Truck and Track Summer 2021

Truck and Track Summer 2021 www.truckandtrack.com 18 BUSINESS NEWS KB Coaches has become the first coach operator in Gloucestershire to achieve the prestigious DVSA Earned Recognition accreditation by using four of TruTac’s fleet software systems. The PSV specialist coach operator has been around for 40 years and has a fleet of 20 vehicles – the average age of which is approximately three years – along with an equivalent number of drivers. It specialises in large-scale transport for the likes of schools and sports teams, but the fleet also includes a pair of minibuses for smaller jobs, such as airport runs. KB decided to pursue Earned Recognition status – the Government approved accreditation to prove operators meet exemplary driver and vehicle standards – around two years ago. “We read some articles in the trade press and spoke to one or two DVSA reps,” explains director, Andy Francis. “You agree to all the standards of Earned Recognition when you get your Operators Licence, so it’s basically just making sure that you’re doing everything you said you would and ensuring compliance is a key metric across your fleet.” At the time, the companywas already using two of TruTac’s products to assist with its day-to-day operations. “We started with TruCheck about four years ago, just for our own peace of mind,” says Andy. “It was to make sure the daily walkaround inspections were being done correctly and in the best way possible. They can be geolocated, time-logged and the driver takes pictures, because they carry out the checks via an app on their phone.” The company quickly adopted TruTac’s TruAnalysis PSV tachograph analysis system for public service vehicle operators because it instantly synchronises with the data collected during walkaround checks. This provided Andy with what he describes as a ‘hand-in-glove’ approach to vehicle inspections and digital tachograph downloads. All the data in one place, and instantly available. The move to Earned Recognition saw the company take on more of TruTac’s systems, namely the TruFleet vehicle maintenance management programme and the TruLicence licence verification software. Those additions allowed KB Coaches to submit KPI’s to the DVSA to prove its compliance and management credentials which, in turn, means its vehicles are less likely to be subject to routine stops by traffic officers – one of the perks of the scheme. “We added those systems to show that we’re fully compliant and consistently meet the DVSA’s standards for Earned Recognition,” adds Andy. “It’s also just so much easier managing things like maintenance digitally. All of the systems seamlessly work with one another, so the driver knowswhen the vehicle’s due an inspection in the garage – it just comes up during his walkaround check.” Andy concludes, “The simplicity of the system and the full integration makes everything easy to manage and we wouldn’t be without it.” KB Coaches pride themselves on compliance, vehicle standards and safety. Earned Recognition reinforces this commitment to their customers and their drivers. TruTac, part of the Microlise Group, are fleet compliance experts and proud to be firm supporters of the DVSA Earned Recognition scheme. www.trutac.co.uk TruTac software nets Earned Recognition for KB Coaches Talent in Logistics has announced its decision to cancel the 5th edition of the annual Talent in Logistics Awards until 2022. The Talent in Logistics Awards programme recognises the talented people that work within the sector, keeping the cogs turning. That includes individuals, such as forklift operators and HGV drivers, and the teams of people behind the scenes who are responsible for training, health and safety, and more. It also focuses on initiatives that display best practice when it comes to sector recruitment, employee engagement, and people development. Ruth Edwards, Operations Director at Talent in Logistics comments: “Cancelling this year’s awards was a very difficult decision to make, and we are very disappointed as we were so eager to welcome the industry for another brilliant event. However, we are certain this is the most responsible course of action at this time. “For us, the magic of our industry is in the people. Over the past year, they have been crucial, and deserve even greater praise and recognition than ever for their efforts. So, to keep everyone safe, and give us the best opportunity to celebrate these efforts we feel it is responsible to postpone. We make a promise to the sector that when we come back in 2022, the event will be bigger and better than ever before.” Talent in Logistics will release full details for the 2022 event in due course. For further information on entering the awards or sponsoring an award category in 2022, visit www.talentinlogistics.co.uk Talent in Logistics Postpones 2021 Awards Event