It’s a sad fact that some 25% of lorries and 15% of vans on Britain’s roads run completely empty. This wastage actually accounts for around 7.2% of the UK’s carbon footprint – a massive problem I’m sure you will agree.

To help publicise the magnitude of the problem, and the effectiveness of Shiply we have set up our own carbon counter page. This keeps a running tally of the CO2 we have been saving by matching users with transport providers already making similar trips.

As you can see, to date (since just June 2008), we have saved over 276,000kg of CO2 and to put that into perspective that is about the same as you flying from London to New York 455 times!

We’ve helped to save over 1,1,138,30 otherwise wasteful miles and so a big thank you must go out to our green transport heroes and users for their efforts.

You can keep up to date on how Shiply is getting on with the stats here.

Havering Council, a London borough have announced that they intend to lift the current night time ban on lorry deliveries from 2010.

The London Lorry Control Scheme has been viewed by many within the industry and restrictive and does little to help ease the “last mile” problem.

Currently, lorries are charged up to £500 fixed penalties if they are caught carrying out deliveries at weekends and evenings.

Councillor Michael Armstrong, who is the cabinet minister for housing, public protection and regeneration, said:

“The money could be spent helping businesses and in regeneration. We are in a recession after all.”

We agree and furthermore, by restricting deliveries to daytime only there is an increase in the number of failed deliveries. This is not only an inconvenience to the recipients but also the delivery driver. Not to mention, there is also the detrimental impact on the environment – having to make the trip more than once!

We’re proud to be supporting PetrolPrices.com new campaign launched today to stop fuel tax going up again.

You can read all about it on the site below:

http://www.petrolprices.com/itsyourduty/

The aim is to stop another 2p fuel duty hike, to get the Government to explain how our fuel tax is spent, and to demand that fuel tax is spent on improving transport in the UK.

Thanks in advance for your support! Get involved.

Previously, Shiply only allowed you to list up to one vehicle at a time to move from point A-B.

We have listened to your requests and have learnt that many of you often have to move several vehicles at a time and so want to consolidate these into one simple shipment request.

So, we are pleased to announce that there is now the option when listing a vehicle shipment, be it a car, motorbike or other to add extra vehicles to your request. In fact, you can request as many as you like – there is no limit!

We hope that by adding this functionality this will further help both users and transport providers when it comes to moving multiple vehicles.

As always on a Friday, we like to post up a video which has caught our attention over the week.

Now, this one is quite something. A truck driver appears to have forgotten to lower his trailer and the result is pretty staggering! Take a look for yourselves:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xvs90XFJzI]

Shipley

Our customers often slightly miss-type our name as shipley into Google or the address bar when trying to find Shiply. Unlike the town in Yorkshire, we are spelt without the “e”. So, it’s not Shipley but is Shiply.

Our site is actually at: http://www.shiply.com/. Enjoy!

We are not: Shipley.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ynswkDsIjU]

Firstly, apologies for the headline, we couldn’t resist!

A disgruntled delivery driver has offered a unique challenge to Warwickshire Council. Mr Haynes has become so angry at the state of roads in the area that he has challenged them to drop off 10 boxes of eggs around the town of Leamington without breaking them or infringing parking laws.

He said: “There is literally nowhere to go if I’m delivering to stores on The Parade.
“It’s no unloading at any time on the pavements, but I can’t park in the streets behind so what can I do?

“With the town centre now being one-way it also adds miles and miles to my journeys. Pedestrians don’t pay to walk but we pay to drive, so why should they get priority?”

Should the council take him up and complete his mission, he pledges to donate £100 to a charity of their choice.

An interesting article by BBC News takes a look into the life of a bone marrow courier.

We all get frustrated when yet again we see that “sorry we missed you” card on our doorstep. Failed deliveries are a frustration to say the least. But bear a thought for those in hospital, getting to the position where you are donated an organ is a mean feat in itself. However, there is still the unenviable task of getting the courier to deliver the vital organs safely and importantly – very quickly. Bone marrow for leukemia sufferers is no exception.

This is Beryl Sarsfield and she works for the Anthony Nolan Trust delivering bone marrow to patients across the world.

Beryl, a former nurse manager, admits the voluntary job can be a lonely one, but says it is great to know that her work is helping save lives.

“I feel very privileged to do it,” she said.

“Because of my previous nursing knowledge I know how important this is and that it is often a last ditch treatment.

“And my small part makes it happen. ”

Bone marrow needs to be delivered speedily, although the cells can survive for up to 48 hours, couriers do need to move fast as viability decreases as soon as it is collected.

What a responsibility, but it must be so rewarding.