Fresh Direct has invested in a number of key features to improve its fleet and is considering turning to electric vehicles.
The foodservice provider operates around 200 vehicles and trailers through five regional distribution centres across the UK and is covering in excess of 500,000 kilometres every week, making more than10,000 deliveries.
The company has bought an interactive PC-based system that works out the most effective depot to serve the customer, the correct vehicle to use, the best route and drop sequence whilst meeting the customer’s requirements.
It also used telematics tracking hardware that allows the actual route that is being taken to be reviewed against the proposed route in real time so that Fresh Direct can monitor the efficiency of its drivers.
The firm has also work to undertaken continuous on site driver training that aimed at helping drivers to look at their styles of driving, removing bad practices and helping them to develop in to being more safe and fuel efficient.
Fresh Direct is proposing using electric vehicles with new Lithium Iron Phosphate which are quick to charge and slow to discharge and cost less than 5p per mile to run.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We see this as a great opportunity going forward so we are now working with a number of manufacturers to see how we can migrate to this new mode of transport and to develop an electric vehicle that is right for our fleet and our customer base.
“We still have some issues in terms of the vehicles driving range and its load carrying capacity is reduced by the weight of the batteries, but as technology advances, I believe that we will overcome those two major obstacles, that is why we want to be at the forefront of this development.”
Fresh Direct said electric would not replace its diesel vehicles in the short- to medium-term but said it would look at the option in towns and cities before considering how to take such an idea to the motorway.
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