TWU and VTA sign formal agreement to develop industry-leading fuel-efficient driver training program
February 26, 2010
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) today announced they have signed a formal agreement to develop an industry-leading fuel-efficient driver training program that aims to cut carbon emissions by up to 20 percent and provide financial incentives to drivers and transport companies.
TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon says the union has accepted the offer to join the EcoStation trial and develop the learning program to ensure drivers are properly trained in fuel-efficient driving techniques and that they will share in the benefits in terms of fuel savings generated by the program.
“The program will be developed by a small project advisory group and will aim to establish a pilot program involving various transport companies in the second half of 2010,” he says.
VTA CEO Phil Lovel says EcoStation aims to focus on the key issues that influence fuel consumption and minimising carbon emissions. Driver performance has been identified as one of the most important of these key issues, he says.
The VTA and Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria have created the EcoStation emissions saving initiative and have put together a range of foundation partners including the TWU.
EcoStation has been established along the lines of the SmartWay scheme from the US.
The pilot scheme is intended to run over 2010 and has 30 of the biggest names in Australian transport and freight movement as partners.
The scheme partners are meeting regularly to come up with the best ways to reduce emissions and save fuel.
The EcoStation pilot scheme is sponsored by the VTA and the EPA Victoria and they plan, along with the foundation partners, to roll this out onto the national stage following the initial pilot phase.