New tractor-trailers, eco-driving training, driving style monitoring, ISO 9001 certification - there's a lot going on in the transportation department. Behind it all is a plan for real change: a more modern, environmentally conscious and friendly approach. We talk to Daniel Worona - head of transportation at Aerosol Service - about the details.

The company began the process of replacing its tractor-trailer fleet several years ago. What made you decide on this change and what solutions did you choose? You are currently working on replacing more vehicles - what are your plans in this regard?

In recent years, we have focused on increasing our semi-trailer fleet - we purchased eight Schmitz curtain-sided semi-trailers, allowing us to retire the oldest units from international traffic and redeploy them to intermodal operations. The company's dynamic growth and fluctuating LNG prices meant that tractors that were originally scheduled for retirement in 2022 remained in the fleet.

As a result, we plan to refresh our tractor fleet next year. This year you could see various demonstration vehicles driving with our trailers - we had the opportunity to test many modern solutions, so we know exactly what elements must be included in the order specifications of new tractors.

What criteria - environmental and technological - were key in the selection of new vehicles?

The most important criteria in selecting new vehicles are fuel efficiency and total cost of ownership (TCO). We also focus on solutions that reduce emissions and improve driver safety and comfort.

What differences do you notice in the day-to-day use of modern tractors - from the operational and driver perspectives?

Above all, modern tractor-trailers offer greater comfort and lower failure rates. Safety systems, such as lane assist and distance radar, ensure that the vehicle is on the right track. Active cruise control that works in conjunction with a map of the topography of the terrain assists drivers in covering routes efficiently.
Modern lighting is also of great importance - thanks to LED headlights, driving after dark or in the rain is much more comfortable and less tiring to the eyes.

One of the elements of your environmental strategy is eco-driving. What is the training that your drivers undergo? How do they react to these changes? Is it easy to switch to a new driving style?

I remember our first eco-driving training, which took place in January 2016. Initially, drivers were quite skeptical - there were voices like, "After all, I know better." However, after the training, many of them changed their minds.
The trainer, Mr. Bogdan Lieske from Volvo Poland, was able to show practical benefits - the average combustion in the fleet fell by 2.5 l/100 km in the first months, and then remained 1.5 l/100 km lower than before the training. This shows the importance of cyclical training and consolidation of knowledge.
Drivers are trained on the vehicles they work with every day, so they can fully learn the capabilities of their equipment.

How do you monitor the effects - driving style and fuel consumption data?

For monitoring, we use G-Box and My Scania telematics systems, which provide detailed reports on fuel consumption, driving style and environmental indicators. They allow us to analyze the efficiency of individual drivers and vehicles in real time.

What do you do when performance is below expectations? Do you implement corrective actions?

In the case of a deterioration in performance, we always start by talking to the driver - we analyze possible causes, such as an increase in combustion, damaged tires or scratches on the vehicle. We realize that anyone can have a worse day, and the human factor is not always to blame - sometimes a technical malfunction can be the cause.

All our tractors are covered by service contracts, and drivers can count on full support on the road. For example, in 2019 in one of the vehicles the combustion increased by 5 l/100 km. After a number of service visits and detailed diagnostics, it turned out that faulty injectors were the culprit - unfortunately, all of them to an equal degree, which made it difficult to detect the problem. Eventually the cause was found after 11 months of intensive analysis.

Can you already point to specific effects - such as a decrease in fuel consumption or a reduction in emissions?

Yes. Eco-driving has brought us not only a decrease in fuel consumption, but also longer tire life and less wear on brake components. This saves both fuel and wear parts, while reducing CO₂ emissions.

You are ISO 9001 certified in the area of transportation. What was the process of obtaining it like and what did it bring to your daily management?

The process of obtaining ISO 9001 certification began with an analysis and structuring of all processes related to transport operations - from order intake, route planning and fleet operation to customer service and transport documentation.
Quality procedures were developed, employee responsibilities were defined, and a system for monitoring quality indicators (e.g., on-time delivery, number of complaints, breakdowns or downtime) was implemented.
After implementation, internal and external audits were conducted, which confirmed the management system's compliance with ISO 9001.

In practice, the certificate brought:

• Standardization of processes and unambiguous operating procedures,
• Better control of service quality and timeliness of orders,
• Increasing employees' awareness of quality,
• Improving communication between departments,
• and continuous improvement through periodic audits and non-compliance analysis.

As a result, the company has achieved greater operational consistency, customer confidence and higher efficiency in fleet and personnel management.

What further steps are you planning in developing your fleet and strengthening green transportation standards?

We are currently focusing on replacing tractor units that handle international transport. At the same time, we are analyzing the possibility of implementing zero-emission solutions in intermodal traffic - hence our testing of the MAN eTruck electric tractor. We want to assess its potential in practice and prepare for future investments in low-emission transport.