01/02/2012
Category: truck insurance
Haulage firms are on course to meet voluntary carbon emissions targets after implementing a wide range of measures, according to a new study.
The second annual Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme report shows that during 2011 a 2.6 per cent reduction in emissions intensity was recorded from the logistics sector.
The method of measurement applied by the scheme means that this 2.6 per cent fall was achieved despite mileages going up or remaining the same.
Furthermore, the scheme has expanded, with 59 companies and their 56,000 commercial vehicles now having signed up to the carbon reduction agreement, which sees firms pledge to reduce carbon emissions by eight per cent by the year 2015. The Department of Transport has also backed the initiative.
The rising cost of fuel and struggling economy are reducing profit margins for haulage firms, which are still obliged to meet overheads such as tax and truck insurance.
With this in mind, James Hookham, managing director of policy and communications at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), said that it is very encouraging that more companies are taking steps to reduce carbon emissions despite the economic climate.
He explained: "The Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme is showing the benefits of investments and efforts that are continually being made in transport operations to make them more efficient.
"These have always been going on but now we can quantify the effects and take credit for the progress being made."
Mr Hookham went on to set out the scheme's goals for 2012, with companies planning to continue and even accelerate this downward trend in carbon emissions.
Helping companies achieve this will be the FTA's powerful web application, which helps companies identify which carbon saving technique is most suitable for them.
The FTA recently welcomed the government's decision to effectively charge foreign lorries for using UK roads, but urged ministers to ensure that this initiative does not add to the administrative burden companies already face.
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