“The Drive Me Challenge explicitly shows drivers and their managers what can be achieved in fuel efficiency and road safety by merely adopting some quite simple driving techniques,” said Peter Bakker, CEO of TNT. “This global competition is designed to increase the engagement and awareness amongst all of our employees and subcontractors of the relatively big impact of safe and fuel economic driving. For example, anyone can make a difference by understanding the importance and impact of maintaining the right tyre pressure, when to use and not to use air conditioning and so on. It's not just a positive environmental step you can take, but you'll be saving money too. Our aim and hope is that we'll enthuse our people to alter their driving behaviour not just at work, but at home as well.”
Including subcontractors operational vehicles are responsible for more than half of TNT's total CO 2 emissions. And TNT shoulders its responsibility for that. With the Drive Me Challenge, the company expects to improve the overall fuel efficiency of its vehicle fleet with about 5%. For the participating entities this would equate to a potential CO 2 savings of about 15 kilotonnes and savings in fuel costs of more than one million Euro's per year.
Saving on fuel costs is easy and exciting
The Drive Me Challenge is intended for TNT's Pick up and Delivery (PUD) drivers and their country managers. Most of PUD journeys involve frequent stops in urban areas with less motorway driving. Therefore, a change in their driving behaviour is most rewarding. The Drive Me Challenge is an event to create awareness not only for PUD-drivers but amongst all TNT employees and subcontractors. It's a great incentive to experience that eco-driving is easy and good for the environment and that it does not necessarily mean slow driving. In this exciting and enjoyable competition drivers will test their skills on the illustrious Vairano race track near Milan in Italy. They will have to combine speed, safety and fuel efficiency whilst picking up and delivering packages on time around the circuit. The winner is the team with the lowest total score. The total score is build out of fuel usage, the total amount of time plus the possible penalty points for speeding and bad driving habits. Besides racing, there's much more to do on the circuit. Participants can drive in the latest green developments such as electric vehicles, hybrids or vans on compressed natural gas.
International challenge
This year, 11 entities are taking part in the Drive Me Challenge: Express Benelux, Express France, Express Italy, Express UK, Express Germany, Express Turkey, Express Brazil, Express Portugal, Express Road Network, Mail Netherlands and Parcel Service Netherlands. Between September and November 2008, a number of national Drive Me Challenges took place. The winners of the national competitions are proud en honoured to take up the challenge to compete on the demanding test circuit in Vairano. The aim is to increase the number of entities represented in future Drive Me Challenges and to reach and involve as many TNT employees as possible.
A part of Planet Me
The Drive Me Challenge is part of TNT's global CO 2 reduction program: Planet Me. The Drive Me Challenge relates to its Pick up and Delivery vehicles specifically. In addition to influencing driver behaviour, TNT is continuously investing in reducing its CO 2 footprint through electric and hybrid vehicles, alternative fuels and technology pilots, network optimisation, green offices and depots, reducing company flights by videoconferencing and invests in engaging its 160.000 global workforce to reduce their family footprint at home.
About TNT
TNT provides businesses and consumers worldwide with an extensive range of services for their mail and express delivery needs. Headquartered in the Netherlands, TNT offers efficient network infrastructures in Europe and Asia and is expanding operations worldwide to maximise its network performance. TNT serves more than 200 countries and employs more than 161,500 people. Over 2007, TNT reported €11 billion in revenues and an operating income of €1,192 million. TNT is officially quoted on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. TNT recognises its social responsibility and has formed partnerships with the United Nations World Food Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme to fight hunger and pollution in the world. Our efforts are being recognised; in 2008 TNT again reached the highest score of all companies included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and globally in the Carbon Disclosure Project in the carbon intensive sector.
About Planet Me
TNT believes that adjustments in its business activities together with measures in the private lives of its employees can make a substantial contribution to the fight against climate change. That is the leading idea behind Planet Me: it is our ambition to be the first zero emission road and air transport company in the world. If we want to realise this ambition, we must do more than just comply with the legal regulations and also do more than what customers expect of us. We will have to show responsible leadership and make every effort to make a lasting difference. As a transport company TNT is part of the problem and we therefore feel it is our responsibility to also be a part of the solution. You can find more information about TNT's Planet Me on the website http://www.tntplanetme.com
