Quiet deliveries

Delivering quietly enables deliveries to be made outside of the busy day time peak, thus opening up a wider delivery window. Operating out-of-hours reduces congestion, improves fuel efficiency, and minimises the likelihood of incidents between commercial vehicles and vulnerable road users, such as cyclists. Delivering quietly is not just about vehicle noise but the associated unloading process and driver behaviour.

London Lorry Control Scheme review will take into account technological advances in HGV design

Chris Tindall

A wide-ranging review of the London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS) will take into account technological advances in HGV designs when it decides whether exemptions should be considered.

Following the first steering group meeting to discuss the scope of the review, council representatives agreed that the scheme’s effectiveness, as well as its impact on the freight industry will be included.

A review of this size has not been conducted before during the scheme’s three decades and the aim is for recommendations to be put to London Councils’ (LC) transport and environment committee later in 2017.

An LC spokeswoman said: “It will look at the management of freight, evaluate how the scheme can assist with the reduction of congestion and ensure noise pollution continues to be kept to a minimum in residential areas during unsociable hours.

It will cover routing, signage, hours of operation, extent of restrictions, enforcement, permissions and exemptions, taking into account technological advances in HGV design as well as traffic management and planning techniques.”

The FTA has pointed out that LC is likely to come under pressure from mayor Sadiq Khan, who is keen to resolve the Capital’s air quality issues.

The LC spokeswoman added: “The review will aim to ensure that the scheme continues to provide essential environmental benefits and protection for

Londoners as it has done for more than 30 years and will make sure the scheme plays an integrated role with other existing and emerging freight and environmental management initiatives being led by the boroughs and the Mayor of London.”

Tech firm Charge to produce range of ‘affordable’ electric trucks by 2017

Hayley Pink

Automotive technology firm Charge plans to bring its new range of lightweight, electric trucks to market by 2017.

The company said it wants to “remove the barriers to entry” for electric vehicles by pricing the new trucks in line with conventional vehicles.

Vehicles are built using ultra-lightweight composite materials that the firm said significantly reduces the weight of the vehicle. By combining this technology with Charge’s custom-built hardware, including power electronics and motors, the manufacturer said it can reduce the cost of operating by more than 50%.

All vehicles receive over-the-air updates like a smart phone and are autonomous ready.

The trucks also produce zero emissions for the first 100 miles they travel, while for longer journeys a dual-mode (petrol-powered) can be used to ‘top up’ the battery and extend the range to 500 miles.

Charge develops trucks in a range of sizes from 3.5 tonnes to 26 tonnes.

Trucks will also meet new EV legislation globally including mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s new Direct Vision Standard for lorries due to the large, panoramic windows in the cab.

The manufacturer said the truck’s simple design means it will take one person just four hours to build an entire vehicle: meaning that 10 men, over two shifts a day can assemble 10,000 trucks a year.

As Charge plans to scale its operation globally, it said this will allow it to serve “the huge demand”.   The first new factory will open in 2017 near Charge’s current HQ in Oxfordshire where the first trucks were designed and built.

Denis Sverdlov, Charge CEO, said: “We find trucks today totally unacceptable. At Charge we are making trucks the way they should be – affordable, elegant, quiet, clean and safe.

“We are removing all the barriers to entry for electric vehicles by pricing them in line with conventional trucks, giving every fleet manager, tradesman or company, no matter how big or small, the opportunity to change the way they transport goods and make our towns and cities better places to live in.”

Earlier this year Charge became the official electric truck partner of Formula E using its prototype truck for the driver parade and logistics on and off the tracks which are built on city streets.

 

 

 

 

TfL Retiming Deliveries Consortium wins ‘noise oscar’ at John Connell Awards

Hayley Pink

The success of the TfL-led Retiming Deliveries Consortium has been recognised by the Noise Abatement Society (NAS) at its 15th annual John Connell Awards, known as the ‘Noise Oscars’.

An event held last night at the Palace of Westminster saw the consortium pick up the Quiet Cities Collaboration Award for its work in helping shift freight deliveries out of peak times.

The category, which was sponsored by Freight in the City, recognises innovation, best practice and collaboration in sustainable urban deliveries, with a specific focus on minimising noise.

TfL’s Retiming Deliveries Consortium is made up of representatives from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Camden Council, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London Councils, FTA, RHA, Noise Abatement Society, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Ashfords LLP.

It was set up in October 2013 to lead the way for retimed deliveries, promoting and encouraging retiming without noise disturbance through guidance tools, engagement and collaboration.

To date, deliveries to 237 premises have been retimed in London, equating to 80,000 deliveries, across 27 boroughs, working with 25 businesses and 77 consortium sites.

The programme is due to be incorporated in the forthcoming mayor’s transport strategy for London.

Ben Plowden, director of surface strategy and planning at TfL, said: “We’re delighted that the hard work of our partners in the Retiming Consortium has been recognised by this John Connell Award. Deliveries keep a city functioning and by everyone working together we can move some lorries out of peak time – improving the reliability and safety of the roads – while still respecting our neighbourhoods.”

Gloria Elliott, chief executive of NAS, daughter of John Connell, said: “NAS congratulates Transport for London on its Retiming Deliveries Consortium to reduce congestion and emissions without causing noise disturbance to residents. A successful example of collaboration that is effecting substantial positive change in central London.”

Presenting the award was Andy Salter (pictured first left), MD at Freight in the City publisher Road Transport Media, who added: “The winner of this year’s Quiet Cities Collaboration Award has demonstrated what can be achieved by true collaboration across stakeholder groups in the urban logistics sector.

“Only by effective partnerships will business, local authorities and the public make true gains in minimising noise disturbance.”

Food chain Pret A Manger also celebrated at last night’s event by winning the Quiet Logistics Award, which recognises advances in low noise technology in transport to facilitate quieter deliveries and services.

The John Connell Awards are named after NAS founder John Connell, who lobbied the Noise Abatement Act through Parliament in 1960 when noise became a statutory nuisance in the UK for the first time.

Bradshaw Electric Vehicles bringing Goupil G4 to Freight in the City Expo

Hayley Pink

Bradshaw Electric Vehicles is to become the UK importer for the Goupil electric utility range and GEM Transportation vehicles and will be showcasing them at next month’s Freight in the City Expo.

Superseding G3 model, the new electric Goupil G4, which will be on display at Alexandra Palace on 2 November, offers a “unique driving experience compared to similar vehicles within this category” according to Bradshaw.

The model is described as compact, with a robust and ergonomic cab design, which Bradshaw said provides a high level of comfort and performance.

With a payload up to 1,200kg, maximum speed of 31mph and L7e certification, it is a viable option for many inner city applications.

There are 8 standard body options across the range including van body vehicles and high tip or cage body configurations, while their is an option of a Lithium-Ion battery to extend life cycle and provide efficient charging.

Simon Clipsham, general manager at Bradshaw, said: “We are excited to be taking on the Goupil and GEM range.  Primary markets include the increasing requirement for noise reduction within the waste industry and the growing demand for last mile delivery.

“We are currently looking to expand the UK dealer network for the distribution of the Goupil and GEM range.”

Also on display at Freight in the City will be Bradshaw’s pedestrian-controlled PFB1500 high tip waste collection vehicle, complete with aluminium high tip skip body with a tipping height of 1365mm and a width of just 1116mm, making this vehicle ideal for waste movement within pedestrian areas.

Bradshaw representatives will be on hand at the show to speak with visitors about any vehicle requirements they may have.

Make sure to book your free place today at theFreight in the City Expo.

Daf Trucks to highlight Silent Mode and safer construction HGV at Freight in the City Expo

Hayley Pink

Daf Trucks will be highlighting the safety and noise-reduction benefits that its trucks provide for urban distribution at next month’s Freight in the City Expo in London.

On display on its stand inside the exhibition space will be a Daf CF 440 FAD low-height 8×4 rigid tipper.

The vehicle is based on Daf’s CF low-height haulage chassis, with its cab mounted 150mm lower than its construction CF 8×4 stablemate to improve direct vision around the cab.

It is fitted with a side-scan system to warn cyclists when a vehicle is turning left, while also alerting the driver if a cyclist is on the nearside of the truck. This is complemented by a Trailer Vision 360-degree camera system.

In addition, to boost the driver’s visibility on the nearside of the cab, the truck is fitted with a ClearView passenger door window (pictured, right).Daf-Clearview-window

The ClearView design, developed by Cheshire-based Astra Vehicle Technologies, means the main passenger door window can still be opened.

Fitted with a Thompson steel muckaway body, the demonstrator on the stand is available for operators to try out in day-day operation.

Quiet deliveries will be Daf’s focus in the outside exhibition area, where it will be showcasing a CF 440 tractor unit equipped with Silent Mode.

Silent Mode is engaged with the push of a dash-mounted button. Engine software then alters engine performance characteristics to reduce noise levels to less than 72 dB(A) to achieve PIEK ‘Quiet Truck’ Certification.

The manufacturer now offers Silent Mode across most of its range, including the LF at 7.5-tonne GVW and on numerous CF & XF rigid and tractor configurations powered by the MX-11, 10.8 litre engine.

 

Transdek to show emissions and noise benefits of double-deck trailers at Freight in the City Expo

Hayley Pink

Transdek UK has said better use of urban double-deck trailers could play a significant role in reducing congestion, lowering emissions and tackling noise associated with city centre deliveries.

The trailer manufacturer, which is exhibiting two Duet urban double-deck trailers at Freight in the City Expo next month in London, said that urban double decking could save up to 520 road miles each year as each unit is able to carry twice as much load per delivery as a standard trailer.

Mark Adams, Transdek MD, said: “Based on DfT statistics, we’ve calculated that if just 10% of the UK’s 18 tonne rigids were changed for urban double-deckers, this would save 104 million road miles a year, mainly in urban centres.

“Converting half of the trucks would see a reduction of 520 million miles.”

Transdek is also working with the Noise Abatement Society (NAS) to set new standards for quiet road freight in the UK.

At Freight in the City, it will be introducing a low-height, multi-temperature version of its Duet urban trailer, which features quiet technology developments designed for town and city deliveries during the night.

The trailer incorporates a PIEK-certified fridge unit, sound-deadening coatings on all surfaces, an internally mounted tail-lift motor, and specialist acoustic panels in the rear doors.

Transdek said the multi-temperature trailer is highly suited to any combination of chilled and frozen grocery product distribution.

Also on display will be an ambient Duet urban double-deck trailer in a standard configuration.

Both trailers use Transdek’s patented twin slide doors, which improve safety and load security.

“The low-height urban double deck trailer we’re showing at Freight in the City is just part of the story, though,” said Adams. “By using a range of double-deck trailer types and sizes, logistics operators could achieve 100% extra load on most of their conventional HGV fleets that are used for retail deliveries.

“Transdek’s urban Wedge double-deck trailer, for example, carries exactly twice as much as standard urban artic of the same length,” he added.

Transdek will be on stand W06 in the West Hall to offer advice about double-deck loading in urban environments and high cube trailer supply chain issues.

Make sure to book your free place to attend Freight in the City Expo, taking place on 2 November at London’s Alexandra Palace.

 

Emoss to demonstrate zero-emission electric truck at Freight in the City Expo

Hayley Pink

Dutch vehicle converter Emoss is heading to next month’s Freight in the City Expo in London to demonstrate how its range of electric trucks can help with addressing both emissions and noise restrictions in city centres.

Based on rigid chassis spanning from 7.5 tonnes GVW through to 28 tonnes GVW, the conversions can be made to any make of truck, either straight from the factory or as a retrofit option on older fleet vehicles.

Emoss have also developed a range-extender for a 50-tonne tractor unit giving it a range between 900km and 1,000km.

On show at Alexandra Palace will be an 18-tonne converted Daf chassis cab, with a 200kW battery pack enabling a range of 240km on a charge time of around 4.5 hours.

Emoss is looking to use the Freight in the City Expo as a springboard into the UK market, which it turned its attention to following London’s plans to introduce an Ultra Low Emission Zone in 2019.

“We’d like to gauge reaction to the vehicle at the show and see what people think when they come and have a look at it,” said Vernon Edwards, business development manager at Emoss UK and Ireland.

He added: “The UK is a market we’re looking to break into. We have got a 7.5-tonne vehicle in build at the moment and that’s going to go off to a company in Ireland to have a toilet cleansing unit fitted on the back, which will then go into Heathrow and service the airlines by emptying the aircraft toilets.

“There’s a big demand for low-emission vehicles at Heathrow.”

He added that Emoss is also working on both a three-axle and a two-axle vehicle based on a Volvo chassis for use by a catering company to deliver in-flight catering supplies to aircraft, as well is in talks with the London bus and coach sector on conversion possibilities.

Cities across the rest of the UK, such as Bristol and Southampton, have also expressed interest with Emoss about trialling electric vehicles on their own municipal fleets.

For visitors to its stand at Freight in the City, Emoss will be happy to provide guidance about possible funding sources for converting fleet vehicles, as the company said EU money can be available if the right business case is put forward.

It added that choosing to retrofit an older, more polluting vehicle can be a cost-effective investment for smaller operators that may lack the funding to replace their fleet with new vehicles.

“This may be a better investment for an operator who might have a five- or seven-year truck with a terrible emissions standard. We can take the engine and the gearbox out, convert it to all-electric drive and it could go back into service emission-free,” Edwards said.

Make sure to book your free place today to attend the urban logistics show of the year, Freight in the City Expo, taking place on 2 November at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Reynolds Catering Supplies picks refrigerated Econics for safer, quieter London deliveries

Hayley Pink

A pair of fridge-bodied Mercedes-Benz Econics have arrived on the London fleet of fruit and veg supplier Reynolds Catering Supplies.

Reynolds’ new 18-tonne ‘urban prototypes’ have been designed to make deliveries safer and quieter during multi-drop deliveries in the capital.

The Econics feature panoramic windscreens and full-length, folding side-doors to give the drivers a better view of cyclists and pedestrians than you get from conventional HGV designs.

The Econics’ single-compartment Gray & Adams insulated bodies feature a curved front to the roof, which blends into the cab’s air deflector. They also have aerodynamically profiled panel cappings, access doors on both sides and a Dhollandia tail-lift rated at 1,500kg.

Early start

The trucks leave Reynolds’ national DC at Waltham Cross around 2:30am, returning to base at approximately midday having typically made 30-35 deliveries.

To ensure these early hours deliveries are as quiet as possible for residents in the capital, the trucks are fitted with Thermo King’s underslung UT-800 fridge. This is claimed by the manufacturer to be 20 decibels quieter than a standard fridge unit.

The trailer is also specified with sound-deadening Marothaan floor coatings.

Reynolds has also opted for a Sentinel camera system to provide a 360-degree view and an audible warning if a cyclist is alongside. The vehicles also have strobe lighting for use when crews are unloading at night.

Reynolds, which runs a 250-strong fleet, is a bronze level member of Fors, although it is looking to reach gold.

Head of fleet support at Reynolds, Steve White, has previous experience of using Econics in the waste sector, but realised the potential for the fresh food deliveries in the capital.

He said the new Econics came at a higher capital cost than a conventional 18-tonner, and carry around 750kg less, which is “partly down to the fact that we’ve chosen to rack-out our Econics, which is not something we’d usually do – this is not a problem though, because we always bulk out before weight becomes an issue.”

White added: “What’s most important, is that our ‘urban prototypes’ serve to reinforce our commitment to compliance and road safety, while also demonstrating innovation in our field of expertise.”

Leon Daniels, MD of Surface Transport at TfL, said: “I’m pleased that Reynolds is at the vanguard of forward-thinking companies by using safer lorries with higher levels of driver direct vision.

Our recently-published Direct Vision Standard will help other companies bring their fleets up to modern safety standards and make London’s roads safer for all.”

 

 

 

 

London ‘more difficult’ for professional drivers to work in than five years ago

Christopher Walton

A staggering 96% of operators said that it is more difficult for their drivers to deliver in London now than it was five years ago.

Congestion; vulnerable road users and an overwhelming number of compliance schemes were cited as the main problems by respondents to a new survey.

The survey was conducted jointly by Freightinthecity.com and the FTA – ahead of the second Freight in the City Expo at Alexandra Palace in London on 2 November.

Reasons given for why driving in the capital was harder now than five years ago included: “too much traffic”; “the restrictions on times and the sheer volume of traffic”; and “more traffic, cyclists, width restrictions, and other road users lack of knowledge of how big a turning circle a lorry needs”.

Those taking part in the survey could tick multiple options.

Nearly all respondents said congestion in the capital was a major issue, with 94% stating it was either the “most challenging” aspect or a “very challenging” aspect of delivering.

Over a third of respondents (35%) said that vulnerable road users were the “most challenging” aspect of delivering in London while some 52.9% said that is was a “very challenging” aspect.

Ignorance and attitude

One participant in the survey cited “the ignorance and attitude of cyclists, the redevelopment of road junctions [and] not being able to access parts of the city before 7am,” as reasons why working in London had become harder for professional drivers.

Some 41% of those surveyed said having “too many different compliance schemes” was the most challenging part of deliveries in London.

Another participant singled out “local councils who don’t like change when trying to re-time deliveries”.

PCN’s and the London Lorry Control Scheme were also singled out but not to the degree of other compliance schemes, vulnerable road users and congestion.

However, operators were split in regards the challenge of recruiting drivers to deliver in London during the past five years; with 20% claiming it to be the most challenging aspect of operating there, and 20% saying it was the least challenging.

TfL expands retiming deliveries work in the capital

Hayley Pink

TfL is looking to help businesses in specific areas retime their deliveries this year, as part of its work to promote delivery flexibility.

Up until now much of TfL’s retiming work has been based around single locations.

It is also extending its research into the costs and benefits of quiet equipment, as well as developing quiet delivery training and assessments for drivers, managers and goods receivers.

Speaking at last month’s LoCity event, Jaz Chani, freight project manager at TfL, spoke of the progress made by the Retiming Deliveries Consortium.

The consortium was set up after the London 2012 Olympic Games to explore the long-term potential of out-of-hours trials, which took place during the six-week event and shifted 15% of deliveries out of peak times.

“We carried out trials before, during and after the Games and continue this now, which have demonstrated the benefits to a particular business or site.

“We now aim to demonstrate area-wide impacts [such as air quality benefits] and to multiple different types of businesses, both large and small,” she said.

The consortium comprises TfL, three London Boroughs, London Councils, FTA, RHA, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, the Noise Abatement Society and law firm Ashfords.

It has now created a series of working groups to take the trials forward and expand into other sectors, while also seeking to develop a Memorandum of Understanding and a framework for boroughs to adopt for quiet deliveries.

TfL has set itself a target of retiming 500 sites and 4,000 deliveries in the capital, and has so far reached 144 sites, with a further 13 already being investigated for retiming potential and more than 200 stakeholders engaged with.

Chani said that 30% of all traffic within the Congestion Charging Zone (CCZ) in the morning is freight, with 22% of all freight trips daily within the CCZ taking place between 7am and 10am – a high percentage with a lot of unused capacity at other times.

“We are a 24 hour city and we need to make better use of this,” she added. “We also recognise you can’t retime everything, and that any retiming is done in the right way. There is no point moving steel girders at 3am and expecting everyone to be OK with that.”

Efforts to retime freight deliveries fit closely within three key aims of new London mayor Sadiq Khan’s manifesto commitments, Chani added: improving air quality, ensuring safety and tackling congestion.

  Box: Benefits of retiming sites

  • Martin Browers (pictured), which carries out deliveries for McDonald’s Restaurants, achieved £3,000 in PCN charges from one site alone in London through retiming, and was also able to reduce its national fleet size by 18 vehicles through this approach across its network.
  • DHL achieved a 60% cost reduction by retiming one customer’s site, halving the number of deliveries, which resulted in a 2-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.
  • A Greater London trial in Sutton saw AS Watson moving forward deliveries to the high street Savers store from 6am, to 5am and eventually 4am with no local complaints received at all during the 12-month trial period. Each journey saw CO2 drop by 6.5%, with journey time down by 18%.
  • The Waitrose store in Fulham gained temporary relaxation of planning conditions to enable out-of-hours deliveries. Moving the delivery by two hours saw no change in background noise or complaints.
  • Tesco has retimed 50 stores within the M25, with a further 300 planner nationwide, while Sainsbury’s carries out 60% of its deliveries outside of peak hours.

TfL has already produced best practice guidance about out-of-of-hours deliveries for all parties, as well as produced a series of case studies and information videos, such as using low-noise roll cages (see below).