‘Zero Tolerance’ puts Network Rail fleet on track

Chuck Ives, head of fleet for Network Rail, has introduced a tough initiative which bans vehicles from the road if drivers on the fleet of more than 8,500 vehicles fleet have not brought them in for servicing on time.

The scheme is part of a wide range of initiatives focused on safety that has led to a 30% reduction in accidents and a significant drop in fleet costs.

The Network Rail fleet includes, 6,250 bespoke LCVs, 1,300 company cars and 250 light goods/specialist vehicles operating across the UK 24/7, 365 days a year to maintain the nation’s rail infrastructure.

Think safety

Mr Ives said: “We have to think safety because of the industry we work in. Safety must be paramount when working on the railways.

“It is our total acceptance that the rules and regulations under which we all work are an absolute necessity that has led us to adopt the safe vehicle management system called Zero Tolerance.”

Zero Tolerance is exactly what is says, Mr Ives points out. Drivers are told to ‘do as instructed, with no excuses’ and sanctions are introduced if they fail to follow instructions when they are given. Network Rail’s fleet team monitors data and information from its fleet vehicles constantly.

As soon as they are due for a service, MoT or yearly health check, this has to be completed without any compromise.

Failure to present the vehicle means that Network Rail will instantly issue an internal prohibition and withdraw that vehicle from operational service, no matter what operational pressures may exist.

Mr Ives said: “We will not use poorly maintained or unsafe vehicles. Vehicles can be expensive killing machines if not serviced and kept in the best condition and our task is to eliminate risk through tight controls and effective management.

“We have real-time checking of vehicles. There are known procedures which drivers have to follow and an audit system in place to ensure total compliance.”

Although the system has its costs, such as replacement vehicles and software to manage the whole process, the business is seeing benefits, Mr Ives argues. He said: “Zero Tolerance is not an expensive management tool. Network Rail has a small central fleet staff of eight people managing more than 8,500 vehicles successfully. The Zero Tolerance system has reduced our overall vehicle budget spend.

“Accidents are down and costs are down. We are spending less by doing more.

“Vehicle reliability is at an all time high, component failure is highly unlikely and maintenance costs have fallen dramatically as the preventative maintenance process has taken effect. Driver culture has changed too.

“They know their vehicles are being monitored and acknowledge the need for regular vehicle maintenance.

“It is the best thing I have ever done as a fleet manager and it means Network Rail fleet is arguably one of the tightest managed and safest in the United Kingdom – despite its geographic distribution and the arduous conditions under which many units are operated.

Common sense

“All vehicle fleets should adopt this common sense approach to vehicle maintenance.”

The system has been honed in a particularly harsh fleet environment, where maintenance demands can be extremely high.

Network Rail provides a service for the people who maintain the railways and an awful lot of that is away from conventional roads and support systems.

Demand is often greatest at weekends. For example, on a typical Saturday night there can be more than 15,000 people going to work on the railways.

One key to the success of the scheme is that, within the Network Rail board, fleet safety is treated seriously, Mr Ives argues.

It is overtly promoted by the board by managers at every level and there is also a focus on ensuring that drivers practice it too.

To hammer the point home, if additional vehicle costs are incurred because a driver’s van has been taken off the road for missing essential maintenance, the driver’s department will foot the bill.

Mr Ives said: “We have 100% support and backing from the directors, union and staff for the Zero Tolerance system. They all recognise the absolute need for safety and risk reduction and our obligation to other road users.

“How would you feel if one of your vehicles was involved in a serious accident and it was found that the vehicle was overdue for routine servicing or maintenance?

“Safety is a state of mind. The adoption of Zero Tolerance is an acknowledgement that as a custodian of the fleet you are going to manage that fleet, ensuring that every vehicle is serviced on time and any vehicle overdue for any maintenance must be withdrawn until that action is completed.”

To support the initiative, the entire eightstrong fleet team at Network Rail has qualified for a Certificate of Professional Competence from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Mr Ives said: “They are all professionals and studied in their own time. The company paid for it, but I would estimate we have made back our investment 10 times over through improved performance.”

Good data is the key to success

Good data is vital to make a scheme as ambitious as Zero Tolerance work, according to Chuck Ives, Network Rail’s fleet chief. Every time a Network Rail vehicle draws fuel the vehicle’s mileage is updated on the fleet management database. Every time a vehicle is presented for any kind of repair, including tyres and windscreen damage, the mileage data is updated. Network Rail uses its own web-based database system to manage the process.

Mr Ives said: “You really need perfect data which everybody has total confidence in. It must be data that is updated in real-time and is easily accessible from whichever software programme you choose to use. For example, if we have a problem in the north of Scotland at midnight it allows me, the fleet team and our supply partners to monitor the situation in real-time.

Recorded

“We know the vehicle’s data, its latest recorded mileage, details of the last maintenance including tyre depth and its whole transaction history. We have a complete up-to-date record that allows us to make educated fact-based decisions instantly.”

Another essential component is good partners and Mr Ives singled out Fleet Support Group, which provides fleet management support for the organisation’s vehicle fleet, for its help in assisting Network Rail to achieve its Zero Tolerance aim.

Mr Ives added: “To me as a seasoned old transport professional, it is the most effective and simple safety initiative that I have used in over 30 years within the fleet industry.

“It acknowledges that whatever safety gadgets are fitted to vehicles, all these will fail when you need them most unless you ensure that your vehicles are maintained in a disciplined and managed way.”

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