3PL Feature
Miles better
R
oad transport supports a significant part of the economy. Around 83% of all goods, by tonnage, are transported by
road, while HGVs account for one-fifth of domestic greenhouse gas emissions. The food industry alone accounts for about 25% of all HGV vehicle miles, according to Defra, and by some estimates food travels 19bn miles each year on our roads. Yet while the annual amount of food moved in the UK by HGV has increased by almost a quarter since 1978 the average dis- tance for each trip has increased by half. The Department of Transport estimates fuel accounts for around 30% of operating costs in most road transport operations But progress is being made – the Insti- tute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) says the sector reduced road miles by around 204m since 2007, equivalent to 3,500 fewer vehicles on the roads. The British Retail Consortium reports that CO2
emis-
sions from store deliveries were reduced by 23% between 2005 and 2011. Absolute emissions were reduced by 7%. Organisations such as the IGD through its ECR Efficient Consumer Response pro- gramme are promoting sustainability across the supply chain. A number of retailers have joined the Freight Transport Associa- tion’s Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme which aims to reduce carbon emissions through improved recording and reporting.
EFFICIENCY ON THE ROAD Many food and beverage transport special-
42 August 2012 Storage Handling Distribution
Significant savings and other sustainability benefits are available to transport specialists who can reduce their road miles to meet ever more stringent targets set by the market and regulations. A new breed of transport management service provider, exemplified by Jigsaw, is meeting the challenge.
ists have adopted fuel-efficient vehicles and aerodynamic trailers. These are important, but only offer incremental improvements in fuel economy and on their own do noth- ing to reduce road miles or congestion. The same is true when switching to electric and hybrid vehicles. For more significant benefits, operators need to think radically about the way they plan and use their fleets. As an example, Indesit, one of the
UK’s leading white goods manufactur- ers, utilises double-decker trailers in its distribution operation in partnership with Jigsaw. The company expects to save 340,000 road miles each year com- pared with using conventional trailers. One of the trailers in this operation is a 15.6m model owned by Jigsaw’s network partner and majority shareholder, CM Down- ton. This is one of the longer trailers being operated by selected haulage companies as part of a government-sponsored trial. This aims to identify where road miles and vehicle journeys can be reduced by introduc- ing larger loads without exceeding existing weight restrictions. Such trailers can provide an additional four pallet floor spaces, around 14% more than conventional trailers, and are ideally suited for loads comprising bulky but relatively lightweight pallets such as white and brown goods and many food prod- ucts. These trailers fit very well with Jigsaw’s business, especially for trunking between distribution centres, and the trial suggests they offer significant potential savings. Elsewhere, one of the suppliers to Marks & Spencer reduced road miles by over 30%
www.shdlogistics.com
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