TNT Express reduces fuel consumption and costs with new LSTs

TNT Express has added two 15.65m  longer semi-trailers to one of its trunking routes and plans to introduce more into its operation.

The parcel carrier is currently running the trailers between its Kingsbury hub in Warwickshire and its Llantrisant depot in south Wales. It has been trialling the trailers since September 2012 and hopes to introduce more onto, with double deck longer semi-trailers a possibility.

Since introducing the trailers it has seen a 15% reduction in carbon emissions against standard trailers.  It has been using fully-loaded longer semi-trailers and has removed part filled loads from the network.

Simon Harper, director of operations for TNT Express UK & Ireland, said: “The longer trailers have a 15% greater load capacity which allows us to carry greater volumes. This means we can reduce the number of trips required to deliver the same number of parcels which, in turn, helps to reduce our fuel consumption, hence saving costs.”

It has been using the trailers, part of its DfT allocation of 13 longer semi-trailers, on long-haul routes. Harper said the firm is not planning on using the vehicles through urban areas.

He said: “Despite rear steering axles and similar manoeuvrability to standard trailers, they do behave differently, so we are not planning urban routes for longer semi-trailers.

“We don’t see a replacement plan for the whole trailer fleet with longer semi-trailers but we do see an evolving use for them,” Harper added.