Viridor, Burgess Hill, February 2009

FTA receives drivers' hours data via digital and scanned information systems from Viridor's operating centres. All drivers' daily working activities are analysed to ensure adequate rest periods are taken and working hours aren't exceeded. This is vital to improve the safety of the freight industry and protect all road users. The Burgess Hill depot is the first Viridor South East regional depot to receive the new annual award which was presented by the FTA's Audit Services Director Alan Osborne on Tuesday 24 February. Viridor has been using FTA to audit its analogue and digital driver records for the past year to ensure it meets the current stringent legal requirements. As well as coming out top companywide, the Burgess Hill depot also demonstrated few infringements and faults, significantly below the national and waste management sector averages. The past six months have seen an even more marked improvement.

Paul Riley, South East Regional Vehicle and Plant Engineer at Viridor, said: "The waste industry is a particularly tough operating environment for truck drivers. The cutting edge systems we've put in place ensure Viridor drivers are safe, legal and efficient. It is great for our efforts to be recognised by FTA."

FTA's Alan Osborne said, "FTA has been impressed by the speed and effectiveness with which Viridor's Burgess Hill depot has improved its drivers' hours and working time compliance. By the end of the monitoring period, it had few working time infringements in comparison with the waste management sector's average of 0.35 per cent per chart/digital day, demonstrating its responsibility towards ensuring a safe operation."

This is the second consecutive year that Viridor South East received recognition from FTA. Last year the South East region of Viridor was one of only 50 companies with a multi depot operation to receive the Roadworthiness Award 2008 for its vehicle maintenance standards.

Sita, Hayes depot, February 2009

SITA UK is a subsidiary of SUEZ Environnement, a world leader exclusively dedicated to water and waste services, operating on five continents with 120 years' experience and 62,000 employees worlwide.

SITA UK has operated for some 20 plus years as a waste recycling and waste management business, from household collection to business premises, with some 300 locations throughout the UK.

During 2008 Sita made a smooth and successful transition to FTA's Tachograph Analysis Service for both analogue and digital data. The Tachofta Compliance Award was presented to Hayes depot who had had over 4,000 pieces of analogue and digital data for analysis and were exhibiting a low rate of infringements per trace. The award was presented by Theo de Pencier and received by Andy Liles representing the Hayes depot.

Encon Insulation, Leeds, March 2009

Encon Insulation and Nevill Long, part of the Wolseley Group, are leading national distributors of a fully comprehensive range of thermal, acoustic and fire protection insulation products to all sectors of the construction industry from more than 30 branches.

FTA's On Site Compliance Service has provided analysis information and on-site support for several years at over 25 branches for both Encon Insulation and Nevill Long.

Barbara Sudlow, Encon's Facilities Manager at Wetherby, said 'Encompassing all the changes in drivers' hours and records regulations has been an enormous challenge to drivers with the complicated move from analogue to digital tachographs. The integration of digital vehicles on the 144 commercial vehicle fleet has continuous support from FTA, and the challenge was embraced by the commitment from drivers. Fraikin, which provides full contract hire to Encon, has also been instrumental in supporting the integration from analogue to digital tachographs.'

Encon Leeds and Nevill Long Leeds have been identified as the most consistent branches over the period Encon Leeds showed continuous improvement with a large mixed analogue and digital fleet. The two branches have recently merged into one location.

The fleet is predominantly now managed by Phil Allman, but Chris Hocker, Operations Manager for Nevill Long was responsible for his fleet activities for the period this award covers.

The new annual FTA Tacho Compliance Award was presented to the Leeds branch by FTA's General Sales Manager Richard White on 16 March.

Macfarlane Packaging, Bristol, March 2009

On 31 March, the Macfarlane Packaging Bristol RDC was awarded the winner of the Tachofta Compliance Award for demonstrating consistently good compliance throughout 2008 in all areas of drivers' hours, tachograph legislation and systems.

Macfarlane Packaging, established in 1949, has grown into an international business trading in labelling, packaging, manufacturing and packaging distribution. Operating from 23 locations in the UK, Ireland and Sweden and employing 750 people, it is the leading UK distributor of packaging consumable products.

Macfarlane Packaging has been using the FTA's Tachograph Analysis Service for six years - both the visiting service and the postal service. FTA has helped and advised Macfarlane Packaging in all aspects of drivers' hours and tachograph legislation, helping them to achieve a high standard of compliance and giving them confidence and piece of mind. The FTA's detailed analysis has enabled the logistics managers to identify individual drivers' training requirements, helping them to ensure the drivers remain compliant at all times.

Niels Larsen, Macfarlane Packaging's Logistics Project Co-ordinator said:

'With the combined resources of the FTA's CDU software ability to control working time and drivers' hours we now feel confident in moving forward and feel well equipped to deal with the implementation of the new graduated fixed penalty legislation.'

Dave Hartley, Logistics Manager of the Bristol RDC was delighted to be presented with this prestigious award and said:

'I feel honoured to receive this award and feel 100 per cent analysis is beneficial to help give me the complete picture to enable me to manage my drivers more effectively'

As seen in the picture, FTA's Tachograph Contract Manager Terri Armitage presents the 2008 Tachofta Compliance Award to Dave Hartley.

Maritime Transport, Liverpool, April 2009

Leading UK container transport operator, Maritime Transport, has won a Tachofta Compliance Award in recognition of improvement in standards relating to drivers' hours legislation in 2008.

The award was given to the company's Liverpool depot. "We are delighted to receive this award from FTA", said Dave Boomer, Operation Director, Maritime Transport. "It recognises the hard work and effort we put into driver compliance and, in particular, the improvements achieved at our depot in Liverpool."

Over the last 18 months, Maritime has worked very closely with FTA to develop the management of driver tachograph infringements. Today, with a completely digital tachograph fleet, drivers download their cards on a weekly basis and management information is available almost immediately to review and take action where required.

In addition, the suite of management reports provided by FTA is tailored to Maritime's needs and enables managers to quickly identify any driver training requirements.

"With a fleet of 450 owned vehicles, compliance has to be an integral part of everything we do at Maritime. FTA, through its Tacho Analysis Service, plays an important role in ensuring that our drivers work within the drivers' hours legislation at all times," said Dave Boomer.

Grundon Waste Management, Bishops Cleeve Depot, April 2009

Grundon Waste Management Ltd was founded in 1929 and is the largest privately owned waste management company in the UK. Grundon specialises in commercial and domestic waste and recycling collections. In addition to this it has a specialist fleet carrying out collections of hazardous and clinical waste streams. Grundon also owns and operates its own landfill sites, material recovery facilities, waste transfer stations, hazardous waste transfer and recycling facility, hydra clave plant and high temperature incinerator for the treatment of clinical and hazardous waste streams. Its state of the art Energy from Waste plant will be commissioned during May 2009 which is a joint venture with Virridor Waste Management.

Grundon's relationship with FTA goes back almost 10 years, during which time FTA has provided on-site tachograph analysis at nine depots across the UK. A team of on-site compliance advisors visit each depot on a regular basis, analysing and interpreting tachograph data, helping Grundon to remain as compliant as possible under drivers' hours and tachograph legislation.

The compliance award for 2008 was awarded to Bishops Cleeve depot in recognition of the greatest improvement made in the standard of tachograph records produced for analysis. The award was presented by Alan Osborne, Director of Audit Services at FTA and was received by Tony Woodward, Depot Operations Manager, on behalf of the Bishops Cleeve depot.

Greggs plc, Cambuslang Depot, May 2009

From the results delivered by FTA Tachograph Analysis Service, Cambuslang Depot has been awarded a Tachofta Compliance Award. Over the year they have demonstrated consistent compliance in all areas of drivers’ hours and tachograph legislation. From using FTA for over two years for the analysis of both analogue and digital data, they have achieved a high standard of compliance throughout the company.

Greggs plc as a business has performed above the national average in all aspects of drivers’ hour’s infringements, driver faults, and working time infringements.

Keith Huntly is pictured alongside Richard Penna after having received the Tachofta Compliance Award from FTA’s Sector Head Jim Magner.

Dairy Crest, Southampton, July 2009

The Dairy Crest team at Stratton Road depot in Southampton has been awarded the inaugural Dairy Crest/Tachofta Compliance award for 2008. Leading performance across key areas including drivers' hours infringements, driver faults, other faults and working time infringements has been the key factor in winning the award, against strong competition from within the Dairy Crest depot network. Overall, Dairy Crest as a business performs better than the national average in each of the above areas, therefore standards needed to be high to win this award.