Don’t tell us you haven’t started planning yet??!! We understand, it’s easily done when you’re busy concentrating on your day to day business and from the many calls we have made to customers it seems alot of people are simply going to ‘see what happens’. Whilst we strongly wish you all to prepare well we do understand business is rolling and it leaves very little time to schedule in a gap for this. Of course we’re still here and readily available to give quick and concise advice if needed. In the meantime herewith the latest Tfl list of preparatory suggestions for your perusal.
MAKING DELIVERIES AND COLLECTIONS
1. Change delivery times – avoid peak spectator times or try to choose quieter
days. For example, London Bridge station and the surrounding area should be
avoided between 07:00 – 10:00, noon – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00 and 22:00 – midnight
2. Communicate effectively – several industry sectors, including catering and
retail, are expecting large increases in demand during the Games. Work with
customers, suppliers and employees to ensure they understand how the Games
will impact their deliveries and how you plan to operate during the period. Drivers
will need to be aware of any temporary road changes
3. Explore different delivery options – think creatively about getting goods to
customers. If possible, use secure drop boxes for smaller items or arrange walking and cycling deliveries
4. Plan your routes – review postcode data to check which areas will be impacted by the Games. The information highlights locations affected by the Olympic Route Network, Paralympic Route Network, Central London Zone or road events
5. Help your customers work together – encourage customers in the same area or building to share deliveries or consolidate supplies
6. Carry out maintenance now – if you work in the servicing sector, advise your
customers to schedule preventative maintenance for their equipment ahead of the Games
7. Freight forum events – attend one of TfL’s upcoming freight workshops to receive advice and speak to other companies
8. Walk or cycle where possible – walk or use bikes for small, local deliveries. If your usual loading/unloading location is unavailable, can the driver park nearby and deliver on foot?
9. Re-route delivery vehicles to specific areas – if you have multiple depots, try to avoid congestion and temporary road restrictions by re-routing vehicles from different sites
10. Use driver’s mates to reduce delivery times – on restricted routes avoid vehicle waiting time by employing a driver’s mate who could be dropped off with the delivery and collected afterwards
11. Manage customer expectations – ensure customers are aware that deliveries are likely to take longer and give realistic time estimates
12. Get tailored support for your business – if your company is in a specific ‘hotspot’ email TfL’s Freight team or simply call us here at Jordon for extra help
RECEIVING DELIVERIES
1. Postpone non-urgent deliveries – rearrange these for after the Games, when the transport network will be quieter
2. Reduce deliveries where possible – if you receive regular, essential deliveries from the same company, work with your suppliers to consolidate them and reduce overall journeys
3. Talk to other businesses – contact those in your building, street and Business Improvement District to see how you can work together. Can you coordinate essential deliveries for the same day? Do you have space (eg a basement parking area) that you can all use as a storeroom for essential items?
4. Stock up in advance – non-perishable goods, such as stationery, can be
delivered and stored
5. Record your 2011 deliveries and collections – keep a diary of deliveries
and collections to give you a better idea of your requirements for next year. These can include couriers, stationery orders or tea and coffee supplies for the office
6. Create an action plan – start preparing now with TfL’s action plan template, plus online tools and resources to guide you through the process
7. Test your action plan – make sure you do this ahead of the Games to ensure it is effective. Christmas is a good time, when the transport network will be much busier than usual
8. Out of hours deliveries – businesses may want to organise deliveries, collections and servicing activity outside normal working hours. Check with your suppliers and local authority to see if this can be done
9. Get up-to-date, detailed information – register for regular email bulletins
providing business travel advice
Don’t forget the Tfl journey planner is now available here http://freightplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/help.php
We have tried to register to FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) in order to review the planner but so far without much success. Maybe you’ll have more luck though. We’ll leep you posted on further updates and useful information.
All the best
The Jordon Team