trans.info — 2025-07-03
Land transportation
A pilot project in South West England aimed at reducing empty running has saved almost 8 tonnes of CO2 and generated over £68,000 in revenue for local hauliers, according to data released by the Transport Exchange Group (TEG).
The initiative, led by sub-national transport bodies Peninsula Transport and Western Gateway, uses the Haulage Exchange platform to connect hauliers with subcontracted loads. Since its expansion, 65 return loads have been matched across the region, covering 9,195 miles that would otherwise have been driven empty.
Participating operators include 11 hauliers from across the South West. The majority of load-matching activity has taken place on routes linking the East and West Midlands with Exeter and Truro. Bristol-based companies were among the most active users of the platform.
Data from the Department for Transport shows that around 30% of HGV journeys are completed empty. The project attempts to address this inefficiency by providing free access to TEG’s platform, enabling operators to find profitable return loads and reduce unnecessary mileage.
Vehicle types involved range from 7.5-tonne trucks to 13.6-metre articulated lorries, with smaller trucks seeing high engagement levels across regions.
The pilot forms part of the South West Freight Strategy and is funded through regional transport bodies. It will run until the end of 2025, with new hauliers still able to join.