Feature Lift trucks


So much more to fuel economy T


Fuel economy is a hot topic right now but there’s much more to it than just the price writes Sally Baker, marketing manager of Briggs Equipment


raditional thinking dictates that there are two ways to manage the fuel economy – cut back on the use of vehicles or invest in the


latest fuel efficient technologies. However, the former is not always


practical and the latter involves spending more money to cut costs, meaning overall savings are not going to be seen until further down the line. That isn’t to say new technologies


that help to save fuel don’t act as a key support tool in the constant quest for greater efficiency and cost-effective- ness. Companies should certainly equip themselves with the very latest trucks with the most up-to-date fuel- saving systems built in, where possible. Asset management solutions like


Speedshield offer real time fleet infor- mation and give you complete control over your machines. Speedshield makes drivers more accountable for their behaviour while highlighting where improvements can be made. One waste management company using the system saved around £11,000 in just three months. As well as clever technology there is


a much more immediate solution, one that is closer to home and much more easily controlled by the truck owner. Essentially, a huge amount of fuel


economy lies in how the truck is han- dled – in other words, it is the actions of the driver that really count. So the first step towards meaningful fuel


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economy is for operators to educate their truck drivers on how to cut down on fuel wastage. As a spin-off, they will also increase the productivity and overall working life of their trucks. So what do we mean by fuel effi- cient truck handling? In a nutshell, we are talking about taking care of the truck and not doing anything that is unnecessarily wasteful – so there


‘A huge amount of fuel economy lies in how the truck is handled – in other


words, it is the actions of the driver that really count’


should be less revving, less idling, less stop and start. And there should be more emphasis on operating a truck optimally rather than simply trying to get the job done as quickly as possible. Good driving extends the efficiency of a truck – it runs better for longer, not just saving money on fuel but saving money on maintenance, repairs and ultimately replacement trucks. Briggs’ customers have found that to


achieve a high standard of driving, training can be carried out in the ‘real world’, because no two workplaces are the same. The layout is different with


unique obstacles, obstructions and other hazards such as uneven floors, and training needs to reflect this. In terms of layout, planning out


routes for trucks around a warehouse can also have a massive impact on how much fuel is used because cutting out unnecessary wastage and costs applies as equally to fuel as it does to time, tyres, oil and engine wear. It should go without saying that the shortest possible routes should be taken in a truck when shifting goods or getting refuelled with the least possi- ble amount of trips. However, some operators may not


be aware of how to map out truck routes. A simple answer is warehouse simulation which breaks down sec- tions of a warehouse into manageable parts. It also takes into account the type of racking and storage and the fleet to be used, and works out the speeds and energy consumption involved, the goods flow and order picking and replenishment regimes. The system calculates the number of pallet movements and the hourly usage rates while taking into account shift patterns and even service inter- vals. Briggs offers a free warehouse simulation for customers who want to run ‘what if’ based scenarios. But although fleet owners recognise


that technology assists, driver behaviour has a major influence on making signifi- cant fuel economies – and a direct link to the company's bottom line.


Briggs Equipment T: 01543 430455 www.briggsequipment.co.uk


Enter 355 SEPTEMBER 2013 Materials Handling & Logistics


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