No! This isn't Welch's Transport's latest, environmentally-friendly service offering.
Despite how it looks, it's actually our recognition that pedestrians and cyclists share the same roads we use to collect and deliver your goods and in doing so, expose themselves to risk. In order to make our drivers as aware as possible of the dangers such people face when mixed with heavy goods vehicles, in 2014 we embarked on a programme to put our driver complement through the Safe Urban Driver Scheme (or SUDS) as part of our Silver FORS accreditation. (https://www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/freight/safety-and-the-environment/training)
The training includes a morning/afternoon session of professional and qualified instruction, the theory part of which takes place indoors before our drivers are briefed and handed their bike, hi-viz and helmet for an extended session on roads with varying densities and types of traffic. In this way our drivers can experience the potential dangers for themselves and become statistically more aware of vulnerable road users.
Since the start of 2015, this structured SUDS training has become an integral part of our CPC driver training so that within a reasonable timeframe, all our drivers will become safer professionals. While this doesn't mean we'll be pulling on the maillot jaune of the Tour De France anytime soon, it does mean that the vulnerable road users we encounter on a daily basis will be better protected and, in turn, so will our own reputation and, importantly, that of our customers.