Back to the article list Eco-logistics and Sustainability of Transport or Green Solutions in Logistics
In order to meet the challenges of today’s world, the TSL industry must keep up with the changes. It is our duty to meet the needs of the public and to put the idea of environmentalism and sustainable transport into practice.
Our industry has been familiar with the transport ecology issues for years. The number of practical applications of sustainable solutions in logistics is growing year on year, providing new opportunities for the transport companies. Technologies which were once associated only with ideal visions of the future are slowly beginning to be available at our fingertips.
Alternative Drive Systems – Transport Ecology in Practice
Today, the question of ecology in transport is commonly associated primarily with the use of alternative drive systems. Before new, innovative engines and motors found their commercial application in trucks, the way was paved by passenger cars. Once a curiosity, hybrid and electric vehicles are now becoming an increasingly common sight on our roads. And what is the situation in case of their heavier counterparts?
Alternative fuels are leading the way among modern truck drives. According to ACEA data, their share among new trucks increased from 1.2% in 2018 to as much as 3.6% in 2021. The most important of these is liquefied natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG). This fuel is an environmentally friendlier solution than diesel due to the lower amount of pollutants generated during combustion.
Electric trucks, on the other hand, reign supreme in urban transport and the so-called “last mile” sector – that is, the final stage of parcel delivery by courier companies. On Polish roads, the first such vehicle was a three-axle Volvo FE Electric, for which we had the honour and pleasure of making a specialised body.
Aluminium Combinations – The Pinnacle of Eco-logistics
The use of alternative power packs in heavy vehicles is not the only way of achieving transport sustainability in terms of the technologies used. Equally crucial is the choice of materials for the manufacture of trailers, semi-trailers and bodies. Steel which is commonly used in the market – although it fulfils its intended function – can be successfully replaced by alternatives.
At GT Trailers, we saw the potential for using aluminium in heavy transport already many years ago. It was then that the Company’s founder, Mr Kazimierz Gniot, took on the challenge of creating functional solutions using aluminium. Thanks to his visionary approach, we have developed trailers and high-volume combinations using aluminium in the vehicle frames and floors. Due to the unique manufacturing technology and welded-screw construction, the GTV Prestige combinations designed in this way are characterised by reliability that exceeds standard steel solutions.
But how do aluminum GT Trailers kits contribute to environmental sustainability? Firstly, they are much lighter than competing vehicles (weight savings reach up to 1 ton!). This translates into reduced fuel consumption or the ability to take additional cargo. The service life of such a set is also important. Aluminum is a much more durable material and resistant to the passage of time, which significantly extends the possible operation of the vehicle.
Intermodal transport – a green supply chain without unnecessary links
A separate area of implementation of the idea of ecology is the systemic solution of intermodal transport. It assumes the equivalent use of various forms of goods transport in one supply chain, using a common loading unit. This eliminates the need to reload vehicles from the entire process – only a common container in which the goods are transported is transferred.
The advantages of intermodality as an ecological transport solution are primarily related to the optimization of the supply chain. Thoughtful and planned use of vehicles adapted to this type of transport allows you to reduce fuel consumption throughout the entire process and save valuable time.
GT Trailers has been actively supporting the development of intermodal transport for many years. As a company specializing in the production of transport solutions for trucks, our attention is focused on the production of BDF sets. These are special weapons enabling the transport of a common cargo unit – a swap body. We are also the initiator and organizer of the IMS Intermodal Show, an event dedicated to the popularization of intermodal transport in Poland.
Transport ecology and economy, or a simple way to save
When introducing the idea of ecology in an enterprise, it is worth remembering that social values go hand in hand with economic values. Sustainable development of transport assumes the use of available resources in the most optimal way possible, maximizing the effectiveness of logistics activities.
For society and the environment, this means reducing the pollution generated. For the company – increasing revenues generated. In this way, by basing transport on products supporting the idea of sustainable development – such as GT Trailers – it is easy to combine ecology with economy.
