JOURNEY MANAGEMENT PLAN

(QHSE Manual)
In compliance with the requirements of
ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 & OHSAS 18001:2007

Prepared By Reviewed By Approved By

Manager QHSE Director CEO

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When making a road journey, whether it’s for business or pleasure, your chances of arriving safely
are greatly increased by careful planning. Fail to plan adequately and your chances of being
involved in an incident will increase.

In order to make your business / pleasure travels safe it is highly recommended to plan and
undertake road transport journeys in compliance with HSSE requirements.

Top Tips
 Schedule your journey carefully to avoid night driving and those times of day when falling
asleep is most likely (2am – 6am)
 Take into account road hazards and weather conditions
 Adhere to the legal restrictions on driving times and distances
 Plan when and where to take rests
 Allow for unexpected delays
 Take plenty of drinks with you so that you stay hydrated
 Know what to do in case of an emergency

Fatigue is one of the most obvious consequences of poor journey planning and is a major
contributing factor in road traffic incidents. A good Journey Management Plan will take into account
all the factors that will minimise your chances of feeling sleepy whilst driving.

Simple steps to safety

Consider each element of your journey before you set off:

 Define your route

 Make sure you can stay in communication
 Plan your rest periods and locations
 Think about the timing of your journey and how busy roads will be
 Identify black spots/route hazardous spots
 Consider the route options – different types of roads
 Check the road and weather conditions
 Identify high risk locations such as schools
 Personal welfare – keep hydrated with non-caffeine drinks
 Time your journey and allow extra time to account of unexpected delays

1.0 Take steps before you take to the road

Particularly if you are a professional driver, it is your responsibility to stay safe:

 If your trip is more than 4.5 hours, you should have a Journey Management Plan
 Create a Journey Management Plan in conjunction with your Manager
 Check the roadworthiness of your vehicle, follow a simple
 Follow the route set out in your Journey Management Plan
 Always take breaks in the authorised rest areas
 If you have to divert from the route in any way, notify your Manager
 Have you got your mobile phone with you? Is it fully charged?

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2.0 A Good Routine
A good Journey Management Plan is simple to put in place, and should quickly become part of your
everyday routine. The more often you do it, the easier it will be to follow. We automatically follow
many of the journey planning steps, without even thinking about it.

3.0 Best Practice

By planning your journey more carefully, you are more likely to stay fresh and vigilant at the wheel,
safeguarding your own safety and the safety of others.

Why limit a Journey Management Plan to work journeys? On family and leisure trips, a few simple
steps could ensure that you and your family arrive alive.

4.0 Donot drive when TIRED!

Driver fatigue can be a major factor in road traffic incidents, resulting in an estimated 20% of all road
fatalities. Here we share our tips on preventing fatigue from ending your drive prematurely.

It’s easy to underestimate the effect fatigue can have on a driver. In fact, according to research
driver fatigue is a major contributing factor in up to 20% of all road traffic fatalities - even more than
drugs or alcohol.*

The primary cause of fatigue is clear: insufficient sleep - either short-term (less than 5 hours sleep in
the last 24 hours) or long-term (less than 12 hours sleep in the last 48 hours and less than 50 hours
sleep in the preceding week). Other contributing factors can also include a driver’s eating pattern,
fitness and general health.

With many hours spent on the road driving long, straight roads at relatively constant speed, safe
drivers know to be vigilant for signs of fatigue – especially between 2-5am, and during a ‘sleepy dip’
around 2pm.

4.1.1 Recognise the warning signs

Drivers suffering from fatigue may begin to exhibit a number of symptoms:

 Poor verbal communication

 Yawning and eye-rubbing
 Irritability
 Low concentration
 Inattention
 Taking shortcuts
 Staring
 Head nodding
 Blinking eyes
 Micro sleeps
4.1.2 Manage your fatigue
There’s no shortcut to managing fatigue – rolling down your window and turning up your radio
won’t keep you focused if you’re suffering from fatigue. The only long-term solution is to plan for

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 sufficient sleep – it’s recommended to aim for around 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night
for most people.

Besides ensuring you get a good night’s sleep before a long journey, you can reduce the risk of
developing fatigue by taking the following precautions:

 Following a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise;

 Ensuring you are medically fit, including seeing your doctor if you suspect you have sleep
apnea - a disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, leading to disturbed
sleeping patterns;
 Never operating your vehicle when tired, ill, or when any other condition reduces your driving
ability
 Creating and following a journey management plan for every journey;
 Taking frequent breaks - stop driving every couple of hours, leave your vehicle and walk
around;
 Never driving more than 2 hours without a 15 minute break; and
 Avoiding heavy meals during a long journey.

If you do experience fatigue while driving, you should follow these simple rules:

Stop: Pullover to a safe location and call your supervisor;

Revive: Have a 15-20 minute nap; and,

Survive: Continue driving only until you reach a place where you can have a proper sleep at
an approved rest area.

Remember, fatigue is a 'shared' hazard – a fatigued driver is a risk not only to their own
safety, but to the safety of other road users too. Don’t be part of the next statistic – manage
your fatigue responsibly and arrive alive.

5.0 Simple daily Vehicle checks

Driving can be a dangerous activity. Road traffic accidents account for a staggering 1.24 million
deaths per year globally.1 Aside from poor driving skills and road conditions, mechanical failure,
poor vehicle maintenance and tyre failure/condition is a major contributing factor.

Most countries have in place legislation to govern the regular inspection of vehicles. Once your
vehicle has met these standards, it’s easy to become complacent and undertake no further
checks. In reality the legal requirement is your baseline; by making series of simple checks before
you get into your vehicle, you can prevent incidents and save lives.

When driving an unfamiliar vehicle it is essential that you familiarise yourself with the vehicle and
know where the controls are before setting off to drive.

6.0 Part of your Daily Routine

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Every time we get into a vehicle, we automatically make quite a few checks, probably without even
realising it. For example, we check the mirrors are aligned, we have fuel and our seatbelt is
fastened.
By adding on a few simple other checks, you can very quickly create your own vehicle inspection
routine that will ensure the safety of yourself, your vehicle and other road users.
For ideas on the types of vehicle checks you could make, download Shell’s comprehensive Vehicle
Checklist.
It may look like a long list but in reality, it should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete and will
quickly become habit.

7.0 Daily Inspection Programme

Once you’ve identified a robust checking process that works for you, why not formalise it into a set of
procedures that every driver is required to follow? This will help to get everyone practising good
habits.
If the vehicle does not meet your standards, then it should not be driven. Items should marked for
repair or if it’s not considered to be a critical repair, then the vehicle should be booked in for repair
within a set timeframe and the vehicle can be driven until this is carried out.

8.0 Critical Equipment List

Regulations will vary from country to country, but here’s an example of the types of items that are
considered critical. Every element must meet the standard regulations; otherwise the vehicle is not
roadworthy:
 Brakes
 Coupling devices (fifth wheel and kingpin)
 Lights
 Horn
 Mirrors
 Seatbelts
 Steering mechanism
 Tyres
 Windshield wipers

9.0 Regular Inspections

A more thorough inspection can be carried out at regular intervals, for example weekly or monthly.
The checks could include:

 Fluid levels – engine oil, brakes, clutch, power steering and auto transmission fluids (if
relevant)
 Windscreen washer
 Battery – look for signs of corrosion
 Ensure all lights are working headlights, brake lights, indicators
 Tyre check – pressure, tread, wear and tear such as cuts or bulges

10.0 What every vehicle should carry

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  First aid kit
 Flashlight
 Spare fuses
 Jack
 Warning triangles
 Spare tyre
 High visibility clothing

11.0 Good Housekeeping

It’s much easier to spot issues on a vehicle that is well maintained and this is particularly important if
the vehicle is shared with other drivers.

 Keeping the vehicle clean and tidy allows the driver to spot new issues such as leaks, worn
parts and damage.
 Remember to properly stow in-cab items such as emergency equipment, tools and personal
items to prevent potential injury.

12.0 360° Circle of Safety Programme

 Each time you get into your vehicle, walk around it, starting on the passenger side and
ending on the driver side.
 This is another opportunity to spot mechanical issues, but more importantly any potential
hazards around the vehicle.

Remember, inspecting your vehicle should be part of your daily routine. Never overlook the
importance of checking it as it could save your life and the lives of others.

Go the extra mile with your safety checks and you’ll continue to go for many more miles.

Reference Documents:
 QHSE Manual

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