Environmental Management Strategies for Freight Handling and Transport

This report examines environmental management strategies for the freight industry, focusing on sustainable practices and emission reduction. It begins with an abstract outlining the purpose of proposing strategies to enhance sustainability in freight transport, given the industry's significant greenhouse gas emissions. The methodology involves a systematic literature review. Findings reveal a focus on cost efficiency and utility, with a need for more intermodal transport. The introduction highlights the importance of green logistics and sustainable freight management in supply chain management, emphasizing the need for environmentally friendly practices and government policies. The research background discusses the environmental impacts of freight stations, particularly air pollution, and aims to identify strategies to reduce these impacts through noise assessment, traffic volume counts, and waste monitoring. The discussion section covers last-mile strategies, certification programs, parking regulations, logistics consolidation, and intelligent transport systems (ITS). The report also explores strategies like limiting vehicle age, tracking fuel efficiency, alternative fuels, low emission zones, and community environmental mitigation. Forecasts indicate potential improvements in solid waste generation, health costs, and emission reduction. The report concludes by proposing various strategies for managing environmental impacts and promoting sustainability in freight transport.

Environmental management strategies for
Freight
Name of Student
Institution Affiliation

Abstract
Purpose: one of the sectors of the
economy, which generates a significant
amount of greenhouse gas emissions is the
transport industry. To promote
development that is sustainable
environmentally, the shift has been
focused on internal transport modals. It is
thus vital to have a view of how freight
transport operates. In regards to that, the
primary duty of this paper is to propose
some strategies which can be applied in
the freight industry to enhance
sustainability.
Methodology: In order to have a holistic
approach towards handling the current
freight issues, a systematic literature
review is adopted. By extension, the
findings are examined, recorded, and kept
for future requests.
Findings: From the results obtained, the
review of the selected articles implies that
sustainability in the transport industry has
only been viewed in regards to the cost
efficiency and utility. More energy needs
to be put into the intermodal transport to
have a sustainable impact.
Limitations: There is a need to extend the
theoretical aspect of sustainability, as it
could lead to more great ways of adjusting
to sustainability in the environment.

Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Research background..............................................................................................................3
Aim and objectives.................................................................................................................3
Discussion..................................................................................................................................4
Last-mile strategies.................................................................................................................4
Limiting Vehicle by Age........................................................................................................5
The strategies oriented toward managing environmental impacts.........................................7
Converting Waste to Electricity..............................................................................................8
Reducing Noise pollution in the Residential neighborhood...................................................8
Analysis......................................................................................................................................9
Environmental Quality Assessment........................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................11

Literature review
There has been an increasingly
growing interest in sustainable supply
chains in regards to the transport industry
[8]. An indicator towards this is the
environmental protection or environmental
performance as the core competitive
priority. Nonetheless, the perception that
has been that any activity aimed at
enhancing environmental performance
comes at an economical price when
implementing it [2]. Hence, most actions
which have been taken in regards to the
environmental protection has been mostly
reactive, and not proactive. However, this
view is taking a different direction, as
many business firms are viewing
ecological protection and sustainability as
an essential element [3].
Introduction
Freight transport is one of the most
crucial economic supporters in any nation.
With the current highly competitive freight
environment, green logistics, otherwise
known as sustainable freight management,
is gaining great attention. Besides, it is an
important part of supply chain
management in the transport system.
Freight management ensures the
flow of goods in and out of a country,
hence supporting the economy through
trade. Freight transport and logistics often
involve the delivery and collection of
goods as well as the provision of inventory
management, waste management
household removals, among other services.
Due to the extensive commercial
establishment, urban areas do a large
number of goods or domestic and
industrial use. Therefore, this makes urban
freight an important factor in the for every
economy. However, it is important to
make freight management sustainable and
environmentally friendly. In order to
conform to environmental sustainability,
government together with other related
agencies need to adopt formulated policies
to align the freight logistics with
sustainability.
Also, with the growing concern of
climate change, there has been tremendous
development in inclusive developmental
projects [1].
Research background
Over the recent past, most of the
residents situated close to freight stations
have significantly suffered from the effects
of environmental pollutions. The freight
station has generally led to increased air
pollution and degradation. According to an
environmental impact assessment done in
the past, it was noted that the freight
management stations have lots of health
and environmental impact on the
immediate local environment. Therefore,
the main objective of this study is to asses
and identify some of the strategies that can
be used to reduce the environmental
impact.
Also, the scope of this study
majorly lies in the characteristics of the
freight generation and management area as
well as the surrounding land use and the
environmental impacts resulting from
freight activities. While conducting the
study, a complete analysis of the area is
done. This includes noise assessment,
traffic volume count, and dispersion
modeling, among others. Also, solid
wastes will be monitored, and their impact
on the environment determined [2].
Aim and objectives
The main objective of the study is
to propose the environmental management
strategies for a freight generation and
handling station at a generic level. Other
specific aims of the study include the
following:
1. To analyses the environmental
impact assessment of freight
generation and handling activities
while identifying its impact on the
immediate local environment.
2. To estimate the possible
environmental impact of the study
area within a particular timeframe.
3. To identify and evaluate alternate
environmental strategies for the
case study area.

Discussion
Last-mile strategies
Thirty percent of the urban truck
traffic accounts for the good pick-ups from
the freight industry. The definition of the
last mile strategy relates to the final haul of
shipment from the freight to the end-user,
be it a business, shop, or any facility of
residence. This activity within the urban
center is of many inefficiencies. What
normally happens is that the goods are first
deposited to a vendor, implying that there
is likeliness of receiving several deliveries
within a day.
Having a number of deliveries on a
daily basis is likely to result in routing
challenges. If the consolidation of the
deliveries is done across the vendors,
fewer trips and more efficient routing
would be imminent [3]
Certification programs and labeling
These are an instance of voluntary
regulation. The private as well as the
public sectors, enter into an agreement and
come up with rules which prescribes times
of deliveries as well as other guiding
special benefits. For instance, the use of
green vehicles which emit less carbon into
the atmospheres as well as fewer
operations during congestion periods. The
detailed certification by the London freight
forums resulted in a successful private as
well as public sponsors.
These programs further are bound to
expand the trust and collaborative
relationship between the government and
the industry. The shippers as well may
result in quality services as most clients
would be oriented towards the green firms
which promote sustainability.
Parking regulations and traffic
The local traffic has clearly
obligated to tackling the traffic regulations
as they fall under the local authority. These
regulations are practically effective as long
as they get enforced effectively. There are
a number of issues which are related to the
restriction of the traffics from accessing
the city, for instance, restricting the traffics
to specific days might result into the
congestion of the smaller vehicles as well
as congestion on the in restricted days.
It thus calls for strategic regulations
which seek to utilize the roads in an
efficient manner. Some workable example
includes implement of dynamic parking
charges in San Francisco, using the traffic
for delivery and pick up during the peak
hours. Thus, strategies which manage
rather than restricting the freights are
bound to be workable.
Logistics and consolidation programs
The logistics are bound to reduce
the number of vehicles doing the deliveries
within the town as well as the associated
carbon emissions. This is made possible by
having consolidated points of loads where
the multiple shippers would assemble their
delivered goods, and thereafter have
various designated firms which are
responsible for the last mile delivery,
irrespective of the firm. This has worked in
Barcelona and has significantly
contributed to less emission of carbon and
environmental pollution.
Additionally, the off-hours
deliveries can as well be implemented as
they seek to reduce the congestion as well
as the emissions during the normal
periods. An instance that has been
implemented in the past is the New York
City demonstration, which has resulted in
energy consumption, reduced congestion,
as well as reduced emissions. This clearly
signifies the potential benefits from similar
programs [4]
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
The technologies which are
involved in intelligent transport systems
include basically automated systems for
parking regulations, access control, as well
as toll collection. This technique is
extensively utilized in the United States.
These systems are very effective. Though
not widely accepted, areas which have
seen such technology work is the New
York City, which applied trucks which
recorded reduced emissions as well as
congestion reductions.
Further, it implies the use of electric
vehicles technology planned to take their
load from the holding area to the A.P.M.C.
Market.
Forecasts showing improvement as
compared to Business as Usual scenario
(BUA)

Taking a keen look at the As
compared to the scenario the, it depicts
reductions in the weather forecast in
regards to the health costs solid waste
generation and total reduction in
emissions-reducing traffic through
Proposal 1, for instance; combing up with
alternate strategies within the city for the
year 2018 to 2023 [5].
Limiting Vehicle by Age
This strategy aims to reduce the
number of old truck systems which have
engine systems that emits a lot of
pollutions. Vehicles having BS-IV and up
to 5 years of age will only be allowed into
the city limits. Vehicles with BS-VI will
be introduced in the year 2020, and hence
it will gradually reduce the load on
pollution in the study area if more of BS-
VI vehicles are entertained, rather than the
BS-IV vehicles, thus slowly helping out
phase BS-IV Vehicles.
Forecasts showing improvement as
compared to Business as Usual scenario
(BUA)
As compared to the Business as
Usual scenario the table above shows a
forecast of further reductions in solid
waste generation, health costs and total
reduction in emissions-reducing traffic
through Proposal 1 i.e., proposing
alternate strategies within the city for the
year 2020 to 2023.
The strategies oriented toward managing
environmental impacts.
These strategies enhance the
environmental impact by improving the
performance of the engine, using
alternative fuel truck systems as well as
shifting the freight to energy-efficient
modes. Strategies which are put into place
creates the most impacts on the fleet
industry. They include;
Track fuel efficiency and emission
standards
The emission standards and the
track fuel efficiency over the past have
been proven to be among the most
effective strategies. For instance, use of
cleaner engines impacts the heavy-duty
tracks on a greater scale. One of the most
successful programs is in Los Angeles in
the United States, known as the Los
Angeles clean truck program which has
significantly resulted in reductions of the
diesel truck emissions. Using the clean
truck engine system will result in fewer
emissions into the atmosphere [6].
Alternative vehicles and fuels
These kinds of vehicles have been
extensively promoted in the United States;
however, it has realized little market
penetration. These kinds of vehicles make
it suitable to compete with the heavy-duty
diesel engines. In the European nations,
alternative fuels and vehicles have been
adopted as cargo cycles and small vans.
Low Emission Zones (LEZs)
These kinds of zones limit the
types of vehicles which may enter into a
certain part of the city. The characteristics
of the energy consumptions result in the

limitations. Several cities in European
cities have adopted low emission zones,
and they are characterized by some
advantages.
Community environmental mitigation
Incorporation of environmental
justice into the performance of the freight
projects.
The process of environmental review
offers numerous opportunities for
environmental concerns. Some of the
mitigations include Baltimore’s industrial
overlay zone study, New York City’s truck
impact study and SCAG’s Toolkit for
Goods Movement.
Other strategies include [7]
Allowing vehicles which have the
BS-VI inside the city areas, while the older
vehicles which are associated with
emission of increased carbons into the
atmosphere are allowed to certain holding
zones. In terms of the distribution as well
as handling the APMC market services,
only the electric vehicles will be allowed.
The diagram below illustrates the
forecasts indicating the improvement as
compared to Business as Usual scenario
(BUA)
As compared to the Business as
Usual scenario, the table above shows a
forecast of further reductions in solid
waste generation, health costs and total
reduction in emissions-reducing traffic
through Proposal 1 i.e., proposing
alternate strategies within the city for the
year 2020 to 2023.
Converting Waste to Electricity
Over the past, various technologies
associated with the conversion of solid
waste into electricity has been done. The
proposal has also been put forward on how
these ideas can be made to generate energy
which is sufficient for running the plant
over the next ten years.
Using containerized technology
will be of significance in reducing the
emissions of carbon during transportation.
Furthermore, the electricity which is
generated in excess can be supplied for E-
Vehicle charging points in the markets,
and as an incentive for promoting the
switching of the vehicles to electric from
the light diesel commodity, free charging
is provided [8]
Reducing Noise pollution in the
Residential neighborhood
Most of the freight activities are
associated with noise pollution, as the
activities take place both during the day as
well as in the night hours. The noise in the
neighbouring results into various adverse
effects, and should be significantly
reduced. Local suitable materials such as
composite sound buffers can be identified
and used to limit this noise, instead of
exportation of the expensive material. The
native sound-absorbing, as well as the
glass fibre reinforced plastic material, can
be used in generating the composite buffer
[9].
Analysis
Environmental Quality Assessment
We will consider two scenarios, one
with the Business as Usual operation,
while the other with Proposal Scenarios. A
comparison in the two scenarios shows a
significant reduction in terms of the fuel
consumptions, emissions, health costs per
capita per person, among others. The
emissions, as well as the cost, will be
significantly reduced as compared to the
horizon years.
l Line Source Emissions:

Generally, considering all
source of emissions, the results indicate
that there is a strong decrease in the
pollutants comparing the Business as
usual and alternate scenario. This
justifies that this generic proposal
needs to be adopted by various
governments in order to install
sustainability in the energy systems in
relation to the freight industry.
In terms of the Electric
Mobility Proposal Scenario, the Extra
Electricity which is generated Can Be
Used to Charge Handling Vehicles
inside the Freight Complex Area [10].
Conclusion
The review above proposes
various generic options for better
management of freights in the aspects
of sustainability. Most of the freight
activities result in the use of vehicles
that significantly generate emissions
into the atmosphere during the last-
mile delivery. There exist a number of
urban freight aspects which inhibit the
regulations by the state or the local
government.
Further, the private industry
also needs some adjustments for the
purposes of achieving social benefits.
Some of the notable strategies which
will greatly solve this situation and
create sustainability include the last
mile delivery strategies which entail
off-hours deliveries, labeling and
certification programs, as well as land-
use planning.
Additionally, the strategies
aimed at reducing the emissions as well
as the global fuel efficiency includes
low emissions zones, alternative fuel
vehicles, as well as environmental
justice concerns.
In conclusion, these
recommendations need to be adopted
by various government in order to
incorporate the aspects of sustainability
in the freight industry. This is because
a number of these strategies have been
implemented in different parts of the
globe where they have proven to be
successful.
Also, much focus has been
channeled towards system
optimization, with little information on
the practical optimization methods.
Further research is required on the real-
time data so that the effectiveness of
these strategies can be determined.

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