Wayfinding Research Using Satellite Navigation to Improve Efficiency in the Road Freight Industry: Executive summary

Abstract:

<p>With ever-higher operating and running costs, efficient goods vehicle fleet management is an important requirement for any business engaged in or reliant on freight transport. Time conscious customers demand flexible and reliable deliveries which can be costly if the efficiency of goods vehicles routing and scheduling is compromised.</p> <p>The objective of this research was to test the effectiveness of satellite navigation on improving the efficiency of HGV operations. If, on balance, these are found to be positive for the freight industry, we would recommend the ways to improve the take up of satellite navigation systems in HGVs, with the aims of: <bl> <li>Minimising mileage run;</li> <li>Congestion avoidance;</li> <li>Improving road safety;</li> <li>Using appropriate delivery routes;</li> <li>Reducing operator costs;</li> <li>Reducing air pollution.</li> </bl></p> <p>An eight week in-fleet trial of portable SatNav units was conducted in October/November 2005 in four HGV fleets to compare the before and after effects of the use of satellite navigation systems in the freight industry. Company vehicles were monitored without satellite navigation for the first four weeks and then, after a week of familiarisation with the satellite navigation systems, drivers' runs were monitored for a further four weeks using the systems.</p> <p>Following the successful trial period all data was collected and analysed in order to present both the positive and negative findings. There are three sets of findings, quantative from the trial data, qualitive from a questionnaire issued to drivers and Transport Managers following the trial and general findings obtained from desktop research and informal consultation.</p> <p>Although it is difficult to be sure of the precise benefits of SatNav for vehicles of 7.5 tonnes MGW and above it is clear that in concept there are certain applications that they have the potential to become an everyday tool of the trade. This is especially so where new or temporary drivers are being used and where an experienced driver is often required to travel to unfamiliar destinations.</p> <p>The barriers to SatNav spreading across the road freight industry centres on the non freight specific information held in the mapping software where the SatNav system takes its instructions from.</p> <p>However, if a driver is aware of the potential misrouting and takes sensible decisions, it can be argued that the less familiar a driver is with the delivery address, the greater the contribution that a navigation system could make to operational efficiency. Similarly, the more locations a mobile worker has to visit each day, the greater the potential savings.</p> <p>From the research team's knowledge of freight operations the following is a list of industry sectors for which satellite navigation might be particularly beneficial: <bl> <li>Parcel/courier and home delivery services;</li> <li>Groupage / general haulage;</li> <li>Rural haulage operations (farms)</li> <li>Specialist operations; for example car transporters, home/office relocation companies, skip companies and international haulage.</li> </bl></p>

Author(s):

DfT