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Empty policies
Page 9
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Everyone knows there's no money in hauling fresh air. Yet eliminating empty running is easier said than done—especially in inner-city areas.
In its latest press release the European Commission's European Transport Research Programme reports "urban freight distribution can be optimised" thanks to "freight platforms, which can reduce truck mileage by up to 40%".
These "platforms" are in fact transshipment areas where hauliers or forwarders are located and ideally where at least two transport modes are connected.
It goes on: "However, experience with existing freight platforms in European cities shows a need for better design to improve efficiency and financial viability." That's one hell of a "however".
Better design or not, you'd have a fight on your hands to build a new break-bulk centre (sorry "platform") within spitting distance of any major British city, not least due to the proximity of residential areas. And if you could there's still the small matter of negotiating inner-city congestion–and finding a space to unload among all the cars.
Moreover, current thinking is to keep larger, more load-efficient, emission-efficient HGVs out of urban areas through bans or other restrictions.
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