Air Products’ UK&I Distribution Team Receives Top Compliance and Safety Recognition by Achieving ‘Earned Recognition’ Status

Air Products, a world-leading industrial gas company, has been awarded ‘earned recognition’ status in the United Kingdom by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) by demonstrating it meets stringent driver and vehicle standards. To secure earned recognition, which is a voluntary scheme, Air Products has to continuously monitor its compliance with a set of Key Performance Indicators using a DVSA-validated IT system.  

As a DVSA-accredited exemplar fleet operator, Air Products’ vehicles and drivers are now less likely to be stopped at the roadside for inspections – an important ‘on the road’ benefit which enhances the company’s ability to maintain its business critical on-time deliveries to customers.

Complementing our driver compliance through Logistics UK vision tool, key to Air Products’ high rates of compliance was the introduction of TruckFile in late 2019, an electronic fleet and workshop management system. TruckFile provides Air Products’ vehicle managers with real time fleet maintenance information, a centralised planning system and electronic document storage, all of which gave the DVSA the transparent reporting needed for earned recognition status.  

Air Products has also digitised its workflow using the Truckfile app-based system which allows drivers to use their phones, rather than paper, to conduct their daily vehicle checks and in turn, report any defects in real-time. The system then alerts the maintenance team where the garage technicians use iPads to record any maintenance that is required and provides full transparency as vehicles move through the whole process.

Mark Pawsey, Distribution Manager for UK and Ireland at Air Products, commented: “Our 450-strong fleet of HGVs transport liquified and bottled gas around the country so we’re not just looking after our vehicles, but also the specialist equipment that stores and delivers our products at extremely high pressures and low temperatures.  As a result, it’s vital that our trucks are well maintained and our safety record remains excellent.

“We’re delighted to have secured earned recognition status as it clearly demonstrates to our customers, that vehicle and driver safety are our priority. Through a combination of driver training, best-in-class vehicle maintenance and regular internal inspections, we have achieved this industry-leading standard.

“We use our own specialist workshop teams to look after our gas and liquid vessels and delivery systems, which adds up to a lot of planning, communication across the team and central recording activities to ensure full legal compliance. Thanks to TruckFile, we’ve been able to reduce the amount of time spent on administration, while the level of control and visibility we have over the whole workshop and fleet operation has increased.”

A table and scorecard provides real-time visual performance for all stakeholders on a monthly basis, which is shared with DVSA authority by exception. 

About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 80 years. Focused on serving energy, environment and emerging markets, the Company provides essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemical, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the global leader in the supply of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment. The Company develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world's largest industrial gas projects, including: gasification projects that sustainably convert abundant natural resources into syngas for the production of high-value power, fuels and chemicals; carbon capture projects; and world-scale low- and zero-carbon hydrogen projects supporting global transportation and the energy transition.

The Company had fiscal 2021 sales of $10.3 billion from operations in over 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of over $60 billion. More than 20,000 passionate, talented and committed employees from diverse backgrounds are driven by Air Products’ higher purpose to create innovative solutions that benefit the environment, enhance sustainability and address the challenges facing customers, communities, and the world. For more information, visit airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.