Impact of HGV Transport on the Environment

Nobody can dispute that the logistic sector plays a huge role in not just the UK’s economy but the global economy. It was a vital force long before the pandemic and will continue to be a vital force long after COVID19 is gone. It is, however, not always a force for good. Fortunately, steps are being taken to address this. Here, Emma Tyrer, Head of Sales and Marketing at Walker Movements shares her knowledge and experience on what you need to know.

HGV transport emits a lot of CO2

Statistics vary but everyone agrees that HGV transport is currently responsible for a lot of carbon emissions. Realistically, that’s hardly a surprise. While there may be (far) fewer HGVs than cars on the road, all HGVs, literally by definition, are much bigger and heavier than even the biggest cars.

There really isn’t much anyone can do about the size and weight of HGVs. There is, however, a lot that can be done to reduce their CO2 emissions. In the long term, the move to electric could end up making HGVs carbon-neutral or at least carbon-minimal. Full-electric HGVs still look to be some way off but progress is being made at impressive speed.

In the meantime, however, HGV manufacturers are continually working on improving the energy efficiency of their vehicles. Operators can also play their part by managing journeys for maximum fuel efficiency and making sure drivers are aware of the role they play in this.

Managing journeys for fuel efficiency means more than just careful route planning and scheduling. It also means keeping vehicles in the best possible condition so that they operate at their maximum efficiency.

HGV transport is a major cause of air pollution

Similarly, HGV transport is a major cause of air pollution. The root causes of this are essentially the same as for CO2 emissions. Hence the remedial measures are also, largely the same.

It’s also worth mentioning that some localities, especially cities, are pushing the improvement process by implementing local air-quality controls. In the UK, London led the way on this and other cities are starting to follow its lead.

HGV transport places heavy demands on infrastructure

The fact that HGVs are big and heavy means that they can place heavy demands on infrastructure. That said, to be fair, the fact that there are far fewer HGVs than cars probably means that their overall impact is less. It’s also worth noting that HGV operators do pay significant licencing fees which arguably compensates for the damage they cause.

That said, the one area where HGVs really can do more damage than cars, literally, is when they have accidents. The headline cost is in human life. Spillage and waste can, however, do massive damage to the environment. In the UK, however, this tends to be taken very seriously and operators generally keep safety in mind at all times.

HGV transport can be very noisy

Again, the size and weight of HGV traffic can make them a major disturbance to both humans and wildlife. Most of this noise comes from the motor. This means that the measures taken to improve the efficiency of HGVs can also help to reduce their noise. When the HGV industry goes electric, this problem should be completely eliminated.