Industry News

Falling levels of air pollution during the Covid-19 pandemic could see Leeds and Sheffield City Councils drop their plans for charging Clean Air Zones. In April this year the government announced the suspension of all Clean Air Zones until “no earlier” than January 2021, as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent update on Leeds’ CAZ plans James Lewis, deputy leader for Leeds City Council, said that pollution levels had fallen “significantly” in the city [...]

The post Plummeting pollution levels prompt Leeds and Sheffield to review CAZ plans appeared first on Motor Transport.

Trevor Milton, chief executive of electric and hydrogen-powered truck start-up Nikola Motor Company, has resigned amid claims the company made fraudulent claims about its technology. The resignation comes just two weeks after Nikola signed a $2bn (£1.6bn) partnership with General Motors. Nikola also has a joint venture with Iveco to produce an electric truck. The deal saw Iveco invest $250m in the joint venture in September last year. Milton’s departure follows a report from hedge fund firm Hindenburg Research earlier [...]

The post Nikola chief resigns amid claims that firm’s electric truck technology is an “intricate fraud” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Highways England (HE) has warned HGV drivers not to ignore road closures on the A5 in Warwickshire after receiving reports of vehicles flouting the law. Essential maintenance between Redgate and Higham has meant the A5 is closed in the evenings, but HE bosses said lorries were attempting to access the route from the nearby A444. “We are receiving reports from other road users that heavy goods vehicles and other vehicles are attempting to access the A5 at the A444 Longshoot [...]

The post HGV drivers warned not to use A5 during closure appeared first on Motor Transport.

A permit system for trucks leaving Kent for continental Europe after the EU transition period will be enforced by the DVSA with £300 fines and vehicle impoundings. The Kent Access Permit (KAP) is expected to significantly reduce the number of unready HGVs reaching Kent from 1 January and reduce pressure on Kent’s roads, the port of Dover and Eurotunnel. Under proposals consulted on last month, the KAP will support the Smart Freight software, which is intended to be used by [...]

The post Kent Access Permit scheme to be enforced with £300 fines appeared first on Motor Transport.

Unite has called for the public release of a government document leaked to the Guardian which details potential queues of up to 7,000 lorries across Kent after the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December. Unite said the report – as well as information on potential post-Brexit disruptions around other coastal regions housing major ports – should be released to allow impacted industries, workers, councils and communities time to prepare. The union, which warned on Monday (14 September) that the [...]

The post Unite calls for leaked document on “post-Brexit chaos” in Kent to be released appeared first on Motor Transport.

Two hero police officers helped save the life of an HGV driver, who suffered a heart attack at the wheel on the motorway and collided with the central reservation. Shane Sharkey entered cardiac arrest on the M60 and lost control of his lorry, which then hit the concrete central reservation causing extensive damage to his vehicle and resulted in the contents being emptied across both carriageways. PC Chris Pixton and PC Patrick Geoghegan-Shaw of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) intervened and [...]

The post Police save HGV driver’s life after motorway crash appeared first on Motor Transport.

Kent police said border checks were returning to normal after an operation at Dover port prompted the implementation of Operation Stack and six-hour queues. Kent police did not disclose the reason behind the sudden checks of all vehicles and passengers exiting the country on 15 and 16 September, but in a statement it said the operation had now been “stood down”. It added: “Border control checks are now returning to normality.” Earlier, the port of Dover said it was part [...]

The post Police operation at Dover port causes “mayhem” appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has laid down four elements for achieving a “sustainable recovery” and has urged the government to consider the environmental, economic and social needs of business and people. The association pointed out that the industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and many companies have seen work all but dry up. However, it cautioned against the government’s emphasis on a “green recovery” and said a sustainable recovery was more relevant: “Far too often the term ‘green’ is used [...]

The post “Green recovery” a poor excuse for road disruption, claims RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

A leaked government document warns that lack of haulier preparations for Brexit could create major delays on routes to the UK’s channel ports with HGV drivers waiting two days to reach the front of queues of up to 7,000 trucks – whether there is a trade deal with the EU or not. However, the RHA hit back this week, laying the blame for any post-Brexit border delays at the feet of the government. A “reasonable worst-case scenario” report, drawn up [...]

The post Operators face queues of 7,000 trucks in Kent and a two-day wait to reach border, leaked post-Brexit report warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Axtec is inviting operators to its stand at the online Commercial Motor Show to share its expertise on ensuring fleet vehicles are not inadvertently overloaded. The axle weighing specialist has been manufacturing in-depot weighbridges, on-board and portable devices since its launch in 1991 and said it is the only UK company working exclusively in this field. Its expertise is tapped into by the DVSA for calibration of the UK’s network of national weighbridges, which can be used for prosecuting overloaded [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Take a load off your mind with weighing axle specialist Axtec appeared first on Motor Transport.

A police operation which used an unmarked lorry to target large commercial vehicles in the Lincolnshire area of the A1 has resulted in 32 trucks being stopped over a three-day period. A total of 49 vehicles were stopped during Operation Tramline. These included 32 lorries, 11 LGVs and six private vehicles. The 46 offences identified were: Mobile phone – 3 Seatbelt - 37 Construction and use offences – 2 Driving without due care – 2 No insurance – 1 Drivers’ [...]

The post Police stop 32 trucks on A1 using unmarked vehicle appeared first on Motor Transport.

DAF Trucks has shared its sustainability strategy in the lead up to this month’s online Commercial Motor Show, and in anticipation of the government’s publication this autumn of its Transport Decarbonisation Plan. In a video titled ‘On the road to even cleaner road transport’, DAF director of product development, Ron Borsboom, explains the significant steps the truck-maker has taken to reduce transport’s impact on the environment, and how the company is preparing for the future. The DAF strategy includes both [...]

The post CM Show 2020: DAF shares sustainability strategy for existing and future technology appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Covid-19 pandemic could see operators take a more radical approach to their future plans with a more rapid uptake of modern technology and electric vehicles than originally planned, according to FleetCheck research. Peter Golding, FleetCheck MD, said: “With the coronavirus crisis now in its sixth month, we are starting to see some strong indications of how fleets are planning to approach the next few months as well as into 2021 and beyond. “It’s an interesting moment because the current [...]

The post Pandemic may speed radical transition to electric, FleetCheck claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

Twenty three European automotive industry leaders are calling on the EU and UK to “pull out all the stops” to avoid a no-deal Brexit and secure a free trade agreement (FTA) or face “devastating” trade and job losses across the sector. The group, which includes the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), warned this week that a no-deal Brexit will cost the pan-European automotive [...]

The post Avoid a no-deal Brexit or face “devastating” trade and job losses, automotive industry warns EU and UK negotiators appeared first on Motor Transport.

Closing London Bridge to vehicles on weekdays is a “step too far”, Logistics UK warned Transport for London (TfL) this week. TfL is set to temporarily ban vehicles from London Bridge from Wednesday (16 September 2020). The ban will be in place from 7am to 7pm on Mondays to Fridays. Natalie Chapman, head of urban policy at Logistics UK, said the ban will lead to more congestion and higher pollution levels in the capital. She said: “Logistics UK and its [...]

The post London Bridge vehicle ban a “step too far”, warns Logistics UK appeared first on Motor Transport.

Moves towards delivering dangerous goods driver training remotely are underway following concerns that classroom training is putting candidates and training providers at risk of contracting Covid-19. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) told motortransport.co.uk that although ADR drivers must currently attend training centres to take a test, a transition towards online examinations was now being looked at. One training provider said he couldn’t understand why he had to put trainers and candidates at risk: “The authorities are happy to allow Driver [...]

The post Covid risk may force ADR driver training online appeared first on Motor Transport.

Sheffield has dropped “economically damaging plans” to introduce a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) after Covid-19 showed there were alternative ways of improving air quality without charging businesses. Following decisions by Bristol and Leeds to change their approach to driving down emissions, Sheffield City Council said the situation was now “dramatically different” compared to when it first developed its proposals. In a statement, the council said: “The situation has changed significantly and unexpectedly due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and we [...]

The post Sheffield scraps Clean Air Zone plan appeared first on Motor Transport.

Teletrac Navman has launched a campaign to celebrate the “hidden heroes” of haulage and give a voice to commercial vehicle drivers who have kept Britain moving through Covid-19. ‘Who is a Commercial Driver?’ sees 15 fleet drivers join forces and share their stories about the challenges they have faced, delivered through an inspiring video campaign. The initiative, in partnership with road safety charity Brake, aims to raise awareness of the extra pressure the pandemic placed on lorry drivers as they [...]

The post Campaign launched to find pandemic’s “hidden heroes” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Pallet network hauliers need to urgently campaign for pallet weight guidance to protect their staff from harm and themselves from prosecution, Rase Distribution chairman Geoff Hill warned this week. His warning follows the news that Reason Transport indicated a plea of guilty to charges in connection with the death of HGV driver Petru Pop at its hearing on 28 August at High Wycombe Magistrates Court. Pop was crushed to death as he was trying to unload a pallet of tiles [...]

The post Reason Transport case highlights urgent need for pallet weight guidelines, says Rase Distribution chairman appeared first on Motor Transport.

Trakm8, technology provider of fleet management, insurance telematics, optimisation and dashboard camera systems, will be showcasing an array of innovation at this year’s virtual Commercial Motor Show (29 September – 1 October). Visitors to the free-to-attend virtual exhibition will have the opportunity to learn more about Trakm8’s technology solutions through the use of interactive aids, such as literature and video downloads, as well as access to the company’s industry experts through live chat and video functions. Trakm8 said its systems [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Trakm8 focuses on ‘intelligent, game-changing’ fleet management technology appeared first on Motor Transport.

Minister for the cabinet office Michael Gove has agreed to a roundtable discussion between industry representatives and members of the cabinet office to discuss post-Brexit transition plans for hauliers. The UK is due to leave the EU single market and customs union on 31 December, sparking widespread fears that the new arrangement will cause chaos for hauliers at the channel ports. Last week RHA director of policy, Rod McKenzie told BBC news that the UK is "sleepwalking into a disaster" [...]

The post Michael Gove to meet with industry bodies to discuss Brexit border and customs concerns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK has urged the government to carefully consider the locations of 29 temporary lorry parks it has proposed to build to ease pressure on hauliers after Brexit. The HGV parks are intended to form an internal border, providing a base for document and vehicle checks for trucks entering and leaving the UK when the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.. Work has reportedly started on a lorry park in Ashford, Kent with other potential sites including Liverpool, Salford, [...]

The post New Brexit lorry parks must meet key criteria, government told appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Esso Card from WEX Europe Services has become the first product to be offered under fleet management software company FleetCheck’s affinity programme. The new initiative is designed to offer FleetCheck’s more than 1,000 customers the opportunity to access a range of essential products and services at preferential rates. Under the Esso Card offering, FleetCheck customers will not have to pay an annual subscription fee for each fuel card and will also be offered a discount on every litre of [...]

The post FleetCheck offers hauliers fuel discount with new Esso Card appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK is warning that any attempt by the government to negate parts of the EU Withdrawal Agreement will have severe consequences for UK supply chains. The call came as the RHA criticised the lack of “energy” being exercised by government departments to prepare traders for the UK’s exit from the EU on 1 January next year. Alex Veitch, Logistics UK public policy general manager said: “Logistics UK is concerned about reports that the UK government may jeopardise British business’ [...]

The post Supply chain in jeopardy as traders struggle with Brexit policy, government warned appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operators planning to extend their fleet replacement cycles in the wake of the coronavirus crisis could incur expensive service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs, epyx warns. The company provides the 1link Service Network SMR platform through which fleet operators can buy and manage SMR from around 9,000 franchise, independent and fast-fits. Debbie Fox, epyx commercial director, warned this week that SMR costs can rise “considerably” in the fourth and fifth years of the cycle. She added: “It seems like an [...]

The post Extending fleet life in face of Covid-19 could be false economy, epyx tells hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) has welcomed fleet driver risk management firm DriveTech as its latest new member this week. The organisation has gained 75 new members since its launch in March this year. The AFP was formed by the merger of the Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) and the Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM). The AFP represents operators running light commercial fleets, vans and cars. Paul Hollick, AFP chair, said: “Since March, we’ve had over 75 [...]

The post Association of Fleet Professionals welcomes 75th new member appeared first on Motor Transport.

Almost a third of haulage companies are unhappy with the country’s motorways and A-roads, according to a report. The survey by Transport Focus measured the satisfaction of HGV managers from 526 logistics and coach businesses. It found two fifths of businesses that run lorries and coaches on England’s motorways and major A-roads are satisfied with how those roads meet their business needs. But three in ten companies overall were dissatisfied with road performance. The rating was based on five key [...]

The post Hauliers give mixed verdict on UK road network appeared first on Motor Transport.

CEVA Logistics is aiming to standardise and simplify its 4PL global operations with the roll out of logistics platform CargoWise. The CargoWise platform allows logistics operators to execute complex transactions in areas such as freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, shipping, tracking, land transport, e-commerce, and cross-border compliance, enabling them to manage their operations on one database across multiple users, functions, countries, languages and currencies. CEVA will roll out the platform over the next five years, replacing multiple legacy systems. The [...]

The post CEVA Logistics launches global roll out of CargoWise platform appeared first on Motor Transport.

Warrington Borough Council has criticised government plans to create a Brexit lorry park at Appleton Thorn, close to the M56. If the plans go ahead the HGV park will act as an internal border, providing a base for paperwork checks, alongside sample vehicle checks, for trucks entering and leaving the country after Brexit, from 1 January next year. It is part of wider government plans to open a number of major lorry parks across the country to act as border [...]

The post Warrington Brexit lorry park plans slammed by council appeared first on Motor Transport.

Road Skills Online will be demonstrating our Professional Development Plan Online training from their booth at the upcoming Commercial Motor Show. Road Skills Online are excited to share how the bite sized toolbox talks will help you and your drivers to remain safe, legal and compliant.  The professional development plan is complementary to your other periodic training as it embraces all drivers in a regular, consistent training culture, thus overcoming the ‘forgetting curve’ which follows conventional training. The professional development plan [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Develop your professional road skills online appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tranzaura build pioneering technology solutions that make safety, awareness and efficient work practices the centre of everyday life for people in transport, across all industries. Tranzaura have 10 years’ experience in the provision of digital solutions to the transport sector. In this time, we have worked with a number of SME, national and multinational clients across the UK and Ireland to digitise their transport operational processes. Our integrated product portfolio consists of five technology solutions (delivered on both desktop and [...]

The post CM Show 2020: All you need to digitise your transport operation appeared first on Motor Transport.

The formal start of construction of HS2 has begun, with contractors saying the work heralds a “jobs boom”. The move to full construction was described by the government as a “shovels in the ground” moment and marks the start of one of the biggest infrastructure projects ever undertaken. Having received Notice to Proceed earlier this year, Balfour Beatty, part of a joint venture involved in construction of the high speed rail link, said it would become one of the biggest [...]

The post Contractors predict HS2 “jobs boom” as full construction begins appeared first on Motor Transport.

Anglo-Swedish electric vehicle start up Volta Trucks has officially launched its 16-tonne GVW battery electric urban delivery truck, the Volta Zero. Designed as an EV from the ground up, CEO Rob Fowler said the vehicle was “available now to meet customers’ desire to decarbonise”. The company has already taken orders for 12 vehicles from customers including Fowler's former employer DPD to take part in a pilot in the UK and France in H1 2021 and expects to build 500 units [...]

The post Volta Zero battery electric truck designed to save lives as well as the planet appeared first on Motor Transport.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK is showcasing its market-leading products and services at the Commercial Motor Show 2020. The jewel in the crown for Mercedes-Benz Trucks is the new Actros. Show attendees can find out why the truck was crowned International Truck of the Year 2020, and learn about its pioneering innovations, including MirrorCam, Multimedia Cockpit, Enhanced Predictive Powertrain Control, Active Brake Assist 5 and Active Drive Assist. These features increase driver comfort, business efficiency and safety, all of which will be [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Join Mercedes-Benz in the virtual world appeared first on Motor Transport.

Government plans to ban parking on pavements across England must not be at the expense of freight deliveries, according to Logistics UK. A consultation into proposals that could give councils greater powers to ban parking on pavements and fine drivers was launched this week after a review found the practice disproportionately affected the visually impaired and wheelchair and mobility scooter users. Three options have been put forward: making it easier for councils to prohibit parking; giving councils the power to [...]

The post Concerns raised over plan to ban pavement parking appeared first on Motor Transport.

Software and risk management company FleetCheck has designed a series of factsheets for FORS companies after conducting research among members that revealed common areas of concern. The six information sheets, entitled Driver Engagement; Managing Compliance; Automated Fuel Reporting; Common Challenges; FORS Tools and Five Common Mistakes, are designed to give fleet managers the information they need to reach the and maintain their FORS standards. Peter Golding, FleetCheck MD said: “Through our existing collaborations with FORS we work with hundreds of [...]

The post FORS fleets reveal biggest fears appeared first on Motor Transport.

Robust testing among hauliers of software to avoid long queues and checks at the border before the end of the Brexit transition period is looking increasingly remote, freight groups have warned. With just over 100 days until the country cuts its ties with the EU, the industry is becoming increasingly concerned that so-called smart freight software – which is required to be used by every company involved in exporting goods to the continent – will not be ready for adequate [...]

The post Smart freight system to avoid Brexit border chaos “won’t be ready in time”, government warned appeared first on Motor Transport.

Cloud-based transport software firm Simacan has joined forces with eCMR platform TransFollow to offer combined information about shipments alongside updates about status and arrival times. The partnership will involve Simacan integrating the TransFollow eCMR into its software and Simacan’s smart estimated times of arrival will become visible on TransFollow’s platform. The move allows transport planners to use the Simacan platform to manage the trip execution in real time based on the combined information and in addition to alerts about deviations [...]

The post Pandemic speeds digitalisation of transport planning appeared first on Motor Transport.

Attendees at the CM Show can see first-hand how Lytx machine vision and artificial intelligence-powered solutions help equip fleet managers with the tools to proactively tackle some of the toughest problems facing their drivers today, such as distracted driving. Damian Penney, vice president of Lytx Europe, said: ‘‘We’re delighted to participate in this year’s virtual Commercial Motor show where we will be discussing the solutions fleet managers can put in place to support their most important asset – the driver. ‘‘2020 [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Keeping drivers safe with intelligent camera technology appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK has called on the government to scrap plans to ramp up fuel duty to help pay for the Covid-19 crisis. Media reports have claimed chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering raising duty by 5p per litre in his autumn budget, ending a 10-year tax freeze. However, Logistics UK director of policy, Elizabeth de Jong, said the association was "extremely concerned" by the rumours. "Logistics businesses have worked tirelessly during the pandemic to ensure the nation is supplied with all [...]

The post Fuel duty rise would be huge blow to sector’s recovery, warns Logistics UK appeared first on Motor Transport.

Skills for Logistics has announced the launch of a major new independent trade association for the UK’s specialist logistics training providers. The Logistics Skills Network aims to bring together key organisations from the sector to develop and share best practices, knowledge, experience and resources, and offer a communication platform for the coordination of collective interests. The network intends to work closely with government organisations such as the DVSA and DfT and will also receive strategic support from industry leaders. Skills [...]

The post New trade body launched to unite training providers appeared first on Motor Transport.

TRP, the UK’s largest all-makes truck-and-trailer parts brand, supported by DAF Trucks, is to receive its own dedicated presence at the Commercial Motor Show. Details of DAF genuine parts will be available on DAF Trucks’ main stand at the show. With TRP experts on-hand to describe the TRP brand, show-attendees will experience a number of TRP’s many service offerings including the DAF Webshop, the online outlet which hosts the eCatalogue of TRP’s entire range, TRP’s national fleet programme and a [...]

The post CM Show 2020: TRP looks the part and takes centre stage appeared first on Motor Transport.

E-Cargo Vehicles are pleased to announce their product availability into the UK logistic sector. We fully understand the world of logistics are changing . The last mile delivery brings with it its own challenging problems. Emission levels, congestion, cost and reliability, and ever demanding client deadlines. We can offer a range of last mile purpose designed, all electric, articulated three wheeled cargo vehicles. Various body options serve a number of sectors, from parcels, fresh and chilled foods, take aways, flowers, [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Electric cargo vehicles offer clean last-mile solution appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Air1 team are exhibiting at their first virtual show in September, the Commercial Motor Show. With face-to-face events on hold for the foreseeable, this event is the ideal exhibition for visitors to come along and still discuss their AdBlue requirements, via video calls, and to see what Air1 has to offer. Air1 has developed a culture of working in partnership with our customers and suppliers ensuring that you get a competitive, reliable service that is both comprehensive and friendly [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Sort all your AdBlue requirements in the virtual world appeared first on Motor Transport.

Given the current circumstances, it is even more important that transport operators are obtaining the best possible pricing from their suppliers for the goods and services they require. Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) are experts in procurement and have been helping UK businesses and organisations for over 25 years to ensure that they receive best value on an ongoing basis. ERA clients include leading industry operators such as Clipper Logistics, Lloyd Fraser, Breedon Aggregates, PD Ports, and many other fleet operators [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Come and meet the procurement experts appeared first on Motor Transport.

Since 2005, Lisle Design has been manufacturing the Digidown range of download tools for Digital Tachographs. Digidown has become the gold standard for such products; the Lisle Design name is synonymous with excellence and reliability. This reputation is built on three key tenets: reliable products, first class customer support and caring for our family of partners and distributors throughout Europe. What’s new from Lisle Design at the CM Show 2020? This year we are focused on a new remote downloading [...]

The post CM Show 2020: ‘Gold standard’ for digi tach downloads appeared first on Motor Transport.

A range of e-learning training modules that advise commercial vehicle workshops on health and safety rules and regulations in light of Covid-19 has been announced by Inspire International UK. The risk management company said statistics show that half of companies expect an increase in their risk profile as more staff return to work and 71% expect to invest in legal compliance, with the largest anticipated risk being health and safety. To address this, Inspire is offering a ‘Covid-19 Return to [...]

The post Risk firm offers workshops post-Covid health and safety training modules appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has begun ramping up the industry’s profile as it embarks on a 13-week campaign culminating in National Lorry Week between 16-22 November. The event will showcase logistics as being innovative, inclusive and sustainable and follows the HGV Heroes campaign, in which the trade association celebrated the very best of the industry after staff went above and beyond to keep goods moving during lockdown. Read more Love the lorry, it would be a poorer world without them National Lorry [...]

The post RHA begins National Lorry Week campaign appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tesco and Ocado are among a small army of companies recruited by the government to help map the road network and identify “pothole hotspots” to pinpoint where funding is needed most. In what the Department for Transport (DfT) called a “first-of-its-kind audit”, data will be collated on current potholes identified by businesses and combined with roads imagery from highways mapping firm Gaist to make journeys as smooth and safe as possible. The DfT said Uber and Deliveroo were also on [...]

The post DfT calls on delivery firms to pinpoint pothole hotspots appeared first on Motor Transport.

SmartWitness will be exhibiting their full line of video telematics solutions at the virtual Commercial Motor Show including TfL Direct Vision Standard (DVS) systems, their latest line of 4G hardware platforms, and innovative cloud-based intelligence. Since 2007, the company has been a global player in the fleet video space focusing on reliability, ease-of-use, and powerful analytics. For DVS, SmartWitness will be providing free consultations to assist fleet owners with safety rating evaluations for all vehicles over 11-tonnes and HGVs that [...]

The post CM Show 2020: All you need to know about Direct Vision appeared first on Motor Transport.

TyreWatch will be ready to roll at this autumn’s Commercial Motor Show with its real-time, connected tyre management technology for fleets. The business strives to help customers run efficiently at all times, with tyre monitoring a key element in reducing fleet operation costs. TyreWatch technology combines continuous tyre monitoring, Formula One style telematics and powerful artificial intelligence. Sensors which process both pressure and temperature are mounted securely within the wheels. These send data to the on-board TyreWatch controller, which collates data from [...]

The post CM Show 2020: TyreWatch brings connected, real-time monitoring to fleets appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fastview360 was born out of the haulage industry and we understand the issues that the transport industry have when it comes to accidents, drivers behaviour and safety. We have approached the development of our product with the haulier and HGVs in mind, so everything is solid, strong and very reliable. We offer an unlimited extended warranty and are more than happy to back that up with our unmatched service standards that only come from the transport industries work ethic. All [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Cameras designed by hauliers for hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

One of the largest warehouses within the M25, offering the potential to reach 21 million consumers within two hours, has been granted planning permission. Property group Goodman said the high spec 340,000 sq ft single unit warehouse at Purfleet Commercial Park in Essex would efficiently service e-commerce, retail and third-party logistics customers. Based half a mile from junctions 30 and 31 of the M25 and 16 miles from central London, Goodman said Purfleet 338 also taps into 9,300 job seekers [...]

The post New Goodman warehouse in Essex will service e-commerce and 3PL customers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Nearly 11% of logistics businesses are still reporting severe or extreme disruption to their overall freight volumes in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Feedback from a new industry panel also showed that more than a third of companies would need an extension of the coronavirus job retention scheme to 2021 in order to allow them to continue or resume trading effectively. Around half will be seeking relief to business rates or deferring their VAT, NI or corporation tax payments. Read [...]

The post Third of logistics firms need extension to furlough scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has expressed "serious concerns" over proposed changes to the Highway Code that it said would leave HGV drivers legally liable in the event of a collision. The DfT's three key proposals are that all drivers give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road, that cyclists be given priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead, and that a new 'Hierarchy of Road Users' be introduced. But in an updated statement following fears first raised last week, [...]

The post “Frightening and irresponsible” – Highway Code changes would transfer legal liability to HGV drivers, RHA claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

In 2020, Diesel Technic UK & Ireland is celebrating its fifth anniversary and since 2015 has been reliably supplying its distribution partners and their workshop customers in Great Britain and Ireland with automotive parts and accessories with the product brands DT Spare Parts and SIEGEL Automotive. The parent company was founded in 1972, and today, Diesel Technic is one of the largest suppliers in the automotive sector. Customers in over 150 countries especially value the one-stop shop: 41,000 products from [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Diesel Technic celebrates fifth anniversary appeared first on Motor Transport.

THe DVSA has announced that officers performing roadside checks and site visits are to wear body-worn cameras. Slightly larger than a credit card and usually worn on the chest, the devices record video and audio in the same way as a personal CCTV unit. "We are investing in ‘bodycams’ for all frontline enforcement staff to reduce physical and verbal assaults," a DVSA spokesman confirmed. "The move brings us in line with many other enforcement bodies such as the police who [...]

The post DVSA staff to get bodycams to protect them from assault appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK has warned the government it needs to act now to stimulate economic activity and restore consumer confidence amid claims the nation’s businesses are "stagnating" after two months of cautious re-opening following the pandemic. “Logistics businesses of all types are finding it increasingly difficult to remain solvent, with the end of the furloughing scheme fast approaching, and it will become more expensive for those who remain in the scheme,” said chief executive David Wells. “At the same time, faltering [...]

The post “Urgent action needed to stop avalanche of redundancies and insolvencies,” warns head of Logistics UK appeared first on Motor Transport.

Government plans to reallocate road space is based on a “fantasy” and should be reconsidered, according to the RHA. The association is accusing the government of failing to consider the practical reality and economic consequences of hiving off road space for cyclists and pedestrians, and of using the Covid-19 pandemic to drive through the reallocation policy without adequate consultation. It warns that it will lead to increased congestion and delays to deliveries, adversely affecting both local and national businesses. Duncan [...]

The post Ditch “fantasy” road allocation policy, RHA tells government appeared first on Motor Transport.

Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan is to stand down early next year. O’Sullivan, who was appointed in 2015, has led Highways England’s (HE’s) delivery of the government’s roads programme. He has also overseen the controversial smart motorways system which was suspended earlier this year after the Transport Select Committee and the Police Federation warned that the practice of using the hard shoulder as a live lane in periods of congestion had created “deathtraps”, largely responsible for 38 deaths on [...]

The post Highways England boss Jim O’Sullivan to leave next year appeared first on Motor Transport.

The head of one of the UK's leading hauliers has urged the industry to sign an online petition demanding councils and major developers include HGV welfare facilities on their agendas. Moreton Cullimore, MD of the Cullimore Group, said a full review of planning legislation is needed to force councils to include adequate, safe and secure HGV parking with refreshment and washing facilities for drivers during the building of large distribution parks or when undertaking major road improvement or other construction [...]

The post Cullimore Group urges industry to sign online petition calling for improved HGV welfare facilities appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Office of the Traffic Commissioner (OTC) is warning public inquiry (PI) attendees that they must follow the 14-day quarantine rule when arriving back in the UK from a country that is not on the exemption list. The warning follows “several worrying incidents” since the OTC reintroduced physical attendance at PIs, which were suspended at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. In a statement, the OTC said: “In the short time since we reintroduced physical attendance at hearings, there have [...]

The post OTC warns of “worrying” incidents of PI attendees breaking quarantine rules appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has called on the government to review its clean air zone (CAZ) policy after another local authority said it was looking at alternative ways of improving air quality without charging drivers. Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said officials are exploring opportunities to transform travel in a bid to clean up the city’s air quality in the shortest possible time. The move comes after the government had ordered Bristol City Council to impose a clean air zone (CAZ) to bring [...]

The post RHA urges government to review clean air policy as Bristol considers scrapping charges appeared first on Motor Transport.

Triangle Management Services has compiled the 2020 edition of the UK Domestic Express Parcel Carriers Digest. The publication is designed to be a handy compendium of the UK express parcel industry, examining the 15 key UK carriers that offer a national parcel delivery service throughout the UK. The carriers included are: APC Overnight; DHL Parcel UK; DPD; DPD Local; DX Freight; FedEx UK; Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA); Hermes; Parcelforce Worldwide; Royal Mail; TNT Express; Tuffnells; UPS and Yodel. An estimated [...]

The post New digest examines impact of pandemic on top parcel carriers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Technology firm TRAILAR is heading online to the Commercial Motor Show next month with its innovative solar product for HGVs and vans. Over the three-day show, taking place from 29 September to 1 October, visitors will be able to learn and gain valuable insight into how the solar technology works, and the potential operational savings across their fleets. Downloadable product specification sheets will provide key facts and savings from each type of vehicle, as well as a link to an [...]

The post CM Show 2020: TRAILAR shines light on cost and emissions benefits of solar technology appeared first on Motor Transport.

Delays to the construction of a road linking a new motorway junction with a major distribution centre is reportedly forcing thousands of HGV drivers to clog up a local A road. The £50m junction on the M49 at Avonmouth was completed over eight months ago and is due to connect to a DC housing companies including Amazon, Royal Mail, Tesco, Lidl, Next, DHL and The Range. However, it is understood drivers using the junction would reach a dead end from [...]

The post HGV drivers left frustrated over delays to DC link road appeared first on Motor Transport.

Vital rail and road upgrades that will create jobs, increase connectivity and boost the economy will be delivered more quickly thanks to the launch of a new 'Acceleration Unit', transport secretary Grant Shapps announced today (21 August). The new team of specialists will join the DfT to tackle delays to infrastructure projects and drive forward progress. The unit is set to be in place next month and be led by Darren Shirley, chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport. [...]

The post Government to speed up transport infrastructure projects with new Acceleration Unit appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK has raised concerns over the government’s consultation on Operation Brock enforcement, which closes on Sunday (23 August) and relates to road usage at the Channel ports, particularly across Kent, after the end of the EU transition period. The move to relaunch Operation Brock is contained in a consultation document published this week which acknowledges that there could be border queues created by the UK’s exit from the EU in December, for at least the first six months of [...]

The post Operation Brock won’t solve border friction, warns Logistics UK appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Association of Pallet Networks (APN) said new figures for the first six months of 2020 show the UK pallet network sector was "far less affected in terms of volume than the early experience of European counterparts indicated". The first two quarters of 2020 saw pressure on pallet volumes, with a 10% drop in next day deliveries compared to the same period the previous year. This reduction began early in the year, possibly caused by the uncertainty of the Brexit [...]

The post Pallet volumes resilient during pandemic, says APN amid “cautious optimism” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Leeds City Council has announced that their planned clean air zone (CAZ) has been “suspended for the foreseeable future”, with a review earmarked for the autumn. Officials said that improvements in air quality during the pandemic could mean government support and funding is withdrawn. Chris Ashley, the RHA’s head of policy on the environment and regulation, said: “I am pleased that Leeds City Council appears to be taking on board the points we’re making. “As we emerge from lockdown into [...]

The post Leeds Clean Air Zone plan “suspended for foreseeable future” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Analytics company GlobalData has confirmed that the Covid-19 pandemic has begun forcing transport and logistics companies to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies. Principal disruptive tech analyst, Manish Dixit said the main factors driving companies to go digital were increasing labour shortages, forced closure of factories and disruptions in delivery routes and logistics hubs due to lockdowns. Dixit said "big data" and "digital twins" were technologies that UK transport companies would be likely to adopt in the wake of the [...]

The post Digital technologies to power supply chain of the future, say analysts appeared first on Motor Transport.

The UK government is calling for the logistics industry’s views on the use of automated vehicles on motorways. The Call for Evidence, launched by DfT today, will focus on the Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS) - which can take over control of the vehicle at low speeds, keeping it in lane on motorways. The technology is expected to be available in cars entering the UK market from Spring 2021. ALKS is designed to enable drivers to delegate the task of [...]

The post DfT seeks industry views on use of automated vehicles on motorways appeared first on Motor Transport.

A consortium which includes autonomous tech firm StreetDrone has won £2.4m of funding to develop self-driving 40-tonne trucks capable of moving parts and assemblies between Nissan’s Sunderland car manufacturing plant and local businesses. The 800-acre Sunderland site will host the proof-of-concept project, which aims to evaluate how 5G connected and autonomous logistics operations can be used in industrial supply chain operations. The 5G Connected and Autonomous Logistics project, dubbed 5GCAL, will develop software and hardware solutions spanning redundant braking systems, [...]

The post Plan to develop 40-tonne autonomous trucks gets government funding appeared first on Motor Transport.

Shell has launched a new European electronic tolling solution (EETS) for heavy-duty fleets to help simplify the complexity of cross-border toll payments. It is designed to enable drivers to manage tolls in more than 10 countries across Europe and to ensure that fleet managers can keep track of a range of fuel and non-fuel purchases. These include toll payments - along with Shell Fuel Card expenses - with a single set of invoices in their own currency, managed through Shell [...]

The post Shell to simplify European tolling for fleets appeared first on Motor Transport.

The transport and logistics industry has described claims by the EU Commission that it will restrict access to British trucks at the end of the post-Brexit transition period as “ridiculous” and would leave the EU “shooting itself in the foot”. The Commission said the UK’s request for continued cabotage rights after the 31 December deadline was “fundamentally unbalanced” and would give rights to UK hauliers that are “extremely close to single market membership”, which it was not prepared to allow. [...]

The post Transport industry slams EU over threat to restrict access to UK trucks after Brexit transition period appeared first on Motor Transport.

Descartes Systems is inviting Commercial Motor Show visitors to its virtual stand to see how its technology can help improve fleet operations and compliance. The global software company works with fleet operators of all sizes to boost their efficiency, safety and customer experience. According to Descartes, existing clients have improved delivery capacity by 35% without adding drivers or vehicles and reduced drivers’ hours and tachograph infringements by 50%. It said a complete set of routing, scheduling, mobile applications such as [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Descartes Systems targeting compliance and efficiency gains for fleets appeared first on Motor Transport.

Ever considered joining the DVSA’s Earned Recognition scheme? The voluntary programme sees hauliers regularly sharing fleet performance data in exchange for their vehicles being less likely to be stopped for roadside checks, or visited by DVSA officials on site. Join us online at the Commercial Motor Show 2020 and hear first-hand from the DVSA how the scheme has been progressing since its launch. You’ll also learn about the real-life experience of membership from family haulier Freightlink Europe, and the type of technology [...]

The post CM Show 2020: All you need to know about gaining DVSA’s Earned Recognition appeared first on Motor Transport.

ULEMCo will be on hand at this autumn’s Commercial Motor Show to share with operators how its hydrogen technology can take their vehicles beyond Euro-6 on the road to decarbonisation. Recent results announced from HyTIME, a Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial project partly funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles in partnership with Innovate UK, showed that more than 14 tonnes of CO2 was saved over a two-year period from 11 urban trucks and vans running on green [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Hydrogen technology can decarbonise CVs today, says ULEMCo appeared first on Motor Transport.

Held over three days, the Commercial Motor Show will put exhibitors in front of an audience of thousands of commercial vehicle buyers and operators, all without the need for social distancing. In addition to seeing the latest vehicles, products and services, visitors to this free-to-attend event will be invited to sit in on a wide range of interactive webinar sessions covering a range of topical issues. The event will be opened by Baroness Vere, parliamentary under-Secretary of state for transport. The morning session [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Day one will focus on the Covid-19 impact and HGV decarbonisation appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is targeting transport managers, van operators and retired hauliers with new membership deals. The three offers, launched today (Monday 17 August), sees the association extend membership beyond its business-owner base for the first time. 'Professional Membership' supports transport managers by helping them fulfil their statutory duties. It includes access to RHA’s Help Desk service. 'Individual Membership' gives logistics staff, retired hauliers and non-industry partners the opportunity to hear directly from the RHA, and get access to a benefits [...]

The post RHA throws membership doors wide open in “push for positive change” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Government plans to make HGV drivers bear the greatest responsibility for road safety have been condemned as “extremely dangerous” by the RHA this week. The move is part of a government review of the Highways Code. Its three key proposals are that all drivers give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road, that cyclists be given priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead, and that a new 'Hierarchy of Road Users” be introduced. This would see those [...]

The post Forcing road safety onus onto HGV drivers “extremely dangerous”, claims RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

The UK’s new heavy goods vehicle (HGV) market fell by 73.4% in the second quarter of 2020, with 4,151 units registered, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). While the bulk of the decline was driven by coronavirus lockdown measures, a strong Q2 in 2019 – boosted by the the introduction of smart tachographs saw a large uptick in orders – contributed to this year’s decline. Registrations of rigid trucks fell by 72.6%, [...]

The post SMMT warns of “deeply concerning” drop in new HGV registrations in Q2 appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA has admitted it now has “a number of outstanding applications” for individual vehicle approvals (IVAs) as well as appointment delays, as the enforcement agency battles to support priority testing during the pandemic. Its comments came as one operator told motortransport.co.uk that it had been waiting eight weeks for an IVA, but had been given no indication from the DVSA when its imported Mercedes would finally be tested. Paul Ponsonby, director at Birmingham-based haulier Paul Ponsonby, said it was [...]

The post Fears grow over testing backlog as operators struggle to contact DVSA appeared first on Motor Transport.

DAF Trucks is calling on operators to attend the Commercial Motor Show virtual exhibition next month, describing it as a “fantastic opportunity for the truck industry to reconnect” in the wake of Covid-19. With the unfortunate cancellation of several important industry events this year, DAF Trucks has emerged as a vocal supporter of the Commercial Motor Show, having been one of the first major truck manufacturers to confirm its online attendance. Reiterating the importance of relationships within the truck industry, [...]

The post CM Show 2020: ‘A fantastic opportunity for truck industry to reconnect,’ says DAF Trucks MD appeared first on Motor Transport.

It probably won’t come as a huge shock that this year’s Motor Transport Awards are moving online. We are naturally disappointed that our black-tie ceremony, widely known as THE event of the year for our sector, won’t be taking place in 2020. Goodness knows we all deserve a good night out! But we will always put safety first, as we know all of you do every day in your operations. The good news is that the 34th annual awards will [...]

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FORS will use its Commercial Motor Show presence to reinforce the importance of operational efficiency, with new training routes to help fleets upskill their workforce. Visitors to the free online trade show will hear from FORS on how membership to the voluntary accreditation scheme can increase fleet efficiency; leading to savings in fuel costs, better MPG rates, insurance reductions, and improved customer satisfaction. A recent survey of FORS’ 5,000 members across the UK and Europe found operators have saved over [...]

The post CM Show 2020: FORS drives home efficiency savings and new online training appeared first on Motor Transport.

Webfleet Solutions and Bridgestone are looking forward to an ‘incredible opportunity’ to bring their latest products and connected mobility solutions to life at the virtual Commercial Motor Show this autumn. Both companies are working together to demonstrate how advanced technologies can help truck and van operators drive efficiencies, realise cost-savings, reduce their carbon footprint and raise the bar in service delivery. The Commercial Motor Show is a virtual exhibition and conference running from 29 September to 1 October. Visitors to [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Webfleet Solutions and Bridgestone eye future fleet innovation appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has welcomed the decision by agricultural and food giant AB Agri not to require hauliers to join the SafeContractor accreditation scheme. The body was concerned hauliers were being held to ransom, with further work dependent on signing up to the scheme which requires firms to pay to be assessed against a list of health and safety requirements, and face two audits before qualifying. Read more RHA objects to AB Agri plans to force operators to join SafeContractor accreditation [...]

The post Hauliers not required to join AB Agri SafeContractor accreditation scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operators due to appear at public inquiries are urged to review their financial standing requirements in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, following cases in which firms struggled to demonstrate compliance before the traffic commissioner. Laura Hadzik, Backhouse Jones solicitor, said it had become “increasingly apparent” that many hauliers could not demonstrate they were meeting financial standing and were falling foul of their regulatory requirements at PIs. Hadzik said: “It’s a mandatory requirement throughout the lifetime of your licence, and it’s [...]

The post Check your financial standing before attending public inquiries, lawyer urges appeared first on Motor Transport.

The office of the traffic commissioner’s (OTC) decision to publish the outcomes of driver conduct hearings is “a serious GDPR breach” and could result in legal action being taken, according to a lawyer. Jonathon Backhouse, director at Backhouse Jones, said “sooner or later” a professional driver would sue the OTC for publishing the results of the hearings, as well as the driver’s name, date of birth, postcode and date of the hearing. The OTC announced in June it had started [...]

The post “A serious GDPR breach” – OTC risking legal action for revealing results of driver hearings appeared first on Motor Transport.

As the government tries to strike the delicate balance of reviving the economy while savings lives, the Commercial Motor Show conference will look at the impact of Covid-19 on key sectors of the transport and logistics sector. The lockdown has accelerated the trend away from high street retail towards online shopping, especially in clothing and fashion, and Dino Rocos, non-executive director of Clipper Logistics and former COO of the John Lewis Partnership, will analyse this phenomenon and whether bricks and [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Find out how Covid-19 has changed logistics sector trends appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport Data Interchange (TDI) will be sharing an exciting Tech Talk during next month’s Commercial Motor Show about its latest tachograph analysis software. The Chesterfield-based business has been awarded the contract to provide the software behind the newly launched FORS Tacho Service. Built on TDI’s ‘Disc-Check’, a Software as a Service (Saas) solution, the new FORS Tacho Service provides dedicated tachograph analysis software that can be securely accessed from anywhere and on any device. The software allows multiple methods of [...]

The post CM Show 2020: TDI and FORS launch new tachograph analysis tool for members appeared first on Motor Transport.

An alleged online scam that is said to have cheated around ten hauliers out of thousands of pounds of payment for loads taken from Europe to the UK has been referred to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. The bureau was alerted to the scam by UK haulage company Trans Orbis Forwarding, after it discovered the fraudsters had used the company name to advertise loads on international freight exchange website Timocom, reportedly conning at least ten hauliers out of an estimated [...]

The post Alleged freight exchange scam referred to National Fraud Intelligence Bureau appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is inviting operators to join its membership as they look to bounce back from the effects of Covid-19. To explain the benefits of membership, AFP will be taking part in the brand-new Commercial Motor Show, a free-to-attend event that takes place online from 29 September to 1 October. Key benefits to joining AFP include essential training and support provided by its Fleet Academy, ensuring compliance with legal, taxation and environmental requirements. Also included are [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Association of Fleet Professionals aims to support firms in their Covid-19 recovery appeared first on Motor Transport.

A moveable concrete barrier on the M20 to keep Kent’s roads moving during cross-channel disruption won’t be fully completed until 2022, according to Highways England (HE). A specialist ‘zipper’ machine will enable the barrier to be deployed quickly on the motorway and is seen as a method of ensuring congestion-free traffic flows when the Brexit transition process ends at the end of 2020. HE said the new scheme, costing £60m, is designed to ensure that the M20 can be kept [...]

The post Motorway barrier to ease Brexit congestion won’t be ready until 2022 appeared first on Motor Transport.

New EU drivers’ hours and tachograph rules are being introduced on 20 August, including a requirement for drivers to ‘return home’ every four weeks. The Department for Transport said there will also be a ban on taking regular weekly rest periods in the driver’s vehicle and more flexibility on the scheduling of rest periods for some drivers undertaking international carriage of goods. There will also be new provisions for rests and breaks for drivers when journeys involve transport by ferry [...]

The post New international haulage rules force drivers to return home every four weeks appeared first on Motor Transport.

The developer behind Britain’s first lithium-ion battery gigaplant for the automotive and renewable energy sectors has stepped up its bid to begin construction in South Wales. Britishvolt said the factory in Bro Tathan would be one of the largest ever industrial investments and could power future electrified transport, in cars as well as HGVs. The start-up also said it had appointed a project director, Ray Macera, who most recently oversaw the Gestamp pressing facility that supplies Jaguar Land Rover’s Nitra [...]

The post New battery gigaplant could power future of electrified road transport appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is calling on agricultural and food giant AB Agri to reconsider its decision to require its haulage operators to join the SafeContractor accreditation scheme, motortransport.co.uk has learnt. Sources say the RHA is particularly concerned that hauliers are being held to ransom by AB Agri’s decision to make any further work dependant on operators signing up to the scheme. The SafeContractor scheme, operated by risk management solutions firm Alcumus, requires firms to pay a fee to be assessed on [...]

The post RHA objects to AB Agri plans to force operators to join SafeContractor accreditation scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

PD Ports is celebrating the official opening of a multi-million pound bulks handling facility at Teesport that marks an important milestone in the revival of the Tees Valley following the collapse of the SSI Steelworks in 2015. Simon Clarke MP, Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, officially opened Teesport Bulks Terminal during a virtual ceremony on August 12th. PD Ports’ £9.2 million investment to renovate and refurbish its former Steel Export Terminal delivers a modernised warehousing facility that is [...]

The post PD Ports opens Teesport Bulks Terminal as new investment revives regional economy appeared first on Motor Transport.

DAF Trucks is the latest truck manufacturer to confirm its attendance at the Commercial Motor Show, a virtual exhibition for the road transport industry. Other companies already committed include Isuzu Truck UK, MAN Truck & Bus and Mercedes-Benz Trucks. The three-day event, which takes place on 29 September – 1 October, is expected to attract a 10,000-plus audience, all without the need for social distancing. In addition to seeing the latest vehicles, products and services, visitors to this free-to-attend event [...]

The post CM Show 2020: DAF Trucks to exhibit at brand-new online event appeared first on Motor Transport.

A joint bid to make Thurrock the centre of a major global free port on the river Thames has been launched by Forth Ports Group and DP World. The bid is in response to government plans to create up to 10 free ports across the UK after Brexit. These will allow firms to import goods and then re-export them outside normal tax and customs rules. The deadline for free port bid submission is expected to be towards the end of [...]

The post Forth Ports and DP World launch plans for River Thames free port appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Commercial Motor Show 2020 is an exciting new concept – a virtual exhibition and conference created for the freight and logistics sector. Held over a three-day period, the Commercial Motor Show will put exhibitors in front of an audience of thousands of commercial vehicle buyers and operators, all without the need for social distancing. In addition to seeing the latest vehicles, products and services, visitors to this free-to-attend event will be invited to sit in on a wide range of interactive [...]

The post CM Show 2020: All you need to know about THE virtual tradeshow of the year! appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK has warned that time is fast running out for international operators to become familiar with complex new paperwork and IT systems being introduced when the UK leaves the EU on January 1, 2021. “With less than 150 days left to the UK’s EU departure, the time to take action is now," urged Logistics UK director of policy Elizabeth de Jong. "Operators must be ready to switch to new systems and new methods of trading if their businesses are [...]

The post Brexit red tape forces hauliers to learn at least eight new IT systems appeared first on Motor Transport.

Brigade Electronics will be heading into the virtual world to dispel the myths around the new London Direct Vision Standard (DVS).  In its first-ever virtual show, Brigade will be joining an impressive line-up of industry experts and exhibitors at the Commercial Motor Show 2020. Free-to-attend, the online CM Show will take place across three days from 29 September to 1 October. It offers delegates the chance to learn from leading operators and manufacturers on a range of topics challenging the [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Brigade Electronics takes Direct Vision Standard into virtual world appeared first on Motor Transport.

The first virtual exhibition and conference for the UK road transport industry, the Commercial Motor Show, will include presentations from key industry speakers focusing on vital topics such as how the industry is recovering from Covid-19, the Road to Zero emissions and skills shortages. The first day of the virtual conference on 29 September will take as its theme the effect of the pandemic on the logistics sector and how major industries such as retail, infrastructure and hospitality are likely [...]

The post CM Show 2020: BVRLA to explain how hard-pressed operators can renew their fleets amid Covid-19 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 will be a key focus of next month’s inaugural Commercial Motor Show, held online between 29 September and 1 October. Despite the disruption of Covid-19, the government has remained clear on the targets set in its Road to Zero strategy, launched 2018, to move away from fossil fuels used in road transport. Indeed the recent pandemic has given the UK new impetus to revitalise the drive towards cleaner vehicles, secretary of state for [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Travel the ‘Road to Zero’ at brand-new industry event appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Convoy truck shows at Donington Park and Pembrey will be cancelled this year, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Your safety is always going to be our top priority and it’s for that reason and with heavy hearts, we are calling off this year’s Convoy events,” explained Road Transport Media divisional director Vic Bunby. “Things had been looking positive for a couple of weeks, but with the recent rise in Covid-19 cases, local lockdowns and restrictions, we just can’t [...]

The post Convoy truck shows at Donington Park and Pembrey cancelled in response to pandemic appeared first on Motor Transport.

Day two of the Commercial Motor Show 2020 brings you a buzzing conference programme exploring alternative fuels, fleet safety, skills shortages and Brexit implications. In the opening ‘Road to Zero’ session, you’ll hear from leading fleet operators at John Lewis Partnership, DPD and Hermes about the steps they took introducing biofuels, electric and natural gas vehicles to their businesses. And through exciting ‘live chat’ technology, you’ll also be able to take an active part in the discussion by asking key [...]

The post CM Show 2020: Cleaner fuels, safer fleets, skills shortages and Brexit challenges all on the agenda for day two appeared first on Motor Transport.

The key findings have been revealed from a four-year £20m government programme aimed at cutting emissions and improving air quality. The Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trials (LEFT) included a major UK study of long-haul and gaseous fuel technologies, assessing how dedicated Euro-6 gas trucks perform in terms of engine performance, reliability and fuel economy. The research, which compared gas performance with diesel, looked at four main duty cycles - city centre, urban, regional and long haul – and used [...]

The post DfT trial confirms benefits of gas fuel technology for long-haul operators appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operation Brock is set to be revived as part of government plans to cope with post-Brexit queues at the Channel Ports. The move to relaunch Operation Brock is contained in a consultation document published this week which acknowledges that there could be border queues created by the UK’s exit from the EU in December, for at least the first six months of next year. Mitigation plans proposed in the document include the relaunch of Operation Brock from December this year, [...]

The post Operation Brock set to be relaunched as government questions hauliers’ readiness for Brexit appeared first on Motor Transport.

Moves by the DVSA to give Earned Recognition operators a 12-month MOT exemption on their HGVs and and trailers will do nothing to change the way the role of ATFs is interpreted and compromises safety, according to The Authorised Testing Facilities Operators Association (ATFOA). Operators have made use of three-month exemptions since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, but the DVSA said it was expanding the exemption period for certain operators it considered to be safer to ease the massive [...]

The post ATF operators slam DVSA over MOT exemption plan appeared first on Motor Transport.

The first virtual exhibition and conference for the UK road transport industry, the Commercial Motor Show, will include presentations from key industry speakers focusing on vital topics such as how the industry is recovering from Covid-19, the Road to Zero emissions and skills shortages. The first day of the virtual conference on 29 September will take as its theme the effect of the pandemic on the logistics sector and how major industries such as retail, infrastructure and hospitality are likely [...]

The post Rental and leasing association to explain how hard-pressed operators can renew their fleets amid Covid-19 at the Commercial Motor Show appeared first on Motor Transport.

Freight operators delivering medical supplies from Europe should avoid the Channel Ports as “a matter of priority” to avoid border delays expected when the UK exits the EU at the end of the year. The warning comes in a letter sent this week by Steve Oldfield, chief commercial officer at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to medical suppliers. The letter sets out plans aimed at ensuring the continued supply of medicines and medical products into the UK [...]

The post Operators delivering medicines after Brexit must avoid channel ports “as matter of priority” warns government appeared first on Motor Transport.

Brexit will make it easier for stowaways to enter lorries bound for the UK at French ports, according to a Dutch trade association. In a whitepaper explaining how shipping agents can be better prepared to deal with stowaways, Transport en Logistiek Nederland said it was concerned about the potential for an “extra stream of stowaways” at ports. “Up to and including 31 December 2020, there will be no other customs procedures than there are now,” the paper explained. “Over the [...]

The post Brexit will lead to “extra stream of stowaways”, new report warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tyre firm Prometeon has moved to allay concerns customers might have about new rules banning old tyres, stating that its fleet management processes already go “above and beyond” the new legal requirements. Roads Minister Baroness Vere said it will become illegal to fit tyres that are aged 10 years or older to the steer axles of trucks, buses and coaches. Legislation will be laid in the autumn and will also apply to retreaded tyres, which must have clearly visible marks [...]

The post Prometeon reassures customers after government bans old HGV tyres appeared first on Motor Transport.

A task force made up of automotive experts that can oversee plans to ban new diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles needs to be created, or else environmental targets could be missed, a transport body has warned. Transport for the South East said an action plan is required to ensure the ban is in place by 2035, or earlier. It said a task force made up of representatives from across government, the automotive industry and consumer groups could oversee the action [...]

The post Transport group calls for task force to ensure net zero carbon deadline is met appeared first on Motor Transport.

Earned Recognition operators will be given a 12-month MOT exemption on their HGVs and trailers as the DVSA tries to ease a huge bottleneck. Operators have been making use of three-month exemptions since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, but the enforcement agency said it was expanding the exemption period for certain operators it considered to be safer, in a bid to ease demand for MOTs. As well as companies who are signed up to the Earned Recognition scheme, the [...]

The post Earned Recognition operators given year’s MOT exemption amid massive backlog appeared first on Motor Transport.

FairFuel (UK) and the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) have teamed up to legally challenge the Mayor of London’s decision to increase the congestion charge after a lawyer served him with a pre-action protocol letter. Howard Cox, FFUK founder, described Sadiq Khan as a “modern day Dick Turpin” and that he should have taxed other sources of pollution than drivers in the Capital. In June, Black Antelope Law director Shaheen Mamum said he had put Khan on notice of a [...]

The post “A modern day Dick Turpin!” – business groups round on London mayor over congestion charge hike appeared first on Motor Transport.

UK commercial vehicle manufacturing picked up in June, but the growth failed to offset the impact of Covid-19 as overall half-year output plummeted by almost a quarter, new figures show. UK CV production increased by 23.9% last month, with 4,144 trucks, vans and buses leaving production lines, according to the SMMT. It said this increase followed a particularly weak June 2019, when output fell by more than a half due to key model changeovers. However, even though production ramped up, [...]

The post CV manufacturing up in June but half-year output down by a quarter appeared first on Motor Transport.

Baroness Vere, parliamentary under-Secretary of state for transport, is to open the virtual Commercial Motor Show on 29 September. This three-day event is a first for the road freight transport industry, with an online exhibition that has already attracted the support of truck makers DAF, Isuzu, Iveco, MAN and Mercedes-Benz and a full virtual conference programme. As well as Baroness Vere, key speakers will include RHA chief executive Richard Burnett, professor David Cebon of Cambridge University, Malcolm Group chief executive [...]

The post Transport minister to open inaugural virtual Commercial Motor Show appeared first on Motor Transport.

After a successful event in 2019, the Commercial Motor Golf Day is returning for 2020 on 24 September. Taking place at Lambourne Golf Club in Dropmore, Buckinghamshire, this golf challenge is open to a maximum of 25 teams of four (100 players). The format will be a four-ball full handicap Stableford competition. The best three individual Stableford scores per hole per team will count. The day will include a round of golf, snacks and drinks on the course, drinks at [...]

The post Book your team in for the Commercial Motor Golf Day 2020 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Ambitious plans to install thousands of miles of bike lanes in England in a drive to make the nation fitter must not be at the expense of kerbside deliveries, Logistics UK has urged. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged £2bn to transform road infrastructure and build protected cycle routes in towns and cities. But Logistics UK said the plans must be implemented with consideration to the needs of hauliers: “Without deliveries, businesses in cities and towns will not receive the [...]

The post Bike lanes could hamper kerbside deliveries, Logistics UK warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers returning from Spain are exempt from the 14-day self-isolation rules put in place by the UK government, so long as their journey is work-related the RHA has confirmed. People returning to the UK from Spain or its islands must quarantine for two weeks after it was added to the list of at-risk countries on 26 July, due to a spike in cases of Covid-19. However, truckers are exempt if their journey is in a freight vehicle and they are [...]

The post Hauliers returning from Spain exempt from 14-day quarantine appeared first on Motor Transport.

The number of transport managers disqualified for non-compliance fell by over a third last year, according to the latest annual report from the Office of the Traffic Commissioner. The report for the year to 31 March 2020 revealed that 96 transport managers were disqualified in the period, compared to 139 in the previous year. The disqualification of licence holders also dipped, down from 873 to 818, whilst licence revocations dropped to 282 from 314 in 2018. The West Midlands region [...]

The post Number of disqualified transport managers falls by over a third, OTC report reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is mulling a new tax on deliveries, according to Downing Street, as part of plans to revive the high street and cut emissions and congestion. The tax would be targeted at goods sold online and could take the form of a 2% levy on online sales or a charge on deliveries. The move follows the Chancellor raising concerns that business rates are penalising high street stores and giving internet retailers an unfair advantage. A Downing Street spokesman [...]

The post Chancellor moots delivery tax to help high street and cut congestion appeared first on Motor Transport.

Researchers at Aston University have claimed commercial fleets could halve their emissions and better meet clean air targets using new technology which imitates how ants share knowledge and scales it up to optimise routes around busy cities. The software, which has been developed and tested by computer scientists in the college of engineering and physical sciences under the Think Beyond Data initiative, uses route optimisation to intelligently direct fleets from the same company around a city or town - slashing [...]

The post New urban routeing technology based on research into ant behaviour appeared first on Motor Transport.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is looking to partner with transport and logistics operators to trial solutions for low carbon consumer home delivery. As part of its Low Carbon Future Mobility project, the council’s initial focus will be on grocery, parcel and takeaway deliveries which it says have been accelerated by the impact of Covid-19. It has up to £3m of match-funding available to support, and de-risk, innovative interventions and is now looking to engage with the transport industry to identify [...]

The post Solihull council seeks commercial partners in pledge to match-fund low carbon home delivery trials appeared first on Motor Transport.

A plan by Hampshire County Council to cut freight movements across the county’s highways by banning truck movements on Sundays has been slammed by the RHA. The plan is part of the council’s policy to reduce the county’s carbon emissions. The strategy also proposes a new rule to stop HGVs from overtaking on motorways in the region. The report, published on the council’s website, suggests the strategy should include a move to “ban the movement of HGVs on a Sunday [...]

The post Move to ban HGVs on Sundays “absolutely wrong”, says RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

A £19.3bn plan to install overhead charging cables for electric lorries on the slow lanes of the UK’s motorways, which could help the UK meet its 200 zero carbon emissions target, has been published this week. If the plans get government approval a £80m pilot programme could to be rolled out along 40 miles of the M180 between the A156 and the M18 in South Yorkshire. The site has been earmarked because of its high levels of HGV traffic from [...]

The post Plan to install overhead cables on motorways for electric trucks moves step closer appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is insisting its plans to build a lorry park outside Ashford, Kent ahead of Brexit are not a repeat of its Stanford West lorry park project. The park would have held 3,600 trucks but the plan was ditched in 2017 after the government decided not to fight a judicial review of the proposal. The Ashford site, dubbed Mojo, is located just outside of Ashford, near junction 10A of the M20, and has enough space to park 10,000 trucks. [...]

The post Ashford lorry park will be no repeat of Stanford West, says DfT minister appeared first on Motor Transport.

Motor Transport was launched in 1905 as Motor Traction. Here we look back on a story published 100 years ago. MONDAY, JULY 26TH, 1920 Progress of Investigations by the Fuel Research Board. On Thursday, July 15th, the Director of Fuel Research – Sir George Bielby – invited representatives of the press to attend a meeting of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department to receive an account of the progress made by the Board into the problems connected with alternative fuels [...]

The post 100 years ago: Motor Fuel Research. appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Covid-19 pandemic is widely expected to give the government’s net zero carbon emissions strategy a big boost, and the new Commercial Motor Show virtual conference will take a look at the options for decarbonising heavy road transport. David Cebon, professor of mechanical engineering at Cambridge University, will compare the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells with battery electric vehicles, while Brian Robinson, head of commercial vehicles at the LowCVP, will review the role of biofuels. Rob Fowler, chief executive of [...]

The post Commercial Motor Show to debate the fuels of the future appeared first on Motor Transport.

The speed limit on Highways England roadworks is to increase from 50mph to 60mph following extensive trials. The trials, carried out on eight road schemes, were launched in response to feedback from road users who said they were frustrated at not being able to go quicker. The pilot schemes found that drivers found it easier to stick to the 60mph limit, thereby increasing safety. They also resulted in an average saving of almost 3,780 hours journey time each day across [...]

The post Highways England raises roadworks speed limit to 60mph after successful trials appeared first on Motor Transport.

The M11 has topped the list of road users’ best motorways, with the M20 voted the worst, according to research by Transport Focus. The motorway from London to Cambridge had the highest overall satisfaction of 92%. The best A-road was the A66 route across the Pennines from Scotch Corner to Penrith. Among drivers of vans and lorries, 78% were satisfied with their journey overall. Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said: “In the 12 months before the coronavirus lockdown, more [...]

The post Driver poll reveals Britain’s best and worst motorways appeared first on Motor Transport.

Highways England’s (HE) programme for major improvements on the road network was overly optimistic and had to be substantially reduced from 112 schemes to 73, according to a review of the agency. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) also said too many people are still dying on the road network despite it being one of the safest in the world and HE had not quite achieved all of its KPIs. However, the ORR’s five-year assessment added that it had [...]

The post Highways England road improvement plan was heavily scaled back, review reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Driver CPC delegates can now take up to two hours of a seven-hour course as ‘e-learning’ content under changes brought in this week. So-called e-learning is not the same as distance learning or remote learning, which have been used as part of the emergency response to Covid-19 during the pandemic. Instead, the change by the DVSA means it will allow up to two hours of learning to be completed by the driver ahead of a training course and so does [...]

The post DVSA adds ‘e-learning’ content to driver CPC courses appeared first on Motor Transport.

Victory! Back in 2017, after campaigning from the Unite union and Truckers’ Toilets UK, the HSE ruled thatemployers in control of non-domestic premises (i.e. places of work) were required to allow all visitors to their premises, who were not employed by them, access to their toilets and washing facilities. No more peeing in the bushes with nowhere to wash hands, no more problems for women drivers having a period. Transport sector customers had to acknowledge 21st century realities and realise [...]

The post Drivers claim some firms still ban them from using their toilets appeared first on Motor Transport.

Nearly 100 operators involved in bridge strikes have been reported to the traffic commissioner in the last 12 months, figures reveal. The office of the traffic commissioner (OTC) said of the 99 firms involved in these incidents, 12 were subsequently called to public inquiries and 22 dealt with at preliminary hearings. Others received warning letters. The figures emerged as Network Rail said it had received a “fantastic response” across the haulage industry to its ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ campaign and [...]

The post OTC reveals details of 99 operators reported for bridge strikes appeared first on Motor Transport.

Ctrack by Inseego has teamed up with MaxOptra to meet the growing demand from multi-drop distribution operations for optimised scheduling and live transport management. The partnership will deliver telematics-enabled solutions that use highly accurate, real-time data to support dynamic route planning and planned vs actual performance monitoring. MaxOptra’s route planning software has been seamlessly integrated with Ctrack’s cloud-based telematics platform to obtain actual vehicle data and provide real-time visibility of what is happening out on the road. By linking the [...]

The post Ctrack by Inseego signs deal with MaxOptra to provide fleets with enhanced route-planning software appeared first on Motor Transport.

Over 14 tonnes of CO2 has been saved in a two year project by the Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial (LEFT) involving just 11 urban trucks and vans running on green hydrogen dual fuel. With between 20-45% of the diesel fuel being displaced by green hydrogen on the various vehicles, the HyTIME project concluded that with the appropriate hydrogen infrastructure, fleet wide roll-out could provide "a huge and timely step change in overall fleet emissions". ULEMCo - the company [...]

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Take up for warehousing space in the UK reached record levels in the first half of 2020, with over a third of space taken up by Amazon and 11% involving deals where the lease is for less than 12 months due to the pandemic. A total of 22.4m sq ft of warehousing was taken up in H1, 38% above 2019 levels and 66% above the long term average, according to the latest Savills Big Shed briefing. However, Savills is warning [...]

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The government has pledged to improve overnight HGV parking facilities through “established and new” processes as part of its Covid-19 recovery plan. The move is revealed in a letter sent last week from Transport Secretary Grant Schapps and transport minister Baroness Vere to RHA chief executive Richard Burnett. The letter notes “the incredibly important contribution that delivery drivers make to the nation, the economy and businesses,” and pledges to look at new ways to overcome the barriers to creating more [...]

The post DfT pledges to increase HGV parking facilities appeared first on Motor Transport.

Toll charges on the M6 toll road are to be halved for new haulage customers as part of a campaign to help the Midlands economy recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The operating company, also known as M6Toll, said 50% cut to charges for new hauliers will apply to those using the route from end to end. The cost of local journeys for all vehicles exiting at local junctions will also be slashed by half for the next [...]

The post HGV toll charges slashed for new customers using M6 toll road appeared first on Motor Transport.

Highways England has appointed a new chair with a brief to lead the delivery of the government’s second five year Road Investment Strategy. Dipesh Shah, who assumes the role on 1 September, will replace Colin Matthews, who has held the role for six years. Shah was selected after a competitive selection and brings extensive experience as a non-executive director of Thames Water, Commissioner of the Crown Estates and as former CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority. The new chair [...]

The post Dipesh Shah takes the reins at Highways England appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is to launch a major review of the DVSA’s HGV testing system which could clear the way for accredited private sector testers and break the DVSA’s grip on HGV tests by the end of the year. The review, exclusively revealed yesterday by motortransport.co.uk, was confirmed today in a letter from Transport Minister Baroness Vere to the chairman of the Authorised Testing Facilities Operators Association (ATFOA) and RHA. Both organisations hailed the move and said they hoped the review would [...]

The post HGV testing regime set for shake up as government confirms major review appeared first on Motor Transport.

UK lorry drivers feel undervalued, have a low level of job satisfaction and feel disengaged, according to a recent survey by Talent in Logistics. The survey into HGV driver engagement, carried out in collaboration with Pertemps Driving Division ahead of the Covid-19 lockdown, revealed that just 30% of UK HGV drivers in the UK feel valued. The survey also revealed that just 9% of drivers surveyed blamed the driver shortage on facilities, with poor pay (34%), poor working hours (19%) [...]

The post Less than a third of HGV drivers feel valued, Talent in Logistics survey shows appeared first on Motor Transport.

Almost two-thirds of logistics firms are having to overhaul their business strategies in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, a new report reveals. According to a survey from online temporary staff agency redwigwam, 65% of companies said they were having to rethink the way they did business with one in five saying they would be hiring more temporary workers they hire. Of those, 38% planned to grow the size of their flexible workforce by between 51-75% while 33% planned increases of [...]

The post Covid-19 driving major change in strategy for logistics firms, survey reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

A DfT review of the HGV testing system is on the cards in a move that could see DVSA’s monopoly on HGV testing overturned and the door opened to accredited Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) operators. According to sources, the DfT is to launch a review "in the coming months" into the way HGV and trailer roadworthiness testing is carried out. The review will look at how to tackle the current shortage of DVSA testers and consider boosting numbers by allowing [...]

The post DVSA grip on HGV testing regime could be loosened as government mulls major review appeared first on Motor Transport.

New rules for operators appearing at public inquiries (PIs) in light of Covid-19 could jeopardise fair hearings and may result in a rise in the number of appeals, according to solicitors. The senior traffic commissioner (TC) has produced a guidance document explaining the rules around attendance and preparation for anyone appearing at a PI as lockdown restrictions are eased.   Mark Davies, a director at transport lawyers Backhouse Jones, said it includes a request that evidence and paperwork is lodged [...]

The post Covid-19 rules could jeopardise justice in public inquiries appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA said a plan by the government to establish 10 freeports in the UK as part of its “levelling-up” agenda has the potential to unlock significant opportunities for international trade. However, it also warned that the policy brings with it a host of problems relating to competition, planning and friction with the Northern Ireland protocol and it urged clarity and more details about their creation. Freeports are zones considered as outside their home country for customs purposes, enabling goods [...]

The post Freeports have potential to free up trade – FTA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Covid-19 has given the UK the opportunity to rethink and accelerate the switch to greener vehicles, secretary of state for transport Grant Shapps MP told delegates at yesterday’s Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (Low CVP) virtual annual conference. “We stand on the very verge of a new revolution; a green transport revolution,” he said. “We can reframe the narrative around green vehicles and show that it is this generation that will drive the transition to zero-carbon road transport.” The minister’s ambition [...]

The post Covid-19 has propelled UK to the verge of a ‘green transport revolution’, says transport secretary Grant Shapps appeared first on Motor Transport.

Increasing the speed limit of HGVs to 60mph has had no impact on safety, according to a government report. In 2015, new national speed limits for lorries over 7.5-tonnes were introduced on single and dual carriageways, to 50mph and 60mph respectively. Stakeholder interviews conducted in 2019 reported that awareness of the policy among drivers was good and a key benefit had been reduced driver stress and frustration, with both HGV drivers and general traffic considered to have benefited. The report [...]

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The road haulage Trailblazer Group (TBG) is seeking a procedural review after being informed that just £6,000 has been allocated to fund two new LGV Driver Apprenticeships by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IFATE). In a letter to the TBG, IFATE said it considered that “the most appropriate funding band” for the apprenticeship in Category C and C+E licence training was £6,000. It said: “The funding band is the maximum amount of government funding available to employers per [...]

The post Trailblazer group requests Procedural Review of apprenticeship funding after only £6,000 offered to employers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tyres aged 10 years and older will be banned from HGVs in England, Scotland and Wales, under new rules to help improve road safety. The ban, which will also affect buses and coaches, follows an extensive investigation, including research commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT), which indicated ageing tyres suffer corrosion which could cause them to fail. The move will make it illegal to fit tyres aged 10 years or older to the front wheels of lorries, buses and [...]

The post HGV tyres over 10 years old to be banned appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV driving tests began again this week in England, with Wales choosing to restart them on 27 July. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that as the country recovers from Covid-19 it could now open up its services to get the economy moving again. Driver training and theory tests for HGVs in England recommenced on 4 July. Examiners will end a vocational test early if a candidate commits either a serious or dangerous fault or a total of 16 driver faults. [...]

The post HGV driving tests resume in England with Wales set to follow on 27 July appeared first on Motor Transport.

Texaco has launched a new engine oil which is intended to mitigate the effects of diesel particulate filter (DPF) clogging on operating costs. Delo 600 ADF features what Texaco calls Omnimax technology - additives which are designed to prevent the ash build-up which eventually requires fuel- and time-consuming regeneration. Texaco research over the past two months has revealed that 67% of operators had experienced emissions problems on Euro-6 engines, with 29% being DPF blockages. The new lubricant is said to [...]

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Up to a dozen customs controls posts offering parking to tens of thousands of trucks are to be built across the country, with at least five earmarked for Kent, in preparation for the UK’s exit from the UK. However, the RHA warned this week that UK ports will still be in danger of becoming gridlocked when the UK exits the EU unless the government addresses the major shortage of UK customs intermediaries. The “10 to 12” customs posts are part [...]

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Activity in the UK’s haulage sector is back to 84% of pre-Covid-19 levels but is still lagging behind its EU peers, according to research by Geotab and Webfleet Solutions. Data from Geotab and Webfleet’s commercial mobility recovery dashboard, shows that while the UK’s transport sector activity has recovered to 84% of its pre-Covid-19 baseline, three months since lockdown was first imposed, it is lagging behind other European countries, with France at 97%, Germany at 99%, Italy at 98%, Netherlands at [...]

The post UK haulage industry slower to recover from pandemic than EU peers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DfT is set to reveal its plans for the transport industry in relation to Covid-19, Brexit and the skills shortage at the Freight People’s latest online meeting this month. Freight People, launched in January this year, is a networking forum for freight professionals founded by Bradford-based driver training company, Freight Train. Its aim is to create a supportive transport forum to debate industry issues and share best practice. The forum’s latest online meeting, on 21 July, will see Philip [...]

The post DfT to unveil plans for transport industry at Freight People webinar appeared first on Motor Transport.

European online consumers believe Brexit will lead to slower online delivery and less choice of UK goods, according to research by Whistl. The delivery management company is warning e-tailers to make sure they partner with delivery companies that can ensure seamless delivery to and from post-Brexit Britain to protect their markets. Whistl surveyed international online consumers on how they think Brexit will affect their international purchasing behaviour after the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. The European respondents to [...]

The post European online consumers fear fewer goods and slower delivery from UK post-Brexit appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Algorithm People, developer of pay-as-you-go route optimisation platform My Transport Planner, has signed up its 100th partner. The software uses algorithms to calculate the most efficient routes and schedules for vehicles engaged in deliveries, collections and site visits. The company insists smarter planning minimises wasted mileage and improves vehicle utilisation, generating cost savings of up to 30% for transport operators. My Transport Planner users range from small businesses through to national chains such as Selco Builders Warehouse. The Algorithm [...]

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Road infrastructure, Clean Air Zones and the adoption of alternative fuels top the list of challenges reported by fleet and mobility managers over the next five years. The finding comes from research in the Arval Mobility Observatory, which questions transport businesses to uncover broader trends. Asked what the main challenges facing fleets are in the next five years, 43% of respondents cited a lack of road infrastructure, which could cause increased congestion, as the top issue. The introduction of more [...]

The post Fleet managers claim congestion is main challenge facing transport sector appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA’s decision to shut down HGV testing during the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in a backlog of thousands of tests is indicative of a “cultural issue” within the department which “needs to be fixed”, MPs were told this week. The damning criticism of the DVSA was made by RHA chief executive Richard Burnett as he was giving evidence to the House of Commons Transport Committee’s inquiry into the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the haulage industry. Burnett raised the [...]

The post DVSA a “brick wall with a culture that needs to be fixed,” RHA tells MPs appeared first on Motor Transport.

Vision Techniques has launched the VT Night-Sight 24 Ultra high-performance camera. The company claims it is one of the best performing night vision cameras in the commercial vehicle market, offering "unbeatable day-time HD clarity with the addition of unprecedented night vision capabilities". This allows the camera to capture clear, high-resolution coloured images in areas where there is little or absolutely no light. The technology uses an advanced sensor to guarantee exceptional night vision with improved HD resolution, even in pitch [...]

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Hauliers are backing government plans to create a 27-acre Brexit customs clearance centre and lorry park near Ashford in Kent. Plans for the site, which will accommodate over 10,000 lorries, were revealed by the government last week. The site, known as Mojo, is close to junction 10a of the M20 and will be used to minimise potential disruption at Kent ports at the end of the Brexit transition period. Work begins at the site today (13 July) to build fencing, [...]

The post Government plans for Brexit customs clearance post welcomed by hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Daily diesel sales are 20% lower than before the pandemic lockdown was introduced, with petrol sales down by 26%, according to the latest government data. The continued depression is revealed in data from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The data comes from sales figures from 4,500 filling stations, which make up over 50% of petrol stations in Great Britain and covers the period from 27 January 2020 to 05 July 2020. While average sales per filling station [...]

The post Daily diesel sales still 20% lower despite government easing lockdown appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is demanding clarity on how hauliers will be expected to run their businesses from January next year when full border customs checks from the EU are imposed. While the UK has announced that it will not be introducing complete customs checks on goods arriving from the EU, Michel Barnier, EU Brexit negotiator, has confirmed that from 1 January 2021, every UK product imported into the EU will face checks, regardless of whether or not a trade deal is [...]

The post Call for clarity on impact of EU border checks on UK operators appeared first on Motor Transport.

A foundation degree and top-up BSc Hons in Transport and Supply Chain are now being offered at South West College in Northern Ireland, in a programme described as “the first of its kind”. Delivered as a full-time or part-time course, the college said the programme had established strong links with industry and provided students with a core knowledge, as well as higher technical skills. Upon successful completion of the foundation degree in transport and supply chain management programme, graduates can [...]

The post New transport and supply chain degree “the first of its kind” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Goods entering the European Union from January will be subject to full border customs checks, regardless of whether or not a trade deal is reached, according to the EU’s chief negotiator. Michel Barnier confirmed that from 1 January 2021, every UK product imported into the EU will face checks. He also said Europe had already hired and trained hundreds of additional customs agents to handle the additional paperwork generated by the move. The RHA said the government urgently needed to [...]

The post Goods entering EU will need customs checks even if trade deal agreed appeared first on Motor Transport.

Vision Techniques is now offering commercial vehicle fleet operators a camera which it claimed offers “unprecedented night vision capabilities". The company said its VT Night-Sight 24 Ultra high-performance camera made use of a number of natural light sources to give drivers and operators a clear view further into the distance than one that relied on infra-red technology. James Newhill, Vision Techniques sales director, said: “This is an exciting technological advancement in the industry. “The system provides drivers and operators with [...]

The post New night vision camera “an exciting technological advancement” appeared first on Motor Transport.

A lack of testing slots for HGVs and trailers due to Covid-19 is already causing significant problems for hauliers and the situation is set to deteriorate as Christmas approaches, according to businesses in Yorkshire. RCA Transport International Services in Dewsbury said it needed around half of its trailers tested next month or they’ll be stood up in the yard – but it was struggling to find a site that could do it. RCA director Richard McGee said: “It’s going to [...]

The post Testing backlog “turning into complete nightmare”, haulier claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

Cardiff Container Link entered into administration after “key personnel” at the company became ill and were absent from the business. The background to the Roath Docks-based container haulier’s financial woes is contained in a report to creditors, which explained that it had expanded and traded well up until January 2020. At this point, after five years of trading, the company began to experience cash flow constraints, which administrators at RSM Restructuring said was “due to a variety of factors, including [...]

The post Cardiff haulier folded after key personnel became ill appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics business groups have welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s series of measures to get the economy back on its feet, but warned that further initiatives are needed to prevent a slew of job losses. Rishi Sunak announced a £160bn support package, which includes supporting over a million businesses through grants, loans and rate cuts. He said that as the UK entered the second phase in its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, he would support jobs by focussing on skills [...]

The post Sector gives mixed reaction to government’s £160bn support package appeared first on Motor Transport.

Innovate UK have commissioned the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) to support dissemination of the findings from the Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial (LEFT) programme. The objectives are to engage with the LEFT project teams and develop a collaborative public dissemination process highlighting the key findings, successes, and learnings from the LEFT programme. LowCVP is running two public webinars to share the results of both the independent emissions tests and of the projects’ own in-service trials. The first webinar [...]

The post Low emissions freight trial results to be released in webinars appeared first on Motor Transport.

Conservative peer Lord Attlee has weighed in on the side of the logistics industry by tabling an amendment which could end the DVSA’s monopoly on HGV testing. Lord Attlee’s amendment to the government’s Business and Planning Bill calls for the government to allow Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) operators to carry out road worthiness HGV and trailer tests. If approved by the House of Lords, the amendment could open up HGV testing to ATF operators. The peer’s amendment comes as the [...]

The post Lord Attlee tables amendment to break DVSA monopoly on HGV testing appeared first on Motor Transport.

A new £1m project will see Loughborough University team up with Highways England to assess the challenges that connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) will face on the UK’s motorways. Researchers will assess how roadwork operation, lanes, junctions and lane markings could impact on the performance of CAVs. The project, named CAVIAR (Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: Infrastructure Appraisal Readiness), is being carried out in partnership with Highways England and construction company Galliford Try. Mohammed Quddus, Loughborough University professor of intelligent transport [...]

The post £1m motorways study launched to assess performance of autonomous vehicles on motorways appeared first on Motor Transport.

Moto’s offer of free meals for HGV drivers parking overnight at their facilities, launched at the start of the pandemic lockdown, comes to an end this week. In its place the motorway services operator has relaunched an upgraded, cut-price food voucher scheme. Moto launched the free meal scheme at the start of lockdown in recognition of the crucial work HGV drivers were doing to keep the UK’s supply chains flowing during the crisis. The scheme, which saw nearly 30,000 meals [...]

The post Moto ends offer of free meals to HGV drivers as operations return to normal appeared first on Motor Transport.

Government changes to the Driver CPC rules have left too many questions unanswered and do not take into consideration the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the industry, according to a CPC training provider Fleet Source. It argues that while the changes are welcome they are based on a consultation which took place before the Covid-19 pandemic and which is therefore outdated. The changes, announced last week, follow a consultation launched on 18 March - just days before the lockdown. [...]

The post Driver CPC changes leave too many unanswered questions and could be outdated, says fleet specialist appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA is calling for the government to switch the logistics industry’s Apprenticeship Levy payments to a Skills Levy so firms can retrain staff in new roles rather than make them redundant. The call comes as the logistics industry braces itself for redundancies as the government winds down the furlough scheme. Elizabeth de Jong, FTA policy director said the funding could be switched to a training grant so that employees could be retrained to meet the requirements of Brexit. “With [...]

The post FTA calls for Apprenticeship Levy to be used to retrain staff threatened by redundancy appeared first on Motor Transport.

An IT system that allows freight on HGVs to be “pre-declared” before being exported when the country splits from Europe has yet to be built, raising concerns of snarl-ups at the border. With less than six months before the current transition period ends, HM Revenue & Customs is racing to set up a Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS), which will provide hauliers with the clearance to move loads into the EU. The FTA said last week it had only just [...]

The post IT system handling post-Brexit HGV freight still not built appeared first on Motor Transport.

Christian Coolsaet has been appointed MD of Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland. He succeeds Robert Grozdanovski who will move to Gothenburg to take up an appointment as Volvo Trucks’ senior vice president for sales area Europe Central East & East. Coolsaet brings more than 20 years of Volvo experience to the role, most recently from the German market and has been MD of Volvo Trucks Germany since 2015. He will take up his new position in the UK on September [...]

The post Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland names new MD appeared first on Motor Transport.

Extra and Westmorland have been voted England’s best motorway service operators by almost 10,000 visitors. Extra, which operates six sites in the survey conducted by independent watchdog Transport Focus, and Westmorland, which operates four, achieved the joint highest overall satisfaction score of 97%. Transport Focus said that across the country as a whole, motorway service operators performed well, with 93% of visitors satisfied with their experience. Customers were least satisfied with the value for money of the food or drink [...]

The post England’s best motorway services revealed in new survey appeared first on Motor Transport.

Driver First Assist has moved one step closer to achieving its pledge to provide an automated external defibrillator (AED) at a fraction of the cost of existing products. With development and certification completed, the not-for-profit community interest company, which has so far delivered over 7,000 training courses on basic roadside first aid and accident scene management, has launched a crowd-funding appeal to finance the initial manufacturing costs so that deliveries can begin in September. With the life-saving potential of having [...]

The post Driver First Assist launches plan to provide low-cost defibrillators for road transport industry appeared first on Motor Transport.

There is growing support for the view that green hydrogen made with renewable electricity could play a key role in decarbonising heavy road transport, but it should not be seen as a “silver bullet” that will address all the industry’s carbon concerns. In a webinar looking at the potential for the UK to move to a hydrogen-based economy on the road to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Energy UK’s head of European affairs Marta Krajewska said the energy producers’ association [...]

The post Hydrogen a key technology for decarbonising road transport but no ‘silver bullet’ appeared first on Motor Transport.

Less than a fifth of UK fleet and mobility managers want the government to focus on reducing pollution caused by transport, according to research by Arval. The finding, from research arm Arval Mobility Observatory (AMO), has surprised the vehicle funding and fleet management company, which said it “doesn’t ring true” in its experience of talking to customers. When asked ‘What areas would you like the government to concentrate on with regards to transport?’ just 18% of the 5,600 businesses in [...]

The post Crumbling roads a bigger issue than pollution, fleet managers claim appeared first on Motor Transport.

A consortium of companies, including Yodel, Menzies Distribution and UPS Healthcare, are managing the collection and delivery of Covid-19 home testing kits into laboratories. Created by The Delivery Group in Warrington, The Carrier Consortium, which also includes DX and Diamond Transport, said it had “achieved the impossible” and was working to provide access to more than 10,000 vehicles, 200 facilities and a combined workforce in excess of 16,000 employees. Operating seven days a week, the consortium provides a controlled cool [...]

The post Firms delivering Covid-19 testing kits have “achieved the impossible” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Gary Bellamy (pictured) from Forterra Building Products has been named the Lifetime Achievement winner in this year's Microlise Driver of The Year Awards. The nomination-based awards received more entries than ever before and telematics-based categories contained an initial eligible pool of over 225,000 drivers. The 2020 winners triumphed after a process of rigorous data analysis, corroboration by employers and assessment by an independent judging panel. Bellamy was just 15 when he joined the Transport Department of London Brick Company (now [...]

The post Lifetime Achievement winner named in Microlise Driver of the Year Awards 2020 appeared first on Motor Transport.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is offering free online customs procedures training for members of its Young Forwarder Network (YFN). The training session, on Wednesday 8 July, will be focused around customs procedure codes and will be available exclusively to members of the YFN. BIFA launched the YFN last year to create regional networking groups and help develop the talent and skills of younger members. So far six regional groups have been launched and over 20 networking events held, [...]

The post British International Freight Association offers free customs training for younger members appeared first on Motor Transport.

For the first time in 20 year’s MAN Truck & Bus introduces a completely newly developed truck generation, which is consistently oriented towards the changing requirements of the transportation industry and sets new standards for – among other things – assistance systems, driver orientation and digital networking. The new truck generation thus represents the development of MAN Truck & Bus from vehicle manufacturer to a provider of intelligent and sustainable transport solutions bringing new levels of comfort, safety, efficiency, reliability, [...]

The post Free webinar: MAN introduce their new truck generation and TopUsed used vehicle programme appeared first on Motor Transport.

The earliest months of the Covid-19 lockdown saw a marked increase in the number of commercial vehicle fleets adopting the DVSA’s Earned Recognition scheme, FleetCheck has revealed. From March to June, 64% of new corporate customers coming to the fleet management software company cited Earned Recognition as a primary factor, compared to just 22% over the whole of 2019. FleetCheck is an authorised audit provider for Earned Recognition and joining the scheme means those fleets will now be able to [...]

The post Boost for Earned Recognition during lockdown, FleetCheck reports appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport firms facing collapse in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic have been thrown a lifeline in the form of a new law. The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act, passed last week, marks the most significant change to the UK’s corporate insolvency regime in more than 20 years. Announcing the new law, the government’s Insolvency Service said it introduces “temporary easements to give distressed businesses the breathing space they need to get advice and seek a rescue". It added: “It [...]

The post New law gives “breathing space” to operators pushed to brink of insolvency appeared first on Motor Transport.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged £100m of investment aimed at improving local roads as part of a bid to reignite the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The twenty-nine projects range from fixing deteriorating roads to flood mitigation measures and repairs to key bridges. They also include improvements to a number of A roads from the A58 by Bolton to the A38 running through Somerset. Key projects include £4.9m of repair works to two bridges in Sandwell [...]

The post Government launches £100m road improvement scheme as part of pandemic recovery plans appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Treasury has suspended the HGV Road User Levy for a year to help hauliers recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 12-month suspension, which was passed without consultation to speed up its implementation, kicks in on 1 August this year. It applies to UK registered keepers of HGVs and drivers and HGV owners/operators from outside the UK accessing the UK road network. Introduced in 2014, the levy applies to heavy goods vehicles of 12 tonnes or more. [...]

The post HGV Road User Levy suspended to help hauliers during pandemic appeared first on Motor Transport.

Many transport companies are receiving very large payments from HMRC under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. But the rules are vague, and as law firm Osborne Clare explains, it has been hard for many companies to know for sure if they are using the scheme correctly. From the start, it has been made clear that incorrect use of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will lead to clawback by HMRC. On 29 May, the government announced a consultation on a retrospective [...]

The post Lawyers issue urgent warning over Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is calling for fleet managers to join a range of committees it is setting up to tackle key industry topics. The recently formed association has announced the formation of its first committee which will advise fleet operators on how to make the transition to electric and alternative fuel vehicles. The electric vehicle, low carbon and alternative fuels committee will be led by AFP deputy chair Stewart Lightbody. The committee will investigate the availability of [...]

The post Operators urged to join new range of committees tackling key industry topics appeared first on Motor Transport.

UK commercial vehicle (CV) production fell by 61.6% in May, with just 810 vehicles built as many plants remained shuttered amid the Covid-19 lockdown. According to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), year-to-date commercial vehicle output fell by 29.8% compared with the first five months of 2019. As some production resumed, 43.3% of commercial vehicles built were for export in May, with more than two thirds (68.7%) exported to the EU, following [...]

The post Covid-19 continues to crush UK commercial vehicle production, SMMT reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

For the first time in 20 year’s MAN Truck & Bus introduces a completely newly developed truck generation, which is consistently oriented towards the changing requirements of the transportation industry and sets new standards for – among other things – assistance systems, driver orientation and digital networking. The new truck generation thus represents the development of MAN Truck & Bus from vehicle manufacturer to a provider of intelligent and sustainable transport solutions bringing new levels of comfort, safety, efficiency, reliability, [...]

The post Free webinar: MAN introduce their new truck generation & TopUsed used vehicle programme appeared first on Motor Transport.

Microlise, organisers of what has become Europe's largest transport conference, is to take over the third day of the virtual conference at the new Commercial Motor Show, bringing the usual mix of presentations by senior industry figures in the fields of compliance, new technology and data. The Commercial Motor Show will be a free, three-day virtual exhibition and conference starting on 29 September and has already attracted the support of leading truck makers including DAF, Isuzu, MAN and Mercedes-Benz. More [...]

The post Microlise joins forces with Commercial Motor Show appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is reopening its training classrooms with social distancing measures in place on Monday 6 July. The association has been given the go-ahead to offer classroom-based training after the recent change in government coronavirus guidance. Special measures are in place at RHA training sites to keep delegates safe, where staff will enforce strict and clear social distancing, issue sanitiser and offer face masks on request. RHA head of learning and development – Scotland & NI, Brian Kenny said: “The [...]

The post RHA classrooms to reopen for training on 6 July appeared first on Motor Transport.

In its 2020 progress report to the UK government on cutting carbon emissions, ‘Reducing UK emissions - progress report to Parliament’, the Committee on Climate Change has called on ministers to “seize the opportunity” to turn Covid-19 into a “defining moment in the fight against climate change”. The report recommends urgent measures to be taken by next year to help the road freight industry achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, including setting out and implementing “a strategy to transition to zero-carbon [...]

The post Climate Change Committee urges government to “seize the moment” to decarbonise transport appeared first on Motor Transport.

Four of the UK’s biggest trade unions have added their support to a campaign backed by 41 businesses calling on the government to lay the foundations for a hydrogen strategy to create and sustain thousands of jobs. Unite, the GMB, Prospect and Unison, who collectively represent 200,000 workers in the energy sector, said in a joint letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak that they believe hydrogen is the key to the UK becoming decarbonised. They said a hydrogen strategy would significantly [...]

The post Unions and businesses unite behind push for hydrogen economy appeared first on Motor Transport.

Electric HGV manufacturer Electra Commercial Vehicles has signed up to a battery monitoring service that provides vehicle owners with recommendations for extending the lifespan of their batteries. The Battery Passport enables operators to better understand their batteries, as well as providing a pathway for those being sold in the second-life market. The passport service continually assesses and grades the future potential of the battery so that when it nears the end of its vehicle life, the owner can share the [...]

The post Passport to a second life for Electra EV batteries appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fuel card provider AS24 has announced its customers now have access to 1,000 refuelling stations in 28 countries. It said the stations all utilise its chip and pin technology and all sites offer wide lanes and high-volume pump nozzles. Roland Saunion, AS24 UK and Ireland MD, said: “We are very proud to be able to facilitate the mobility of our customers throughout Europe. “It’s very important for us to be able to offer AS24 stations to our customers, because I [...]

The post AS24 passes 1,000 filling stations mark appeared first on Motor Transport.

A slew of changes to business travel in the last few months means fleet managers need to review their vehicle lease contracts to make them suitable for the “new normal”, according to software specialists FleetCheck. It said that the coronavirus pandemic had caused “a wide range of potentially quite dramatic changes” to key variables. Peter Golding, FleetCheck MD said: “Current car and van lease arrangements used by most fleets were essentially created for a world of business travel that no [...]

The post Pandemic triggers “slew of potentially dramatic changes” to vehicle lease contracts appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fleet Source has reduced the cost of Earned Recognition (ER) audits to help operators achieve the DVSA accreditation. The company is offering the audits from £495 + VAT. Nick Caesari (pictured), Fleet Source chief executive, said ER “demonstrates that you are an exemplary fleet operator, less likely to have your vehicles stopped for roadside inspections and Earned Recognition is fast becoming a key factor in bidding for contracts. “But for many operators, the price of the audit itself has been [...]

The post Fleet Source cuts cost of Earned Recognition audits appeared first on Motor Transport.

A two-step guide to vehicle safety in light of Covid-19 has been produced by Arval UK for fleet managers. The vehicle funding and fleet management company has distilled down official government guidance to three pages to help fleets return to work safely. Advice and guidance includes scheduling times for the collection of goods; encouraging drivers to remain in vehicles; ensuring vehicles are well-ventilated and the frequent cleaning of work areas and equipment. Shaun Sadlier, Arval UK head of consultancy, said: [...]

The post Arval simplifies government’s return to work advice with short guide for fleet managers appeared first on Motor Transport.

A new freight service has been launched from the Port of Liverpool which opens a direct link between the North West of England and Northern Spain and Portugal. Shipping company Containerships will offer a weekly loop service connecting Spain and Portugal to the UK and Ireland, largely for fresh foods, which the port says will help operators avoid long road trips during the Covid-19 pandemic and any delays at Channel ports that Brexit may bring. David Huck, MD at Port [...]

The post New freight service launched from Port of Liverpool to Spain and Portugal appeared first on Motor Transport.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on manufacturing is expected to cut annual light commercial vehicle production volumes by a third to just 920,000 units this year, according to a report by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The SMMT second Annual Trade Report for 2020, launched today (23 June), reveals that the UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market declined by 86.2% in April with just 3,387 LCVs joining UK roads - 21,217 fewer than in the [...]

The post UK automotive manufacturing sector needs further government intervention to ensure post-pandemic recovery, SMMT warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is calling for dangerous goods and international transport operators to be given priority when the DVSA restarts HGV testing on 4 July. The DVSA stood down its assessors on 23 March at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and suspended all HGV and trailer tests for three months. Last week it announced it would restart testing on Saturday 4 July. RHA said it welcomed the DVSA’s announcement but raised concerns at the lack of clear guidance as [...]

The post Give international and ADR operators priority on HGV testing, urges RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Road haulage and logistics is an essential but “forgotten” industry that government must do more to support if it is to address its skills shortages and help drive the post-Covid-19 economic recovery, according to Sir Mike Penning MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on road freight and logistics. But a separate survey of training providers carried out in May by Skills for Logistics has found that the training industry’s ability to resume HGV driver training after the lockdown [...]

The post Long list of actions needed to solve driver shortage but training companies face uncertain future appeared first on Motor Transport.

An overwhelming majority of grocery and home appliance firms intend to re-evaluate their supply chain strategies in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, including adopting automation, robotics and AI technologies, according to a survey. Logistics consultancy SCALA’s survey found 95% of businesses are looking for ways to future-proof their operations in order to respond to the “new normal”, which includes expectations of increased e-commerce sales. The survey found supply chain resilience and agility were the highest priority, with firms aware of [...]

The post Automation and robotics vital to future of e-commerce, survey reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

A partnership between the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) and online booking portal Bosch has helped contribute towards a 43% growth in its database of secure parking places across Europe. TAPA’s parking security requirement (PSR) launched last year and provides members with a list of secure parking places which meet their security needs. TAPA said product losses from vehicles left in unsecure locations accounted for 53.8% of the 8,548 cargo thefts it recorded last year. As well as its digital [...]

The post New deal helps grow database of safe parking places across Europe appeared first on Motor Transport.

Almost one in 10 transport companies have already made staff redundant, according to the results of a poll by solicitors Backhouse Jones. Despite the furlough scheme being set up to avoid making large numbers of UK workers redundant, the snap poll revealed that 9% of respondents had already begun to reduce staff numbers due to Covid-19. Jonathon Backhouse, director at Backhouse Jones, suggested that the figures showed that the furlough scheme was still preventing most companies from going down the [...]

The post Transport firms cut jobs but longer-term outlook “quite promising” appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) online annual conference will focus on how the UK can seize the opportunity for an investment-led green recovery in road transport as we emerge from the pandemic. The event will also provide a forum for policy ideas and proposals to help inform the government's 2020 Transport Decarbonisation Plan. The LowCVP's annual conference has been a leading event in the environmental transport calendar for over 15 years, regularly attracting government ministers, key civil servants and [...]

The post LowCVP Conference to focus on ‘seizing the moment’ for greener road transport – BOOK NOW! appeared first on Motor Transport.

A campaign to highlight the dangers recovery operators face at the roadside is stepping up a gear after receiving “an underwhelming level of response” from MPs. ‘Slow Down Move Over’ (SDMO) was set up four years ago by recovery operator Paul Anstee in an effort to educate the public about what action is required in the event of their vehicle breaking down in order to keep themselves safe. SDMO is also aimed at educating road users to be aware of [...]

The post Campaigners highlight dangers of roadside recovery appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA will restart heavy vehicle testing from 4 July. The agency said it has issued three-month exemptions for vehicles due to be tested this month and will issue further exemptions for July tests. “This will help us manage demand as we resume testing,” it added. In a statement, the DVSA said: “In August, vehicles which have already received an exemption will need a test. “All other vehicles due for a test in August will receive a three-month exemption. When [...]

The post DVSA to restart HGV testing from 4 July appeared first on Motor Transport.

Pressure is growing on London mayor Sadiq Khan to reverse his decision to increase the congestion charge after the lawyer taking legal action against him told motortransport.co.uk he had received wide-ranging support. Black Antelope Law director Shaheen Mamun said that since he put the mayor on notice of a legal challenge, he had been contacted by people from many different businesses who felt left out of the scope of Transport for London’s (TfL) exemptions to the charge. Mamun said: “The [...]

The post Legal action against London mayor moves closer amid growing anger over congestion charge hike appeared first on Motor Transport.

A free webinar to be held on 22 July by Aquarius IT in association with Commercial Motor will explore the benefits of electronic versus paper when it comes to managing and reporting on road worthiness and compliance. The keynote speaker will be former senior traffic commissioner Beverley Bell CBE, now director of Beverley Bell Consulting, who will be offering her expert insight on governance and the importance of creating a level playing field in the commercial vehicle industry when it [...]

The post Free webinar – check your assets, protect your O-licence appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport and warehouse managers are feeling relatively optimistic about the year ahead, according to a survey carried out by Meachers Global Logistics. When asked on a scale of one to 100 how upbeat they felt about the next 12 months, the average result from industry professionals was 54. Gary Whittle, commercial director at Meachers, admitted that the result was “perhaps surprising” given that the survey was carried out at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said: “It may be [...]

The post New industry survey reveals “surprising” level of optimism for year ahead appeared first on Motor Transport.

Plans to raise the London congestion charge by 30% and extend it to evenings and weekends, has been slammed by the logistics industry. London Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed today (16 June) that the congestion charge will rise to £15 from 22 June to tackle rising levels of traffic in central London. The changes will rise from £11.50 to £15 and be extended from 7am-6pm on weekdays to 7am-10pm, seven days a week. TfL said the move is in response to [...]

The post Further hike in London congestion charge “a disgrace”, industry claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

A government move to inject another £50m into training and recruiting customs agents in the wake of its decision not to extend the Brexit transition period has been given a muted welcome by the freight industry. The additional funding was announced by HMRC last week to help businesses prepare for the significant rise in customs declarations that they will need to process under a no-deal Brexit. The British International Freight Association (BIFA) said this week that it has been warning [...]

The post Fingers crossed that additional funding for customs staff is enough, says BIFA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Delivery drivers could be taking increased risks as pressure mounts on them during the lockdown pandemic, fleet video telematics provider Lytx warned this week. Whilst risky driving behaviours dropped dramatically in the first three weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown, the data shows that in the second three weeks drivers began to take more risks with the incidence of drivers not wearing seatbelts rising by 49%, a 43% increase in drivers using a hand held device and a 36% increase in [...]

The post Lockdown pressures could be pushing delivery drivers to take greater risks, data provider Lytx warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA has not yet confirmed when it will resume LGV driving tests, leading to fears that the transport industry will soon see a worsening of the driver shortage as no new drivers have entered the industry since the DVSA suspended testing at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown in March. Paul Spink, development director of Skills for Logistics, is in regular contact with the DVSA and around 150 training providers, none of which have been able to train LGV [...]

The post Industry losing thousands of would-be drivers as LGV testing remains suspended appeared first on Motor Transport.

FORS is lifting its suspension of all Bronze site audits this week following government moves to ease Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. FORS members in England will be able to book Bronze on-site audits from today (Monday 15 June). However, all FORS operators requesting a Bronze on-site audit will be required to complete a Covid-19 risk assessment first as part of “stringent” coronavirus measures introduced by FORS to ensure the safety of its auditors and members. FORS director, John Hix, added: “We [...]

The post FORS resumes Bronze site audits as Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease appeared first on Motor Transport.

Foreign drivers working for UK operators who returned to their home countries during lockdown are not exempt from the 14-day self-isolation rules, it has emerged. On 8 June, the government introduced new rules that all international arrivals into the UK are required to self-isolate for a fortnight. Home Secretary Priti Patel said the measures were being introduced in order that the transmission rate of Covid-19 was kept low and prevented a second wave. Drivers of goods vehicles are exempt; however [...]

The post Foreign drivers entering UK not exempt from 14-day self-isolation rule appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport for London (TfL) has given Fleet Source the go-ahead to deliver FORS-funded training on road safety and environmental responsibility during lockdown. Fleet Source, which provides FORS professional driver training, will deliver the theory element of its Safe Urban Driving, Van Smart and LoCity training courses. It will schedule on-cycle practical training post-lockdown once social distancing measures are eased. Fleet Source chief executive, Nick Caesari said: “Fleet professionals have been contacting us to establish how they can use available time [...]

The post Fleet Source gets green light to deliver FORS training in lockdown appeared first on Motor Transport.

The transport industry has breathed a sigh of relief after the government confirmed it would introduce new border controls in stages for EU goods imported into the UK, due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, the RHA said it was vital that our continental neighbours take a similar approach, or else plans for Operation Brock will have to be revisited. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove formally notified the EU that the UK would not accept nor seek any [...]

The post Road ahead clear for imports as UK agrees to relax border controls appeared first on Motor Transport.

SmartWitness is offering a finance deal for fleet customers designed to alleviate further financial burdens created by the Coronavirus pandemic. The deal, which includes hardware, software and installation, is also inclusive of the latest 4G enabled CP2-LTE forward-facing camera and starts at £29.99. A free webinar hosted by SmartWitness to discuss the finance package will be held on Tuesday 16 June at 1pm. Paul Singh, SmartWitness MD, said: “Prior to this pandemic situation, a single accident claim against a business [...]

The post Low cost finance options for 4G-enabled camera package appeared first on Motor Transport.

Bridgestone has launched its first ever all-season tyre for the light truck segment, the DURAVIS All Season. Available from August, Bridgestone said the tyre had been designed with both small and large fleets in mind, enabling them to keep going in adverse weather conditions thanks to its high volume slots in its shoulder for improved water evacuation. It also offers optimised pressure distribution, which the company said will improve its snow and wear performance. Bridgestone said the rise of ecommerce [...]

The post Bridgestone launches tyre for all seasons appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tip-ex/Tank-ex, the UK’s only dedicated event for the tipper, bulk transport and tanker sectors, will make a welcome return to Harrogate on 3-5 June 2021. The free-to-attend event, which was postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will once again take place in and around the Harrogate Convention Centre. Attendees will be able to visit hundreds of trade stands, where exhibitors will preview the very latest vehicles, bodies and components. The 2021 event will also feature a knowledge zone, [...]

The post Tip-ex/Tank-ex to return in June 2021 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Haulage and logistics can forget a return to pre-pandemic sales unless it embraces the “low touch economy”, with investment in autonomous vehicles, localised supply chains and contactless delivery processes, according to a new report. Strategy firm Board of Innovation (BoI) warned that the automotive industry must “adapt and pivot” and not assume a return to conventional consumer behaviour will rescue the sector. It said a low touch economy, characterised by low touch interactions, new human behaviours and permanent industry shifts, [...]

The post Embrace “low touch economy” to survive, operators urged appeared first on Motor Transport.

A senior figure at one of the UK's biggest logistics groups has claimed the Covid-19 pandemic will lead to more multi-user transport operations as companies look to cut costs. “You’re going to see more shared user delivery networks,” the source, who did not wish to be named, told motortransport.co.uk. “Does House of Fraser need to go on a separate truck to Debenhams? Does Debenhams have to be on a separate truck to John Lewis? If they’re all going to the same [...]

The post Pandemic will trigger growth in shared user delivery networks, major operator claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

Government plans to make the furlough scheme more flexible will make keeping records more complex leaving operators in danger of being accused of fraud, a transport lawyer warned this week. The move to allow employers to bring furloughed workers back part time from 1 July 2020 is part of government plans to wind down the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in stages as lockdown eases and more businesses re-open. Under the change, employers will be able to decide the hours and [...]

The post Keep clear records of flexible furlough hours or face HMRC investigation, lawyer warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

DHL Supply Chain has partnered with Coventry University to host a series of webinars sharing insight and best practice as businesses restart operations. The webinars draw on learnings from the manufacturing sector and experience gained during the Covid-19 crisis, featuring expert guests including supply chain lecturers from Coventry University, heads of logistics and senior leaders from DHL Supply Chain. The series will cover a range of topics and sector-specific issues including managing performance in light of Covid-19 and creating a [...]

The post DHL teams up with Coventry University to launch post-Covid webinars appeared first on Motor Transport.

Driver licence checking service Licence Bureau is calling for businesses to empower their drivers to make more safety conscious decisions rather than heap more work-related stresses on them. It is urging businesses to entrust their drivers make the right commercial decisions based on health and safety and avoid the temptation to constantly check-up on them. The move underpins Licence Bureau's recent "road health" message which advised fleet managers to continue to enact on the new norms of social distancing and [...]

The post “Stop stressing out your drivers,” Licence Bureau urges businesses appeared first on Motor Transport.

Driver training provider Fleet Source has welcomed the DVSA's decision to update its HGV driver training programme, adding questions in the theory test to cover the correct use of Class VI mirrors and recommending that Safe Urban Driving and Vulnerable Road User Awareness courses be undertaken by all drivers as part of their CPC training. The decision was in response to a call for action from the Senior Coroner for Norfolk, Jacqueline Lake, following an inquest into the death of [...]

The post Fleet Source hails “vital step forward” from DVSA on Vulnerable Road User training appeared first on Motor Transport.

The vast majority of workers across the transport and logistics industry believe that it is their employer’s responsibility to ensure they have the right protective equipment in the workplace - with a significant number stating they would refuse to go to work without the right PPE, according to a survey by Populus Data Solutions. The survey, carried out for industrial workwear and protective clothing specialists Ballyclare, also found that a large proportion of the sector's workers are still seeking clarity [...]

The post “Provide PPE or we’ll refuse to work,” sector staff tell employers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is closing the furlough scheme down to new entrants from 30 June but the final deadline is tomorrow (10 June), a transport solicitor is warning. Any applications after tomorrow will miss the 30 June deadline, as the minimum time a worker can be furloughed is three weeks. The deadline has been introduced as part of government plans to wind down the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in stages as lockdown eases and increasing numbers of businesses re-open. The scheme [...]

The post Do not miss tomorrow’s furlough deadline, warns leading transport lawyer appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is calling for HGV drivers to report companies banning them from using their toilets to the HSE as evidence mounts that the problem is on the increase as the Covid-19 lockdown eases. Despite heroic efforts by HGV drivers to keep vital supply chains open during the pandemic, hundreds of drivers are reporting that increasing numbers of companies are banning them from using toilet and handwashing facilities at delivery points, with the majority of culprits being smaller businesses. The [...]

The post Report companies with driver toilet bans to HSE, says RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Goodyear has launched its Fleet Tracker app to help operators monitor the condition of their truck and trailer tyres. The app allows fleet managers to pinpoint the right time to plan tyre maintenance and to replace tyres to reduce downtime. André Weisz, MD of Goodyear Proactive Solutions EMEA, pictured, said: “Goodyear Fleet Tracker will provide detailed mileage follow-up data with up to 95% accuracy to fleet managers and service providers. This way, the lifetime of tyres and total cost of [...]

The post Goodyear Fleet Tracker aims to help operators cut downtime appeared first on Motor Transport.

Daimler Truck has launched Daimler Truck Fuel Cell, marking a major milestone in its joint venture plans with Volvo Group to develop hydrogen fuel cells for commercial vehicles. The creation of the fuel cell company follows the announcement in April of Daimler and Volvo’s joint venture to develop, produce and commercialise hydrogen fuel cell systems for HGVs and buses. This latest move by the joint venture ramps up the race to develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered truck. In September Iveco [...]

The post Daimler/Volvo joint venture reaches major milestone with launch of Daimler Truck Fuel Cell subsidiary appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers in Northern Ireland said they had become “deeply concerned” by the lack of government engagement about how trade will continue between their country and mainland UK after Brexit. With less than seven months until the current Brexit transition period ends, the FTA and other business groups told the House of Lords Select Committee this week that the government must engage with the industry so that it can prepare for the UK’s departure from the EU. The Northern Ireland Business [...]

The post Northern Ireland hauliers demand more clarity over government’s Brexit plan appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA has confirmed it will add questions to the HGV driver theory test about class VI mirrors, after a coroner raised concerns about the risk of deaths being caused on the roads. In a letter from DVSA chief executive Gareth Llewellyn, he said he would also be recommending that drivers take safe urban driving (SUD) and vulnerable road user (VRU) CPC courses. The move came after Norfolk coroner Jacqueline Lake filed a report warning of a risk of future [...]

The post DVSA to update HGV driver training programme in response to fatal accident appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operators struggling to meet financial standing can now be offered a period of grace of up to a year to get themselves on a firmer footing, according to transport lawyers. Laura Hadzik, solicitor at Backhouse Jones, said the maximum period had been extended by six months to 12 months “for assessments of inadequate finance made between 1 March and 30 September 2020". She added: “We don’t have any further details yet, it only came through last night [4 June] but [...]

The post Operators offered one-year “period of grace” to meet financial standing appeared first on Motor Transport.

Legal action could be taken against London mayor Sadiq Khan after a lawyer issued a pre-action protocol letter on him following the increase of the congestion charge. The letter from Black Antelope law director Shaheen Mamun said the mayor had not engaged in a formal consultation that is adequate and fair as established in case law. It added that the timescale from announcing the proposals to the 22 June implementation date was woefully inadequate and that “it would be difficult [...]

The post London mayor threatened with legal action over raising congestion charge appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVLA has confirmed that as of today (4 June), the expiry date of photocard driving licences has been extended by seven months, following a change of EU regulations. It applies to 10-year photocard licences expiring between 1 February and 31 August 2020, as well as five-year Group 2 vocational licences of holders under 45 years old. It does not apply where entitlement to drive expires, where a renewal must be made in the usual way. If a driver has [...]

The post Expiry date of photocard driving licences extended by seven months appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fleet service, maintenance and repair (SMR) has rebounded and is now back up to 60% of pre-coronavirus levels, according to e-commerce provider epyx. The company said it was basing this assessment on usage levels of its vehicle maintenance management tool, 1link Service Network, used by fleets to manage their SMR processes. Tim Meadows, epyx vice president and commercial director said: “In April, soon after lockdown, the number of jobsheets raised through the platform, which essentially represents the number of separate [...]

The post Fleet service, maintenance and repair levels recovering, claims epyx appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has hailed a new government pledge of £10bn to support thousands of businesses by protecting against customer defaults and payment delays. The Trade Credit Reinsurance scheme, agreed following extensive discussions with the insurance sector, will see the vast majority of trade credit insurance coverage maintained across the UK. Commenting, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett (pictured) said: “The announcement follows months of intensive lobbying by the association on behalf of the industry.” Read more Sixteen percent of operators could [...]

The post RHA welcomes £10bn government support pledge appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight is inviting academics and practitioners to take part in an online debate on the implementation of policy measures to decarbonise freight transport in developing countries. The conference will take place on 28 - 30 October 2020. It aims to create an international network of interested parties working on all aspects of sustainable road freight transport, and to facilitate collaborative research amongst the specialists in the field. The online workshop will be presented from 0800 [...]

The post Seventh International Workshop on Sustainable Road Freight Transport appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Association of Pallet Networks (APN) has claimed it is best placed to help UK manufacturers whose order books have been hit by unpredictable and fluctuating volumes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Explained APN chairman Paul Sanders: “The pallet networks offer many advantages for businesses which are rebuilding their order books and operations, not least that network operations can cope easily with fluctuating volumes with no penalty to efficiency or service.” The eight UK pallet networks APN represents comprise 750 regional [...]

The post Pallet networks offer best lifeline to manufacturers, APN boss claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

Continental, technology company and manufacturer of premium tyres, has launched a new microsite highlighting useful information about the latest CO₂ emissions regulation for heavy goods vehicles and the simulation tool for trucks VECTO (Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool). In line with the Paris Agreement to combat climate change, the first carbon dioxide emissions regulations for new heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) were introduced by the European Commission in 2019 (EU Regulation 2019/1242). These new regulations will mean cutting average CO₂ emissions from new HDVs [...]

The post Sponsored: Continental explains VECTO and the latest CO₂ emissions regulations for fleet operators with new microsite appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has repeated its plea for more government help for hauliers, after a new survey revealed 16% of operators are in danger of becoming insolvent within four weeks. The RHA survey of 600 companies also revealed frustration at the government’s furlough system, which operators say is still too inflexible. More than half of those surveyed called for the introduction of weekly furloughs to help them meet fluctuating customer demands. Another 30% fear that with MOT testing suspended during lockdown [...]

The post Sixteen percent of operators could cease trading by July, RHA survey reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Over a third of HGVs operating or entering Greater London are not ready for the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and HGV Permit Scheme which comes into force in October this year, according to a survey by fleet technology specialists CameraMatics. The survey asked 700 fleet managers how prepared their fleets were for the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and HGV Permit Scheme. The new scheme will require all HGVs over 12 tonnes GVW to hold a valid permit to enter or [...]

The post More than a third of HGVs not ready for Direct Vision Standard, survey reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

For hauliers who have been obliged to suspend or severely cut back on their operations because of the Covid-19 epidemic, a return to work probably cannot come soon enough. But as Jonathon Backhouse of Backhouse Jones solicitors told motortransport.co.uk, operators need to be aware of possible pitfalls in resuming their operations. All employers, regardless of business are obliged by law to carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment to establish the level of risk to their workforce and visitors to their [...]

The post Are you breaking the law after Covid-19? appeared first on Motor Transport.

Clean air zones must be expanded in towns and cities as part of measures to cut pollution levels as evidence mounts that high Covid-19 infection rates are linked to poor air quality. The call for the government to take greater action to tackle air pollution is made in a report from the All Party Parliamentary Committee on Air Pollution in a report published today. Introducing the report Air Quality Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infection, Geraint Davies MP, said: “Various studies [...]

The post Expand clean air zones to cut Covid-19 infection rates, MPs demand appeared first on Motor Transport.

Goodyear has introduced a new KMAX T GEN-2 trailer tyre, offering greater mileage, longer life and radio frequency identification (RFID) connectivity. The product range replaces the KMAX T trailer range and complements its premium KMAX GEN-2 steer and drive truck range. Maciej Szymanski, Goodyear marketing director, said: “The KMAX T GEN-2 range offers important benefits to inter-regional and regional fleets, in particular those operating under changing load levels or traveling to regions with varying weather conditions. “Since the launch of [...]

The post New Goodyear trailer tyre boasts range of benefits for regional hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics firms need to learn from the Covid-19 pandemic and guard against “knee-jerk reactions”, according to KPMG supply chain expert Maureen O’Shea. Speaking as part of a webinar discussing the future of the sector, she also advised businesses on key recovery strategies and warned them that by fixating on the crisis they risked losing focus on their preparations for Brexit. “We need to avoid knee-jerk reactions,” she said. “It’s not just a case of surviving through Covid, it’s taking the [...]

The post “Avoid knee-jerk reactions” – what logistics can learn from Covid-19 appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has confirmed that the suspension of annual testing of heavy vehicles has been extended to include vehicles due for test shortly. Vehicles due for their regular annual test in June, together with those which were due in March and subsequently extended to June, will receive a further three-month extension. Read more MOT testing backlog will likely mean job cuts, warns ATF operator Industry slams DVSA decision to reject delegated testing to help tackle HGV [...]

The post DVSA extends vehicle testing suspension appeared first on Motor Transport.

Unsurprising and yet stark figures from the SMMT show that just 15 commercial vehicles rolled off GB production lines in April. CV output dropped by 99.3% as plants were forced to close their doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving just a handful of vehicles to leave the factory gates in order to complete existing UK orders. There were zero exports during the month. Year-to-date CV production fell by 27.6% on what was described by the SMMT as already an [...]

The post April saw only fifteen commercial vehicles manufactured in UK appeared first on Motor Transport.

A survey of UK companies has found more than half are now considering expanding into new global markets as a result of Covid-19. The findings, commissioned by logistics and e-commerce provider One World Express, also showed that 45% of firms said the pandemic had made them realise they were overly reliant on one market. Of the 924 managers, founders and owners surveyed, 57% said they were thinking about seeking out new markets abroad and 44% said they were considering looking [...]

The post UK firms target new global markets in wake of Covid-19 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Commercial Motor is launching an exciting new virtual exhibition for the road transport industry. Held over three days in the autumn, the Commercial Motor Show 2020 will put hundreds of exhibitors in front of a 10,000-plus audience, all without the need for social distancing. Visitors to this free-to-attend event will see the latest vehicles, products and services, and have the chance to download information, listen to webinars and view videos. Those who wish to get interactive will also be able [...]

The post Commercial Motor Show 2020 appeared first on Motor Transport.

A free trade agreement acceptable to both the UK and EU must be top of the agenda when Brexit talks resume next week, the FTA has urged. On the eve of further negotiations over the future of the relationship between the UK and other European countries, concerns are growing that consensus will not be reached before the 31 December deadline. Sarah Laouadi, FTA European policy manager said: “The UK has outlined its proposed free trade agreement, which the EU has [...]

The post New Brexit talks must focus on free trade deal, insists FTA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Free 15-minute consultations for companies emerging from the Covid-19 crisis are being offered on a first come, first served basis. The pre-bookable ‘Flying 15’ sessions will be held online on 5 June and are intended to offer insights into how best to restart trading after lockdown. The consultations have been designed by the FTA’s supply chain consultancy service, which said it would help those working within supply chains understand the best way to adapt their operations. Martin Palmer, FTA supply [...]

The post Logistics firms offered free online consultations to help restart their businesses appeared first on Motor Transport.

A fully integrated vehicle telematics and camera system is providing one fleet operator with a training programme that it claimed had reduced accidents by almost a quarter. Industrial gas provider Air Products said the introduction of app-based technology had enabled a room full of drivers to review incidents captured on forward-facing HGV cameras in its fleet. Its telematics captures information from the vehicles relating to driving efficiency and safety and, combined with data from the cameras, it has rolled out [...]

The post New vehicle camera technology helps reduce road accidents and settle insurance claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

Northern Ireland is to extend HGV driving licences and reinstate specialist vehicle testing. The Driver and Vehicle Agency will reinstate individual vehicle approval (IVA) inspections and will introduce a statutory authorisation process that will permit the continued use of ADR vehicles on the road from 1 June. Seamus Leheny, FTA policy manager for Northern Ireland, said: “The absence of IVA inspections meant that many FTA members in NI – from operators, vehicle manufacturers and vehicle dealerships – were unable to [...]

The post Northern Ireland extends HGV driving licences and reinstates special vehicle testing appeared first on Motor Transport.

Forth Ports has launched an unaccompanied freight ferry terminal at Tilbury2 following a successful trial earlier this month. The 500,000-unit freight-only facility terminal uses a truck driver-free operation into the UK which port authorities say will help reduce the spread of Covid-19. The service will operate in partnership with P&O Ferries. The first ship to use the fully operational terminal was P&O’s chartered freight ferry the Norstream. The terminal will import and export containers to and from continental Europe on [...]

The post Tilbury2 offers new unaccompanied freight terminal service appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA’s attempt to liaise with 32 council leaders in Scotland to ensure plans for increased urban pedestrian and cycling routes do not hamper city centre deliveries has fallen on deaf ears. Scottish councils are preparing to re-allocate road space to encourage more cycling and walking in urban areas and cut down reliance on public transport in a bid to reduce the spread of Covid-19, under new travel plans funded by the Scottish government. However the FTA has raised concerns [...]

The post FTA plea to Scottish councils to protect urban deliveries falls on deaf ears appeared first on Motor Transport.

FTA policy director Elizabeth de Jong has told motortransport.co.uk that the government needs more proof that some hauliers are close to collapse before it can offer sector-specific support. Her comments come in the wake of an RHA survey showing 73% of hauliers have significantly reduced or worse cashflow following the Covid-19 pandemic and 83% have significantly reduced or worse volumes. Earlier this month, the FTA admitted a fifth of its own members are facing closure after delays to the government’s [...]

The post Prove there’s a need for sector-specific support, FTA tells hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Reintroducing the London Lorry Control Scheme and raising the London Congestion Charge is a “sucker punch” to the logistics sector, FTA said today. The association is calling for freight to be exempt from schemes such as the Congestion Charge as the sector strives to recover from the impact of the pandemic. Natalie Chapman, FTA head of urban policy, accused local and national politicians of abandoning the sector. “It appears that politicians at a national and local level have all forgotten [...]

The post Logistics “abandoned” by London politicians – FTA appeared first on Motor Transport.

D4Drivers is offering D4 medicals for HGV drivers from this week at 30 centres across the UK. The company’s sister organisation Summerfield Healthcare is also offering antibody blood tests to transport operators, with results supplied within three days. The company said the antibody tests are already being used by a major supermarket and logistics firms to establish the presence or absence of Covid-19 antibodies in their drivers. D4Drivers, which plans to open another 45 centres through the summer, said PPE [...]

The post HGV driver medicals on offer as D4Drivers re-opens clinics appeared first on Motor Transport.

Almost three quarters of freight forwarders are calling for the Brexit transition period to be extended if no trade deal is agreed with the EU. Another 50% are warning that they will not have enough staff to cope with the additional Customs-related work that a no-deal Brexit will bring. A survey of over 400 members of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) revealed widespread concern in the sector at the government’s insistence that there will be no extension of the [...]

The post Freight forwarders warn of customs chaos if government adheres to Brexit deadline appeared first on Motor Transport.

London Councils has confirmed that its Lorry Control Scheme is to start again on the 1 June. Despite calls from the industry for its current suspension to be extended - and even for it to be abolished - a spokeswoman for the council said it will recommence from next month. She said: “There’s going to be a two-week period where warning notices will be issued rather than enforcement action to try and get drivers used to the fact the scheme [...]

The post London Councils slammed over “nonsensical” restart of Lorry Control Scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

A West Yorkshire ATF operator said staff were on the verge of losing their jobs after the DVSA refused to allow its testers to conduct MOTs amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Joanne Martin, MD at Birstall-based Leeds Fleet Services, said it had lost between 30% and 40% of its work following the decision to suspend HGV and trailer tests on 23 March. And despite growing calls for the agency to delegate the work to qualified engineers, so far the DVSA has [...]

The post MOT testing backlog will likely mean job cuts, warns ATF operator appeared first on Motor Transport.

The number of job adverts for HGV drivers fell by 7.4% last week, a reduction only surpassed by dental nurses, according to figures from the recruitment and employment confederation (REC). Its new jobs recovery tracker, designed to spot signs of labour market growth through the use of jobs posting data, found all areas of the UK saw a continued decline in advertised jobs between 4-10 May and 11-17 May, with the exception of the North East, where postings increased by [...]

The post Job adverts for HGV drivers fall 7.4% in a week appeared first on Motor Transport.

A partnership between tech firm REE Automotive and hydraulics manufacturer KYB promises to revolutionise electric vehicle designs of vehicles up to 8-tonnnes GVW. REE co-founder Daniel Barel said KYB, a producer of shock absorbers, would play a “crucial role” in the development of its next generation electric vehicle, which is based on a completely flat, scalable and modular platform. The KYB-REE partnership marks the first time KYB has formally collaborated on EV platforms with a technology company. Kazunori Masumoto, KYB [...]

The post New partnership will “revolutionise” designs of lightweight electric trucks appeared first on Motor Transport.

The 55-strong Rivus garage network has now been made available to users of the ServicePoint fleet service, maintenance and repair (SMR) platform. The move is designed to open up the nationwide network to a wider range of business customers including HGV operators, said Paul Holland, MD of UK Fuel, at Allstar Business Solutions, which operates ServicePoint with technology from epyx. “Last year, ServicePoint was used by fleets totalling more than 300,000 vehicles to process SMR work valued at £15m, so [...]

The post Rivus garage network added to ServicePoint appeared first on Motor Transport.

As firms begin to restart their operations, the FTA and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) have launched a guide with advice on doing it safely, quickly and effectively. The Good Practice Guide for Covid-19 shares practice advice and examples from member organisations and is designed to be used in conjunction with the official UK government guidance on safer workplaces. It covers key considerations including risk assessments; social distancing in the workplace; cleaning of the workplace and PPE [...]

The post FTA and CILT launch guide to restarting your business appeared first on Motor Transport.

The furlough scheme must allow for part-time working and flexibility this month if UK logistics is to stave off a tidal wave of redundancies, according to the FTA. The chancellor has confirmed that from August staff can be furloughed on a part-time basis in order to aid a gradual recovery when the economy is in the doldrums. But the FTA said with many haulage and transport firms having endured limited work for the past three months, most will face a [...]

The post “Give furlough scheme immediate flexibility to avoid tidal wave of redundancies,” FTA urges government appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers are still parking in unsafe locations with inadequate welfare, hygiene and sanitation facilities - two years after the government promised to provide more secure parking sites. The complaint from the FTA comes at a time when the vital role of the lorry driver has been brought home to the public, as they continue to provide goods the country needs to get through the lockdown. But hauliers said parking provision has not improved since the Department for Transport published a [...]

The post Government has broken its promise on more parking and better facilities, hauliers claim appeared first on Motor Transport.

London Councils has confirmed that its Lorry Control Scheme is to start again on the 1 June. Despite calls from the industry for its current suspension to be extended - and even for it to be abolished - a spokeswoman for the council said it will recommence from next month. She said: “There’s going to be a two-week period where warning notices will be issued rather than enforcement action to try and get drivers used to the fact the scheme [...]

The post RHA slams London Councils over “nonsensical” restart of Lorry Control Scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

Goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain will not be subject to export declarations and there will be no tariffs on freight remaining within the UK customs territory, cabinet minister Michael Gove has confirmed. He said safeguarding the free flow of goods within the United Kingdom’s internal market is of critical importance to Northern Ireland’s economy and people as the UK withdraws from the European Union. In a statement to the House of Commons announcing how its protocol will work, [...]

The post No export declarations needed on goods into Britain from Northern Ireland, government announces appeared first on Motor Transport.

The current suspension of the London Lorry Control Scheme should be extended with a view to either reforming it or abolishing it altogether, the RHA said this week. London Councils has suspended the scheme until 31 May to help speed up deliveries of food and medical supplies into London during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is currently reviewing the extension, brought in in March, to determine whether to extend it past 31 May or resume the scheme. RHA argues that the [...]

The post RHA calls for further suspension of the London lorry ban appeared first on Motor Transport.

Suttons Tankers has won new business with Grace Overseas, transporting chemicals needed for hygiene products, which will contribute to the battle against Covid-19. The nationwide logistics operator has strategically placed depots and out-bases across the UK and was able to redeploy resources and materials within 48 hours of the request for transportation. Suttons’ urgency and ability to react to the dramatic increase in demand for hygiene products to support the NHS in combatting Covid-19 has also been recognised through its [...]

The post Suttons Tankers signs chemicals deal with Grace Overseas appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has accused ferry operators of reneging on their agreement with the haulage industry to pass on fuel price savings to hauliers using routes between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Despite oil prices plummeting during the pandemic and £35m of funding being made available to help ferry operators, they have not adjusted fuel surcharges imposed on trucks crossing the Irish Sea. The RHA has challenged them to pass the fuel price savings to hauliers using the routes, pointing out [...]

The post RHA slams ferry operators for refusing to cut fuel charges to reflect oil price crash appeared first on Motor Transport.

Government plans to impose a 10% tariff on new trucks in the event of a no-deal Brexit will put £10,000 on the price and stall economic recovery, the RHA has warned. It follows the announcement this week of the new UK Global Tariff (UKGT) which will impose levies on some imports from 1 January 2021. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the 10% tariff on new trucks is aimed at “supporting businesses in the UK”. However, if the [...]

The post No-deal tariff on new trucks would add “crippling” £10,000 to price, warns RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers have seen a 37% reduction in unsafe driving behaviours and a 6% increase in miles per gallon (MPG) during the Covid-19 lockdown, according to telematics specialist Microlise. The results come from telematics data analysed by the Microlise Data Science and Operational Research team. The analysis revealed that average MPG improved by 6% with the increase starting on 16 March, peaking in the week of 6 April and then remaining relatively stable in the following weeks. The data also revealed [...]

The post New data reveals sharp drop in dangerous driving during lockdown appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Covid-19 pandemic will speed the evolution of the transport and logistics sector and transform how some businesses operate, according to new research. The crisis has already seen a number of changes that have affected warehousing and distribution operations, including changes in the way that many people have bought goods, with raised demand for online shopping. As this includes supermarket shopping, it has led to greater pressure on controlled temperature home delivery operations and a degree of uncertainty for supermarkets [...]

The post “Covid will evolve your business in ways you wouldn’t otherwise have seen for years,” analyst claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

Technology specialist Samsara has launched a Fleet Electrification Report and an electric vehicle (EV) consulting service to help fleet managers get the information and the management support they need to electrify their fleets. The launch follows a survey by Samsara which found that 46% of fleet managers are searching for data to help them decide which of their fleet vehicles are most suited to electrification. The survey also revealed that 40% of fleet managers are seeking data to help them [...]

The post Samsara launches service to help fleet managers switch to electric vehicles appeared first on Motor Transport.

The need for reduced handling during the Covid-19 crisis at a time when fewer people have been in their places of work has also given some operations an opportunity to experiment with limited autonomous delivery projects, although not in the UK. This has been the case at Jacksonville in Florida US, where the Jacksonville Transit Authority has formed a partnership with autonomous transport services provider Beep, French autonomous driving systems producer Navya and the Mayo Clinic. The project has been [...]

The post Could this be the last mile solution of the future? appeared first on Motor Transport.

As work begins this week to close off major routes in London to lorries, cars, vans, hauliers are calling for lorries to be exempt from the ban. The new measures, announced by Mayor Sadiq Khan last week, aim to ensure social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic by giving more road space to pedestrian and cyclists. Under the initiative, main streets between London Bridge and Shoreditch, Euston and Waterloo, and Old Street and Holborn, will be limited to buses, pedestrians and [...]

The post Give lorries access to major London routes to ensure essential deliveries, say hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The UK’s market for new HGVs plummeted by more than a fifth in the first quarter of 2020 with 9,193 units registered, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Demand for new HGVs fell by 22.5%, down by 2,666 units, which SMMT attributed to fluctuations in the sector’s long fleet renewal cycle, together with Covid-19 lockdown measures introduced partway through March. Registrations of rigid trucks fell by 12% to 5580 in the period, [...]

The post New HGV registrations tumble as Covid-19 lockdown bites appeared first on Motor Transport.

Lorry drivers bringing freight to the UK will be exempt from the need to quarantine for 14 days, according to business secretary Alok Sharma. As the government prepares to launch a 14-day quarantine at all ports and airports, Sharma said lorry drivers would be exempt from the scheme. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference he said: “I recognise that the quarantining measures will put restrictions on businesspeople being able to travel. "We will be setting out shortly the exemptions. [...]

The post Lorry drivers arriving in UK exempt from 14-day quarantine appeared first on Motor Transport.

Coventry-based engineering specialist Penso is to launch a range of new ultra-lightweight 3.5-tonne delivery vans for the booming home delivery market, writes George Barrow. Based on the front-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a medium-wheelbase, the Penso Blue Ocean Home Delivery Pod offers multi-temperature delivery with the prospect of increased payload and volume. The Blue Ocean Pods – which are almost 100% recyclable and made from re-processed plastic bottles – are said to be capable of moving 50% more than a benchmarked [...]

The post Ultra-light van bodies will be ideal for home delivery market appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport for London has been accused of opportunism after mayor Sadiq Khan announced that it would reintroduce all road charging schemes from Monday (18 May). The FTA said the decision threatened the green shoots of recovery across the Capital’s economy and jeopardized many logistics firms as they attempted to claw their way out of the crisis. Khan said he wanted to transform London into “one of the largest car-free zones” in the world and some of its streets would be [...]

The post Surprise plan to restart London road charging schemes branded “shockingly nonsensical” appeared first on Motor Transport.

The HSE has had a “massive” injection of funds to investigate firms whose business practices fail to adhere to social distancing practices in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, a transport solicitor has warned. As increasing numbers of UK employees begin to return to work, Backhouse Jones solicitor Mark Davies said every firm needed to carry out a risk assessment – or else expect sanctions. And he warned that no matter how straightforward your transport business was, not to become complacent [...]

The post HSE given “massive” injection of funds to investigate social distancing breaches appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is to spend £1.7bn on improving the roads, repair bridges and fill in millions of potholes as the country starts a tentative return to work. The Transport Investment Fund cash is intended to make journeys on roads and motorways smoother and safer over the coming weeks and months. In addition, the government said it would accelerate more than £175m worth of work during quieter periods as people follow guidance to avoid unnecessary travel. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: [...]

The post Government in £1.7bn pledge to improve roads and fix potholes appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tyre firm Continental has launched a “microsite” for HGV operators, explaining new CO₂ emissions regulations and how tyres can reduce fuel consumption. The European Commission (EC) introduced regulations last year, which are intended to cut CO2 emissions in trucks by 15% by 2025 and 30% by 2030. In order to ensure the reduction targets are met, the EC also launched a simulation tool called VECTO, which calculates a heavy vehicle’s fuel consumption and its emissions. Continental’s microsite contains videos and [...]

The post Continental launches website to explain new CO₂ emissions regulations and how tyres can reduce fuel consumption appeared first on Motor Transport.

Burger King restaurants across the country’s motorway network are reopening for takeaway service – but only for HGV drivers initially. Operator Moto said it was reopening eight sites on 14 May, but in order to ensure safe working practices were established for restaurant teams and customers, just truckers will be allowed to order the food. On 21 May, a further 19 Burger King sites will reopen. Ken McMeikan, Moto’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to support motorway users with [...]

The post Motorway Burger Kings begin reopening for HGV drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

A UK cybersecurity centre needs to be established to prevent “potentially catastrophic” hacking of autonomous vehicles by criminals, according to a groundbreaking project. A consortium of academic, security and digital experts explored the feasibility of creating a ‘Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence’ in order to detect, understand and respond to emerging threats to connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). Its findings highlighted the “absolute and urgent need” for the creation of an industry-led, government-backed cybersecurity programme to ensure autonomous vehicles are protected. [...]

The post Industry warned it faces “potentially catastrophic” hacking threat amid cyber attacks on NHS deliveries appeared first on Motor Transport.

Employers in vehicle rental and leasing must take steps to ensure they are operating safely during the Covid-19 pandemic as businesses attempt to return to normality following lockdown, according to the BVRLA. Vehicle rental operators have been exempt from business closure as many have played a role in providing vehicles to key workers during the crisis. But the BVRLA said those operating in leasing, fleet management and many of the trade body’s associate member organisation would be taking their first [...]

The post Rental and leasing firms urged to ensure safe practices to avoid legal claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

A provider of fresh produce to London eateries has successfully launched its home delivery operation, thanks to new transport planning software. Based in New Covent Garden Market, Classic Fresh Foods specialises in supplying fresh produce to discerning chefs in hotels, restaurants and gastropubs across London. However, with most of its customers closing their premises during lockdown, the company switched to offering home delivery. The business has rapidly grown and now delivers to around 200 addresses per day, which it has [...]

The post My Transport Planner enables London home delivery appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers now have instant access to the availability of service stations across England after two tech firms worked together to provide a colour-coded online hub. Uploaded to the Traffic England website, the information shows current availability of the 118 motorway services, as well as the provision of fuel, drinks, takeaway food, toilets and parking. Thales and WSP worked with Highways England to provide an update to their joint venture, Network Information Services and it is updated daily so that hauliers [...]

The post New online hub gives hauliers latest service station information appeared first on Motor Transport.

Just over half of UK HGV drivers feel underappreciated by the public, according to a survey conducted at the height of the lockdown – a significantly larger proportion than in Ireland or the US. The poll, carried out on almost 1,000 drivers by fleet tech firm CameraMatics on 3 April, found 50.4% of UK truckers believe the public do not appreciate their efforts. In Ireland, the figure was 40.6% and in the USA only 36.5% of drivers answered that they [...]

The post “Public still don’t appreciate us,” claim over half of UK’s HGV drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

New research from the Gas Vehicle Network (GVN) has shown that in 2019 almost 80% of the total dispensed volume of gas for transport fuel was biomethane - a renewable and sustainable low carbon option. GVN chief executive Mike Foster said: “Clean, low carbon, gas-powered vehicles are an obvious, sustainable ‘no brainer’ for the freight and transport industry. These latest statistics - a 22% increase from 2018 - clearly show the direction of travel for the HGV sector. “This is [...]

The post Renewable gas accelerates HGVs to carbon-free destination appeared first on Motor Transport.

Software specialist FleetCheck has urged operators to add coronavirus measures to their fleet risk management policies. The call comes after the government issued a new document - 'Working Safely During Covid-19 in or from a Vehicle' - which FleetCheck said "forms a relatively sensible framework to manage the possibility of infection around the use of company vehicles". “The fact is that coronavirus is going to be very much part of everyday fleet management for the foreseeable future and that businesses [...]

The post Add Covid-19 to your risk management policies, fleet managers told appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fourloughed workers should be encouraged to take up training opportunities, according to the British International Freight Association (BIFA). The association has put together an online training programme, set to launch next month, in place of its face-to-face training sessions which were suspended due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Director general, Robert Keen said the modules aim to replicate the interactive nature of its traditional courses by using live trainers with over 25 years freight and customs experience. Keen added: “In order [...]

The post BIFA: “Here’s how to get the most from your furloughed staff…” appeared first on Motor Transport.

The driver shortage crisis could be exacerbated in the wake of Covid-19 as drivers struggle to make up their CPC driver training hours, fleet managers are warning. According to an independent survey, commissioned by Fleet Source, fleet managers fear there will be a supply crisis on Driver CPC training in the wake of Covid-19 which could hamper the logistics industry’s recovery. Fleet Source chief executive Nick Caesari said: “More than half the fleet managers we spoke to were worried that [...]

The post CPC training bottleneck in wake of Covid-19 could hit driver supply and slow recovery, fleet managers warn appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government’s coronavirus job retention scheme has been extended until October on current pay rates but employers will be expected to contribute towards the scheme’s costs after July, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today (12 May). The RHA welcomed the extension but said it was "baffled" by the move, claiming its request last month for the scheme to have more flexibility had been rejected as too complicated. It warned that any move to make employers pay towards the scheme when they [...]

The post RHA “baffled” as government tells employers to help with costs of extended furlough scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

Haulage firms have welcomed plummeting diesel prices in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic but said the cost saving is nowhere near enough to underpin their struggling businesses. A stand-off between Russia and OPEC, combined with a global oil surplus as lockdowns drastically cut fuel demand has meant prices are lower than they have been for years. Last month West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil closed trading at a price of $US-37.63 having recovered from a record low of $US-40.32. [...]

The post Fuel price slump a bonus but not lifesaving, says CILT appeared first on Motor Transport.

As the government eases lockdown restrictions and businesses return to work, there must be no move to ban drivers from using toilet facilities under the pretext of safe working practices, the RHA has warned. It follows the government’s announcement that some businesses, such as construction sites and manufacturers, may resume operations so long as they take appropriate measures to protect their workers from contracting the coronavirus. The RHA said this week that companies must not return to the situation that [...]

The post Don’t bring back HGV driver toilet ban as lockdown eases, RHA warns businesses appeared first on Motor Transport.

DVSA is refusing to allow authorised testing facility operators (ATFs) to help clear a mounting backlog of thousands of annual HGV and trailer tests created by the Covid-19 lockdown - a move strongly condemned by both RHA and the ATF Operators Association (ATFOA) this week. The HGV annual tests are the domain of DVSA vehicle standard assessors. However DVSA stood down its assessors on 23 March at the beginning of the lockdown and suspended all HGV and trailer tests for [...]

The post Industry slams DVSA decision to reject delegated testing to help tackle HGV testing backlog appeared first on Motor Transport.

A temporary halt to the roll out of low emission zones in four Scottish cities, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, should be used to review the impact the zones will have on local hauliers already struggling with the impact of the pandemic on their businesses, according to the RHA. The schemes, which were due to be implemented in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee later this year alongside the existing scheme in Glasgow, have been temporarily shelved,  Scotland’s transport secretary Michael Matheson [...]

The post Delay to four of Scotland’s low emission zones must be used to review impact on hauliers, says RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

The British government wants to develop ports on the east coast of Britain so that the Port of Calais can be bypassed in the event of serious delays arising from the impact of Brexit. As firms warn that they will not be ready for the additional border checks that a Canada-style Brexit could bring at the end of this year, the British government has tasked officials with looking at how ports such as Harwich and Felixstowe could take on more [...]

The post Ministers look to bypass Port of Calais to avoid post-Brexit queues appeared first on Motor Transport.

Only around one in 10 people believe HGV drivers’ behaviour on the roads has improved since the Coronavirus pandemic began, according to a poll carried out by the AA. The results from 19,732 respondents showed that 12% thought lorry drivers were better behaved now than before the lockdown. A quarter (25%) thought car drivers and cyclists were worse on the roads now, although 21% thought car drivers’ behaviour had improved. Only 10% thought there had been any improvement in cyclists. [...]

The post AA reveals results of HGV driver behaviour poll appeared first on Motor Transport.

The long-awaited driver apprenticeship standard for Cat C+E licences is due to be published this summer, according to the FTA. It said its approval and rollout couldn’t come quickly enough in an industry plagued with skills shortages in recent years. The new standard should give operators the opportunity to draw down from the Levy fund and help them meet their employment and training demands. It follows widespread criticism that the current HGV driver apprenticeship standard was not fit for purpose [...]

The post Driver apprenticeship standard for Cat C+E licences due this summer appeared first on Motor Transport.

The shortlist for the 2020 Motor Transport Fleet Truck of the Year has been revealed. The line up is: DAF XF Mercedes-Benz Actros Scania R-series Volvo FH The shortlist was chosen by a panel of fleet operators based on online presentations by all the major manufacturers of 6x2 tractor units. Although the XF has won the trophy more than any other truck, in the last five years winners have also included the R-series, the FH and the MAN TGX so [...]

The post Shortlist announced for MT Fleet Truck of the Year 2020 appeared first on Motor Transport.

More than two-thirds of transport business owners now think they will have to make people redundant once the furloughing scheme has come to an end, according to a new poll. Asked: ‘Do you envisage having to make redundancies once the furlough scheme is lifted,’ 68% of respondents answered yes. This is a rise of 12% from when the same question was asked two weeks ago during a webinar hosted by law firm Backhouse Jones. The results came as the Chartered [...]

The post More than two thirds of transport firms will be forced to cut jobs, poll reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

An independent strategic business review has been launched by the FTA, aiming to get logistics companies back up and running in a post-lockdown world. With the government’s ‘back to work’ plans about to be revealed, the trade association said successful re-starting and scaling-up of operations will rely on a number of dependencies across the supply chain. It said health and safety advice for the workplace is liable to change, but firms need to consider what this ‘new normal’ will look [...]

The post FTA launches business review to support logistics companies post-lockdown appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has been urged to extend the Renewable Fuel Transport Obligation (RFTO) beyond 2020 in order to boost biofuel production and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil diesel. In a consultation response, the Gas Vehicle Network (GVN), which represents companies involved in gas-derived fuel production and gas-powered HGVs, said the current plans would see subsidies awarded to CNG and LNG end on 31 December. The GVN told the Department for Transport (DfT): “The feedback received from our member [...]

The post Government urged to boost biofuel production appeared first on Motor Transport.

The commercial vehicle finance sector reported a fall in new business of 32% in March, reflecting the measures taken by the government to deal with the coronavirus crisis. New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) also showed that the plant and machinery finance sector saw a reduction in new business of just under a quarter (23%), compared with the same month in 2019. IT equipment finance was the only asset sector to report growth in March, with [...]

The post Commerical vehicle finance sector reports 23% fall in new business during March appeared first on Motor Transport.

Manchester based Avail Technologies is revolutionising the logistics industry and largely reducing their client’s driver agency costs. This has come at a much-needed time as the logistics industry has been hit by 40% since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Avail’s CEO Erin Short stated: “The temporary employment industry is currently dominated by the outdated traditional agency model where hauliers are still employing agencies to contract HGV drivers and paying over the odds, and that’s not right we offer everything [...]

The post SPONSORED: How Avail is saving UK haulage companies up to £4,000 per driver appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA’s claims of a “breakthrough” in its talks with ministers for extra support for the industry may come too late for many, as its own survey reveals thousands are now at risk of going bust. Responses to its surveys from companies running from one up to more than 50 HGVs show that 73% have significantly reduced or worse cashflow and 83% report significantly reduced or worse volumes. In addition, 15% said they had applied for a CBIL loan, but [...]

The post RHA survey a “staggering snapshot” of struggling sector appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA has been urged to introduce delegated private sector testing to tackle the mounting backlog of annual HGV tests which have been suspended during the COVID-19 lockdown. The call comes from the Authorised Testing Facility Operators Association (ATFOA) which is warning that a backlog of thousands of annual HGV tests, suspended since 23 March, must be tackled immediately to ensure road safety and to prevent further financial hardship to authorised testing facility (ATF) operators, who derive a major part [...]

The post Call for DVSA to delegate HGV testing to tackle backlog created by pandemic lockdown appeared first on Motor Transport.

Figures for new van registrations in April reveal the “shocking” state of the sector after they plummeted by 86.2%. Just 3,387 light CVs joined UK roads during the month, 21,217 fewer than in April 2019, after the coronavirus effectively shut down the market. The SMMT said registrations of mid-sized vans weighing between two and 2.5-tonnes fell by 90.4% and demand for larger vans in the 2.5-3.5-tonne category dropped by 83.1%. Many of the vehicles registered were delivered to operators working [...]

The post Van registrations plummeted by a “shocking” 86% during April, SMMT reports appeared first on Motor Transport.

The upgraded A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme has opened eight months ahead of schedule, speeding up journey times and improving access to and from the UK’s largest container port. Highways England said work on the upgrade continued throughout the coronavirus outbreak, with measures introduced to ensure work was completed safely and in line with Public Health England’s advice. Beginning four years ago, the £1.5bn scheme is expected to strengthen links between the Midlands and the East of England and to [...]

The post A14 upgrade open eight months ahead of schedule appeared first on Motor Transport.

Employment levels in transport and storage will be down by 15% by the end of the year and won’t fully recover until mid-2026, according to projections by Driver Require. The recruitment firm’s analysis into the impact of COVID-19 suggests that employment growth rates in the sector face a bleaker than average outcome, with a 35% reduction, compared to an assumed 25% drop in all sectors during the lockdown. The same period is likely to see HGV driver employment plummet by [...]

The post HGV driver employment to slump by 50% by January appeared first on Motor Transport.

Continuing delays in the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) means operators are now on a cliff edge of financial ruin, the FTA has warned. It accused the Chancellor Rishi Sunak of not doing enough to help logistics firms, five weeks after he promised to take “all action necessary” to make sure government backed loans were benefitting businesses. David Wells, FTA chief executive said holes in companies’ cash flow were now emerging, caused by a lack of billable work from [...]

The post “Loan scheme failure means fifth of our members are close to collapse,” FTA tells government appeared first on Motor Transport.

Events hauliers are backing a call for the government to provide greater support to the events industry as it struggles to survive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) has written to prime minister Boris Johnson calling for more action to protect the industry and has also launched a twitter campaign today (5 May) in a bid to increase pressure on the government to accede to its demands. The letter, written jointly with the [...]

The post Hauliers back events industry call for greater government support during pandemic appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA is partnering with freight exchange platform Haulage Exchange to help operators whose supply chains have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic find additional workloads or carrier partners. Dubbed the Logistics Efficiency Network Solution (LENS) the service connects operators to loads needing transportation. Under the partnership FTA members can search Haulage Exchange’s Smart System for loads based on their location and HGV specifications. The system can also match suitable loads to carriers and gives FTA members the ability to [...]

The post LENS partnership gives FTA members clearer view of supply chain opportunities appeared first on Motor Transport.

The logistics sector must be given access to PPE to ensure a successful return to work once the COVID-19 lockdown is ended, the FTA has warned. The association is calling on the government and Public Health England to give all supply chain workers clear direction on what PPE they need and how it should be used. Elizabeth de Jong, FTA’s policy director, said: “It is absolutely right and proper that the NHS is prioritised in the use of PPE, but [...]

The post Give logistics sector access to PPE to ensure economic recovery, says FTA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Former BMW financial services head of strategy, Shashi Maharaj has joined the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) as the legal and membership director. Maharaj who will be responsible for the association’s governance, compliance and membership functions, spent over 20 years with BMW in a variety of senior legal, strategy and compliance roles. More recently he was responsible for governance and compliance in the UK and Ireland at BMW. He said: “I am looking forward to working with members [...]

The post Shashi Maharaj joins BVRLA director team appeared first on Motor Transport.

The UK is in danger of failing to recruit the 50,000 customs agents needed to prevent major queues at its borders if it crashes out of Europe without a deal at the end of the year. The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is warning that the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the recruitment and training of staff needed to process an additional 200 million customs declarations that will be required if the UK leaves Europe without securing a trade deal. BIFA [...]

The post Shortage of customs agents threatens border chaos, logistics industry warns government appeared first on Motor Transport.

More than four in 10 companies surveyed in the transport industry said it would take longer than a year to return to pre-COVID-19 levels of work. The poll of more than 200 companies found that 43% believe it will take longer than 12 months to return to normality, while a further 31% reckoned it would take between nine months and a year. The survey, by transport solicitors Backhouse Jones, followed an announcement by the government that it would release a [...]

The post Nearly half of transport firms admit it will take longer than a year to recover from pandemic appeared first on Motor Transport.

An apparent loophole in the DVLA’s relaxation of the D4 medical requirement has left one group of drivers excluded from the temporary licence scheme – those with so-called ‘grandfather rights’. Drivers who obtained their car licence prior to 1997 are also entitled to drive goods vehicles from 3,501kg to 7,500kg GVW, as well as towing trailers with a GCW over 3.5-tonnes. However, the DVLA has confirmed it has no plans to ensure these drivers are also temporarily exempt from driver [...]

The post DVLA loophole leaves drivers with ‘grandfather rights’ still needing D4 medical appeared first on Motor Transport.

The relaxation of rules governing road transport means it is now more important than ever that drivers undertake thorough daily walk around checks and take corrective action where necessary, according to tyre firm Prometeon. The company has produced a five-point checklist to help drivers and operators inspect vehicle tyres and the action needed to ensure HGVs are safe for operation. The issues are uneven wear on the outside of the shoulder; tread damage and cut to cord over 25cm long; [...]

The post Tyre specialist offers five-point checklist to maintain safety standards during pandemic appeared first on Motor Transport.

A Felixstowe-based company that planned to build an 85-space lorry park to ease pressure on the A14 has now withdrawn its application. Prologic wanted to construct the site on land off the old A45 adjacent to the A14, as well as build a covered maintenance bay, offices, drivers’ mess, security fencing, CCTV and site lighting. It said the lorry park for its fleet of HGVs would relieve pressure on the A14 if Operation Stack was rolled out in Suffolk. Read [...]

The post Prologic scraps plans for lorry park near Felixstowe appeared first on Motor Transport.

Driver behaviour topped the list for operators when it came to improvements found from fitting camera systems to their HGV fleets. In a recent report compiled by MT and sister title Commercial Motor, more than half (56%) picked this as the biggest benefit to their business, followed closely by 47% citing a reduction in incident reporting since installing the technology. A decline in personal injury claims was next on the list, as was improved fuel economy, reduced incident investigation time [...]

The post Improved driver behaviour a top benefit from fitting camera systems to fleets, reveals new MT operator survey appeared first on Motor Transport.

“The whole nation will owe haulage and logistics workers a huge debt of gratitude,” according to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads and Transport Security, Baroness Vere of Norbiton. In a statement sent to our sister title Commercial Motor to address operators, Baroness Vere said that this time of national crisis “represents an unprecedented challenge for hauliers and logistics firms” but that the industry has risen to it “with outstanding dedication and professionalism”. “It has been an incredible effort, [...]

The post Roads minister: “Nation will owe haulage and logistics workers a huge debt of gratitude” appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is growing more optimistic that the government will provide extra support for the road transport industry after weeks of “frustrating” discussions with roads minister Baroness Vere. RHA chief executive Richard Burnett told motortransport.co.uk that initial approaches to the DfT seeking extra help for hauliers over and above the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) had been rebuffed. But following a letter sent to PM Boris Johnson signed by six industry bodies seeking [...]

The post RHA announces “breakthrough” in talks with government over grants for struggling hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Moto’s free food for HGV drivers offer is being extended to an additional 14 sites, with free hot drinks for them too. The motorway service operator said it had already had “a fantastic response” from truck drivers to its free hot food scheme and that “thank you” didn’t even begin to cover the debt of gratitude everyone owed them. It means that from next week 24 Moto sites – half of its network – will offer them free food and, [...]

The post Moto extends free food offer to more sites and adds hot drinks deal appeared first on Motor Transport.

Flexible, frictionless trade between Northern Ireland (NI) and GB is vitally important to the continued success of its economy, according to the FTA, which has published key measures needed before Brexit concludes on 31 December. Its Northern Ireland Protocol Policy Report outlines what needs to be done before the transition period ends, including early engagement with logistics and cutting red tape. Seamus Leheny, FTA NI policy manager, said the protocol would put NI in the unique position of being able [...]

The post Post-Brexit trade with Northern Ireland must be free of red tape, FTA demands appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has issued new guidelines to freight operators entering France. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, drivers had formerly been asked to complete an International Attestation form to confirm that their journey met the criteria for essential travel. This was designed to curb non-essential travel. However, French authorities have now confirmed that, for drivers of vehicles performing international transport of goods by road, a completed Certificate for International Transport Workers will be accepted and that they no longer need [...]

The post Hauliers entering France now need Certificate for International Transport Workers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is pumping £17m of funding into protecting five key freight routes between Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another £10.5m will support links with The Isle of Wight and The Scilly Isles. The freight support package also covers 26 routes between Britain, France, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden, including Eurotunnel. The package of measures also includes the creation of a Transport Support Unit (TSU) to assist frontline responders during the COVID-19 [...]

The post Government launches £27.5m freight route funding package appeared first on Motor Transport.

The shortlist for the Microlise Driver of the Year Awards has been announced. It contains drivers from brands including DHL, Culina, Hovis, Royal Mail, Waitrose and Yodel, across telematics based distance categories, as well as Young Driver of the Year, Most Improved Driver of the Year, Extra Mile, HGV Hero and Lifetime Achievement Award. With telematics based categories containing an initial eligible pool of over 210,000 drivers, and nomination-based categories receiving more entries than ever before, the shortlist has been [...]

The post Microlise Driver of the Year shortlist published appeared first on Motor Transport.

Small and medium sized hauliers hit by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for a government-guaranteed loan of up to £50,000 from next week. Dubbed the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), it will enable SMEs to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 over a six-year period, with no fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months. This new scheme, which has a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders, is seen as a faster way to access money than [...]

The post Government launches fast track loan scheme to help firms hit by impact of COVID-19 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fleet managers have revealed that vehicle cameras and CCTV technology are cutting incident reports by almost a third and personal injury claims by almost a half. A survey of Motor Transport and Commercial Motor readers has shown that more than half of all respondents (56%) reported that the vehicle cameras improved driver behaviour, while 47% said incident reports decreased after installation. The survey, commissioned by vehicle safety manufacturer Brigade Electronics and aimed at fleet managers and HGV drivers, found that [...]

The post Vehicle cameras slash personal injury claims and incident reports, survey shows appeared first on Motor Transport.

Motorway service area operator Moto has announced it will provide free food for lorry drivers who park overnight and extend its free parking period to help when truckers take a break during the coronavirus lockdown. A free hot food scheme has been launched at 10 of Moto’s sites that are most popular with truck drivers and will be followed by 14 more sites opening next week, revealed Moto chief executive Ken McMeikan. "The free food is available to all HGV [...]

The post Moto offers free food and longer free parking appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA has seen enquiries to its member advice centre more than double since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Common questions from haulage and logistics operators relate to the furloughing of drivers, medical certificates due to expire, relaxation of drivers’ hours rules and calibration of tachographs. On average, it normally answers 28,000 questions from FTA members each year, but enquiries to the advice centre have spiralled as the unprecedented nature of the outbreak puts a huge strain on the [...]

The post Main concerns over COVID-19 revealed as calls to FTA advice line more than double appeared first on Motor Transport.

During this unprecedented coronavirus crisis Motor Transport and motortransport.co.uk have been working flat out to keep the road transport industry informed and updated with the very latest news and views. Our highly experienced team of journalists has been right on top of developments as they have happened, with exclusive reports and interviews to make sure our essential logistics industry has all the information it needs to survive. As well as increasing the volume of daily news carried on motortransport.co.uk we [...]

The post Motor Transport stands shoulder to shoulder with road transport appeared first on Motor Transport.

Roadchef has rolled out a package of measures for HGV drivers to ensure they are supported during the COVID-19 crisis, including doubling the free parking period at all its locations. The motorway service area (MSA) operator said professional drivers were relying on its services more than ever, particularly now that the government had relaxed drivers’ hours regulations. It said its locations were “working around the clock” to offer key workers a place to rest and that its showers, toilets and [...]

The post Roadchef launches driver support package including parking discount appeared first on Motor Transport.

Employers with furloughed staff who start working for another company should ensure they are able to come back at a moment’s notice when the sector recovers, according to solicitors. The warning comes as 185,000 firms employing around 1.3m workers applied to the government’s job furlough scheme on the first day of its operation. Furloughed workers are allowed to take on another job for a separate company, but firms should ensure their staff can return to work the moment they are [...]

The post Lawyers issue warning over furloughed staff who take other jobs appeared first on Motor Transport.

More than half of employers in the transport industry think they will have to make redundancies once the Coronavirus pandemic is over, according to a poll. The snap survey showed that 56% of companies envisage making redundancies when the lockdown rules end and the economy begins to crank up again. The grim figure emerged during a webinar hosted by solicitors Backhouse Jones for companies in the haulage and passenger transport sectors. Director Jonathan Backhouse described the poll as “sobering” but [...]

The post Over half of industry’s employers will cut jobs in wake of pandemic, poll reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers are strongly advised to request a public inquiry if they receive ‘minded to revoke’ letters from the traffic commissioners during the current pandemic, according to a solicitor. Tim Culpin, transport partner at Aaron & Partners, said the TCs were taking a proactive approach to COVID-19 and were coming up with different ways to ensure non-compliance was addressed. One of these methods is to send out a minded to revoke letter to operators who have demonstrated shortcomings. But Culpin said [...]

The post Request a public inquiry if you receive a ‘minded to revoke’ letter, hauliers told appeared first on Motor Transport.

GDP may not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2025, according to analysis by recruiters Driver Require. Its forecast data, interpreting the likely consequences for the UK economy and specifically the impact on the haulage and logistics sector, showed that the GDP drop for March was already more than the 2008 crisis and indications are it will continue to worsen until we are out of the lockdown phase. Kieran Smith, Driver Require chief executive said average GDP forecast figures are -14% for [...]

The post GDP may not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2025, analysts predict appeared first on Motor Transport.

Companies working in the transport sector have been celebrating their prestigious Queen’s Awards for innovation and business performance. Leyland Trucks was awarded the accolade for Enterprise for International Trade after demonstrating year-on-year export growth. Manufacturing the full range of DAF products, Leyland trucks are exported all over the world and over the three-year judging period, international sales grew by almost 50%. Brennan Gourdie, Leyland Trucks MD, said: “Winning a Queen’s Award is a tremendous honour and the ultimate testament to [...]

The post Transport sector companies recognised in Queen’s Awards for innovation and business performance appeared first on Motor Transport.

Demand for warehousing and distribution space increased by 10% during the first quarter of the year, but was 20% below the five-year average due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Latest research from Colliers International showed that in Q1 there was 7.5 sq ft of take-up for letting more than 100,000 sq ft of space, an increase of 10% on the same quarter in 2019. However, it was still significantly down on the five-year Q1 average. Colliers said its figures showed activity [...]

The post Demand for warehousing and distribution space up 10% in Q1 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Temperature-controlled trailer manufacturer Gray & Adams has been recognised with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation for its double deck design. The Fraserburgh-based company pioneered temperature-controlled lifting deck trailer technology in the nineties and aims to provide practical commercial solutions while reducing the impact of its activities on the environment. It claims the lifting deck semi-trailer is the most important single step forward in trailer design in the last 20 years, enabling customers to move large volumes of goods [...]

The post Gray & Adams given Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation appeared first on Motor Transport.

MAN Truck and Bus is to restart its bus and truck plants at reduced capacity from next week, six weeks after halting production in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The manufacturer stopped production in mid-March to protect its employees and in response to broken supply chains and a sharp drop in demand for commercial vehicles. The plants will open from 27 April with a safety plan to protect employees which will ensure distancing between employees, changes in the routing, [...]

The post MAN to restart bus and truck production appeared first on Motor Transport.

The COVID-19 lockdown has led to a rapid expansion in the digitisation of fleet services, according to the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP). Co-chair Paul Hollick revealed the trend now spanned the entire transport and logistics industry, from service providers to how employers communicated with drivers. “Much of this trend has been prompted by the sudden and widespread switch to home working that has been caused by lockdown," he explained. "Processes that were perhaps paper or telephone powered because people [...]

The post COVID-19 lockdown forcing fleets to digitise services appeared first on Motor Transport.

Motor Transport is excited to be hosting a free webinar on Tuesday 5 May at 2pm to help operators explore a unique, on-demand transport planning tool. You can sign up by clicking here. My Transport Planner will enable fleet operators of all sizes to increase vehicle utilisation, cut costs and reduce emissions from road transport. Using the Software as a Service (SaaS) model, My Transport Planner is a pay-as-you-go solution, and costs less to use than the savings it generates. It is [...]

The post SPONSORED: Free webinar exploring the My Transport Planner tool appeared first on Motor Transport.

Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic could begin as early as next year, with the logistics industry benefitting from new behaviours that could launch an e-commerce boom and more collaborative ways of working forged during the crisis, according to XPO chief executive Bradley Jacobs. In a letter to shareholders published this week, Jacobs predicts: “Things are difficult right now and they’ll get worse in the short-term. Then they’ll get much, much better.” Jacobs argued that while 2020 will be “a lost [...]

The post Logistics sector will survive the pandemic and thrive, XPO chief tells shareholders appeared first on Motor Transport.

Daimler Truck and Volvo Group are launching a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize hydrogen fuel cell systems for HGVs and buses. The first two trucks are planned to be on the road by 2024/25, ahead of mass production by the mid-2030s. The deal will see Daimler consolidate its entire hydrogen fuel cell division in the joint venture whilst Volvo Group will acquire 50% of the JV for around E600m. The partnership is subject to regulatory approval by the [...]

The post Daimler and Volvo in new joint venture to launch first hydrogen powered trucks by 2024 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Motor Transport has teamed up with Brigade Electronics to bring operators running into London a webinar on TfL's Direct Vision Standard to be held on 19 May 2020. From February 2021 it is expected an estimated 250,000 trucks over 12 tonnes GVW running into Greater London must have a Direct Vision Standard (DVS) permit. DVS will rate trucks from zero to five stars on the amount of visibility drivers have from their cab of other road users around their vehicle, [...]

The post SPONSORED: Sign up for our free webinar on the Direct Vision Standard appeared first on Motor Transport.

The road transport industry has sent a joint letter to prime minister Boris Johnson pleading for extra help during the coronavirus pandemic to prevent “widescale business collapse that could reduce capacity by as much as 50%”. The letter, written by the RHA and co-signed by five other bodies representing road transport, said: “The impact on the UK’s road haulage industry has been colossal. Whilst some hauliers, primarily those in food and medicine distribution are continuing to operate, other hauliers are [...]

The post Transport industry bodies plead for more coronavirus support in letter to prime minister appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DfT has launched a website of motorway services to help ease hauliers’ journeys as they deliver vital supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The website provides a list of those services on the national road network which are still operating and open to lorry drivers during the lockdown, and the facilities on offer at each one. Announcing the newly launched site, Transport Secretary Grant Schapps said: “Every day our hauliers deliver lifesaving medicines and keep our shelves stocked across the [...]

The post Government launches website of motorway facilities open to lorry drivers during lockdown appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone is re-opening its European plants from today (20 April 2020). The move comes as Italy and Spain take measures to ease their COVID-19 lockdowns. The firm’s manufacturing plants in Bari in Italy and Lanklaar in Belgium opened today, whilst the Béthune plant in France will reopen tomorrow. The re-opening of the plants follows the relaunch of production at all Bridgestone’s Spanish plants in Burgos, Bilbao and Puente San Miguel, and at its Russian plant in Ulyanovsk on [...]

The post Bridgestone revives production at its European plants as Italy and Spain ease pandemic lockdowns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers are struggling to access loans via the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) which could leave hundreds of operators facing financial ruin, the RHA has warned. The news comes on the same day as the road transport industry sent a joint letter to prime minister Boris Johnson pleading for extra help during the coronavirus pandemic to prevent “widescale business collapse that could reduce capacity by as much as 50%”. The CBILS launched on 23 March and aims to support the [...]

The post Guarantee 100% of COVID-19 business loans or face economic meltdown, RHA warns government appeared first on Motor Transport.

The 2020 Motor Transport Awards have been rescheduled to 17 November to minimise the risk of disruption due to the coronavirus. The biggest event in the road transport calendar was originally planned for 1 July and later postponed to 27 August but, with uncertainty remaining over when the government lockdown will end, Motor Transport is delighted to have secured a November date at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane. “As no one yet knows for sure when government [...]

The post Motor Transport Awards moved to November 2020 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Sales of compressed and liquefied natural gas (CNG/LNG) have hit record highs, with volumes more than doubling between Q4 2019 and the first quarter of this year, according to Gasrec. The fuel provider said the growth follows an influx of new trucks into the market running on the alternative fuels, with registrations of gas-powered 44-tonners playing a large part in boosting figures. Gasrec said demand in March exceeded the previous peak in September 2014 when Euro-5 dual fuel technology was [...]

The post CNG and LNG sales hit record Q1 highs appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA has accused the government of "heel dragging" over its continued failure to confirm the suspension of D4 medicals for HGV drivers despite allegedly agreeing a workaround with the DVLA over a week ago. The news comes as truck drivers fear they will lose their licences because GPs and private providers are no longer carrying out D4 medicals during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We know that a workaround for the issue of driver medicals has been devised by the Department [...]

The post “Workaround over driver medicals agreed but government dragging its heels,” claims FTA appeared first on Motor Transport.

The current limited drivers’ hours relaxation has been extended until 31 May “in response to unprecedented pressures on local and national supply chains". The Department for Transport (DfT) announced last month that the blanket relaxation of the regulations would last until 21 April, but it has now extended this for another six weeks. In a statement, the DfT said: “A specific review of the continuation of the relaxations past 21 April has been conducted and, on the basis of the [...]

The post Easing of drivers’ hours rules extended to 31 May appeared first on Motor Transport.

Traffic commissioner public inquiries held via conferencing software could become a regular feature if the coronavirus lockdown continues for much longer, according to a road transport lawyer. Jonathan Backhouse, director at Backhouse Jones solicitors, said many of its hearings had been adjourned following a decision by the TCs to postpone them in the wake of the pandemic. He said it was now likely there would be a backlog in cases by the end of the year and if the current [...]

The post Public inquiries could use video conferencing software, claims lawyer appeared first on Motor Transport.

Professional drivers renewing their licences will not have to worry about the D4 medical after the government finally agreed to relax the requirement following mounting criticism it was failing to act. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the temporary removal of D4 medicals would ensure that HGV drivers can continue their “vital work and keep the country moving”. The development came after many drivers feared they would lose their licence because GPs and private providers were no longer carrying out the [...]

The post Government confirms suspension of driver medicals amid mounting industry criticism appeared first on Motor Transport.

The use of hydrogen as a fuel for trucks is being trialled in the Netherlands, with a 27-tonne rigid being operated in retail logistics. The project is intended to deliver proof of readiness of hydrogen technology for heavy-duty applications in real-life conditions and provide a basis for the development of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle industry. Built by VDL and operated by zero-emission transport provider Breytner, the three-month trial of the truck will involve it helping replenish stores and feeder lines for [...]

The post New trial set to prove readiness of hydrogen for HGVs appeared first on Motor Transport.

Truck drivers in danger of losing their licences because GPs and private providers are no longer carrying out D4 medicals during the COVID-19 pandemic have accused the DVLA of throwing them to the wolves. Despite assurances from two Conservative MPs to their constituents two weeks ago that DVLA was about to announce the delay of D4 medicals – possibly for a year – it has yet to take any action. It is estimated that around 10,000 HGV drivers a month [...]

The post DVLA delay on D4 medical decision condemned by HGV drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

All traffic commissioner public inquiries have been postponed until further notice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. A spokesman for the Office of the Traffic Commissioner (OTC) said face-to-face hearings were all now postponed, with new hearing dates to be notified in due course: “Traffic commissioners have to ensure that hearings are fair and that parties have time to take advice,” he said. “The present circumstances would make it difficult for operators to prepare for public inquiries by gathering physical [...]

The post Traffic commissioner public inquiries postponed until further notice appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government will start paying employers 80% of furloughed workers wages from next Monday (20 April), according to HMRC chief executive Jim Harra. Under the government’s furlough scheme, which is aimed at preventing redundancies during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, firms can furlough employees and apply for a grant that covers 80% of their monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month, plus National Insurance and pension contributions. The scheme was launched at the beginning of March but employers have [...]

The post HMRC to pay furlough wages from next week appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has given its formal approval for construction to begin on HS2, bringing much needed good news to the construction industry. HS2 Ltd, the public body tasked with overseeing the project, issued a ‘notice to proceed’ to the companies that will undertake construction of the railway. Notice to proceed marks the formal approval for the project to begin the construction phase and HS2 Ltd is now entering Stage 2 of the main works civils contracts, with each held by [...]

The post Government gives HS2 companies formal go-ahead to begin construction phase appeared first on Motor Transport.

Best practice advice for operators involved in the collection and delivery of vehicles has been produced to keep the supply chain moving during the lockdown. After the Department for Transport (DfT) wrote to the industry’s trade associations making it clear that the work of the logistics sector “should continue to the greatest extent possible through the COVID-19 crisis”, the BVRLA is urging dealerships and agents to start moving vehicles again. It said the move was necessary “in order to unclog [...]

The post Whole supply chain must keep moving during lockdown, insists BVRLA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Major supermarket home delivery fleets are still struggling to meet demand despite the government's desire for most of the population to order groceries online. Stores have been matching government databases of the vulnerable against their postcode regions and contacting customers directly But many customers are still finding that it is not possible to book an online delivery from any of the major supermarkets. Both Tesco and Sainsbury have suspended their subscription delivery service for new customers, and are asking anyone [...]

The post Supermarkets admit delivery fleets still struggling with demand appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA has appointed Becky Martin as senior transport advisor within its Member Advice Centre (MAC) to assist the team in supporting logistics businesses through the COVID-19 outbreak. Martin joins the FTA from John Lewis Partnership where she held the post of transport and administration manager She will be working as part of the MAC team which provides members with advice on legal, technical and operational matters across a range of topics including Brexit, COVID-19, drivers' hours, and vehicle maintenance standards. [...]

The post Becky Martin joins FTA as senior transport advisor  appeared first on Motor Transport.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a “huge wake-up call” for the transport and logistics sector and will provide the catalyst for automation, putting many jobs at risk. That’s the view of technology expert Paul Cuatracasas who said the outbreak was a new form of disruption that will speed the development of “fully autonomous end-to end logistics operations starting with robots working in completely automated factories”. The outbreak will also hasten the transition towards 3D printing, drones delivering directly to site and [...]

The post COVID-19 “a huge industry wake-up call that puts many jobs at risk”, claims tech expert appeared first on Motor Transport.

The traffic commissioners are scrutinising requests by operators to furlough transport managers and companies should seek legal advice first, according to Backhouse Jones solicitors. Director Jonathan Backhouse said guidance from the senior traffic commissioner outlined three scenarios in which a company may consider to furlough a transport manager – and firms shouldn’t assume the move isn’t in breach of licensing regulations. The first is where a company wishes to furlough its one transport manager while continuing some form of operation. [...]

The post Seek legal advice before furloughing transport managers, warns solicitor appeared first on Motor Transport.

The shortlist for the Motor Transport Awards 2020 has now been announced and DPD will be hoping to add to its tally of 29 awards, being shortlisted in no fewer than seven categories this year. Although the Awards presentation has had to be postponed until August 27, and the judging day where our 50 senior independent judges get together to pick the winners and shortlist had to be cancelled, thanks to our online entry and judging process we have our [...]

The post MT Awards shortlist 2020 announced appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA can now offer mobile inspections for companies whose workshop facilities are not available during the COVID-19 lockdown. It said its vehicle inspection service remains operational for both members and non-members and that it was vital operators put measures in place now to start returning mothballed fleets to roadworthy condition. Experts currently predict a partial lift of the government’s lockdown restrictions in four to six weeks’ time. The FTA said “a timely approach” to vehicle inspections will help operators [...]

The post FTA offers vehicle inspection service for mothballed fleets appeared first on Motor Transport.

Maintaining social distance for truck drivers may be relatively easy to manage, but it’s more of a challenge for warehouse workers, as recent cases have proved... As panic buying eases, so too is the intense pressure being put on the warehouse operations of food retailers and distributors. But managing hygiene and social distancing requirements still poses challenges: “Safety of staff remains the highest priority and the operations at warehouses and online delivery hubs must strictly adhere to government guidelines on [...]

The post Transport and warehousing firms share crisis management and social distancing strategies appeared first on Motor Transport.

London’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and stricter enforcement of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) have been postponed until February next year. Mayor Sadiq Khan said the four-month delay would allow the freight industry to focus on its core operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transport for London (TfL) has already suspended the current LEZ, the congestion charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone until further notice and this latest development comes after it became apparent that disrupted supply chains would have made [...]

The post London Direct Vision Standard and stricter enforcement of Low Emission Zone postponed until next February appeared first on Motor Transport.

The tyres of HGVs that are being parked up due to COVID-19 should be inspected to prepare them for extended parking, according to Michelin. After a survey from the RHA revealed that around 240,000 vehicles are now laid up for the immediate future, Michelin engineers warned that tyres are not designed to carry the weight of a parked truck or trailer indefinitely. Rob Blurton, senior technical field engineer, advised operators to inspect all tyres for visible damage and abnormal wear [...]

The post Tyres on mothballed HGV fleets need inspection, warns Michelin appeared first on Motor Transport.

The traffic commissioners are scrutinising requests by operators to furlough transport managers and companies should seek legal advice first, according to Backhouse Jones solicitors. Director Jonathan Backhouse said guidance from the senior traffic commissioner outlined three scenarios in which a company may consider to furlough a transport manager – and firms shouldn’t assume the move isn’t in breach of licensing regulations. The first is where a company wishes to furlough its one transport manager while continuing some form of operation. [...]

The post Seek legal advice before furloughing transport managers, warns solictor appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is calling for the government to review its Clean Air Zones (CAZ) policy in the light of emerging evidence that a significant drop in car journeys during the COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in major improvements in air quality. Data collected by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science shows marked reductions in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and in particulate matter (PM2.5) since the government ordered a lock down to help slow the spread of the virus. Car journeys are estimated [...]

The post RHA calls for Clean Air Zone review in light of economic and environmental impact of COVID-19 appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA has launched an online ‘member-to-member’ portal, providing companies with an opportunity to share and discuss the availability of their fleet or staff during the COVID-19 crisis. The web-based logistics swap-shop follows on from the success of the association’s #LogisticsHelpsLogistics campaign, which used the hashtag to link businesses in need of personnel or fleet resources with available workers or vehicle capacity. It said the member portal has two forums, one for companies to share and discuss the availability of [...]

The post FTA launches portal for members to discuss fleet and staff availability appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government’s suspension of all Clean Air Zone schemes to January 2021 is not long enough, the RHA has insisted. The association is calling for the suspension to be extended for another year to January 2022 to allow hauliers to recover from the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to suspend Clean Air Zone schemes was confirmed by Defra minister Rebecca Pow this week. The move follows calls from Leeds and Birmingham City Councils for permission to delay [...]

The post RHA calls for further suspension of all CAZ schemes to January 2022 appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA is calling for “urgent clarity” on how quickly furlough payments will be made once the government scheme launches at the end of this month, warning that firms furloughing workers are “fast running out of cash” as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Under the scheme, companies adversely affected by the pandemic can reclaim up to 80% of an employee’s usual monthly wage, up to £2,500 per month, plus employer national insurance contributions and minimum employer pension contributions. The FTA estimates [...]

The post Furlough funding needed now to protect businesses and workers during COVID-19 crisis, says FTA appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is looking at alternative means of funding smaller hauliers struggling to access the Treasury’s COVID-19 funding packages. It also wants to “reverse” extended payment terms that some clients have put in place since the arrival of the Coronavirus pandemic. The strategies were revealed today (7 April) during a House of Commons Transport Committee hearing into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the transport sector. Lincoln MP Karl McCartney raised concerns about the plight of hauliers who are [...]

The post Government mulls ways to help smaller hauliers struggling to access COVID-19 funding packages appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is calling on the government to support the haulage industry after 6,500 responses within 36 hours to a survey of hauliers showed that 46% of the UK truck fleet - around 240,000 vehicles - is now parked up with no work. Chief executive Richard Burnett said that the government needs to take “urgent action” to prevent large numbers of operators going out of business as the existing package of bank loans and furlough payments is not addressing hauliers’ [...]

The post Hauliers need urgent government help as almost half of trucks parked up with no work appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA is calling for an extension to the government’s furlough scheme, “sympathetic” repayment terms on government loans taken out during the pandemic and post-pandemic funding for the logistics industry to ensure the rapid recovery of the UK’s supply chain. Under the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for a grant covering 80% of all furloughed employees monthly wages, up to £2,500 a month. Currently the scheme only runs until 31 May, which [...]

The post FTA calls for raft of measures to protect logistics industry both during and after COVID-19 pandemic appeared first on Motor Transport.

Plummeting sales during the COVID-19 lockdown could force petrol stations to close leaving some hauliers facing fuel shortages, fuel retailers are warning. The closures could particularly impact on smaller hauliers that do not have the facilities to bunker fuel, particularly those located in rural areas, according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). PRA chairman Brian Madderson, said: “To help freight move and help key workers travel safely and independently through this period of crisis, petrol filling stations must remain open, [...]

The post Petrol retailers warn of fuel shortages during COVID-19 lockdown appeared first on Motor Transport.

Pall-Ex has launched a campaign celebrating the logistics industry’s contribution to keeping supply chains moving during the UK’s coronavirus lockdown. Dubbed #LoveLogistics, the campaign calls for the public to show their support for key workers in the logistics sector by displaying colourful pictures of lorries in their windows and by sharing on social media. The pallet network is asking people to download and print their lorry illustrations, colour them in, share via their social channels and display them in their [...]

The post Pall-Ex launches campaign to support hauliers during COVID-19 crisis appeared first on Motor Transport.

The need for drivers to undergo HGV driver medicals is to be suspended – possibly for a year - as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, according to a letter sent by MP Robert Buckland to a constituent. News of the suspension of D4 medicals will be met with relief by thousands of HGV drivers who are legally required to undergo a driver medical in order to renew their licences but have been unable to do so during the Covid-19 [...]

The post D4 medicals to be suspended for up to a year, MP confirms appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is to suspend all Clean Air Zones until at least January 2021, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move was confirmed today (6 April) in a letter from Defra minister Rebecca Pow MP to FTA chief executive David Wells. The letter was sent in response to the FTA’s calls for CAZ schemes to be delayed to ameliorate the pressure on logistics firms during and in the wake of the pandemic. In her response, Pow said [...]

The post Government suspends Clean Air Zones in face of COVID-19 pandemic appeared first on Motor Transport.

MV Commercial has urged hauliers to keep up regular truck maintenance checks following the DVSA’s decision to suspend commercial vehicle MOTs for three months. The CV sales and leasing company said its technician support network is doing all it can to support operators in their regular roadworthiness checks - maximising uptime and safeguarding road users. Steven Cairns, MD at MV Commercial, said: “Suspending MOTs gives operators vital breathing room at the time when they need it most. However, it’s essential [...]

The post MV Commercial urges hauliers to keep up maintenance checks during MOT suspension appeared first on Motor Transport.

Industry associations remain divided over the support the logistics sector requires during the COVID-19 crisis, with the Association of Pallet Networks (APN) demanding a fuel duty derogation and the FTA preferring the Treasury concentrate on alleviating fixed costs. Last week the APN, which represents the UK’s eight pallet networks, issued a call for an exemption from fuel duty, by way of red diesel use, or an exemption certificate issued against operator licences. APN chairman Paul Sanders said: “The majority of [...]

The post Industry bodies lock horns over fuel derogation appeared first on Motor Transport.

Furlough rules are needlessly preventing thousands of HGV drivers from delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) to millions of nurses and doctors, according to the RHA. The association was responding to claims made by health secretary Matt Hancock that a “mammoth logistical exercise” was to blame for delays in getting PPE to frontline staff. Speaking on BBC 1’s Question Time, Hancock said: “We do have the supplies, we have a massive supply in an enormous warehouse in the north west. “The [...]

The post “Ease furlough rules so drivers can deliver PPE,” RHA urges government appeared first on Motor Transport.

With all HGV MOTs suspended for three months from 21 March, there looks like being a serious backlog to sort out later in the year. John Kendall reveals what the situation was like before the closure, and what we can expect once things get back to normal... Under normal conditions, the DAF Trucks dealer network prepares and tests around 3,200 vehicles on average per month and achieves a 97.8% first-time pass rate, reveals DAF Trucks UK dealer development director John [...]

The post Can chaos be avoided when MOTs resume? appeared first on Motor Transport.

Rules surrounding Driver CPC training have been relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic for drivers struggling to complete the training. The DfT said it had put in place temporary changes in professional driver qualification requirements, meaning drivers whose Driver CPC card expires in the period from 1 March 2020 to 30 September 2020 can continue driving. In addition, the DfT said military drivers will also be allowed to drive in civilian situations during that period. Drivers will not be subject to [...]

The post DfT extends validity of Driver CPC qualification cards appeared first on Motor Transport.

As operators race to adopt new working patterns created by the delivery demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, efficient route planning has never been more important. A new on-demand tool could be just the answer for fleet managers looking for a simple, no-commitment way to ensure busy fleets are optimised to the max with fluctuating daily volumes. My Transport Planner is an online transport planning system that will enable organisations of all sizes to increase vehicle utilisation, cut costs and reduce [...]

The post SPONSORED: New on-demand transport planner offers fleet optimisation support during COVID-19 challenge appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA has suspended dangerous goods vehicle (ADR) inspections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A vehicle is eligible for a waiver if it was registered in GB and either has a current ADR1C dangerous goods certificate which expires on or after 21 March 2020 or is a new vehicle that entered service within the last year under authorisation 476. The DVSA said you cannot get a waiver for new non-type approved dangerous goods vehicles being put into service for [...]

The post DVSA suspends dangerous goods vehicle (ADR) inspections appeared first on Motor Transport.

Clipper Logistics has been sub-contracted by NHS Supply Chain principal partner Unipart to run an entirely separate supply channel for the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to NHS Trusts and community healthcare partners. Clipper Group will make a formal announcement to the City tomorrow morning (3 April) and motortransport.co.uk will share more details as they become available. it is understood the Clipper Logistics operation will be run out of DIRFT. Unipart was granted a five-year contract to provide logistics [...]

The post Clipper Logistics seals deal with Unipart to deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) to NHS trusts appeared first on Motor Transport.

Major waste management group, CSG, has committed to a further two years with Bandvulc, the specialist retread subsidiary of Continental, as it seeks to reduce both capital expenditure and management time on its vehicle fleet operations, while maintaining high safety and environmental standards. The decision takes the tyre management contract between the two companies into its seventh year, at a time when fleet numbers across CSG and sister company J&G have risen to close to 150 vehicles. CSG, based near [...]

The post Sponsored: CSG keeps rolling with Bandvulc appeared first on Motor Transport.

An exodus of East European drivers and major disruption to warehouse shift patterns are putting increasing pressure on the transport and logistics sector, a new report has warned. The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak has seen migrant drivers attempt to return to their countries of origin, analysts at real estate firm Colliers International said. Many warehouse operations have also been forced to introduce new cleaning processes, disrupting normal operations and slowing the distribution of vital supplies. “To add to the [...]

The post COVID-19 outbreak triggers exodus of migrant drivers and major disruption to warehouse shift patterns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics training specialist SP Training has claimed its first online CPC course generated "unprecedented multinational demand". The course was developed after the DVSA announced the suspension of classroom training due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but as a temporary alternative would allow approved trainers authorisation to deliver accepted courses remotely via digital platforms. The online course attracted drivers from four different nations, the company said, including one participant from Germany, as drivers scrambled to get urgent qualifications to secure employment. The [...]

The post SP Training: “Our first online CPC course attracted unprecedented multinational demand” appeared first on Motor Transport.

A senior figure at one of the UK's biggest logistics operations has admitted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could see businesses face "an armageddon of liquidations" and a future based on "the survival of the fittest". The source predicted many transport and warehousing companies with the right strategy would survive the crisis but that it would be "the last nail in the coffin for high street retail". "We fully expect that some of our fashion customers will never open [...]

The post “We could be facing an armageddon of liquidations,” claims major logistics operator appeared first on Motor Transport.

All travel relating to the operation of logistics business has been designated as essential travel by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic. The confirmation comes after both RHA and FTA complained to government officials that logistics workers were being challenged by police and other officials while trying to get to work or carrying out related services such as vehicle washing and delivering spare parts. In a letter sent to the RHA and FTA this week, Ben Rimmington, DfT co-director of [...]

The post Travel relating to logistics businesses is essential and should not be challenged, government tells police appeared first on Motor Transport.

Have you heard about the temporary relaxation of drivers hours and want to know more? Motor Transport's sister title, Commercial Motor is hosting a free webinar in association with Aquarius about this dramatic change in tachograph legislation. The additional measures being put in place by the Government and the relaxation of the working day allowances will have a dramatic affect on the haulage industry, but what exactly does it mean. This hour-long discussion will look at how it will affect [...]

The post Free webinar on relaxing driver hours during the Coronavirus outbreak – register now appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fashion brand Boohoo’s Burnley distribution centre (DC) was raided by police this morning (31 March) after alleged claims the company had breached social distancing measures introduced by the government during the COVID-19 crisis. However, Boohoo confirmed the police left “without needing to take any action or make any recommendations” and hit out at claims that it had failed to protect workers at the two million sq ft hub, which employs around 500 people across two sites. A Boohoo spokeswoman told [...]

The post Police raid on Burnley DC finds no evidence of social distancing breach appeared first on Motor Transport.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Motor Transport looks at the ways operators can build new business and benefit from government support schemes The government recently announced a range of measures for businesses, providing loans, tax deferrals, sick pay and other support for COVID-19 affected workers. Like so much else in this crisis, the information is being updated as things progress. The position regarding the self-employed was clarified with measures announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on [...]

The post COVID-19: What now for hauliers? appeared first on Motor Transport.

Extra MSA Group has opened the first phase of its new £64m Leeds Skelton Lake Services. The new motorway service area, which is located at Junction 45 of the M1, two miles east of Leeds, opened its doors this week but has been forced to limit its offering to essential services only during the COVID-19 lockdown. Facilities that are open at the MSA during the COVID-19 lockdown include the fuel filling station, toilets and shower facilities, IONITY electric vehicle charging [...]

The post New £64m Leeds Skelton Lake Services opens at junction 45 of the M1 appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV drivers working longer hours under new COVID-19 rules should be supplied with government-subsidised fatigue monitors to avert a rise in road accidents. The warning comes from road safety firm SmartWitness in the wake of the government’s emergency order which has eased drivers’ hours rules to allow round-the-clock deliveries of food and medical goods during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new rules increase the weekly maximum daily driving time of nine hours to 11 hours, and raise the weekly limit from [...]

The post HGV drivers on extended hours need fatigue monitors, safety consultant warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA is calling for a major increase in roadside checks on vans to raise standards in the sector. The call follows a court case this week which found welding contractor Renown Consultants guilty of failing to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, following a deadly accident caused by a fatigued van driver. Nottingham Crown Court heard that Zac Payne, 20, and Michael Morris, 48, died in a crash at around 5.30am on 19 June 2013 [...]

The post Fatal crash prompts calls for increased roadside checks on vans appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport for London (TfL) has told motortransport.co.uk a postponement to the Direct Vision Standard is being kept under consideration as concerns grow that manufacturers will struggle to fulfil vehicle orders. Following its decision to suspend all London road charging schemes, a TfL spokeswoman said a decision on the planned introduction of the DVS had yet to be made and added: “The matter is of course under consideration, and any changes would form part of the TfL-wide operational response to the [...]

The post TfL “considering postponement” of Direct Vision Standard appeared first on Motor Transport.

UK commercial vehicle production for the domestic market returned to growth in February this year, following five months of decline, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Output rose by 14.6% in the period, with 3,279 vans, trucks and buses built for UK operators. In contrast, production for export fell by 26.2% in the month with 1,670 fewer units shipped overseas, which SMMT said was due to slower demand in key European markets. [...]

The post February sees UK commercial vehicle production grow for first time in five months appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA is actively exploring options to help hauliers through the COVID-19 crisis with government ministers. These include immediate cashflow injections, enforced payment holidays with leasing companies, banks and fuel suppliers and further measures to protect employees’ wages to safeguard our critical driver workforce both now and for when volume increases. "To enable this, the government will need to provide far more radical financial support to ensure transport operators survive. It is therefore imperative that we can accurately relay information [...]

The post RHA seeks evidence of problems facing hauliers to support lobbying appeared first on Motor Transport.

Expiration dates for the Safe Loading Pass Scheme (SLPS) have been extended until 25 July in order to help hauliers continue to run smoothly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by the FTA, the SLPS identifies the vehicles and trailers that meet the safety standards required for admittance to fuel and gas loading terminals. In January, it was extended to cover liquefied petroleum gases. The FTA said all vehicle safe loading passes, which expire between 25 March and 25 June 2020, [...]

The post Safe Loading Pass Scheme expiry dates extended until 25 July appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers have demanded the government explains how its system for paying employees 80% of their salaries is going to work following concerns that it isn’t flexible enough to deal with their industry. Ian Barclay, operations director at Roger Warnes Transport in Kings Lynn, said the idea of furloughing its workforce – granting them a leave of absence during the Covid-19 pandemic – doesn’t work if parts of a business are seasonal or are experiencing a surge in growth while other [...]

The post Giving staff leave on 80% of salary won’t work for haulage sector, critics claim appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operators allowing or pressuring vulnerable employees to work during the COVID-19 pandemic could face HSE prosecution, a leading law firm warned this week. The warning was made during a webinar on the impact of new government emergency measures to tackle the pandemic on operators’ businesses. The webinar, organised by law firm Backhouse Jones, which specialises in transport law, tackled questions from operators on how to navigate the new rules around the temporary relaxation of drivers hours, furloughing employees, applying for [...]

The post Protect vulnerable workers or risk prosecution, operators warned appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport industry business groups have demanded that adequate hygiene facilities, including hot and cold running water, are available to all drivers and warehouse operatives delivering to, or collecting from business premises. In a joint statement, FTA chief executive David Wells, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett and Unite national officer Adrian Jones stressed the legal obligations of businesses to employees and visitors, urging them to ensure that the facilities on offer comply with the legal requirements. “Government advice during this crisis [...]

The post Industry bodies hit out over lack of hygiene facilities for drivers and delivery workers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA has requested an extension to the current transition period for leaving the EU in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. It has also asked ministers to consider suspending the implementation of other legislation which will affect logistics operators in the short term. This includes the expansion of the London-wide Low Emission Zone for HGVs and the London Direct Vision Standard, due to take effect from October this year, as well as the start of other clean air zones [...]

The post COVID-19: FTA requests extension to transition period for leaving EU and suspension of clean air zones and Direct Vision Standard appeared first on Motor Transport.

Reuse services union GMB London has called for immediate social distancing measures to be put in place to ensure the safety of refuse service staff. Despite new government lock-down measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, crews have reportedly been instructed to carry on work as normal, which the union said "cannot be right". It has written to the Local Government Association asking it to follow the latest government directives and give clear guidelines to all councils and contractors on how to [...]

The post GMB London calls for social distancing measures for refuse staff appeared first on Motor Transport.

Renewable fuels are "one of the most rapid and economically viable" ways to decarbonise HGVs, according to the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP). Its new 'Renewable fuels guide' says these green fuels can immediately cut greenhouse gas emissions from commercial vehicles for which few other solutions are currently available to help meet the UK’s net zero emissions target. With electrification of long distance, heavy road freight still some way off the LowCVP argues that the quickest way to cut emissions [...]

The post Renewable fuels for combustion engines the quickest way to decarbonise HGVs appeared first on Motor Transport.

A specialist transport lawyer has urged hauliers to switch strategy if their work isn’t essential to the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. He advised operators with spare capacity to offer their services to the sectors that needed it most, including supermarkets and pharmaceuticals. Transport workers are among those on a government list of people deemed critical to the COVID-19 response. However, Tim Culpin, transport partner at  law firm Aaron and Partners, said haulage clients working in multiple sectors had contacted [...]

The post COVID-19: “Help sectors under most pressure,” transport lawyer urges hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

A shortage of doctors combined with moves by landlords to close premises during the coronavirus outbreak is preventing HGV drivers from getting their D4 medicals renewed. D4Drivers, which carries out more than 5,000 D4 medicals a month at sites across the UK, has been forced to put out a national appeal to firms that have spare warehouse or office capacity after some of its clinics were forced to close down during the pandemic. Medical director Dr Grant Charlesworth-Jones said: “In [...]

The post HGV driver medicals under threat as doctors stretched by COVID-19 appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is calling for transport operators with spare capacity to get in touch so they can be matched with suppliers to ensure the security of the supply chain during the COVID-19 outbreak. The call is part of a move by CILT to match organisations together so that those who have capacity can help those in need, by making available staff, vehicles and expertise to support the supply chain. Kevin Richardson, chief executive of [...]

The post COVID-19: CILT database launched to match operators with struggling suppliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics training specialist SP Training is launching a series of online Driver CPC courses after welcoming the DVSA’s announcement that it will allow options for remote training. The DVSA confirmed that classroom delivery of Driver CPC periodic training was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak and, as a temporary alternative, would allow approved trainers authorisation to deliver accepted courses remotely via digital platforms. SP Training courses suitable for remote delivery will be split into 3.5-hour sessions to encourage driver engagement [...]

The post SP Training launches online Driver CPC courses after rule change appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV driver medicals are being suspended by two of the largest providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fit to Drive suspended its D4 medicals yesterday (23 March) whilst D4Drivers suspended its medicals today. Fit2Drive Medicals carries out between 1,000 to 3,000 D4 medicals a month, whilst D4Drivers processes up to 5,000 drivers a month. Speaking to motortransport.co.uk, Fit to Drive director Paul Andrews, who also runs Clitheroe-based Paul Andrews Haulage said: “We have taken the view it is safer not to [...]

The post HGV driver D4 medicals suspended by major providers in face of COVID-19 lockdown appeared first on Motor Transport.

Plans to introduce a Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in Oxford have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new scheme was due to begin in December 2020 but Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council said local businesses and residents needed to concentrate on managing the impact of the coronavirus. They also admitted they would be unable to devote enough time to the scheme at the present time. The ZEZ covers a section of Oxford city centre and will [...]

The post Oxford Zero Emission Zone postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Department for Transport has announced that the current limited drivers’ hours relaxation will be extended until 23.59hrs on Tuesday 21 April 2020 and apply to all road haulage operations. The move follows discussions between RHA chief executive Richard Burnett (pictured) and secretary of state for transport, Grant Shapps. “This is a blanket relaxation covering all sectors," Burnett said, "and recognises how integrated and inter-dependent supply chains are across the whole economy. The sector is working as efficiently and as [...]

The post Drivers’ hours relaxed until 21 April but ‘must not be abused recklessly’ appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Association of Pallet Networks (APN) is calling on government to suspend fuel duty for the logistics industry to protect hauliers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and secure the supply chain. The APN, which represents the UK’s eight pallet networks, is also calling on the RHA and FTA to join forces with it to lobby the Treasury for the derogation. Explained APN chairman Paul Sanders: “The majority of UK haulage operations are small or SME businesses. “Their business [...]

The post Pallet networks call for fuel duty derogation during COVID-19 pandemic appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA has announced that all MOT testing of trucks and trailers will be suspended for three months in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Any trucks and trailers due for test in the suspension period will be issued with exemptions automatically. Some vehicles, such as those due for their first MOT test and vehicles returning to service with a test certificate that expired before March, will require an application for exemption certificates. However, the RHA has admitted it has concerns [...]

The post Truck and trailer MOT tests suspended for three months appeared first on Motor Transport.

With mounting pressure on a number of distribution operations, the government has taken steps to ease the pressure on drivers and transport operations to make sure that the supplies that we all need continue to get through. The relaxation gives some stretch to daily, weekly and fortnightly drivers’ hours and lengthens the time available for driving between rest periods. “It is absolutely vital to get flexibility into the system so that the goods that we all need are delivered," says [...]

The post Drivers’ hours suspension: the industry reacts… appeared first on Motor Transport.

All London road charging schemes will be temporarily suspended from today (23 March) to help ensure supply chains are kept moving and critical workers and emergency vehicles can move around the capital during the coronavirus outbreak. Transport for London (TfL) said the Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone and Low Emission Zone would stop operating until further notice. However, Mayor Sadiq Khan warned that the closure was not an invitation for people to take to their cars around the capital [...]

The post TfL suspends road congestion charges during coronavirus crisis appeared first on Motor Transport.

As rising numbers of customers refuse to sign Proof of Delivery (POD) tablets due to coronavirus concerns, operators could be left exposed to future non-delivery claims, the RHA has warned. The warning comes as increasing numbers of operators report that drivers are being met at point of delivery by customers concerned about the dangers of signing for parcels on PODs that may have been handled by dozens of other customers during the driver’s rounds. In an advice note the RHA [...]

The post Operators in danger of rise in non-delivery claims during COVID-19 crisis appeared first on Motor Transport.

Wimbledon-based ELB Partners has marked 50 years of business with two new Mercedes Actros, wrapped in a distinctive anniversary white and silver livery. The 20-plate HGVs, which come with camera-enabled technology to replace conventional mirrors, join two new DAFs as part of a £500,000 investment. “This year - 2020 - is a year of reflection and looking forward,” said ELB Partners MD Peter Eason, whose father George started the business in 1970. Read more ELB Partners creates driver representative role [...]

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"This has been a week of unprecedented measures for all of us," writes Road Transport Media divisional director Vic Bunby. "The continued spread of the COVID-19 virus, daily changes in government advice and guidelines around travel restrictions and social gatherings have been challenging, and unlike anything we’ve seen before. Like you, we have been working hard behind the scenes, planning the coming weeks and months as new information becomes available. I would like to update you on the status of [...]

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Transport workers are among those on a new government list of people deemed "critical to the COVID-19 response" and whose children will therefore be prioritised for educational provision in schools. Schools are currently being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children who are either vulnerable or who can't be safely cared for at home and whose parents are central to coping with the impact of the pandemic. The government said the list included "those who [...]

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FORS – the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme – has announced that, following the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, all FORS Bronze site audit activity will be suspended from Monday 23 March 2020 until further notice. An official communication to the scheme’s primary and secondary contacts yesterday (19 March), stated: "Organisations with audits booked to take place up to and including Monday 23 March 2020 can cancel them if they wish and receive a full audit refund. Cancellation charges will not [...]

The post FORS suspends audits appeared first on Motor Transport.

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic will have grave consequences for the transport and logistics sector without urgent action at national and EU level. Most ACEA members have already announced temporary closures of plants due to collapsing demand, supply shortages and government measures and are facing cases of corona infections and quarantines among their employees. “It is clear that this is the worst crisis ever to impact the automotive industry,” admitted ACEA director general [...]

The post European Automobile Manufacturers Association calls for urgent EU action to avoid “irreversible damage” to sector appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government’s promise to provide a £330bn package of financial measures to keep the UK industry afloat has been welcomed by hauliers, although questions remain over how quickly they can access help. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the government was prepared to do whatever it takes to shore up the economy and protect jobs and incomes with an unprecedented rescue package in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures include grants, loans and a business rates holiday, but companies and [...]

The post Government’s £330bn pledge for industry welcomed by hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA has suspended vehicle tests for two days to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The move comes as hauliers reported that they were struggling to book vehicle inspections and MOTs due to shortfalls of staff. A DVSA spokesman said: “We are working to put contingency plans in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, including suspending driver and vehicle tests for an initial period of two days from 19/3/2020. “A testing service will still be available to those [...]

The post DVSA suspends vehicle tests for two days appeared first on Motor Transport.

Wimbledon-based ELB Partners has marked 50 years of business with two new Mercedes Actros, wrapped in a distinctive anniversary white and silver livery. The 20-plate HGVs, which come with camera-enabled technology to replace conventional mirrors, join two new DAFs as part of a £500,000 investment. “This year - 2020 - is a year of reflection and looking forward,” said ELB Partners MD Peter Eason, whose father George started the business in 1970. Read more ELB Partners creates driver representative role [...]

The post ELB Partners invests in two Mercedes Actros as part of 50-year anniversary investment appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA has reassured UK businesses that the supply chain is capable of handling the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic but said it would take the support of government and a flexible approach to keep goods flowing. “Logistics is one of the UK’s most flexible and adaptable industries,” explained policy director Elizabeth de Jong, “and is used to reacting to extreme disruption caused by environmental factors, fuel shortages and employment strikes. "Our members are working closely with customers to [...]

The post “Supply chain will cope if public don’t panic,” FTA insists appeared first on Motor Transport.

The IR35 tax reforms will be delayed for a year to help firms weather the coronavirus pandemic, the treasury has revealed. The move, announced by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Barclay, comes less than a week after the measures were confirmed in the Budget and a day after the House of Lords Finance Bill sub-committee called for a six- to 12-month delay to IR35 in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking during the Budget debate in [...]

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RHA chief executive Richard Burnett has paid tribute to the “positive response” from transport secretary Grant Schapps MP to a set of measures requested to support the haulage industry through the coronavirus epidemic. In a letter to Schapps seen by MT, Burnett warned that his members were “reporting catastrophic effects on their businesses” and the government needs to make “immediate financial intervention” to prevent mass bankruptcies. “I have been in regular contact with Grant Schapps and am confident he understands [...]

The post RHA chief executive confident that government is listening to plea for action over coronavirus appeared first on Motor Transport.

The London Lorry Control Scheme has been suspended in order to ease the passage of goods into shops and supermarkets. London Councils said the decision to cease enforcement of the scheme, which controls the movement of lorries at night and at weekends, was made in response to concerns by the industry, as well as government calls to lift restrictions. It said the suspension is in place until 30 April, but that it would keep it under review. In a statement, [...]

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The DVSA has had to postpone its campaign to remind HGV drivers and operators of the regulations around driving time and rests and to encourage them to stick to the rules as a result of the coronavirus. The relaxation of the drivers' hours for some drivers has made the DVSA push back its planned campaign, including answering questions from drivers and operators on the rules. Thank you to everyone who has submitted some excellent questions for clarification by the DVSA [...]

The post POSTPONED – All your questions about drivers’ hours but were afraid to ask – answered anonymously by DVSA appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has relaxed EU drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland and Wales for hauliers involved in the delivery of food and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. The relaxation also affects deliveries of personal care, household paper and cleaning products. The Department for Transport (DfT) said this “temporary, limited and urgent relaxation” affected drivers when undertaking journeys from distribution to stores or fulfilment centres; from manufacturers or suppliers to distribution centres (including backhauls) and stores; between distribution centres and transport hub trunking, as [...]

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The International Road Transport Union (IRU) is calling on governments and banks to help ease the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on operators so they can continue to keep supplies moving. It estimates that global road transport activity could fall by up to 20% in 2020, depending on how long the situation continues, leading to a global loss in operator revenues of around $2 trillion (£1.63 trillion). The IRU is calling for a number of measures to be taken to [...]

The post IRU calls for financial help for operators to keep supply chains moving during COVID-19 pandemic appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has added to industry calls for the government to pledge immediate financial support for hauliers who face going out of business because of the coronavirus crisis. RHA chief executive Richard Burnett (pictured) has told transport secretary Grant Shapps to undertake a series of measures to ease the burden on operators. These include immediate cash flow injections, deferment of tax payments and a delay to the launch of clean air zones by at least six months. “We need to [...]

The post Hauliers risk closure unless government gives extra financial support, warns RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics companies are paying thousands of pounds to private clinics to test their drivers and warehouse staff for the coronavirus in the absence of widespread testing for the disease by the NHS. In a bid to secure their supply chains and fulfil contractual obligations during the pandemic, some companies are paying upwards of £250 per test to ensure their fleets of drivers are free of the virus. Private clinics are preparing for a rapid rise in requests for the testing [...]

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Employment agency Redwigwam is scrapping fees until further notice to help logistics firms ensure they have enough drivers and warehouse workers to keep the supply chain moving. The company specialises in helping firms find flexible workers to carry out short-term and ad hoc jobs. Lorna Davidson (pictured), founder and chief executive of Liverpool-based Redwigwam, said: “Coronavirus is already having a massive impact on businesses across the UK and the government has made clear that the situation will get worse over [...]

The post Agency Redwigwam waives fees on flexible workers to help logistics sector beat coronavirus appeared first on Motor Transport.

The delayed Birmingham Clean Air Zone (CAZ) could face further setbacks due to the coronavirus pandemic, the council has warned. Birmingham City Council was forced to delay the launch of its CAZ in January this year following issues with the government’s online vehicle checking tool. The launch date was pushed back to June and while the council is still aiming for that date it warned this week the COVID-19 outbreak could create further delays. A spokesperson said: “We aim to [...]

The post COVID-19 pandemic could see Birmingham CAZ face further delays, council warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

ITT Hub 2020 has been postponed until 12 and 13 May 2021 in response to the current coronavirus outbreak. Organised by Binswood Media with FTA support, the new show is designed to showcase innovation and technology in road freight transport. However, the company said it had now taken the decision to postpone the launch event planned to take place at Farnborough International Conference & Exhibition Centre on the 13 and 14 May 2020. "This decision has not been taken lightly [...]

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Home delivery drivers should be regularly tested for Coronavirus and customers should not sign for delivery on fingertip screens, the head of fleet software firm FleetCheck is warning. MD Peter Golding (pictured) has called for clear government or industry guidance on the way shopping is delivered to customers to prevent home delivery spreading the virus to both drivers and customers. He said: “This is an area where we need to establish some sensible ground rules very quickly, we believe. Home [...]

The post Call for action to prevent spread of Coronavirus by home delivery drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

International haulage is crucial for many UK fleets, with thousands of operators completing European contracts and many European hauliers doing likewise across the UK. UK government statistics highlight that, from July 2018 to June 2019, international road freight activity completed by UK-registered HGVs saw an increase of 5% in the amount of goods moved compared to the previous 12 months, with a total of 5.5bn tonne-kms. In many cases, such routes mean that a driver can cross through several countries [...]

The post Sponsored : Tyre breakdown in Europe? Do you know what to do? appeared first on Motor Transport.

‘Dynamic’ hard shoulder running on smart motorways is to be brought to an end after analysis found it caused confusion and increased the risk of accidents. In addition, the deployment of radar-based ‘stopped vehicle detection’ will be ramped up across the entire smart motorway network, after government research showed the risk of collisions between moving and stationary vehicles had increased. Near misses on smart motorways have risen twenty-fold in the past five years to 1,485, compared to 72 near misses [...]

The post Dynamic hard shoulder running on smart motorways to be phased out appeared first on Motor Transport.

SME operators will go out of business unless the government reforms its clean air zone (CAZ) policy and introduces ‘intelligent phasing’, the RHA has warned. Responding to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for road haulage’s inquiry into CAZ, the trade association said the current approach was expensive, inflexible and ineffective. Chief executive Richard Burnett said CAZs had wiped as much as £1.2bn off the value of the Euro-5 fleet and that it was “a grievous body blow for hauliers”. [...]

The post “Reform clean air zone policy or watch operators go out of business,” RHA urges government appeared first on Motor Transport.

The BVRLA has welcomed the range of electric vehicle grants and tax incentives announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in today's (11 March) Budget. The trade body for the vehicle rental, leasing and fleet industry said the measures would provide a major boost for those looking to speed-up the transition to zero-emission transport. Key announcements that will support fleets and help drive the uptake of electric vehicles include a £532m pledge to maintain the Plug-In Car and Van Grants until March [...]

The post Budget boost for zero emission fleets and drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Kinaxia Logistics chief executive Simon Hobbs (pictured) has welcomed today's (March 11) Budget in which the Chancellor promised that the NHS will get "whatever it needs, whatever it costs" to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. Rishi Sunak said his three-point £1bn plan to tackle the impact of the virus on the UK workforce would include extending access to statutory sick pay and allowing anyone self-isolating to get a sick note over the phone. He also promised that the government would make [...]

The post Kinaxia boss praises Budget pledge to support UK workforce amid Coronavirus outbreak appeared first on Motor Transport.

A campaign group is also seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision to introduce smart motorways. It has appointed Yogi Amin, human rights lawyer and partner at Irwin Mitchell to pursue the case and has raised almost £10,000 of the £20,000 it needs to fund the case on crowdfunding site Crowd Justice. The Smart Motorways Kill campaign group was launched by relatives and friends of some the 38 people that have died since 2015 on smart motorways. The group’s [...]

The post Campaigners to launch legal challenge to smart motorway programme appeared first on Motor Transport.

Telematics and transport technology firm Microlise has bought TruTac in a move aimed at strengthening its presence in the HGV and PSV sectors. The company, which was launched in 1990, specialises in providing fleet compliance and management software for HGVs and PSVs. The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, sees Coventry-based TruTac remain an independent company within the Microlise Group. Nadeem Raza, Microlise chief executive, said: “We are delighted to announce this acquisition and we welcome the TruTac team to Microlise. [...]

The post Microlise acquires fleet compliance management provider TruTac appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has given supermarkets the go-ahead to ramp up night-time deliveries and is looking at extending delivery drivers’ hours to ensure stores remain stocked during the coronavirus outbreak. The emergency measures, announced today, will see delivery hours to supermarkets extended outside night-time curfew hours to help food retailers respond to increased demand for long-life food and hygiene supplies. The government said it is also looking at allowing extensions on drivers’ hours “to respond to any shortage of delivery drivers” [...]

The post Coronavirus emergency measures see supermarket night-time delivery times extended appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV service provider AS24 has launched a low-power tracker to combat trailer theft. The 'FindIT' device has been developed after an ONS study revealed that thefts involving transport companies increased by 7% last year. The new battery-powered technology features a "low-cost box", which can be fitted in five minutes, the company said. The device locates the trailer and sends the haulage operator an alert when it is not where it should be. Operators can therefore access information on all their [...]

The post AS24 launches tracker to combat trailer theft appeared first on Motor Transport.

FORS – the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme – has contacted the Traffic Commissioner (TC) for the west of England, Kevin Rooney, to "seek clarification on comments that its audits had on occasion fallen short of a diligent, high-standard process". "Remarks published in recent press reports suggest that a FORS member audit had been hastily carried out and not conducted on site," a statement said. "FORS has requested further information to enable an investigation. Although the TC has acknowledged receipt of [...]

The post FORS seeks clarification from Traffic Commissioner over audit criticism appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government’s £25bn Roads Programme is facing delays while the DfT reappraises the strategy in the light of the recent Court of Appeal ruling on plans to expand Heathrow. The review could result in some major road schemes, including plans to expand the Smart Motorway programme, delayed or scrapped altogether. The five-year Roads Programme, which plans to expand more than 100 major roads, was due to start next month and was expected to be published alongside this week’s budget. However, [...]

The post Government reviews £25bn Roads Programme following Heathrow ruling appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hopes for an 11th hour U-turn on IR35 have been dashed this week after an HMRC review confirmed that the proposed tax changes - which could see driver agency rates leap by 20% - will go ahead from April. The IR35 review, dubbed Review of Changes to the Off-payroll Working Rules, was launched in January this year on the back of a pre-election promise from former Chancellor Sajid Javid that he would “make sure that the proposed changes are right [...]

The post No 11th hour U-turn on IR35, HMRC review confirms appeared first on Motor Transport.

Motor Transport has teamed with the CV Show to bring visitors to the show a Future Transport Theatre to examine some of the big issues facing road transport. Taking place on every day of the show which runs from April 28 to 30 at the Birmingham NEC, the Future Transport Theatre will be held adjacent to the Commercial Motor stand 4G35 in hall 4. The provisional running order is: Tuesday 1000 The Road to Zero – is diesel dead? – [...]

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The DVSA is to launch a campaign to remind HGV drivers and operators of the regulations around driving time and rests, and to encourage them to stick to the rules. Mark Horton, DVSA enforcement policy manager, said: “HGV drivers do a vital job in often difficult circumstances. We know it’s not always easy to comply with the rules on breaks and rests, but they are there for a reason – to help keep our roads safer for everyone. “That’s why [...]

The post All your questions about drivers’ hours but were afraid to ask – answered anonymously by DVSA appeared first on Motor Transport.

The industry has begun making plans to mitigate the effects of Covid-19, but hauliers have told motortransport.co.uk they also need the government to provide more regular updates on the spread of the virus. As UK health officials moved into the second phase of their response to the coronavirus outbreak, companies involved in logistics and distribution said the burden of responsibility to keep supermarkets and shops fully stocked was “huge”. Peter Whitehead, MD at PF Whitehead in Croydon, said it had [...]

The post Coronavirus: “We feel a huge burden to keep the wheels turning,” admit hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV service provider AS 24 has launched a low-power tracker to combat trailer theft. The 'FindIT' device has been developed after an ONS study revealed that thefts involving transport companies increased by 7% last year. The new battery-powered technology features a "low-cost box", which can be fitted in five minutes, the company said. The device locates the trailer and sends the haulage operator an alert when it is not where it should be. Operators can therefore access information on all [...]

The post AS 24 launches tracker to combat trailer theft appeared first on Motor Transport.

A new public hydrogen refuelling station has opened at Wallyford, less than a mile off the A1 and 8 miles to the east of Edinburgh. The Logan Energy station supplies vans, trucks and buses with hydrogen at 350 bar; it is the first in Scotland’s Central Belt and the only hydrogen station between Aberdeen and Sheffield. Logan Energy has a "strong belief in the hydrogen economy and its role in the future energy system", and has financed the station itself. [...]

The post Hydrogen drought in Scotland’s Central Belt ended with Edinburgh refuelling station appeared first on Motor Transport.

Michelin has pledged to fundraise £25,000 for charity Transaid after renewing its membership with the international development organisation. The renewal extends a relationship that began when Transaid was founded by Save the Children, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) in 1998. Michelin intends to fundraise the money in cycle challenge sponsorship this year. Read more Malcolm Group driver trainer completes Transaid HGV placement in Tanzania Neat idea to fund Transaid bicycle ambulances while cutting plastic use XPO Logistics [...]

The post Michelin to raise £25,000 for Transaid through cycle challenge sponsorship appeared first on Motor Transport.

A plan to transport freight from Manston Airport to the capital by electric vehicle to Ramsgate Port and onwards to London via the River Thames is being discussed by The Port of London Authority (PLA) and airport owners RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP). RSP is currently applying for a development consent order to create an air cargo hub at the Manston airport site. A decision from the DfT is expected on 18 May. The developer plans to reopen and develop Manston [...]

The post Manston Airport owners mull freight route to London via Ramsgate Port and Thames appeared first on Motor Transport.

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett is the latest speaker to be announced at the Microlise Transport Conference taking place on the 20 May at The Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Burnett will discuss 'the post-Brexit landscape', clean air zones, investment in road infrastructure and the skills shortage and need for diversity within the transport sector. He will also update the industry on the continuing work the RHA is doing to tackle the issues facing operators. “The Microlise Transport Conference is the [...]

The post RHA chief executive to examine sector’s future at Microlise Transport Conference appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government should make the use of longer semi-trailers (LSTs) a permanent fixture on the UK’s roads following the successful outcome of its trial, according to the FTA. The DfT funded study demonstrates that use of these vehicles continues to have a significant impact on the reduction of carbon emissions and road congestion across the UK. They have also been found to be safe for both the driver and other road users. Explained Phil Lloyd, head of engineering & vehicle [...]

The post DfT holding back benefits of longer semi trailers, claims FTA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Technology specialist Samsara has launched new tools to help operators looking to transition their fleets to electric. The products include real-time current and historical state of charge (SoC) reports and ways to monitor charging status to determine if their vehicles are plugged in and charging. New alerts also notify operators if the SoC falls below a particular custom percentage so the driver can route the vehicle to the closest charging station. The new products also aim to help operators leverage [...]

The post Samsara launches tools to help operators switch to electric fleets appeared first on Motor Transport.

John Heirs, driver training & compliance manager with Malcolm Group, has returned to the UK after completing his third voluntary placement supporting Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Project with the National Institute of Transport (NIT) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The project aims to reduce the number of road crashes and fatalities on Tanzanian roads by improving the standards of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and passenger service vehicle (PSV) driver training. During the secondment, Heirs delivered training to six NIT driver [...]

The post Malcolm Group driver trainer completes Transaid HGV placement in Tanzania appeared first on Motor Transport.

HS2 Ltd, the public body tasked with overseeing the project, has revealed that at least 500 tippers may be needed full-time during the peak of its construction. The vast majority of the 132m tonnes of material excavated during the development of the high-speed railway will be moved by site haul plant to locations it can be safely and smartly reused in Phase One of the project without moving it off-site. Ben Goodwin, HS2 communications manager: Phase Two – Eastern Leg, [...]

The post HS2 may need over 500 full-time tippers at construction peak appeared first on Motor Transport.

Road users are being urged to report poor road signs on motorways and A-roads in a bid to force Highways England to improve signage across the UK’s major roads network. The Sort My Sign campaign, launched by Transport Focus, aims to pressure Highways England to make signs, including electronic signs, clearer to improve safety and reduce driver stress. The information from road users will be used by Transport Focus to create a map identifying poor signs which will be used [...]

The post Roads watchdog calls for road users to name and shame poor road signs appeared first on Motor Transport.

An environmental campaign group is planning a legal challenge to the government’s £28.8bn roads programme on the grounds that it breaches UK climate and environment laws. Campaign group Transport Action Network is warning that the DfT’s latest five-year Road Investment Strategy, due to be published in April, does not take into account recent government commitments on reducing carbon emissions. The warning follows the successful legal challenge to Heathrow Airport's expansion plans, which saw the Appeal Court rule that the plans [...]

The post Government’s £28bn road programme set to face similar legal challenge used to halt Heathrow expansion appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has confirmed that around 50,000 workers will need to be recruited to fill out customs paperwork for trade with the EU after Brexit in a Canada-style deal. Pressed by Labour MP Justin Madders over whether it was feasible to recruit and train an estimated 50,000 new customs officers in less than six months, cabinet office minister Michael Gove said: “Yes, it is and the government stand behind that.” The FTA said negotiations with the EU over a future [...]

The post New Brexit border rules will require 50,000 extra customs officers, government admits appeared first on Motor Transport.

Significant financial, regulatory and societal barriers are preventing commercial vehicle operators from investing more in road safety practices, according to a report from the International Road Transport Union (IRU). It found that while 80% of logistics operators will continue to invest in road safety and the industry recognises it has a key role in safety improvements, financial resources, a resistance to change and technology know-how were all preventing further investment. The IRU said 3,500 people die on the roads around [...]

The post Make a bigger investment in road safety, operators urged appeared first on Motor Transport.

Ford Motor Company is the latest big name to sign up for ITT Hub 2020 at Farnborough International Conference & Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 May. Ford will be showcasing its latest commercial vehicle range and providing live demos. The company joins over 80 confirmed exhibitors including DAF Trucks, Iveco, Mercedes Benz Truck, Renault Truck & Van and Volvo Group. The event features indoor and outdoor space, a ride and drive vehicle demonstration programme featuring all the [...]

The post Ford Motor Company signs up for ITT Hub 2020 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Plans for a controversial clean air zone (CAZ) in Coventry have been abandoned in a move the RHA has described as "a victory for common sense". The Government has now backed Coventry City Council’s plans to improve air quality without charging hauliers and other road users. New measures including improved road networks and investment in cleaner air technologies have won ministers over after they had originally ordered local officials to implement a CAZ to bring emissions down to within legal [...]

The post Hauliers claim victory as Coventry CAZ scheme is scrapped appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has repeated its plea to the French authorities to do more to protect truck drivers from violent migrant gangs looking to enter the UK illegally. The call comes after an HGV driver was allegedly threatened with guns and knives at a French service station on Thursday night (20 February). The driver reported being confronted by a migrant gang while parked off the A26 in Guignicourt, near Reims – 150 miles from Calais. Police were called and the driver [...]

The post Migrant gangs step up attacks on British truckers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is being urged not to raise fuel duty in the forthcoming Budget following speculation that the first increase in a decade is on the cards. Reports suggest that the plan under consideration is an increase of around 2ppl, although the rise may not be introduced until next year. However, the RHA said if the tax went up with the rate of inflation then the annual cost of running an HGV would increase by £763. Instead, the trade association [...]

The post Government urged to maintain 10-year freeze on fuel duty in March Budget appeared first on Motor Transport.

A national survey of road freight operators on the impact of clean air zones (CAZs) has been launched by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Road Freight and Logistics as part of its first inquiry of the new parliamentary session. The APPG is chaired by former transport minister Sir Mike Penning MP, who said: “We all welcome the government’s determination to tackle the challenge of air quality in our towns and cities, but it is essential that well intentioned policies do [...]

The post Hauliers to get their say to government on impact of clean air zones appeared first on Motor Transport.

Doctors on Wheels is circumventing a DVLA ban on its D4 medicals by offering HGV drivers medicals with self-employed doctors, MT has learnt. DVLA stopped accepting all D4 medicals from Doctors on Wheels (DoW) from 20 June last year. The decision was triggered by an investigation into the company, which saw raids on the firm’s offices in Swindon, Leicester and Huddersfield. The joint investigation by DVLA and Swansea Trading Standards was prompted by claims that D4 medicals were not being [...]

The post Doctors on Wheels still offering D4 driver medicals appeared first on Motor Transport.

The deadline to enter the 2020 Motor Transport Awards has been extended to 5pm on 6 March. To request an extension go to the MT Awards website and complete the form. This year, to reflect the increasing pace of adoption of electric and other alternative fuelled vans, the awards include two new categories: Clean Fleet Van of the Year sponsored by Close Brothers Vehicle Hire and Clean Fleet Van Operator of the Year sponsored by Renault Trucks. The 34th Motor Transport Awards [...]

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Classifying HGV drivers as ‘low skilled’ and refusing potential applicants from getting visas could cause the industry to grind to a halt, business groups have warned. The government this week unveiled its plan to move away from the UK’s reliance on “cheap labour” from Europe and instead “encourage people with the right talent.” The proposals include expanding the definition of skilled workers to those educated to A-level/Scottish Highers equivalent standard. A points-based system would also be introduced, with overseas citizens [...]

The post FTA “appalled” by points-based immigration plan appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hundreds of millions of pounds raised by employers and intended to pay for apprentices has not been used and has instead paid back to the government, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information act. The data obtained by the BBC showed that 55 of the largest employers in England each released more than £1m back to the government after the money was not used to train apprentices. In total, almost 5,000 companies in England relinquished £401m of funding [...]

The post New probe points to major flaw in apprenticeship levy appeared first on Motor Transport.

The industry is sailing headlong into a “perfect storm” of conditions that will push the current shortage of HGV drivers to crisis levels, according to recruiter Driver Require. It said the culmination of Brexit, a drop in the exchange rate and impending IR35 legislation, which aims to close a limited company loophole, all stack up to make the UK a less attractive place to work for foreign HGV drivers. And whereas previously the industry has avoided the driver shortage becoming [...]

The post IR35 rollout could trigger mass exodus of foreign HGV drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The shortage of LGV drivers in the UK is heading towards crisis point as a “perfect storm” of circumstances will see the current 50,000 gap in the workforce widen unless rates of pay and working conditions are rapidly improved, according to recruitment specialist Driver Require. Its latest report 'Investigating the UK’s LGV driver shortage' says the shortage of LGV drivers has been growing steadily over the past 10 years, with demand currently 370,000 drivers but only 320,000 currently working. The UK has so [...]

The post HGV driver shortage will grow to “crisis point” unless pay and conditions improve appeared first on Motor Transport.

The FTA has announced that it will change its name to Logistics UK from the end of May. The move comes as the organisation looks to achieve more for its members and change the way it is perceived by people outside the industry. "For people who don’t really know us, the name Logistics UK is modern, it’s impactful, it’s authoritative," FTA marketing and communications director Kevin Green told motortransport.co.uk. "But we’re not changing who we are or what we do. [...]

The post FTA to rebrand and become Logistics UK appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Unite union has strongly criticised plans to rely on a movable concrete barrier on the M20 to deal with cross channel disruption while ignoring the welfare needs of HGV drivers. It said the replacement of former traffic initiative Operation Brock with a new system was going ahead without consultation with the industry and with inadequate welfare provisions. The union quoted an “admission” from the Department for Transport in a Freedom of Information response that “in the event of severe [...]

The post New M20 barrier “ignores basic welfare needs of HGV drivers”, Unite claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

Local councils near the Severn Crossing are considering congestion charges to cope with rising traffic levels triggered by the scrapping of tolls on the bridge. According to the latest local transport plan from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), "charging measures and controls" may have to be introduced to tackle congestion caused by the removal of tolls on the Severn Crossing in December 2018. Both the Welsh government and WECA - which includes Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol [...]

The post West of England councils mull congestion charges as traffic from toll-free Severn Crossing spikes appeared first on Motor Transport.

Essential, immersive and industry-focused – The Microlise Transport Conference continues to pack a punch... The event attracts the calibre of speaker that encourages laser-sharp industry debate and collaboration. Among the speakers that will take to the main stage on 20 May at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry will be Sir Peter Hendy, Network Rail chair and Caroline Hicks, head of the the National Enforcement Group at the DVSA. Hendy will provide delegates with the inside track on bridge strikes. This [...]

The post Network Rail chair and DVSA National Enforcement lead announced as first two speakers for Microlise Conference on 20 May appeared first on Motor Transport.

A movable concrete barrier on the M20 that can be set up "within hours" to keep Kent’s roads moving at times of cross-channel disruption will be on standby from later this year, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced today (Monday 17 February). Once a specialist vehicle is in place, Highways England will be able to deploy the barrier, helping ensure minimum disruption to traffic. The idea will be a "marked improvement to Operation Brock", a government spokesman said, which required a [...]

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UK hauliers undertaking international work in the EU should prepare for the ending of cabotage from next year, according to the RHA. It is expected that the European Commission will disallow cabotage operations from UK companies in the EU from 1 January 2021 when the transition period ends. The RHA said this could change as a result of ongoing negotiations, but for now operators should assume cabotage will no longer be permitted from next year. Article 8 of Regulation 1072/2009 [...]

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Hauliers are calling on the Welsh government not to follow England in creating “expensive” and “inflexible” clean air zones. The RHA made the call this week as officials from the National Assembly of Wales launched an inquiry into air quality. Chris Ashley, RHA environment and regulation policy chief is warning the Welsh Government against adopting similar “flawed” CAZ plans to England’s, which he says are forcing operators to upgrade trucks prematurely and putting firms out of business. Responding to the [...]

The post Don’t adopt England’s “inflexible” CAZ framework, RHA warns Wales appeared first on Motor Transport.

With the imminent crackdown on bogus self-employed workers in logistics, operators are being urged to act now to avoid significant disruption to their businesses. Despite the government’s announcement that it intends to review the proposed application of IR35 to the private sector, driver recruitment specialist Driver Require says operators should not to see this as a postponement or cancellation of the IR35 plans but for what it is: a review with no guaranteed outcome. Financial secretary to the Treasury Jesse [...]

The post Hauliers urged to prepare for roll out of IR35 to agency workers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has described the government’s decision to go ahead with high-speed rail link HS2 as a huge relief to the tipper sector but warned it will cause serious disruption to the wider transport and logistics industry. The work is expected to be completed by 2040 and will link London to Birmingham, and then Manchester and Leeds However, speaking to motortransport.co.uk, RHA head of technical services Malcolm Dodds said that although the news would ease long-standing uncertainty [...]

The post HS2 go-ahead good news for tipper sector but will badly disrupt local road network, RHA warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Small businesses in transport and distribution are looking forward to “a new era of planning for sales growth” according to latest research, which claimed Brexit uncertainty had now been cast aside. Figures from Hitachi Capital Business Finance (HCBF) showed growth prospects for small firms in the sector had increased for the fourth successive quarter. Growth outlook had jumped to 34%, from 29% at the end of last year and those predicting contraction had fallen from 29% in the third quarter [...]

The post Small transport businesses can expect “new era of growth”, report claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

The logistics industry is calling for urgent action to prepare for a no-deal Brexit after the government confirmed this week that there will be trade barriers post-Brexit for both exports and imports. Speaking at a Cabinet Office event entitled Preparing Our Border for the Future Relationship, Michael Gove - the cabinet minister in charge of Brexit arrangements - told delegates there will be checks on food and animal products at the border and a need for customs declarations and safety [...]

The post “Urgent” government action needed to prepare for post-Brexit trade barriers, industry warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Government plans for a national Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charging system that will not allow operators of non-Euro-6 trucks to automatically pay entry charges have been slammed as “anti-business, childish and unacceptable” by the RHA. The CAZ charging system is the brain child of the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU), which is a joint venture between the DfT and DEFRA. CAZ charges will be applied to all trucks that do not meet Euro 6 standards and can be as high [...]

The post RHA slams CAZ national charging plans as “anti-business” and “childish” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Accreditation scheme FORS “isn’t fit for purpose”, with auditing processes that are no longer thorough enough, according to the traffic commissioner for the West of England, Kevin Rooney (pictured). Rooney’s comments at a recent compliance conference in Somerset appeared to reveal frustration among the traffic commissioners at FORS member companies attending public inquiries with inadequate auditing procedures. Rooney said: “FORS, as it is currently put together, isn’t fit for purpose. It is not doing what it was meant to do. [...]

The post “FORS not fit for purpose,” insists West of England traffic commissioner appeared first on Motor Transport.

The IVECO manufacturing facility in Ulm, Germany, is to be the production hub for the Nikola TRE battery electric and fuel-cell electric heavy-duty truck models. CNH Industrial brands IVECO and FPT took a $250m stake in Nikola last September. The announcement was followed in December with the unveiling of the Nikola TRE, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) heavy duty truck, which is the first step towards the fuel-cell electric (FCEV) model. The Ulm region has committed a substantial investment to [...]

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A new customer survey has revealed that 75% of transport planning professionals have seen increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact in the last 12 months, yet two thirds (66%) believe that much more needs to be done to keep pace with public pressure for action. The annual Paragon survey was completed by more than 100 industry specialists and suggests that the greatest pressure for change is financial, with 56% of respondents highlighting added costs such as rising fuel prices. [...]

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The government must provide reassurance that cleaner lorries running on alternative fuels will last for at least 12 years if the industry is to decarbonise within the next 20 years, according to the RHA. Following an announcement this week that the UK has pulled forwards its ban on petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2035, business groups have warned that any shift to electric or alternatively fuelled vans and lorries will require a huge investment in overhauling the nation’s [...]

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The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) has partnered with charity Mates in Mind to improve the mental health of its workforce and members. Mates in Mind was established to tackle the challenges of mental ill-health specifically within the construction sector, but the tie-up comes amid plans to expand the support and services it offers to incorporate transport and logistics companies. Explained Martin Lockham, growth development manager at Mates in Mind: “After our successes within the construction sector, providing organisations with [...]

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The Minister of State for the Future of Transport, Mr George Freeman MP, will make an official visit to the inaugural Innovation & Technology in Transport (ITT Hub) at Farnborough International Conference & Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 May. The MP for Mid Norfolk, who was appointed to his current role in 2019, is responsible for decarbonisation, transport technology, innovation, devolution and connectivity. He will be visiting Farnborough International on Wednesday 13 May, the first day of [...]

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This year's CV Show is to tackle negative perceptions of the transport and logistics industry and its worsening skills shortage. The UK's largest CV expo takes place at the NEC in Birmingham on 28-30 April and, alongside leading driver training specialists, providers will showcase the ways in which any necessary qualifications can be gained. New data has revealed that up to 64% of UK transport and logistics companies are facing a severe skills shortage in the coming year with the [...]

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A breakdown in car MOT tests in Northern Ireland could hit HGV testing slots after the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) resorted to using heavy duty lanes in a bid to clear the backlog. The use of vehicle lifts in all test centres across the province has been suspended after inspections revealed widespread signs of cracking in the equipment. The DVA said opening hours have been extended “to increase capacity to facilitate the prioritisation of taxis and four-year-old vehicles with [...]

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The current industry skills shortage may not be resolved by proposals to reduce the salary threshold for immigration after Brexit – because HGV drivers are generally paid more than £30,000, according to Talent in Logistics. Skilled migrants from outside the EU currently need to have a job offer with a minimum salary of £30,000, but in a report by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), it said this should fall to £25,600 for all workers to help recruit staff. Ruth Edwards, [...]

The post Post-Brexit salary threshold on immigration will lead to escalating skills shortage, government warned appeared first on Motor Transport.

A senior coroner is demanding DfT take action to warn HGV drivers, operators and truck manufacturers that tray tables placed on dashboards can lead to fatal accidents by creating dangerous blindspots. The call follows an inquest into the death of Dr. Suzanna Bull who died in 2017 when she was knocked off her bike and dragged under a 32-tonne Scania truck as it turned left in Birmingham city centre. The Coroners Court heard that the driver, Robert Bradbury, who was [...]

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Plans to build an HGV parking area along the route of the Lower Thames Crossing have been dropped, in a move that has drawn criticism from the RHA and FTA. A further consultation into the construction of Britain’s longest road tunnel connecting Kent, Essex and Thurrock has launched, but key changes to the design of the road include removing a rest and service area and maintenance depot, as well as a junction at Tilbury. Highways England said the changes reflect [...]

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Paragon Software Systems has introduced a zoning tool in the latest version of its routing and scheduling software. Using 'Zone Editor', operators will now be able to automatically factor in geographic restrictions such as Low Emission Zones. The new functionality aims to allow geographic zones to be specified and stored within Paragon’s routing and scheduling software to help manage the increasing complexity of urban distribution plans. Transport planners will have the ability to create areas where low emission vehicles must [...]

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RHA chief executive Richard Burnett has called for better refuge areas and clearer signage on Smart motorways amid growing industry calls for the idea to be scrapped. BBC’s Panorama (27 January) revealed that 38 people had been killed on smart motorways in the last five years and ‘near misses’ on a section of the M25 had risen 20-fold since the hard shoulder was removed in April 2014. The government minister who approved the roll out of the system told the [...]

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Decarbonising UK road transport at the rate required to achieve the government’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050 will require much greater emphasis on developing renewable bio and synthetic fuels for use in conventional internal combustion engines (ICE), according to the influential Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). In a new report, ‘Accelerating road transport decarbonisation’ the IMechE argues that while the development of battery electric vehicles (BEVs)will be important in the long term, this technology cannot replace ICE engines quickly [...]

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A new category for vans powered by clean alternative fuels - Clean Fleet Van of the Year - has been introduced by the Motor Transport Awards. While only 1% of the 311,000 vans under 3.5 tonnes sold last year were electric, there is a growing appetite among fleet operators for low emissions vehicles and this new award is for the clean van below 7.5 tonnes GVW that is leading the way from drawing board to volume sales. It can be powered [...]

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Operator demand for rented and leased commercial vehicles is on the rise driven by a “perfect storm” of factors including Brexit uncertainty, air quality legislation and the decline in traditional retail. According to a major report, published by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) this week, these pressures are undermining operator confidence in how and when to invest in their fleets, resulting in a shift to short-term solutions. The BVRLA’s 2020 Industry Outlook: Commercial Vehicles report – compiled [...]

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Ensure free movement of trucks between the EU and UK after Brexit or face "significant disruption" to the economy, the logistics industry warned this week, following a government shift towards a hard Brexit. The calls from both FTA and RHA follow signs that the government is hardening its approach to Brexit and comments from Chancellor Sajid Javid that industry has had enough time to prepare. FTA policy director Elizabeth de Jong challenged his claims, saying the government had yet to [...]

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The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has claimed hydrogen is the best alternative fuel option for HGV operators looking to cut carbon emissions and will play a major role in the future of heavy haulage. Speaking to motortransport.co.uk at the Westminster launch of a report by the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce into the ‘electric vehicle transition’, ENA head of innovation Randolph Brazier (pictured) said: “One thing that didn’t come across today is that it’s not all about electrification. We represent the [...]

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The chronic lack of lorry parking sites in Kent has been raised in the House of Commons by an MP who urged the government to deliver on what it promised “long ago”. Dover MP Natalie Elphicke said lorries travelling through the port were the “beating heart of our national economy” and yet there were not enough truckstops to cater for the demand. She added that “making time for such a debate is not simply a matter of concern for the [...]

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