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TPN limits delivery times in bid to cut RDC queues
Page 6
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The Pallet Network members restrict delivery times into RDCs to cut
the time wasted waiting to make deliveries. Roanna Avison -eports.
THE PALLET NETWORK (TPN) and its members are trialling a system to cut the amount of time their trucks are kept waiting to make deliveries into RDCs.
The issue was raised as a major concern for all hauliers at a meeting of TPN members in July; this trial isTPN's response.
Adam Leonard, MD at TPN, says an increasing proportion of the deliveries made through the network are into RDCs.
fie explains:"Our members are fed up with queuing and losing the vehicle for hours, if not a whole day, while it waits to make a delivery at an RDC so we are trialling system where we will only make deliveries into RDCs between 9ain and 2pm."
He believes the problems at RDCs result from the way major retailers are putting the squeeze on their suppliers: The trial is a fairly radical step [designed to] prevent the rest of our members' customers being penalised because the trucks carrying their deliveries are stuck in RDCs."
Leonard admits the policy has resulted in one or two "tough" conversations with some members' retail customers. But there needs to be sensible dialogue so the retailers understand why we are doing this," he says. "This is some thing that collectively the pallet networks should be addressing with the major retailers because it is not cost-effective for the transport industry.
The trial is scheduled to run for a month, after which TPN will collate feedback from members and decide whether to extend the scheme to a permanent policy.
Jack Semple, director of policy at the Road Haulage Association, says the way hauliers are forced to wait at RDCs is not green and is uneconomic. "The users of transport services need to take on board the realities of the haulage industry," he concludes.