A Liverpool city region digital venture that uses AI to help road hauliers cut their carbon footprint secures contract extension with major UK logistics outfit. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool city region digital venture HaulageHub has secured a contract extension with Menzies Distribution, one of the UK’s leading logistics firms.

This five-year contract will see Menzies Distribution harness HaulageHub’s AI-driven technology to streamline operations, enhance logistics efficiency, reduce empty-running and CO2 emissions.

Empty running accounts for more than 30% of all HGV miles in the UK. This inefficiency escalates operational costs for hauliers and shippers, contributing more than 5m tonnes of avoidable CO2 emissions annually.

Founded in 2021 by Scott Robertson and Craig Thompson, Sci-Tech Daresbury-based HaulageHub uses AI technology to bring shippers and hauliers together.

It maximises operational efficiency by allocating loads to hauliers with historically empty routes, reducing their empty miles and fuel usage, and therefore enhancing  profitability.

This renewal of the existing contract reaffirms Menzies’ commitment to improving sustainability across its supply chain. The partnership first began in 2023.

Scott Robertson said: “The renewal of our contract with Menzies Distribution evidences the significant benefits for large logistics companies in using our platform to improve their sustainability outputs and boost profitability.

“The large scale that Menzies operates at facilitates the reduction in unnecessary CO2 emissions even more effectively, making this partnership wholly beneficial for us both and the environment as a whole.”

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Adam Purshall, fleet procurement and operational systems director at Menzies Distribution, added: “Our renewed partnership with HaulageHub enhances our best-in-class offering and re-establishes our firm commitment to improving sustainability across the entirety of our supply chain.

“We are aiming to be net zero by 2040 – and we’re already making significant progress. This partnership supports our mission and will help to enable this, reducing the number of empty miles and CO2 emissions yielded from the logistics sector.”