Royal Mail says it has reduced fuel use by more than 10 per cent, saving £4.4 million, through a package of measures in which a key element is vehicle tracking with the C-track system.

The tracking system has been fitted on 8,000 vehicles in the Royal Mail fleet. Objectives of the programme included improving route planning and analysis, enhancing driver performance and increasing management control.

Royal Mail says it has accessed real-time and historical fleet data provided by the system to monitor the effectiveness of the driver risk assessment initiative. To date, driver productivity has increased by 3 per cent, accident rates have been reduced by 20 per cent, and instances of speeding are down by more than 60 per cent.

Meanwhile, harsh braking has been reduced by 70 per cent, contributing to greater fleet efficiency.

 

C-track's Web-based, multi-user tracking solution has been deployed to staff responsible for managing the Royal Mail UK collections and delivery network. Coverage includes 114,000 post boxes, 68 mail centres, 1,400 delivery offices and 12,000 Post Office branches.

It forms part of a broader vehicle and driver management strategy designed to improve road safety, reduce fleet size and drive down fuel consumption. The strategy also includes a driver risk assessment initiative, which has seen 27,000 drivers assessed and given individual risk ratings.

The discipline established by the system has been reinforced by tailored training schedules, which include a mix of classroom-based and in-vehicle courses to improve road skills and driving behaviour.

According to Mike Devanny, head of fleet and maintenance services at Royal Mail: 'We have implemented the vehicle and driver management strategy to support our objective to become the lowest- cost postal operator delivering market-leading quality of service.'

C-track is the trading name of DigiCore, one of the biggest and longest-established vehicle tracking specialists active in the UK.