Tip No1 Good Advice From The SMMT Say’s Boxby

Courier companies size matters!

The type of van you drive and the way you maintain and use it has a significant impact on the amount of fuel it consumes. Every litre of diesel you use releases 2.63kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere which contributes to the  climate change. The more fuel you save, the  more cash  you save so reduce your emissions and save money by following this simple tip.

Choose the van that best suits the job. Do you need a big load space? it’s cheaper to run a small van fully loaded than a half empty larger van. Hire the bigger van for the few times you need it and remember: overloading is illegal, hikes your servicing costs and hammers your van’s residual value.

Another Courier Disaster

The average price of diesel went up by almost 5p between May and June, which Boxby Couriers warns is another disaster for the transport industry.

The average cost of diesel currently stands at 104.66p per litre, compared to 97.68p per litre in May.  Companies are already feeling the strain of fuel rises at a time when budgets around the country are already at full stretch. The Government’s imminent increase in fuel duty will further negatively affect businesses, and that means all increases will need to be passed on to the customers. 

“The latest fuel cost rises mean that refilling a typical 70-litre fuel tank will now cost an extra £3.50″ said Alistair Patterson Director of Boxby.  “This will come as a massive blow to van drivers and couriers as they look to limit their outgoings during the economic downturn.”  Van drivers and couriers, as well as many other small businesses, will no doubt be looking to the Government to provide them with additional support as they try and cope with this latest set of fuel rises.

There are a number of steps van users and couriers can take to remain frugal during the economic downturn. For instance, more drivers are investing in Satellite Navigation technology to ensure that they get to unfamiliar target destinations much quicker and save fuel in the process, and using companies like Boxby to help keep their vans full with extra deliveries.

Is Hybrid-electric Vehicles The Life Line For Courier Services

One of the world’s biggest courier companies, Fedex, has just added 10 hybrid-electric vehicles to its UK fleet.

The makers of the vehicles are Modec a London based company. The company say that each van should save between 10 – 11 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, travelling an average of 14,000 miles per year.

The vans are made perfectly for delivering parcels  in a city environments.  The vans run on batteries giving the vans a range of 60-100 miles on one night charge depending on the battery choice, and with a max speed of 50 mph and a pay load of 2 tonnes. The rate of battery development is continuing to accelerate and it’s not unlikely to have a product that can store up to three times more energy within three years.

The Modec claims that it’s hybrid van will cost  the same as an equivalent diesel van within three years, if battery costs continue to fall at the predicted rate.  With fuel costs of only 7p per mile compared to 29p for equivalent diesel van the Modec vehicles are not only good for the environment, they also look as if they’re going to be good for the wallet too!