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Heathrow boss unveils freight plan for the future
[ October 13, 2017 // Chris ]Heathrow’s non-executive chairman Lord Deighton unveiled a Blueprint for Sustainable Freight to address the impacts of freight vehicles around the airport whilst continuing to increase cargo volumes to the British Chambers of Commerce International Trade Summit on 12 October.
It aims to ensure that even as Heathrow and freight volumes grow with expansion, overall airport-related traffic on the road does not increase in number compared to today.
The ten steps set out include modernising cargo infrastructure to allow more airside transhipments, consolidation points away from airport local roads and a new cargo village to reduce unnecessary vehicle movements.
There would also be tools such as a load consolidation app for local forwarders and the trial of low emission freight vehicles and geo-fencing technology to reduce emissions on local roads and charging points for electric vehicles.
Lord Deighton said that Heathrow will help major partners deliver a modernised, more efficient cargo village to allow more direct trips to the to reduce the need for shuttle movements to and from off airport warehousing, which represent around a third of cargo related trips.
It will begin consulting on plans to install airside transhipment points to eliminate the need for goods to be transported landside to the cargo area or pass through control posts twice by the time the airport expands. Streamlining our air-to-air processes will reduce transit times, trucking costs for handlers, free up warehouse space, and of course, reduce emissions and the number of freight vehicles involved.
There will be freight consolidation centres similar to that already used for Heathrow’s retailers and which has already reduced the number of supplier vehicles on the roads entering the airport by 42%.
Heathrow will also work with the freight community to deliver a Code of Conduct for all Heathrow freight operators to reduce its impact on local communities, such as inappropriate parking, littering, vehicle routes and aggressive driving.
Heathrow’s expansion masterplan will be developed in conjunction with local authorities to prioritise efficient cargo operations in planning land use around the airport.
The airport will identify appropriate locations for freight facilities to try and avoid inappropriate traffic movements close to residential areas.
Heathrow will also establish a partnership with leading cargo and freight companies and groups including DHL, the Freight Transport Association, IAG Cargo, Dnata and the British International Freight Association (BIFA). The Sustainable Freight Group will meet twice a year to exchange experience and best practice, support the development of initiatives to reduce emissions from freight activity at the airport and feed into local and national freight policy development.
It will support the roll out of freight accreditation schemes with emissions reduction targets, trial low and zero emission vehicle technologies and identifying measures to consolidate freight movements to and from the airport.
Tags: Heathrow