Safety Controls in Logistic Industry

In today’s day and age, the world is more focused on health and safety than ever before. More and more regulations are being put into place, and new technological advances are happening on a daily basis with the aim of improving safety controls & security. The HGV is no different and has seen some drastic changes over the past decade in the name of increasing safety. In this article, we will discuss some of the significant changes that have happened within the HGV industry.

Limited driving hours

Long gone are the days when companies would be able to send drivers up and down the country with minimal breaks. Some 20 years ago it was not uncommon for a long distance haulage driver to be driving 80+ hours a week!

Studies have shown that driving when you’re tired is hazardous and must be avoided at all costs. For this reason, you are now not allowed to drive more than 56 hours per week. In order to legally drive in the UK HGV drivers have to strictly follow the driving hours as described by the DVSA. All lorries are now equipped with a tachometer that records precisely how long a person has been driving for without a rest. It also records the speeds the vehicle was moving and the route it took. This ensures that all drivers are sticking to the new regulations and getting enough rest whilst on the job.

Vehicle improvements

Lorries have improved tremendously over the past decade; they are now equipped with the latest technology and are significantly more fuel efficient than before. All of these improvements give the driver a lot more control and make driving a whole lot more comfortable. It is now standard for a lorry to come equipped with parking sensors, reverse camera and sensors that detect traffic on either side of the lorry. They also have significantly better braking power than they did before which reduces the stopping distance and makes it easier to carry out an emergency stop.

Training

Training also plays a big part in improving the safety of the driver, pedestrians and other road users. The CPC (Certificate of professional competence) was designed to further increase the safety on the road by teaching some of the commercial aspects of driving a lorry. These include vehicle checks, safety inspections and ensuring that your vehicle load is adequately secured.

Here at HGVT, we take safety very seriously and offer an array of courses designed to make driving as safe as possible. Call us now to find out how we can help you! We have also written a few tips and tricks on preventing accidents, don’t forget to check them out.