Global Safety Programme of BAT's Fleet, detailed by Robert Hitchcock
In the dynamic world of corporate operations, ensuring safety and compliance is paramount, especially when managing a global fleet. British American Tobacco (BAT) has presented a comprehensive strategy for managing global fleet safety, focusing on three key areas: technology-enabled vehicle safety, data-driven driver management, and organizational culture alignment.
Technology-Enabled Vehicle Safety
The strategy emphasizes the importance of equipping vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as lane departure warnings, forward collision alerts, blind spot detection, and driver-facing cameras. Proactive maintenance schedules based on diagnostic and telematics data are also prioritized to prevent breakdowns and extend vehicle life. Choosing vehicles that meet or exceed international safety standards and regulatory compliance is another crucial aspect, with digital log devices (ELDs) and periodic DOT inspections being integral to each region's requirements.
Data-Driven Driver Management
Addressing driver behaviour is a critical component of the strategy. continuous driver training programs are implemented, identifying improvement areas through telematics and driver behaviour analytics (DBA), supported by AI insights. Monitoring tools like Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) checks, telematics, and dashcams are used to enforce accountability, providing drivers with visible metrics of their performance.
A culture of safety is fostered by setting clear, measurable safety goals, sharing performance transparently, and making safety a shared operational value across all teams. Recognising and rewarding safe driving behaviours motivates compliance and reduces incident rates, while enforcing consequences for violations like speeding or distracted driving maintains discipline and provides opportunities for coaching and skill improvement.
Organizational Culture Alignment
The strategy also focuses on ensuring better compliance and effectiveness of fleet safety policies by achieving buy-in and alignment among various departments. A successful global fleet safety program requires collaboration and consultation across six key departments: operations, fleet, legal, finance, HR, and EHS.
BAT integrates telematics across trade vehicles to leverage technology for safety enhancement. The strategy aims to tailor policies and strategies to specific market conditions rather than adopting a uniform, one-size-fits-all approach.
In conclusion, Robert Hitchcock's strategy for managing global fleet safety considers the diverse challenges and varied risk levels across numerous markets. The approach combines technology-enabled vehicle safety, data-driven driver management, and organizational culture alignment to significantly reduce accident risks, improve driver well-being, and ensure regulatory compliance across global operations.
- The strategy incorporates telematics in the finance department's budget planning to assess the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the fleet, ensuring an optimal balance between safety investments and operational costs.
- As part of their compliance with industry standards, the organizational culture of British American Tobacco (BAT) encourages continuous learning and adaptation, using insights from telematics and digital log devices (ELDs) to optimize fleet safety practices.
- In the long run, the implementation of this comprehensive fleet safety strategy by British American Tobacco (BAT) promises to yield substantial benefits in terms of both business efficiency and industry reputation, as it demonstrates the company's commitment to safety and the well-being of its drivers.
