Slow and steady wins the race

When it comes to greyhounds and thoroughbreds, the faster the better. But the New Zealand Racing Board which governs, broadcasts and supports the racing industry, advocates for sticking to the speed limits on the road.

New Zealand Racing Board ( NZRB) staff have access to a fleet of 124 vehicles comprising employee work vehicles such as cars, utes and vans, and company work vehicles including trucks from class 1 through to class 4, trailers and caravans.

On average this fleet covers 1.6 million kilometres annually in support of the New Zealand racing industry.

In 2016, a 360-degree hazard and risk review by the NZRB identified driver behaviour as the greatest source of harm to employees. As the Health and Safety Manager Jason Stapp put it, “Something needed to change. New Zealand Racing Board had no visibility into its fleet movements and driver behaviour, nor the right tools to measure and review improvements.”

He led the installation of Teletrac Navman’s GPS tracking system into the fleet for in depth insights that would allow the organisation to improve its safety record off the track.

“The Teletrac Navman system has been immensely valuable in reaching our safety goals and has helped save tens of thousands of dollars in the fleet operations,” says Stapp.

REDUCED RISK FOR ALL DRIVERS Before bringing in the system, the NZRB had a comprehensive engagement period with staff about what the company wanted to improve and how they would use the data.

“We took an all-encompassing approach to health and safety, which includes not just setting expectations and monitoring, but really educating and engaging with staff. We developed a programme that not only utilised the Teletrac Navman GPS system, but did so in a manner that supported a positive cultural change towards driver behaviour,” says Stapp.

In September 2017, the NZRB set up its GPS tracking system to identify and record over speed events at a limit of 108km/h for passenger vehicles and 98km/h for trucks.

After an amnesty period, the first recorded month identified 11,203 incidents of over speeding across the fleet. As well as increasing the safety risk to staff, speeding was adding costs to the organisation in the form of vehicle damage equating to around $68,000 per year, speeding fines of up to $16,000 per year, vehicle wear and tear, and excessive fuel consumption.

To incentivise better driving, the NZRB set up a competition between different fleet teams within the organisation to aim for zero over speeds each month.

“Using telematics data, we fairly calculate the monthly results for the different size teams. Teams who achieve zero over speeds are treated to a full spread breakfast,” says Stapp. “Excellent results are further commended through internal communications.”

One particular team achieved four consecutive months of zero over speeds.

The NZRB also offer free defensive driving courses to all drivers; level 1 and 2 for car drivers, and up to level 3 for fourwheel drive vehicle and truck drivers. “With driver scorecards, we can share in depth details on individual driver behaviour with employees to help them understand and improve their driving,” notes Stapp.

As of June 2018, the NZRB has seen a 91 percent reduction in the number of over speed events, with the average fleet over speed per kilometre ( Os/km) travelled reducing from 0.081 to 0.004 Os/km. Vehicle damage has reduced by around two thirds, saving the organisation around $44,000 per year. The combined annual fines and infringements now sit at under $1,000. INSIGHTS THAT ADD VALUE

Teletrac Navman’s GPS tracking system is used to address issues with outside providers and protect the NZRB brand.

“We have branded vehicles, so we need to be accountable and have proper insight into how vehicles are being used,” comments Stapp.

In two instances the NZRB received fines and infringements which occurred when vehicles were being serviced by an outside provider. Using Teletrac Navman’s DIRECTOR software, the NZRB were able to source detailed proof of how the vehicle had been used.

“Insights from Teletrac Navman help us send a clear message that the NZRB has a strong focus on the safety and health of all persons operating its fleet – and will take action to reduce the risk posed by poor driver behaviours,” says Stapp.

Tracking the progress towards a safer fleet with accurate metrics is useful for staff across the organisation.

“With tangible results, the fleet management team can report to the Board on the positive progress,” says Stapp. “The results are crucial to gain ongoing financial commitment to the education and incentives programmes.” The fleet management team also found a reduction in insurance costs of around 30 percent.

“With driver scorecards, we can share in depth details on individual driver behaviour with employees to help them understand and improve their

driving.”

FUEL SAVINGS MAKE FOR

A GREENER FLEET

A more environmentally friendly fleet due to reduced fuel consumption has been one of the flow- on effects of improving driver behaviour.

Fuel consumption in fleet operations has reduced from 21 litres per 100 km down to 13.8 litres per 100 km travelled since the full system was implemented in September 2017. The fleet’s carbon emissions have reduced from 86 tonnes per month to 61 tonnes per month.

“Using Teletrac Navman we have benchmarked, managed and tracked our results towards a safer and more costeffective fleet.

“The results to date are not the end to our driver safety journey, but a stepping stone in the right direction towards preventing harm to staff, other road users, the NZRB, and the racing industry,” summarises Stapp.