Major initiative needed to tackle empty miles

Statistics published by the Department for Transport (DfT) from the last full three years (2022 to 2024) indicate one in three kilometres travelled by UK lorries involves an empty vehicle; compared to Europe’s average of one in four.

Overall empty running rates sit at 30% during that period and are not showing signs of reducing.

IPP said this was owing to growing demand for speedy, next day deliveries, from both consumers and retailers.

“However, such restrictions often create an environment of inflexibility and inefficiency, which in turn are the very factors that prevent vehicles from running as full and therefore contributing to empty running,” said Alia Tabbassum, Strategic Logistics Manager at IPP UK&I.

Empty miles are a problem because they lead to wasted time and fuel, increased road congestion, and carbon dioxide pollution.

As opposed to a small number of businesses banding together to address this issue, IPP believes more is required, and the government should launch a sustained campaign, for instance.

Europe’s average is lower than the UK’s owing to its larger logistics networks being aligned to stricter regulations for drivers. In Denmark, a combination of a better road management system, road network and use of smarter technologies plays a major part.

A sustained campaign and the introduction of HVO could play a part in reducing carbon emissions as a result of empty miles.

IPP already works closely with customers by analysing freight delivery routes and identifying where it can support them.

A pilot project being held in the South West England during the course of this year is targeted at reducing empty running, and by July had saved almost 8 tonnes of CO2 and generated over £68,000 in revenue for local hauliers.

Using the Haulage Exchange platform to connect hauliers with subcontracted loads, it matched 65 return loads across the region, covering 9,195 miles that otherwise would have been driven empty.