ALSOK is one of Japan’s largest security companies, and since it’s founding in 1965, the company has offered to corporations, government agencies, and private individuals their stationed security service, machine security service, and cash transport service. For 44 years since the company’s founding, the company has used HINO trucks for their primary operations, which is the transport of cash. The Chiba Transportation Security Branch operates eleven HINO 300 Series and two HINO 300 Series Hybrids. “Valuables such as coins and bills are heavy. Therefore, cash transport vehicles need to deliver sufficiently power to transport these items. They also need to provide fuel efficiency and need to be environmentally friendly. In addition, the driver’s space needs to be sufficiently large and comfortable to drive for security personnel who are heavily clad with bullet-proof vests and other equipment.

HINO has made trucks that match our criteria for cash transport trucks,” says Mr. Hiroyoshi Yoshida, General Manager for Chiba Transportation Security Branch. When oil prices rose in 2008, the company discussed introducing trucks that are even more fuel efficient, and chose HINO Hybrid based on these discussions. “There is no doubt that fuel consumption has improved since we introduced the HINO Hybrids.

Fuel costs, which we calculate based on daily fuel pump figures and driving distance, have clearly come down. Also, they are more powerful than we had expected, and our staffs are very happy with how comfortable they are to drive, the ample cabin space, and how quiet they are. We plan to continue monitoring the effects of hybrid and discuss the possibility of introducing even more of these trucks”. Mr. Yoshida also related to us a story that illustrates how the company is actively involved in reducing fuel consumption.

Throughout last year, ALSOK conducted a pan-corporate campaign for promoting eco driving, in which all branches competed against each other in terms of fuel consumption. This involved not only hybrid but all diesel trucks as well, and the Chiba branch for secure transport won the top prize. “Our staffs are beginning to realize how changes in how they step on the gas pedal can have an impact on fuel consumption. This we attribute to HINO’s fuel-saving seminars. Staff members who have taken part in these seminars teach their colleagues what they learned, and now, the entire company is engaged in fuel-saving driving.” The Chiba branch plans to purchase two more HINO 300 Series Hybrids next year.