Returnloads.net, the online haulage exchange marketplace, has analysed data from its network of hundreds of UK manufacturer and haulier members to identify the top departure points, destinations and delivery routes for talking advantage of empty lorry capacity.
The results show that hauliers across the country have embraced Returnloads.net to utilise the capacity of wasted return journeys, saving fuel, money and carbon, as well as preventing additional HGV journeys.
In fact, in the four months of the year, the top 50 back load routes identified on returnloads.net have saved nearly 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being wasted on empty running - that's the weight of more than five blue whales, the world's biggest mammal.
The exclusive haulage data for January-April 2013 has revealed that the East Yorkshire city of Kingston upon Hull was the most popular pick-up location in the country with a considerably higher number of loads collected than second-ranked city, Cardiff. Liverpool was ranked third for pick-up loads, with the towns of Ipswich, Suffolk and Skelsmersdale, Lancashire making up the top five.
A number of the UK's busiest cities proved to be the most popular destinations for loads, with the heavily-industrialised city of Glasgow snatching the number-one spot ahead of England's Second City, Birmingham. The Midlands and the North West featured heavily at the top of the table.
The data also delved deeper into the most popular cross-country routes, pinpointing some of the busiest and most influential commercial links in the UK. The Kingston upon Hull - Birmingham route ranked top of the pile, with Lichfield, another West Midlands area, prominent in the top five with regular journeys to Dartford and Greenford respectively.
Richard Newbold, founder of Returnloads.net, commented:
"This analysis shows that businesses are keeping a close eye on both the financial and environmental impact of their logistics, with thousands of journeys every month being planned using Returnloads.net.
"The data serves to highlight the continued importance of coastal locations to the trading of goods and services across the country. Cities such as Hull, Cardiff, and Liverpool and the town of Ipswich have significant ports that receive goods via the North Sea and Irish Sea shipping lanes.
"The figures also indicate that the North West and West Midlands are at the heart of the nation's logistic network, with both of these areas transporting significantly more loads than the rest of the UK."
Returnloads.net offers manufacturers and hauliers an online haulage exchange marketplace, where members can find and place loads, reducing the number of empty loads on the UK's roads. The haulage company's aim to reduce the number of wasted journeys has saved more than 750,000 HGV empty loads in the past 12 months alone.
Most popular pick-up/departure locations:
1. Kingston upon Hull
2. Cardiff
3. Liverpool
4. Ipswich
5. Skelmersdale
Most popular destination locations:
1. Glasgow
2. Birmingham
3. Bristol
4. Liverpool
5. Manchester
Most popular delivery routes:
1. Kingston upon Hull - Birmingham
2. Cardiff - Sheffield
3. Lichfield - Dartford
4. Lichfield - Greenford
5. Skelmersdale - Northampton