Nicholls reaps green benefits of LNG fleet

Sittingbourne-based Nicholls Transport has cut its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by almost 200% in just three months by running an LNG-powered fleet.

The Kent family business provides bespoke distribution and haulage services across the UK, Northern France, Belgium and Holland and has a client base including many blue chip companies.

The firm operates a fleet of 115 trucks, 29 of which are powered by bio-LNG derived from dry manure, provided by Gasrec. According to the company’s latest Renewable Fuel Declaration, produced by the Zemo Partnership, in the three months to September 2022 the trucks achieved an A+ rating and GHG emissions savings of 191% compared to their diesel-powered equivalents.

Rob Gearing, Nicholls Transport head of commercial and business development, told MT: “This possibly makes us one of the greenest hauliers in the UK running LNG trucks.”

Baked goods warehousing and logistics provider Warrens Group is the preferred primary haulier for bread and cake distribution for Tesco and Sainsbury’s and has been in a joint venture with Culina since 2018.

The two build-to-suit units will provide Warrens with a combined 514,000sq ft of logistics real estate and sees the firm join Culina subsidiary Eddie Stobart at DIRFT, as well as other companies including Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

Both of the leased units are BREEAM-rated ‘Excellent’ and have delivered a combined £5.4m in social value, partly through the number of job opportunities created onsite.