DHL’s MD of transport Phil Roe has praised the industry’s “amazing” response to working towards achieving safer, cleaner and quieter delivery movements.

Only two years ago, when DHL launched its urban concept truck at the Quiet Cities global summit, Roe said there was little on the market to help operators achieve more sustainable city logistics.

In just two years, this has completely changed he believes, with an array of new vehicles and technology available for operators: DHL itself even manufactures its own electric vehicles for its German post office operation.

Speaking to delegates at last week's Freight in the City Expo in London about alternative delivery patterns, such as retiming out of peak hours and consolidation models, Roe said there were some “fantastic islands of best practice”.

“But for all those deliveries being retimed, there are thousands of deliveries not being retimed,” he added.

“When I talk to my customers, they are interested, but want the confidence to know the trend will last.”

Adopting a common national standard that defines and recognises an acceptable ‘quiet delivery’ could hold the key, he believes.

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