John Raymond Transport scoops national award for emissions reduction

John Raymond Transport Limited, part of the Nolan Group, a logistics organisation based at Bridgend, South Wales, scooped the Freight Transport Association (FTA)’s Logistics Emissions Reduction Scheme (LERS) Leadership in Emissions Reduction award 2018 sponsored by Bridgestone Tyres for its work in lowering the emissions from its 135-vehicle fleet.
The award, previously known as the LCRS Award, is given to the logistics organisation which, in the opinion of a panel of industry expert judges, has made the most significant step in reducing its impact on the environment during the past twelve months.
“In a field of exceptional entries for this year’s Leadership in Emissions Reduction Award, John Raymond Transport’s system to cut its emissions stood out for its comprehensive approach which covers all areas of the business,” says Becki Kite, Environmental Policy Manager at FTA.  “By constantly innovating, and exploring new ways of operating, John Raymond Transport has ensured that its emissions levels have been reduced significantly in the past twelve months and has committed to lowering them further moving forwards.”
The John Raymond Transport system employs real-time tracking of freight drivers, to enable fleet managers to minimise empty running, and rewards drivers on a point-based system to improve their driving behaviours.  Trials of LNG vehicles and biofuels have been undertaken in the past year, which have formulated plans for new vehicle acquisition when suitable 6×2 chassis architecture becomes available.
“Minimising the impact of our business on the environment is a key focus for everything we do,” says Geraint Davies of John Raymond Transport, “and we are delighted to be recognised with such a prestigious award for our efforts.  In addition to the driver system, we are committed to using alternative modes including short sea lanes and rail where reasonably practical and will be investigating ways to add alternative, efficient modes of transport into our offer whenever possible in the future.”
The LERS Award 2018 was presented to Geraint Davies from John Raymond Transport by Ian Davies of Bridgestone Tyres at this year’s FTA Multimodal Awards Dinner, held at the NEC in Birmingham.  Other finalists recognised for their emissions reduction work were Greggs, Sainsbury’s and the John Lewis Partnership.
The LERS is a free-to-join scheme which helps members record, reduce and report emissions.  It is open to any company with at least one commercial vehicle and now has more than 125 members with more than 87,000 vehicles.
Efficient logistics is vital to keep Britain trading, directly having an impact on more than seven million people employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. A champion and challenger, FTA speaks to Government with one voice on behalf of the whole sector, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers.