Step 16: Efficient design, purchase, operation and maintenance of significant energy users

Transport as a significant energy user can benefit from astute investment decisions regarding vehicle choice, routing and operational planning.

Your business will have unique routing – grown organically as your business has grown - customer locations and operational planning. 

Routing is a complex area; first analyse the task, survey your vehicles and ability to meet complete that task.  Then engage a specialist.

Specialist companies operate route optimisation services, these are primarily aimed at batch type operations.  New services are becoming available to optimise routing in real-time when combined with vehicle tracking services.   Broadly the headings to be considered for efficient purchase and operation of transport assets are:

Vehicle Specification

Purchase more fuel efficient vehicles with improved engine designs

Improve aerodynamic profiling

Reduced average speed (limiter setting) and make use of cruise controls

Install fuel monitoring devices

Fuel additives can be required to meet emissions regulations. You may also consider alternative fuels now coming market. Electric vehicles will prove useful in urban areas.

Vehicle Utilisation

Increase back-loading / reduce empty running

Use vehicles with greater carrying capacity

Greater consolidation of loads – counteract just-in-time pressures

Use more space-efficient handling equipment

Rationalise packaging

Employ computerised vehicle routeing and scheduling:

Employ nominated day delivery schedules

Relax monthly order / credit cycle 

Your vehicle survey will have identified wastages caused by physical load sizes e.g. could your next trailer be lower to reduce parasitic drag?  Or could you use a double deck trailer to reduce number of journeys?