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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	DFT-075-2005
Title	Transport Energy Best Practice Programme - Freight market audit 2005
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial) 15%; Energy Efficiency(Transport) 85%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies) 90%; SOCIAL SCIENCES (Education) 10%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 50%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 25%; Other (Energy technology information dissemination) 25%;
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given AEA Technology Environment
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	DfT
Start Date	15 December 2004
End Date	01 April 2005
Duration	4 months
Total Grant Value	£44,000
Industrial Sectors	Transport
Region	South East
Programme	DfT Freight logistics
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , AEA Technology Environment (100.000%)
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Objectives	To assess the current level of awareness of the Programme within the freight industry and to evaluate the effectiveness of the communication materials in conveying best practice information and stimulating uptake. Also, to assess the appropriateness of the variety of channels of communication used.
Abstract	This project highlights the awareness level of the freight element of the TransportEnergy Best Practice Programme and evaluates the effectiveness of the communication materials in conveying best practice information and stimulating uptake. Also, It assess the appropriateness of the variety of channels of communication used. Summary of results : In order to put the main findings of this research project into context, we have applied the findings to the AIDA model to understand what the barriersare to the TEBP Programme making more contact with freight operators and to helping these operators make fuel cost savings. Awareness ↓ Interest ↓ Desire ↓ Action The principle is that in order for the TEBP Programme to get freight operators to improve fuel efficiency and make savings on their fuel costs, they must first be aware of the Programme, must then be interested enough in it to make contact and request publications, be motivated to readthem and, asa result,take action. Awareness – At 2.0%, the spontaneous awareness of the TEBP Programme is very low indeed. Although the prompted awareness is higher, at 23.0% it is still relatively low. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that, in the majority of cases, the fleet operator only knows the TEBP name and is unable to provide any detail about the Programme’s role. This is a disappointing result. Interest – Perhaps because ofthis, only around a third of operators see the TEBPProgramme as a credible and reliable source of information. In fact, only 3% of the fleet operators interviewed had rung the TEBP Publications Ordering Line and 4% had made contact at a trade event, i.e. only a small minority of the marketplace. Desire – A further barrier exists in the fact that a significant proportion of those receiving publications are unable to provide an assessment of them. This implies thatthe publications had not been well read and considered and, as aresult, no cost savings made. Is this because a lack of awareness and credibility prevents the TEBP publication from being seen as a “must read” publication? Action - However, two-thirds of operators receiving TEBP publications had taken the time to read them. In general, they had been very impressed by them. Many had taken effective action saving, on average, saving 6.2% on their fuel costs.The problem is that the lack of penetration of the marketplace left the TEBP Programmemaking little impact on the overall marketplace.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	07/02/08