Finding the Balance Between Efficient Freight Transportation & Environmental Responsibility

To many, it might seem that efficient freight transport and
taking care of the environment are incompatible objectives. 

After all, the traffic produced by freight transportation
damages the environment by polluting the air and creating noise.
As well as undermining the quality of life in cities it also
contributes to global warming. 

However, freight transportation is necessary in order for us to
receive products into shops for us to buy. As a result, it is
necessary to find a way to have an efficient freight
transportation system and to look after the environment at the
same time.

Recent European legislation has made significant inroads into
reducing the environmental impact of freight transportation. For
instance efforts are being made to enhance the way in which
different modes of transport operate together. The idea behind
this is to combine modes of transport to minimise the effects on
the environment for any one shipment whilst also maximizing
economic efficiency. 

Another example of how European governments are trying to make
freight transport more environmentally friendly is the new
policy introduced by the UK last year. Tony McNulty, the then
transport minister, announced a new policy that was designed to
reduce the impact of freight transportation on both congestion
and the environment. The particular objectives of the new
freight policy were to cut down on accidents, pollution and
congestion caused by the UK's freight industry.

Amongst the government's plans to reduce the negative impact of
the freight trade was the merger of water freight grants and the
sustainable road haulage budget from April 2005. 

Between 2005 and 2007 a total amount of £50.4 million will be
available in rail freight grants. £2 million of this has been
assigned for new applications, whilst £19.2 million will be
available in road and water grants.

According to Tony McNulty,

"Current freight programmes have separate budgets and are
administered separately even though they all have the same
objective.

"By bringing these programmes together into one funding pot we
can focus on the overall aim of promoting cleaner, safer freight
transport that does not add to congestion.

"These new arrangements will provide better value for money for
the taxpayer, and will ensure that the additional funding
announced today to support the freight industry brings real
benefits for the environment and the economy."