Leading construction materials suppliers Aggregate
Industries and Tarmac recently gathered logistics professionals from across the
industry to discuss best practice and take a look at two of the safest vehicles
on the market.

Delegates from Tarmac, CEMEX and Hanson joined Aggregate
Industries at its London Concrete site in Battersea, London, where they
discussed the steps they were taking to make road logistics as safe as possible
for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

Two of the latest, five-star Direct Vision Standard (DVS)
rated vehicles used by Tarmac and Aggregate Industries hauliers working in the
capital were onsite to showcase some of the latest advances in construction
fleet technology; the Scania L-Series “urban truck� and the Mercedes Econic
“low entry crew cab truck� respectively.

The DVS standard is an essential requirement for HGVs
operating in London. It measures how much an HGV driver can see directly
through their cab windows. This indicates the level of risk to vulnerable road
users, such as people walking and cycling, near the vehicle. The vehicles
demonstrated achieve the maximum rating, thanks to their superior visibility
around the vehicle through a combination of windows.

Commenting on the day, Ben Young, Head of Road Logistics at
Aggregate Industries, said: “Health and safety on the roads is an absolute
priority for every company that operates in a similar space to Aggregate
Industries, which is why sharing best practice is crucial. We all agree that
loss of life on the roads should never be seen as acceptable or inevitable.

“It was, therefore, brilliant to get our counterparts from
across the industry together at our London Concrete site to share knowledge,
experience, and ultimately encourage each other to further improve our ways of
working to make the roads a safer place.�

Sean McGrae, Senior National Transport Manager at Tarmac,
said: “As operators of one of the largest HGV fleets in the country we are
committed to improving safety for all road users.

“Collaboration and best practice sharing play a key role in
ensuring continuous improvement and so it was great to be able to discuss this
critical topic with colleagues and the range of initiatives and ongoing efforts
to drive safety performance.�

David Dench, Area Logistics Manager for CEMEX, commented:
“This was an excellent opportunity to network with other people from the
industry, and discuss their approach to the Direct Vision Standard and
experiences with using the five-star rated vehicles. We acknowledged there was
still some work to be done across the industry to make these trucks accessible
for all operators; however they are impressive vehicles which reflect the
latest advancements in safety features and will make the roads safer for
vulnerable road users.

“It was particularly beneficial to talk to the drivers
themselves, who were very positive about the trucks and the incredible
visibility they offer. Health and safety is a priority for all of us, making
the opportunity to share knowledge amongst our peers invaluable.�