LEGAL

Alternative Fuels & Energy will change the Road Transport landscape

It is impossible to open a newspaper without reading an article dealing with some aspect of environmental protection. Reports of Atmospheric pollution, quite properly, constantly attract stories in which new sources of pollution are identified, and, of course, diesel engines burning carbon fuel are all too easily identified as a major source of pollution. As this is written it seems inevitable that sooner or later steps will be taken to control the emissions from diesel engines.

Any haulage company planning for a replacement programme for its fleet of vehicles would be well advised to consider the possibility that diesel fuel may eventually be banned in some areas, and as this is written we have a number of conflicting interests. Goods will always need to be moved and new ‘cleaner’ fuels, such as Hydrogen or Electricity, and, will be promoted. It is to be expected that we will see many new windfarms, and Hydrogen plants. Is it highly possible that we may have to deal with some form of nuclear power! We forget that electricity needs to be manufactured and, if there is too much demand, supplies will run out. We are already seeing battles between contenders in the race to provide alternative fuel. Hydrogen Europe has reacted strongly to a perceived suggestion that its product has a substantial carbon base. Of course, air transport companies and some airlines have benefitted from the impact of Covid-19 but, at the end of the day, you need an adjacent airport, and there is a limit to the size and weight of the load that can be carried.

From the point of view of the haulier if the great Irish public is persuaded that diesel engines must go, the possible cost of their replacement is beyond calculation. To this cost should be added the additional cost of new tools and equipment. Will vehicles be able to travel the same distances as they do at the moment? And will we need new refuelling points? In, hopefully, the very long term the safest answer may be to put any plans for vehicle replacement on hold until the fuel issue is resolved, and perhaps spending money on premises should be avoided.

None of these changes will happen overnight, but changes there are bound to be, so there is no immediate urgency, but if ever there was time to read the trade papers, and listen to the news, this is it. Now is certainly a good time to have another look at your customer base. It is possible that, if any of these changes occur you will have to restructure your rates to remain profitable. All this while we still have the shadows of Brexit and (hopefully to a lesser degree) Covid-19 to take into account. A friend in the UK recently placed a usual order with the local Supermarket only to be told that certain of the items could not be delivered because of Brexit.

The one certainty is that, for so long as people have made goods to be used by other people, those goods have needed to be transported, a fact that sometimes appears to be forgotten by those who campaign the loudest against carbon pollution.

Whether we like it or not we are clearly living in an age of great change, and these changes affect every aspect of our lives. Consider, for example, the differences between the controls of a 1930 vehicle and one of today, and these changes are occurring at an enormous speed. Perhaps the most useful purchase at this moment in time would be a Crystal Ball. It is not the size of a haulage company that make it vulnerable to these changes, it is the location of its customers, and the distances that its vehicles need to travel beyond the country borders, that are likely to cause problems. Plans for expansion perhaps should be implemented cautiously. Text: Jonathan Lawton - jonathan@fleet. All-Star Transport Training Company of the Year 2021 Transport Manager CPC

Weekend & Full-Time Courses available at:

Cork (Silver Springs Hotel) - Sat 4th Sept (Online) - Mon 6th Sept Limerick (Kilmurry Lodge Hotel) - Sat 11th Sept

Galway (Connacht Hotel) - Sat 18th Sept

Dublin P/T (Green Isle Hotel) - Sat 18th Sept

Dublin F/T (Green Isle Hotel) - Wed 6th Oct

Tutor: Tony Hynes MBS, B.Comm, FCIPD, FCILT, FIITD 35 Years Successfully Delivering The Transport Management CPC

“This course changed my life” Gary D.

“Tony made this course very easy” John O’B. “Outstanding course” Laura C.

Driver CPC Weekends - Weekdays - Evenings

NoW oFFeriNg oN-LiNe Courses

All Modules Available Book Online: 24/7 - www.cpc.ie