Finning UK announces its eagerly anticipated Eco-Drive training dates for 2010. Having initiated average fuel savings of 10% - 15% for participants in 2009, Eco-Drive, already the best value for money program available on the market, has been enhanced to deliver even further opportunities for additional operator related savings to be made.

Leading aggregates producer Cemex is an enthusiastic advocate of Finning’s Eco-Drive training. “We have a Specific Energy Consumption [SEC] target for every single one of our sites, and reducing diesel consumption is a priority” says the company’s national operations project manager Craig Hooper. “That’s why we send our operators for Finning Eco-Drive training”.

Cemex trialled Finning’s Eco-Drive training in 2009 with a series of one-to-one sessions involving six handpicked operators. “The results were amazing” declares Mr Hooper; “we saw up to 11 percent reduction in fuel burn and between 20–25 percent increase in productivity”.  Since this pilot study, some 330 Cemex employees have undergone Finning Eco-Drive training with another 110 due to complete the training this year.

With over 700 operators already trained, the Finning Eco-Drive training programme highlights the hundreds of thousands of pounds in fuel savings that can be achieved by embracing operator best practice.  Open to all operators of mobile equipment, including Excavators, Wheel Loaders, Off Highway Trucks and Articulated Dump Trucks, this generic one-day instructor-led course is designed to highlight best practice operating techniques that influence and contribute to a more fuel-efficient machine operation.

Operators, Site Supervisors and Managers who participate are able to see the impact on fuel consumption in real-time, with fuel burn and productivity results made instantly available thanks to the use of onboard monitoring. For every participant on the course, Finning trainers develop a personal improvement action plan that is tailored to the skill sets of the individual, with an aim of developing them into a more fuel-efficient operator.

Commenting on the success of Eco-Drive, John Vardy - Finning General Manager Product Support said: “It is not often as an industry you have the chance to make significant cost savings on a vast scale. The figures themselves are staggering, running into the millions of pounds of potential industry fuel savings in what are very challenging times.

“With fuel being one of the biggest variable costs any plant manager has to contend with, if your operator could save you up to 10% - 15% or even higher in fuel costs, for no loss of productivity, investing in their skills can deliver the biggest return on investment ever!

“The best thing for operators is that this is a real “can do” and people attending the course can literally see the impact of bad practice and the direct benefits of best practice, right in front of their eyes, thanks to the use of new remote monitoring technology.

Steve Platt – Finning Customer Account Development Manager added: “Customers that have already taken part in our Eco–Drive programme have been amazed at how simple minor changes can help reduce fuel consumption. Ultimately with Eco-Drive everyone wins, including the environment.”

For further information on the course content, dates and options contact Finning on 01543 461526 or visit www.finning.co.uk and click onto the ‘Careers and Training’ tab and select ‘Training and Development’ and the Eco-Drive link.

To view a data sheet on Eco-Drive training and see a full list of upcoming dates click here.