Hauliers delivering to Canary Wharf Contractors’ (CWC) building sites in London could be forced to pay for routeing software technology aimed at helping them avoid London cyclists and left turns, as a consequence of mayor Boris Johnson’s latest policy.
The construction company has commissioned PIE Mapping to develop the routeing technology that will be trialled on all HGVs travelling to and from CWC’s Southbank Place development in London.
The Southbank Place scheme will run for four and a half years and see more than 350 deliveries a day at its peak. If the routeing technology is successful, CWC could require subcontractors working on all its city centre sites to apply the technology to their HGVs.
CWC’s move comes after Johnson signaled a consultation, set for early next year, over proposals to ensure construction schemes in the capital provide mandatory routes for HGVs to follow to sites that minimise left turns and avoid areas with a high number of cyclists and pedestrians where possible. There is a seperate consultation planned over the retrofitting of windows/panels in HGV cab doors.
PIE Mapping chief executive Freddie Talberg said costs will be similar to its London Lorry Control Scheme, which charges £250 a year for five freight vehicles.
Talberg said PIE Mapping is consulting with hauliers to ensure the CWC service, to be launched in March next year, is affordable and offers workable routes. “We want to be able to offer weekly or monthly licences as well. This is a disruptive technology that will deliver value at scale and is designed not to be expensive.”
However, the FTA and RHA questioned the effect of the technology on haulier’s costs.
Chris Snelling, national policy head at the FTA, said: “It’s good CWC is talking with suppliers about making routes safer, but it’s important they understand the costs to hauliers and factor accordingly.”
RHA infrastructure manager Chrys Rampley said: “These routes are likely to add additional mileage and emissions to journeys on top of the cost of the software and equipment. I am concerned about monopoly issues, if hauliers can only source the software from one firm.”