Autumn 2008

Nightfreight has launched what it calls a 'pay-as-you-go' two-man home delivery service, and claims that using it can save retailers up to 50 per cent of their existing transport costs.

The system adopts the shared-user philosophy of applying charges that relate directly to the number of deliveries required. Prices will vary automatically with peaks and troughs.

Variable pricing is nothing new in itself, and in fact it is a feature of many 'open-book' logistics contracts, but sometimes there are additional flat-rate elements to the charge as well. Nightfreight appears to be attempting to make the option as transparent as possible.

The company is aiming the scheme mainly at medium and large retailers – companies that traditionally are likely to use dedicated transport and warehousing resources, provided either in-house or by third-party logistics companies under fixed-price contracts with a volume element.