Charlotte Chetland, Planing Sales Manager at Jet Plant Hire Ltd speaks to Highways News about how Jet aims to approach the management of planings very differently to others in the industry.
Jet has a long-standing commitment to sustainable practices, industry compliance and providing solutions that meet the demands of both customers and that go beyond required environmental standards.
With 36 years of experience, we have developed an industry reputation for delivering high-quality road planing solutions in an environmentally responsible way. As part of our ongoing efforts, we have set the bar for sustainability and compliance, with a particular focus on the reuse of road planings and the rigorous tracking of materials from origin to final destination.
Leading the way
At Jet, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. The company has long championed repurposing of 100% of road planings handled, reducing waste and contributing to the conservation of natural resources. Each year, Jet generates almost a million tonnes of road planings through its work on the UK roads. Our planings are diverted away from landfill and instead used by local businesses or recycled into new materials at Asphalt plants.
In addition to environmental focus, Jet is mindful of the logistical aspects of operations. By minimising travel distances for waste materials, vehicle emissions are reduced, helping to maintain a lower carbon footprint. My team and I help ensure that the company’s average tip location is just five miles from job sites, something that not only cuts emissions, but also improves vehicle uptime and reduces costs for our customers.
We’ve also built an extensive database of local tips over the years, which allows us to ensure that materials are being diverted to the most appropriate places, as close to the job site as possible. Our goal is always to operate with efficiency, both in terms of the environment and the bottom line of our customers.
Educating the industry
As regulatory standards in waste management continue to tighten, Jet is dedicated to educating customers on how to remain compliant with industry requirements. Recent consultations have highlighted a potential new requirement for customers to pay for waste exemptions. This is a change that could add further complexity to the already challenging landscape. I’m hearing of a lot of confusion in the industry right now and we’re certainly seeing that with our customers. Some companies are ahead of the game, ensuring they are compliant, while others are still struggling to navigate the regulatory landscape. Our job is to help bridge that gap where we can…
We are actively working to raise awareness and provide our customers with the tools they need to stay compliant. Before Christmas, I visited several customers and found that many didn’t even know how to check if a company had the necessary waste exemptions in place. We aim to support and educate customers, guiding them through the process and helping them ensure everything is handled correctly, from waste transfer notes to legal compliance.
This commitment to supporting customers has led to Jet’s growing reputation as the leading voice in the planing industry. We want to make sure our customers know that we’re not just providing a service, we’re providing a solution. Whether it’s raising a waste exemption or ensuring all the necessary documentation is in place, we’re here to help.
Traceability and digital innovation
In an age where transparency is paramount, Jet has embraced digital innovation to enhance the traceability of materials and the efficiency of its operations. We use a fully digital audit trail, ensuring that every material that we move is tracked and recorded accurately. We send a waste transfer note to customers as soon as it’s completed, so they have a clear record of where the material has gone and when. This allows us to provide our customers with peace of mind knowing that everything is fully compliant and traceable.
This level of transparency is part of our broader effort to drive industry standards forward. While many companies in the sector are still operating manually, our digital approach sets us apart. By leveraging technology, we ensure that that we not only meet, but actually exceed industry expectations, for compliance, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.
Supporting sustainability
Jet’s dedication to sustainability extends beyond the road planing industry itself. We are continually searching for innovative uses of road planings in diverse sectors, from agriculture to equestrian centres. We’ve even been able to repurpose planings for an alpaca centre!
In addition to supporting these industries, we are always looking for ways to reduce our wider environmental impact. We want to push past the boundaries of our current targets and KPIs to maximise our performance. Our team works really hard every day to ensure we’re always improving and leading by example. Whatever our target is each year, we always aim to go even further.
Committed to doing things the right way
We take safety seriously at Jet. We don’t send our two-metre planers out without a full three-man crew to ensure everything is carried out to the highest possible standards. We also use Volvo Connect technology to navigate and track our vehicles, avoiding hazards like low bridges that traditional sat-nav systems might miss.
Our dedication to excellence is also reflected in our customer-focused approach. Our customer base is constantly growing and I believe that’s partly due to the transparency we offer. We are also regularly highlighting our work and opportunities on our social media channels. This sharing of information helps to educate the industry and helps support our customers in any way we can.
In an industry demonstrating varying levels of compliance, I believe Jet has made a name for itself as the leader. We set the standard in sustainability, compliance, and customer service. Everyone is very proud of what we’re doing and achieving within the business.
PIC-JET PLANT
