environment

The Government confirms Britain will ban all new diesel and petrol HGVs by 2040 – What does this mean for our industry?

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The Government confirms Britain will ban all new diesel and petrol HGVs by 2040 – What does this mean for our industry?

On July 14th, 2021, the Government have announced that Britain will be banning the sale of new petrol and diesel HGV and vans by the year 2040, as a part of Boris Johnsons’ “10-point climate plan” to decrease greenhouse gas emissions within the transport sector to net zero by the middle of the century. All new polluting diesel and petrol cars will also plan to come to an end by 2035.

The UK’s transport sector is currently one of the most polluting industries within the nation. However, this announcement means there will be a significant phase-out of all polluting road vehicles within the next two decades. “Transport is not just how you get around. It is something that fundamentally shapes our towns, cities and countryside, our living standards and our health.” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps states as he says the new Transport Decarbonisation Plan was “just the start”.

haulage company in Cambridgeshire
Swannells Transport – Haulage company in Cambridgeshire

Approximately 1.6 billion tons of freight are transported within the UK every year. This is a figure that is expected to rise due to the significant increase in online shopping since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

The government is planning to fully convert its own 40,000 strong vehicle fleet to zero emissions by 2027, whilst they have also reiterated its commitment to a net-zero rail network by 2050. 

Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said his department had published a consultation on phasing out the sale of all new non-zero emission heavy good vehicles by 2040, “demonstrating our commitment to tackle the second largest source of domestic transport carbon emissions and furthering our ambition to decarbonise UK roads.”

Also as a part of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) agenda, the Government have launched a “genuine” consultation seeking views on when to end the sale of petrol and diesel HGVs, with a proposal that the sales of new non-zero emissions HGVs less than 26 tonnes will end in 2035, and greater than 26 tonnes will end in 2040. This proposal means no new LNG, CNG or other fossil-fuelled vehicles will be allowed to be purchased from those dates.

So what does this mean for our industry? The latest response from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) demonstrates their support and appreciation for the overall policy aim to decarbonise the UK roads. They are planning to release a comprehensive view of the plans sometime in August, to ensure the future of the Transport sector is affordable, sustainable, and embraces all businesses. 

Here at Swannells Transport, as a leading haulage company in Cambridgeshire, we support having a green nation in the future, and we are interested to see the next steps in approaches and visions to initiate the TDP in the future.

Building An Environmentally Friendly Logistics Industry

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Building An Environmentally Friendly Logistics Industry

Nurturing an environmentally friendly, sustainable supply chain will benefit the environment and the future of the industry significantly. Across the entire national (and international) economy, the environment is a topic that has risen to the top of the agenda in recent years and become a priority for the majority of companies. 

The logistics industry is undoubtedly one of the most significant contributors to environmental issues as a result of the high number of deliveries and distributions that take place every day. However, that is all beginning to change as eco-friendly becomes the new trend. Courtesy of Swannells Transport, here are a few ways your transportation and warehousing network can go green.

Set Goals

One of the most motivating ways to do anything, in fact, is to set goals. Ambitious goals will spark action within the workplace e.g. Nestlé has committed to cutting food loss and waste in half by 2030. Setting a goal such as improving fuel efficiency or recycling more etc. will drive initiative for all of the team involved and get things done. 

Improving Fuel Efficiency

Haulage companies in Huntingdon – Improving Fuel Efficiency

The amount of fuel we use and waste during a journey is a particular factor that has seriously affected the environment in recent years. Analysing driver performance and efficient journey preparation will provide an opportunity to resolve this issue. This includes identifying how drivers function, whether drivers are taking efficient routes and what are the changes that can be made to improve fuel efficiency within your supply chain. 

A top tip would be to prepare for your journeys ahead. This includes having a full tank before departure, planning your route and anticipating traffic/roadworks, as well as bringing along any necessary food, drink or accessories that will prevent any detours or stops. 

Reduce Wasted Driving Time

“Empty miles” is a term often used to describe a driver’s non-revenue or “deadhead” mileage. These refer to the miles used that are not earning money or pays a large cost to the economy… essentially wasted miles. It would be beneficial to implement an effective strategy that will reduce the number of empty miles used in the business e.g. limit number of stops or route planning.

Packaging

As well as switching up driving techniques, there are also several ways you can make a big difference in your warehouse space. One of the most praised changes is switching to eco-friendly packaging. This can include choosing locally sourced packaging rather than nationally shipped or reducing the amount of plastic or non-recyclable materials you use to pack. 

Analyse Warehouse Space

Haulage companies in huntingdon
Haulage companies in Huntingdon – Analysing Your Warehouse Space

The space within your warehouse is genuinely important when it comes to design and management efficiency and there are plenty of ways you can adjust this without having to spend a penny. For example, organising your warehouse into a layout that cuts the distance traveled between actions, reducing both labour and energy costs.

In addition to this, a clean and systematic layout allows many warehousing teams to work quicker and more sensibly, as well as within a smaller facility, or avoid expanding. 

A Less Wasteful Warehouse System

A less wasteful warehouse will help reduce the amount of waste that can be problematic to the environment. Proper disposal and recycling within the supply chain will improve resourcefulness and minimise the amount of wasted resources overall. Be sure to educate all warehouse (and driver) staff of these new rules for sustainability.

Swannells Transport – haulage companies in Huntingdon

Here at Swannells Transport, we are aware and fully comprehend the seriousness of improving our carbon footprint and economical value within the industry. However, many businesses searching for a haulage companies in Huntingdon will often find us. We have built an enviable reputation as a warehousing and distribution company you can trust to provide a high quality, supportive service. Give us a call today on 01487 822065.

Simple Ways You Can Help The Environment – Haulage Companies in Cambridgeshire

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Simple Ways You Can Help The Environment – Haulage Companies in Cambridgeshire

If you work somewhere in the haulage industry, you should know the dangers and risk of driving in and nearby HGV’s (Heavy Goods Vehicles). Furthermore, not only does the heaviness and size of the vehicle give smaller ones a potentially life-life-threatening risk, but it’s contribution to pollution levels aren’t exactly good to the environment, either.

HGV’s are incredibly useful and beneficial to organisations, especially those that make frequent deliveries. Because of this, we highly doubt we will see the number of large vehicles on the road decrease because of the environmental issues it causes. It is easy to forget how some of the little things can have a major impact on the environment – and there are many small effortless actions you can take to help the environment. Regarding haulage companies, here are a few things you can do that can be more environmentally friendly as a professional driver:

Haulage Companies in Cambridgeshire

Haulage Companies in Cambridgeshire

Plan Your Route – Planning your journey route before you leave will ensure you make the delivery on time and improve the efficiency of the company you are representing. By using the right technology (if you have access to it) such as a Sat Nav, the right journey route can be made for you, by avoiding bad weather or trafficking that will add driving time. This will help improve the environment because less mileage is being driven due to the awkward directing, so less petrol is used and pollution levels aren’t as increased.

Reduce Idling Time – If you aren’t planning on moving, turn your engine off! Same goes lights, computers, TV’s and the radio; it saves money and energy dramatically. Take advantage of places such as truck stops to save you on petrol and emitting greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere pointlessly.

Make Several Distributions – If you have more than one delivery to make, and you have enough room to merge the loads, then it only makes sense to make all the deliveries in one stop, right? This maximises trucking efficiency and saves petrol, further reducing vehicle emissions. In addition to this, ensure that the extra load you take doesn’t go over the weight limit of your HGV, is organised into the correct deliveries and isn’t filled up to cause damage to the load.

Relocate – If you have the money for it, and are really looking to reduce your carbon footprint, owning one central distribution centre could have a less environmental impact than a dispersed distribution system. This point mainly goes for companies that make and receive deliveries to and from warehouses.

Reduce Your Speed – Driving at 50mph uses 25% less fuel than 70mph, so slowing down will not only make your journey safer but will keep the air cleaner too.

Thank you for reading, be safe!