Volvo trucks make it easier for the customer to select the most environmentally-sound whole-of-life 07 June 2007

To mark World Environment Day (June 5th), Volvo Trucks is presenting an updated version of its web-based tool for transport companies - Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). With this environmental declaration, both truck owners and transport customers can see the environmental impact of different truck models during the vehicle’s entire life-cycle as EPD describes the entire environmental impact of a Volvo truck from production to scrapping and recycling. The system also enables the user to make calculations based on their own fleet of vehicles. This web-based tool is initially available on Volvo Trucks’ global website (www.volvo.com/trucks), however there are plans to roll this out to all national-based Volvo Truck websites in the near future. “This makes it easy for customers, purchasers of transport services, and governmental agencies to compare the environmental impact of different models,” says Lars Mårtensson, head of Environmental Issues at Volvo Trucks. By far the greatest environmental impact in the course of a truck’s lifecycle is its use. According to EPD, this accounts for 95% of the truck’s environmental impact during its service life. The new version of EPD puts even greater emphasis on the vehicle’s fuel consumption and correspondingly, its carbon dioxide emissions, which is the primary contributing factor to the greenhouse effect.

FTA: EU governments should fund ports infrastructure links 07 June 2007

Following the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) conference in Algeciras on 1 June, the Freight Transport Association has called on the EU to focus in its ports policy on the key issues for shippers of port congestion and transportation links. The conference was the major set piece event at the end of the European Commission's consultation on a future EU policy for ports. It drew together the findings of the thematic workshops organised by the Commission and compared views of stakeholders on outstanding issues of discussion. EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot used the event to confirm that the EU port policy would be issued in October. He emphasised the effect of congestion in ports and the importance of inland transport connections for ports. The Commissioner said that a range of tools would be developed to simplify port operations and optimise hinterland connections. FTA's Rail Freight and Global Supply Chain Service Manager, Chris MacRae said, 'We welcome the Commissioner focusing on congestion and hinterland connections as a key issue for ports policy. Shippers in the UK have been experiencing worsening problems associated with port congestion. Our major container ports are increasingly congested and are introducing measures such as vehicle booking systems, which add to the costs for the haulier and therefore our shipper members, to deal with their capacity issues. Additionally, at Felixstowe an infrastructure 'surcharge' has been introduced by the port to fund the improvements to the port's rail connection which the UK Government is making the port pay for, as a condition of the planning consent for its expansion. 'FTA is calling on the EU to use its ports policy to call for member state governments to fund onward transport infrastructure for ports - this has always been the role governments have fulfilled, and only recently has the UK Government let down British business by adding the costs of major rail and road upgrades to port development.'

FTA welcomes grants for rail freight 07 June 2007

The Freight Transport Association has welcomed today's announcement (5 June) from the Department for Transport of £44 million of new grants for rail freight, helping to increase the amount of freight moved by rail and thus to contain growth in lorry journeys. FTA Deputy Chief Executive James Hookham said, 'As the economy grows in the coming years, we will need to move as much freight by rail as we can. 'Inevitably we are going to see more container traffic coming into the UK, notably from India, China and the Far East, and it is important that as much of this as possible goes by rail. 'Roads congestion is the blight of British industry, wasting around £20 billion in the UK economy each year. Companies which are able to consign goods by rail are likely to enjoy benefits in both efficiency and profitability, and grants of the type announced today help accelerate that process.'