Explore how FSEW is leading the way in decarbonizing the road freight sector
For over 20 years, FSEW Ltd has been expediting global supply chains. The logistics and international freight forwarding company counts Tesco, Hoover Candy, Maersk, Euroclad, Blackwood Engineering and Ford amongst its esteemed customers. Through its industry-leading commitment to freight decarbonization, FSEW is pioneering innovation in sustainable freight forwarding. From its headquarters in Wentlooge, Cardiff, the organization currently employs circa 100 individuals, who all play a pivotal role in conducting its operations. Whether delivering perishable goods within tight deadlines or managing oversized cargo with special handling requirements, FSEW combines unrivaled freight forwarding expertise with a tailored experience and passion for innovation to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery. Gethin Worgan, Director of Operations, sheds light on the business’ journey and objective. “Geoff Tomlinson, the current owner, and Managing Director of FSEW, founded the company in 2002. Our original purpose was to fill a gap in the market for a customer-oriented global freight forwarding company leveraging its own vehicles. Today, we are the only provider in our industry delivering strategic 360º freight decarbonization, demonstrating that low carbon transport is commercially viable and we’re on track to be diesel-free by the end of 2024.
“I believe that being ahead of the curve has enabled us to overcome major obstacles early on. Notably, we offer an effective low carbon solution, particularly for our larger vehicles. FSEW possesses comprehensive data on its vehicles, encompassing more than just range and charging times. Indeed, we also analyze driver behavior, weather patterns and road conditions, assessing how these factors affect each sustainable vehicle’s performance. Often left behind in terms of technology, the logistics industry has a long way ahead of it to catch up with other sectors around the world. However, at FSEW we’re challenging the status quo by pushing the boundaries of innovation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to build a sustainable operating model in logistics,” he emphasizes.
Gethin explains the reasons why the logistics industry is lagging behind when it comes to embracing eco-friendly initiatives. “The haulage sector hasn’t had the best reputation for sustainability and certainly has its challenges but we’re doing positive things to change this. The desire to embrace change is key as well as having the right infrastructure in place. Logistics plays a critical role in society which we demonstrated during the pandemic when our industry stepped up to help grocery stores and hospitals with vital delivery needs.
“We take our role in being a key driver in achieving change in the industry seriously. The overarching problem lies in leaders in the logistics industry often being reluctant to embrace change, as some are still grappling with electronic tachographs, tracking systems, and camera technology.”
Sustainability strategy
FSEW is on track to be diesel-free by the end of 2024 which is a big factor in the firm’s strategy. “Presently, our key focus for future investments lies in fleet decarbonization. In January 2024, we purchased ten 15.6-meter-long trailers, which are currently being utilized by two customers: Wepa and Tesco. These trailers allow the user to load between 24-to-60 extra pallets, thereby reducing the need for one out of every five deliveries. By minimizing the number of vehicles needed to complete a delivery, we can improve our customers’ carbon footprint all while optimizing efficiency.
“Since the introduction of our alternative fueled fleet in January 2022 we have removed 1,691,112.02 diesel miles off UK roads, that is the equivalent of travelling
the globe 67.9 times, by removing these miles we have saved our customers a huge 1828.335 tCO2e in Scope 3 emissions. Currently, 65 percent of our fleet operates on alternative fuels, and two additional electric trucks will join by May. We’re also investing in a new E-Freight Hub which will be a sustainable refueling site. This is a low carbon fuel facility for the use of all freight providers, commercial and municipal operators. An innovative battery storage system will be available to make the most of local renewable wind and solar energy generation as well as a new maintenance and assembly center of carbon vehicles – all of which plays an integral role in our decarbonization journey. We’ve recently acquired land for this which will also host a new bespoke office building featuring self-generated energy facilitating the charging of our staff’s cars. We are working with the electrical grid to minimize our space requirements and adjust our usage to their needs. Lastly, our objective to increase our fleet by 50 percent in the next 18 months is poised to create more driving and office-based jobs in South Wales,” informs Gethin.
Driving change
“During the last 20 years we’ve seized every opportunity that has come our way. Looking to the future we are committed to further developing our team at FSEW to match business aspirations. We have appointed an HR director, ensuring each employee is in the right role for their expertise. As part of this effort, we are working with colleges and universities to encourage individuals who are interested in engineering, fitting, and similar industries to ours. Our decarbonization strategy positions us as an attractive employer for the younger generation. We also cover the cost of truck licenses for those out of work, seeking a career change or facing financial constraints, with nine industry newcomers obtaining their license in the past year. This initiative empowers us to attract people who wouldn’t have considered working in logistics; tackling driver shortages demands broader action. Beyond the haulage industry there is still much to do: service stations must embrace alternative fuels, we need more government investments and across the industry companies need to collaborate to foster an industry that values its workforce,” Gethin ends.
FSEW’s green journey is an integral part of the business. Zero emission fleets don’t come without their barriers and expense, but the business is leading change in the freight forwarding sector and empowering colleagues and key industry players. One size won’t fit all so it’s critical there is collaboration across the industry to share best practice and what works.