Upload
mervyn-sutton
View
226
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Sugar Beet Transport Efficiency Study
Chris Douglas, Transport & Travel Research Ltd
March, 2010
• Background to the Study
• Project Aims and Objectives
• Work Completed
• Project Findings and Key Themes
• Recommendations
Overview
• Specialist Sustainable Transport Consultancy founded in 1991 – 25 technical consultancy staff in UK
• Specialisms – Freight and Fleet Efficiency, Energy and Environment
• Haulage Industry, Freight Transport Association and Manager of DfT’s Freight Best Practice Programme
Introduction to TTR
• NFU and British Sugar appointed WSP and TTR in April 2009 to undertake an independent study
• Study ran from April until August 2009
• Funding was provided by East of England and East Midlands Development Agencies
Project Background
• Identify the most efficient way to move 7 million tonnes of beet from 4,500 growers into 4 processing sites
• Consider all options for change, ultimately leading to a more strategic approach to managing the beet supply chain for improved efficiency and cost effectiveness
Project Objectives
• Understand and carry out an efficiency assessment of current arrangements
• Undertake consultation with those involved• Identify costs associated with current operations• Identify areas for efficiency improvements• Recommend a strategy (with Action Plans) to
improve operational efficiency and reduce associated costs
• Report findings and recommendations
• Disseminate recommendations
Project Aims and Tasks
Work Completed
• Desk Based Review (France, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Turkey, North America)
• Face-to-Face Strategic Stakeholder Meetings (NFU, British Sugar, EMDA, DEFRA and Road Haulage Association)
• Face-to-Face Grower, Grower/Haulier and Haulier Meetings
Work Completed
• 5 weeks of Telephone Consultation• 229 consultations (41 hauliers, 129 growers, 59
grower/hauliers) – representative sample• Consultation Events
• 2 x Growers and 2 x Hauliers
Views on existing beet transportCosts associated (operating costs and haulage rates paid)Perceived benefits of current operationPerceived drawbacks of current operationWillingness to consider alternativesIdentify best practice examples
• Full Response Analysis
• Measure/Model Development
• Impact/Acceptability Matrix
• Consultants’ Recommendations
• Final Report
Work Completed
Key Themes
• Haulier role – dominant, with significant control over the operation once campaign underway
• Contracts – few formal contracts exist
• Grower and Haulier relationships – often long-established and static – may be a positive but transparency of costs?
Key Themes
• Haulage Rates– Vary significantly for comparable jobs– Lack of transparency in decoupling
haulage rate from cleaning & loading rate– Annual negotiation in most cases but
without formal contracts– Some cases no negotiation and haulier
decides rate at end of campaign
Key Themes
• Planning – lack of detailed plans used throughout campaign by beet hauliers
• Co-ordination – both haulage and haulage/harvesting to minimise beet left in clamp
• British Sugar Co-ordination – already happens to a degree through Area Managers and some large growers and hauliers indicated preference
Key Themes
• Receiving hours, Queuing and Delivery Profile– 24/7 – issue of night loading decoupled
from night hauling– 7 day week – short Saturday and short
Sunday to smooth ramping (which requires extra vehicles currently)
– 7 day week – raises issues about willingness to operate on Sundays
Key Themes
• Queuing at sites – inefficient use of resource. Potential for extended receiving hours (am or pm)
• Zones – general feeling that 1 & 2 needed but not those later in the day
• Peaks in delivery demand – ramping calls for extra vehicle demand – smooth flow through week is required
Key Themes
• Vehicle Fleet Profile, Utilisation & Specification– Use of smaller vehicles (4 axle rigid tippers)
increases trip numbers– Vehicle utilisation during and outside of campaign
– other crops and commodities or park-up? (33% vehicles deliver less than 50 loads during campaign)
– Limited backloading– Age of fleet – only 10% less than 2 years old
(25% pre-2000) – impact on fuel efficiency
Key Themes
– Efficient vehicles are light vehicles – no sleeper cabs, bull bars, horns, no need to run with full tanks – minimise kerbside weight
– Use of sheeting equipment on empty tipper bodies over longer distances – fuel saving when fitted and used
Key Themes
• Call-up System – information to be provided as early as possible (08.30) to allow forward planning
• Transport Allowance – Growers keen to get higher but widely unclear level of shortfall
• Tendering for British Sugar Haulage Contracts – welcomed by larger or by consortia of smaller hauliers
Key Themes
• Pads– Limited size at selected processing sites– Grower investment in own pads in recent
years – meaning preference for conventional cleaning/loading equipment
Key Themes
• Cleaning & Loading– In most cases equipment provided and co-
ordinated by the haulier but some growers using own, under-utilised equipment. Also criss-crossing of haulier equipment
– Maus – field size and proximity of adjacent road may dictate effectiveness
Key Themes
• Despite general support for the current situation, growers, hauliers and grower/hauliers all expressed a willingness to at least consider alternatives
Areas for Improvements
• Key is minimising mileage run and number of vehicles within the operation
• Views expressed that number of vehicles and separate operations allow flexibility at peak
• Also mean excess during normal operating times
Areas for Improvements
• Over 700 of total 2,000 vehicles transport less than 2 loads per week
• 10% of loads are transported by vehicles with payloads 26 Tonnes or less
• 550 vehicles are greater than 9 years old
• Only 200 are less than 2 years old
Objectives for Improvements
• Use fewer vehicles, which are newer, cleaner and more fuel efficient
• Offer more competitive, standardised rates• Have extended operating hours• Involve less queuing at peak periods at
factory sites• Have more level, ‘flatlined’ delivery profiles
through the week
Measures and Models
• Three main headings:
– Best Practice Guidance– Extended Servicing Hours at Processing
Sites– New Operational Structures
Best Practice Guidance
• Guidance on haulage rate negotiation for Growers
• Guidance on efficient vehicle specification for grower/hauliers and hauliers
• General operational efficiency guidance for grower/hauliers and hauliers
• Guidance on grower partnerships• Guidance on haulier consortia building
Extended Servicing Hours
• Evenings
• Mornings
• Weekends, including Sundays
• Relaxing later time zones
New Operational Structures
• Co-ordination of Harvesting and Haulage• Improved cleaning and loading efficiency –
co-ordination of conventional equipment• Improved cleaning and loading efficiency –
use of Maus• Formal planning and co-ordination of
collection days• British Sugar formal planning and co-
ordination of collection days
New Operational Structures
• Ex-farm grower contracts
• Haulage contracts with British Sugar
• Service agreements within haulage contracts (haulier performance levels, vehicle specification)
• Standardised haulage rates negotiated by British Sugar and made available to growers
New Operational Structures
• Tendering for haulage territories by hauliers or haulage consortia
• Increasing quality standards for hauliers (minimum tonnages, certification scheme)
Consultants’ Recommendations
• Ultimate Efficiency Model– Ex-Farm Contracts for ‘Local’ Growers– Tendering for British Sugar Haulage ‘Territories’
(negotiated rates, quality standards and service agreements)
– Improved co-ordination of harvesting and haulage activity
– British Sugar planning/co-ordination of beet collection
– Extended delivery time windows throughout 24hr period and 7 day week
Consultants’ Recommendations
Ultimate Efficiency Model - Interim
• Trialling of haulage ‘territory’ contract and British Sugar planning and co-ordination
• Interim measure – British Sugar negotiated standardised haulage rates and contract templates
• Best Practice Guidance for Growers, Hauliers and Grower/Hauliers
• Fleet Efficiency & Quality Improvement Scheme
What happens next?
?British Sugar to present
Next Steps