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4 December 2013 - TNT Express has bought 61 new vehicles (44 trailers and 17 hangers) from Krone to replace part of its fleet in the Benelux. The new trailers are meant to reduce fuel consumption thanks to new technology.

Five of the new trailers come equipped with side wings designed by Wabco. Located along the bottom of the trailer, these side skirts improve air flow under the truck and reduce aerodynamic drag. Tests have shown they can allow a fuel-consumption reduction of 5%.

The efficiency of side wings is best when the trailer is used on long-haul operations and at full speed. When used on highways, they can deliver fuel-savings of up to 1.5 litres per 100 km. TNT Express will use the five new trailers for long-haul collection and delivery, for instance between Rotterdam and Liege. The company will consider their fuel effectiveness and decide on a possible wider use.

As an additional advantage, trailers fitted with side wings lessen the amount of splashing water during rain, thus improving the visibility of other motor vehicle drivers.

2 December 2013 - TNT Express is supporting the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) of Western Australia’s campaign to raise awareness about the consequences of inattention while driving. Murray Henderson, a driver from TNT Express’ Perth depot, test drove the RAC’s Attention Powered Car on the third leg of a 1100km road trip around southern Western Australia.

The Attention Powered Car is a specially prepared Hyundai i40. Its speed depends on the driver’s level of attention, which is measured by a neuro-technological headset designed by the company Emotiv. The headset monitors brain activity with 14 sensors detecting neural sleep patterns, eye and head movements, blink rate, and other indicators revealing the driver’s level of concentration on the road.

Murray was selected by the RAC due to his outstanding driving record with TNT Express as winner of the company’s 2012 national eco-driving challenge in Australia. “I’ve been driving for most of my professional life so I have seen what one second of inattention can do. That’s why I wanted to be a part of this campaign to raise awareness and potentially save lives,” he said.

According to the RAC, in 2012 inattention was responsible for 12% of all road fatalities in Western Australia.

Watch Murray driving the Attention Powered Car here.

Alistair Cochrane, Managing Director TNT UK & Ireland, with new low-carbon fleet

22 October 2013 - TNT Express Services UK & Ireland is renewing it fleet of collection and delivery vehicles. Featuring a more aerodynamic body design, the 300 new vehicles provide reduced fuel consumption without impacting the volume of goods being carried.

The fleet renewal programme began in late July 2013. Over the last two months the new low-carbon vehicles have been replacing old vehicles on a one to one basis as they come to the end of their operating life. A total of 261 7.5 tonne vehicles have been ordered from DAF, MAN and Iveco, with a further 39 12 tonne vehicles purchased from Iveco. To date, 200 new vehicles have been delivered.

The revision in body design has resulted in a sleeker, more aerodynamic body which reduces drag. The introduction of plastic to the body construction has also reduced the overall weight of the vehicle by 200kg. These improvements in both reduced drag and body weight will result in improved fuel consumption on a like for like basis.