United Kingdom | Enterprise

The Suttons Group, a privately owned transport company, offers a total service of bulk liquid and gases distribution in the UK to ISO tanks operation throughout the world. In addition there is a multi-product warehousing and distribution operation in the UK. Suttons has over 600 employees within the group.

The objective of Sutton’s action plan is to ensure the continued safety of our drivers and others who could be affected by their actions. To achieve this, the current driver training programme will be developed to ensure drivers have a greater awareness of road risks and how to minimise the risks to themselves and others through better driving techniques.

All professional drivers employed by Suttons (circa 400) will have completed a comprehensive training programme within the next three years. The intention is to ensure the drivers are highly trained in safe driving techniques to reduce road risks to themselves and others. The training they will receive will raise their safety awareness and inform them on how best to avoid potentially hazardous situations. The training will comprise of approximately twenty modules, each module focuses on a specific training aspect applicable to the driver’s role. There are several generic modules that cover induction, company procedures and policies, safety and security issues etc., which all drivers receive; and additional modules specific to a particular activity that the driver will undertake, for example specialist chemical awareness training for the products he will transport. The programme is subject to continual review to ensure it complies with any changes in legislation or operating practices. Each driver will have a training matrix to demonstrate the modules that he has successfully completed and this will be used to ensure they receive continuous development.

The training will be delivered annually to each driver and will consist of both theoretical and practical sessions over one or two days depending upon the modules covered for that particular driver. Assessments will be carried out at the end of the training to ensure drivers have attained the necessary standards. Moreover, feedback will be taken from the drivers to ensure the training has been effective and of value to the driver. The measurement of the plan’s success will be demonstrated by a reduction in the number of reported incidents.