trailer world Issue Two 2012

More and more people live in cities. They want to be able to buy fresh food at any time, or even have it delivered to the door until late in the evening. And there are more and more elderly people: They do not drive, or do not want to drive, to supermarkets on the edge of or out- side the city, but would prefer to do their shopping on foot, buying mainly regional products. They would therefore always prefer the little shop around the corner, al- though this does not offer the same range or choice as a large food store. Environ- mental zones and increasing traffic levels are at the same time making deliveries to inner cities more difficult. City logistics concepts can help to solve these problems: On the edge of a city, a so-called urban hub is established, a cen- tral point where the goods traffic of vari- ous retailers is brought together and op- timised for delivery. The objective is to make better use of the available transport capacity, and at the same time make de- livery times more flexible: an unbranded truck then delivers to several retailers in the inner city. For retailers, this means amongst other things that the trucks are better utilised and that the investment in the fleet can be shared. The joint project “Urban Retail Logis- tics” of the Efficiency Cluster Ruhr Lo- gistics is examining this possible future means of delivery and shopping, and in- tends to start a pilot project on this sub- ject in the Ruhr area at the beginning of 2013. This is intended to demonstrate above all what savings in costs and emis- sions are really possible – the target is up to 25%. The unique feature is that major competitors such as REWE, Lekkerland and Metro Group Logistics will be work- ing here together. Individual providers alone could never manage such a concept. “All those involved must realise that the competition takes place on the shelf, and not on the way there”, says Dr. Christoph Windheuser, Logistics Manager of the Postmen generally have a healthy re- spect of barking dogs. But they would surely like to have such faithful compan- ions with them when making their rounds: the eT! transporter follows the postman like a dog at every step, avoiding waste bins and other obstacles, automatically following the course of the street, and ap- parently opening the door itself, when its “master” reaches in for more letters or packages. And best of all: it never bites. eT! Stands for “Electric Transporter”. The vehicle is the product of a Volkswagen re- search study for urban delivery traffic. It runs semi-automatically, quietly and com- pletely emission-free by refuelling with re- newable electricity. It also has many oth- er exciting features that can facilitate the work of the postman. It is therefore ideally suitable for future inner-city postal and courier services. Saving a lot of legwork The vehicle has been designed on the basis of the practical experience of the Deutsche Post and its de- livery services. The postmen for example do not have to walk so far when they are not driving the transporter themselves, and no longer have to walk to and between the letterbox and the vehicle, and especial- ly around the vehicle. Their work becomes easier and safer, the logistics of delivery are improved and delivery times can be The vehicle follows the courier “on call” The urban hub is to be equipped with solar cells, unmanned vehicles and RFID chips. Pilot project planned in the Ruhr area Title 10 Issue Two 2012

trailer world Issue Two 2012

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