'Good traffic flow makes important contribution to more sustainable transport'
October 31, 2023
Connected Transport is an initiative from the state, provinces, metropolitan and transport regions and companies. The partnership uses the opportunities digitalisation offers to make logistics more sustainable, safer and more efficient. Royal FloraHolland is making an active contribution to this, so that we keep our physical hubs accessible and make transport more sustainable.
We want to keep Royal FloraHolland's physical hubs easily accessible. A smooth flow of traffic is indispensable. This is not only in the interest of our suppliers and transporters, but also contributes to more sustainable transport. Eline van den Berg, Logistics Chain Expert, explains how Connected Transport helps with this.
Connected Transport is a system where key routes for freight traffic are set up with smart traffic lights. Connected trucks share their data so that the smart traffic lights can communicate with the vehicles. As long as the situation allows, trucks are thus given priority over other traffic. Thus, drivers need to stop and pull up less often and save time, fuel and CO2 emissions. (Read more about how Connected Transport works here)
Focus on sustainability increased dramatically
In recent years, the focus on Connected Transport's contribution to sustainability has increased enormously, says Eline. "This has become even more important than when I first got involved in this project in 2018. The developments around the energy transition have obviously played a big role in this, including from the European Green Deal."
Connected Transport is a national initiative that is being rolled out regionally. "We started in South Holland, with the establishment of the auction route, from the A4 to hub Naaldwijk. In 2019, we started preparations in the Aalsmeer region, when Amsterdam Logistics in MRA (Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam) context took up this project with the road authorities province of North Holland and municipality of Haarlemmermeer. Meanwhile, the N201 and the N232, the routes from the A4 and A9 to hub Aalsmeer have been rolled out." In the UDAP viewer, you can see which roads are all equipped with smart traffic lights.
Making better use of existing roads
Eline points out that in both North and South Holland, there is huge pressure on space and infrastructure. "The vision from the government is that the solution is not just to build even more roads, but to make better use of the existing infrastructure. Connected Transport can definitely contribute to that."
It was only logical for Royal FloraHolland to participate in this initiative because it contributes to making transport more sustainable. "Bringing together public parties (provinces, municipalities) and private parties (transporters, IT suppliers) is something we could never have managed on our own. You desperately need someone like Janneke Nijsing, who is the project leader from Amsterdam Logistics, to be the spider in the web in this. (Read the interview with Janneke Nijsing here). I myself joined North Holland in addition to South Holland, because transporters using our marketplaces operate on routes in both provinces. I did feel it was my job to ensure that our marketplaces are connected in the same way."
You can already join with one truck, so sign up
"There are already quite a few exporters using Connected Transport at the moment, but the more the merrier. I do still feel that we are not yet reaching everyone properly. After all, there are also plenty of buyers with their own trucks that commute between our hubs, and I wonder if they are familiar with Connected Transport. The great thing is that you can join already with one truck.
We did hear from a number of larger companies that they were not keen on having an extra application in the cabin for safety reasons. That is why nine IT suppliers now offer an integrated solution for in the existing on-board computer.
Cleaner feeling
In terms of safety, there are also many advantages. Drivers also receive timely notifications of dangerous situations, accidents or red crosses. This makes for more calm in the cabin. Eline: "I also once rode in the truck with Aad van den Enden. He is Quality Programme Manager at Royal FloraHolland, but drives on Saturdays for the hobby for nursery JHL Group. He is very enthusiastic about Connected Driving. He indicated that it is more enjoyable driving and also provides a certain peace of mind. And if the users are happy with it, so am I."
Opportunities for the future
Eline also sees great opportunities for the future. "The principle of Connected Transport is that data is exchanged between road operators and vehicles. In time, I also see opportunities for Royal FloraHolland on linking this to our internal processes, for example with the dock reservation system. At the moment, drivers still have to report to a pole at Naaldwijk, for example, but how nice would it be if they were automatically allocated a dock as soon as they drove onto our premises? More controlled access to our premises could also be advantageous from a security point of view. However, we are not that far yet, this is still in the future. But promising it is."
We want to keep Royal FloraHolland's physical hubs easily accessible. A smooth flow of traffic is indispensable. This is not only in the interest of our suppliers and transporters, but also contributes to more sustainable transport. Eline van den Berg, Logistics Chain Expert, explains how Connected Transport helps with this.
Connected Transport is a system where key routes for freight traffic are set up with smart traffic lights. Connected trucks share their data so that the smart traffic lights can communicate with the vehicles. As long as the situation allows, trucks are thus given priority over other traffic. Thus, drivers need to stop and pull up less often and save time, fuel and CO2 emissions. (Read more about how Connected Transport works here)
Focus on sustainability increased dramatically
In recent years, the focus on Connected Transport's contribution to sustainability has increased enormously, says Eline. "This has become even more important than when I first got involved in this project in 2018. The developments around the energy transition have obviously played a big role in this, including from the European Green Deal."
Connected Transport is a national initiative that is being rolled out regionally. "We started in South Holland, with the establishment of the auction route, from the A4 to hub Naaldwijk. In 2019, we started preparations in the Aalsmeer region, when Amsterdam Logistics in MRA (Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam) context took up this project with the road authorities province of North Holland and municipality of Haarlemmermeer. Meanwhile, the N201 and the N232, the routes from the A4 and A9 to hub Aalsmeer have been rolled out." In the UDAP viewer, you can see which roads are all equipped with smart traffic lights.
Making better use of existing roads
Eline points out that in both North and South Holland, there is huge pressure on space and infrastructure. "The vision from the government is that the solution is not just to build even more roads, but to make better use of the existing infrastructure. Connected Transport can definitely contribute to that."
It was only logical for Royal FloraHolland to participate in this initiative because it contributes to making transport more sustainable. "Bringing together public parties (provinces, municipalities) and private parties (transporters, IT suppliers) is something we could never have managed on our own. You desperately need someone like Janneke Nijsing, who is the project leader from Amsterdam Logistics, to be the spider in the web in this. (Read the interview with Janneke Nijsing here). I myself joined North Holland in addition to South Holland, because transporters using our marketplaces operate on routes in both provinces. I did feel it was my job to ensure that our marketplaces are connected in the same way."
You can already join with one truck, so sign up
"There are already quite a few exporters using Connected Transport at the moment, but the more the merrier. I do still feel that we are not yet reaching everyone properly. After all, there are also plenty of buyers with their own trucks that commute between our hubs, and I wonder if they are familiar with Connected Transport. The great thing is that you can join already with one truck.
We did hear from a number of larger companies that they were not keen on having an extra application in the cabin for safety reasons. That is why nine IT suppliers now offer an integrated solution for in the existing on-board computer.
Cleaner feeling
In terms of safety, there are also many advantages. Drivers also receive timely notifications of dangerous situations, accidents or red crosses. This makes for more calm in the cabin. Eline: "I also once rode in the truck with Aad van den Enden. He is Quality Programme Manager at Royal FloraHolland, but drives on Saturdays for the hobby for nursery JHL Group. He is very enthusiastic about Connected Driving. He indicated that it is more enjoyable driving and also provides a certain peace of mind. And if the users are happy with it, so am I."
Opportunities for the future
Eline also sees great opportunities for the future. "The principle of Connected Transport is that data is exchanged between road operators and vehicles. In time, I also see opportunities for Royal FloraHolland on linking this to our internal processes, for example with the dock reservation system. At the moment, drivers still have to report to a pole at Naaldwijk, for example, but how nice would it be if they were automatically allocated a dock as soon as they drove onto our premises? More controlled access to our premises could also be advantageous from a security point of view. However, we are not that far yet, this is still in the future. But promising it is."
-
Did you find this interesting?
Then share this article
-
Related articles
