PULLMAN FLEET SERVICES JOINS TRANSAID’S EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES WITH TRAINING DELIVERY IN ZAMBIA
23 November 2012
Pullman Fleet Services has joined Transaid’s effort to save lives in Africa by dispatching two mechanics to Zambia to deliver technical training on trucks.
Pullman’s workshop controller Tony Deus and vehicle technician Mike Reilly volunteered for the role of delivering advanced diagnostics training on Transaid’s trucks to eight motor vehicle lecturers at Zambia’s Industrial Training Centre in the nation’s capital, Lusaka.
Pullman Managing Director Graham Hunter says: “Sharing our technical and diagnostic expertise in commercial vehicles through Transaid in Zambia will save lives, and is the natural progression to the work already underway with driver training. I am very proud of Tony and Mike who took real ownership of this initiative, and I look forward to finding further ways for Pullman to contribute to Transaid’s cause.”
Gary Forster, Chief Executive of Transaid explains: “Charities like ours are only as strong as their supporting organisations so we’re delighted to have welcomed a key partner like Pullman Fleet Services on board, and we’re looking forward to broadening our involvement with the firm off the back of this success.”
Ordinarily Reilly and Deus form part of a strong team looking after a fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles at two of Pullman’s Commercial Vehicle Workshops in Haydock and Ellesmere Port. In addition to imparting their knowledge on every aspect of the trucks, from batteries and engines to gearboxes and axles, in Zambia, the pair also learned a few things from their trainees.
Reilly says: “In Zambia the instructors are using flexible hydraulic hoses rather than fixed metal pipes to run their hydraulic gearboxes, because they simply haven’t had access to the metal. I’d recommend the experience to anyone else in a heartbeat.”
More people than ever are dying on Zambia’s roads, according to the most recent available statistics from the country’s Road Traffic Safety agency, which showed 1,400 fatalities in 2010, up steadily from 1,200 in 2006. In July 2012, a high-profile truck crash killed 11 people in the country, prompting the editorial board of the Times of Zambia to call for better awareness of road safety throughout the country. At the same time the Road Traffic Safety agency has collected evidence suggesting the situation can be measurably improved by training efforts like the one undertaken by Pullman Fleet Services on behalf of Transaid.
ends
Note to Editor:
Transaid (www.transaid.org) is an international development agency that aims to improve people’s quality of life in the developing world by making transport more available and affordable. It was founded by Save The Children and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) and works by sharing skills and knowledge with local people to enable them to put in place and manage efficient transport systems.
Transaid’s core work includes creating transport management systems for the public sector and assisting with the provision of professional driving qualification development and the training of driver trainers. It also assists with teaching preventive vehicle maintenance management and introducing local, low cost transport solutions including its innovative bicycle ambulance. Transaid also helps promote HIV, AIDS and road safety awareness and shares its specialist knowledge with the humanitarian aid sector.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Agnieszka Krasnolucka-Hickman at Transaid +44 (0)20 7387 8136
James Keeler at Garnett Keeler +44 (0)20 8647 4467
About Pullman
Pullman is the UK’s largest independent commercial vehicle repair and maintenance business, focusing on reducing the total cost of ownership of vehicles for its customers. It is the market leader in maintenance of grocery home delivery fleets and is also a leader in servicing ADR (hazardous) vehicles. The business is a major franchisee for Carrier Transicold.
Pullman has over 800 employees based at 32 workshops nationwide plus the head office and call centre based in Doncaster. It has five key product areas:
Pullman Network (workshops) - over 30 across theUK including government approved MOT test centres with a pass rate of 95%
Pullman Mobile - with over 160 of its own vans
Pullman 24/7 Assist (roadside emergency breakdown service) - with a first time fix rate of 98% - ensuring that vehicles are back on the road straightaway
Pullman Parts - with a procurement value in excess of £20 million per annum
Pullman Fleet Management (including contract hire)
With SAFEcontractor accreditation,Pullman’s safety policies and procedures have been independently verified as among the best in the industry.
More information onPullmancontact Victoria Aitchison:
Tel: +44 (0) 1249 710434 or
Email: victoria.aitchison@wincanton.co.uk
www.pullmanfleet.co.uk
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