News Alert
For Immediate Release
GateHouse Joins Logistics Consortium to Minimize Empty Running
Automated logistics system will enable shippers to use empty truck capacity of vehicles and cut carbon emissions
Nørresundby, Denmark, 7thFebruary, 2017: Data unifier and aggregator GateHouse Logistics A/S today announced that it has joined a consortium to develop an automated logistics system that will enable shippers to use the empty capacity of vehicles and cut the carbon footprint of fleets in the process.
The goal of the consortium is make the transport industry more efficient. It will enable shippers to cut transport costs, truckers to earn more income on the returning leg of their journeys, and the transport industry to reduce the number of empty trucks on roads.
According to the European Union, one in five trucks on roads today is empty or has spare capacity. In 2015, EU trucks drove a cumulative total of 1,577 billion kilometers, about 39 times around the Earth. If trucks are better packed, the number of empty or part-packed trucks can be reduced, which leads to less congestion and fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions into the environment.
The project is financed by the Danish Innovation Fund and brings together all the necessary partners for the development of such a system: Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Business and Management, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Aalborg University, Centre for Transport Studies at Imperial College London, data unifier and aggregator GateHouse Logistics, law firm Bech-Bruun, logistics consultant Center for Logistics and Collaboration with Port of Aalborg, the two Danish carriers FREJA Transport & Logistics and Danske Fragtmænd A/S and the Danish Chamber of Commerce.
"The system will enable logistics providers to optimize their operations, but it also brings value to society because less HGV on roads reduces traffic congestion and cuts greenhouse gas emissions," says Associate Professor and project leader Kristian Hegner Reinau of the Department of Civil Engineering at Aalborg University. "Affiliated members of the logistics system will be able to utilize the real-time position of thousands of trucks on roads and their capacity to take loads."
The university partners will develop new algorithms and business models for the system. The law firm Bech-Bruun will address the legal challenges of the project, and the Danish Chamber of Commerce will share knowledge of the project with other relevant actors in the transport industry. GateHouse will develop the solution and offer it to all logistics companies.
"Clearly, we are delighted to join this consortium and bring our expertise in tracking technology to the table," says Michael Bondo Andersen, CEO, GateHouse Group. "Our systems already know the position of most vehicles at any time and the new algorithms will enable GateHouse engineers to develop an intelligent logistics system for shippers to have real-time visibility and positioning of empty vehicles and use their capacity."
"By becoming one of the first carrier affiliates of this GateHouse powered system, FREJA demonstrates its policy to adopt new technologies such as this innovative logistics platform to achieve significant savings in fleet costs and improve its international competitiveness," adds Lars Bakkegaard, FREJA's CFO.
The projected budget for developing the real-time collaborative logistics system is DKK 15 million Kroner (USD 2.2 million). The system is expected to enter into service in 2020.
About GateHouse Logistics A/S
GateHouse Logistics A/S is a wholly owned subsidiary of the GateHouse Group. Its logistics systems track over 250,000 units each day in ships, trucks and planes. The firm's flagship ghTrack Platform provides transparency and visibility of all assets and deliveries throughout the entire supply chain. Users of GateHouse's unique data aggregation services are the world's leading transport companies and retail/wholesale companies and manufacturers. ghTrack is hardware agnostic and compatible with all telematics systems. The unified data stream can easily be integrated in any business system. Visit www.gatehouse.dk.
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Press contacts for further information, executive interviews and images, please contact:
Mette Lilkær, Strategic Sales & Marketing Manager, GateHouse Logistics A/S
Landline: + 45 7020 1909. Mobile + 45 2920 2383
Email:mdl@gatehouse.dk
Hugh Paterson, CEO, Whoosh PR
Direct Landline +33 (0)467 55 99 12, Mobile +44 (0)77681 75452