Automotive Business Review September | Page 88

P EO PLE • PLA CES • PR ODUCTS • POTEN TIAL Bakers, you biscuits! B akers SA Limited, a prominent transport logistics company from KwaZulu-Natal, played proud host to a unique celebration last month, as they became the first fleet company to complete the roll-out of the Fleet Owner Workplace Programme designed by MBSA and their corporate social responsibility partner, Corridor Empowerment Project (CEP). Bakers have also introduced driver rest centres between the major transport routes, namely: JHB - DBN, DBN - CPT and JHB - CPT. Bakers’ drivers are therefore fresh and relaxed before moving on. The aim of the programme is to assist fleet owners in taking a holistic approach to employee health, based on a proven model. The head office in Pietermaritzburg has a proper wellness centre where drivers are checked before they embark on their journeys. During the event, aBr MOVE managed to catch up with Shabir Ahmed Tayob: Marketing and Logistics Director at Bakers Transport. There is a “no driving zone” between 22h00 and 02h00 at Bakers and all vehicles are closely monitored with tracking devices. ➲ Abdool Tayob, chief executive, Bakers SA (centre) is joined by Johan Opperman, Bakers SA National SHEQ manager (left) and staff members from the Workplace Wellness Committee This centre also dispenses chronic medication and even administers vaccines. A fully equipped gym is on site and is free to use by staff. From our discussion with Shabir, we learned that Bakers Transport is very passionate about their wellness programme. Bakers have 12 depots nationally, with these centres serviced by mobile wellness units. Shabir says the company’s drivers have been positive and have embraced the wellness programme. The company has a proper in-house driver training programme, which all new drivers have to pass. Drivers are given a refresher course on an annual basis. In total the company employs 1 200 people and operates a fleet close to 500 vehicles, 99% of which wear a Mercedes-Benz badge. Education and HIV awareness have been a big focus for the company. Shabir says Bakers believe in driver retention, since healthy driver’s mean increased productivity. During his address, Shabir said that the wellness and training programme had saved the company anywhere between one and thirteen percent in tyres and 25 percent on the life of each truck. This amounted to more than R7-million per year in savings. The company’s wellness centre is approximately five years old. Among other functions, it performs eye tests - a crucial aspect of a long distance driver’s wellbeing. Fuchs Lubricants Commits to 80% Minimum Collection of Used Oils F uchs Lubricants, the world’s largest independent lubricants company, in partnership with the Rose Foundation, has committed to collect at least 80% of its collectable used oil from customers in the mining, automotive, industrial and related sectors. manager, Fuchs Lubricants. “We are developing synergistic, stable and sustainable partnerships with groups that have similar objectives and in the process, we are raising awareness of Rose’s efforts and initiatives within member companies,” he adds. “This will enable the role of the National Oil Recycling Association of South Africa (NORA-SA) to be clearly communicated and understood.” “Our aim is to create awareness that used oil is a hazardous but a recyclable resource. We want to influence customer behaviour in the handling and disposal of used oil through educational and marketing campaigns,” says John Anderson, Automotive OEM | logistics in action Fuchs Lubricants is also considering investments in improving the handling of various used oil containers at collector and bulking facilities to increase the volumes collected. 86 september 2014