We need to organise road transport faster, more economically and efficiently. This is possible if we learn to drive smarter. Only then can we meet emission targets, reduce congestion and make optimal use of scarce drivers. On 5, 6 and 7 November, trade fair ICT& Logistiek will show solutions for smarter organisation of transport and distribution activities. One thing is certain in advance: we will have to do more with the available data.
Road transport is considered a major polluter. To meet the Paris climate targets, the government aims to halveCO2 emissions by 2030. Cleaner engines are part of the solution: the European Union requires new trucks to emit 30 per cent lessCO2 than today by 2030. But 30 per cent is less than 50 per cent and therefore not enough to meet the 2030 targets. In other words: we will have to organise transport and distribution in the Netherlands differently - read: smarter.
The year 2030 still sounds far away, but sustainability measures are needed even in the short term. More and more cities are imposing restrictions on emissions from trucks entering the inner city. By 2025, all major inner cities in the Netherlands must be completely emission-free. Electric transport is the answer, but the development of electric trucks has only just begun. The challenges are great.
About nitrogen and vacancies
There are more reasons why we need to organise transport and distribution smarter. In the media in recent weeks, attention has shifted fromCO2 to another component of exhaust gases: nitrogen. The Council of State's nitrogen ruling puts many construction projects on hold, including in the field of infrastructure. Transport & Logistics Netherlands fears for the extension of the A15 near Arnhem, the modification of the A15 at Papendrecht-Sliedrecht Oost and the approach to the A9 at Badhoevedorp. This means that bottlenecks on these stretches will remain for the time being.
At the same time, available transport capacity is under pressure. Good truck drivers are still hard to find. In addition, the number of unfilled vacancies for transport planners and logistics staff, in particular, has skyrocketed this year. As many as 41 per cent of transport companies indicate that staff shortages are hampering them: a historically unprecedented high score. In short: the pressure on planners and drivers is high. And with the number of time deliveries growing strongly, that pressure is only increasing.
Better planning, more transparency
What can we do to meet all the challenges? Even better planning, is the first part of the answer. Many transport planners still have to rely on their insight and experience rather than algorithms and machine learning. A smart planning tool not only takes a lot of work off their hands, but also delivers better, dynamic planning with fewer hours, fewer kilometres and thus fewerCO2 emissions. Planning that meets all constraints and is more reliable by using data on weather forecasts and traffic density.
Besides better planning, more transparency is needed. Or visibility, with a good Dutch word. Where are the trucks of my carriers and their subcontractors right now? What is the estimated time of arrival? And is it still on schedule? The earlier shippers and carriers are aware of disruptions in the transport process, the better they can respond. More visibility also means more visibility of trucks that have space left for a return shipment. More and more digital platforms know how to cleverly link that supply of cargo space to the demand for transport capacity. This leads to a higher load factor.
More sustainable transport
A good part ofCO2 emissions in road transport is related to the driving behaviour of drivers. This is where fleet management systems with driving style analysis modules can help. Based on data from on-board computers and engine management systems, accurate fuel consumption can be mapped. This allows transport managers to coach their drivers, ultimately leading to more efficient and sustainable transport. And perhaps also to better bonding with those drivers
Investing in planning, transparency and driving style analysis: the result of all that is a wealth of data, with which companies still do very little. Who analyses the trips performed and compares them with planned trips? Who uses machine learning to identify fixed patterns and recurring bottlenecks? And who uses those answers to continuously improve planning? By making better use of data, there are many gains to be made in terms of efficiency, cost, timeliness and sustainability.
ICT & Logistics
ICT & Logistiek will take place on 5,6 and 7 November at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, simultaneously with Logistica trade fair. Visit the ICT & Logistiek website for more information or register directly here.
