In an age where hauliers are encouraged to put their green credentials front and centre, putting it into practice is difficult. Range, infrastructure and cost, as well as payload and productivity, all conspire against good intentions.
In the forestry sector, sustainability is usually more about replanting than how felled timber is shifted. However, a three year ‘Net Zero Timhaul’ trial has been set up to see how electric timber trucks cope across southern Scotland and the Highlands.
Scottish Forestry has awarded £452,000 towards the project with James Jones and Sons, one of the largest sawmill groups in the UK, putting a 40-tonne articulated lorry on trial from Lockerbie to its Hangingshaw national distribution centre at Johnstonebridge.
Meanwhile Scotlog Haulage has a 44-tonne truck in the Highlands, moving roundwood timber from Inverness harbour to West Fraser and other local mills.
David Craik catches up with David Bewley, group fleet advisor at James Jones & Sons Sawmills, on how Net Zero Timhaul is panning out.
This story is featured in the latest issue of Transport News.
Subscribe now to read the full article or pick up a copy of Transport News at your local newsagent or in digital format.
