Haulage companies delayed by loading and offloading
Date: 16 August 2007
Haulage companies could save time and money if they tackled delays caused by loading and offloading.
This was one of the findings of research carried out by SCALA Logistics Consulting on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT), which also found that more weekend deliveries to regional distribution centres by haulage firms have significantly reduced deliveries in the week.
Because of this, there is less congestion on the UK's roads during the peak Monday to Friday period, the study found, which benefits logistics drivers and couriers alike.
John Perry of SCALA said that a further contributory factor was the growth in 24-hour retail, with many delivery fleets carrying out night-time deliveries.
However, local tertiary drinks deliveries are squeezed into just Monday to Friday during the day, which is causing congestion problems, he said.
And it's not just congestion that leads to delays for freight haulage firms.
"The delays due to traffic congestion were only 22 per cent for food and 17 per cent for drinks and most were due to loading and unloading problems at customers' and their own premises," said Mr Perry.
"If the companies could sort these problems out with more efficiency and more flexibility, then they could save both time and money."
User Comments
No Comments