Transport Travel Research Ltd

South Yorkshire ECO Stars Newsletter Issue 9 - May 2013

New Members

Welcome to the latest ECO Stars scheme members:

	Carntyne Transport a leading 3rd party logistics provider specialising in bulk transportation, historically dominant in alcoholic beverages, but also focussing on manufacturing, agricultural feeds, chemicals and packaging. 86 vehicles serve South Yorkshire from its base in Scotland.

	Martin-Brower UK Ltd part of a global business, Martin-Brower UK Ltd. provides end-to-end supply chain management solutions to quick service restaurants, notably McDonald’s. It operates throughout South Yorkshire from its Heywood depot, near Manchester.

	eco-Link Logistics Ltd an Eco courier company based in Leeds offering an environmentally friendly delivery service using three energy efficient Smart cars.

	REACT Transport a logistics company specialising in fragile and delicate freight distribution across the UK and Europe serving a broad variety of clients including Hollywood actress Julia Roberts! 17 vehicles operate through South Yorkshire from its Manchester depot.

	Freightlink Europe LLP a Bradford-based haulage, transport & distribution contractors offering a worldwide freight forwarding service. 15 vehicles serve South Yorkshire. They are also providers of driver CPC training.

	B&Q in partnership with DHL ...Our 50th member - Find out more below.

South Yorkshire hits 50!

South Yorkshire ECO Stars is celebrating its 50th member with the sign up of B&Q in partnership with DHL bringing the total number of vehicles registered with the scheme to almost 6000.

DHL manages the fleet operations of B&Q’s distribution centres in Doncaster and Worksop serving stores across South Yorkshire as well as the North East and the East of England.

B&Q in partnership with DHL were awarded the highest 5 star rating reflecting the high standards they have achieved, particularly an impressive fuel management programme. Annual driver assessments are supplemented with constant monitoring using in-cab telematics, which is reviewed on a weekly basis to make constant improvements. They have also invested in routing and scheduling software to minimise vehicle mileage.

Nigel Willott, DHL’s National Transport Manager is pleased that their focus on fleet performance has been recognised. He said;

“ECO Stars is a perfect fit with both DHL’s and B&Q’s environmental philosophies and business values of improving efficiency and reducing costs".

Michelle Thomas of B&Q said;

“We are pleased to become the 50^th membership of ECO Stars in South Yorkshire, and very proud to have been awarded the highest possible rating from the outset. With a fleet travelling in excess of 5 million miles per year, every step we can take to reduce our fuel consumption and emissions benefits the local community”.

The occasion was marked with the presentation of a plaque and specially commissioned star-shaped award to B&Q in partnership with DHL.

ECO Stars Manager takes charge

Ann Beddoes from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has been officially appointed as the ECO Stars Scheme Manager.

Ann will lead the scheme on behalf of the ECO Stars partners comprising of the South Yorkshire local authorities (Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield) and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. She will chair the ECO Stars Steering Group which includes representatives of the South Yorkshire partners and also the managers of the other UK ECO Stars schemes. This is a completely new post funded through the South Yorkshire Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Ann’s main priorities over the next two years are to develop initiatives which will pave the way for the long term sustainability of the ECO Stars scheme; oversee growth in the UK and EU, and continue to provide overall strategic management.

One of Ann’s key tasks is to make sure that the ECO Stars scheme achieves what it set out to do in the first place. All four South Yorkshire local authorities have Air Quality Management Areas where pollution exceeds target levels – and they each have action plans designed to reduce emissions – ECO Stars is one of their key initiatives.

The University of the West of England (UWE) carried out an evaluation of the ECO Stars Scheme in 2011. This recommended that the impact on air quality needed to be measured more effectively using better data collection and the development of a “Toolkit”.

Now UWE has been commissioned by the ECO Stars Steering group to develop a method to assess the impact of the scheme on vehicle emissions. The work is planned to be finished in early July with the developed Toolkit piloted in South Yorkshire.

Ann feels it is vital that the emission reduction benefits of the scheme are very clearly quantified. The true value of ECO Stars needs to be demonstrated not only to fleet operators and possible new members, but to potential new funding providers around the country. We will update scheme members on this work in future editions of the ECO Stars Newsletter.

Operator Profile

Cranleigh Freight Services - ECO Stars first Euro VI operator?

Cranleigh Freight Services were one of South Yorkshire’s original members when they joined the ECO Stars scheme in April 2009. They wanted to demonstrate their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and see what additional measures they could adopt to make further improvements. The ten vehicles that operated in South Yorkshire at that time received a four star rating.

Based in Surrey, Cranleigh Freight Services offers a full range of transport services to Europe, nationwide UK pallet distribution and warehousing facilities. They also operate Direct Home Delivery, a 2-man, ‘White Glove’ service for the furniture, upholstery and the bedding market.

Their European fleet operates between the UK and Western Europe – specialising in ‘just in time’ deliveries to and from Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. These vehicles are fitted with “Fleetboard”: an engine, driver and fuel management system and GPS tracker. This allows fleet managers to track each truck and specify more economic routes. Performance levels including fuel efficiency, heavy breaking, idling time and over-revving can be monitored closely.

Cranleigh Freight Services is now investigating fitting a similar system to their UK & Direct Home Delivery fleets, to reduce driving miles through a strategic planning approach.

Becky Young, Group Sales and Marketing Manager says,

“We are mindful of our impact on the environment and always look to utilise the most efficient and environmentally conscious equipment and practices”.

She cites as an example how following a successful trial held during 2012 designed to improve ‘mpg’ Cranleigh Freight Services converted its whole fleet to Shell based lubricants. This resulted in an average improvement of 2%.

“In December 2012, we were the proud recipient of the first DAF XF Euro VI tractor unit to grace UK roads. We look forward to measuring the performance of this latest advancement in large diesel engines”

Jim Chappell, ECO Star Programme Manager said,

“We think that Cranleigh Freight Services is the first ECO Stars member to operate a Euro VI vehicle, not only in South Yorkshire but all the other schemes".

Following Cranleigh Freight Services’ total investment in vehicles, the ECO Stars team are reassessing the star rating of their fleet with a view to gain a 5 star rating in South Yorkshire and join other schemes in areas where they operate.

Flying Start to 2013 with 4 New Schemes

It was a busy March for ECO Stars with new schemes launching in York, Thurrock, Nottinghamshire and Falkirk.

City's 'Future Transport' in York

5th March saw the very successful launch of the York ECO Stars scheme at the city’s Guildhall. The launch was part of the City’s Future Transport York event attended by more than 30 people from industry and local government. York Minister provided a striking background for the launch which featured a vehicle from Nestle, a 5 Star operator.

Three members are pictured (to the left) receiving certificates with Cllr Tracey Simpson-Laing from City of York Council.

ECO Stars praised in Thurrock

Thurrock ECO Stars was launched on 8th March with 8 local operators receiving membership certificates from Cllr Andy Smith, Thurrock Council’s portfolio holder for transport. Cllr Smith highlighted the importance of transport and logistics in the Thurrock area and their important roles in local regeneration. He also praised the ECO Stars scheme’s contribution to cleaner operations as well as providing the opportunity for operators to reduce their costs.

Local Sustainable Transport Fund programme delivers ECO Stars in Nottingham

The Nottingham ECO Stars scheme is being delivered through the successful Nottingham Urban Area Local Sustainable Transport Fund programme, building on the success of a smaller scheme in the borough of Gedling. It launched on 12th March with an event attended by more than 45 people representing companies and organisations throughout Nottinghamshire. Membership certificates were presented to the first business to sign up to the expanded scheme - ASDA’s new Home Shopping Centre situated at Bulwell. They are now a full member with a 5 star fleet rating which covers 42 vehicles on their site.

Stars in the Stadium in Falkirk

Falkirk Stadium was the venue for the launch of ECO Stars in Falkirk on 21st March. The first member of the scheme was local Grangemouth haulage company JW Suckling Transport Ltd who received recognition for their performance along with a further nine inaugural members who were present. The launch was also attended by officers and elected Members from Falkirk Council as well as the Road Haulage Association and the UK ECO Stars Steering Group.

This brings the number of schemes in the UK to seven:

Edinburgh
Falkirk
Mid Devon
Nottinghamshire, including Gedling
South Yorkshire
Thurrock
York

If you have a depot, or operate in these locations and would like to become a member of these ECO Stars schemes please call the ECO Stars Team on 01543 416416 or email ecostars@ttr-ltd.com.

ECO Stars in the News

The importance of ECO Stars has been highlighted in the latest edition of the international magazine “Thinking Highways”. The article can be found on p36 of the March / April 2013 publication. Please click here for more information

ECO Stars Recruitment - Pass it On!

We’re always on the lookout for new members and are eager to develop road maps to help operators save money. Can you recommend a contact, a subcontractor or a supplier, who operates a vehicle fleet and that may benefit from joining the ECO Stars scheme?

Pass on our contact details (T: 01543 416416 or E: ecostars@ttr-ltd.com) or directly make a recommendation to us and we will send you an exclusive ECO Stars mug.