Hauliers are being offered an opportunity to cut their fuel bills by thousands of pounds per truck as well as reduce their environmental impact through a new instructor training course.
The Low Carbon Instructor course has been launched by SP Training, which said it would help logistics firms significantly reduce their fuel and energy use, improve road safety and reduce scope 3 emissions.
SP Training said instructors would be taught how to equip drivers with the necessary skills to use less fuel, extend the range of their vehicles – whether they’re relying on conventional fuel or hybrid, battery or hydrogen power – avoid vehicle incidents and reduce fatigue.
Co-op, Yodel and Evri have already taken up the new course for their instructors.
Robin Brown, SP Training chairman, said: “The benefits of this course are immense.
“Drivers play a critical role in a vehicle’s fuel and energy use and a reduction in fuel use of an average of 5% represents a massive cost saving to hauliers and large fleet operators.
“For hybrid and electric vehicles, it will teach drivers how to extend the range so they can go further without recharging, saving carbon and down time to recharge.”
Brown added: “The Low Carbon Instructor course is based around sustainability and will have a positive impact on logistics companies’ environmental targets.
“It’s also a significant commercial advantage as customers are prioritising sustainability when awarding contracts, as they want operators to help reduce the carbon footprint associated with distribution of their freight.”
The qualification is certified by Skills for Logistics and is recognised as continuing professional development for existing instructors and assessors.
Geof Armstrong, vice chairman at logistics operator Wm Armstrong Group, said: “As a business we are constantly looking at ways to cut our emissions and our environmental impact. A course which helps us to achieve those aims while also reducing our fuel usage is an attractive proposition for any business with a road fleet.
“Increasingly, our customers want to know about our sustainability strategy and how we can help cut the scope 3 emissions associated with their deliveries, so if we can train our drivers to be more environmentally efficient it is a real business boost for us.”
