European transport service provider Freightex has launched a new tool that hauliers can use 'on the road' to help them identify loads and reduce empty running.
Freightex's new mobile phone compatible website allows its network of hauliers, which have passed a stringent examination to ensure their services meet Freightex's quality standard, to use their mobile devices to enter their location and destination and then search for available loads in the vicinity.
Freightex Chief Executive Tim Phillips said: "One of the biggest challenges hauliers face is how to reduce empty running and improve vehicle utilisation rates. Our new tool allows hauliers to search for loads even when they are on the road.
"Often hauliers have return loads planned but due to timing or customer issues the load is not available and they need to find a replacement. The benefit of the Freightex app is that they can often find you a load the same day near to where your truck is empty."
Figures from European Commission financed project C03, show that in 2010, the average truck on Europe's roads had a utilisation rate of just 55% - a figure that had barely changed in the previous ten years.
This low figure is largely caused by hauliers delivering loads but not having any cargo - or at least not enough to full their truck - for the return journey. This results in unprofitable lorry journeys and also has a negative impact on the environment. The Freightex tool is designed to help solve this problem.
Only pre-approved hauliers can use the tool and a dedicated account manager is provided to every customer that allocates a load using the system in order to ensure a high level of service is provided.