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Haulage firms need to act on green issues

Road haulage companies are becoming more concerned about green issues, but they find it hard to maintain interest after the initial spark.

This was a key finding from a conference held in Paris by the International Energy Agency, Commercial Motor reports.

Jonathan James of consultancy Faber Maunsell said that there has been a change in the way that freight haulage companies view these issues.

"There has been a change in industry reception," he said. "Companies are taking corporate social responsibility, and environmental issues, much more seriously than before, and there has been a big take-up of eco-driving schemes."

James works with the SAFED fuel efficiency scheme, looking to improve freight haulage drivers' awareness. However, he stressed that hauliers must take their own steps.

"You can't expect training on its own to be enough," he said. "You have to follow through.

"Frankly, people are the biggest barrier to schemes such as this, because you need to change the attitudes of the whole team if you want to instigate real change. That's why fleet owners may find it easier to convince drivers by focusing on issues such as job security, wages and company profitability."

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