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The time for throwing rubbish out of the window indiscriminately and leaving your lights on all day and night have passed – people care about the environment now more than ever. With heightened awareness and focus on sustainability, many new laws and regulations have been passed. However, not everyone needs a rule to keep the earth as clean as possible – some people just need a little help. Three years ago, the UK government asked those in the haulage industry to decrease their greenhouse emissions. With the steep request of a 15% reduction by 2025, many companies wondered if that was possible, especially if they wanted to keep up with their transport contracts. The Department of Transport assured them it was. The Plan To help those in logistics meet this hefty goal, the Department of Transport put their heads together and studied roadblocks (both literally and figuratively) that drivers could run into. After all, fulfilling an ever-increasing number of transport contracts while simultaneously lessening their carbon footprints is an admittedly challenging task. The plan they came up with, known as the ‘Road to Zero’, contained the following information: • The most practical fuel to use (diesel is frequently recommended). • Road congestion and how to handle it. • The Energy Saving Trust. This initiative was recently launched and provides advice for more environmentally-friendly freight forwarding. The Endorsement The FTA has empathetically endorsed this voluntary target, by publicly voicing that they understand how conquering this challenge is no easy feat. However, they also believe that ensuring the environment is protected is important, and that hauliers should remain motivated to meet these new emission goals head on as they complete their transport contracts. The Help Luckily, some advice for how to actually do this has come to light, turning what some believed was a pipedream into a tangible reality. The Logistics Emissions Reduction Scheme was recently relaunched by the FTA; the ambitions of this initiative are very similar to the UK government’s objective for Heavy Goods Vehicles to become more energy efficient. Bringing this scheme back into the light will be exceptionally helpful for hauliers who care about the environment as much as their transport contracts. By recording and reporting their vehicle’s carbon emissions, it will be much easier to begin to make a reduction. Monitoring how much fuel they use and how much gas they’re producing is the first step towards reaching the final goal of 15%. The haulage industry and environmental protection don’t have to be at odds, even if the goal proposed by the UK government may seem overwhelming to begin with. Luckily, hauliers will not be left blindly in the dark. The FTA and the re-emergence of the Logistics Emissions Reduction Scheme will be with them every step of the way, helping them move past any potential roadblocks and enabling them to deliver their loads and deliver on their reduction promises. 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 drivers with appropriate transport contracts. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.
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