FROM THE OFFICE OF
WWW.EXPORTANDFREIGHT.COM
Peter Morrow FORS Manager – Northern Ireland.
LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE TO BOOST GREEN CREDENTIALS Tough governmental and European Union targets on air quality and Clean Air Zones planned for UK cities, mean environmental efficiency is now even more important for fleets operating in urban areas. While there is much to be done to safeguard the future of both transportation and the environment, huge strides have been made in recent years to make road transport more efficient.
information and mileage figures. This data is then used to ensure fleets have an accurate service, maintenance and repair schedule in place to fix faults early, keep costs down and make sure vehicles are running as efficiently as possible.
Progressive compliance schemes give operators a clear pathway to achieve real emission reductions, focusing on driver training, performance monitoring and robust data analysis. Indeed, in 2018 a study of 138 FORS Gold members showed that each had considerable success in reducing emissions, reporting a remarkable 14 per cent average improvement in mpg performance.
Drive smart
Measuring fuel use and learning how to maintain an efficient fleet with fully-trained drivers will help operators reduce their carbon output and prove their ability to operate in an environmentally responsible way. For commercial vehicle operators of all types seeking to secure contracts which stipulate proof of environmentally efficient operating standards, FORS is key. With a fleet’s environmental impact encompassing far more than just emissions, there is a lot that can be done to make road transport smarter and greener:
Data is king Recording data is vital for operators to baseline performance and identify where efficiency improvements can be made across a fleet. FORS members can use the online FORS Fleet Tools portal to collate and record all data, measuring fuel consumption, emissions and fleet incidents to understand where efficiencies can be made.
Fleet care Ensuring a fleet is in peak condition is vital for an environmentally sound operation. The FORS Fleet Management System (FORS-FMS), can be used to track fuel purchases, tyre tread and depth
Any fleet which operates in urban areas faces considerable traffic and stop start congestion, and drivers need to understand how to drive as efficiently as possible. Indeed, the 2015 National Centre for Sustainable Transportation report proposed that implementing eco-driving techniques can help HGV fleets save fuel and reduce emissions to the tune of between 5 and 15 per cent*.
Management Guide has been created, explaining how to develop a tyre management policy.
Fuel consumption Tracking fuel consumption helps businesses reduce fuel use, save money and reduce their environmental impact. The FORS Fuel Expert fuel card not only offers discounts on fuel but provides members with robust fuel consumption and MPG reports. This means considerable wastage can be identified and eliminated, and environmental impact reduced.
Future proofing While it is a given that more modern Euro VI vehicles help operators achieve lower levels of fuel consumption and emissions, it is also a huge cost outlay. This is against a backdrop of ever-changing emissions legislation.
FORS Safe Urban Driving, Van Smart, TruckSmart and LoCITY Driving courses are designed to help commercial vehicle drivers understand the most efficient way to drive in cities and urban areas, combating engine idling and reducing fuel consumption to lower emissions.
FORS members are encouraged to have an eye on their vehicles’ future value and are required to undertake reviews of their fleet as they seek FORS Gold accreditation. If members need to modernise their fleets they can set out a timetable to achieve this and add emission improving products to existing fleet vehicles during the transition.
Tyres shouldn’t cost the earth
Noise awareness
Correct tyre maintenance and pressure will make a fleet more environmentally sound, with well managed tyres boosting the efficiency of an entire fleet and driving down fuel consumption and emissions.
Noise pollution is a commonly overlooked form of environmental impact. The FORS Professional ‘Managing Noise in Logistics’ workshop was created as part of the FORS Practitioner series of management development courses. The workshop seeks to help operators fulfil their noise assessment requirements, as required at FORS Silver, and understand appropriate delivery schedules to minimise noise in urban areas.
Over-inflated tyres mean tread contact with the road is decreased which in turn increases braking distances and reduces overall handling capabilities. Conversely, under-inflated tyres contribute towards increases in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx); for every 10 per cent of decreased tyre pressure, fuel consumption increases by two per cent. At the entry level FORS Bronze audit, members are required to incorporate a tyre management policy across all vehicles. To help, a Tyre
For more information about becoming a FORS member, visit: www.fors-online.org.uk *Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Freight Movement through Eco-Driving Programs for Heavy-Duty Trucks, National Center for Sustainable Transportation, 2015: https:// www.fors-online.org.uk/cms/wp-content/ uploads/2017/02/Eco-driving-for-HGVs.pdf
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