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In cooperation with vehicle manufacturers, Transport for London (TfL) is launching an ambitious, 5-year program that is designed to help increase the efficiency of vehicles used for haulage work as well as reduce fuel emissions. This new program comes after TfL’s Construction Logistics and Cycle Safety programme, during which vehicle operators and manufacturers worked together to increase awareness of road safety issues and reduce the rate of accidents. LoCity – A Cooperative Effort to Reduce Mileage, Increase Efficiency and Reduce Pollution The scheme, which has been given the name “LoCity”, will, according to TfL, focus on a number of areas. The goal is to hold workshops and conferences for companies and those active in the freight and haulage industry - including haulage fleet operators, fuel suppliers and representatives from both the private and the public sector. Three Main Focus Points The program intends to focus on what are seen to be the three main areas contributing to the efficiency of haulage work. If successful, it is hoped that this will lead to a significant reduction in emissions. The program includes: • Pressing for the adoption of policies that will make it financially more feasible and attractive to obtain low emission vans and lorries. • Encouraging an improvement in the availability of alternative fuel supplies for the haulage industry - including electric charging points and the availability of hydrogen fuels. • Working towards improving policies, planning and land procurement procedures relating to low emission lorries, vans and other freight vehicles. Industry Wide Conferences TfL also intends to organise and host industry wide conferences twice a year that it hopes will demonstrate that vehicles, technologies and work programs that effectively reduce emissions are not detrimental to operations. In order to facilitate this, TfL will use a variety of research programs and real world trials to reinforce its case. Additionally, participants in these conferences will be encouraged to cooperate in the development of new environmental operating standards which are hoped to be adopted by the industry as a whole. Improving the Capital’s Air Quality and Supporting the Freight Sector Haulage work is essential for any city - especially London - to be able to function. However, environmental considerations are of vital importance and improving the capital’s air quality is perhaps the number one priority. To this end, TfL has also been providing advice, to businesses and van operators responsible for much of the inner-city’s freight traffic, on how to more efficiently plan routes to reduce overall mileage and, as a result, emissions. London’s Transport Commissionaire, Mike Brown, recently stated that increased use of low emission vehicles is an essential part of the plan to reduce pollution and improve air quality. According to Brown, freight operators and haulage companies have a major role to play in this effort and that, by supporting them, a significantly positive environmental impact could be achieved. Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage work with available drivers. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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