Safety, welfare, reliability, and efficiency are four key concerns for anyone involved in transport and logistics.

Big data analysis of the data collected by Microlise demonstrates that the M6toll meets all expectations and makes sound financial sense for the industry.

The big data analysis scrutinised more than 240 million journeys featuring vehicles weighing 7.5 tonnes and demonstrates the benefits of using the M6toll over neighbouring major arterial routes.

Challenges in the Logistics and Transportation Sector

Critical issues for the logistics and transportation sectors include :

• Journey reliability  
• Increasing congestion
• Financial cost of missed delivery slots can cost thousands of pounds and impact the supply chains, the client, the transport company, and the welfare of the drivers

Benefits of M6toll

Less Traffic Congestion

Because the M6toll is maintained to a high standard and designed to make entering and exiting the carriageway easier, traffic moves more steadily. Works and maintenance are also scheduled outside peak hours to minimise any disruption.

It has been demonstrated that less traffic congestion and higher reliability for free-flowing traffic improve the driver's experience and reduce the five behaviours, including harsh braking and abrupt turning, which can increase the risk of accidents.

Better Fuel Economy

Harsh braking also negatively affects fuel economy and raises the cost of vehicle repair and maintenance, which directly affects operational costs.

Overall, vehicles on the M6 and HGVs driving on the M6toll generally have the same or better fuel economy.

Less Journey Time

Additionally, the average speed on the M6toll is 52.3 mph, up to 33 percent faster than the 39 to 51 mph on comparable routes over the 27-mile stretch. 

In terms of average journey time, a recent Road Haulage Association trial showed an average 25-minute time saving, and the Microlise analysis supported those results by identifying a 27 percent reduction in journey length compared with the M6.

A single missed delivery slot can snowball and, in the worst case, result in a significant amount of rework and can leave drivers away overnight with a security risk for the undelivered loads.

Conclusion

Whether during peak hours or not, it is unrealistic for the logistics department to plan travel times based solely on route distance and hope for the best. There are so many variable factors to consider, where the Microlise insight data once more identify the M6toll as the most cost-effective solution.

In conclusion, transportation planners and logistics specialists should consider the business case for maximising the use of the M6toll by their fleets and recognising the data that shows it improves safety, reliability, welfare, and efficiency.

This article was contributed by our expert Marcos Clowes

Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Marcos Clowes

Q1. How does the M6 Toll work?

The M6 toll road is a privately owned motorway that allows the driver to pay to bypass the congestion on normal roads around Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

Q2. Is M6 Toll a success?

The M6 toll allows reduced journey times, improved health, safety and welfare and is much more efficient overall than the alternative routes.

Q3. How do you ensure delivery on time?

The reduced travel time and consistency of travel time of the M6 toll allow for more certainty regarding in-time delivery.

Q4. What risks are essential to consider for logistics and transportation?

The risks that are important to consider are :

• Carrier delays and non-performance
• Hijacking and theft
• Lack of security procedures
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Liability for loss or delays
• Bankruptcy of transport providers
• Lack of inventory
• New security and safety legislation affecting logistics