New SAFED funding for aggregates truck drivers
AEA Technology have been awarded a new government-funded contract worth up to £850,000 to manage a driver-development programme to support greener and safer driving among truck drivers in the aggregates sector.
The contract extends AEA’s role managing programmes within the Department for Transport’s Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) scheme, which aims to encourage driving techniques that improve safety and save fuel, thereby cutting costs and CO2 emissions.
SAFED is a one-day driver-development programme combining a mixture of off-the-job learning and ‘live’ in-cab tuition. It helps drivers to implement modern-day driving techniques, such as better use of gears and brakes, keeping correct braking distances and better road awareness, thereby improving fuel efficiency and safety.
Over recent years, the SAFED programmes have helped more than 13,500 truck drivers and 9,500 van drivers, with aggregates truck drivers achieving, on average, a 12% improvement in miles per gallon by participating in the scheme.
The £850,000 will part-fund development for additional trainers and up to 5,000 more drivers up to March 2010, subject to annual review. To benefit, operators must carry out at least 50% of their time or mileage on aggregate haulage.
AEA Technology will work closely with Liquid Management Solutions to market the programme to the aggregates sector.
The part-funded places on the programme are being made available on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested aggregates sector fleet managers and truck drivers should call the SAFED helpline on tel: (0870) 190 8440.
