Royal Mail is raising the roof on its trailers to cut down on the environmental impact of its distribution network.
The business has taken delivery of 140 double-deck trailers - each with the capacity to hold 50 per cent more mail than conventional trailers.
The use of the trailers will reduce the road miles and carbon emissions of that part of Royal Mail's operation by around 20 per cent.
Royal Mail has reduced the carbon emissions produced by its distribution network by 28 per cent in recent years and the purchase of the double-deck trailers – adding to 83 already in use – further demonstrates the business's commitment to reducing the impact of its operations on the environment.
The new trailers will save the approximate daily equivalent of the following miles:
· Twice the circumference of the earth
· 56 trips from Land's End to John O'Groats
· One fifth of the distance to the moon
Each trailer will hold approximately 100,000 items of mail - equivalent to the post for the whole of the South of Bradford for a day.
Royal Mail Network Director Paul Tolhurst said: "We are motoring towards our goal of creating a greener transport fleet. Measures such as the double-deck trailers help improve our efficiency and we know that improved business performance goes hand in hand with improved environmental performance."
He added: "This is part of Royal Mail's integrated Carbon Management Programme, which covers a range of strands including building energy and sustainable procurement."
The new vehicles are 13.6 metres long and 4.44 metres high. They have been specifically designed by The Cartwright Group.
Steven Cartwright, director of The Cartwright Group, said: "It is obviously very satisfying to conclude such a major deal with Royal Mail and everyone at the Cartwright Group is delighted that they have again come to us to meet their trailer needs.
"Over the years we have had a very good, productive relationship with Royal Mail and we look forward to it continuing for many years to come.''