Proud to support the safety and wellbeing of HGV drivers around the UK.
Every 22 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on a UK road. More than 1.3 million people die on roads every year, traffic safety should be important to us all. We believe there is much progress to be made in supporting HGV drivers by the Government from providing better roadside facilities to reviewing the hours allowed to drive. We also believe we have a responsibility to play our part in improving road safety. Our safety-first culture is much more than a sequence of information campaigns, or cascade of communication, it’s the foundation on which our processes and strategy have been centred around. We review, reflect, digest and improve, to achieve zero incident, infringement and accident rates.
To improve road safety, we need to focus on those factors that contribute most to motor vehicle crashes. Driver behaviour is most often the critical reason for a motor vehicle crash. On the surface, speeding, aggressive driving, impaired driving and distraction, are the most common causes.
Our 100% compliance process forms the foundation of our safety culture. Awareness, education and training our the pillars in which we strengthen our safety pledge. Our safety campaigns focus on the root causes of accidents and aim to introduce prevention measures.
We have built a wealth of knowledge over decades which we’ve incorporated into a variety guides for drivers to utilise. We have also partnered with Road Skills Online to deliver high-quality industry-recognised e-learning ‘Toolbox Talks’ to our drivers.
Our social media strategy is carefully narrated to provide appropriate daily safety reminders and triggers.
A mixed approach of information, education, user involvement, practical support, networking opportunities, campaigns to elicit change and access to further help, has been adopted to meet the drivers’ needs.
Identified safety areas:
Accident Prevention
During peak periods, there is an increased risk of accident damage. We have put together a brief guide on accident preventions tips and encourage SLAM: Stop, Look, Assess and Manage.
Safe Loading
Employ has adopted the Driving for Better Business Safe Loading guide which highlights best practice. Over 2,000 prohibitions to drivers of vehicles that present a road safety risk because of poor load security on an annual basis and more dangerous loading can result in 3 penalty points and a licence endorsement as well as fines of up to £5,000.
Vehicle Checks
This guide reminds drivers of when and how to carry out a vehicle check. This is good practice and is vital for safety.
Bridge Strikes
A bridge strike is an incident in which a vehicle, it’s load, or equipment collides with a bridge; most strikes occur when roads pass under railway bridges. Simple actions can help drivers avoid bridge strikes which we have summarised in our Bridge Strike guide.
FTA Driver Safety
The Freight Driver Association (FTA) state that professional drivers are responsible for their own safety, the safety of the driver’s vehicle and those around the driver. They outlined simple steps in their Pocket Guide, to ensure drivers understand how to safely operate and work around their vehicle whilst working. Employ advocates and encourages the FTA Pocket guide.
Staying Legal – EU Drivers Hours
Employ holds safety and compliance at the top of their agenda and staying legal according to EU Driver Hours is a priority. Our EU Drivers Hours Guide explains in detail of keeping within the maximum weekly driving limit of 56 hours, which applies to a fixed week.
Tachograph Brief
We have our own step by step operation instructions and video guide to walk our drivers through tachograph management.
Telematics
Telematics refers to a range of products that keep track of a drivers data. This is recorded in an effort to identify trends that can be turned into practical advice to encourage safer driving. It gives our drivers direct feedback on their driving behaviours, such as harsh braking, coasting, and idling, which increases their awareness so they can make adjustments to their driving if needed, improving safe driving.
Driver Awareness
Employ’s safety awareness guide aims to inform our drivers about a range of factors that can influence driving behaviours with the opportunity to reflect on triggers that may affect their driving, as well as things such as sleep, hunger and thirst.
Road Skills Online – Toolbox Talks
We have partnered with Road Skills online so our drivers can access a range of online training. Road Skills Online offers bite-sized e-learning to our drivers which ensures drivers receive regular, consistent and relevant reminders of their responsabilities.
Driver Wellbeing
We take our drivers’ wellbeing seriously and therefore invested in a driver wellbeing survey to help us plan a guides and information on wellbeing topics. The areas geared up to drivers include physical issues like back and joint care; psychological issues like stress and sleep problems; and practical advice on specific areas such smoking cessation or budgeting.
Road Skills Online – Toolbox Talks
We have clear guidelines that serve as reminders regarding the laws around carrying loads. As a general rule, if you’re transporting palletised goods, boxes and stillages, you will need at least one strap per row and need to use protectors if the load could damage the straps.
Our latest Driver Agency Excellence Audit was a pass with no advisories, which is rare within the industry. This result is a true reflection of our 100% compliance, placing the safety of our drivers first every day, all day – driving safety!
“I would rate the system as excellent and give it 10 out of 10. None of the systems I’ve come across has its own analysis engine EU Driver Hours, WTD/AWR and Good Work Plan! ”
Auditor Logistics UK
Safety Guides
Upon registration all our drivers receive a number of guides and procedures to read in order to familiarise themselves with our processes, as well as remind them of the legal aspects of HGV driving. Here’s a collection of some guides you may find useful.
Check out our library of guides here.
Our wellbeing plan spans across the year, targeting a different health area each month. We commissioned our own health and wellbeing survey with drivers across the UK to gauge priorities and themes according to the drivers’ identified needs.
In addition, the programme has been designed to incorporate preventative measures to address health conditions that drivers can typically go on to develop due to the nature of their work. This has been based on medical research from the BMJ which identified a higher incidence of certain conditions and ill health in HGV drivers compared to the rest of the population (e.g., diabetes). Find out more about our campaign here.
Driver LMP Legal Support
We provide 24/7 legal assistance service with LMP Legal who ensure any of our drivers involved in a police attended/blue light attended collision will be offered immediate legal support. The partnership offers national coverage which enables them to provide immediate support from the roadside. Crucially, this is not an insurer helpline or an ‘FNOL’ (First notification of loss) service. It is a direct route through to a criminal lawyer for immediate advice and representation. Aside from the cost and reputational implications, both LMP Legal and Employ believe that it is morally right that drivers are protected when they are driving through the course of their employment.
