Mainfreight moves towards electric forklifts

Electric forklifts are on the horizon for New Zealand’s largest freight company.

Mainfreight managing director Don Braid told TVNZ’s Q & A programme that the company is focused on reducing its carbon emissions.

Finding suppliers of bio-diesel, installing solar systems on its facilities and moving towards an all-electric forklift fleet are some of the steps it will take.

Using more rail is another focus as it’s more carbon efficient than moving freight by road, he says.

The company has recently invested more than $40 million into KiwiRail and backs the Labour-led Government’s push to develop the infrastructure.

Braid support a zero carbon goal but “it’s going to take some time to get there”.

“Environmentally we’ve got to be as good as we can … where we can we will do our best to make sure we look after the environment,” he says.