Best practice in the city
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by Miles Brignall • The Freight Transport Association has published a guide to best practice for operators delivering into city centres. Delivering the Goods is the product of a 15-month study carried out by the PTA, the Local Government Association, and Aberdeen, Chester, Birmingham and Southampton city councils.
The guide claims that most large trucks entering city centres to make deliveries are full and making deliveries to single outlets such as supermarkets. It argues the increased use of regional distribution centres is already making those vehicles entering urban areas more efficient, and warns that breaking loads down for delivery by vans would be environmentally counterproductive.
While it accepts there is concern among the public that large trucks enter cities just to deliver a few items, it suggests that more research is required into the possible use of sites on the edges of towns where loads could be consolidated for final delivery.
The guide, which was compiled with the help of regional environmental groups including Friends of the Earth, also calls on operators to: • Minimise the number of trucks entering city centres by making better use of vehicle scheduling; • Ensure that drivers do not take short cuts through residential areas; • Look for alternative delivery times and access.
Copies of the report are available from the PTA priced £30 (L15 for members). Contact 01892 526171.