving more than £1.4 million per annum
 No single serious injury or fatal crash despite vehicles travelling more
than 60 million miles per annum.
Tesco.com is the world’s biggest online retailer with annual turnover in excess
of £1.6 billion and occupational road risk manager Andy Kemp said: “We are
at the forefront of pro-actively managing occupational road safety. The
financial benefits of the programme run into savings of millions of pounds.”
One of the major spin-off benefits of the focus on at-work driver safety has
been a huge reduction in staff turnover. In some regions driver turnover has
been cut from almost 50% a year to just 4%.
Mr Kemp said: “The whole programme is a win-win-win for the business, our
drivers and our customers. The company is cutting costs; our drivers feel
appreciated and valued and most of our customers receive their deliveries on
schedule.”
In the last 12 months, Tesco.com’s safety drive has been centered on the
introduction of telematics systems into all of its vehicles following a hugely
successful pilot scheme early last year.
In addition, the company has deemed the use of hands-free mobile phones by
drivers a distraction and banned their use unless the van is parked with the
engine switched off; and has broken the mould by actively recruiting drivers
as young as 18-years-old.
The risk management focus started in 2005 and the speed of development
has seen Tesco.com become a beacon of occupational road risk
management best practice. As a result the company is:
 One of 27 ‘business champions’ within the Government-backed
‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign delivered by RoadSafe
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The current holder of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’
MORR Trophy (managing occupational road risk), a title the business
also won in 2007
Working closely with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) on its
development of a new vocational van driving qualification, which is part
of the Government’s new strategy designed to further reduce road
casualties
A DSA registered driving instructor trainer organisation
Sponsoring one of its managers to research occupational road risk to
doctorate level at Middlesex University
Rolling out the concept of safer driving to Tesco.com stores overseas
Working with Tesco plc to launch occupational road risk training for its
company car drivers
Changing driver attitudes - drivers at Tesco.com are known as customer
delivery assistants - and behaviour was key if Tesco.com was to truly manage
its occupational road risk.
As a result, with senior management and trade union support, an in-house
driver training and development team was launched in 2005.
To ensure national standards are in place, Tesco.com employs its own
customer delivery assistant trainers - 20 have been trained to approved
driving instructor level and there are a further 20 trained driving assessors and the company works closely with the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents on all aspects of its training and assessment including full legal
compliance.
Tesco.com believed that the programme was not simply about testing an
individual’s driving ability but that a cultural change involving attitude and
behaviour was key.
As a result, the programme kicks-in at the recruitment stage when potential
customer delivery assistants are tested on their map reading skills and
navigation ability and driving licence and eyesight checks are also made.
Additionally, a 60-minute on-the-road assessment is also undertaken.
Throughout their driving career with Tesco.com staff driving licences are
checked twice a year and eyesight annually.
On becoming a driver, staff undergo one-day of classroom-based training and
a day of on-the-road training while undertaking customer deliveries. They then
complete a driving validation report to demonstrate competence, known as
the ‘Bronze Driver Validation’ - Silver and Gold standards have also been
added.
Scrupulous daily vehicle records and checks are completed by drivers and the
whole process is underpinned by the company’s Accident Review Board. It is
composed of two drivers and two managers and investigates all incidents.
Mr Kemp said: “The effect of the whole system has been to involve
Teco.com’s drivers in the process of delivering improved performance and
profitability, while raising safety standards. As a result, the company’s drivers
feel valued.”
In addition, drivers as well as store directors, store managers and duty
managers - in excess of 11,000 people - attended courses related to the
introduction of the 2008 Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide
Act.
Mr Kemp said: “All managers are aware of the direct impact they can have on
managing occupational road risk and ensuring the safety of Tesco.com
employees and other road users.”
The across the board installation of telematics systems into vehicles means
that Tesco.com is now able to analyse and benchmark the performance of
both its drivers and vehicles.
One of the benefits of the technology has been the real-time debriefing of
drivers on their return to base using information produced by the telematics
system covering issues such as ‘inappropriate’ driving. Ultimately the
sanctions can include dismissal.
Mr Kemp explained: “As we are able to identify safety-related issues such as
harsh braking, speeding, over-revving engine and van idling with the system,
we are able to better performance manage drivers and arrange any remedial
training.
“However, because our drivers are closely involved in all issues related to
occupational road safety incidents are rare because they know the telemetry
is constantly recording information.”
The data available has supported the introduction of Driver of Month and
Driver of the Year competitions.
The data recorded is also the foundation for further improvements in business
efficiency with Mr Kemp saying: “Tesco.com has already made significant
changes to its procedures and is now achieving greater efficiency in route
selection and planning, drop rate and van loading. The information provided
will enable the business to deliver better and safer vans and better work
schedules which will benefit drivers.”
Meanwhile, Department for Transport figures highlight that young drivers are
in the highest risk category on the UK’s roads and crashes are the single
biggest killer of young people.
But, said Mr Kemp: “Tesco.com has reduced its lower age limit for its van
drivers to 18, in line with the latest age discrimination laws. As a result, we
have found that some young drivers are capable of working within our
operation after undertaking our selection, assessment and development
processes.”
Tesco.com was one of the initial ‘business champions’ within the ‘Driving for
Better Business’ campaign and is working closely with companies and other
organisations to share their experiences.
Experience tells Mr Kemp that communication with drivers, who are on the
customer-facing frontline, as well as middle and senior management is crucial
if road safety among at-work drivers is to be achieved.
He concluded: “Communication and driver involvement is essential. If drivers
and their managers know what is trying to be achieved and why and how they
will benefit then their support is gained. The drivers are Tesco.com’s
ambassadors on the road and they need to be valued and appreciated. The
business can’t function without them.”
Notes to Editors
1.
The Driving for Better Business campaign being run by RoadSafe
forms part of the Department for Transport’s Driving for Work road safety
strategy. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the importance of
work-related road safety, in the business community and public sector by
using advocates drawn from these communities to promote the business
benefits of managing it effectively.
2.
The campaign is managed by RoadSafe, which is recognized as a
leading forum for promoting and devising solutions to road safety problems.
3.
RoadSafe’s mission is to reduce road deaths and injuries through
building partnerships between the motor industry and related companies,
traffic engineers, the police and road safety professionals, promoting the safe
design and use of vehicles and roads and encouraging education and
innovation www.roadsafe.com
4.
Further information about the Driving for Better Business campaign is
available at www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com or contact Ed James on
02073449236 (ejames@roadsafe.com)
5.
Ends
Tesco online shopping and home delivery service at www.tesco.com