Freight Transport Association - Natalie Chapman

Night time is right time for deliveries

Investment in our transport infrastructure is effectively an investment in our businesses and public services, but meaningful improvements to the supply chain and its impact on our lives can be made without dipping deep into the public purse. Here I want to introduce a simple idea that can, at a stroke, ease congestion, reduce transport costs and limit carbon emissions and, at the same time, improve the quality of life for residents across the UK.

When it comes to developing transport infrastructure, great improvements often mean great compromise.  For example, to benefit from the considerable environmental and economic benefits of rail freight, local residents need to come to terms with the need for rail freight terminals.  Similarly, if we want to secure Britain’s status as the commercial hub of northern Europe, a third runway at Heathrow will need to take priority over local concerns about the perceived additional noise and air pollution.  In the case of the manifest benefits that night-time deliveries promise, however, there is no such need for such divisive compromise.

By shifting emphasis onto night-time deliveries we remove lorries from peak-time congestion thereby improving local air quality and reducing the transport costs of wasted diesel.  Good news all round, then, for businesses, for residents and the environment.

Unfortunately it is not that simple as, despite these convincing benefits, there is a very strong perceived threat – namely, noise pollution during anti-social hours.  Naturally, residents will shudder at the idea of noisy trucks unloading produce, clanging cages and slamming doors to a backing track of in-cab radios blaring out into the dead of night, it would be a genuine concern for anybody who doesn’t want to add inserting earplugs into their bedtime ritual.  However, trials have shown that in this case, a kneejerk ‘no’ to night-time deliveries is completely unfounded and urban sleep deprivation doesn’t necessarily follow.

In a three-month trial conducted by Sainsbury’s and Wandsworth Borough Council in 2007 it was concluded that if strict procedures, as defined by Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Noise Abatement Society (NAS), were followed, then the supermarket would save a great deal of money, reduce its carbon footprint and improve the reliability of its supply chain.  Just as importantly the trial returned no complaints from residents.

Great improvements needn’t mean great compromise.  Neither should they mean great costs.  Some of the key solutions and procedures identified by FTA and NAS to reduce noise during night-time deliveries included driver and staff training, the use of rubber matting and dock curtains and a strict roll cage, door and radio noise policy – simple yet effective solutions that can make a huge difference.

In order to make this scheme work across the UK we need buy-in from retailers.  This is why FTA, NAS and the Department for Transport are now inviting retailers to participate in quiet deliveries trials.  As such, the Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme will support at least six trials at retail premises across England during 2010, to illustrate the potential benefits from curfew relaxations for quiet deliveries, whilst still protecting local residents from excess noise.  The application process for retailers to join the trial closed in February.  DfT, NAS and FTA have been busy selecting the sites for the trials and it is hoped that the first of the trials will be shortly underway.

Note: Local authorities interested in finding out more about the scheme should contact the Project Manager, Chris Douglas, at consultancy Transport & Travel Research Ltd via e-mail: quietdeliveries@ttr-ltd.com

For further information, visit: http://www.fta.co.uk/

Published: 10/02/2010