Page 38 - Logistics News - September - October 2021

C O MP A N Y NEWS

FedEx Express completes

electric vehicle trial

FedEx Express has announced the completion of an electric
delivery vehicle trial in Johannesburg. The trial consisted
Trained and certified truck of testing electric vehicle technology within operations,
assessing the effectiveness to run a delivery vehicle on a
drivers create safer roads standard route, fully loaded with customer packages on a
typical workday. Following the positive trial results, FedEx
AS MANY as 9,969 South Africans lost their lives on South Africa’s Express is now finalising plans to introduce permanent
roads in 2020, according to the latest Road Traffic Management electric vehicles to its vehicle fleet in South Africa.
Corporation (RTMC) figures. As traffic volumes continue to
increase with eased lockdown restrictions, these fatalities are “We’re encouraged by the results we’ve seen from the
likely to skyrocket again – unless companies and professional initial vehicle test,” says Natasha Parmanand, Managing
drivers play their part by investing in better driver training, warns Director, Operations at FedEx Express in southern Africa.
Innovative Learning Solutions’ (ILS) Managing Director, Arnoux “Not only did the vehicle perform well when travelling to
and from customer sites, but it handled our local streets
Maré.
and conditions.”
Significantly, an increasing proportion of accidents are the
result of human error as opposed to environmental or vehicular
factors. Notably, RTMC statistics reveal that human factors were
responsible for 73.6 percent of all fatal crashes in 2014, before
steadily rising to 85.6 percent in 2020, pointing to the need for
urgent intervention and expert training in curbing the number of
fatal crashes.

In its National Road Safety Strategy 2016 – 2030, the
Department of Transport therefore notes, “The current K-53
system being taught to new drivers is deemed outdated and an
improved solution must be developed cognisant of the changes
due to modernity, and responsive to producing better drivers.”

“This is where companies should be leading by example, by
investing in their drivers’ training and skills development to FedEx employee Lefa Halahala was the first team
safeguard their assets and to prevent loss of life,” notes Maré. member to test the electric vehicle on his delivery route.
“Every motorist is responsible for contributing towards safer “The car was great to drive. It has a lot of space and I drove
roads, but for professional drivers, it is also paramount that they the whole day on one battery charge. I’m happy to be a part
understand how to get the best out of their vehicle and can ensure of South Africa’s sustainable future and proud that FedEx
the safe and timely delivery of their cargo while mitigating road has committed to making sure this technology works for
accidents. This mammoth task is attained through abiding by the our customers, our drivers and our conditions.”
law and the consistent application of training.”
“The South African trial aligns with our goal to achieve
Seeking to address companies’ need for professional drivers, global carbon neutral operations by 2040,” continues
Innovative Learning Solutions offers drivers professional training Parmanand. Vehicle electrification is one of the key steps
L O GI S T I CS NEWS largest truck driver training centre provides truck, bus and taxi the entire FedEx global parcel pickup and delivery (PUD)
and testing in accordance with international best practices. Africa’s
toward reaching the carbon-neutral goal and by 2040,
drivers with expert CODE 10 and 14 training and assessment
fleet will be zero-emission electric vehicles. By 2025, the
programmes that empower and equip these drivers with the
aim is for 50 percent of FedEx Express global PUD vehicle
necessary skills to mitigate road accidents, and drastically improve
purchases to be electric vehicles, rising to 100 percent by

36 their reliability and productivity. • 2030. • www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a
SEP T E MB E R/O CT O B E R 2021