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Urban logistics the search for new ideas
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The second annual Urban Logistics Conference took place last week, with key people from all sides of the industry coming together to debate the big issues.
Words: Julian Manes WITH THE RISE in urban delivery contrasting with the need for more efficient industry practises, there was a great deal to talk about at this year's Freight Transport Association's Urban Logistics Conference.
Extending delivery hours The success of night-time deliveries at the Wandsworth branch of Sainsbury's, which involved mediation by the Noise Abatement Society (NAS) between the company and Wandsworth Council, raised the issue of how other stores could implement such a strategy.
Although it was agreed that each case should be looked at individually, it was suggested a national standard should be attained, similar to the PEIK system applied in Holland, which states that trucks loading and unloading must comply with strict noise standards. Between 19.00 and 23.00. noise should not exceed 65dB(A), and between 23.00 and 07.00, it shouldn't exceed 60dB(A), Gloria Elliot, a trustee of the NAS, highlighted the upcoming launch at the CV Show of the society's silent scheme. Operators have to run equipment rated at under 60d8 (A) to qualify Jill Philips, the area manager for Wandsworth Council's environmental team. said a firm wanting to implement deliveries should prove it can meet the standards laid out, as well as showing it is worthy of approval by tackling the issue before it is given the go-ahead.
However, she did admit some councils were more business-focused than others, and, therefore, were more receptive to ideas for changes in delivery patterns.
She also said any canvassing of the local populace should be paid for by the firm wanting the night-time deliveries.
In respect to the success achieved in Wandsworth, Morag Robertson, the supply chain environment manager for Sainsbury's, said: "The two night-time deliveries have freed up a lot of pressure in terms of deliveries, reducing the round trip by an hour, and allowing fresh produce to be on the shelves in the morning."
Road pricing With the London congestion charge firmly established, other councils are looking into the feasibility of a roadpricing scheme. So far, Shropshire, East Midlands, and Edinburgh have rejected the idea. Recently, Cambridgeshire completed its research on the feasibility of a road-pricing scheme; a final decision will be made on 6 May.
The lead member for highways and transport for Cambridgeshire, Mac McGuire, said: "We have a mounting problem as regards to new homes being built, leading to a substantial population increase. This needs to be addressed. Peak traffic times need to be addressed. But we're not targeting a particular vehicle, just looking for a reduction," Road pricing, he said, should not be implemented until there are alternative forms of transport to cope with the change. This was echoed by David Morton, the strategic development director of Menzies distribution, who felt road pricing should be part of a wider plan to ease congestion.
David Sheppard, the deputy head of transport for the John Lewis Partnership, said congestion charges cost the firm /200,000 a year, while the driver timesaving is just 10 minutes a day, which isn't `cashable' in the real world.
There was support for a varying charge rate that reduces the further a vehicle operates from the centre of the zone. However, commuters can use altemativeformsoftransport,businesses, by their nature, have no such choice.
Environmental impact According to Nick Fairholme, the head of the LEZ, London's poor air quality prompted the introduction of the scheme, and trucks, not cars, were being targeted because it was based on the highest polluting individual vehicles.
It was pointed out that pollution levels would have dropped over time anyway as engine technology continues to advance, and with older vehicles being phased out and replaced.
Fairholme said the scheme was set to run until 2015/16, although its cost exceeds the benefits in respect of return on investment.
It was also pointed out that the money could have been better spent in other ways to reduce pollution levels.
Ray Cattley, manager of environment and legislation at Volvo Trucks, said some operators had redeployed noncompliant vehicles outside London to pollute elsewhere, and that for better harmonisation, the DIE and Defra should have been involved when the LEZ was laid out.
Elsewhere. the bio-diesel debate hit rocky ground with the revelation by Paul Clarke, logistics fleet engineering manager for Cemex, that the result of his trial with B50 blend (50% diesel/ 50% bio-fuel) had proved negative, and that there was very little price difference compared with diesel. There were also increased servicing costs due to reduced servicing intervals and wet servicing.
There was, however, a ray of light in the form of electric vehicles. Steve Davis. national engineering manager at TNT, said feedback from trials had been positive. The current vehicle had covered 15,000km, with equivalent fuel costs working out at £1,500 less than the diesel equivalent, along with a reduction of 5,650kg in CO,. The company has a further 47 vehicles on order.
Delivering the goods in 2015 While commercial vehicles and the means to operate them are changing, Mike Browne, Professor of Logistics at the University of Westminster, believes there won't be a major breakthrough in technology in the run-up to 2015.
"I can't see one solution, but a combination of several areas," he said. "There's potential for improvements at loading and unloading, with a system possibly based on slot management at delivery, which is used at airports.
One of the most recent changes, which will continue to define certain methods of delivery, is online shopping.
Sheppard said: "We have to manage the expectations of customers, who expect delivery times to fit in with their requirements. This can mean stopping on Red Routes to make a drop off and
incurring a £100 fine, which can affect costs. There's also potential for councils to make concessions, otherwise it pushes the cost base into the negative.
In regards to the choice of vehicles, Sheppard said the firm was still running 7.5-tonners for John Lewis. and vans for Waitrose supermarket deliveries.
There was also debate about the role of rail freight, with the business development operations manager for Direct Rails Services, Tom Curry, claiming there is huge potential to transfer to track. Tesco and Asda already run such services. But he said there needs to be more grant support for the service, or to use trams to deliver at off-peak times.
David Murray, the rail contracts manager for John G Russell Transport. claimed trials of road/rail trips from the Midlands to Glasgow saw a 30% reduction in CO, emissions.
There was also talk of Eurotunnel freight continuing up to the M25 and beyond, which could tie in with further use of urban consolidation centres in order to avoid towns and cities, and thereby reducing the frequency of goods entering and leaving urban areas. MI
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