Industry News

BP and BOC are joining forces to roll out a hydrogen refuelling network for HGVs across the UK, following a feasibility study, the joint venture announced today (5 July). The nine-month study looked at the various options for hydrogen distribution, dispensing costs and station design and concluded that the best way to stimulate operator demand for the fuel, at least in the short term, is to distribute hydrogen as a compressed gas via road trailer. Over the longer term, the [...]

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Technology firm Forward Solutions has added transport specialists Chris Wood and Scott Manning to its team. The freight software development company, which provides IT systems for multimodal players across air, sea, road and rail freight, has taken on Wood and Manning as customer success managers. Wood previously worked as an IT manager for UK and European road freight specialists International Forwarding, for 14 years, whilst Manning, who is based in Kent and will support the company’s southern customers, previously worked [...]

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UK businesses are set to adopt more than 163,000 electric vehicles (EVs) this year as part of a major £13.6bn investment in fleet electrification, according to a new study by Centrica Business Solutions. The increase this year will see over a third (35%) more business operate EVs on the road by the end of 2022, compared to the 121,000 registered by companies last year. The study surveyed 200 UK-based firms with a turnover in excess of £1m and operating at [...]

The post UK firms to take on 163,000 electric vehicles this year, study reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Motor Transport is delighted to announce the shortlist for the Motor Transport Awards 2022. Congratulations to all of our finalists and thank you to those who took the time to enter this year. Please note there is no shortlist for the Service to Industry Award and the winner will be revealed at the ceremony to be held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on September 7. To be part of the biggest night in road transport book your tables now. Apprenticeship [...]

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A joint venture between Chancerygate, a fund managed by Credit Suisse Asset Management, and global real estate firm Hines, has forward sold a 172,000 sq ft urban logistics development in Dagenham to a fund managed by BlackRock, for an undisclosed sum. Dagenham Council has approved plans to speculatively build 15 Grade A urban logistics and industrial units at the development which is called Zephyr Park. The units range from 5,490 sq ft to 34,670 sq ft and are available leasehold [...]

The post Chancerygate sells major Dagenham urban logistics site to Blackrock appeared first on Motor Transport.

RHA is calling on hauliers not to join convoys of protestors taking part in go-slow demonstrations against high fuel prices which kicked off today (4 July) on motorways across the UK. The protestors are targeting three-lane motorways with the convoys driving slowly in two lanes - leaving the outside lane free. The action, organised via social media under the banner Fuel Price Stand Against Tax, is calling for a further cut in fuel duty as fuel prices continue to rise. [...]

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Tevva has become the first company to mass produce hydrogen electric trucks in the UK with the launch of its 7.5-tonne vehicle. The Tilbury-based firm unveiled its new zero-emission model, alongside its latest full-battery electric HGV, at last week's Road Transport Expo in Warwickshire. Tevva said the vehicle will work for the “overwhelming majority” of haulage operators and has a range of 310 miles (500km) with the hydrogen tanks able to be refilled in 10 minutes. The fuel cell system [...]

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Commercial real estate developer Trammell Crow Company (TCC) has begun work on its first European logistics site which will deliver three Grade A logistics buildings on a 19.4 acre site in Milton Keynes. The Milton Keynes site, located at Merton Drive, will contain three speculative logistics buildings totalling approximately 340,000 sq ft, with building clearance heights ranging from 39 ft to 49 ft. Construction has started overseen by principal contractor Glencar, with completion due for spring 2023. The buildings will [...]

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Road Transport Expo burst onto the scene last week in spectacular style, as thousands of visitors headed to NAEC Stoneleigh to join in the action. A long time in the planning, this brand-new industry show with its “all about the truck” mantra, attracted more than 170 trade exhibitors, alongside a host of expert speakers to the Midlands venue. The latest technology took centre stage, from manufacturer product launches through to a Ride & Drive opportunity for visitors and live demonstrations. [...]

The post Road Transport Expo a huge success appeared first on Motor Transport.

Political and business leaders met at the Transport for the North (TfN) board meeting last week to discuss how it will continue to act with “one voice” for the North. Priorities for the year ahead include taking forward work to update the north’s independent economic review and the revision of the strategic transport plan. Board members, who are representatives of the region’s 20 local transport authorities and 11 local enterprise partnerships, assessed the budget and business plan. Read more Transport [...]

The post Transport for the North sets out plans and priorities appeared first on Motor Transport.

Michelin has appointed Lee Hutchings as director of services and solutions for the UK and Ireland. Hutchings will report directly to Andrew French, Michelin’s B2B sales director UK & Ireland, who he takes over from in his new role. As well as overseeing a division that looks after some of Michelin’s biggest customers and manages the tyres on more than 80,000 commercial vehicles, Hutchings will also play a key role in the growth of Michelin's “with and around tyres” strategy, [...]

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Getlink – formerly Groupe Eurotunnel – said its unaccompanied freight service through the Channel Tunnel had seen a marked acceleration in growth since March, with more than 1,000 trailers carried. The transport of trailers by the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Freight teams on the two chunnel terminals operates 24/7 and generates 40 times less CO2 than ferries, according to the company. It said the service benefited from competitive advantages, including speed, ease and flexibility and was supported by the group’s customs [...]

The post Getlink reports sharp increase in unaccompanied freight through Channel Tunnel appeared first on Motor Transport.

The case for moving to electric trucks has become even more compelling after fuel prices soared to such levels that it is now cheaper to charge up an HGV than fuel a diesel model, according to freight booker Zeus Labs. It said small and medium haulage fleets are being pushed to the brink and an “anaemic government response” to the crisis is crippling owner-operator fleets. However, the cost of fuel means the industry could now pioneer a national switch to [...]

The post Now cheaper to charge an electric HGV than use diesel, hauliers told appeared first on Motor Transport.

Webfleet has pledged to remove 61 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere to positively offset the carbon footprint from vehicles participating in this year’s Great British EV Rally (GBEVR). The five-day event, which starts from Castle & Gardens of Mey near John O’Groats, Scotland on 4 July, aims to showcase Britain’s charging infrastructure and demonstrate the role that EVs can play in UK fleet operations. Webfleet, an event sponsor and technology partner, will work with international NGO Justdiggit to offset [...]

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Northgate Vehicle Hire has launched a fleet electrification programme, Drive to Zero, to provide customers with a full suite of solutions designed to aid fleets’ transition to electric LCVs. Northgate has continued its transformation into a specialist B2B customer-centric LCV mobility provider over the last two years and has been building the foundations for an electrification journey, alongside those of its customers. Drive to Zero comprises five key elements designed to ensure a seamless transition of all businesses. The first [...]

The post Northgate launches Drive to Zero programme for LCV market appeared first on Motor Transport.

Online sales fell last month, mirroring shopping habits on the high street as soaring inflation forced consumers to tighten their belts, according to government retail figures. However, the amount being spent on goods rose by 0.6% as the cost of living crisis continued to bite. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said online sales fell by 1.7% in May compared to the previous month, but it had plummeted by 7.9% when compared to May 2021, before inflation became a significant [...]

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Tesla’s new factories in Germany and Austin, Texas are “losing billions of dollars” because of continued parts shortages and disruptions in China, according to its boss Elon Musk. The chief executive had already announced his company would not be introducing any new vehicle models this year due to battery shortages and in a recent interview Musk explained that its factories all over the world were still struggling amid significant economic issues. No specific reference was made to the long-anticipated EV [...]

The post Fears of further delays to Tesla Semi rollout as Musk admits factories are “losing billions” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Free driver health checks are being offered by D4 Drivers when the medical provider joins SNAP as part of a tour of truck parks this summer. The haulage payment expert said it wanted to celebrate HGV drivers for their efforts and recognise industry endeavours and so it is launching an official tour, which will take in seven lorry parks in the UK and Europe. SNAP will provide entertainment, competitions and merchandise at each venue, with D4 Drivers joining it at [...]

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An important road freight survey has been launched by the Department for Transport and National Highways to help inform future road scheme transport investment appraisal. After Covid-19, the departure of the UK from the European Union, and changing consumer buying patterns there is an increased awareness of the important role that modern multi-modal logistics supply chains provide to the UK. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the critical role that the freight and logistics sector plays in connecting manufacturers, [...]

The post New road freight survey offers chance to have your say on sector’s future appeared first on Motor Transport.

Daniel Defoe saw Glasgow as a city of contradictions and today polls still appear to bear that out, with its citizens the most likely to face lost or damaged parcels – after truckers named it their favourite delivery destination. Residents in Glasgow were found to be the most likely to be unhappy with their deliveries, following analysis of 60,000 monthly searches from consumers searching for complaints advice. The Scottish city had an index score of 100, topping a list of [...]

The post Glasgow named worst city for delivery problems in new poll appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tech firm Port said it had empowered London’s last-mile industry to switch to electric after launching an EV hub – a group of electric vehicles locked and charged in dedicated docking stations. The ‘dark hub’ has been launched with parking firm Q-Park at its Leicester Square car park and enables couriers and delivery firms to rent small delivery EVs, such as electric bikes, cargo ebikes, mopeds and scooters, from a Port location. The EVs can be hired on a weekly [...]

The post EV ‘dark hub’ aims to solve London’s last-mile delivery issues appeared first on Motor Transport.

A charity that supports armed forces veterans in finding work in transport and logistics has received a £100,000 boost from the government. The grant has been provided to Veterans into Logistics (VIL), which gives bespoke training for former military personnel who want to pursue a career as HGV drivers. VIL said the funding from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs will help it significantly uplift its training throughput, increase staff numbers and treble the amount of existing training. The Chancellor of [...]

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Tech freight firm DigiHaul has launched a range of products to help small and mid-sized carriers access services that address cash flow, fuel prices and fleet shortages. Its DigiHaul Ecosystem is available to carrier partners and it said it provided operators with the resources they need to get through this turbulent period. One of the products gives firms the option to have invoices paid in 24 hours, which it said could save them between 3.5% and 4% versus traditional financing. [...]

The post DigiHaul unveils Ecosystem to support SMEs appeared first on Motor Transport.

Isuzu Truck UK (ITUK) has announced expansion ambitions for the remainder of 2022 as it celebrates its 25th year in the UK. The truck builder said Brexit had made its supply much more streamlined and vehicles now came fully assembled direct from Japan, which enabled it to quickly expand new truck sales. As a result, ITUK has forecasted a doubling of the unit sales achieved in 2021, which was previously a record year for the company. Pete Murphy (pictured left), [...]

The post Isuzu looks to double sales as expansion drive continues appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tom Rowlands has been recruited as MD of global EV solutions at Fleetcor. In what is a newly created role, Rowlands (pictured) will take over operational responsibility for Fleetcor’s EV product solutions globally, with current activity focused on the UK, Western Europe, and North America. Rowlands previously served as Fleetcor’s vice president of European strategy with a brief to drive the company’s EV strategy. This included building EV charging and management solutions, growing the charging network and playing a key [...]

The post Fleetcor hires new global EV solutions MD appeared first on Motor Transport.

If you fancy getting behind the wheel of some of the latest trucks on the market, than make sure to book yourself a Ride & Drive experience at next week’s Road Transport Expo (RTX). A selection of vehicles from leading manufacturers Fuso, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Renault Trucks, Scania, Tevva and Volvo Trucks will be available for supervised demonstration drives on public roads and you can choose whether to drive yourself or ride in the passenger seat. In addition to the [...]

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Midland Expressway, the owner and operator of the M6toll, has appointed Michael Whelan (pictured) as general manager. He will oversee the implementation of a strategic ‘RoadAhead’ transformation programme, to deliver a world-class service to the 18 million drivers and businesses that use the motorway every year. A globally experienced expert on innovative toll systems with more than 20 years’ experience, Whelan most recently worked as general manager for Australian-owned Transurban, one of the world’s largest tolling operators. His expertise includes [...]

The post Midland Expressway recruits general manager to lead digital revamp of M6toll appeared first on Motor Transport.

Investment remains a key priority for the UK logistics sector in 2022, and M&A activity levels remain high, despite the sector facing increasing challenges driven by labour costs, pricing and supply chain disruption. A survey of industry leaders found 65% of logistics businesses intend to make significant capital expenditure over the next 12 months, with technology, such as transport and warehouse management systems, the main point of focus in the year ahead (48%). The survey, conducted in conjunction with a [...]

The post Sector ripe for more M&A activity, business chiefs reveal appeared first on Motor Transport.

Mercedes Benz Trucks is set to unveil a concept prototype of its 40-tonne battery-electric eActros LongHaul truck at this year’s IAA Transportation in September in Hanover, Germany. Ahead of its debut at the show the OEM has released its first teaser images of the eActros LongHaul concept prototype and announced further technical specifications planned for the production vehicle. The truck, which will provide a preview of the design theme of the series-production vehicle, is part of the eActros LongHaul test [...]

The post Mercedes-Benz Trucks to unveil the eActros LongHaul electric truck in September appeared first on Motor Transport.

Verdant Regeneration has secured outline planning application for the redevelopment of the 200-acre New Stanton Park, near junction 25 of the M1, which the company says has the potential to deliver up to 4,000 jobs. Verdant Regeneration submitted an outline planning application in late 2021 for the redevelopment of part of the former Stanton iron works, to be known as New Stanton Park. The company plans to deliver around 2.6 million sq ft of new build high quality warehouse and [...]

The post Launch of major 200-acre New Stanton Park moves step closer appeared first on Motor Transport.

Panattoni is set to speculatively develop the final two units at its logistics site Panattoni Park Aylesford, after agreeing pre-lets for the rest of the space. The two units at the former Aylesford Newsprint site measure 100,000sq ft and 130,000sq ft respectively and are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2023. Both will offer 15m clear internal height, two level access doors, electric charging points for cars, access to the park’s car share scheme and 50m yard [...]

The post Panattoni in spec development of final two units at its Aylesford logistics park appeared first on Motor Transport.

The trial of an autonomous Terberg electric HGV, designed for final-mile delivery, has been completed successfully, according to the consortium leading the project. The pilot, which took place on the 9 and 10 June, saw a Terberg HGV, retrofitted with autonomous technology, remotely test driven as part of the £4.9m government-funded 5G Connected and Automated Logistics (CAL) trial. The Terberg YT202, which is designed for moving trailers in distribution centres, transport depots and container terminals, was retrofitted by StreetDrone with [...]

The post Consortium hails final-mile 5G trial of autonomous Terberg electric HGV a success appeared first on Motor Transport.

Developer Chancerygate has been granted planning permission to develop a major Grade A urban logistics and industrial space in Witham, Essex. The company said the new 58,000sq ft scheme will meet growing demand in the region for Grade A logistics sites. Dubbed Freebournes Park, the speculative development will comprise ten units ranging from 4,390sq ft to 7,030sq ft which will be available on a leasehold basis. Construction of the scheme is set to commence in August 2022 with practical completion [...]

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Carrier Transicold has invested in a new specialist training academy and urgent request spare parts warehouse for its partners, to help reduce customers’ vehicle downtime. The Manchester facility holds vehicle off-road parts and is supported by overnight deliveries from Carrier Transicold’s European warehouse in the Netherlands when required. The warehouse also holds new equipment and products from Carrier Transicold, ready for installation, providing support to bodybuilders. Carrier Transicold has a network of 12 independent service partners and over 170 mobile [...]

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Renewed grant incentives for purchasing electric vans and trucks are likely to trigger increased interest among fleet buyers, but total cost of ownership (TCO) is key to widespread takeup, according to Webfleet Solutions. Richard Parker, UK EV lead at the telematics firm, said the removal of the plug-in grant for car buyers in order to pivot funding towards new electric LCVs and trucks was a catalyst for wider conversations about the significant savings available over the whole life of commercial [...]

The post High electricity prices could dampen demand for electric CVs appeared first on Motor Transport.

MAN said it was on track for its heavy duty electric truck to roll off the production line in 2024 and it was now training staff in CO2-free technology. One year after establishing its eMobility Centre at its main plant in Munich, MAN has produced 20 prototypes of its eTruck, testing future mixed series production with conventional trucks under real-life conditions. It also said that in the future, despite the technological and employee challenges, conventional and battery-electric trucks would be [...]

The post MAN tests pre-production electric trucks ready for 2024 delivery appeared first on Motor Transport.

There’s still time to get your free tickets to this summer’s exciting new trade show – the Road Transport Expo (RTX) – brought to you by the publisher of Motor Transport. Taking place from 30 June to 2 July at NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, this three-day event brings together everything you need for your HGV fleet in one vast venue. From specialist exhibition zones and a Ride & Drive experience, through to a business conference, product talks and demonstrations – you’ll [...]

The post Still time to book your free ticket to the brand-new Road Transport Expo bumper summer event! appeared first on Motor Transport.

Renewed grant incentives for purchasing electric vans and trucks are likely to trigger increased interest among fleet buyers, but total cost of ownership (TCO) is key to widespread takeup, according to Webfleet Solutions. Richard Parker, UK EV lead at the telematics firm, said the removal of the plug-in grant for car buyers in order to pivot funding towards new electric LCVs and trucks was a catalyst for wider conversations about the significant savings available over the whole life of commercial [...]

The post High electricity prices could dampen dampen demand for electric CVs appeared first on Motor Transport.

Geotab, which specialises in connecting CVs to the cloud, has announced a tie-in with Renault to combine vehicle telematics capabilities with its fleet management platform. It said this would provide a single point of access for van operators to help them make informed decisions and provide connectivity for fleets of any size. Customers can choose from Renault models built in 2010 or later and then get a factory-fitted, or retro-fitted, telematics system. Users then benefit from first-hand OEM data, aggregated [...]

The post Renault vans can now get connected via Geotab appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DfT has got behind a new recruitment campaign, Generation Logistics, launched today at the Multimodal show by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and Logistics UK. The DfT has put £345,000 into the campaign which will be based on a new web portal carrying careers advice as well as job vacancies and will focus on demographic areas deemed to be “inclined towards taking up a role in logistics”. Industry supporters have contributed an additional £350,000 and the [...]

The post Generation Logistics aims to promote career opportunities to Generation X appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK chief executive David Wells has urged the government to cut fuel duty rather than VAT to ease the pressure on hauliers struggling with rising pump prices. Making the keynote address on the first day of Multimodal 2022 at the NEC Birmingham, Wells said the soaring cost of diesel was the key issue facing the transport and logistics sector and that the government needed to do more to help operators. He said hauliers had shown “incredible resilience” during the [...]

The post Reduce fuel duty to help transport businesses, Logistics UK boss tells chancellor appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK has welcomed the government’s ‘Future of Freight’ plan, saying it provides “clarity” on the future direction of DfT freight policy. Michelle Gardner, head of public policy at Logistics UK, said: “The publication of the Future of Freight plan is a positive step forward for industry; it reaffirms government’s vital support of one of the largest sectors of the UK economy and helps to provide clarity for logistics businesses moving forward. “The inclusion of £7m investment to boost the [...]

The post Government pledges more support for freight transport in its ‘Future of Freight’ vision appeared first on Motor Transport.

Disruption to global supply chains looks set to continue in 2022, requiring a radical move away from a reliance on just-in-time to the use of greater storage capacity, Logistics UK’s annual report is warning. The report notes that both global and local factors have caused issues for all elements of the supply chain, with issues such as disruption to the supply of shipping containers, a shortage of HGV drivers and a lack of semi-conductor microchips are all having an impact [...]

The post Logistics UK’s annual report warns of continuing pressure on supply chains appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Government's plug-in car grant scheme has been axed with the funding refocused towards extending plug-in grants for new electric vans and trucks and supporting the roll out of the public chargepoint network. The move, announced with immediate effect from today (14 June), is supported by a new public evaluation report which highlights that, while the plug-in car grant was vital in building the early market for EVs, it has since been having less of an effect on demand, with other [...]

The post Government axes plug-in car grant to boost funding for electric vans and trucks appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is looking at trialling longer heavier vehicles (LHVs) of up to 25.25m in length and 60 tonnes gross vehicle weight and is on the hunt for operators interested in taking part in the trial. The DfT has commissioned a feasibility study of LHVs, which is being carried out by a joint venture of design and engineering group WSP, Apollo Vehicle Safety and Risk Solutions. The study team will look at how an LHV trial could be designed and [...]

The post Call for operator views on trial of longer heavier vehicles appeared first on Motor Transport.

A petition calling for broadcaster Jeremy Vine to be sacked from the BBC after he claimed a cyclist had been ‘close-passed’ by an HGV on a busy London street has sailed past 10,000 signatures. The TV presenter and radio DJ posted footage on Twitter of an incident that occurred while he was involved in a cycle ride with Metropolitan police officers. Vine was filming the ride using a helmet-mounted camera and it captured the moment when a Waitrose lorry passed [...]

The post BBC’s Jeremy Vine hits back in Waitrose truck row as petition to have him sacked tops 10,000 signatures appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hilary Devey, founder of the Pall-Ex network, has died, aged 65. The entrepreneur (pictured), who gained nationwide fame as a Dragon’s Den panelist, died on Saturday at her holiday villa in Morocco after battling a long illness. Devey left school at the age of sixteen, and served for a short while in the Women's Royal Air Force, in air traffic control and the supply accounts department. After seeing her father go bankrupt when she was seven and witnessing bailiffs arrive [...]

The post Pall-Ex founder Hilary Devey dies after long illness appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics real estate developer Panattoni is planning a major £250m speculative logistics development, in Avonmouth, Bristol. The company claims the site will include the UK’s largest ever speculative logistics building, in Avonmouth, Bristol. The development, called Panattoni Park Avonmouth, will be located on a prime, 73-acre site, Central Park, which Panattoni said it has recently acquired in an off-market deal. Panattoni will commence speculative development of 1.3 million sq ft of consented space in two units of 406,000sq ft and [...]

The post Panattoni set to roll out ‘biggest ever’ logistics development in Avonmouth appeared first on Motor Transport.

Business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng has asked the UK’s competition watchdog to urgently review the fuel market and make recommendations on how to “strengthen competition”. The request comes amid rising concern that forecourt retailers are not passing on the recent cut in fuel duty. In a letter to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Kwarteng wrote that people were “rightly frustrated” that the government’s £5bn cut in fuel duty, aimed at delivering a 5p-a-litre reduction “does not always appear to have [...]

The post CMA to investigate fuel price rises as calls for essential user rebate mount appeared first on Motor Transport.

Independent CV repairer Sapphire Vehicle Services has launched a fleet management division, which it said would allow operators to concentrate on what they do best. “For many companies, owning and operating a fleet is not their core business,” said Sapphire’s head of fleet services, Paul West (pictured). “Those who make or build products need to get their goods to their customers, for example – but their expertise tends to be in manufacturing not distribution. “By allowing Sapphire Fleet Services to [...]

The post CV repair specialist Sapphire branches into fleet management appeared first on Motor Transport.

A major new retail and trade park development has been announced on the site of a former Co-op supermarket in Tamworth. Demolition work has already begun on the 80,000sq ft site and construction is expected to take 52 weeks, with Lidl, B&M, KFC, Starbucks, Greggs, Subway and Travis Perkins signed up as tenants. GMI Construction Group, which has been appointed by Hawkstone Vale Developments to construct the park, said the outlet would breathe new life into a redundant site, creating [...]

The post New retail park rises on site of former Tamworth supermarket appeared first on Motor Transport.

More than half of people working in logistics and transport worry about their safety at least once a year, according to a new report. It also found that 60% of employees are concerned about facing aggression from a member of the public, with more than a third (34%) saying they have experienced verbal or physical abuse in the past. Safety concerns within the general workforce included face-to-face contact with the public and personal safety worries when travelling alone. However, the [...]

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Novuna Vehicles Solutions said its commitment to driving the UK’s electric vehicle transition resulted in record pre-tax profits of £54.2m. The company, part of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK, also saw revenues increase by 18.7% to £883.9m in the year ending 31 March 2022. It said new customer acquisitions helped the business defy industry trends, which included a decline in vehicle production due to the semiconductor shortage. During the period, Novuna experienced an 8% expansion in its contract hire fleet, with [...]

The post Early electrification of van contract hire boosts sales and profits for Novuna appeared first on Motor Transport.

Lithium and sodium-ion battery builder AMTE Power has teamed up with Viritech to supply hydrogen fuel cell batteries for HGVs. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding, which they said paves the way for AMTE to supply ultra high power (UHP) cells for use in the powertrain developer’s battery packs. As well as trucks, the battery packs will also be developed for light CVs, marine, aerospace and distributed power applications, as well as Viritech’s hypercar project. An alternative [...]

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Nuclear Enabled Hydrogen (NEH) must be embraced if the country is to achieve its net zero ambitions, according to the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (HFCA). In a new paper, the trade association urges the government to support the potential of NEH with legislation, investment and more nuclear sites to allow it to become an energy player in the race to zero emissions. HFCA member Marcus Newborough said the electricity grid would find it difficult to match the supply [...]

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Bridgestone has launched an integrated tyre and fleet management solution called Fleetcare, which is "designed to fast-forward business for fleets". An evolution of Bridgestone’s Total Tyre Care service, Fleetcare combines Bridgestone’s best-in-class tyre range and tyre management options with fleet management solutions from its telematics subsidiary Webfleet. Through providing a complete package from a single mobility partmer, Bridgestone said Fleetcare can provide a host of benefits to fleet customers, including total cost of ownership reduction, maximised customer satisfaction, time saving, regulatory [...]

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The Competition Appeal Tribunal has today (8 June) delivered a landmark judgment entitling the RHA to proceed with its collective claim on behalf of hauliers seeking damages from the major European truck manufacturers who were found to have operated a price-fixing cartel between 1997 and 2011. The claim is the first ever opt-in collective proceedings to have been certified by the Tribunal under the new regime. The RHA said its "overwhelming success" is even more notable given that it faced [...]

The post RHA to represent hauliers in damages claim against European price-fixing cartel appeared first on Motor Transport.

Panattoni’s plans to develop a major logistics park on green belt land in South Warrington could be called in for review, in a government u-turn which could set a precedent for other logistics sites across the country. The Six56 Warrington project, located next to the M6 and M56 at Lymm, is being developed by Panattoni, in partnership with commercial property company Langtree. As well as creating 4,100 new jobs the 3.1 million square foot development is expected to add more [...]

The post Giant Panattoni logistics park under threat after government u-turn on planning permission appeared first on Motor Transport.

Contract hire, vehicle sales and fleet management provider Hexagon Leasing has recruited Alan Ellison (pictured) to the new role of chief executive. He takes up his new post this week having previously spent five years as commercial director at Motus Commercials after 12 years at DAF Trucks in various senior roles. He also holds an MBA from Warwick Business School. His appointment follows a number of other senior appointments this year. These include Paul Jacques, who joined as finance director, [...]

The post Hexagon Leasing hires new chief executive Alan Ellison appeared first on Motor Transport.

UK van registrations saw a fifth consecutive month of decline in May, falling by a quarter ( -25.1%) to 22,000 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). However electric van registrations continue to rise, with SMMT reporting a leap of almost a third to 869 registrations - 276 more than last May. SMMT said that whilst the results for van registrations are in comparison to last year's record results, which saw the [...]

The post Diesel van registrations plunge in May as BEV demand continues to rise appeared first on Motor Transport.

Green hydrogen refuelling company Element 2 has appointed former ExxonMobil executive Nick Shelley as senior business development manager as it moves to scale up the business. Shelley (pictured) spent more than 20 years at ExxonMobile in a number of senior business development, sales and marketing roles. His most recent role was commercial development advisor for Esso retail in the UK and Norway, where he led a five-year strategic growth plan for commercial customers in the transportation fleet sector. He also [...]

The post Green hydrogen refuelling firm Element 2 recruits ExxonMobil veteran Nick Shelley appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Scottish Transaid Dinner, which was derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic, is back on track, taking place at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel, near Hamilton, on the evening of Thursday 15 September 2022. The fund raising charity dinner has been organised by a committee headed by recently retired Scottish Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken, who is now the Transaid national chair, and  includes Nicola Robertson of  Scottish haulage firm Malcolm, and Grangemouth-based Lynsey Mitchell, Scotland’s Transport Woman of the Year 2022. Aitken [...]

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The UK logistics industry is one of the fastest growing areas of employment in the UK, bringing career opportunities to deprived areas targeted by the government’s levelling up agenda, according to an independent study by Frontier Economics. The study, commissioned by Amazon and supported by Logistics UK, found that the sector has grown by 190,000 employees since 2019 and created a further 125,000 jobs in local communities. Employment in logistics has doubled since 2012 and is on track to overtake [...]

The post Logistics industry key to success of government’s levelling up agenda, report finds appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has announced a £160.8m investment in four major road projects in Newcastle, Cornwall, Greater Manchester and Southampton. The four major road schemes announced today (6 June) includes £78.5m for a new 6.2km road linking St Austell to the A30 – the main transport artery in Cornwall, which DfT said will create 6,300 new local jobs and cut journey times. A new shared pedestrian and cycle facility will also run alongside the whole length of the new road. Another [...]

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Industrial property developer Chancerygate has acquired two adjacent sites in Leatherhead, Surrey as part of plans to build 82,400sq ft of Grade A industrial and warehousing space. The sites, which total 4.6 acres, are located off Cleeve Road in Leatherhead Business Park close to the town centre and one mile east of junction 9 of the M25. Chancerygate plans to speculatively develop 13 leasehold units ranging from 3,000sq ft to 19,000sq ft on the land. The company estimates that, once [...]

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DP World’s container terminal at Southampton has eliminated fossil diesel from its operations in favour of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which it estimates will cut 14,000 tons of CO2 annually. The move follows a trial of HVO at the port last year, which saw it used in its forklift trucks, refrigerated unit generators and straddle carriers. DP World Southampton is the first British port to replace diesel with vegetable oil, according to the company. It calculates that the move will [...]

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Hydrogen vehicle manufacturer First Hydrogen has appointed Carlo Alberto D’Amicis (pictured) as chief financial officer to support the company’s growth. The move comes as the company prepares to test its first hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator vehicles and establish its first green hydrogen production sites in the UK. D’Amicis joins First Hydrogen from Stock Exchange-listed refractories firm RHI Magnesita, where he held the post of senior finance executive and led a 120-person global finance team in over 15 countries. In his [...]

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The DVSA’s new training and licensing requirement for drivers operating alternatively-fuelled vehicles between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes is too narrow, according to training company RED Driver Risk Management. The company is warning companies to look to the future so they are prepared for when electric vans go beyond 4.25 tonnes. While RED Driver Risk Management’s chief executive, Seb Goldin (pictured), welcomes the new licensing requirement, he believes the new legislation does not go far enough. He said: “These new larger [...]

The post Train electric van drivers to C1 standards to future proof operations, expert recommends appeared first on Motor Transport.

Bridgestone said its new integrated tyre and fleet management package will 'revolutionise the fleet market' by offering connected data and reporting under one agreement and delivered by a single partner. Developing Bridgestone’s Total Tyre Care package, Fleetcare combines its tyre range and tyre management solutions with fleet management from telematics specialist Webfleet. It said fleet owners could now reduce their total cost of ownership via the package, including total cost of ownership reduction, maximised customer satisfaction, time saving, regulatory compliance [...]

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The logistics sector must solve its driver employment crisis and fix its dearth of secure rest facilities within two years, or else the government should step in and impose a levy, MPs have warned. The Transport Select Committee (TSC) said the industry had been given long enough to get its house in order and it should now be put on notice that a “supply chain levy” would be introduced if it did not resolve its problems by 2024. In a [...]

The post ‘Solve your problems within two years or face supply chain levy,’ Transport Select Committee warns logistics sector appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Cold Chain Federation is calling on the government to make good on its promise to provide financial support to cold chain transport operators hit by the removal of the red diesel rebate for transport refrigeration units (TRUs), which came into effect on 1 April. The CCF, which represents businesses which store and distribute chilled and frozen food, pharmaceuticals and other products, is accusing the government of reneging on its promise to support the sector’s transition away from diesel. The [...]

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The logistics sector has slammed a new report by the Transport Select Commmitte (TSC) demanding it solves the driver shortage and upgrades rest facilities within two years or face a government supply chain levy. Logistics UK chief executive David Wells (pictured) branded the report "confused and misleading", insisting that the industry had been "unfairly blamed" for the issues facing the sector. He added that the report had "reached the wrong conclusions" and that a levy would place "an unfair and [...]

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Wheely-Safe has agreed a new distribution deal with emergency services lighting and equipment supplier Woodway Engineering. The contract will see Woodway Engineering supply its UK and Ireland customers with Wheely-Safe’s latest generation of intelligent tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), wheel loss and wheel rim temperature sensors. The family firm will offer Wheely-Safe’s products both as original equipment through tender bids and as a retrofit option for fleets across the blue light sector. Chris Butcher, Woodway Engineering MD, said the company [...]

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Freight in the City joined forces with Volvo to deliver a webinar focusing on long-haul decarbonisation. James McGeachie, Zemo Partnership technical director, kicked off with a look at the opportunities and challenges operators face. He said uptake of zero-emission commercial vehicles was rising but HGV operators continue to face obstacles. “The simple fact is HGVs are a bigger challenge to electrify in terms of the use cycle, the journeys and distances travelled and the massive payloads. “To illustrate that, a [...]

The post Watch free Freight in the City long-haul decarbonisation webinar with Volvo Trucks, Zemo Partnership and ABB appeared first on Motor Transport.

British commercial vehicle production rose 27.6% in April for the fourth consecutive month, delivering its best performance since 2016, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). However SMMT called on the government to take action to help support the industry as the pressure from supply chain delays and “soaring” energy costs continue to mount. According to the latest figures published by the SMMT, a total of 7,879 working vehicles, including vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches, left [...]

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Haulage operators planning to install an electric charging infrastructure should learn from serious mistakes made by some bus operators who failed to make them future-proof when switching to electric in 2016. The warning comes from Keith Watson, director of EO Charging eBus and eTruck division. The Suffolk-based company is a turnkey service to bus and truck operators looking to install electric charging systems at their depots. Speaking to MT, Watson said that once operators commit to installing a charging infrastructure, [...]

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Broadcaster and presenter Jeremy Vine has come under heavy criticism after he posted footage on social media of a lorry driver he claimed had ‘close-passed’ a cyclist in London. A petition has now been set up demanding the radio DJ is sacked for promoting unfair accusations after scrutiny of the recorded incident appeared to show the professional driver had behaved correctly. The incident occurred during a cycle ride Vine completed with Metropolitan police officers as part of a JustGiving charitable [...]

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Prometeon Tyre Group has announced a reorganisation of its UK and Nordics business in order to strengthen its position in the market. The new organisational structure means Ali Yilmaz (pictured) becomes commercial director and is also in charge of logistics. Marisa Hever-Smith will head up CFO and HR Administration. Both Yilmaz and Hever-Smith will report into Francesco Antonacci as interim MD UK and Nordics, replacing Peter Fairlie who will leave the business on 8 July. Antonacci maintains his role of [...]

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Industrial real estate developer Panattoni is fast tracking plans for a 199,672sq ft speculative, last-mile logistics development in Crawley, in response to strong and rising demand for warehousing. The detailed planning application for Panattoni Park Crawley, submitted to Crawley Borough Council, is for a semi-detached unit of 134,012sq ft and 65,660sq ft, which could be combined into one unit of 199,672sq ft for a single occupier. The development is located at a 10-acre site, fronting Fleming Way the Manor Royal [...]

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Trials of the eActros LongHaul (pictured) on public roads are set to start this year, with the battery-powered truck scheduled to enter series production in 2024, Mercedes Benz Trucks has revealed. Prototypes of the 40 tonne vehicle, which has a range of around 500 km on one battery charge and superfast megawatt charging, are already undergoing internal tests. Mercedes-Benz Trucks is also preparing additional variants of the eActros - dubbed the eActros 300 and the eActros 400 - as early [...]

The post Mercedes Benz eActros LongHaul truck to hit the road in 2022 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Lorries headed for Dover were trapped in 20-mile long queues again this weekend with further delays in the pipeline as another wave of holiday-makers prepare to head for the port this week, ahead of the Platinum Jubilee weekend. The queues began to build on Friday (27 May) with the Kent Resilience Forum reporting that there were around 750 lorries queueing in the Dover TAP and Brock traffic management systems. As the weekend wore on the queues grew longer, with drivers [...]

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Less than half of logistics and coach firms rate England’s major roads positively, with rest facilities and clearing up after accidents attracting the lowest satisfaction ratings, according to a survey. Independent watchdog Transport Focus said just 46% of those polled were satisfied with England’s motorways and ‘A’ roads; 25% were dissatisfied and 29% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. It said that although the availability of live travel information was rated better than information for planning ahead, less than half of [...]

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Logistics UK has told the government it must make the Northern Ireland protocol work effectively to protect the country’s supply chain. The business group met with foreign secretary Liz Truss this week and its NI policy manager Seamus Leheny said it had urged the UK and EU to agree mitigations on the protocol and protect trading relationships for the benefit of businesses on both sides of the Irish Sea. Truss said the emphasis was on finding a negotiated solution but [...]

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A study of five years’ worth of government data has found that the West Midlands is, by a significant margin, the UK’s drink driving hotspot. The analysis of the data found that the region recorded 89.48 drink driving incidents per 100,000 people, a full 32 accidents higher than the second place South East. The Compensation Experts, which compiled the data, said the statistics showed a surprising disparity between accidents in the West Midlands and the rest of the UK. The [...]

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A decision to reduce the size of HS2’s London terminus station at Euston means spoil will no longer be removed by rail and may have to be achieved with thousands of HGVs instead. In a written statement by the parliamentary under-secretary for state, Baroness Vere, she said a smaller, 10 platform station design at Euston was prompted by the Oakervee Review, which addressed efficiency concerns. She said: “Following the move to the more affordable 10 platform station design, the original [...]

The post Revised Euston HS2 plan would need 800 trucks a day to remove spoil appeared first on Motor Transport.

Richard Skidmore, head of customer service delivery with Mercedes-Benz Trucks, has urged the industry to embrace the benefits of increased collaboration to save costs and improve efficiencies. Speaking at last week’s Microlise conference, he said the pandemic had accelerated three trends – electrification, automation and connectivity ­­– and that the sector should work more closely on building customer solutions. “Mercedes Truck works in partnership with other suppliers, but what we haven’t done in the past is work with the end [...]

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Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt (pictured) has warned hauliers of their obligations regarding trailers amid a spate of Public Inquiries following serious transgressions. Speaking at the Microlise Transport Conference last week, Turfitt said: “I need to flag up a concerning pattern of cases emerging from last year. It involves the maintenance of third-party trailers. “There have been considerable efforts by the DVSA to make test reports available to all, but operators seem oblivious to maintaining trailers. It makes the ongoing [...]

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Road transport solicitors have criticised the government for ‘sneaking in’ tough new tachograph rules at the height of the pandemic and not publicising the changes. Backhouse Jones described the new EU requirements as the most onerous on drivers “since the tachograph was first invented” and that nothing at all had been done to raise awareness of the rules. However, the department for transport (DfT) refuted this claim and pointed to three bulletins that it sent out to haulage operators highlighting [...]

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Hydrogen technology is currently the best way to decarbonise heavy trucks, according to Tesco transport director Matt Rhind (pictured). Speaking in a panel debate at last week’s Microlise Transport Conference in Coventry, he said: “I talk to a lot of manufacturers and hydrogen is a thing. At the moment it’s feeling like a more viable option than electrification but let’s see where we are in 10 years’ time. “We’ve got to gestate what it would mean to the infrastructure to [...]

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Tyre company Hankook has signed a five-year deal with Vaculug to have its Alphatread brand manufactured in the UK. Guy Heywood, Hankook vice president, said: “Our new partnership with Vaculug will support our mission to offer attractive and sustainable products. “This new agreement also ensures maximum value for our fleet customers.” Vaculug MD Jorge Crespo added: “While this agreement is only for an initial period of five years, we as a family have had a relationship with Hankook that goes [...]

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Training firm Red Driver Risk Management (RDRM) has won a contract to provide driver training and licence checking services for volunteers at the Commonwealth Games this summer. In addition, it will be providing bespoke fleet manager training to the games’ organisers, covering duty of care and other legal responsibilities. RDRM chief executive Seb Goldin said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the Commonwealth Games. “By ensuring all of the volunteers involved are checked and trained, we can ensure that [...]

The post Red Driver Risk Management awarded Birmingham Commonwealth Games contract appeared first on Motor Transport.

Real estate developer Panattoni has submitted plans for one of the largest speculative logistics facilities in South Yorkshire. The application is for a 417570 sq ft facility next to Doncaster Sheffield Airport. It said it had acquired the 18.4-acre site from Peel L&P in March. Read more Panattoni to develop major logistics hub in Crewe for Warehouse REIT Panattoni Doncaster 420 will be built to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings with many sustainability features, such as electric vehicle charging [...]

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Michelin has made a new free-to-use app available to tyre dealers and fleets, helping them access the latest technical information about its products. MyTechXpert is available for iOS and Android devices and Michelin described it as an evolution of its technical data book. Steve Chadwick, brand manager at Michelin Tyre said: “We wanted this to be more than just an electronic copy of the previous data book, so from the outset the app had to add real value for customers. [...]

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Operators need to step up to the plate and pay their drivers more if they are to end the driver shortage crisis, attract new blood and retain staff, according to RHA’s policy chief Rod McKenzie (pictured). Speaking at the recent Microlise conference, McKenzie threw down the gauntlet to operators, challenging them to do more to improve the image of the industry. He said: “Let’s start with pay. We all know the cost of living crisis affects everyone. For years, many [...]

The post Tackle industry ills by improving drivers’ pay and conditions, RHA tells operators appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK has appointed Kate Jennings (pictured) as its new policy director. Jennings, who will be joining the organisation at the end of June, has worked in policy roles for both the government and the business sector for some years. Her most recent post was as the policy director of the Railway Industry Association. She has also worked at the DfT, where she focused on aviation and rail policy and the development of road transport policy relating to the UK’s [...]

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Loveday Ryder (pictured), chief executive of the DVSA, has hit back at claims that the agency needs to take urgent action to address a shortfall in HGV driving tests, which is said to be blocking industry attempts to address the driver shortage. In April, the Logistics Skills Network (LSN) put together a plan to address a lack of DVSA examiners and asked the DfT to change its policy and allow training providers as well as transport operators to carry out [...]

The post ‘We’re training more examiners than ever before,’ claims DVSA chief executive appeared first on Motor Transport.

Panattoni is bringing forward the development of a logistics hub in Crewe with Warehouse REIT. The first phase of the two million square foot project will start on site in Q4 2022, with the first units available for occupation in Q4 2023. Under the terms of an agreement, Warehouse REIT will fund and retain the completed project, while Panattoni will be responsible for implementing the scheme. Warehouse REIT has been assembling the 102-acre site since 2017, which is located at [...]

The post Panattoni to develop major logistics hub in Crewe for Warehouse REIT appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has renewed its call for an essential user rebate on fuel duty as the cost of diesel at the pump continues to rise sharply. The government's weekly fuel prices shows that the increase is currently running at more than one pence per litre (ppl) per week, with fuel prices rising to almost 180ppl yesterday (23 May), an increase of 1.3ppl in a week. This latest rise brings the price to almost 50ppl more than this time a year [...]

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The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) is calling on national governments to ensure that the top 10% truck stop locations within their countries are equipped with suitable electric chargers by 2027, at the latest. Research commissioned by the ACEA has shown that the best place to put electric charging points is at the locations most frequently used by truck drivers, since it is unlikely they will change their habits, as their employers make the switch to electric vehicles. Working on [...]

The post UK must equip 10% of truck stop locations with electric chargers by 2027 to meet demand, manufacturers warn appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport minister Baroness Vere (pictured) has urged fleet operators to review their shift patterns to encourage and retain a more diverse workforce. In a virtual presentation at the Microlise Transport Conference in Coventry last week, she reminded delegates that only 22% of industry roles are currently held by women and that they make up just 2% of the overall driver pool. “People under 44-years-old are under-represented," she added. "We need to make sure the industry is more attractive to them. [...]

The post ‘Offer flexible shifts to retain drivers,’ transport minister urges hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The logistics industry is calling for mitigations for hauliers if plans to expand the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the whole of London by 2023 go ahead. The call follows the announcement last week that Transport for London (TfL) has been instructed by London mayor Sadiq Khan to launch a consultation on the proposed expansion. Logistics UK is warning that a shortage of ULEZ-compliant trucks is preventing operators from maintaining continuity of operation in the existing ULEZ zones. [...]

The post Hauliers not ready for proposed expansion of London ULEZ, Logistics UK warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Higher wages, drivers’ skills bootcamps and speedier HGV driver testing has boosted HGV driver numbers – but the problem still remains chronic, according to Logistics UK’s analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Labour Force Survey data. The ONS figures show that the number of HGV drivers in employment has not fallen as significantly as in recent quarters, prompting Logistics UK to express “cautious optimism” that the shortage is improving as newly trained drivers and returning drivers join [...]

The post HGV driver shortage lessens as wage hikes and recruitment drive boost numbers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Oxford Properties’ West Midlands Interchange (WMI) site, which is set to launch in 2023, could create around 8,500 new jobs. Work is set to begin shortly on the project, after Oxford Properties and its partner Logistics Capital Partners (LCP), announced the appointment of Winvic Construction to design and build the scheme. The £1bn, 734-acre WMI Strategic Rail Freight Interchange project, located at junction 12 of the M6, will offer over 8m sq ft of commercial space. Units will range from [...]

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A major new survey of UK hauliers has found none have plans to roll out electric vehicles within the next 12 months, although 41% claimed it was part of their longer-term strategy. The research - carried out by Microlise and revealed by chief executive Nadeem Raza (pictured) at its Transport Conference in Coventry last week - also found 26% of operators would switch to electric 'once the technology is available for HGVs'. A further 12% said they already had electric [...]

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Self-driving vans, buses and shuttles could soon hit the UK’s roads following the launch today (23 May) of a £40m funding competition. The move aims to kick-start commercial self-driving services, including delivery vehicles. The ‘Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility’ competition will provide grants to help roll out commercial use self-driving vehicles across the UK from 2025. Announced by Lord Grimstone, Minister for Investment, the initiative aims to accelerate a new market for self-driving technology, which the government estimates could be [...]

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HGV registrations fell by 2.3% to 9,837 units in the first three months of the year, reflecting the continued global shortage of semiconductors and other raw materials. The SMMT’s figures showed that registrations for Q1 were down 227 on the same period in 2021 and that the sector was still some distance from a full post-pandemic recovery. The organisation said demand for HGVs, particularly from within construction, remained robust but that a dearth of materials including steel and aluminium was [...]

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Great Bear driver Marek Mackiewicz was named the 2022 Microlise Driver of the Year, beating off stiff competition from more than 240,000 other UK drivers whose performance is measured by Microlise. He was presented his trophy by HRH The Princess Royal at the Microlise Transport Conference last week, in front over 1,000 delegates from across the transport industry. Mackiewicz, who works on Great Bear's Cadbury contract and has driven for the company for the last five of his 16-year career, [...]

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The government has admitted its dual-registration scheme set up for events hauliers working internationally will not help all companies, amid criticism that the damage to the music industry could be “massive”. Brexit has forced hauliers in the events sector to only undertake three stops in Europe before they must return home. However, new rules announced this month enable companies with a base in the UK and another country to switch vehicles between the respective operator licences and make use of [...]

The post Dual registration scheme for events hauliers branded a fudge that will damage music business appeared first on Motor Transport.

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) said it had averted strike action among truckers and cargo handlers at Heathrow Airport after it offered them a pay deal worth 7.5%. The Unite union had warned “freight chaos” was on the cards after it claimed the company had imposed a pay freeze at a time when inflation was soaring. However, WFS said its 200 employees had now accepted its revised pay offer and that industrial action had now been suspended. Unite said the agreed [...]

The post Unite union averts Heathrow “freight chaos” as drivers accept 7.5% pay rise appeared first on Motor Transport.

Two companies have been fined after an HGV driver fractured one of his neck vertebrae when pallets were being unloaded from his vehicle. Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how the delivery driver, an employee of Brighouse Pallet Services, was struck by one or two falling pallets whilst they were being unloaded by a fork-lift truck (FLT) operator at Seal It Services’ premises in Elland, West Yorkshire. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that both companies failed in [...]

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Plans to scrap EU rules and allow newly qualified drivers to operate lorries need to be carefully considered, according to freight booker Zeus Labs. The proposals were referred to in the Queen’s speech, citing the Brexit Freedoms bill and how the government intends to make laws inherited from Europe more easily amended. It could mean that teenagers who have just obtained their driving licence are able to get behind the wheel of lorries and help plug the current shortage. In [...]

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The Prime Minister’s proposed civil service recruitment freeze could see the UK’s HGV driver shortage escalate, if staff managing the backlog of driver testing cannot be recruited, Logistics UK is warning. Road safety could also be compromised if planned resourcing for heavy vehicle checks is halted and any staff shortage could further disrupt the UK supply chain, the association added. Last week it was revealed that Boris Johnson has ordered ministers to slash the size of Whitehall by a fifth [...]

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'Just in time' is being replaced by ‘just in case’, as volatility in the supply chain continues and companies increase suppliers close to home, according to a survey of manufacturers. The report, Operating without Borders – Building Global Resilient Supply Chains, published by this week by manufacturers' organisation Make UK and enterprise software firm Infor, shows that the strategy of operating a just in time process with virtually guaranteed transport links and low-cost production has been turned upside down, as disruption [...]

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Industrial developer St Modwen Logistics has taken on construction firm Glencar to build four new units at St Modwen Park Newport. The latest development totals 115,000 sq ft, with units ranging in size from 16,558 sq ft to 43,487 sq ft and is designed in accordance with the St. Modwen Swan Standard which focuses on sustainability, net carbon reduction and health and wellbeing. The project starts on site this month and is due for completion in Q4 2022. Each individual unit [...]

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If the government demands Greater Manchester has a charging Clean Air Zone then the government will have to impose it, as Greater Manchester councils will refuse to do so, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham warned this week. A charging clean air zone is a "red line" that Greater Manchester Councils will not cross, the Mayor said, particularly in a post-pandemic economy and in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Manchester’s clean air zone (CAZ) was due to launch on 30 [...]

The post CAZ charges are a “red line” which Greater Manchester will not cross, Mayor warns government appeared first on Motor Transport.

With a fantastic line-up of speakers, a packed workshop programme and over 1,000 delegates in the auditorium, the Microlise Transport Conference is not to be missed. Register Now and join us for what promises to be an unmissable event! STELLAR SPEAKERS - On the stage hosted by Technology presenter Spencer Kelly we will welcome HRH The Princess Royal and a fantastic line up including, DVSA, National Highways, Network Rail, RHA, Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Microsoft. 4 WORKSHOP AREAS AND A LARGE [...]

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There is a “compelling case” for commercial vehicles to pay more under a national road pricing regime, according to a report published today (16 May) by the Social Market Foundation. The report comes as ministers prepare to respond to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, which earlier this year said that the government should start work on a road-pricing system “without delay”. Entitled Miles Ahead, the report calls for government to “work at pace” to develop the infrastructure to [...]

The post Hauliers should pay more under road pricing scheme, new report recommends appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tipping trailer and truck body manufacturer Fruehauf has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of three new directors, following its acquisition by MV Commercials in October last year. Robert Roe takes up the position of MD, Paul Maguire has become production director and Don Wallace the new engineering director at the Grantham-based manufacturing company. Fruehauf was bought out of administration by MV Commercials last September after falling foul of what the administrator described at the time as a [...]

The post Fruehauf boosts senior management team as £30m investment programme takes off appeared first on Motor Transport.

Utility companies that leave potholes in the UK’s roads will be penalised under new government measures that will come into force in April 2023. The government said the new measures aim to prevent thousands of potholes being left behind by utility companies nationwide and ensuring more roads are resurfaced to a high standard. Current regulations allow highway authorities to check 30% of a utility company’s total number of inspection units and the charge is a flat rate, regardless of how [...]

The post Government cracks down on companies for creating “plague of potholes” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Frank Thorpe, UK MD of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturing giant BYD, has claimed a new government pledge of £200m to help decarbonise UK road freight is not enough to trigger a major transition towards alternatively-fuelled HGVs. News of the investment came during logistics conference ITT Hub at Farnborough International where transport minister Trudy Harrison announced plans for a three-year comparative programme with initial competitions for battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology launching shortly. The trials could see hundreds more [...]

The post New £200m government pledge to decarbonise HGVs “won’t make any difference”, claims EV manufacturer appeared first on Motor Transport.

New electric van registrations increased by over half in April as UK light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations declined by almost a third. According to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new electric van registrations increased by 52.7% year-on-year to 919 units in April - representing one in 24 new vans joining the road. In the same period UK light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations declined to 21,597 units, down by -29.1% year-on-year. SMMT noted [...]

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Smart motorways are the safest roads on the strategic road network, in terms of serious or fatal casualties, according to new analysis from National Highways (NH). The new data was published this week in NH's Smart Motorway Stocktake – the Second Year Progress Report, along with information on the progress of the installation of additional safety features on the routes. Smart motorways include the removal of the hard shoulder across large swathes of their routes, known as all lane running [...]

The post Smart motorways are the safest roads, according to new National Highways data appeared first on Motor Transport.

A court in Scotland has refused an appeal by an HGV driver jailed for drink driving after he claimed he should have been ordered to undertake unpaid work instead. Timothy Humphreys was jailed in January for six months after driving his artic for 20 miles along the A90 while more than four times over the drink drive limit. A motorist behind the HGV witnessed Humphreys drifting from lane to lane on the dual carriageway and on one occasion almost striking [...]

The post Drink driving HGV driver will go to prison appeared first on Motor Transport.

Renault Trucks has launched a futuristic multimodal electric deliver vehicle that includes an e-cargo bike and a drone. The Renault Trucks E-Tech Master OptiModale is based on a 3.5 tonne LWB L3H1 E-Tech Master van with a low loader Luton body by Horton Commercials and comes with an eBullitt electric Cargo bike capable of carrying 100kg and a 2kg parcel-carrying drone from UVATEK. Renault said the Luton body holds the parcels and acts as the "mothership" for the e-cargo bike [...]

The post Renault looks to the future with electric van complete with e-cargo bike and drone appeared first on Motor Transport.

Leading logistics park developer Prologis has completed what it said is the UK’s first logistics property to go beyond net zero carbon in its construction and operation and generate more clean electricity than it consumes. Located on Prologis Apex Park near Daventry, the 435,000sq ft unit will be UK logistics centre for an American multinational. In what the developer claimed it is a "first for the world of industrial logistics property", this new industrial unit "pushes the boundaries of sustainable [...]

The post New logistics building goes beyond zero emissions with roof top solar array appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Zemo Partnership has welcomed the government announcement of over £200m funding for an extensive zero emission road freight (ZERF) demonstrator programme. Andy Eastlake, Zemo Partnership's chief executive said: "We welcome this important step on the way to a zero emission HGV fleet in the UK. With many of our members already fully committed and involved in the feasibility work, we know that this funding can really move the dial. "Zemo has been supporting the Department for Transport and its [...]

The post Zero emissions freight trial welcomed by Zemo Partnership appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers involved in music, sporting and cultural events will be able to move their vehicles freely between the UK and the EU after the government said it was introducing new measures this summer. A dual registration scheme will allow operators with a base in this country and in another one outside of the UK to transfer their vehicles between both O-licences without the need to change vehicles, have their journeys limited or pay VED in GB. Since the UK’s exit [...]

The post Events operators allowed free movement between UK and EU under new registration scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

A small boost to the Government’s £950m Rapid Charging Fund (RCF) could deliver enough capacity for on-route HGV charging and hydrogen refuelling at all motorway service areas (MSAs) in England, according to an analysis by National Grid. The RCF was launched under the government's Project Rapid which aims to deliver six high power, open access charge points at each MSA by 2023, and 6000 in total by 2035. The National Grid analysis, supported by HGV manufacturers and the freight industry, [...]

The post Industry joins with National Grid to propose low cost, rapid roll-out of charging infrastructure appeared first on Motor Transport.

Greater London is being hit by rising road freight costs that are double that of the rest of the UK, new research has revealed. According to the Transport Exchange Group's latest Road Transport Price index, the average price-per-mile for haulage and courier vehicles in Greater London jumped by 11.6 points from March to April 2022. Conversely, across the UK as a whole, the increase was half that, rising 5.3 points over the same period. The Transport Exchange Group (TEG) index [...]

The post Greater London hit with soaring road freight costs appeared first on Motor Transport.

P&O Ferries' Pride of Kent, which sails across the Dover Straits to Calais, has been deemed fit to sail, after being inspected for the fourth time by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The ship's clean bill of health should allow P&O to increase capacity at Dover, with another vessel - the Spirit of Britain - passing a fortnight ago. However P&O has announced it will only be offering a one vessel operation until 12 May. The ferry company normally [...]

The post Fourth time lucky: P&O’s Pride of Kent finally passes inspection appeared first on Motor Transport.

Richard Meads, director of Meads Construction, has met with Treasury financial secretary Lucy Frazer to raise concerns about the rising cost of fuel. Meads Construction, which is an RHA member, runs 20 trucks as part of a construction and groundworks business. At the meeting, arranged by RHA, Meads told Frazer that the cost of filling up one bulk fuel tank of diesel costs £5,400 more than two years ago – an increase of £141,000. He also pointed out that the [...]

The post Treasury to consider action on fuel costs after meeting with RHA member appeared first on Motor Transport.

McColl’s has been rescued out of administration by Morrisons after it beat off a rival offer for the convenience store and newsagent chain. The deal means all 16,000 staff will transfer over to Morrisons, along with 1,100 shops, and the supermarket has also agreed to rescue the McColl’s Retail Group’s two pension schemes. Morrisons had an existing supply agreement with McColl’s and it provided a range of products under the Safeway brand. Its final offer was accepted ahead of an [...]

The post McColl’s saved by Morrisons to bring relief to parcels sector appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government needs to step up and support the development of purpose-built hydrogen-powered HGVs and help fund fleet retrofitting services. The call comes from the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (UK HFCA) in a positioning paper, released this week. The paper is urging the government to provide financial support to retrofit existing HGV vehicles and to develop purpose-built hydrogen combustion HGVs. It also calls for government action to roll out trials of hydrogen powered vehicles and funding for further [...]

The post Government must do more to help deliver hydrogen powered HGVs, says HFCA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Almost three quarters (71%) of UK logistics companies suffered escalating transportation costs in the first quarter of 2022, compared to the same period a year ago, according to Logistics UK’s May 2022 Performance Tracker. In addition, 40% of respondents said costs had climbed by 25% or more, as operators continue to battle against rising fuel costs and global supply chain pressures. Announcing the results of the survey, Logistics UK said: “Surging costs are feeding through to freight rates - the [...]

The post Seven in ten logistics operators report escalating costs as fuel prices soar, Logistics UK survey finds appeared first on Motor Transport.

Invesco Real Estate and Barwood Capital have teamed up to build a £300m portfolio of up to eight urban/last mile industrial and logistics warehouses across the UK. The partnership has already acquired its first two sites, including a four-acre plot adjacent to Manchester’s Trafford Retail Park - on which it plans to develop a multi-unit scheme - and a 5.25-acre site in Coventry, with planning consent, where construction is due to start in July. Andy Rofe, MD at Invesco Real [...]

The post Network of new urban warehouses planned across UK appeared first on Motor Transport.

Decarbonising fleets is now the number one business priority for almost half of all UK commercial operators - topping driver safety and digital transformation, according to new research. However, despite the commitment to being net zero, the study by Bridgestone and Webfleet Solutions found it will be seven and a half years before HGV fleets are fully carbon neutral and 8.7 years for van fleets. The research revealed that 45% of UK commercial fleets have prioritised a move to cleaner [...]

The post Cleaner fuel the top priority for 45% of fleet operators appeared first on Motor Transport.

Volta Trucks has revealed its plan for entry into the North American market, with its Volta Zero vehicles operating on the streets of Los Angeles by the end of next year. The electric truck maker said it had established itself as the leading European full-electric CV manufacturer and its experience in that market would aid its penetration in the US. Its Volta Zero Class 7 truck, equivalent to the existing European 16-tonne vehicle, will lead the charge with a pilot [...]

The post Volta Trucks unveils plan to launch in North America appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operators can now calculate the range, charge times and environmental benefits of battery electric trucks via a new web-based resource. Cenex said the portal will give fleet and transport managers the confidence that electric vehicles can meet operational demand by calculating range and charging times. It is taking data from the 12-month, government-funded Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT), which has deployed 20 DAF Electric LFs to a range of public bodies. The website will also provide guidance pages, which introduce [...]

The post New online portal can measure range and charging time of electric HGVs appeared first on Motor Transport.

McColl’s collapse into administration could have a significant impact on e-commerce and parcels logistics beyond its own retail operations, according to delivery specialist ParcelHero. The convenience store chain said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange this afternoon (6 May) it was “regrettably left with no choice other than to place the company in administration” after discussions with its senior lenders broke down. A last minute attempt by Morrisons to put in place a rescue deal was rejected by [...]

The post Parcel sector rocked by McColl’s collapse as rescue deal fails appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tech specialists The Algorithm People (TAP) has joined forces with software firm AFD to help transport companies achieve even greater savings and efficiencies. TAP said its My Transport Planner optimisation service had been combined with AFD’s geocoding technology and in trials it saw a combined 24% reduction in mileage and 17% overall time savings, due to the high accuracy of the address information provided to delivery drivers. Colin Ferguson, TAP chief executive, said the partnership was part of its wider [...]

The post The Algorithm People (TAP) partners with software firm to enhance ‘Fleet as a Service’ platform appeared first on Motor Transport.

Despite HGV drivers and couriers enjoying significant pay increases over the last two years, more than 40% of the public said low pay would prevent them from taking a job in last-mile delivery, according to new research. The nationwide survey found 24% of respondents would not consider a role in the sector because of the perceived physical work involved. It also found that while 88% now buy goods online, a third of people don’t know what a role in last [...]

The post Low pay the main barrier to last-mile delivery roles, survey reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Continental will showcase the breadth and diversity of its ‘multi-solution service’ for commercial fleets at the inaugural Road Transport Expo 2022 (RTX) show in June. Held at the NAEC Stoneleigh exhibition space in Warwickshire, RTX will unite all road haulage divisions under one roof and showcase suppliers involved in the supply and service of HGVs. Continental will have a broad selection of new and retread tyres on display over the three-day event, including the unveiling of an all-new Bandvulc retread [...]

The post Continental to showcase comprehensive tyre offering at Road Transport Expo 2022 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Powering electric HGVs via overhead charging cables is a much cheaper solution for decarbonising the haulage sector than other methods, according to a mechanical engineer overseeing a government-funded project into the idea. Professor David Cebon, at the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (CSRF), said topping up much smaller batteries on HGVs through catenary cables on the road was “the most technologically ready” system for road freight and was “surprisingly effective”. He was speaking after a consortium that included the CSRF, [...]

The post Overhead charging cables the cheapest and most effective way to decarbonise long-haul HGVs, new study finds appeared first on Motor Transport.

Post-Brexit import checks on goods arriving from the EU will not be introduced this year, resulting in a mixed response from businesses. The government said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the rise in global energy costs had had a significant effect on supply chains still recovering from the pandemic. As a result, it said it would be wrong to impose new administrative requirements on businesses, who could pass on the costs to consumers. Instead, the remaining controls will come into [...]

The post Government slammed over “wavering approach” to imported goods as checks are delayed until end of 2023 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Freight rates are expected to remain high for most of this year due to a potent mixture of reduced cross channel capacity, business uncertainty, soaring fuel prices and the war in Ukraine, according to analysts. Data from Transport Intelligence, Upply and the IRU showed that the road freight rates index for Europe hit an all-time high in Q1 2022, thanks to rising cost pressures, supply and capacity disruptions, regulatory change and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The group said there appeared [...]

The post Road freight rates hit record high with further spikes likely appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government and Logistics UK will launch a new initiative to attract more people into the haulage industry as part of continued efforts to plug a skills gap. Speaking to MPs on the Transport Select Committee, secretary of state Grant Shapps (pictured) said the work it had done to help resolve the driver shortage had already “massively assisted” the sector. The transport secretary was responding to a question about what the government’s current estimate was of the total number of [...]

The post Logistics UK works with government on major new scheme to bring new blood to sector appeared first on Motor Transport.

Teletrac Navman has launched Smart Dashcams, which relies on AI video technology to deliver tailored training programmes aimed at improving behaviours behind the wheel. The system reviews drive time through forward and driver-facing cameras and can learn ‘on the job’, allowing training to be continually fine-tuned as driver skills increase. Teletrac said the driver can access Smart Dashcams via a mobile app where actions and coaching events can be viewed. It can also notify drivers of potentially dangerous situations, for [...]

The post New AI video technology lets drivers learn ‘on the job’ appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV drivers who left the industry are being urged to return and sign up to government-funded refresher courses and earn more money than they did before. Business consortium Driver Academy Group said the skills bootcamps were “a game-changer” and finally illustrated that lorry drivers were essential and vital workers. The group, made up of Logistics UK, Manpower and training firm HGVC, said hundreds of spaces were available on the refresher training courses, but they were filling up fast. Interest in [...]

The post New skills bootcamps will lead to higher wages, returning HGV drivers told appeared first on Motor Transport.

Bridgestone and Webfleet Solutions will be showcasing latest developments in energy efficient tyres and connected fleet technology at the ITT Hub next month. Attendees will be able to learn more about the Ecopia H002, a fuel-efficient tyre engineered to help long haul fleet operations cut their operational costs and CO2 emissions. Webfleet will also be promoting its award-winning EV fleet management features, with experts on hand to explain how the software can enable and support the move to electric vehicles. [...]

The post Bridgestone and Webfleet Solutions to feature at ITT Hub appeared first on Motor Transport.

The industry has given a mixed reaction to new data suggesting nearly a third of the UK’s hauliers are at risk of imminent collapse due to record diesel prices and rapidly rising driver wages. Accountants Price Bailey checked the credit risk scores of all 96,102 businesses in the UK haulage sector and found nearly a third - 28,557 - have a Delphi Risk score in the Maximum Risk category. This makes it difficult for them to access funding without personal [...]

The post Nearly a third of hauliers facing imminent collapse, new report warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Electric truck manufacturer Volta Trucks has revealed the forthcoming 7.5- and 12-tonne Volta Zero variants - the second product family in its full-electric vehicle range. Designed by Warick-based partner Astheimer, working with Volta Trucks’ own engineering teams, the new vehicles look similar to the larger 16-tonne vehicle and are currently undergoing extensive engineering development and testing ahead of customer evaluation later this year. The pilot fleet of vehicles is expected to be launched for customer trials in 2024, with series [...]

The post Volta Trucks unveils 7.5-tonne and 12-tonne variants appeared first on Motor Transport.

Lloyd Morgan Group has become an official delivery partner of the government-backed National Highways programme Driving for Better Business. The scheme, which is free to access, aims to improve the levels of compliance for all those who drive or ride for work by sharing good practice and demonstrating the significant business benefits of managing work-related road risk more effectively. Lloyd Morgan Group’s MD Pete Thompson said: "I’m delighted that we have become a delivery partner with Driving for Better Business [...]

The post Lloyd Morgan Group becomes official delivery partner of Driving for Better Business appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Logistics Skills Network (LSN) has called on the DVSA to take urgent action to address a shortfall in HGV driving tests that the LSN said is now creating a bottleneck blocking attempts by industry and government to address the HGV driver shortage. The LSN has put together a three-point plan (see below) to address the shortage of DVSA examiners and is asking the DfT to change its policy and liberalise testing to allow training providers as well as transport [...]

The post DVSA still causing “bottleneck” in HGV driver testing appeared first on Motor Transport.

Do you need more time to submit your entries to the Motor Transport Awards this year? To allow entrants to spend an extra week perfecting their entries the deadline has been extended to April 29. For more than 35 years, the Motor Transport Awards have been seen as a benchmark for excellence among UK road transport fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers and innovators. Despite the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic passing in 2021, it was still an incredibly tough year for [...]

The post Entry deadline for Motor Transport Awards extended appeared first on Motor Transport.

Global real estate developer and investor Trammell Crow has chosen Milton Keynes as the location for its first industrial logistics facility in Europe as it announces plans to launch similar schemes across the UK. Construction company Glencar has been chosen by Trammell Crow to build three grade A logistics units totalling 338,000sq ft, on the site of the former Arcadia Distribution Centre in Milton Keynes. The three units will range from 221,500sq ft, 71,000sq ft and 45,500sq ft and will [...]

The post Real estate giant chooses Glencar to build first of a nationwide network of major logistics sites appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Port of Hull is set to expand its logistics facilities after Associated British Ports (ABP) was granted outline planning consent by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to develop more than 4.25 million sq ft of industrial, manufacturing and logistics space. The 453-acre site includes 212 acres located within the East Hull Humber Freeport Zone, which offers significant tax incentives for inward investors. Simon Bird, regional director for the Humber, said: “This is one of the premier development sites in [...]

The post ABP receives outline planning consent for major development at Hull Port appeared first on Motor Transport.

MAN is restarting truck production this week after supply chain issues, triggered by the war in Ukraine, saw its plants in Germany and Poland grind to a halt in March. However, the manufacturer warned that whilst the war continues and the situation remains “volatile”, production levels at its plants will only be increased “step by step” with "significantly fewer variants". The six-week shut down to its plants in Munich and Krakow, which began on 14 March, was a result of [...]

The post MAN restarts limited truck production as Ukraine war continues to disrupt supply chain appeared first on Motor Transport.

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Road Freight and Logistics has launched a new inquiry into the impact of fuel duty on road freight and logistics businesses. The group is calling for industry responses, as rising fuel prices and inflation continue to place huge financial pressures on UK businesses. The month-long inquiry will examine current fuel duty rates and whether further measures may be required to support the road freight sector, such as the introduction of an essential user [...]

The post MPs call on hauliers to respond to inquiry into fuel duty appeared first on Motor Transport.

DHL Inside Track has landed a multi-year contract with Ford Fleet Management, to manage the preparation and transport of leased vehicles. Ford Fleet Management, a joint venture between Ford and ALD Automotive, specialises in offering medium to long-term flexible leasing and fleet management for light commercial and passenger vehicles. DHL Inside Track, which specialises in sales support to automotive OEM's, will be responsible for managing bookings, vehicle preparation and delivering to the customer, as well as collection and “in-life” refurbishment. [...]

The post DHL Inside Track wins deal with Ford Fleet management appeared first on Motor Transport.

Goodyear is showcasing its Total Mobility one-stop shop offer across 13 countries this year as it embarks on a tour and launches a digital campaign. The tour will follow the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship calendar, as well as visiting a number of key cities and trade events. Its Total Mobility offer provides an end-to-end solution designed to support fleets to lower their carbon footprint, be more competitive and boost efficiencies in their daily operations. Smart tools include automated [...]

The post Goodyear launches Total Mobility tour and digital campaign appeared first on Motor Transport.

Electric and hydrogen truck maker Tevva is launching a campaign to recruit up to 1,000 people following the opening of its Nuneaton base. A recruitment event will take place at the Horiba Mira Technology Park on April 28 where it will be looking to attract software engineers, hardware engineers, cybersecurity experts and people working in battery and hydrogen technologies. The majority of the roles will be at its Tilbury headquarters. Earlier this month, the company said it was growing “at [...]

The post Tevva to hold recruitment day as hunt begins for 1,000 new staff appeared first on Motor Transport.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, patron of transport charity Transaid, will address delegates at this year’s Microlise Transport Conference. The conference takes place on May 18 at the Coventry Building Society Arena. Microlise has been a corporate supporter of Transaid since 2015 with its team participating in a range of activities in support of the organisation’s projects in the developing world. Hosted this year by Spencer Kelly, the respected technology journalist and broadcaster, and lead presenter of the BBC [...]

The post Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to attend Microlise Transport Conference 2022 appeared first on Motor Transport.

For the road freight sector to substantially decarbonise its activities over the next 15 to 20 years, the industry will need to go through a dramatic period of change. That is why Motor Transport in association with Scana (GB) and The Algorithm People has assembled the Decarbonisation P0wer Players, a listing of the most influential people leading moves to cut carbon emissions in the vehicles operated, new operational models or the infrastructure and supply chain required to manage the fleet. The work [...]

The post Decarbonisation Power Players will drive the transport industry towards net zero appeared first on Motor Transport.

New research has shown that the parcel and delivery sector are in desperate need of business development managers. Talent finding company Bis Henderson Recruitment highlighted a 160% increase in demand for BDMs in 2021 compared to 2019 - and an increase in average salaries for the role of 31%. The parcel industry has grown rapidly in the last few years, driven largely by the impact of the pandemic. Statista’s figures show that annual volumes of packages shipped in the UK [...]

The post Recruiters reveal the industry role you can ‘walk into and demand the salary you want’ appeared first on Motor Transport.

CMA CGM Group's move to buy nearly 100% of the capital of automotive specialist Gefco and integrate it into its subsidiary, Ceva Logistics, is the latest in a flurry of recent industry takeover activity. MT asks a range of of the sector's leading players whether we can expect more of the same in the months ahead. Bob Terris, chairman, Meachers Almost every day I receive information on companies for sale. So many people are looking to get out, either because [...]

The post Vox Pop: Is the industry ripe for increased consolidation? appeared first on Motor Transport.

The M6 toll road (pictured) has been voted Britain’s most enjoyable motorway in a poll of HGV drivers. Despite facing criticism since it first opened in 2003, 32% of truckers said the privately owned motorway was their favourite route. The almost-permanently congested M25 came second with 31% of the vote and the M40 was third. Surprisingly, the survey also found that 95% believe the UK is home to the best motorways in the world. Researchers from Roadchef asked HGV drivers [...]

The post Head-banger truckers vote for favourite road and best song to drive to appeared first on Motor Transport.

TIP Trailer Services has struck a deal with Ryder to acquire the trailer leasing and maintenance business, which will save 133 jobs. Agreed for an undisclosed sum, the deal means TIP will add around 3,550 trailers and a workshop in Lichfield, as well as two ‘parking locations’ in Shepshed and Manchester, to its portfolio. Michael Furnival, TIP vice president for the UK and Ireland region, said both companies would now work on the fleet integration to manage a smooth transition [...]

The post TIP swoops for Ryder’s trailer leasing and maintenance business appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operation Brock will remain in place until at least after the May Day bank holiday on 2 May, in order to manage the flow of traffic to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel. The Kent Resilience Forum (KRF) said the decision to keep the traffic control strategy running for the time being had not been taken lightly, but with cross channel capacity still down by a third following the suspension of P&O services it would enable it to safely manage [...]

The post Operation Brock to run until at least 2 May as Dover traffic disruption continues appeared first on Motor Transport.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, patron of transport charity Transaid, will address delegates at this year’s Microlise Transport Conference. The conference takes place on the 18th of May at the Coventry Building Society Arena. Microlise has been a corporate supporter of Transaid since 2015 with its team participating in a range of activities in support of the organisation’s projects in the developing world. Hosted this year by Spencer Kelly, the respected technology journalist and broadcaster, and lead presenter of [...]

The post Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Attend The Microlise Transport Conference 2022 appeared first on Motor Transport.

National Highways paid out £865,254 in compensation for the damage caused to vehicles by poor road surfaces on its network, between January 2018 and October 2021. Research shows that drivers submitted more than 145,000 compensation claims between January 2018 and October 2021, with local and national road authorities paying out in 37,366 cases - 25.7% of all claims. Each claimant received, on average, £347 each for repairs. Researchers found that, in comparison, the cost of filling a pothole is estimated [...]

The post National Highways forks out over £865,000 in compensation for vehicle damage caused by poor road surfaces appeared first on Motor Transport.

Panattoni has fully let its 1.7 million sq ft logistics park in Northampton after signing lease agreements for the last two units with iForce and Hotel Chocolat. E-fulfilment provider iForce has signed a 10-year lease for 376,915sq ft and Hotel Chocolat a 10-year lease for 429,107 sq ft. The new lettings follow a deal with 4PX Express last November, which signed a 15-year lease for a 250,000sq ft facility, and the success of the first phase of 625,000sq ft, which [...]

The post Hotel Chocolat and iForce join Eddie Stobart Logistics at Panattoni Park Northampton appeared first on Motor Transport.

British electric and hydrogen truck manufacturer Tevva Trucks has chosen Loop Energy’s fuel cell system for Tevva’s 7.5-tonne electric truck platform. The Canadian firm won the contract to supply its T505 (50 kW) Series fuel cell system after tests by Tevva Trucks showed the system outperformed those of rival bidders on fuel efficiency, reliability and its ability to seamlessly integrate with Tevva’s fuel cell range extender for its 7.5-tonne truck platform. The truck is designed to provide operators with up [...]

The post Loop Energy to supply hydrogen fuel cell for 7.5-tonne Tevva Truck appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government’s Supply Chain Taskforce, launched in the midst of the driver shortage crisis in September last year, was dumped just days later in a reshuffle and may never have convened, the Labour Party has revealed. Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, slammed the move this week, accusing the government of creating a “fake taskforce” and having no real plan to solve the problem. The task force, headed by former Tesco chief Sir David Lewis, was created as the lorry driver [...]

The post Government accused of launching “fake” Supply Chain Taskforce after ditching it just weeks after launch appeared first on Motor Transport.

First Hydrogen has appointed Stephen Pendrey as chief engineer of its automotive division’s vehicle programme. Pendrey is tasked with managing First Hydrogen’s program engineering and development activities as well as supporting the company to meet its ambitions to mass manufacture fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The company said Pendrey’s appointment to its UK-based technical team “signifies further growth and commitment to delivering the brand’s first hydrogen-fuelled, zero-emissions utility vehicles”. Pendrey brings 35 years of experience in product development for the [...]

The post First Hydrogen appoints chief engineer as it prepares to roll out zero emission van appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has set out changes to the Highway Code to ensure the first self-driving cars, vans, trucks and buses are introduced safely on the UK’s roads. The changes come as the government prepares to approve the launch of the first self-driving vehicles on Britain’s roads, possibly as early as this year. The new rules, announced today (19 April), follow a public consultation which found the majority of respondents were broadly supportive of the proposed changes. The changes clarify drivers’ [...]

The post Highway Code to change in preparation for the launch of self-driving vehicles on UK roads appeared first on Motor Transport.

St. Modwen Logistics has invested £65.5m to develop more than 450,000sq ft of warehouse space in the past 18 months, with a further 480,000sq ft currently under development in Stoke-on-Trent. The company is developing more than 480,000sq ft of warehouse space at St. Modwen Park Stoke Central, which is part of the wider 300-acre Festival Park development, with two pre-let deals already agreed for the development with personal computer e-commerce business, Overclockers UK, and National Veterinary Services (NVS). Read more [...]

The post St. Modwen Logistics invests £65.5m in Stoke-on-Trent warehousing appeared first on Motor Transport.

Volvo dealer Crossroads Truck and Bus is launching a campaign to support food banks across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The campaign, dubbed Hauliers against Hunger, will see eight Crossroads Truck and Bus depots support local food banks, in partnership with foodbank charity The Trussell Trust. In addition two demonstrator trucks, decorated in Hauliers Against Hunger campaign livery, will be available to customers to help raise the profile of the campaign across the UK. The Crossroads depots providing support are located in [...]

The post Crossroads Truck and Bus launches Hauliers against Hunger campaign with foodbank charity Trussell Trust appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hitting the country’s net zero goals is at risk unless the government fully embraces hydrogen as a solution for fuel, infrastructure and vehicles, according to the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (HFCA). The trade association said it believed a combined hydrogen and electrification strategy was required for the UK to hit its goals, but policies that address hydrogen use as a fuel alone won’t work. It said this strategy must address infrastructure, hydrogen-powered vehicles and a range of energy [...]

The post Net zero policy must fully embrace hydrogen, government warned appeared first on Motor Transport.

The rise in online shopping and courier activities over the last decade means there are now 11 local authority districts in the UK where transport and storage has become the dominant industry, official figures reveal. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in 2011, transport and storage was not the main industry in any part of the UK. However, by 2021 there were almost a dozen regions where it had become dominant and included Rugby in Warwickshire, South Holland in [...]

The post Transport and storage now the main industry in 11 UK districts appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV drivers have once again voted Glasgow as the best city to deliver to in the UK, citing good traffic conditions, access and layout. The Scottish city topped the list, with more than one in 10 drivers (12%) polled giving it their vote. Manchester came second with 9% of the vote and Liverpool moved into third above London, with 6%. HGV driver Bryan Greig in Dundee, said: “Everything is pretty near a major road in Glasgow. “Wherever you’re going, you're [...]

The post Revealed – the best UK city to deliver to…. appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport Minister Baroness Vere (pictured) will discuss the importance of the road freight industry for driving economic growth at a transport conference in May. She is expected to talk about the need for a stronger and more diverse talent pipeline in the sector and will also refer to government funding and other support for companies that aim to address the current driver shortage when she makes her virtual presentation at the Microlise Transport Conference. Read more Sponsored: Microlise Transport Conference [...]

The post Baroness Vere to speak at Microlise Transport Conference appeared first on Motor Transport.

A lightweight steering system for HGVs, which reduces tyre wear and carbon emissions, is one of 51 projects awarded government funding to help create a more efficient transport system. The transport research and innovation grant (TRIG) programme has given grants worth £1.95m to entrepreneurs and innovators who are pioneering new ways of making transport safer and more efficient. The DfT said the winners were selected based on four key themes: future of freight, maritime decarbonisation, covid recovery/transport resilience and an [...]

The post Government grants funding to 51 new transport projects appeared first on Motor Transport.

An extra 11,000 safe and secure parking spaces across the UK are needed to plug a security shortfall for HGV drivers, according to the RHA. The figure came as the government announced it was spending £20m on improving roadside facilities, as part of attempts to boost driver welfare and tackle the driver shortage. The cash will go specifically towards improving security, showers and eating facilities as well as exploring increasing parking spaces for lorry drivers. Roadside service operators are being [...]

The post Government pledges £20m to improve roadside facilities for HGV drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport and logistics is leading the field in terms of the number of new business premises opening up – thanks to the boom in postal and courier services. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the sector has expanded far faster than any other industry, including retail, manufacturing and construction. The number of premises for transport firms has grown by 88% since 2011 – and 21% since 2019, despite the chaos caused by Brexit and Covid. Parcelhero [...]

The post Online surge fuels rapid rollout of new postal and courier depots appeared first on Motor Transport.

Home secretary Priti Patel is looking into the issue of safe parking for lorry drivers after meeting with Freightlink Europe director Lesley O’Brien. O’Brien was one of a number of Yorkshire business leaders asked to meet with Patel during the Home Secretary’s visit to the area last week. O’Brien spoke to Patel about the dangers lorry drivers regularly face from organised crime gangs who steal cargo and fuels from trucks and the significant economic losses the thefts incur. O’Brien asked [...]

The post Priti Patel to consider action on cargo and fuel thefts appeared first on Motor Transport.

Two think tanks are urging the government to speed up incentives for fuel suppliers wanting to offer hydrogen as a low carbon alternative. The UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (UK HFCA) and HyCymru (Cymdeithas Fasnach Hydrogen Cymru / Wales Hydrogen Trade Association), which represent hundreds of hydrogen businesses and stakeholders, said there were serious concerns that delays could impact the companies wanting to invest in hydrogen as a low carbon fuel. The organisations, which met recently to review the [...]

The post Government must speed up hydrogen production to help transport industry transition away from fossil fuels, industry warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

British electric and hydrogen truck manufacturer Tevva has opened a base at Mira Technology Park in Nuneaton so that it can easily access Horiba Mira’s specialist engineering and testing capabilities including extensive crash testing, climatic, dynamics and aerodynamic resources. Tevva said that having an office on the campus will also give it more opportunity to partner with engineers and researchers working at the cutting edge of electric vehicle technology and attract more talent to its rapidly growing team. Tevva’s trucks [...]

The post Tevva revs up plans as it opens new base at Mira Technology Park in Nuneaton appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fiera Real Estate UK and Opus Land have acquired a 50-acre site in Bristol and are working up a proposal for a mid-box logistics park. The site, known as Opus 49, is the final phase of the six million sq ft Avonmouth’s Central Park, which is home to a number of blue chip clients, including Amazon, Lidl and The Range. Opus 49 is adjacent to the A403 and is less than one mile from the newly created J1 of the [...]

The post Work begins on new 50-acre Opus 49 logistics park in Bristol appeared first on Motor Transport.

Close Brothers Asset Finance has appointed Tony Sapsford (pictured) to the role of sales director for the transport division’s national accounts and ESG team. Under his leadership the team will focus on rapidly developing the ESG sector to meet growing demand for sustainable transport, the company said this week. Sapsford brings three decades of transport asset finance experience. He joins Close brothers from Deutsche Leasing UK, where he was head of the market unit for construction, transport and logistics. Sapsford [...]

The post Close Brothers Asset Finance appoints sales director to boost presence in sustainable transport sector appeared first on Motor Transport.

Construction firm Glencar has landed a contract to construct 155,000sq ft of industrial and distribution space in Croydon for occupation in early 2023. The Grade A development, which will offer a range of units from 5,000 to 85,000sq ft, is being marketed as Segro Park Croydon and is situated on a seven-acre site at Redhouse Road, just off the A236 with good connections to London via the M25. The site is being developed to Grade EPC A specification and will [...]

The post Glencar to build major distribution space in Croydon appeared first on Motor Transport.

First Hydrogen has identified four industrial sites in the UK where it plans to build its first tranche of hydrogen refuelling stations. The sites are located in the Greater Liverpool, Greater Manchester, London and Thames Estuary areas, in prime industrial areas and will serve light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles. The production facilities will be available to customers of First Hydrogen’s Automotive division. The four sites are expected to qualify for UK government financial support, for both the development and [...]

The post First Hydrogen secures land to develop four refuelling centres in UK appeared first on Motor Transport.

National Highways has misplaced over one hundred key devices, including hard drives, laptops and iron key storage devices, according to official figures. A Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request, analysed by litigation practice Griffin Law, found that over the last five years National Highways has lost a total of 125 electronic devices, a number of which contained confidential data. It found that, during the reporting period, eight laptops were lost or stolen, as well as a desktop computer, 69 mobile [...]

The post Cyber security warning after National Highways loses 125 electronic devices appeared first on Motor Transport.

Government must act decisively and create a permanent parking site for handling queues of lorries when there is disruption crossing the channel, the RHA said this week. The call comes as this weekend saw lorries continuing to queue on the M20 and A20 into Dover, as disruption to traffic crossing the Channel threatened to enter its third week. Hauliers have faced severe delays getting in and out of Dover since 1 April, as a result of the suspension of P&O [...]

The post RHA calls for permanent parking site to tackle lorry queues into Dover appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transaid is encouraging more women in Uganda to take up jobs as HGV drivers as the sub-Saharan African country battles with its own driver shortage problems. The international development charity said Uganda is experiencing a huge rise in demand for professional drivers, which is expected to increase over the coming years and it believes getting more women behind the wheel will benefit haulage companies. Transaid said it was currently reviewing course training materials to ensure they were appropriate to female [...]

The post Transaid champions roles for female HGV drivers in Uganda appeared first on Motor Transport.

The average haulage and courier price-per-mile (ppm) has increased by 12% - the 14th straight year-on-year rise, according to new industry index data. The TEG Road Transport Price Index showed that the average ppm for freight transport vehicles increased from 100.6 points to 112.2 points between March 2021 and March 2022. The Transport Exchange Group (TEG) said its figures reflected increases brought about by Brexit, driver shortages and high fuel prices, as well as the knock-on effects of the Ukraine [...]

The post Average price-per-mile for freight vehicles up by 12% appeared first on Motor Transport.

HM Revenue and Customs said problems with its goods vehicle movement service (GVMS) in Dover had been fixed and it expected business as usual from Monday (11 April). This week, HGVs were forced to queue on the M20 and A20 into the port town as disruption to traffic crossing the channel sparked a week of delays. Problems began when P&O Ferries services were suspended after it sacked over 800 workers. This was compounded by two DFDS ferries being taken out [...]

The post Dover border delays resolved, HMRC claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

Property developer Prologis has been granted planning permission for a new logistics facility on its industrial estate in Minworth, West Midlands. The plans include the demolition of an obsolete unit on the Prologis Park Midpoint and the construction of a 163,000sq ft building rated BREEAM ‘excellent’ and net zero carbon in construction which will deliver logistics space to the West Midlands market. Originally built for the supermarket giant Asda in 2016, Prologis said the existing facility was too bespoke for [...]

The post Prologis to build West Midlands logistics hub appeared first on Motor Transport.

Route optimisation experts The Algorithm People (TAP) said its Fleet as a Service (FaaS) platform would address the problem of operators managing mixed fleets as they decarbonise. It said FaaS, which includes its existing optimisation algorithms, as well as a geocoding service, telematics, predictive maintenance and vehicle charging technology, gives users a complete view of the status, location and availability of their vehicles in real time. TAP chief executive Colin Ferguson said it was working with partners to integrate services [...]

The post The Algorithm People (TAP) cures net-zero fuel headache for mixed fleet operators appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tougher measures aimed at drug-drivers are proposed in a consultation document launched by DfT today, including the requirement to undertake rehabilitation courses before being allowed back behind the wheel. Whilst drink-drive related deaths and injuries have plummeted, falling by 88% between 1979 and 2015, drug-related driving offences are on the rise, according to government figures, with over 12,000 convicted in 2019 and 44% committed by re-offenders. DfT research show that 713 people were seriously injured in drug-driving collisions in 2020, [...]

The post Government plans crackdown on drug drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Britain’s logistics and delivery companies will need to adapt to a growing UK manufacturing base, as Brexit, Covid-19 and the Ukranian War stretch supply chains to breaking point. The warning comes from parcel delivery specialist ParcelHero which argues that manufacturers, retailers and their delivery and logistics partners need to plan for a growing trend to return manufacturing to the UK – known as reshoring - as global supply chains break apart. The company points to the recent Office of National [...]

The post Logistics firms must prepare for return of manufacturing to UK as supply chain issues continue appeared first on Motor Transport.

A crackdown on organised immigration crime saw Cheshire Police check 148 lorries at service stations across the county over the past three months. The search resulted in one Iranian stowaway being found and £11,200 in outstanding civil penalty fines recovered from hauliers who had previously been found to have migrants hiding in their vehicles. Another 96 fixed penalties were issued for various offences, totalling £18,750 in fines. Cheshire Constabulary said the operation, which involved police, Border Force, Immigration, the Cheshire [...]

The post Cheshire Police stop 148 lorries in operation tackling organised immigration crime appeared first on Motor Transport.

Lorries are continuing to queue on the M20 and A20 into Dover today (5 April) as disruption to traffic crossing the Channel enters its fifth day. Hauliers have faced severe delays getting in and out of Dover since last week, as a result of a lack of ferries at the port, increased holiday traffic and problems with the HMRC’s Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS). The disruption began on Friday evening and began to build over the weekend with videos emerging [...]

The post Delays to lorries headed to Dover continue as roads minister pledges to review traffic management into port appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Esso West London oil facility near Heathrow Airport has been blockaded for the second time in four days by Extinction Rebellion environmental campaigners. The protestors launched the action at 4am this morning (4 April) and have blocked the entrance to the site with two bamboo tripods, from which protestors are suspended. Other campaigners are lying in the road locked onto oil drums and each other. Extinction Rebellion say they will continue to block oil facilities across the UK until [...]

The post Extinction Rebellion warns it is “here to stay” as it blockades Esso West London terminal appeared first on Motor Transport.

XPO Logistics has been awarded a multi-year contract by Tesco to manage the retailer’s chilled distribution to stores in the North West. Under the new agreement XPO will be responsible for temperature-controlled transport and will use XPO’s fleet and drivers, who will work from Tesco's distribution centre in Widnes, Cheshire. The two companies will also collaborate on developing a plan for a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative transport solution that supports Tesco's goal of becoming net-zero carbon by 2050. Read more XPO [...]

The post XPO wins chilled distribution deal with Tesco appeared first on Motor Transport.

Volta Trucks has opened its first service hub in Paris, with plans to roll out a London hub “soon”, the manufacturer announced this week. The Paris Volta Trucks Hub is located on a 5,000sq m plot at Bonneuil-sur-Marne, to the south-east of Paris, close to the logistics centres of Rungis, Orly, Créteil and Bonneuil where the first Volta Trucks’ customers already have distribution warehouses. The hub aims to serve more than 600 trucks per year. The hub, which will operate [...]

The post Volta Trucks sets sights on London after launching its first service hub in Paris appeared first on Motor Transport.

The team from Hexagon Leasing will be on hand to chat to visitors at this summer’s Road Transport Expo about their contract hire, vehicle sales and fleet management needs. Hexagon supplies and manages a number of high-profile transport and distribution fleets in the UK  and provides ultra-high specification vehicles and services including compliance, customer support and 24/7 vehicle breakdown cover. Steve Johnson, head of sales at Hexagon Leasing, said: “We are really excited to be at the inaugural Road Transport Expo, which will [...]

The post Talk to Hexagon leasing at Road Transport Expo about your contract hire and fleet management needs appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government must not delay the introduction of post-Brexit border checks on imports due to be implemented from July, according to Logistics UK. However, its call to stick to the planned timetable came as the Cold Chain Federation (CCF) told MPs the additional checks would be “a nightmare” for small businesses and that a collapse in trade for these firms couldn’t be ruled out. Sarah Laouadi, Logistics UK head of international policy, said businesses would be unsettled by further delays. [...]

The post ‘Nightmare’ new border checks will make import trade impossible for small businesses, Cold Chain Federation warns ministers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Supply chains may need to “reset” to a localised model in order to respond to new market forces and major challenges like global warming, decarbonisation and conflicts, according to a logistics expert. Professor Alan McKinnon said globalisation could be going into reverse and that logistics and global trade networks may need to move to a new economic order. McKinnon said: “The feeling is that the economic order that has been in place for the last 30 years, which has underpinned [...]

The post New global challenges set to reshape our supply chain, logistics sector warned appeared first on Motor Transport.

A second coroner has written to National Highways expressing concerns over the risk of deaths on smart motorways, a year after two fatalities prompted a coroner to demand action was taken. The latest report to prevent future deaths has been produced by Berkshire’s assistant coroner Ian Wade QC after motorcyclist Zoltan Torok died on a smart motorway stretch of the M4 last year. In the report, Wade said Torok had become distracted by the presence of two motorists who had [...]

The post Smart motorways in question again after third death in two years appeared first on Motor Transport.

Industrial developer Panattoni has its eyes trained on a 417,000 sq ft logistics facility in South Yorkshire, which it aims to provide to occupiers from summer 2023. Panattoni Doncaster 420 is based at GatewayEast, Doncaster Sheffield Airport and is located within six minutes of rail facilities and around 50 miles from both Immingham and Hull ports. The site already has outline planning consent and the developer expects to start construction later this year. As well as targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and [...]

The post New spec warehouse development will be well connected to South Yorkshire appeared first on Motor Transport.

Brittany Ferries has launched the UK’s first LNG-powered ferry which sailed from Portsmouth this week on its inaugural voyage to Spain. Brittany Ferries’ Salamanca (pictured) left the port on Sunday 27th with more than 600 passengers and freight vehicles destined for Bilbao.The ship will make two round trips to Bilbao each week and make a weekly return-voyage to Cherbourg in France. The vessel is Brittany Ferries' first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered vessel. The ferry operator plans to have four [...]

The post Brittany Ferries launches LNG-powered ferry from Portsmouth to Spain and France appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fleet management and leasing firm ARI Fleet UK has rebranded and is now known as Holman. The move sees the entire global organisation, including retail dealerships, vehicle up-fitters and fleet management come together under the new name. Nick Caller, Holman UK MD, said: “The automotive sector is going to experience more changes in the next 20 years than it has in the past century, with the advent of increased electrification, innovative funding methods and technological leaps in areas such as [...]

The post ARI Fleet UK rebrands to Holman appeared first on Motor Transport.

As P&O Ferries boss Peter Hebblethwaite was given “one last opportunity” by the government today (28 March) to do a U-turn on the sacking of 800 crew, P&O sailings from Dover to Calais remain severely curtailed. There are no P&O ferries sailings from Dover to Calais until Thursday, with those between Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in Scotland still suspended. The Hull-Rotterdam service is also cancelled but Liverpool-Dublin sailings were going ahead today. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said [...]

The post Ferries remain suspended as P&O given “one last opportunity” to do U-turn on sackings appeared first on Motor Transport.

International transport charity Transaid is calling for cyclists to saddle up for a 157-mile fundraising ride across northern England in the autumn. The 40 riders will depart Whitehaven on 16 September and pedal to South Shields over two full days of cycling for Hadrian’s Cycleway. The money raised will be used to support Transaid’s life-saving work in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is focused on improving road safety and increasing access to healthcare for rural communities. Florence Bearman, Transaid’s head of [...]

The post Transaid calls for entries to Hadrian’s Cycleway autumn fundraiser appeared first on Motor Transport.

Renault Trucks said it had seen “significant business growth” in 2021, with a 25% increase in vehicles invoiced, despite disruption to supplies. In its heavy and medium duty ranges there was a 27% increase in deliveries to 33,422 and there was an increase of more than a fifth among its light commercial vehicles, to 18,038. The brand confirmed strong results across Europe, with a 41% increase in invoicing in the market for vehicles over six tonnes. In France, Renault Trucks [...]

The post Renault Trucks reports upturn in sales appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has unveiled plans to ramp up the number of EV chargepoints in the UK to 300,000 by 2030 – almost five times the number of fuel pumps available today. Freight groups welcomed the announcement and said it would help make transitioning to zero emission fleets a reality for logistics businesses. Backed by £1.6bn, the department for transport claimed its plan would make charging vehicles easier and cheaper than refuelling with petrol or diesel. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said [...]

The post Government pledges £1.6bn to new smart charging action plan appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Russian invasion and war in Ukraine have brought some fairly swift economic retaliation from the UK, USA and EU. Russian banks and companies have been sanctioned, as has a long list of individuals. The list of companies includes the Russian truck maker Kamaz, which is now subject to a list of EU sanctions. Kamaz was involved in a joint venture with Daimler Trucks, but the company has now discontinued all business operations in Russia. “I would stress that our [...]

The post Truck manufacturers suspend trade with Russia as sanctions bite appeared first on Motor Transport.

Remanufactured electronics firm Alliance Transport Technologies has attracted a multi-million pound investment for a new R&D centre that aims to help fleet managers transition to EV and hydrogen. Alliance has focused its expertise on hybrid electric battery technology in the last few years, enabling CV operators to expand the life of hybrid batteries and delivering cost savings and reducing their carbon footprint. The recent investment from investor BGF means it can open a new centre in Coventry and keep up [...]

The post Alliance Transport Technologies given funding for new R&D centre appeared first on Motor Transport.

Dozens of HGVs stopped on the M25 were for mobile phone offences ahead of changes to the law to make the use of handheld devices at the wheel as socially unacceptable as drink driving. A week-long operation by Surrey Police patrolling the orbital motorway involved pulling over 115 goods vehicles, 43 of which were HGVs. From today (24 March), drivers are breaking the law if they use handheld mobile phones behind the wheel for any use, including to take photos [...]

The post Police in mobile phone clampdown ahead of new zero-tolerance law appeared first on Motor Transport.

The UK’s nine metro mayors are failing to adequately support the UK’s transition to electric vehicles, according to new research from Novuna Vehicle Solutions. A review of the budgets of the nine directly-elected leaders of the major city regions, including Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester) found very little evidence of relevant expenditure on infrastructure over the course of 2020/21, despite their access to an annual £250m capital investment fund, specifically earmarked to finance transport projects in each region. Novuna said the [...]

The post Metro mayors restrict funding for EV charging points despite spike in demand appeared first on Motor Transport.

Local roads in England and Wales are resurfaced on average once every 70 years and the repair backlog has now topped £12bn, according to a survey highlighting the scale of the problem faced by highways engineers. The Asphalt Industry Alliance’s (AIA) annual local authority road maintenance (ALARM) survey found councils would have needed an extra £1bn in 2021 just to reach their own target road conditions, before even thinking about tackling the backlog of repairs. It also found almost one [...]

The post UK road repair bill hits £12bn appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement of a 5 pence per litre cut in fuel duty in his Spring Statement, which equates to a £2,000 per year saving on running a typical HGV. However, it said that while it will ease pressure on businesses facing soaring costs, the government could have gone further and announced an essential user rebate similar to those used in other countries for hauliers and coach operators. “Cutting fuel duty is a common sense move [...]

The post Cut in fuel duty welcome but misses an opportunity, RHA claims appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport businesses looking to electrify their depot-based vehicle fleet are being offered a new site planning tool developed by UK Power Networks. In what the company describes as a first for the industry, the tool aims to transform the process of going electric for businesses across the UK. Optimise Prime is an innovation project helping find practical solutions to overcome the challenges fleet operators face when going electric. Royal Mail, Centrica and Uber now have over 6,000 electric vehicles (EVs) [...]

The post UK Power Networks unveils site planning tool to help businesses go electric appeared first on Motor Transport.

Industrial developer St Modwen Logistics has helped Welsh business Genpower scale up into a 100,000 sq ft warehouse, which it said would boost economic growth in the region. The ‘big-box’ warehouse at St Modwen Park Newport will enable Genpower – an entrant in the Wales Fast Growth 50 list last year – to continue offering its e-fulfilment service, which includes picking, packing and distributing Hyundai Power Products across the UK. The new warehouse attracted a BREEAM Very Good and EPC [...]

The post St Modwen Logistics in warehousing deal with Genpower appeared first on Motor Transport.

P&O’s decision to sack 800 workers and suspend services across the Dover Straits without warning has highlighted how vulnerable the UK's major supply route across the Channel is to being cut off by “boardrooms on the other side of the world”, RHA warned this week. The call comes as P&O revealed that plans to relaunch one of its three ferries docked at Dover today (22 March) are on hold, amid reports the company is struggling to find enough agency workers [...]

The post Dover Straits crossing cannot be left to the whims of overseas boardrooms, warns RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operation Brock has been re-introduced today (22 March) after moveable barriers were deployed on the M20 in Kent last night, according to National Highways. The traffic control strategy saw the M20 closed between Juntion 8 and 9 last night to allow for 14,000 concrete blocks and 8,000 cones to be put in place. The section was reopened at 6am today. National Highways said Operation Brock has been reintroduced as a precaution, due to reduced ferry capacity at the Port of [...]

The post Operation Brock deployed to avert freight delays as P&O ferry crisis continues appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers are being warned to be on their guard against increasing incidences of fuel theft around the UK, as fuel prices rise. Police forces across the country are raising the alarm on a spate of fuel thefts, including one recently reported by Derbyshire Police in which a teenager and a man were apprehended in a lay-by with equipment in their boot of their car used to steal fuel from lorries. Nottinghamshire Police have also been on the alert to rising [...]

The post Fuel thefts on the rise as prices spike, police warn appeared first on Motor Transport.

The number of goods vehicle drivers found breaking laws regarding mobile phone use at the wheel, speeding and not wearing a seatbelt during a week-long operation in Norfolk was described as “shocking” by police. Officers once again took to roads in the east of England in an unmarked HGV earlier this month to focus on offences committed by lorry drivers. The tractor unit provides an ideal vantage point for the police to look directly into lorry cabs, with supporting officers [...]

The post Norfolk police operation reveals “shocking” level of driver offences appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK has had more than 50 offers of help from transport firms keen to distribute aid donations to Ukraine. But with storage capacity under increasing strain, companies with available warehousing space are being urged to come forward. The call comes as Moody Logistics opened its warehouse facilities to Newcastle’s Polish Centre to help it cope with a flood of donations. Pall-Ex is also coordinating the collection of aid at its central hub in Leicestershire, where it will then be [...]

The post Urgent plea for storage as more than 50 transport firms sign up to help Ukraine appeared first on Motor Transport.

Ford is set to launch a new generation of all-electric vans by 2024. The iconic Transit range will include four new electric models – the all-new Transit Custom 1-tonne van and Tourneo Custom multi-purpose vehicle in 2023, and the smaller, next generation Transit Courier van and Tourneo Courier multi-purpose vehicle in 2024. The E-Transit (pictured) offers 198kW – the equivalent of 265hp – for the top-rated version, while the less powerful 135kW model still provides 181hp. Range is claimed to [...]

The post Ford on the charge with new EVs appeared first on Motor Transport.

A group of road transport figures led by former MAN CEO Des Evans OBE is appealing for support from the industry to ship humanitarian relief aid from a holding centre in Swindon to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. "I have managed to obtain very generous support from Glyn Davies [Culina non-executive director], Charlie Faulk of Goldstar and Steve Miller of Dawsongroup who have donated funds that will enable the first load of aid to be collected and delivered to Poland on [...]

The post Urgent help needed to ship relief aid to Ukrainian refugees appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fuel cell vehicle designer First Hydrogen said its first two demonstrator vehicles will begin testing in June. The company has sourced two demonstrator vehicles from MAN and they are currently located at partner AVL Powertrain UK’s premises. It said one of the fuel-cell EVs has been stripped down and used for detailed design and packaging assessments to accommodate Ballard’s hydrogen fuel cell, the balance of plant systems, and the hydrogen fuel tanks. The second vehicle is for the control systems [...]

The post First Hydrogen to trial MAN demonstrator vehicles from June appeared first on Motor Transport.

Sustainable tyre firm ENSO said it had achieved ‘B Corporation Certification’ status – a designation awarded to organisations striving to make a sustainable and ethical impact. EVs typically wear tyres 20-50% faster than petrol and diesel models, due to their higher weight and torque and they need replacements more often, resulting in increased waste. ENSO is aiming to develop next-generation, energy efficient, low-emission tyres and its London-based team is designing sustainable tyres specifically for EVs to increase their range and [...]

The post Tyre firm first to be given B-Corp status appeared first on Motor Transport.

International hauliers have hit out at P&O Ferries amid an ongoing struggle to find alternative freight routes following the operator's decision to axe 800 staff and suspend services. The move has heavily impacted cross-Channel freight and has serious implications for Great Britain – Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland shipments during a period of already intense disruption. “We don’t use P&O directly but this is going to result in capacity issues on routes which are already facing challenges, adding further volatility to [...]

The post Operators slam P&O Ferries amid battle to re-route freight appeared first on Motor Transport.

Waste management firm CSG is warning operators not to unwittingly break the law by continuing to store and use red diesel after 1 April. The company said businesses must ensure surplus rebated fuel is collected and disposed of correctly, to avoid heavy fines from next month. Jen Cartmell, treatment director at CSG, said: “The government guidance is clear - anyone with surplus stock must ensure it is sold to a registered dealer, given to someone still allowed to use it, [...]

The post ‘You’re acting illegally if you ignore red diesel rule change,’ waste firm warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Europe’s largest road transport conference is set to return when the Microlise Transport Conference takes place on May 18 at the Coventry Building Society Arena. Free-to-attend to those working in road transport, the event agenda includes industry leaders and subject-matter experts with delegates also having access to four workshop programmes covering Skills, Innovation, Technology and Compliance. Hosted this year by Spencer Kelly, the respected technology journalist and broadcaster, and lead presenter of the BBC technology programme Click, the agenda will [...]

The post Sponsored: Microlise Transport Conference set to feature impressive speaker line-up appeared first on Motor Transport.

Body-worn cameras have been issued to National Highways traffic staff following hundreds of incidents of assault and abuse against them, including an HGV driver using his vehicle to intimidate an officer. It said there had been 214 recorded incidents between January 2020 and 2021, despite the impact of Covid lockdowns on traffic numbers. A national rollout of the cameras began last year at a cost of £500,000 and was completed in February. National Highways said studies showed the presence of [...]

The post National Highways issues body cameras after abuse of staff appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV contract hire firm BNP Paribas Rental Solutions has been sold to Novuna Vehicle Solutions. In a statement, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions UK said the sale of the assets and contracts of its subsidiary would not impact upon its core business nor would there be an impact on the rental solutions business in France, where the company is a leading market player. BNP Paribas Rental Solutions operates a contract hire fleet of more than 1,300 vehicles across the UK and [...]

The post Another contract hire firm exits UK market as BNP Paribas sells up appeared first on Motor Transport.

Thousands of hauliers are being urged by the RHA to write to their MPs to ask for urgent action on fuel prices ahead of the March Budget. The call comes as the industry faces record high diesel prices with crude oil trading at its highest level for 14 years last week and prices rising to around $140 a barrel. The RHA estimates this price hike could see pump prices hit up to 178 pence per litre, within the next two [...]

The post Industry rachets up pressure on government to take urgent action on fuel prices appeared first on Motor Transport.

Pallet networks are demanding that the government pause VAT on diesel for hauliers in light of soaring prices and the knock-on effect on the cost of goods. The Association of Pallet Networks (APN) said fuel represented a third of total haulage costs and operators will be unable to sustain their work without passing the rising costs on to customers, which then risks spiralling inflation. The APN has written to the chancellor of the exchequer and the transport secretary to request [...]

The post APN demands freeze on fuel duty and VAT exemption appeared first on Motor Transport.

A decision on whether or not to continue the current extension of cabotage rules has been put out to public consultation. In October 2021, the government said it was allowing until the end of April unlimited cabotage movements of HGVs for up to 14 days after arriving in the UK on a laden international journey. The decision was taken to alleviate significant pressures in the supply chain associated with the driver shortage. The Department for Transport (DfT) said it was [...]

The post Cabotage decision goes to public consultation appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tax specialists are warning hauliers and driver agencies to check they are compliant with IR35 tax rules on hiring limited company drivers, which were introduced in April last year. The warning comes as HMRC prepares to end the 12-month “soft landing” period next month and start investigating hauliers and agencies that may have transgressed the new IR35 regulations. Under the changes, large and medium-sized haulage companies – with net turnover of above £10m, or 50 or more staff – can [...]

The post Hauliers using limited company drivers could face heavy fines, tax specialists warn appeared first on Motor Transport.

A group of road transport figures led by former MAN CEO Des Evans OBE is appealing for support from the industry to ship humanitarian relief aid from a holding centre in Swindon to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. "I have managed to obtain very generous support from Glyn Davies [Culina non-executive director], Charlie Faulk of Goldstar and Steve Miller of Dawsongroup who have donated funds that will enable the first load of aid to be collected and delivered to Poland on [...]

The post Urgent help needed to ship relief aid to Ukranian refugees appeared first on Motor Transport.

Diesel prices could go as high as £3 a litre and could even be rationed as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to energy experts. The warning was made at a Treasury Select Committee hearing this week into the impact of economic sanctions on Russia on energy prices and the UK economy. Leading economics and energy analysts warned that diesel prices could double from current prices. According to the latest figures from data firm Experian Catalist, the average [...]

The post Diesel rationing an option as prices set to rise to £3 a litre, energy experts warn MPs appeared first on Motor Transport.

P&O Ferries has sacked 800 staff with immediate effect after making a £100m loss year-on-year. The ferry operator apologised for the significant disruption across its services as it made the drastic move, saying there was no future for the business without the job cuts. The RMT union said it was “deeply disturbed” by the development, as well as speculation that P&O was planning to replace the workers with foreign labour. It urged its members to stay on board vessels after [...]

The post International hauliers facing days of disruption as P&O Ferries cuts 800 jobs and suspends services appeared first on Motor Transport.

Crunch talks between road gritters in Carmarthenshire and the local authority will take place on Monday (17 January) in an attempt to end strike action over pay and conditions. Council gritters first downed tools on 5 January after the GMB union claimed the council had failed to adhere to a collective agreement signed back in 2020. The union also accused Carmarthenshire Council of playing “Russian roulette” with residents’ safety over a gritter strike. It said it was pleased the council [...]

The post Welsh council playing “Russian roulette” with safety amid pay row with gritter drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tiger Trailers’ finance director Ed Booth (pictured) has been promoted to MD of the wider group, with immediate effect. Booth’s promotion sees Tiger Trailers’ founders, John and Steven Cartwright, move from their positions as joint MDs to sit as executive directors on the board alongside fellow founder David Williams. The Winsford-based company, which employs 250 staff and manufactures articulated trailers, said the three founders will continue to work with Booth on a variety of strategic opportunities. Read more Tiger Trailers [...]

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Logistics UK has condemned the 24% hike in penalty charges on London’s red routes - which comes into force today (17 January) - as a tax on hauliers. Transport for London (TfL) is increasing the fine from £130 to £160. The penalty charge will be reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days and increased by 50% if paid after 28 days. Natalie Chapman, Logistics UK policy chief for the South, said: “Logistics businesses need road and kerbside access to [...]

The post London’s red route penalty hike penalises hauliers, warns Logistics UK appeared first on Motor Transport.

There are promising signs that the worst of the driver shortage crisis could be over as 2022 gets underway, according to Pallet-Track chief executive Caroline Green (pictured). However Green warned that underlying causes for the shortage such as the unpopularity of the Driver CPC among older drivers and poor facilities have yet to be addressed. Green said: “We had a frenzy of activity and shortages around September, caused by people still being on holiday, the ‘pingdemic’ and ongoing issues caused [...]

The post Signs driver shortage is waning, but fundamentals still need to be addressed, warns Pallet-Track chief appeared first on Motor Transport.

Lorries bringing goods into Britain from Europe are being held up at the border following the introduction of new customs regulations this month, with hauliers warning the situation is set to get worse as trade picks up after the January lull. The new Brexit border regulations, which kicked in on 1 January this year, require goods coming into Great Britain from the EU to be subject to full customs controls. All goods presented to customs and their export declarations must [...]

The post Hauliers warn of worse to come as new border rules trigger queues of trucks in Calais appeared first on Motor Transport.

Krone said its parts supply service was continuing to expand amid peak sales levels of its trailers. Trailer parts for the UK and Ireland can be ordered using its online catalogue, either by part number or by scanning the QR code stamped on the trailer’s registration plate. Krone said all consignments from Leeds are being dispatched on a next day basis and, subject to availability, will arrive between one and three working days. Read more Krone trailer sales on the [...]

The post Krone extends trailer parts service appeared first on Motor Transport.

Crunch talks between road gritters in Carmarthenshire and the local authority will take place on Monday (17 January) in an attempt to end strike action over pay and conditions. Council gritters first downed tools on 5 January after the GMB union claimed the council had failed to adhere to a collective agreement signed back in 2020. The union also accused Carmarthenshire Council of playing “Russian roulette” with residents’ safety over a gritter strike. It said it was pleased the council [...]

The post Welsh council playing “Russian roulette” with safety amid pay row with road gritters appeared first on Motor Transport.

The HGV driver training ‘bootcamps’ launched last year with £34m of government funding have got off to flying start, according to Mark Currie, CEO of the National Logistics Academy (NLA) and Manchester training firm Mantra Learning. The target for the 200 16-week bootcamps is to bring around 11,000 HGV drivers into the industry, both by attracting existing licence holders back into driving and funding training and testing for new entrants. The scheme runs until November 2022 and is being delivered [...]

The post ‘Unbelievable’ response from public as HGV driving bootcamps get off to a flying start appeared first on Motor Transport.

Bite-sized eLearning is seen by operators as a more valuable method of delivering Driver CPC than classroom-based courses, according to a survey of 1,000 haulage firms. Training provider Road Skills Online (RSO) said the results revealed an “unequivocal response” from the industry to the government that the current professional development regime needed overhauling. The survey, which remains open until 31 January, was launched at the end of last year as part of RSO’s response to the consultation into the future [...]

The post Driver CPC best delivered through eLearning not classrooms, say hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Half a million square feet of logistics space across three units is being developed this year on an industrial estate in Peterborough, in what has been described as one of the UK’s fastest growing regions. The 21-acre site at the Peterborough South logistics park is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 and will be delivered to net-zero carbon in construction and target an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating. Featuring a sustainable infrastructure with more than 40,000 sq ft of [...]

The post New 21-acre Peterborough logistics park to be completed by end of year appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV driver candidates are now being offered virtual reality (VR) technology to help them pass their test and get behind the wheel quicker. Training firm Easy As HGV said it was improving driver training with the use of “fully immersive VR simulations” in order for prospective drivers to learn and practice skills such as walkaround pre-drive safety checks, coupling and uncoupling and carrying out reversing manoeuvres. It said the simulations had been designed to make it easier to learn core [...]

The post Training firm offers virtual reality simulations to help HGV drivers pass tests more quickly appeared first on Motor Transport.

Sales of Krone trailers increased by 17.8% last year and its owner said he was optimistic revenues would rise again in 2022. Despite the pandemic, its commercial vehicles division reported sales of 1.37m euros in the year ending 31 July 2021, an increase from 1.17m euros the previous year. During the period, Krone Group’s CV division launched the modular swap liner, accommodating two swap bodies, as well as new chassis models for containers, the cool liner, the new-generation swap body [...]

The post Krone trailer sales on the rise appeared first on Motor Transport.

A lorry driver who was looking at dating websites on his phone whilst driving at 58mph has been jailed for eight years and ten months for causing a crash that killed three people. HGV driver Ion Nicu Onut was driving a 3.5 tonne Scania LGV, carrying fertilizer, when he "ploughed" into queueing traffic near junction 61 of the A1(M) at Bowburn, County Durham, on July 15, last year. David Daglish, 57, and Elaine Sullivan, 59, of Seaham, and Paul Mullen, [...]

The post HGV driver jailed for eight years after causing fatal crash while trawling dating sites appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has welcomed an announcement from the DfT that the rollout of new all-lane smart motorways is to be suspended. New schemes will be paused until there is a full five years of safety data on current projects. The news came alongside a £900m government pledge for additional safety measures for existing all-lane running motorways (ALR). An investment of £390m in 150 additional emergency areas for drivers will also be put in place, creating a 50% increase in places [...]

The post RHA welcomes pause to smart motorway rollout appeared first on Motor Transport.

Inflation and Brexit sent December road freight prices soaring, new research from Transport Exchange Group (TEG) shows. The hike in road freight prices comes as operators brace for further supply chain disruption in 2022 as Covid-19 continues to cause economic strain and new EU custom checks kick in on imports. The latest TEG Road Transport Price Index shows that the average price-per-mile for haulage and courier vehicles increased by 5.3 points between November and December. After a 3.3-point drop between [...]

The post Road freight prices soar as impact of inflation and Brexit kicks in, new research reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Microlise is calling for nominations as it launches its search for this year’s best truck driver. The Microlise driver of the Year event, now in its eighth year, shortlists drivers by analysing a year’s worth of Microlise telematics performance data to reveal the most talented short, medium, and long-distance drivers. The process sees the Microlise Data Science team initially analyse more than 240,000 anonymous drivers’ telematics records from 2021. Data will be anonymised and analysed, with company, contract and driver [...]

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Soaring natural gas prices have helped push the cost of AdBlue up to record highs, with producers unable to predict when the value will stabilise. The cost of the additive began to increase last year, in parallel with wholesale gas price rises, as countries emerged from their Covid lockdowns. Demand soon led to production sites in Europe closing down, limiting the supply chain and compounding the cost of urea. In September, AdBlue producer Yara announced it was increasing the price [...]

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The University of Westminster, as part of the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight is seeking your views on how road freight operators are decarbonising their fleets, as well as the challenges resulting from Brexit and Coronavirus. Whether you are considering fleet replacement, investment in new vehicle technologies or changes to logistics operations to bring about greater fuel efficiency in the road freight industry, the research team want to hear your views. This questionnaire takes approximately 25-30 minutes to complete. Many [...]

The post Have your say on the best route to net zero appeared first on Motor Transport.

Two builders’ merchant companies have been disqualified from holding HGV licences by the West Midlands Traffic Commissioner and their licences revoked. M K Builders' Merchants, which held a restricted operator’s licence for two trucks, came before traffic commissioner Nick Denton after concerns were raised about its maintenance record following an investigation by DVSA in 2019, which found that the company had a very poor maintenance record and almost no understanding of the rules. The investigation found that the company had [...]

The post Two Midlands builders’ merchants see operating HGV licences revoked appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is failing to monitor how many foreign lorries are entering and leaving the UK under revised cabotage rules introduced in October last year, Unite has discovered. The union warned this week that failure to monitor foreign lorries under the revised rules, which were introduced to help tackle the UK’s HGV driver shortage crisis, risks road users’ safety. The government changed the cabotage rules at the end of October, allowing foreign HGV drivers to work unlimited hours in the [...]

The post Government playing ‘Russian roulette’ with road user safety, warns Unite appeared first on Motor Transport.

Maritime Transport has launched a new intermodal service from Birmingham to the Port of Felixstowe to provide additional capacity in response to the UK’s HGV driver shortage. The service, hauled by GB Railfreight, connects Maritime’s Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal (BIFT) with the Port of Felixstowe. Maritime, which operates a fleet over 2,000 trucks and 3,000 trailers, saw its third train to run from the Port of Felixstowe to BIFT set off today on (10 January). The new service has increased [...]

The post Maritime Transport offers new intermodal service between Birmingham and Felixstowe Port appeared first on Motor Transport.

Gasrec has opened a remote monitoring centre in Daventry to react to changes at its network of biomethane refuelling stations and resolve any potential safety issues. The company said a team of control centre operators will analyse real-time data and monitor gas levels to prevent shortages and detect equipment faults and then respond accordingly. Tony Robinson, Gasrec chief technical officer, said: “The safety and resilience of our operations is at the heart of everything we do. Read more BP buys [...]

The post Gasrec launches biomethane monitoring centre appeared first on Motor Transport.

The traffic commissioners have made operators aware of the help and advice available about new customs rules that came into effect at the beginning of January. Anyone moving goods between Great Britain and the European Union (EU) through a goods vehicle movement service (GVMS) border location must now be registered to use the service. Current arrangements will continue to apply to goods moving from the island of Ireland to GB, while discussions on the Northern Ireland Protocol are continuing. The [...]

The post Traffic commissioners offer guidance on new customs rules appeared first on Motor Transport.

Non-GB registered HGV drivers speeding on the A55 were stopped and handed on-the-spot fines after the public raised concerns about their behaviour. Police officers from the North Wales roads policing unit carried out an operation shortly before Christmas to crack down on lorry drivers travelling through roadworks at Tal y Bont near Bangor. A total of 13 drivers in foreign-registered vehicles were stopped and issued with graduated fixed penalty notices – and they were made to cough up at the [...]

The post Foreign HGV drivers caught in police speed trap after complaints from public appeared first on Motor Transport.

Automotive developer REE has begun trials of its all-electric P7 modular platform for delivery fleets. Supporting up to four tonnes (8,800lbs) max payload, REE said the P7 platform has capacity for 35% more packages than comparable CVs. It added that electric and autonomous vehicles built on top of the platform will be able to achieve driving ranges of up to 370 miles with speeds of up to 80 mph and supporting gross vehicle weight ratings of up to 7.5-tonnes (16,500lbs). [...]

The post REE trials electric P7 platform for delivery fleets appeared first on Motor Transport.

Plans to roll out Manchester’s clean air zone (CAZ) are in doubt after the city’s mayor put out a statement expressing concerns about the impact on businesses. The CAZ was due to be launched on 30 May, with an ambition to bring down nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels on local roads to within legal limits. But mayor Andy Burnham said that while the government had provided £120m of financial support, it had so far failed to agree to a request for [...]

The post Manchester CAZ plans under a cloud amid fears over impact on local businesses appeared first on Motor Transport.

Union Unite has slammed government plans to further extend the relaxation of regulations governing how long lorry drivers can work. The union is calling on the government to scrap the new proposal and tackle the long hours, irregular shifts and lack of parking facilities which it argues have created the lorry driver shortage. The call follows the government’s launch of a snap consultation exercise on extending the relaxation on the driving regulations from this Sunday (9 January) for a further [...]

The post Government plan to extend relaxation of drivers’ hours “dangerous”, warns Unite appeared first on Motor Transport.

David Wells, chief executive of Logistics UK, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list, for services to transport and logistics during the Brexit transition. Wells, 56, who has led Logistics UK for the past six years, has been recognised for “raising the voice and impact of the sector at a critical time to help make Brexit work and keeping Britain’s economy moving during the Brexit transition and the Covid-19 pandemic,” according to the association. Wells said: [...]

The post Logistics UK boss awarded OBE in New Year’s Honours appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transaid has released nine places on its Cycle Malawi 2022 challenge and is calling on riders from across the transport and logistics industry to register their interest quickly to avoid disappointment. Those signing up for the ride, which will take place from 1-9 October, will join a group of 36 cyclists already confirmed for the event, which had to be postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The epic two-wheel adventure will take cyclists across Malawi,which is commonly known [...]

The post Transaid offers another nine places on its Cycle Malawi challenge appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport for the North (TfN) is calling for comment on its newly launched Freight & Logistics Strategy for the North of England. The draft proposal, which is out for public consultation until 31 January 2022, highlights the key role the sector plays in the North of England, with more than 33% of goods entering through the region’s ports and 25% of British freight starting or ending in the North. The document addresses current challenges, such as a shortage of warehouse [...]

The post Transport for the North sets out freight and logistics strategy for the region appeared first on Motor Transport.

Road Skills Online has urged operators to fill in its new questionnaire, suggesting ways to improve the Driver CPC. The government announced a major review of the qualifcation last November after industry leaders claimed its bureaucratic nature was acting as a barrier to both new and returning drivers. "I have been invited by Department of Transport and DVSA to contribute to the DfT's review of Driver CPC," explained Road Skills Online MD David Somers. Read more Hauliers give qualified thumbs [...]

The post DfT invites industry to suggest ways Driver CPC can be improved appeared first on Motor Transport.

Scania is launching Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) with GVWs of up to 36 tonnes. At the heart of both trucks is a newly developed GE281 Gearbox Electric machine, which incorporates a pair of electric motors and a 6-speed gearbox, and works in tandem with either its 7- or 9-litre diesel engines. It offers 230kW continuously, 290kW as peak power output, and has a maximum torque of 2,100Nm. The PHEV has an installed battery capacity [...]

The post Scania launches hybrid trucks with electric ranges of up to 60km appeared first on Motor Transport.

New research has found there were 7,200 UK vacancies for HGV drivers and 4,831 openings for supply chain managers at the end of September 2021. Packaging retailer RAJA UK analysed the distribution and logistics roles that are most in demand, highlighting average salary, number of vacancies and job requirements. It found an HGV driver earns an average salary of £32k and a supply chain manager £42.5k. Starting pay for drivers is usually £19,000 and can go up to £36,000 for [...]

The post Revealed: the industry jobs with the most vacancies and best salaries appeared first on Motor Transport.

Analysis of more than 3,000 business drivers using RED Driver Risk Management’s Wellbeing Profiler has shown they suffer from more anxiety, stress, tiredness and mental health issues between November and February than at any other time of the year. RED said ‘Seasonally Affective Driver Disorder’ (SADD) affects all types of business drivers, whether they are in a company car, delivery van or HGV, and results in the potential for higher risk and lower productivity. The combination of dark mornings and [...]

The post Thousands of business drivers suffering from Seasonally Affective Driver Disorder (SADD), report reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Nearly one in five transport and logistics workers are considering quitting their jobs due to excessive stress, according to a mental health study. It showed half of all workers in the industry have suffered excessive stress in the last 12 months, 17% are considering leaving their jobs and 10% have already quit. This is double the number of retail employees that have left their jobs and more than those in healthcare. The study also found that more than one in [...]

The post Pressure of the job putting off logistics staff appeared first on Motor Transport.

UK commercial vehicle production decreased to 7,940 units in November, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The 7.8% decline is the weakest November performance since 2017 and reflects the challenges faced by the wider industry, with the global shortage of semiconductors - itself a by-product of the pandemic - continuing to hamper production. November’s decline was driven by a 16.4% fall in the number of CVs built for export, whilst the domestic [...]

The post UK commercial vehicle production back on the slide appeared first on Motor Transport.

UK operators are set to benefit after logistics platform provider CH Robinson pledged to invest $1bn (£744.4m) in global technology to remove supply chain inefficiencies. The company is working with more than 1,000 international data specialists and said it aims to help shape the future of the UK logistics ecosystem. Its British customer-base includes global brands as well as some of the biggest industry and manufacturing firms. “Our commitment to invest such a staggering sum will put CH Robinson at [...]

The post CH Robinson pledges to shape future of UK supply chain with “staggering” new investment appeared first on Motor Transport.

Scottish Mercedes-Benz Trucks dealership Western Commercial has rejected industry claims that it has terminated its truck service agreement. The rumours have been circulating since it announced in June that it was to halt HGV sales at the end of the year. However, the company confirmed to MT this week that aftersales would continue as usual at its four sites in Bellshill, Glasgow, Broxburn and Dundee. Read more Major Mercedes-Benz Trucks dealer to halt HGV sales It admitted that industry speculation [...]

The post Major Mercedes Benz Trucks dealer denies claims it is set to terminate truck service agreement appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV drivers hoping to avoid congested roads over the festive period should give the A34 in Hampshire a miss between the A33 and M3/A272, which has the highest average delays in the UK, according to research by HGV recruitment and training specialists Driver Hire. The study, which has analysed data from the Office of National Statistics, shows that this particular stretch of road recorded a delay of 70.675 seconds per car per mile on average by the end of the [...]

The post New study reveals the most congested roads to avoid this Christmas appeared first on Motor Transport.

Online retailers and couriers are experiencing a 17% surge in late gift deliveries as the Omicron surge drove shoppers from the High Street last weekend, according to ParcelHero’s head of consumer research David Jinks. Pointing to research by retail analyst Springboard, which revealed a 25% plummet in the number of visitors to the High Street on Sunday (19 December), compared to the last Sunday before Christmas in 2019, Jinks said: “It’s heartbreaking. Things had been looking so rosy for town [...]

The post Omicron drives last minute avalanche of Christmas deliveries, ParcelHero reports appeared first on Motor Transport.

The UK Warehouse Association (UKWA) warned this week that workers are struggling to meet peak season demand in the face of surging Covid infections. SAGE member Professor John Edmunds warned that, taking into account unreported cases, there could have been around 400,000 Omicron infections in the UK by last weekend, with that number set to double every two days. As the infection rate continues to soar, UKWA chief executive Clare Bottle said warehouse workers are facing a barrage of additional [...]

The post Omicron surge poses yet another challenge to “exhausted” warehouse workers, warns UKWA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Police patrolling the roads in Nottinghamshire caught thieves red-handed after pulling into a layby and finding lorry trailers with their curtains slashed. Four men aged between 19 and 24 were arrested after their car was searched and items including gloves, an angle grinder and a metal wrench were recovered. Officers said they entered the layby off the southbound carriageway of the A1 just before the exit for the A620 after midnight on 14 December. They spotted three HGVs parked up [...]

The post Police foil thieves as they slash trailer curtains in A1 layby appeared first on Motor Transport.

Yusen Logistics has taken a 10-year lease from commercial property specialist Onward Holdings for a refurbished warehouse at the Cross Green Industrial Estate in Leeds. Part of the Mitsubishi Group, Yusen is expanding in the UK to meet demand from the rapidly growing e-commerce sector. It will be using the warehouse space for vehicle and other spare parts distribution, as well as potentially providing a 3PL service for other East Asian companies based in the UK. The upgraded facility, located [...]

The post Yusen Logistics snaps up Leeds warehouse from Onward Holdings appeared first on Motor Transport.

Europa Worldwide Group chief executive Andrew Baxter (pictured), who terminated his company’s membership of the RHA in October after slamming its handling of the petrol pump crisis and Brexit, has welcomed the departure of RHA chief executive Richard Burnett. Speaking to MT, Baxter said he hoped that Burnett’s departure last week would end what he described as “a period at the RHA where instead of working constructively with government to shape government policy there was a tendency to jump to [...]

The post Europa Worldwide boss calls for new direction at RHA following resignation of CEO appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government scheme to bring 4,700 HGV drivers over on a temporary three month visa has attracted approximately 200 drivers in total and is now closed to new applicants, according to Home Office migration minister Kevin Foster. Appearing before the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee last week Foster told MPs that “around 200 visas” had been issued. The committee grilled the minister on the effectiveness of the emergency visa scheme in plugging gaps in the farming [...]

The post “Half-baked” plan to bring in 4,700 HGV drivers from Europe sees take-up stall at around 200, minister reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

CNG Fuels has opened the first renewable biomethane HGV refuelling station near Glasgow, able to service 450 lorries a day. The renewable gas supplier said the station would cut 70,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year and puts Inverness and Aberdeen within range of its low carbon refuelling network for the first time. It is located at the Eurocentral industrial estate off the M8 near Bellshill and will support both local Scottish fleets as well as brands making low-carbon [...]

The post Natural gas refuelling returns to Scotland with new CNG Fuels biomethane station appeared first on Motor Transport.

Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to remove the fleet autopay discount from the congestion charge will add thousands of pounds a year in costs to some operators and has been slammed by business groups as an additional tax on hauliers. TfL said it was making changes to the congestion charge in order to strike a balance between reducing traffic and congestion and supporting the capital’s economy. As a result, the hours of operation will be reduced during the week to [...]

The post Removal of London congestion charge fleet discount will cost operators ‘thousands of pounds’ appeared first on Motor Transport.

Renault Trucks expects 10% of all its new vehicle sales to be full electric within three years, with the UK leading the take-up in Europe, and exceeding this figure. “In fact, we feel that a quarter of all our sales [in the UK] could be electric by 2025,” said Renault Trucks UK MD Carlos Rodriguez. “The technology is ready. We can decarbonise 50% of road freight today with the vehicles we have, and we have a new battery generation coming [...]

The post A quarter of Renault Trucks sales in UK to be electric by 2025 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Traton, Daimler and Volvo have signed a joint venture agreement to operate a public charging network for battery electric, heavy-duty, long-haul trucks and coaches across Europe. Equally owned, it is scheduled to start operations in 2022, subject to regulatory approval. The three parties are collectively investing €500m (£426m) in the project and will look to install at least 1,700 high-performance green energy charging points on and close to highways, as well as at logistic and destination points, within five years. [...]

The post Traton, Daimler Truck and Volvo sign deal for HGV charging network appeared first on Motor Transport.

Police patrolling the roads in Nottinghamshire caught thieves red-handed after pulling into a layby and finding lorry trailers with their curtains slashed. Four men aged between 19 and 24 were arrested after their car was searched and items including gloves, an angle grinder and a metal wrench were recovered. Officers said they entered the layby off the southbound carriageway of the A1 just before the exit for the A620 after midnight on 14 December. They spotted three HGVs parked up [...]

The post Poilice foil thieves as they slash trailer curtains in A1 layby appeared first on Motor Transport.

Richard Burnett’s decision to resign as RHA chief executive has taken the industry by surprise and been greeted with dismay by many operators. Burnett’s departure, announced this week, follows a tumultuous year which has seen the RHA grapple with Brexit border issues in Northern Ireland, Covid-19 related supply chain problems and the HGV driver shortage crisis. In October this year the RHA was also involved in a very public spat with the government after ministers banned the association from attending [...]

The post Industry questions Richard Burnett’s departure from RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operators answering the latest Motor Transport and Commercial Motor ‘Hot Topic: Sector Insight 2022' survey showed a renewed confidence for the year ahead, with 75% planning to invest in fleet vehicles. The figure is up 12 percentage points on last year’s survey, when operators were in the midst of Covid-19 lockdowns and fluctuating customer volumes. In second place when it came to 2022 investment was staff recruitment and training, with 57% picking this as a key priority, and in third [...]

The post Three-quarters of operators plan to spend on fleet vehicles during 2022, MT reader research reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA has defended its intelligence-led approach to roadside enforcement after statistics were released showing an average truck is inspected once every 88,000 miles. The figures were obtained in a freedom of information request by the Unite union, which has used them as evidence that on-the-spot checks are now “vanishingly rare”. The union said a lorry in the UK could travel the equivalent of three and a half times around the world without expecting to undergo a check. Unite said [...]

The post Average truck runs 88,000 miles between DVSA checks appeared first on Motor Transport.

Maxus has partnered with Stoneacre Motor Group and added another dealership, this time in Chesterfield. From this month, Stoneacre Vanworld will offer dedicated sales, servicing, and aftersales services to Maxus customers throughout the area. Mark Barrett, GM of Harris Maxus, said: We always look for partners with a solid track record, not only in sales and customer service but in aftersales too. “With several reputable brands already under their belt, we know our brand is in good hands with the [...]

The post Stoneacre becomes Maxus dealership for Chesterfield and district appeared first on Motor Transport.

RHA chairman Moreton Cullimore (pictured) has written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps this week to inform him that Richard Burnett has resigned as chief executive in the hope the association can resume direct communications with the minister. Relations between the RHA and Shapps soured in October this year after claims were made in the Mail on Sunday by “a senior government source” that the RHA triggered the petrol pump crisis by leaking remarks made by a BP executive at a [...]

The post RHA offers olive branch to Shapps and mulls “internal restructuring” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Iveco said it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with gas firm Air Liquide to develop hydrogen mobility in Europe. Both partners are expected to investigate and study the roll-out of heavy-duty, fuel-cell electric long-haul trucks, along with the deployment of a network of refuelling stations along the main trans-European transport corridors. In addition, both companies will jointly promote initiatives to encourage hydrogen mobility. Iveco Group designated president, Luca Sra said: “We are committed to the development of a [...]

The post Iveco and Air Liquide join forces to develop hydrogen trucks appeared first on Motor Transport.

Leading operators have hit out at current drivers’ hours rules, branding them overcomplicated and meaningless. The enforcement agency recently published non-compliance data naming more than 1,400 UK companies including Eddie Stobart and Saint Gobain Construction. The data showed offences detected at the roadside and did not include those it found during visits to operator sites or on desk-based assessments. “Systemic and sustained non-compliance and/or incompetence/ignorance must be frowned upon,” said ArrowXL chief executive Charlie Shiels. “But it just gets more [...]

The post “Drivers’ hours bureaucracy is beyond ridiculous,” claims ArrowXL boss appeared first on Motor Transport.

DP World is introducing a range of technology products aimed at simplifying and solving some of the post-Brexit import and export challenges. The border requirements introduced in January 2021 led to confusion on what documentation was required for each journey and how to generate it, which resulted in incorrect paperwork being presented at port check-ins and longer waiting times. With the next set of border requirements, for cargo movements from Europe to the UK, expected to cause more disruption when [...]

The post DP World launches technology products to simplify post-Brexit border process appeared first on Motor Transport.

PD Ports has unveiled its latest investment at Groveport on the River Trent - a £500,000 warehouse facility aimed at boosting trade efficiencies and reducing costs for port customers as part of a long-term plan to continue growing business on the Humber. The 10,000sq ft transit warehouse – an interim storage location for cargo - will improve the turnaround time on vessels carrying weather-sensitive cargo, including fertiliser and steel hollow sections, allowing for temporary, covered quayside storage before transportation to [...]

The post PD Ports unveils quayside warehouse on River Trent appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is to provide £34m to bring around 11,000 HGV drivers into the industry, both by attracting some of the 295,000 existing licence holders back into driving and funding training and testing of new entrants. The 200 16-week ‘Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving’ will be funded by the Department for Education and run by 17 training providers across the UK who have undergone a rigorous assessment process and can show evidence they have links with employers to provide the required [...]

The post Extra £34m funding for Skills Bootcamps aimed to recruit 11,000 new or returning drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

One-in-five operators are now either using alternative fuels already (13%) or plan to do so within the next 12 months, according to the latest research carried out by Motor Transport and sister title Commercial Motor. This is more than twice as many that answered the same question one year ago, showing industry’s growing desire to decarbonise their fleet operations. The ‘Hot Topic: Sector Insight 2022’ report asked readers which fuels they were interested in exploring, with electric and hydrogen topping [...]

The post Operator appetite growing for alternatives to diesel HGVs, latest Motor Transport research shows appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVLA is launching a campaign to warn operators, employers and driver agencies that it is a criminal offence to gain unauthorised access to driver data via the View Driving Licence (VDL) service. The campaign follows concerns raised by an HGV driver that a driver agency had used his National Insurance number to access confidential details about his driving history. The search had revealed that he had a drink driving offence, committed over five years previously, which resulted in the [...]

The post Operators and agencies face prosecution for gaining unauthorised access to driver data, DVLA warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers that have been fined after stowaways were discovered in their trucks could be repaid after the court of appeal found the guidance relied on by Border Force was being used prescriptively. Lord Justice Stuart-Smith also described parts of the prevention code, created by the government and used by hauliers to prevent clandestine entry, as “badly and confusingly drafted” and that questions were now raised about how the civil penalties scheme has been operated. It means companies could demand to [...]

The post Hauliers who were fined for carrying stowaways may be repaid appeared first on Motor Transport.

Richard Burnett (pictured), chief executive of the RHA, has tendered his resignation after seven years in the role. RHA national chairperson Moreton Cullimore said Burnett had transformed the organisation during his tenure and worked tirelessly for its membership and the wider industry. "The RHA’s membership has grown significantly and our profile as an association has increased considerably," he added. "On behalf of the RHA board of directors and all the RHA employees I would like to thank him for everything [...]

The post RHA chief executive Richard Burnett resigns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Loveday Ryder (pictured), chief executive of the DVSA, will address delegates at the Microlise Transport Conference on 18 May 2022, at the Coventry Building Society Arena (formerly the Ricoh Arena) in Coventry. Registration has opened for the free-to-attend event, which will showcase innovations and trends the organisers believe will disrupt the transport and logistics sector over the coming years. In addition to the primary conference agenda, delegates will also have access to four workshop programmes covering skills, compliance, technology and [...]

The post DVSA chief executive is first speaker named ahead of Microlise Transport Conference 2022 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Clipper Logistics was the big winner at the Logistics UK annual awards held in London last night (December 9), winning the Public Services Operator of the Year and Most Innovative Company of the Year categories. Stagefreight retained its title as the Road Freight Operator of the Year while Nicola Foley, assistant general manager at Wincanton, was presented with the Rising Star for 2021 award by guest of honour HRH the Princess Royal. Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK, PD Ports and Menzies Distribution [...]

The post Clipper Logistics takes two trophies at Logistics UK awards appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers could end up before a traffic commissioner at a public inquiry if they’re found to have tampered with the exhaust emissions values on their manufacturer’s plate, the DVSA has warned. The agency said its vehicle standards assessors have picked up on small numbers of HGVs being presented for annual test with some form of tampering carried out to the exhaust emissions data recorded on the vehicle manufacturer’s plate. It said operators had been reported to the traffic commissioner for [...]

The post Hauliers again warned not to tamper with exhaust after treatment systems appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government is to provide £17m to bring around 5,000 HGV drivers into the industry, both by attracting some of the 295,000 existing licence holders back into driving and funding training and testing of new entrants. The ‘Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving’ will be funded by the Department for Education and run by 17 training providers across the UK who have undergone a rigorous assessment process and can show evidence they have links with employers to provide the required work [...]

The post Extra £17m funding for Skills Bootcamps aimed to recruit 11,000 new or returning drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

e-Commerce logistics firm fulfilmentcrowd has met growing demand from SME retailers by opening three sites in the UK and Europe. It said capacity would increase by 48% over the next 12 months and 25 jobs would be created after it opened centres in Yorkshire, France and the Netherlands. The 28,000 sq ft Yorkshire centre is located in Belton and will serve a growing base of Northern-based SME retailers. It said the European centres in Lieusaint, France and Born, Netherlands provide [...]

The post New hubs will meet soaring demand from online retailers, says fulfilmentcrowd appeared first on Motor Transport.

Insurance specialists Humn has officially launched fleet insurance platform Rideshur, promising savings of up to 20% on insurance premiums. Rideshur combines vehicle data with an understanding of environmental factors around the vehicle, such as roads, buildings, areas, time and weather, which it gathers from a variety of data sources to provide real-time understanding of risks at a driver and fleet level. Using this date the platform grades each trip the vehicles makes with a relative risk score. The score shows [...]

The post Rideshur fleet insurance platform launches with promise to cut premiums by 20% appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers are preparing to lobby ministers after their request for greater funding of the Urban Driver Apprenticeship was rejected by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE), despite their warning that the low level of funding will deter operators from offering the apprenticeship and further exacerbate the HGV driver crisis. IFATE, the public body which oversees the development and approval of apprenticeship standards, is insisting on a funding level of £4,500 and has rejected a call from the transport [...]

The post Industry to lobby ministers over inadequate funding for Urban Driver Apprenticeship appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics developer Panattoni has signed a lease agreement with 4PX Express for a 250,000 sq ft facility at Panattoni Park Northampton. The global logistics company has signed a 15-year deal for the unit, which was built speculatively, at the 1.7 million sq ft industrial park. The letting follows the success of the first phase of 625,000 sq ft, which was let to Eddie Stobart Logistics. Panattoni has another 430,000 sq ft unit available to let and is expected to complete [...]

The post Eddie Stobart joined by 4PX Express at Panattoni Park Northampton appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics employers are starting to see the green shoots of recovery, according to a report from Logistics UK, published this week. Its Skills Report 2021 reveals that “significant steps” have been taken to help address the recruitment crisis, with government and industry working together to increase capacity to test new drivers, provide new training schemes and commit to improving HGV driver facilities on the road network. Wage hikes have also helped, with the report noting a “significant” rise in HGV [...]

The post ‘Cautious optimism’ driver shortage is easing, says Logistics UK report appeared first on Motor Transport.

Isuzu Truck UK has strengthened its South West dealer coverage with the appointment of Yeovil-based SMV Commercials as an authorised Isuzu truck repairer. This latest deal is part of a wider expansion drive by the manufacturer which saw it add RH Commercial Vehicles' (RHCV) Newark facility to its truck dealer network in May this year, just eight months after appointing RHVC as its Northampton dealer. SMV Commercials, which was launched in 1981, employs over 40 staff at its 2.5-acre site, [...]

The post Isuzu Truck signs up SMV Commercials in bid to strengthen South West presence appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics training firm 2 Start have taken delivery of a new Iveco S-Way tractor unit and two Schmitz Cargobull trailers to boost their fleet of articulated training vehicles. The company said the purchase is in response to growing demand for HGV training prompted by the driver shortage crisis and new government measures allowing Cat B licence holders to train for a Cat C+E driver licence without the need to complete the rigid Cat C licence training. The company now boasts [...]

The post Flood of new entrants for HGV driver training sees 2 Start expand fleet appeared first on Motor Transport.

Heathline Commercials said its decision to open a £500,000 workshop at the start of the pandemic had paid dividends, after revenues soared by 44%. The increase in business also enabled the commercial vehicle service and repair specialists to expand the workforce from six to 11 and recruit four additional HGV technicians. The Northumberland firm said construction of its 6,000 sq ft facility in Cramlington began in autumn 2019 but freezing conditions pushed the completion date back to the spring of [...]

The post New workshop investment pays off for Heathline Commericals appeared first on Motor Transport.

EO Charging said it had filed a patent that would transform smart charging of EV fleets, by harnessing technology to enable AC chargers to be more widely used. The company said its new ISO 15118-compliant EV chargers and software would “unlock the future integration of commercial EVs into the smart grid and leverage AI and machine learning” to provide a more secure and cost-effective charging solution. Implementation of the ISO standard has predominantly been used by DC charge point operators, [...]

The post EO Charging to trial breakthrough technology for electric fleet operators appeared first on Motor Transport.

BP has acquired a 28.57% stake in Gasrec, expanding the oil giant’s footprint in renewable gas production and distribution in the UK. The deal will see BP supply Gasrec with renewable biomethane produced mainly from organic waste, such as food and dairy manure. Carol Howle, BP executive vice president for trading and shipping, said: “Bio-LNG and bio-CNG play a crucial role in the energy transition and decarbonization of the heavy-freight industry and is another example of how we’re helping decarbonize [...]

The post BP buys stake in Gasrec to increase supply of biofuels to HGV customers appeared first on Motor Transport.

A college in Essex has purchased two Renault HGVs to highlight a career in logistics to students and also provide them with driver training. The branded lorries supplied by RH Commercial Vehicles (RHCV) to South Essex College will now be used by students on HGV apprenticeship programmes, as well as the unemployed or anyone seeking a change in career. The Class 1 and 2 trucks also come with four external cameras and an additional window in the nearside door, allowing [...]

The post South Essex College buys Renault HGVs to train students appeared first on Motor Transport.

Vehicle utilisation for trucks involved in pallet distribution is significantly higher than the national average for artics and sits at 75.4%, according to the Association of Pallet Networks (APN). It said that in light of COP26 and the climate emergency, pallet networks offer hauliers huge savings in vehicle miles, particularly as government figures suggest that the national average for vehicle utilisation is 63%. APN said that based on these utilisation figures alone, members are saving in excess of 150,000 vehicle [...]

The post Pallet networks have fuller trailers, APN data reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

The 2022 Amazon Everywoman in Transport & Logistics awards are now open for entries. Now in their 15th year, the awards celebrate the vital contribution women make to transport and logistics showcasing progression, accomplishments and increasing avenues of opportunity within a traditionally male-dominated industry. There will be two winners per category (Leader and Above and Beyond) as well as one recipient of the Industry Champion, Male Agent of Change, Apprentice of the Year and Woman of the Year Award. In [...]

The post Amazon Everywoman in Transport & Logistics awards now open for entries appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA said it had abandoned plans to introduce one single fully digital maintenance reporting system for Earned recognition (ER) operators, to make the scheme attractive to new entrants. A requirement for ER members to supply fully digital maintenance key performance indicators was originally set for 1 April 2022, which would have meant operators supplying compliance data via a tablet, laptop or smartphone. However, at a recent Woodfines transport conference, the enforcement agency revealed that this deadline had now been [...]

The post DVSA makes Earned Recognition scheme more accessible appeared first on Motor Transport.

Glasgow has been voted the top city for HGV drivers to deliver to after a survey found the people were friendly and the roads were well laid out. Over one in 10 truckers (12%) gave the Scottish city their vote and cited the good traffic conditions and easy-to-find locations. Manchester was voted second best city for hauliers, with London coming third. Liam Wood, an Essex-based HGV driver, said: “I seem to find places easy to find in Glasgow. “It must [...]

The post Glasgow voted best city to deliver to in new driver survey appeared first on Motor Transport.

New laws requiring firms to hold operator licences if they undertake international work with vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes could be the start of a licensing regime for all UK vans, according to transport lawyers. From 21 May 2022, vans with a maximum authorised mass of over 2.5 tonnes and up to 3.5 tonnes that are transporting goods for hire and reward internationally, will be subject to the O-licensing system. Operators will need to be able to show they have [...]

The post Prepare for new rules on international work, OTC warns LGV operators appeared first on Motor Transport.

Freight volumes from the Port of Dublin to Liverpool and Holyhead fell by 19% in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, whilst volumes on routes from Rosslare in south-east Ireland to Pembroke and Fishguard dropped by 30%, according to a report from the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO). The IMDO report also reveals that Northern Irish hauliers are switching from the previously preferred Dublin-Holyhead route, post-Brexit, to Northern Ireland ports “to avoid the new [...]

The post Freight volumes from Ireland to Britain plummet post-Brexit, new report reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

A tired DHL deliver driver is likely to have died in a crash due to falling asleep at the wheel near the end of his shift, Derby Coroner's Court heard. HGV driver Arron Middleton, 31, was nearing the end of his shift  when he drove into the back of another truck, which was in stationary traffic on the A50 in Derbyshire, near Chellaston. The inquest heard that Middleton, who was from Eastwood in Nottingham, was on his way back to the [...]

The post Exhausted DHL delivery driver dies in crash after falling asleeep at wheel appeared first on Motor Transport.

The HSE has has issued a safety alert concerning swing-up stabilisers on lorry loader cranes after a number of fatalities linked to their use. The warning follows an HSE fatal accident investigation into the death of a driver who was struck by lorry crane stabiliser legs that swing up rather than retract. The HSE is also currently investigating a more recent fatality which may have similarities with the first accident. The completed HSE investigation found that the operator was using the [...]

The post HSE issues safety warning for swing-up stabilisers on lorry loader cranes appeared first on Motor Transport.

Fleet service provider Greenhous has acquired Heatons Truck Group, adding four more DAF locations to its business. This latest acquisition sees Greenhous Group increase its portfolio of DAF locations to 19, and follows the acquisition of Adams Morey in 2019 and Kingdon Wessex in 2021. The family-owned firm now has locations across the South West, South Coast, the West Midlands and now the North West, making it one of the largest DAF dealer groups in the UK. Read more Maxus [...]

The post Greenhous boosts DAF dealerships with acquisition of Heatons Truck Group appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA said it was scrapping plans to make Earned Recognition (ER) operators submit fully electronic maintenance KPI returns and would allow them to use their favoured system instead. The enforcement agency had allowed ER operators with multiple licences to report their maintenance key performance indicators for individual sections of the business. In its published ER scheme guide, the DVSA said: “Operators benefiting from this concession will be required to undertake an annual maintenance systems audit. “Failure to have a [...]

The post Earned Recognition operators no longer need to submit digital returns, says DVSA appeared first on Motor Transport.

The fantasy of building a bridge that connects mainland UK with Northern Ireland is laid bare in a report judging the feasibility of the project, which found it would cost £335bn and need bombproof foundations. Released alongside a wider review calling for investment in roads and to better connect the four UK nations, the fixed link report found either a bridge or tunnel was almost beyond what was currently possible with the available technology. As a result, the government admitted [...]

The post New road investment plan will not include £335bn bridge linking UK mainland with Northern Ireland, report reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Eddie Stobart is included in a list of operators the DVSA found was committing drivers’ hours offences during roadside inspections of its vehicles in 2020. The enforcement agency published the non-compliance data as part of road safety week and it includes thousands of companies based in the UK and in other European countries. According to the DVSA, Stobart drivers were stopped twice at the roadside last year in two different traffic areas and found to have been breaching the rules. [...]

The post Eddie Stobart on list of leading operators involved in drivers’ hours offences appeared first on Motor Transport.

The UK’s HGV driver shortage crisis is abating as new and returning drivers boost numbers, but without “urgent and sustained” action to improve driver pay, conditions and parking facilities the industry will continue to see significant churn, a new report from driver agency Driver Require warns this week. The report points to latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which show that almost 30,000 HGV drivers returned to driving in the third quarter of 2021, resulting in a [...]

The post UK driver shortage no longer critical but “significant” churn will continue without better pay and conditions, report warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Asset Alliance Group has appointed Anthony Jones (pictured) to head up a new vendor finance team which will focus on providing competitive contract hire and leasing funding rates to partners, manufacturers, franchise dealers and independent dealers to support their customers. Jones joins the business as head of vendor finance and key accounts and brings 18 years experience as relationship director at Lombard within the Corporate and Sectors team. He also spent three years at NatWest Structured Finance as director of [...]

The post Asset Alliance Group appoints Anthony Jones to lead new vendor finance team appeared first on Motor Transport.

Police are appealing for witnesses after an HGV driver was struck by his own truck on the M62 in the early hours of yesterday morning (24 November). The driver was taken to hospital and is in a critical condition with life changing injuries, according to the police report. Police say they were contacted just before 1:50am after reports that a man had been seriously injured close to junction seven at Rainhill in St Helens. The driver had been struck by [...]

The post Lorry driver in critical condition after being ‘struck by own vehicle’ on M62 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Operators handling goods entering the UK from the continent should not be complacent about the scale of the changes coming into force on 1 January, business groups have told MPs. Concerns are growing that firms may not be prepared for the biometric testing and a deluge of additional paperwork accompanying freight bound for the UK in little over a month’s time. From the start of next year, customs declarations on goods imported from the EU will be required upfront and [...]

The post Business groups sound new warning to MPs over deluge of January customs changes appeared first on Motor Transport.

Unpredictable arrival times from hauliers shifting wine and spirits have led to warnings of shortages of our favourite tipples in the run-up to Christmas. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) said it had written to the transport secretary Grant Shapps demanding he take urgent action over HGV driver shortages and freight disruption to avoid empty shelves. The letter is signed by 48 of the WSTA’s members and the trade group said it had received multiple reports of products taking [...]

The post Shapps warned to take action over driver shortage or face Christmas wine and spirits “delivery chaos” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Vehicle camera and video technology gets the thumbs-up from the operators that are using it receiving an average rating of four out of five. Just how operators are making use of the latest camera technology is highlighted in the latest research report from Motor Transport and sister title Commercial Motor. The Hot Topic: Cameras & Video report 2021 reveals that more than half the operators using vehicle cameras say they have seen an improvement in driver behaviour, while 44% say they have [...]

The post Video and camera technology boosting fleet safety standards, MT reader survey reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK is calling for the government to consider the needs of the logistics industry as it launched its so-called electric vehicle revolution yesterday (22 November). The call comes after the government revealed plans to make it legally binding for electric vehicle charging points to be fitted in new build homes from next year and in all buildings undergoing major renovations. Denise Beedell, Logistics UK public policy manager, welcomed the new regulations but warned that the UK needs “to see [...]

The post Government’s electric vehicle revolution must not forget logistics, industry warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

Concrete frame contractor CGL Group has commissioned its first zero-emission vehicles with an order of four Mercedes-Benz eVito vans and two nine-seater eVito Tourers from Rygor Commercials. The new vehicles are due for delivery before the end of the month and come under a Mercedes-Benz Finance contract hire agreement. They will join a fleet of more than 100 commercial vehicles at the company, which includes diesel Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans that were also sourced from Rygor Commercials. The long-bodied L2 eVito [...]

The post Rygor supplies GCL Group with its first Mercedes-Benz eVito vans appeared first on Motor Transport.

Leyland Trucks’ new DAF LF Electric truck was given the seal of approval from DfT minister Trudy Harrison (pictured right) this week. The company, which has been selected to support the DfT’s efforts to increase the use of battery-electric vehicles in commercial transport fleets across the UK, gave Harrison the opportunity to test drive its new 19-tonne DAF LF Electric distribution truck during her tour of the production facility. The MP also met with staff, including apprentices and technicians who [...]

The post MP gets behind wheel of new DAF LF Electric at Leyland Trucks appeared first on Motor Transport.

Enterprise Holdings has appointed Ryan Johnson (pictured) as MD UK & Ireland as the company ramps up its drive into the logistics sector. Johnson will take over the role from Khaled Shahbo who was recently appointed senior vice president of European operations. Johnson joined the business in 1998 as a management trainee at a branch in Southern California and was appointed assistant vice president of rental for the South-Central California team in 2008. He was later promoted to AVP and [...]

The post Enterprise appoints Ryan Johnson as UK and Ireland MD appeared first on Motor Transport.

New border checks due to launch next year could cause major “permanent” tailbacks on both sides of the Channel, the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee has warned in a letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel. The letter sent this week sets out a stark warning that the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and the Entry/Exit System (EES) will create traffic chaos at ports on both sides of the Channel and into Kent, unless the government [...]

The post New Brexit border checks set to create traffic chaos at Channel ports and beyond, MPs warn appeared first on Motor Transport.

A lorry driver has been fined £267 and awarded three penalty points after concrete blocks strapped to the back of his lorry smashed into a £50,000 Tesla car as the truck rounded a corner. Norwich Magistrates' Court heard that David Terry was driving his lorry on the B1535 at Weston Longville when the load fell off the back of his truck as it rounded a corner, smashing into the Tesla which was being driven by company director Neil Collins, whose [...]

The post Lorry driver fined £267 after concrete blocks fell from his truck and smashed a £50,000 Tesla appeared first on Motor Transport.

The DVSA insisted a list of operators committing drivers’ hours offences that it released during road safety week was correct after an operator told motortransport.co.uk it should never have been included. The enforcement agency published the non-compliance data to show which haulage firms are persistent offenders and it includes thousands of companies based in the UK and in other European countries. More than 1,400 operators that flouted drivers’ hours rules in 2020 are based in the UK and they include [...]

The post Haulier left “baffled” after DVSA names top drivers’ hours offenders appeared first on Motor Transport.

Ryder has overhauled its used commercial vehicle service with new benefits including complimentary DAF vouchers, free delivery and a money-back guarantee. The £350 after-sales support vouchers can be used in full or part payment for DAF parts when work is conducted across DAF’s 155-strong dealer network, with Ryder also providing free delivery and five-day money-back guarantee for its certified or verified used vehicles. Ryder said its 90-point vehicle inspection, including MOT, as well as engine, battery and brake tests would [...]

The post Ryder offers customers new after-sales benefits appeared first on Motor Transport.

Retailers’ last order delivery dates for goods needed in time for Christmas could be overly optimistic, according to ParcelHero, which suggested that safety margins have not been built in. The warning appeared to be backed up by research by business consultants Coupa Software, which found there would be fewer deals this festive season due to lingering supply chain disruptions. ParcelHero said that after an 8.2% reduction in online sales during October, it expected virtual baskets to still be full this [...]

The post Last order Christmas delivery dates “ignore safety margins”, claims Parcelhero appeared first on Motor Transport.

An HGV driver has been found guilty of causing death by careless driving after he collided with a veteran car that had mistakenly been driven on to a motorway. Michael Black was driving his lorry on the M23 near Merstham when it struck the rear of a Knox Model C car, causing both its driver Ronald Carey and his wife Billi to be thrown from the vehicle. Both had travelled from Canada to take part in the annual London to [...]

The post HGV driver who collided with veteran car on motorway found guilty of causing death by careless driving appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tiger Trailers has launched its 'STOP LOOK BE SEEN' school programme. The programme is being promoted on the project’s liveried curtainsider Volvo truck and mascot during Road Safety Week 2021. The launch is part of Tiger Trailer’s three-year donor relationship with the charity Brake which runs Road Safety Week. The programme will deliver road safety messages to Key Stage 2 children at schools in the firm’s home county of Cheshire, emphasising safe behaviour around HGVs and other large vehicles such [...]

The post Tiger Trailers launches ‘STOP LOOK BE SEEN’ programme during Road Safety Week appeared first on Motor Transport.

The most-struck railway bridges in the country have been revealed by Network Rail as it relaunches its “Wise Up, Size Up” campaign this week. The relaunched campaign is urging lorry drivers to check the height of their vehicles and bridges on route before leaving the depot, in the hope of heading off the annual rise in bridge bashing during the surge in Black Friday and Christmas deliveries. More than 1,600 bridge strikes occurred over the past 12 months and this [...]

The post Britain’s most bashed bridges revealed as lorry drivers warned to “Wise Up, Size Up” appeared first on Motor Transport.

Electric and hydrogen truck manufacturer Tevva is set to scale up production of its trucks after raising £42.5m from new and existing investors which will help fund the fit out of its new London-based production facility.The fundraise follows the launch of the firm’s Tevva Truck, the company’s first 7.5-tonne electric vehicle with a hydrogen range extender, which is designed for mass production and will be available from the third quarter of 2022. This latest fundraising will allow Tevva to complete [...]

The post Tevva to ramp up production of its electric and hydrogen trucks after raising over £42m appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers using the Woolwich Ferry face travel disruption during the peak season as ferry workers prepare to strike, union Unite is warning. Unite said strike dates will be announced shortly after the 58 ferry workers voted for strike action this week, delivering a 90% majority. The union is warning that the strike will cause travel chaos over the Christmas and New Year periods. This is the latest development in a long running dispute with Transport for London (TfL), which has [...]

The post Woolwich Ferry workers set to strike during peak period appeared first on Motor Transport.

P&O Ferrymasters is expanding its fleet with the addition of 25 new refrigerated trailers. They will provide additional capacity for what the company describes as “a major new partnership with an international business”. Thorsten Runge, MD of P&O Ferrymasters, said: “This major expansion in our reefer fleet is the latest example of our ongoing investment in new equipment, new sites and new capabilities, all of which are designed to help customers solve complex supply chain challenges. “Working in partnership with [...]

The post P&O Ferrymasters expands reefer trailer fleet after landing major partnership deal appeared first on Motor Transport.

A lorry driver who crashed into a Canadian millionaire taking part in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally told a jury he did not think tapping a mobile phone to make a call while driving was illegal. Michael Black, 52, was driving his tipper lorry in the third lane of the M23 southbound when his truck smashed into the back of a 1903 Knox car, killing the driver, 80-year-old Ronald Carey. Carey and his wife Billi had taken a [...]

The post Lorry driver who crashed into millionaire veteran car driver didn’t know tapping a mobile while driving was illegal, court told appeared first on Motor Transport.

New heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations declined by 8.4% in the third quarter of 2021, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The SMMT attributed the decline in part to the shortage of HGV drivers and falling production levels due to semi-conductor shortages. The decrease saw 7,715 trucks registered, 704 fewer than the Q3 2020 total when registrations were taking place against the volatile backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic. Registrations also fell by [...]

The post Driver and semi-conductor shortages contribute to fall in HGV registrations in third quarter appeared first on Motor Transport.

Independent truck and van repairer Sapphire Vehicle Services has opened its second all-makes workshop. Sapphire, which operates 19 vehicle maintenance units across Britain, has converted its former vehicle maintenance unit in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, into a service depot which is open to all. The launch follows the opening of its first workshop in June this year at Tamworth, Staffordshire. The strategy marks the next step in what the firm describes as an “aggressive push” for more business, with other facilities already [...]

The post Sapphire revs up expansion drive with new Hatfield truck and van all-makes workshop appeared first on Motor Transport.

Bristol’s plan to launch its own clean air zone (CAZ) next summer will be “challenging” for hauliers and exemptions will be required to give firms time to upgrade, according to the RHA. The city council has secured £42m of government funding to invest in greener transport initiatives after being picked out as one of a number of towns and cities that needed to tackle air pollution. As a result, it said it would introduce “one of the most wide-ranging clean [...]

The post Bristol hauliers hit by CAZ plan need more help with fleet upgrade, RHA insists appeared first on Motor Transport.

The haulage industry has given a cautious welcome to government plans to review the Driver CPC. The review, announced last week, follows concerted lobbying by industry leaders who have warned government ministers that the bureaucratic nature of the Driver CPC is acting as a barrier to both new and returning drivers and exacerbating the HGV driver shortage. Announcing the review last week, transport secretary Grant Shapps said:?"We’re listening to industry leaders who have told us about the issues HGV drivers [...]

The post Hauliers give qualified thumbs up to government review of Driver CPC appeared first on Motor Transport.

Police officers in unmarked HGVs are focusing on the M25 for the next two weeks in a bid to improve safety standards on the motorway. National Highways has teamed up with seven police forces across the South East, as part of Operation Orbital which uses unmarked HGVs to check drivers are not usng their mobile phones or driving without seatbelts. Police will also carry out checks on vans and lorries for roadworthiness, secure loads, weight and drivers’ hours to reduce [...]

The post Police in unmarked HGVs target M25 in hunt for dangerous drivers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The MOD has more than tripled the number of training places for veterans wanting to become HGV drivers from 100 to 350 placements over the next 12 months. Under its Career Transition Partnership (CTP) which helps transition the military into civilian life, the current provision of 100 training places will increase to nearly 350 over the next 12 months, with a provision to increase this number depending on the level of interest. Courses are available in Cat C, Cat C&E, [...]

The post MoD boosts HGV driver training places for veterans to help tackle driver shortage crisis appeared first on Motor Transport.

The first ever off-road test for HGV drivers conducted by a private firm is taking place on Monday (15 November) as part of the government’s plan to ease the driver shortage. Following a change in the law, the Driver CPC part 3 test will be split into two parts, with the off-road exercises now carried out by an approved training provider. The exercises include reverse manoeuvres, coupling and uncoupling and an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay. The DVSA will [...]

The post Peter Smythe Transport Training offers first Driver CPC part 3 test appeared first on Motor Transport.

Registration for the Microlise Transport Conference 2022 has opened, building on its future technology focus and offering insights into current industry topics. Taking place on 18 May at the Coventry Building Society Arena, organisers said it will also showcase innovations and trends they believe will disrupt the transport and logistics sector over the coming years. In addition to the primary conference agenda, delegates will also have access to four workshop programmes, covering skills, compliance, technology and innovation. An exhibition area [...]

The post Registration open for Microlise Transport Conference 2022 appeared first on Motor Transport.

The new FORS standard will add more burden and cost to construction hauliers at an already difficult time for the industry, according to the Scaffolding Association. The updated standard was due to be introduced last year but was delayed to minimise disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It will now come into force on 1 July 2022. The standard sets out the requirements fleet operators must meet if they wish to maintain FORS accreditation and the new version includes a [...]

The post New FORS standard a “costly burden” to construction hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

International transport charity Transaid has expanded its professional driver training programme into Mozambique, to improve standards and help make the country’s roads safer. The move comes less than a year after it secured funding to launch a similar project in Ghana. Transaid chief executive Caroline Barber said its track record for delivering life-saving work meant it was now regularly approached to expand its activities into new countries. The Mozambique project is expected to start later this month and has been [...]

The post Transaid extends driver training into Mozambique appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers using red diesel for their fridge motors have been reminded that the rebate ends next year, resulting in additional costs for operators. HM Revenue & Customs said it was “vital” that the economic and practical impact of the loss of the tax break is considered by firms well in advance and that they have made arrangements for the changes ready from 1 April 2022. Read more End of red diesel duty discount should prompt switch to fridges powered from [...]

The post ‘Prepare now for red diesel tax change,’ HMRC warns hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

Peter Smythe Transport Training is running what it believes is the first ever DVS Modal driving test in the UK this Monday (15 November). The event will take place at the company's Stanton Hill base in Sutton in Ashfield, Notts, which features a purpose-built training facility with two reversing areas, modern offices and reception. Free accommodation will be provided to any driver coming from over 70 miles away. For more details call 01623 555661 or visit https://www.petersmythe.co.uk

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Fruehauf’s collapse can be attributed to a toxic mixture of Brexit, Covid-19 and a global shortage of materials, according to its administrator. In a report into the trailer maker’s descent from a leading manufacturer of tipping trailers holding 90% of the market share, Quantuma Advisory said unverified draft accounts for the year ending 30 September 2020 showed a significant loss of £2.7m. The administrators said since the business was incorporated in 2010, it was renowned for its production, quality control [...]

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Driver recruitment firm Drivers Direct has undergone a management buyout (MBO) after receiving a £1.75m investment from a private equity firm. The MBO sees ownership of the Runcorn business transfer to the current management team led by new MD Daniel Jellicoe, with plans to continue its organic growth and expand to new UK locations. Formed in 2002, Drivers Direct specialises in the training and placement of drivers across all vehicle classes, including HGV, LCV and minibuses, on both a temporary [...]

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Citroen is now offering a full range of 100% electric LCVs, including its new e-Berlingo van, mid-sized e-Dispatch and large e-Relay electric models. The e-Dispatch was the first to become available, rolling off production lines in 2020, followed by the e-Relay that arrived in UK showrooms in August. Both models were joined by its new e-Berlingo van electric, which opened for orders at the end of August. Citroen said an electric quadricycle, the Ami Cargo Electric, will become available in [...]

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Tariffs on most goods and increased restrictions could be imposed on EU-UK trade if Great Britain pulls out of the current Northern Ireland border solution, ParcelHero has warned. There is increasing concern that the UK government will trigger Article 16, which allows parts of the protocol to be unilaterally suspended if they are causing serious economic difficulties. It said this is already happening due to trade frictions brought about as a result of the protocol, which is causing more disruption [...]

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The Unite union has added its support to the review of the Driver CPC announced by the government this week and said employers should be made to pay for the training. Following on from positive reactions from the RHA and Logistics UK to the Department for Transport’s plan to look at how the qualification might be updated, Unite said it was “entirely immoral” for HGV drivers to cough up for it. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government has [...]

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As part of the COP26 Glasgow climate conference, Scania used the official opening of its £10m flagship dealership and Scottish HQ at Eurocentral to the east of Glasgow to hold a one-day conference on 8 November to look at how the road freight transport industry can make the transition to net-zero carbon emissions. As keynote speaker, Christian Levin, CEO and president of Scania and Traton, opened the event and set the scene while Andreas Follér, Scania’s global head of sustainability, [...]

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The government’s target of phasing out non-zero tailpipe emission HGVs from 2035 might be “impossibly fast” and interim solutions are required, according to hauliers. As ministers geared up to host ‘Transport Day’ at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, the Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed its recent proposals to ban the sale of HGVs over 26-tonnes that are not zero-emission from 2040, with those under 26-tonnes phased out in 2035. The BVRLA said it welcomed the DfT’s intention to consult [...]

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Maxus has expanded its dealer network in Scotland after partnering with Eastern Western Motor Group to add a new dealership in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire. The addition of Western Maxus brings the number of its dealerships in Scotland to four, with more than 42 located across the UK. The new dealership is located 10 miles outside of Glasgow city centre and 37 miles west of Edinburgh. Read more Maxus expands network with Bowson’s Gloucestershire dealership Maxus opens new Doncaster facility Maxus [...]

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The new urban driver apprenticeship will attract a new generation of professional drivers into the industry by offering flexible working patterns and a better work-life balance, according to skills provider Seetec. Signed off in September and following on the heels of the HGV driver category C+E apprenticeship, the urban driver apprenticeship focuses on short-haul journeys in towns and cities that often do not require overnight routes. Seetec Outsource, which is now delivering the qualification, said this means it should attract [...]

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Teletrac Navman has developed a new online dashboard using government figures, which gives operators an insight into what influences road safety and driving behaviours. The road safety dashboard assimilates data from the Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain report, which captures all personal injury, accident and casualty statistics on public roads. Teletrac said that by utilising this large amount of data, it can break down key statistics to examine granular details such as lighting and road conditions, level of speed [...]

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The government has announced a sweeping review of the Driver CPC to ease the current labour shortage and encourage more people to return to the profession. The move comes after lobbying from industry bodies to extend the validity of any qualification expiring this year to retain drivers who may otherwise be tempted to retire or find alternative work. The government also said it was identifying sites for short-term improvements to lorry parking and investing £500,000 to move an additional 29,000 [...]

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Teletrac Navman has developed a new online dashboard using government figures, which gives operators an insight into what influences road safety and driving behaviours. The road safety dashboard assimilates data from the Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain report, which captures all personal injury, accident and casualty statistics on public roads. Teletrac said that by utilising this large amount of data, it can break down key statistics to examine granular details such as lighting and road conditions, level of speed [...]

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Fraikin has opened a 24/7 service support centre at its Coventry headquarters, underlining its renewed emphasis on bringing maintenance and breakdown support inhouse. Caroline Harrison, Fraikin service support centre manager, said: “The new service will be an invaluable resource, helping to ensure we’re able to offer better continuity in customer support, which will only help to strengthen and build customer relationships. “We are now able to guarantee that a Fraikin employee is available on the other end of the phone, [...]

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The use of drones in logistics could result in £2.8bn of savings and boost productivity, according to a government report into robotics. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said investment by companies such as Ocado and Amazon into robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) was already transforming the sector, through large-scale warehouse automation. It said there will be an estimated 11,000 drones in transport and logistics by 2030, which will represent around 14% of the total number in [...]

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The International Road Transport Union (IRU) is demanding that governments across Europe drop “misguided” Covid restrictions and act to alleviate driver shortages if they are to resolve a growing supply chain crisis. The IRU’s goods transport council, which represents more than three million logistics operators globally, said delays would stretch into 2022 unless governments acted now to fix a “supply chain mess”. It has backed a resolution that called for congested ports to be alleviated by accelerating the uptake of [...]

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Supermarkets said they were confident their supply chains were robust enough to ensure customer requirements were fulfilled in the run-up to Christmas. Reporting its interim results for the 28 weeks ending 18 September 2021, Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts acknowledged the industry faced labour and supply chain challenges. However, he added: “Our scale, advanced cost saving programme, logistics operations and strong supplier relationships put us in a good position as we head into Christmas.” The supermarket announced pre-tax profits of [...]

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The traffic commissioners said operators of wheeled loading shovels must ensure they have looked at new guidance issued on the safety of their operation, after nine fatalities in the last four years. Six of the deaths were within the waste and recycling sector and the health and safety executive (HSE) said poor visibility was a significant problem. Larger capacity buckets have been fitted to some machines, which the TCs said further reduced forward visibility. The new safety notice reminds duty [...]

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The government has hinted at reforming the Driver CPC following calls from the industry for it to be suspended in order to attract back professional drivers. Government minister Trudy Harrison said there were “merits in modifying the processes” and she acknowledged that the costs involved for HGV drivers could be “difficult”. In response to a question in the House of Commons about the Driver CPC, Harrison said: “The driver certificate of professional competence was introduced to improve road safety and [...]

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Schmitz Cargobull is to mark the opening of its new trailer factory in Manchester with the launch of a new SKO lightweight dry freight box van developed specifically for the UK and Irish markets. Aimed at parcels and express operators the 13.6m trailer weighs 6.5 tonnes fitted with three axles and is available in three heights up to 3.2m. Boris Billich, director of sales at Schmitz Cargobull, said the opening of the £2.3m Manchester production site and the two-year development [...]

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The safety of all road users is at risk now that the government has relaxed cabotage rules for foreign drivers, according to the Unite union. It said that HGVs operating under the new system would not have to comply with the same licensing requirements and standards before entering the UK and there would be no independent monitoring of who was taking advantage of the relaxation. The union also said there would be no roadworthiness checks of the lorries prior to [...]

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Road Transport Expo (RTX) is off to a flying start with an impressive list of 40-plus exhibitors already confirmed for the brand-new Stoneleigh Park event next summer. Well-known brands - including DAF, Iveco, Scania, Tevva and Volvo Trucks – have been quick to support the three-day expo, which promises to be “all about the truck”. Taking place from 30 June to 2 July 2022, RTX is shaping up to be an unmissable event for anyone working in the road haulage [...]

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Efforts to tackle the lorry driver shortage in Scotland are being hampered by a lack of training providers and a shortage of second-hand trucks, a major HGV driver training school warned this week. Jim McEwan, director at Commercial Transport Training Services (CTTS) in Bathgate, West Lothian told MT that whilst there is “an abundance” of HGV driver tests available for trainee HGV drivers, they cannot be utilised. He said: “There is just no spare capacity to meet the demand. Take [...]

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Insulate Britain is broadening its campaign beyond London and the M25 targeting a major road near Manchester Airport and Birmingham City centre yesterday (2 November). Around 11 people were arrested by Greater Manchester Police after protesting on Wilmslow Road near the M56, with some gluing their hands to the road. The campaigners were arrested on suspicion of causing danger to road-users. The protest group, which wants the government to provide funds to insulate homes by 2030 to help fight fuel [...]

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The government’s decision to roll out all-lane running on smart motorways was “premature” and the programme should be “paused” until 2025 to properly assess its safety, according to a damning report published this week by the House of Commons Transport Committee. The report follows the Committee’s enquiry into the safety of smart motorways, which was launched after mounting concern at the mounting numbers of deaths of motorists whose vehicles had broken down on all-lane running smart motorways. The Transport Committee’s [...]

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If London’s delivery boom is to become sustainable it needs to create space for 10,000 parcel pick up points, build consolidation centres, roll out electric vehicle charging points and prioritise delivery vehicles by introducing a pay-per-mile road user charging scheme for cars. The recommendations are made in a report by Centre for London, published to coincide with the COP26 Climate Summit which launched this week. The report notes that with the number of parcels delivered in London expected to double [...]

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Oasis Group has taken on a long-term lease on a 108,973 sq ft warehouse at DP World’s logistics park at London Gateway. Work will begin next spring with the distribution hub due to open in October. It will be built to BREEAM “outstanding” criteria - sustainability standard for building construction. Ernst Schulze, DP World UK chief executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Oasis Group to our port-centric logistics park at London Gateway which is home to supply chain solutions, [...]

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A campaign group protesting about the government’s continued rollout of smart motorways will carry a long procession of burial coffins to the department for transport’s office building next week. Smart Motorways Kill said the protest involving 38 coffins across Westminster Bridge to Parliament Square and then on to the DfT building in Horseferry Rd on 1 November will be non-disruptive, but will create a “striking image” that people will remember. The group was formed by Claire Mercer, the widow of [...]

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An investigation branch that probes road traffic collisions to establish their cause and make recommendations to improve road safety could be set up by the government. Working in a similar way to independent bodies operating in the air, maritime and rail industries, the Road Collision Investigation Branch (RCIB) would carry out thematic investigations, as well as looking at specific incidents of concern. A consultation into these plans has now been launched by the department for transport, due to what it [...]

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There was a modest increase in UK commercial vehicle production in September, figures showed. There were 7,799 CVs produced, a 1.8% increase on 2020, although output remained 8.1% below the five-year average for the month, according to the SMMT. The automotive association said production had declined by 35.1% in August and so any increase was good news, particularly when compared to a strong September 2020 when volumes were driven by the fulfilment of several large fleet orders. The latest increase [...]

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Daimler Truck and BP have teamed up to deliver hydrogen-powered fuel-cell HGVs and deploy the infrastructure required for refuelling the vehicles in the UK by the end of the decade. Under their memorandum of understanding, Daimler said it expected to be able to offer hydrogen-powered trucks to UK customers by 2025 and BP intends to design, construct, operate and supply 25 hydrogen refuelling stations by 2030. Karin Rådström, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said: “Together with BP, we want to jointly [...]

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Applications for financial support for HGV operators affected by the forthcoming Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will launch at the end of next month, according to the transport body delivering the plan. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said its CAZ is due to be rolled out on 30 May 2022, with an ambition to bring down nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels on local roads to within legal limits. More than £120m in government funding has been secured to support eligible [...]

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MAN Truck & Bus UK has announced the appointment of Tracey Perry as its new head of van. She succeeds Daniel Holbein who is leaving the company to take up a new position in MAN’s headquarters in Munich. Perry comes with a wealth of experience, having led teams in retail sales, SME and corporate sales. Between 1989 and 1998 she worked with sister company Audi before joining Renault in 2001. In 2007 Perry joined FCA Fiat Professional and in 2015 [...]

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CNG Fuels is to host HGV hydrogen fuel trials across its UK network of public access biomethane refuelling stations. The trial will be conducted under Hyfuels, a new branch of the company, which aims to help customers adopt hydrogen quickly and easily when it becomes commercially viable. The trials follow a report from the Committee on Climate Change which said that hydrogen-powered HGVs are expected to play a major role in decarbonising freight transport from 2030 onwards. The government’s Net [...]

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The government has effectively offshored UK haulage work to foreign operators after announcing it had slackened the rules on cabotage, according to the RHA. The business group said the move to allow continental hauliers to take on unlimited work in this country in two-week blocks seriously undermined efforts to recruit domestic drivers and would suppress wages. Following a short consultation, HMRC said it was allowing until 30 April 2022 unlimited cabotage movements of HGVs for up to 14 days after [...]

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Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget was an “olive branch” for logistics firms who have finally heard some good news from the government, according to parcel delivery service ParcelHero. It claimed that the measures outlined in the speech yesterday will reduce the strain on hauliers, as well as reducing the recent friction between the industry and ministers. David Jinks, head of consumer research at ParcelHero, said the Budget: “kicked off with an acknowledgement of the challenges facing the sector and the announcement [...]

The post Budget an “olive branch” to calm sector’s fears, says Parcelhero appeared first on Motor Transport.

The haulage industry is training sufficient HGV drivers but failing to retain them, a report by the Driver Require Think Tank has concluded. The Think Tank of leading logistics professionals, brought together by Kieran Smith, chief executive of Driver Require, to examine the causes of the HGV driver shortage, is calling for the industry to take action to “fundamentally and significantly” improve HGV driver retention to reverse the shortfall of drivers. In its report The Answer to the HGV Driver [...]

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The RHA has welcomed moves to help the transport and logistics sector contained in the government's Autumn Budget which it said were "campaigning wins for the organisation". However, Logistics UK said its concerns over inadequate HGV parking facilities had not been fully addressed, while the BVRLA said fleet operators needed far more clarity over the government's Net Zero Strategy. Measures announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak today (27 October) included a continued freeze on fuel duty, which remains at 57.95p per [...]

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Construction company Glencar is to build an 80,000 sq ft of speculative industrial space across three new units at a site in Coventry for logistics commercial property developers Bericote Properties. The project, at Coventry Logistics Park which is located close to Junction 2 of the M6, began this month with the demolition of the existing building together with enabling works. The project is expected to be complete by next summer. It will feature three units of 484,000 sq ft, 251,000 [...]

The post Bericote’s major speculative distribution centre begins to takes shape at Coventry Logistics Park appeared first on Motor Transport.

If the logistics sector is to meet decarbonisation targets the government must maintain its freeze on fuel duty, Logistics UK warned this week. The call comes ahead of the 2021 Spending Review, which will conclude next week (27 October 2021) alongside the Autumn Budget - one of the most important in the UK’s post-war history, according to Logistics UK. David Wells, chief executive said: “With our industry’s revenues still returning to normal after the economic shut down, and logistics businesses [...]

The post Maintain fuel duty freeze to ensure industry meets decarbonisation targets, Logistics UK tells Chancellor appeared first on Motor Transport.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has launched a new partnership with Think Logistics aimed at inspiring the next generation of talent to join the sector. Social mobility charity Think Logistics works with schools and colleges to help raise awareness in young people of the opportunities the logistics sector offers, using a range of activities and workplace experiences, delivered by volunteers from the profession. The partnership with BIFA will enable the association’s members to access local schools and colleges to [...]

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Brexit red tape has seen a 20-fold increase in the inspection of food and plant product consignments by health inspectors at Irish ports, according to data from Eire’s Department of Agriculture (DoE). The introduction of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) border checks on goods being imported from Britain, following Brexit, has seen DoE inspectors and health officials processing around 1,700 consignments a week compared with fewer than 100 a week last year. Hazel Sheridan, head of the department’s import controls division, [...]

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Transport minister Baroness Vere (pictured) faced a barrage of questions in the House of Lords today (26 October) on the lorry driver shortage with peers accusing the government of creating a “world beating” dearth of HGV drivers and enacting “panic button” policies to solve the crisis. The transport minister was asked by Baroness Randerson if she could “explain why the government has had to resort to government by panic button, with some 25 last-minute measures to try to avert a [...]

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Government plans to allow foreign lorry drivers to undertake unlimited deliveries in the UK for two weeks at a time are a “shameful betrayal” of UK lorry drivers and haulage operators. The accusation is made in RHA’s response to the DfT’s short 7-day consultation which seeks views on extending road haulage cabotage rights for non-UK lorry operators in the UK. Under the plan, non-UK lorry operators would be allowed to undertake unlimited UK domestic freight transportation for two weeks after [...]

The post Government’s unlimited cabotage proposal a “shameful betrayal” of UK lorry drivers and hauliers, says RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Coventry Council is helping local businesses switch to electric vehicles by offering the use of four battery-powered Mercedes-Benz eSprinters. The vans, supplied by local dealer Midlands Truck & Van are on offer to those working in and around the city for free extended trials. The move is part of a wider aim by the council to cut pollution and improve air quality in Coventry. Participants in the ‘Electric Fleet First’ scheme are offered the use of a van or car [...]

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HGV operators should adopt approved vehicle retrofit solutions to meet the demands of London’s newly expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone, according to Zemo Partnership. The new London ULEZ, launched today, (25 October) will be 18 times the size of the current central area, covering all of London up to but not including the North and South Circular roads. The Zone, which will operate for 24 hours seven days a week, excluding Christmas Day, is estimated to affect 100,000 cars, 35,000 [...]

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Leading hauliers have joined forces with the RHA and a host of other trade bodies to write to the Prime Minister urging him to take urgent action to tackle the HGV driver shortage. The letter, which lands on Boris Johnson's desk in National Lorry Week, calls on him to swiftly implement a number of measures. These include adding HGV drivers to the Shortage Occupation List for a period of at least 12 months, extending and reforming the Driver Certificate of [...]

The post “Act now or face drastic disruption” – hauliers and trade bodies sign urgent plea to PM over driver shortage appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Unite union has given its backing to HGV drivers’ grassroots campaign #TruckedOff, which aims to highlight the “dreadful employment conditions” being endured in the industry. As part of its support, the union is urging all professional drivers to park up at 11am on Monday 1 November and take their statutory rest break. It said the date had been chosen as it will fall after another expected extension by the government to the daily hours drivers can work, amid a [...]

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Middle-aged HGV drivers are the most likely to have left the industry in the last four years, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said lorry drivers in the age group 46 to 55 have seen the largest decline since 2016, plummeting by almost 34,000. By comparison, the age group 56 to 65 years has fluctuated over the same period, with a much smaller number of around 1,000 leaving the industry. The ONS said that between 2018 [...]

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A national road pricing scheme to replace an emissions-based tax regime must not penalise the road haulage industry, MPs have been warned. Giving evidence to the transport select committee earlier this week, the RHA said hauliers already pay more tax than anywhere else in Europe and any new road pricing scheme should not punish logistics firms further. The plan to phase out diesel and petrol vehicles over the coming decade will create a £34bn black hole in Treasury coffers and [...]

The post National road-pricing scheme to replace fuel duty ‘must not increase hauliers’ costs’, MPs told appeared first on Motor Transport.

A recruitment drive in Leicestershire this month attracted hundreds of potential HGV drivers, according to event organisers. Translink Express Logistics helped spearhead the Let’s Talk Logistics day at Fosse Park Shopping Centre on 12 October, along with the department for work and pensions, Leicestershire county council, Aggregates Industries and Samworth Brothers Distribution. Chris Hobbis, commercial director of Pallet-Track member Translink, said: “There were simply hundreds of people there from first thing in the morning until the end of the day [...]

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Grants to help companies shift freight from road to more sustainable alternatives are to be made available after the government announced its next big push towards a zero-carbon economy. As well as investing £350m to support the electrification of UK vehicles and their supply chain and another £620m in grants for EVs and charging points, the government said it would also encourage goods to be moved by rail, bikes and canals. Its Net Zero plan said the majority of greenhouse [...]

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The DVSA has released more information about how the rules regarding learning to drive an HGV will change next month in order to help resolve the skills shortage. Subject to parliamentary approval, from 15 November the law will change so that candidates will begin learning to drive in an articulated lorry, rather than a rigid. Drivers will also take their test in an artic without having to pass a test in a large rigid lorry first. The DVSA said candidates [...]

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Solihull integrated logistics provider OnLogistics has signed a deal with Circular Economy Solutions (C-ECO) to provide and operate a UK sorting station for used automotive parts. C-ECO’s CoremanNet service collects over four million used automotive parts, known as cores, every year. It checks their technical and commercial condition and then provides them to customers for industrial remanufacturing. CoremanNet's global network has more than 20 inspection centers on four continents, including the new OnLogistics sorting station. OnLogistics’ newly acquired, dedicated 22,000 [...]

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Government plans for “unfettered cabotage” will be “shockingly damaging” to the UK haulage industry and undermine the progress being made to tackle the UK’s driver shortage, the RHA warned MPs this week. Speaking at a Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee hearing yesterday (19 October) on the impact of supply chain delays on businesses and consumers, RHA national policy director Duncan Buchanan warned against government plans to change the cabotage rules to help tackle the driver shortage. The plans to [...]

The post Government plans for “unfettered cabotage” will punish UK hauliers, RHA tells MPs appeared first on Motor Transport.

The future of the transport and logistics sector will hinge on data, technology and increased collaboration, according to industry experts speaking at this week’s Multimodal exhibition at Birmingham NEC. In a wide-ranging panel debate entitled ‘The state of logistics in a post Covid and Brexit world’, Logistics UK chief executive David Wells said the key issue for the industry going forward would be increasing productivity with a smaller labour pool. “The only way to do that will be through investing [...]

The post ‘Prepare for big changes and big opportunities,’ Multimodal panel tells operators appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hauliers are accusing Europa Worldwide chief executive Andrew Baxter of launching a politically motivated attack on the RHA following his open letter criticising the association’s handling of Brexit and the fuel crisis and his call for RHA chief executive Richard Burnett to resign. Baxter’s letter, published yesterday (18 October), accuses the RHA of leaking information from confidential government meetings, failing to prepare hauliers for Brexit and “substantially” causing the fuel crisis by leaking information about fuel stocks. The transport boss, [...]

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Logistics UK is promising members easier access to driver medicals after signing a partnership deal with D4Drivers. They will receive discounted access to D4Drivers’ Logistics UK Health and Wellbeing service enabling them to access medicals for all their drivers. Under the partnership individual driver members will also be able to use the Logistics UK Driver Medical service. Logistics UK said the partnership will allow companies to centralise and streamline their process for arranging drivers’ medicals, and with 85 D4Drivers centres [...]

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Foreign haulage operators could be allowed to make an unlimited number of trips in the UK within a two-week period before returning home, under plans to strengthen supply chains and save Christmas. The proposals to temporarily extend cabotage rights for foreign firms are set out in a week-long consultation that has been launched and would apply to all types of goods, but is likely to be particularly beneficial to food supply chains and freight coming into the country via ports. [...]

The post RHA “appalled” by plans to allow foreign drivers to make more UK deliveries appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGVs powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) are no better for the climate than diesel trucks and pollute the air more than manufacturers claim, a report by a clean transport campaign group has concluded. Transport & Environment (T&E) said only zero-emissions HGVs such as battery electric vehicles should be supported by lawmakers and it called for gas fuelling stations to be kicked out of EU fuel infrastructure targets and the end to government subsidies for LNG trucks. However, the renewable [...]

The post LNG trucks “no cleaner than diesel”, new research finds appeared first on Motor Transport.

Iveco builder CNH Industrial has announced it is closing some of its European manufacturing plants this month in response to disruptions and shortages of core components, particularly semiconductors. In a statement it said: “CNH Industrial is constantly reviewing its production schedules in response to this highly dynamic environment and plans to shut the concerned plants for no longer than eight working days in the month of October. Read more Semiconductor shortage slows upturn in commercial vehicle production UK operators face [...]

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Hauliers undertaking work for customers on both sides of the Irish Sea should see administration and bureaucracy reduced after the EU proposed cutting post-Brexit checks on goods, according to Logistics UK. The business group cautiously welcomed the plan to address the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is an attempt to resolve the dispute over a key part of the Brexit agreement. Current arrangements have created new economic barriers on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Read more Brexit minister [...]

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Logistics UK is to host a webinar outlining its 'Route to net zero' on transport day at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) on November 10. LUK said "it is clear that the climate crisis is now one of the most pressing challenges facing the global community and the UK government and logistics industry must play their parts and take radical steps to protect the future of our planet". In the webinar, which is open for anyone to attend, chief [...]

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Fraikin has employed an operations director, Andy Towns (pictured), to lead its engineering and operations functions as it works towards bringing its maintenance back in-house. Towns joins after four years as aftersales director at Farid Hillend Engineering and he will report directly to MD Darren Hall. He has 35 years of experience in the industry, including direct experience of running a national network of commercial vehicle workshops. Towns said: “Darren shared his plans for the business with me; in particular [...]

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Fleet management firm VMS has purchased 1,000 commercial vehicles from Maxus, 60% of which are EVs. Maxus said 500 of the vehicles are eDeliver 3s and 150 are eDeliver 9s and the total order represents one of the biggest deals struck by a commercial vehicle brand in the UK. Mark Barrett, Harris Maxus GM, said: “The deal with VMS Fleet Management is an important one for Maxus and comes at an exciting time for the brand as our sales hit [...]

The post VMS backs electric with major new Maxus deal appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has reiterated its hostility to a ‘SafeContractor’ scheme promoted by AB Agri after the animal feed manufacturer used a quote by its policy MD seemingly encouraging hauliers to sign up. Last year the association criticised the food giant for holding its hauliers to ransom by making them sign up to the scheme operated by risk management firm Alcumus, which requires firms to pay a fee to be assessed on a list of health and safety requirements and face [...]

The post RHA in escalating row with AB Agri over ‘SafeContractor’ scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

A survey by Logistics UK has revealed that 96% of UK logistics businesses are now reporting problems recruiting HGV drivers. The severe lack of HGV drivers in the UK is highlighted in Logistics UK’s latest Performance Tracker for September 2021. It also reveals a general skills shortage across the board, not just among HGV drivers, with more than 13% of businesses now reporting severe to very severe problems recruiting warehouse staff compared to September 2020, when zero respondents reported facing [...]

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The HGV driver shortage is creating a backlog of containers at the Port of Felixstowe which could create “a serious issue” for the UK supply chain in the run up to Christmas, Logistics UK warned this week. The alert comes as Maersk confirmed it is rerouting its larger ships away from Felixstowe, which handles 36% of the country’s containerised freight, to European ports for redistribution to the UK via smaller vessels. Retailers Tesco and Ikea have also been hit by [...]

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The RHA has given a cautious welcome to the government’s decision this week to set up an industry taskforce to advise on the UK’s supply chain crisis but warned that ministers must act on its advice rather than use it as a “smokescreen” to hide a lack of government action. The warning follows a government announcement this week that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed former Tesco chief Sir David Lewis as its supply chain adviser. Lewis will also co-chair [...]

The post Supply chain taskforce must not be used as smokescreen for inaction, RHA warns government appeared first on Motor Transport.

A county-wide recruitment event in Leicestershire, aimed at appealing to the public to become HGV drivers, takes place next week. ‘Blaby District Let’s Talk Logistics’ will showcase the benefits of the supply chain industry at the Fosse Park Shopping Centre on Tuesday 12 October. Supported by local logistics firm Translink Express Logistics, as well as the Department for Work and Pensions, Blaby District Council, Aggregates Industries and Samworth Brothers Distribution, the campaign aims to encourage a wider selection of the [...]

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Skills shortages in the logistics sector stretch beyond the role of HGV driver, with companies providing warehousing warning that they have been in “crisis mode” for two years. Data released by Logistics UK showed that 96% of UK haulage firms were now reporting problems recruiting lorry drivers, but that more than 13% of businesses said they were experiencing severe to very severe problems hiring warehouse staff. The business group said this was in contrast to September 2020, when no respondents [...]

The post “Warehousing hit even harder than driving by mass exodus,” UKWA boss warns appeared first on Motor Transport.

The RHA has reiterated its hostility to a ‘Safe Contractor’ scheme promoted by AB Agri after the animal feed manufacturer used a quote by its policy MD seemingly encouraging hauliers to sign up. Last year the association criticised the food giant for holding its hauliers to ransom by making them sign up to the scheme operated by risk management firm Alcumus, which requires firms to pay a fee to be assessed on a list of health and safety requirements and [...]

The post RHA in escalating row with AB Agri over ‘Safe Contractor’ scheme appeared first on Motor Transport.

The family of a man killed when a lump of concrete fell off a wagon and smashed through his windscreen are promoting the importance of securing loads and carrying out safety checks. Steven Oscroft died last year when a rock fell from an HGV in Meden Vale, Nottinghamshire and landed on his car. Police arrested the lorry driver shortly afterwards on suspicion of dangerous driving, but he was released without charge after a serious collision investigation concluded there were no [...]

The post DVSA to revise load security guidance after fatal accident appeared first on Motor Transport.

Almost two-thirds of HGV test centres are battling with waiting lists of at least 11 weeks, with several booked up for six months, according to a freedom of information (FOI) request. An investigation into how long the current driving test waiting periods are across the UK found 43 out of the 69 test centres around the country have a backlog of at least 11 weeks. Three, in Aberdeen, Lerwick and Machrihanish in Argyll, said customers were having to put up [...]

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Pallet networks want to see the Driver CPC suspended for two years with a promise it will be reformed or abolished, in order to attract back a “mass exodus” of professional drivers. The association of pallet networks (APN) also said allowing standard driving licence holders to drive 7.5-tonne vehicles once again would help haulage operators recruit young candidates. APN chairman Paul Sanders told motortransport.co.uk he “absolutely” agreed with Pallet-Track’s CE Caroline Green that a moratorium on the Driver CPC was [...]

The post APN demands two-year suspension of Driver CPC appeared first on Motor Transport.

The zero emissions HGV market is “parked at a red light” with no clear plan from government on how it will make the transition to a carbon-free future, BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney told the rental and leasing body’s online ‘Fleets in Charge’ conference today. While the electric van market received a “brakes on at an amber light” rating from the BVRLA, Keaney said HGVs remained his “biggest concern”. In response Caroline Low, director of environment and future of mobility [...]

The post Zero-emissions HGVs still stuck “at red” says BVRLA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Research into greenhouse gases from diesel-powered auxiliary transport refrigeration units (auxTRUs) has estimated that there are up to 2,100 HGVs in Scotland making a significant contribution to transport-related emissions. The Zemo Partnership said its study, funded by Transport Scotland, showed that these cold chain systems contribute an additional 1-2% greenhouse gas emissions to current official figures reported from all the 37,000 HGV engines operating in the country. The study also showed that the units contribute an additional 5-14% NOx and [...]

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The government has no plans to assess the safety impact of the relaxation of HGV drivers’ hours, despite extending the scheme this week to the end of October as part of wider plans to continue it for another four months. According to union Unite, the DfT has confirmed in correspondence with the union that "there is not an impact assessment” of the ongoing extension to the maximum number of hours a lorry driver can drive. The union has condemned the [...]

The post Unite condemns “shocking” failure of DfT to assess safety of HGV driver extended hours appeared first on Motor Transport.

Marshall Fleet Solutions has recruited Mark Sutcliffe as its new operations director. Reporting to MD Mark Howell, he joins a seven-person board, working closely alongside the other executive directors. Prior to joining MFS, Sutcliffe was most recently head of transport for The Co-Op. He has also held several other senior operations roles, including group transport manager for Warburtons and key roles at The Big Food Group, Brake Brothers and Cearns & Brown. "Mark is joining the business at an exciting [...]

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Logistics UK chief executive David Wells (pictured) has urged the government to extend the number and duration of temporary visas available to EU drivers and rejected the Prime Minister's claims that the move would represent "uncontrolled immigration". Responding to Boris Johnson’s suggestion this week that the haulage and logistics industry is to blame for the current supply chain issues, Wells said: “To suggest that it is the fault of the very industry which has kept the country supplied with everything [...]

The post Logistics UK boss urges government to extend visa scheme and deliver on overnight parking pledge appeared first on Motor Transport.

The government has let down temperature-controlled hauliers by failing to deliver on its promise to help the industry transition to emission-free refrigerated trailers, the Cold Chain Federation (CCF) said this week. The accusation comes as the CCF publishes its report: The Journey Towards Emission Free Temperature-controlled Distribution on Road Vehicles this week. The CCF said that government promises for support to help the industry transition to net zero have yet to materialise. It warns that with 30,000 refrigerated trailers and [...]

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Government ministers ignored hauliers' warnings that the limited length of the emergency HGV driver visas would deter European drivers from taking up the offer, the RHA has claimed. The RHA was responding to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s admission today (5 October) that out of 300 emergency HGV fuel driver visas on offer only 27 have been taken up, and that only 127 drivers have applied for the 4,700 HGV driver emergency visas on offer under the recently launched scheme. The [...]

The post Government was warned limited time of emergency visas would deter European drivers, says RHA appeared first on Motor Transport.

Hoyer UK has taken on additional staff to process the flood of applications it has received from people wanting to work as tanker drivers, following the petrol pump crisis which kicked off last week. The company is seeking around 50 drivers and had been struggling to fill the vacancies. The fuel haulage sector as a whole is estimated to be short of approximately 500 tanker drivers and had been struggling to fill the vacancies. However Hoyer UK is predicting the [...]

The post Petrol pump crisis prompts deluge of applications for tanker driver jobs, Hoyer UK reports appeared first on Motor Transport.

Haulage operators are accusing the Prime Minister of attempting to scapegoat the industry for the petrol pump crisis after failing to heed their warnings of a supply chain crisis months ago. The industry criticism follows comments made by Boris Johnson on the BBC Andrew Marr Show on Sunday (3 October). Asked what had caused the petrol pump crisis he told Marr that for “decades” the haulage industry “was not investing in the truck stops, not improving conditions, not improving pay. [...]

The post Hauliers hit back after Prime Minister blames industry for petrol pump crisis appeared first on Motor Transport.

Tyre manufacturer Goodyear and truck and trailer leasing and rental company TIP have extended their 15-year partnership by another five years. TIP specialises in the leasing and rental of trucks and trailers, as well as asset maintenance and other value-added services to transportation and logistics customers. It operates over 110,000 assets globally as well as more than 110 workshops in Europe and Canada, boosting its rental park by another 18,000 assets in 2019 when it acquired truck and trailer rental [...]

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The government’s decision to allow 5,000 foreign drivers into the UK will infuriate Brexiteers whilst failing to plug the shortfall of 100,000 drivers, parcel delivery service Parcelhero has warned. David Jinks, ParcelHero head of consumer research, said: “The decision to take the plunge and beg for EU-based drivers to return to Britain, but then cap their number at 5,000, will please absolutely no one. Five thousand drivers are less than the paltry number of poultry workers (5,500) the Government has [...]

The post Government’s “lily-livered” visa plan for HGV drivers no solution, warns ParcelHero appeared first on Motor Transport.

Army tanker drivers trained by fuel logistics company Hoyer and other haulage firms began delivering supplies today (4 October) to petrol stations hit by the fuel crisis. The move closely follows the government announcement late last week that its emergency visa program for truck drivers, dubbed “Scrooge Visas” because they were originally set to expire on Christmas Eve, has been extended into 2022 to help tackle the UK’s HGV driver shortage. The government said 300 fuel drivers would be able [...]

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The GMB union has praised Yodel for "doing the right thing" and offering staff a pay increase that will see LGV drivers receive £16 per hour. The move comes after stormy negotiations saw 95% of members vote to take industrial action, threatening the supply chains of some of the UK's biggest retailers, including M&S and Aldi. The union is still in discussions over some outstanding issues including the settlement of an employment tribunal affecting 137 employees, which Yodel has agreed [...]

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid the blame for the UK HGV driver shortage and the petrol pump crisis squarely at the feet of the road haulage industry this week. Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC 1 yesterday (3 October), as the army prepared to help deliver fuel supplies to petrol stations hit by the HGV driver shortage, Johnson said: “The issue of the forecourt is fundamentally one of supply…what we had for decades was a system whereby basically [...]

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Electric truck manufacturer Tevva has been awarded a £4.2m grant - the lion’s share of a total of £5.7m of funding from the UK’s Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC). The grant will help finance the development of Tevva’s next generation, zero-emission, long-range medium duty trucks, which will range from 7.5 tonne to 19 tonne and advance the SANGREAL Project, a £12.2m collaboration between Tevva and designer and manufacturer Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), which aims to build the most sustainable motors in [...]

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The SMMT has repeated its call for the government to step in and help the automotive sector after new figures revealed a 24% reduction in engine production last month compared to a Covid-impacted August 2020. Mike Hawes, SMMT CE, said it was “very worrying” that just 81,266 engines were made in UK factories in August, compared to 106,398 in the same month last year, when lockdowns and depressed global demand had stalled output. Demand from both domestic and export markets [...]

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Researchers say they have developed a device that prevents vehicles including HGVs from aquaplaning during adverse road conditions. The Run Dry Traction System (RDTS) prevents water and other contaminants from reaching a vehicle’s tyres by firing a jet of compressed gas close to the front of the wheel. The effect is to remove water in front of the tyre and establish that the vehicle has a dry patch of road ahead. The scientists at Coventry University said this process effectively [...]

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There has been “a high number” of enquiries from international HGV drivers wanting to come to the UK and capitalise on the temporary visa scheme, according to a Harrogate law firm. Truth Legal, which also has offices in Leeds, has an immigration practice and solicitor Louis MacWilliam said it had already been fielding calls from drivers in Europe, as well as further afield in India, South Africa and Venezuela, keen to take up jobs and keep UK supply chains running. [...]

The post New visa scheme luring “high number” of foreign drivers, lawyers reveal appeared first on Motor Transport.

Insurers cannot rule out a rise in premiums for hauliers as a result of the government’s plan to speed up HGV driving tests to help resolve the skills shortage. The combining of the category C and category C+E tests is seen as a way of pushing through an extra 20,000 tests a year, but insurance firms said more drivers with less experience on the roads was likely to lead to more accidents. Andy Keane, commercial motor product manager at Axa [...]

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Volvo Trucks is addressing the transformation to electric transport with a global online event on 12 October at 2pm. ‘The Leap – How to Go Electric’ can be accessed here and aims to inspire transport firms to get started. It will answer common questions and highlight the business aspects of electromobility. In addition to  Volvo Trucks experts, it will include representatives from transport buyers such as Amazon and IKEA, as well as executives from DFDS.

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Building consolidation centres close to where people live and work is key to the future of UK logistics, according to property developer Prologis UK, which is funding a report into the future of freight. It said there was a “damaging misconception” that distribution centres should be sited outside of cities in order to boost sustainability and reduce traffic. But it added that research showed sustainability gains were far higher if they were built as close as possible to the end [...]

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Telematics firm Microlise saw revenue rise by 14% to £57m in the 12 months to 30 June 2021, as haulage firms strove for fleet efficiencies. The company, which listed on the London stock exchange’s AIM in July, also increased its pre-tax profit to £2.2m during the period, compared with £710,000 the year before. Microlise said its strong interim results were delivered despite the global microchip shortage, which affects its hardware products, as well as the challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit. [...]

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A lorry driver who hit and killed an elderly pedestrian on a pedestrian crossing whilst the traffic lights were on red, has been spared jail. Southampton Crown Court heard how Gary Horbury, 58, of Ferndale Road, New Milton, had been travelling south and came to a stop at a pelican crossing on Station Road in New Milton, Hampshire, with the front of his vehicle overhanging the pedestrian crossing. Margaret Fraser, 89, was traversing the crossing, whilst the pedestrian lights were [...]

The post Lorry driver who hit and killed elderly woman on New Milton crossing spared jail appeared first on Motor Transport.

The Army is on stand by with up to 150 military tanker drivers preparing to deliver fuel to forecourts around the country to help ease supply problems created by the UK's HGV driver shortage. The measure comes as panic buying at fuel stations across the country continues into a fourth day, which was triggered last week by news that BP had been forced to close a number of its fuel stations due to a shortage of tanker drivers. It is [...]

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Logistics UK is calling on the government to freeze fuel duty forever to help the sector make the shift to alternatively fuelled vehicles. The association is warning that as the haulage sector struggles to overcome the impact of Covid-19 and headwinds such as inflation and driver shortages, any rise in fuel duty would stymie recovery and slow down the industry's shift to alternatively fuelled vehicles. David Wells, Logistics UK CEO said: "As the logistics industry recovers from the impact of [...]

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A drunken lorry driver, who celebrated getting his driving job by drinking a quarter bottle of whisky and then led police on a 20-mile chase down the M4, has been jailed for 14 months. Police pursued Andrew Jason Champion, 53, from Rhych Avenue, Porthcawl, for 20 miles along the M4 on 6 May this year as he drove an HGV erratically along the motorway. Champion ignored the police's flashing blue lights as he weaved along the motorway, where he came [...]

The post Drunken lorry driver jailed after 20-mile police chase on M4 appeared first on Motor Transport.

Logistics UK has welcomed the government's new package of measures to ease the HGV driver shortage. In a U-turn on its previous stance, short-term visas for overseas drivers will be introduced, as well as free intensive HGV driver training, using MOD examiners to test civilian drivers and writing to a million HGV licence holders to encourage them back to the industry. 3,000 places will be available on new Skills Bootcamps organized by the Department for Education to provide short, intensive [...]

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The RHA has issued a “categorical” denial that it triggered the petrol pump crisis by leaking remarks made by a BP executive at a private government meeting last week. The claim was made in the Mail on Sunday by “a senior government source” who also threatened to “deal with the RHA” after the crisis is over. The claims have been slammed by RHA as a “disgraceful” attempt at diverting attention away from the government’s handling of the HGV driver shortage. [...]

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Insulate Britain blockaded the M25 for the sixth time today (27 September), defying a court injunction issued on behalf of National Highways which could see protestors face heavy fines and even jail. Protestors blockaded the M25 at Junction 14 this morning near Heathrow. Last week the group changed tactics and blockaded the Port of Dover, resulting in multiple arrests and prompting National Highways to apply for a court injunction to prevent people blocking the M25 and M20. However the injunction [...]

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The government’s proposed National Skills Fund has a “serious gap” which fails to address the need for training in the warehousing sector, according to the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA). Responding to a public consultation on the National Skills Fund this month, UKWA said that despite there being a “clear need” for training in the warehousing sector, there are almost no training providers offering the Highfield L3 Diploma in Warehousing & Storage (RFQ) course. It points out that although this course [...]

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Meachers Global Logistics has warned operators to prepare for changes to importing animal products from the European Union to avoid more delays at the border. All UK importers and their EU suppliers must be compliant with new rules for bringing in products such as meat and dairy goods from January 2022 after the deadline was extended from July. Failure to comply could result in shipments being refused UK entry or goods being destroyed. The requirements include pre-notifying authorities on consignments [...]

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AdBlue producer Yara said it was increasing the price of its product by 5p/l after a spike in natural gas values led to a cut in ammonia production. The fertiliser firm said it was committed to continuing supplies of the exhaust fluid, but that in order to do so it needed to implement a temporary surcharge on sale prices. Jorge Noval, president of Yara Industrial Solutions, said: “We are committed to maintaining reliable supplies to our customers wherever possible. “These [...]

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As part of October’s Tyre Safety Month, TyreSafe is urging operators to carry out regular tyre safety checks to reduce the risks of tyre failure on the road and cut costs. TyreSafe’s month-long campaign is an opportunity for all tyre companies to join forces and raise awareness of tyre safety. With more than half a million trucks on Britain’s roads, Tructyre is encouraging the transport industry to do its bit for road safety. Liam Gorman is technical services manager at [...]

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Goodyear has launched its latest fuel-efficient long haul truck tyre range, Fuelmax Endurance. The new steer and drive axle tyres combine the fuel efficiency levels needed on motorways with the traction and mileage called for on A- and B-roads. Goodyear said the new product line is the “most versatile and fuel-efficient it has ever produced”, and all sizes have a B rating for fuel efficiency. This lowers the carbon emissions of new HGVs by 2%, on average, in comparison with [...]

The post Goodyear makes choice between fuel efficiency and mileage easier with new Endurance tyre range appeared first on Motor Transport.

The majority of operators are not yet planning to invest in alternatively-fuelled vehicles, with cost and lack of government support prominent barriers, according to a new survey. Asset Alliance Group found 80% of those surveyed were planning to stick with diesel for the time being, with many also concerned at the current lack of refuelling infrastructure in this country. More than half (52%) said they would be more inclined to try alternative fuels if the government had a financial incentive, [...]

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Mercedes-Benz believes the total cost of ownership (TCO) of running battery electric trucks, could be the same as diesel trucks in just four years. Andreas von Wallfeld, head of marketing, sales and services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said: “Although it depends on many factors, such as subsidies, kWh pricing of energy and of course the local situation, we expect to see TCO parity on battery vehicles by between 2025 and 2027.” But he said the timeframe was harder to predict with [...]

The post Cost of running electric fleet will be same as diesel by 2025, claims Mercedes-Benz appeared first on Motor Transport.

Deliveries of fuel to BP stations across the country are being restricted due to the industry-wide driver shortage. BP said it was working with its supplier Hoyer to minimise disruption and to ensure diesel and unleaded fuel continued to be supplied to stations, but that “a handful of sites” would temporarily close. Motortransport.co.uk also understands oil giant Shell is experiencing shortages at some of its stations, although it is not thought to be considering closing any sites. Logistics UK responded [...]

The post Driver shortage hits Hoyer fuel deliveries for BP prompting panic buying fears appeared first on Motor Transport.

Renault Trucks will use the Freight in the City Expo to showcase vehicles in its electric ZE range. The event on 28 September at Alexandra Palace will offer visitors a chance to check out a 3.1-tonne Master ZE from Petit Forestier, with zero tailpipe emissions and ideal for delivering perishable goods into inner city areas. Also on display will be a 16-tonne D ZE chassis specified with four 66kWh battery packs, a 26-tonne D Wide ZE Low Entry Cab, equipped [...]

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A consortium of businesses and academics are developing a hydrogen refuelling system for HGVs, which promises to be smaller and more cost effective than existing systems. With government funding, the Hydrogen Prototype Equipment for Refuelling (HyPER) project will create a next-generation hydrogen flowmeter that will also be easier to manufacture and maintain than current options on the market. The project aims to reduce the cost of hydrogen refuelling and enable the wide adoption of the sustainable gas by transport fleets. [...]

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A new pay-as-you-go (PAYG) affinity partnership has been announced between the AA and fleet software specialist FleetCheck.The initiative is designed to offer FleetCheck’s more than 1,300 customers the opportunity to access the AA’s breakdown recovery services at preferential rates based on a range of menu pricing options. Andy Kirby, customer success director at FleetCheck, explained: “We have been aware for a while that many of our customers wanted to put a recovery arrangement in place but price has been an [...]

The post FleetCheck signs truck recovery deal with AA appeared first on Motor Transport.

As the government plans a further four-month extension to the relaxation of HGV drivers’ hours, it has emerged that only around 450 haulage firms have used the extension to make their drivers work longer hours. The take-up rate emerged in a consultation document sent to industry stakeholders this week which proposes to take the current temporary relaxation of drivers’ hours beyond the 3 October deadline and through the peak period to 23 January 2022. Union Unite called the plans “reckless [...]

The post Most hauliers ignoring longer drivers’ hours ruling but DfT plans further extension appeared first on Motor Transport.

Merger and acquisition deals in the UK logistics sector remain strong in the first half of 2021, despite the loss of 80,000 EU workers post-Brexit who were employed in the logistics sector. However, the challenge to the logistics market will be how well companies manage the peak season in the face of the skills shortage, according to a report published this week by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLPQ. The report, which looks at Q2 logistic sector mergers and [...]

The post Logistics sector defies Brexit skills shortage to deliver strong growth, BDO M&A report reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Supply chain visibility platform FourKites has signed up more than 60 customers to its new Innovation Partner Program, chosen for playing a key role in driving innovation on the company’s platform. Innovation Partners includes Henkel, AB InBev, Cardinal Health, EcoLab, Kimberly-Clark, Meijer, Smithfield, Canadian Forest Products and Andersen Corporation. FourKites said the cohort of over 60 partners all have the distinction of having submitted ideas to the company that have since been built out and are now officially part of [...]

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MarketFinance is offering small and medium sized hauliers the chance to apply for its newly launched Flex Loan Scheme. The scheme offers short-term funding up to £100,000 to small and medium sized business. It operates in a similar way to a credit card or overdraft, with qualifying businesses having a pre-agreed limit of up to £100,000 which they can withdraw at once or in smaller amounts. Flexible repayment options allow businesses to spread their repayments over three to 12 months [...]

The post MarketFinance launches new short-term loan scheme targeting SME hauliers appeared first on Motor Transport.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is launching a campaign to encourage its members to work with schools to promote careers in logistics, forwarding and the supply chain. During September, as schools begin the new academic year, BIFA members will be sent information packs with ideas on how to promote their business and the industry as a career option to the next generation. BIFA aims to help smaller companies that are unsure as to how to approach local schools and [...]

The post BIFA helps members launch a logistics recruitment drive in schools appeared first on Motor Transport.

Climate protest group Insulate Britain is accusing the National Highways of failing to take standard safety measures to cut traffic speeds as motorists approach their motorway blockades. The group, which is carrying out a series of climate protests, mainly on the M25, is demanding the government take action to cut the UK’s emissions by insulating Britain’s housing stock. It points to research which shows that 20% of Britain’s emissions come from the country’s poorly insulated housing stock and a report [...]

The post Insulate Britain accuses National Highways of failing to protect drivers approaching its motorway blockades appeared first on Motor Transport.

Half of fleet managers (50%) and almost two thirds of fleet drivers (64%) feel “excited and proud” about switching to electric vehicles, stating it is the right thing to do for the environment, but only just over a quarter of fleet drivers (28%) and a third of fleet managers (35%) think they will be making the switch within the next one to two years. The findings from a survey commissioned by oil and alternative energy company BP revealed that the [...]

The post Range anxiety a drag factor on fleets switching to electric vehicles, BP survey reveals appeared first on Motor Transport.

Eight aspiring technicians are set to begin their apprenticeships at Sapphire Vehicle Services this month. The eight candidates make up the latest intake onto the Derbyshire-based company’s apprenticeship scheme which was launched two years ago. Sapphire Vehicle Services, which maintains a range of large commercial vehicle operator’s fleets, began training its own apprentices two years ago. The eight members of the first intake are now in the final stretch of their three-year courses, and set to start their careers as [...]

The post Sapphire Vehicle Services takes on another eight apprentices appeared first on Motor Transport.

Government moves to continue the extension of the relaxation of drivers’ hours past Christmas is “reckless, dangerous and potentially illegal”, Unite is warning. The warning follows the union’s discovery that the DfT has launched a “technical consultation” with stakeholders into a further extension of the relaxation of drivers’ hours, which was due to come to an end on Sunday 3 October. The consultation is not open to the public. Unite is now taking legal advice on what it believes is [...]

The post Plan to relax drivers’ hours over Christmas “dangerous and reckless”, warns Unite appeared first on Motor Transport.

HGV drivers that pass the government’s new streamlined tests designed to boost the numbers of candidates entering the industry will still be able to undertake international work, it has been confirmed. There have been concerns that simplifying the testing process for lorry drivers might not be accepted in Europe, but the DVSA told motortransport.co.uk the new rules do not affect those working internationally. A DVSA spokesman said: “HGV drivers who pass the updated test in the UK will be able [...]

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An HGV driver distracted by his mobile phone and who killed a devoted husband and wife in a “devastating collision” has been jailed. Steven Bennett, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving following the crash in September 2019, which also led to a seven-vehicle pile-up on the M56. Chester Crown Court heard how Richard and Angela Wong were returning from Wales when they joined the rear of a queue of stationary traffic just prior to [...]

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Logistics UK has announced the appointment of Alexandra Herdman (pictured) as a public policy manager. She has spent the previous five years working in the Scottish Parliament, which the trade body said had given her a wealth of relevant knowledge and expertise. “We are thrilled to have Alexandra join our team," said director of public policy, Elizabeth de Jong. "As the business organisation representing the logistics industry, we pride ourselves on our diversity, representing members from road, rail, air and [...]

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The partnership between Iveco and battery electric vehicle manufacturer Nikola has taken its next step with its Ulm, Germany facility commencing production of the Nikola Tre heavy-duty EV by the end of the year. In addition to the electric battery model, a fuel cell electric vehicle prototype of the Tre has also been displayed and is expected to enter production by the end of 2023. Gerrit Marx, chief executive of the Iveco Group, said: “Thanks to Iveco’s proven expertise and [...]

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Maxus Group has expanded its dealer network further with the Bowson Group’s newest dealership, Maxus Gloucestershire, in the Forest of Dean. The dealership provides a full sales and aftersales service with plans for a dedicated Maxus showroom. Mark Barrett, general manager of Harris Maxus, said: “Bowson Group already works with two impressive brands in neighbouring locations and is a welcome addition to the Maxus dealer network. Read more Maxus opens new Doncaster facility Maxus adds Brindley Group to expanding dealer [...]

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Renault Trucks is now offering an 18-tonne electric D Wide Z.E, joining its 16 and 26-tonne model stablemates. It is also offering a wider range of wheelbases and special connectivity for reefer bodies, with 3,900mm to 6,800mm now available. Equipped with a two-axle chassis, Renault Trucks said the 18-tonne Z.E. is ideal for temperature-controlled distribution, with an optimised payload. Read more Warburtons rises to electric challenge with first 16-tonner from Renault Trucks Renault Trucks commits to expansion of fully-electric range [...]

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Construction on a £300m fourth berth at the London Gateway logistics hub will commence next month, as owner DP World attempts to increase supply chain resilience and boost capacity. The investment will enable the port to handle the world’s largest vessels and comes after record throughput of 888,000 in the first six months of 2021 - a 23% on the previous best performance. DP World said the fourth berth will raise capacity by a third and completion will coincide with [...]

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Software tech provider Forward Solutions is offering customers a new digital supply chain management product that oversees their entire supply chain, from purchase order to delivery. Forward Vision is a web-based portal that provides real time control and processing of transactions and also allows logistics operators’ customers to have “true visibility” of their own supply chains. Forward Solutions said Covid had created huge pressures on supply chains and operators needed more effective supply chain management. It said Forward Solutions provided [...]

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An HGV driver who attempted to smuggle £4m worth of cocaine into the country in his bed has been jailed for 14-and-a-half years. Karol Niewiadomski (pictured), 30, from Poland, claimed he did not know the drugs were in his vehicle when it was searched by Border Force officials at Dover port on 7 January this year. Officers discovered 50kg of the class A drug in cardboard boxes within the sleeping area of Niewiadomski’s cab. A quantity of amphetamine was also [...]

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Temporary visas for HGV drivers are the only way to fill an immediate need for truckers if the supply chain is to continue running through the peak period, according to the RHA. Its call for the government to change its policy on recruiting skilled people from abroad comes as research from an independent think tank found increasingly positive public attitudes towards sourcing jobs from overseas. The scale of the problem is also highlighted in new figures from the Recruitment and [...]

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London’s mayor wants devolved powers to set up a “covid recovery visa” and fill vacancies in sectors struggling with serious shortages, such as haulage. Sadiq Khan (pictured) said when it came to immigration, politicians were now too scared to argue for what they knew was needed to solve the problem and he called for regional powers to tackle the issue. He said it was unrealistic for the government to expect businesses, “grappling with the worst economic crisis since the Second [...]

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Dangerous gaps have appeared in the fleet market’s road to zero, with some sectors accelerating towards the petrol and diesel phase-out and others stuck at a red signal, the BVRLA is warning. The latest BVRLA Road to Zero Report Card, compiled by sustainability consultants Ricardo, assesses the decarbonisation trajectories of the UK’s car, van and truck fleets, measuring their progress against the criteria of battery electric vehicle supply, demand and infrastructure. Launching the report, BVRLA said it shows a very [...]

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A Lithuanian lorry driver, arrested for driving a lorry whilst drunk, pleaded with the court not to ban him as the driver shortage meant he could lose out on "significant" earnings whilst in Britain. Manchester Magistrates Court heard that Lithuanian Vitas Urbonas, 48, was seen driving a MAN tractor unit in the early hours of Sunday morning (September 12) on the M61. The police followed him and found him parked on Bridgewater Avenue, in Bolton, where he claimed to be [...]

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The government's decision to push back the introduction of health certification of imported products of animal origin, including many food and drink items, is creating uncertainty and instability for operators, Logistics UK said this week. The warning follows the government's decision to move the deadline for the introduction of the new import border controls from 1 October 2021 to July 2022. Logistics UK said its members want to see the government come up with a sustainable solution to post-Brexit import [...]

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The new HGV driving test requirements are a "panicked" reaction to a driver shortage created by the government's policy on Brexit, warns parcel delivery service ParcelHero this week. The criticism follows a recent government announcement that the rigid and articulated HGV driving tests will be combined in an effort to speed up HGV driver training to tackle the UK driver shortage. "This lowering of standards is a knee-jerk reaction to the driver shortage caused by Brexit," said David Jinks, head [...]

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Police have released footage of an HGV driver holding two mobile phones, one to each ear, as he drove along the M5. The footage was filmed by officers in an unmarked National Highways truck and has been released this week ahead of the latest operation to monitor lorry drivers on the M4 and M5 motorways. The incident, which took place between junctions 18 and 17 of the M5 earlier this year, is one of over 21,000 offences recorded by officers [...]

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Government moves to increase HGV testing capacity are still not enough to deliver Christmas, the RHA has insisted. The warning follows moves by the government last week to make another 50,000 HGV driving tests a year available, on top of measures earlier this year to increase HGV testing by 50% compared with before the Covid-19 pandemic. RHA chief executive Richard Burnett claims the measures will not be enough. He said: “At the moment, at 3,000 tests a week, there is [...]

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SDC Trailers has passed a manufacturing milestone after its 10,000th trailer rolled off the company’s new production line in Toomebridge, three years after the facility became operational. This latest landmark event comes as the company continues to see a surge in demand, with one new SDC trailer going into production every 16 minutes. The semi-automated new production line was commissioned in August 2018 as part of a £7m expansion to SDC’s existing Northern Ireland base, to meet additional demand for [...]

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One of France’s top courts has overturned a decision to dismiss charges against cement firm Lafarge for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria. It is accused of paying millions of Euros to armed groups, including ISIS, during the country’s civil war in order to keep a cement plant in operation between 2011 and 2014. A lower court had previously dismissed the crimes against humanity charge, saying it accepted that the payments were not aimed at abetting the terrorist group’s [...]

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The UK needs to “stand on its own two feet” and solve the current HGV driver crisis without relying on foreign workers to plug the gap, the transport secretary repeated this week. Grant Shapps (pictured) also said the driver shortage was a global problem and it was “completely untrue” to put the blame on Brexit. His comments came as Morrisons warned that it expected food prices to rise this year due to the lorry driver shortage and higher freight charges. [...]

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The BVRLA wants the government to come up with a delivery plan that supports the phase-out of non-zero emission HGVs between 2035 and 2040. It said it wants to see a similar approach adopted for cars and vans. In a response to a consultation on a phase-out, the association recommended the setting up of a taskforce with a range of stakeholders, including end users. This group would play a key role in identifying the challenges in reaching the phase-out dates [...]

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Streamlining the testing process for lorry drivers will help make up to 50,000 more tests available, according to the government. Confirming its proposal to allow drivers to take one test to drive both an articulated and rigid lorry, the department for transport (DfT) said this alone would make around 20,000 more HGV driving tests available every year and help drivers enter the industry more quickly. It said tests would also be made shorter by removing the ‘reversing exercise’ element – [...]

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A high-speed train derailment was avoided last week after a Tesco HGV struck a bridge in Plymouth, thanks to a “quick-acting” member of the public calling the emergency services. In a House of Lords debate following the incident, Baroness Watkins said the outcome could have been much more serious when the supermarket lorry struck a railway bridge connecting Cornwall with the rest of the country on 30 August. Network Rail said the collision caused “bank holiday misery for thousands of [...]

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Volta Trucks has confirmed its Volta Zero will be manufactured in Austria by Steyr Automotive, following a competitive tender. Volta said Steyr was chosen based on its extensive experience of CV manufacturing, its existing infrastructure and the consequent speed to market. It means series production will commence in late 2022, following customer trials. The partnership also means the eventual creation of up to 500 jobs, as well as forming an integral part of Volta’s road-to-zero emissions strategy. Read more Testing [...]

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An independent review into safety data and evidence concerning smart motorways has found no errors and concluded that all-lanes running (ALR) highways are some of the safest roads in the country. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said the data used in last year’s stocktake and action plan and a progress report relied on by the government and Highways England – now National Highways - to demonstrate the safety credentials of smart motorways, was “used robustly” but that there [...]

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One of France’s top courts has overturned a decision to dismiss charges against cement firm Lafarge for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria. It is accused of paying millions of Euros to armed groups, including ISIS, during the country’s civil war in order to keep a cement plant in operation between 2011 and 2014. A lower court had previously dismissed the crimes against humanity charge, saying it accepted that the payments were not aimed at abetting the terrorist group’s [...]

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Post-Brexit checks on goods including meats and parcels into Northern Ireland (NI) have been delayed once again and this time indefinitely, the government has confirmed. The move will bring relief to hauliers transporting goods to NI who have been bracing themselves for the introduction of the new customs checks, which were due to start this month at the end of the grace period. This was designed to ease the transition into new trading arrangements and checks on goods entering Northern [...]

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With a shortage of new HGVs, combined with an increasing labour crisis, hauliers have been told they need a robust warranty to ensure their fleet can continue to go the extra mile. The warning comes from warranty provider WMS Group which points to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which shows that the volume of new HGVs registered in the UK during the first half of 2021 was less than 20,000 units – down [...]

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The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) is urging hauliers to take action to prevent cargo theft after more than 900 notifications of freight crime were recorded in the first three months of 2021, with angle grinders used for the first time ever to break into metal sided trailers. PC Mike Dawber, field intelligence officer for NaVCIS Freight, said: “There was a national pattern of reduced crime reporting during the first national lockdown, due to the increase in the amount [...]

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An apprenticeship in urban driving which aims to resolve the HGV driver recruitment crisis in the long term has taken a major step forward after the overseeing body approved its development. The move follows the go-ahead for an HGV driver category C+E apprenticeship earlier this year and the hope is that both will help encourage new entrants to the industry. The transport and logistics Trailblazer Group (TBG), which developed the plans for both apprenticeships, said the next step was to [...]

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Specialist truck provider MV Commercial is to buy tipping trailer and rigid body manufacturer Fruehauf out of administration in a “multi-million” pound deal which will see the transfer of all 120 workers at the business. The company is promising to scale up production immediately and be able to offer 80-90 trucks and trailers for sale within a month. MV Commercial said the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, includes an immediate cash injection and a commitment to a further £30m investment [...]

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There are still a few 10-seat tables and a couple of category sponsorship opportunities available at the inaugural Transport News Scottish Rewards Presentation Breakfast to be held during Tip-ex Tank-ex, on the morning of Friday 1 October 2021 in the Royal Hall, Harrogate, adjacent to the Show.The gala event commences at 8.45 for 9.30am with teas and coffee available on arrival, then it’s into the unique Victorian auditorium for a ‘Full Yorkshire’ breakfast. During the morning’s busy programme, there will [...]

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Salford Van Hire has invested £16m in more than 200 new DAF commercial vehicles across its spot hire and contract hire fleets. The new DAF purchases include both rigid vehicles and tractor units. The rigids are a mix of 7.5 tonne, 12 tonne and 18 tonne boxes and curtain-siders with tuck-away tail lifts, all bodied by Paccar Bodies at Leyland in Lancashire. The tractor units consist of the DAF FTGF Space and Super Space tractors, built at Leyland. The new [...]

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Parcel delivery service ParcelHero is calling for the continued suspension of the introduction of full customs declarations paperwork and extra customs procedures on parcels being sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland (NI). The UK government imposed the suspension unilaterally in March this year, for six months, after new customs rules created as a result of Brexit, were found to be causing severe delays to parcel deliveries to NI. ParcelHero’s head of consumer research, David Jinks, said: “There was a [...]

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Wren Kitchens was the big winner at the 2021 Motor Transport Awards last night walking off with no fewer than five trophies - a feat previously matched only by DPD. Expect Distribution took the blue riband Haulier of the Year award for the third time and the second year in a row - something never achieved before - after a year in which one of our 50 independent judges said Expect had "demonstrated they have grown significantly as a business [...]

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