HGV driver training helps Sainsbury’s make deliveries at night

Deliveries by Sainsbury’s HGVs to their Bournemouth store have been monitored recently under the Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme. And it seems to have been a success for the supermarket giant as resident’s fears over noise pollution by night time deliveries have proved unfounded.

The company’s environmental manager Morag Robson has made sure that through HGV driver training, the delivery drivers have adopted best practice driving methods to reduce road noise. This means Sainsbury’s can still deliver at times when there is reduced congestion and hence reduce delivery times and road traffic.

Ms Robson stated:

“Fundamentally, the two key criteria were: did we get any issues, and is the council satisfied that we can keep our night-time deliveries? Certainly residents had no issues during that trial, either directly to the council or the noise-abatement helpline,

“There were two particular sets of residents that had complained in the past. They noticed a difference before and after.”

She further stated:

“Training was quite a key part, making sure drivers weren’t unnecessarily accelerating and that manoeuvring in the yard was kept to a minimum so they didn’t engage their bleepers. It goes to show what little things can screw it up.

“The trial is a success, but the greater success is keeping it and ensuring we continue to not get queries.”