Online technology puts vehicle transporter fleets in the environmentally-friendly fast lane

Release date: 24 September 2007

Vehicle transporter companies are reducing environmental impact by eliminating thousands of empty truck miles through the use of sophisticated online technology.

Fast-expanding VMEX, the online vehicle movement exchange that matches demand for car and light vans to be moved to available transport capacity in the UK and across Europe calculates that in the past 12 months it has helped customers cut approximately 14,000 empty transporter miles.

Not only does such efficiencies help transporter companies reduce their carbon footprint, but it also aids business operating effectiveness and reduces costs.

A survey of UK vehicle logistics companies using VMEX, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AutoLogic, Europe’s leading independent automotive logistics supplier specialising in the preparation and distribution of finished vehicles throughout the UK and mainland Europe, reveals that:

• VMEX has helped companies using the system to reduce average empty truck mileage to 20% from an industry average of 25%
• More than three-quarters of transporter companies using VMEX say they have cut the number of empty transporter miles driven
• Companies say that VMEX helps them ‘back fill’ up to 80% of loads
• Almost a third of companies say they use the VMEX website to locate vehicles that need moving to top up partially loaded transporters

Established in late 2004, VMEX (Vehicle Movement Exchange) will be responsible for the movement of 200,000 vehicles in 2007 on behalf of vehicle manufacturers, dealer groups, vehicle rental companies, contract hire and leasing providers, auction companies and major fleets.

Using sophisticated online technology, VMEX provides a high quality and highly transparent vehicle delivery service by matching vehicles movements to spare capacity on transporters as well as marrying up single vehicle movements to individual drivers.

With more than 300 vehicle carriers using the system in the UK and Europe, organisations can give and take work at visible prices through the sophisticated online brokerage system with vehicles being transported to fulfil customer lead-time requirements.

VMEX managing director Tim Phillips said: “VMEX focuses on increasing business efficiency for everyone in the vehicle movement business - companies that provide a vehicle movement service and vehicle owners.

“Historically transporters that would commence a journey with a full load would often return empty. However, the launch of VMEX has radically changed the vehicle movement industry by enabling many return journeys to be made with full loads, which means reduced empty-vehicle miles.

“With all businesses focusing on slashing their transport emissions, VMEX is not only contributing to improving operating efficiencies across the whole vehicle logistics industry, but the technology is reducing the environmental impact of transporters and cutting congestion by eliminating unnecessary miles.”

It is a view shared by Alan Hewitt, operations director of Northamptonshire-based Freemans Auto Logistics, which runs a fleet of 25 transporters of varying capacities. He said: “We have used the VMEX system since its launch and the technology has helped the company expand.

“We are able to look on the system, find vehicles that require moving and direct our transporters to where those vehicles are. Prior to the launch of VMEX we would have had to make a number of telephone calls to secure loads or the vehicles would have been travelling empty. As a result the system aids business efficiency.

“Ensuring that transporters do not clock up miles empty is a major issue in the industry and our use of the VMEX system enables our vehicles to achieve that goal most of the time.

“The online technology has helped the company to grow, has improved administration efficiency and has improved the environmental-credentials of the company.”

Gary Chapman, managing director of Berkeley-based Drive Force UK, which runs a fleet of 25 11-car transporters, has used VMEX for the past two years to help the company reduce the number of empty miles driven.

He said: “VMEX is convenient for a transporter operator to look at and find loads that require moving that will enable vehicles to travel loaded. It is important to ensure transporter efficiency is optimised in terms of both operational effectiveness and eliminating empty miles.”

Mr Phillips added: “Prior to the launch of VMEX, vehicles would be moved from one location to another with the transporter often returning to its base empty but still contributing to congestion as well as climate change through its emissions output. We have transformed the vehicle movement industry into a significantly ‘leaner’ and more environmentally-friendly business by eliminating wasted journeys.”

Notes to Editors:

VMEX is an advanced online vehicle movement exchange matching vehicle movements to transport capacity throughout Europe. With access to an extensive network of car transport providers and working with vehicle manufacturers, rental / leasing companies and dealerships, VMEX offers a flexible international transport solution for those with vehicles to move and a revolutionary online marketplace for those with transport capacity.

VMEX is a division of AutoLogic Holdings plc, the leading independent supplier of finished vehicle logistics services to the automotive industry in the UK and Europe. Working with vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators and dealerships, AutoLogic Group companies provide a comprehensive range of services from new vehicle preparation, enhancement, storage and distribution through to marketing event support and used vehicle refurbishment and remarketing.

Please direct media enquiries to Ashley Martin at Ashley Martin Communications on 01733 390691, 07801 434338 or at ashley.martin32@btopenworld.com