The IOC recognises road safety at heart of sector of express delivery, the top award of the year Is handed out at the National Courier Awards in the name of IOC Vice President, former transport Minister and road safety guru, David Jamieson. To recognise this corporate team win for road safety, UK Traffic commissioner Sarah Bell, DfT's Phil Martin and DVSA's Bob Hannigan were called to stage to celebrate best of best in road safety.

IOC sub group chair for road safety, Chris Floyd explains, "Road safety is paramount, this nomination personifies a fantastic team of well-trained, passionate individuals who are dedicated to improving the safety of their drivers and other road users. In the past 12 months this Driver Training team has implemented changes to ensure that all the brand drivers are highly trained."

IOC CEO Dr Tracey Worth comments, "The Whistl Bolton team made changes which have made a significant difference. Vehicle familiarisation, a refresher guide, telematics procedures, driver intervention processes, fitness to drive checks. The team conducting over 1000 supervisory checks which have become integral to creating a Road Safety Culture at Whistl. As a result, this team have formed a cohesive and proactive contribution toward a 50% reduction in the incident rate compared to 2023."

Whistl Road Safety team celebrate David Jamieson Road Safety award

The Whistl Bolton team was nominated by Graeme Snowball - National Transport Training Manager.

A look at the Whistl Bolton road safety detail

In the past 12 months this Driver Training team has implemented changes to ensure that all drivers are highly trained and professional. These changes are making a significant difference and are integral to creating a Road Safety Culture at the Whistl. The Driver Training team is responsible for creating and implementing policies, procedures, and training documents to deliver a consistent message to the drivers. As a result, we have formed a cohesive and proactive team that has contributed to a 50% reduction in the incident rate compared to 2023. This is a fantastic team of well-trained, passionate individuals who are dedicated to improving the safety of our drivers and other road users.

Here are some of the policies and procedures put in place by the Driver Training team:

Implementing the WHISTL DRIVER TRAINING 002 Toolbox Talks Procedure has revolutionised the way Toolbox Talks are conducted, with every driver now receiving a TBT once a month in a face-to-face capacity. The team have delivered a staggering 4050 Toolbox Talks training sessions from January to August 31st.

WHISTL DRIVER TRAINING 001 Vehicle Familiarisation Policy ensures every driver is trained on all vehicles within of their license scope.

The introduction of the WHISTL DRIVER TRAINING 005 Refresher Training guide and WHISTL DRIVER TRAINING 005A Driver Standards has ensured consistent standards across all Whistl depots. The team have carried out 266 on-road refresher training sessions and assessments.

WHISTL DRIVER TRAINING 009 Telematics Procedure now maximises the use of telematics with specific guidance on "Non-Conformance." Furthermore, a Telematics Training Plan has been established for drivers with lower telematics scores.

We have introduced a Driver Intervention process WHISTL DRIVER TRAINING 019, triggered by a driver involved in a Serious incident, ensuring that drivers receive a minimum of 3 training sessions within 6 weeks to meet all standards.

A Fitness to Drive declaration is now conducted every 6 months, aligning with eyesight checks, thereby prioritising road safety.

Conducting over 1000 supervisory checks such as gate checks, pre-use checks, couple–uncouple, and seatbelt inspections.

Training 608 drivers for their Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC).

There have been many more processes and procedures introduced in the last 12 months.

The Whistl Driver Trainers have enthusiastically implemented all requested changes, including updating safety procedures and regulations, as well as the modernisation of training records and documents. Their steadfast dedication to prioritising Road Safety within their training programs is clear and commendable.