Tesco expands its front haul initiative

UK supermarket giant Tesco has officially announced it is looking to expand a front-haul initiative – from 5% to 15% of its store deliveries this year. In addition, it was also revealed that the scheme is part of Tesco’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions from its transport operations thus saving 1.8m miles per year.

Initially starting its sustainability drive in 2007, Tesco’s scheme has reportedly helped cut mileage by 15% and CO2 emissions by an impressive 23%. Apparently, Tesco’s aim is to halve CO2 per case – delivered by 2012. Alex Laffey, Transport Director at Tesco, pointed out around 20 hauliers are already engaged on the front-haul HGV driving project.

Basically, the scheme relies mostly on Isotrak software that integrates telematics data from any contracted supplier into Tesco’s system, in this way giving the supermarket giant real-time ‘visibility’ of the operation. Apart from all that, Tesco is also trialling a brand-new gas-powered HGV based on a Mercedes-Benz Econic from Harlow DC.

Laffey adds that as the six-wheeler has so not proved an ideal fit for overall delivery operations, Tesco will shortly be replacing it with a four-wheeler. Therefore, Laffey concludes: “We definitely think that this will be better suited to our operation, and subject to the trial and acceptable emissions data, we will look to widen the project.”