A family-owned haulier is championing HVO after making a commitment to sustainability for its customers.
T&J Haulage, which is based in Ribble Valley, says using the diesel alternative HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) in its fleet has enabled them to meet demands from sustainability-conscious customers, while maintaining their business model.
Speaking exclusively on Certas Energy’s podcast, HVO on the Road, Steph Crack, Transport & Compliance Manager, says the requirements of customers set them on their green journey, but their own research confirmed HVO was the best choice for moving forward.
Customer demand
Steph told the podcast it all started when a Scottish customer asked for some support during harvest season, but required the trucks to run on HVO. After a positive report from the driver, they were encouraged to look at their own carbon emissions.
They considered alternatives such as carbon offsetting, electric and hydrogen. However, each failed to meet their needs. The conversion of their fleet to electric trucks alone would cost three times as much as a truck with an internal combustion engine.
In 2021, when a multinational customer requested the firm use biodiesel, which would require more servicing, T&J Haulage decided to try HVO, which can slash greenhouse gas emissions from a vehicle by as much as 90%1 compared to standard diesel.
Because it is a drop-in alternative to standard diesel and doesn’t require any modifications, they were able to use HVO exclusively for their international customer – which equates to running one truck in their fleet of 21 on HVO constantly.
Steph said: “We are still at the beginning of our journey, at the moment the use of HVO equates to just over one truck a week, which is nearly 5% – it’s a toe in the water but it makes a big difference to the environment.”
The easy choice
The firm’s decision to introduce HVO where it makes business sense, was made easy in practice by Certas Energy’s FuelTapp. It’s the UK’s first digital fuel card, which enables users to pay for fuel at Certas Energy bunker sites using an app-generated PIN.
Steph added that drivers prefer using HVO because the lack of smell makes a huge difference to the driving experience. She said: “You get diesel on your boots, your gloves, and it makes the whole cab smell. With HVO there is no smell – so it’s much more pleasant to drive.”
Steph also talked about how haulage firms can work together to drive down the price of HVO.
Podcast host Millie Jones, from Certas Energy, said: “T&J Haulage are such a great example of a family owned business making a difference with HVO. Transitioning to HVO over time is something we’ve done with our own fleet at Certas Energy, so we’ve seen first-hand how easy it is to make a start.
“We are thrilled that T&J Haulage have taken the first steps to adopt alternative fuels like HVO, and we hope their story will inspire others to follow suit.”
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