Trials prove quiet night-time deliveries work

A series of UK government-backed trials have shown that deliveries can be made out-of-hours without disturbing local residents.

The realisation of the environmental, economic and road safety benefits of delivering goods out-of-hours has taken a significant step forward with the results of the Quiet Delivery Demonstration Scheme (QDDS) trials.

Developed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), the Noise Abatement Society (NAS) and the Dept for Transport, and managed by Transport & Travel Research (TTR), a series of six trials were planned for retail outlets in Dorset, West Sussex, Staffordshire, Walsall, London and Berkshire in 2010. The aim of the trials was to demonstrate the potential benefits of curfew relaxations for quiet deliveries, while still protecting local residents‘ right to undisturbed sleep – remembering that many of these residents are also customers.

Retailers were asked to adopt a consistent methodology, which included engaging with both local authorities and residents, installing noise monitoring equipment, introducing a ‘driver charter‘ and a rigorous site assessment to reduce noise, and to compare and analyse the results before and after each trial. Four of the six trials were fully completed; two have been delayed by factors and planning restrictions beyond the QDDS’s control.

Encouragingly, as well as evidence of improved fuel consumption, no residential complaints were logged in two of the completed trials, and where nominal complaints were raised in the remainder, swift remedial action was found to be entirely satisfactory. HGV movements in urban areas are often restricted during night-time and/or weekend periods by local regulations implemented to protect residents from noise and nuisance. However, such restrictions increase the number of deliveries during peak traffic conditions, increasing both traffic congestion and carbon emissions. The restrictions also increase the road safety risks for vulnerable groups such as schoolchildren and cyclists by concentrating freight traffic into the hours when such users are competing for road space.

Delivery restrictions can also create particular difficulties for retailers who need early morning deliveries, e.g. to ensure that fresh produce is on the shelves in time for store opening hours. Furthermore, the FTA backs night-time deliveries as a key to mitigating some of the expected disruption to supply chains caused by the Olympics next year, when there will be more freight to deliver and less time in which to deliver it.