Coaching for success

Danish food wholesaler Catering Engros has saved 22,000 euro in one year through the Scania driver coaching concept. And the best part is that the drivers are equally pleased.

“It is only during the last few years that we’ve started partnering with Scania. We like Scania’s concept with their services and focus on fuel economy,” says Distribution Manager Allan Klose, Catering Engros. He has always been in the logistics industry, including 12 years as a driver. “We’ve had so much success with Scania Driver Coaching that a coaching facility nowadays is mandatory in our tenders. Our customers have increasing environmental demands and at the same time we can save so much money.”

Catering Engros received its first Scania in spring 2015 and 16 drivers were offered Scania Driver Coaching. Almost immediately, the results were apparent on weekly reports. “It was great to see the results so quickly and drivers were also pleased.”

Each Monday, the company sends reports to the 40 coached drivers. For them it is a personal challenge to follow performance on Driver Support while driving. Most drivers quickly accepted coaching while others were more sceptical, especially the most experienced drivers. “We had one driver who from the start flatly refused to participate in this what he called ‘nonsense’ but declared that he reluctantly would take the course and that would be the end of it.”

Now, no one is more engaged in economical driving than he is. “He was used to driving at full speed but after the course, he began driving a full kilometre further on one litre of fuel than he did previously. He also applies the same skills when driving his own car and says he saves roughly a full tank per month.”

For Catering Engros, economical driving has resulted in satisfied drivers and economic benefits in other areas as well. “We’ve noted that when the trucks are running smoothly, we’re getting longer and longer intervals between maintenance although we don’t, as yet, have hard data.”

Driver Henrik Juul, who has participated in coaching activities since November 2015, has had his truck driver’s licence for 30 years. “From the very start, I thought it was a good idea. I like the idea with sustainability and economy, and what is saved is gained.”

His colleague, Thomas Pedersen joined the coaching programme in March 2016. “When I first got the call from the coach, I was adamant there was nothing he could teach me about how to drive a truck. But then we had a little chat about things and I agreed to give it a chance. I soon discovered the competitive aspect and went from an average of 2.1 km/litre to 3.7–3.9 km/litre. My driving style has changed completely and probably made me a little more laid-back.”

Scania Driver Academy Manager Erling Petersen at Scania Danmark says signed-up transporters can expect an average 16-percent fuel saving with a ‘no cure, no pay’ guarantee if fuel savings do not cover the investment in driver coaching. He underlines that coaching has several more benefits in addition to fuel savings. “Uptime is improved through fewer days on workshop and lower maintenance costs,” he says. “There are examples of a threefold increase in brake pad lifetime and at the same time significantly less wear on tyres.”