The sharing economy is gaininggaining ground in the logistics sector. Warehouse space is shared and pools for truck drivers are created. Does this same platform principle also work for truck and van sharing?
That is what innovation platform VIL is investigating together with eight transport companies in its new project 'Cambion'. According to VIL, companies see idle means of transport as a problem. A survey of hauliers and logistics service providers showed that 50 per cent of respondents reported that transport means sometimes stand still outside peak periods, with just under 20 per cent even doing so frequently.
(Re)leasing free capacity
Companies tailor their transport capacity to peak periods, but these peak and off-peak times can vary greatly from company to company. Therefore, fleet sharing offers opportunities, thinks VIL. With the Cambion project, VIL wants to find out whether it is possible to share company vehicles and thus reduce costs, generate additional turnover by renting out free capacity or be able to carry out additional assignments as a result of increased flexibility.
Ideal collaboration model
In the coming period, VIL will investigate the current situation and impeding factors, such as licensing requirements and liability. Solutions to possible obstacles will also be sought. Afterwards, VIL will draw up an ideal cooperation model, with the corresponding legal requirements. This model will be tested among the project participants. " VIL will also draw up a simulation model to expose matches between companies. For example, large shops and depots that are delivered at night and distribution centres where goods are collected during the day constitute a possible match to share vehicles," said VIL project leader, Eva Gezels.
The participating transport companies are Deny Logistics, Eutraco, Exsan (Sany Group), Gilbert De Clercq, Remitrans, Transport Lux, Transport Vanschoonbeek - Matterne and Vincent Logistics.
