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BBC News Online: Business


Wednesday, 12 April, 2000, 13:43 GMT 14:43 UK

Empty? Fill up with Mars


Lorries on motorway
Confectionery giant Mars wants to help businesses take a weight off their minds by putting a load on their lorries.

The company has developed an internal system to help prevent its lorries from returning unladen from their destinations.

Now it wants to roll out the software and act as an internet matchmaker for other manufacturers and hauliers.

As well as reducing costs for business, a successful scheme could also have a big impact on pollution by cutting traffic volumes.

It is estimated that 27% of trucks on Europe's roads are empty, with many more carrying only partial loads. Lorry jam

That translates to about 60 billion kilometres of wasted journeys each year, costing industry £30bn ($48bn).

There are already similar schemes, but not on the scale of the Mars project.

It will be launched later this week, and will allow manufacturers across Europe and the Middle East to list their requirements so that hauliers can put in bids.

Mars has been using the system for about 10 years, and says it has reduced wasted journeys substantially.

Working together

The scheme is backed by the Freight Transport Association. Spokesman David Russell said there were fewer empty lorries than there used to be but it was still a problem for hauliers.

"With the cost of fuel, they want to use them as efficiently as possible. Using the internet is going to help the logistics managers to work together," he told BBC News Online.

"Mars is a big company and obviously knows a lot about logistics. There are companies doing similar things at the moment, but this seems to be a major step forward."

He added that utilising lorry journeys more effectively would also help reduce concerns about the extra delivery traffic generated by online shopping.


Related to this story:
Internet sales 'will jam roads' (16 Feb 00 | Business)
Air clean-up plan launched (19 Jan 00 | Sci/Tech)


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