Probably the biggest single
factor affecting fuel consumption is the driver and his driving
technique
Jack Webster
No matter how sophisticated
the driveline or lavish the equipment, no real fuel economy worth mentioning
can be achieved without the co-operation of the driver.
Business Times
Distribution planning is all
in vain if the driver is not fully controlled and motivated.
ASSOCOM
Eight months of all-weather
tests reveal that the best fuel saving gadget is the driver.
Financial Mail
Most drivers are only half as
good as they could be.
Harold Smith
Institute of Driver Behaviour
After testing 4 000 drivers
at the ICTU in Luipaardsvlei, only 6% were found to be good with minor
faults, 34% average but need training before being employed. The remainder
were found to be unemployable, below average and dangerous.
All of these statements were
made years ago, yet little seems to have improved. Is there a good reason
why so few employers train and motivate the drivers they employ? Let’s
consider something more recent and from a country where driving standards
are much higher than ours:
Truck owners have direct
control over the vehicle specification they choose to operate but little
control over what is perhaps the most significant fuel economy variable –
the driver of the vehicle. There is as much as 35% difference between the
most proficient and least capable drivers.
Technology & Maintenance
Council
of the American Trucking
Associations
A short review of what drivers
control is a timely reminder of how much responsibility truck drivers have.
To a large or lesser degree they control many of the most important elements
of truck operating costs and customer service levels. Here are a few
important aspects drivers control:
-
Kilometres travelled –
avoids unnecessary or unauthorised travel.
-
Speeding and braking,
competent gear shifting and limits idling.
-
Keeps covers, tarps, doors
and aspects closed and tied down.
-
Avoids frustration, bad
temper and poor attitude caused by poor cab comfort, badly maintained
vehicles, lack of knowledge of company policy and other aspects of the
job.
