FTA: government must back industry on road to decarbonisation

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has called for full government support to help the road transport industry achieve decarbonisation targets, following the recent publication of a report on the fifth carbon budget by the Committee on Climate Change.

The report sets out the means by which the freight industry can help the UK reach its 80 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050; but FTA says that government backing for the sector will be vital in order for it to rise to the challenge.

FTA climate change policy manager Rachael Dillon said: “We recognise that a move towards alternative fuels and low carbon technologies is required to significantly decarbonise the freight sector, but the industry needs support and incentives now to start making the switch. Infrastructure and added costs are presenting a real barrier for operators looking at alternatives to diesel.

“As fuel makes up on average 40 per cent of a fleet’s operating costs, industry is already taking significant steps to improve fuel and carbon efficiency.”

Means of reducing road freight emissions endorsed by the CCC report include the adoption of electric, gas and hydrogen fuel cell HGVs. It also advocates operational improvements to driver training, routing and scheduling – actions which FTA says are already being put into action by members of its Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS) scheme.

LCRS, which is recognised by the Department for Transport and the CCC, allows fleet operators to record, report and reduce their carbon emissions. Current members include many of the UK’s largest and highest-profile fleets, including Asda, Bibby Distribution, Biffa Municipal, Eddie Stobart, John Lewis, Kuehne + Nagel, Norbert Dentressangle, Sainsbury’s, TNT, Veolia and Wincanton.

Rachael Dillon added: “We want to encourage operators of all sizes to put carbon on their agenda, and to support the many companies that are already making great progress. The CCC report highlights that freight must play its part in contributing to carbon reduction and it is vital that we can provide evidence of the efforts and progress we are making.”

FTA also highlighted a separate report by the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (CfSRF), which advocated further means of decarbonisation including the deployment of longer and heavier vehicles, driver monitoring, use of consolidation centres, higher lading factors and reducing empty running. The retrofitting of aerodynamic fairings and low rolling resistance tyres would also contribute, the report said.

Said Dillon: “As consortium members of the CfSRF, FTA is pleased to see that the CCC has called on its expertise to identify the key measures needed for freight to reduce emissions.”