Haulage News & Transport News

In this time of uncertainty, drivers need to be fully aware of where they can and can't stop for a rest. For many hauliers and freight planners, this was proving to be a major issue while out on deliveries or moving back loads.

Read more...

Initially, when launched, this new section started from scratch with no storage space available and no WX members, but over time with innovation: a significant milestone has been hit , with  storage space across all warehouses on the site now amounting to over 100 million SQ FT available directly from the 4,429 members of the Warehouse Exchange.

Read more...

While the COVID-19 outbreak has seen many over the top reactions from the general public, such as stockpiling goods like toilet paper meaning many others can't access those goods for themselves: the haulage industry has faced some reactions of its own.

Read more...

Retail and production lines are trying to keep the standards expected during the intense supply and demand because of the coronavirus pandemic, this includes warehouse operations staying up to scratch and moving loads and backloads across the globe wherever they are required.

Read more...

A truck driver was airlifted to hospital after he fell onto a concrete surface, knocking himself unconscious and breaking his pelvis, with 19 ribs and three bones in his back also suffering injury. He was closing the lids on top of his tanker HGV, at which point he fell four metres. While he was put out of work from the incident, after coming out of hospital he began his journey to recovery.

Read more...

As the Government have further discussed their plans for employees, as well as those who work for themselves - some hauliers have been explaining why the 80% salary support from the Government might not be enough for most drivers across the UK haulage work market and described some of the ways that this could become problematic in the coming months, where it is very likely that more and more drivers may need time off to recover from any sickness that could spread as they continue their everyday work to the best of their ability.

Read more...

The FTA has spoken regarding the concerns many have regarding the future implications of COVID-19 that we will soon see in full force. Policy Director at the FTA, Elizabeth de Jong addressed the issues, commenting on the support received by the government and areas where flexibility within supply chains will ensure logistics keep goods flowing as always.

Read more...

Currently, there is another major concern for HGV drivers besides the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite completing essential deliveries of backloads for the country which currently faces an epidemic unlike anything seen in this century, drivers are now being denied access to toilet and handwashing facilities at many delivery points and warehouses. As hauliers can often struggle to find the facilities even before the COVID-19 outbreak, it is a major obstacle for hauliers at this point in time. Firms practising this treatment of lorry drivers include Tesco and Boots, claim anonymous sources. Meaning when drivers arrive after a long journey, they have no access to use bathroom facilities as expected.

Read more...

HGV drivers are currently at the frontlines of the UK’s supplies, as well as across the world! Even more so than ever as supermarkets struggle to match the demand of consumers across the country. Many supermarket stores are seeing record breaking numbers of customers visit stores every day. It’s most likely you’ve seen this for yourself at local supermarkets, as customers queue, however long it may take to be sure they have the essentials in the coming weeks. Footage of the outrageous demand stores are facing is being shared on social media all over the world. Some customers have also taken to stockpiling goods, leading to consumer chaos across the country and many everyday goods that are usually easy to find becoming a rarity. To the point that some have taken to E-bay to bid on the goods they urgently need and sellers making profit from the current urgency of supply-and-demand.

Read more...

This week the coronavirus pandemic lead to the UK closing various schools, a wide range of events in the coming months and consequently having implications for those completing travel journeys. Meanwhile, other powers across the world have either completely or partly restricted travel in and out of the country. Italy, currently under quarantine is facing record numbers of the virus within Europe. While America has blocked EU travellers from heading to the US, Ireland in the meantime is under lockdown along with school closures across the country.

Read more...

Plans in place for a centre for truckers in a small village were ultimately rejected by the council during an early stage of development. The concept was refused development as members of the local council thought it would lead to many truck drivers navigating routes that would be potentially unsafe for themselves as well as other drivers in the area, putting others at risk.

Read more...

The UK is estimated to lose around £6.9 billion every year due to the amount that road users regularly find themselves stuck in traffic. Road commuters on average are said to spend around 115 hours during slow movement on the roads. At an individual cost, this is said to be around £894 per road user. This is according to research from traffic analyst Inrix, with London proving to be the most congested city. Seeing drivers face around 149 hours lost due to the overwhelming levels of traffic.

Read more...

The shortage of drivers within the UK is driving towards a “perfect storm”, as the current gap of 50,000 is expected to grow even further unless certain areas of the industry such as salary and working conditions are improved, this is according to research by recruitment service Driver Require.

Read more...

Longer Semi-Trailers are a great opportunity for businesses to take on even more goods with a single vehicle, meaning overall firms could cut down their usage of vehicles at a time. Meaning less fuel costs and less stretched out work for drivers. There would also be the environmental benefit with many firms costing less emissions to move their goods as they would have more storage for each vehicle and therefore, potentially need less of them to move goods as they would like to. Meaning there would be a potential for reduced emissions.

Read more...

On March 3rd, Prime Minister Boris Johnson hosted a press conference addressing the nation’s concerns regarding coronavirus and some of the ways it could impact the country, also adding a series of precautions that can be taken by members of the public to ensure further spreading of the virus can be avoided.

Read more...

Simultaneously the UK is meeting with members of the European Commission as well as the US to negotiate terms of a future trade relationship. Despite the significant increase in Coronavirus cases and the additional task of facilitating appropriate facilities to handle the outbreak, the Government has remained focused on establishing partnerships in the wake of Brexit to secure businesses of the UK for future prosperity and growth.

Read more...

The FTA spoke regarding the Government’s funding in training apprenticeship schemes for lorry drivers. Explaining that hundreds of millions that was set to develop projects to develop interest in a career in haulage was not used to support these training schemes as originally intended, while the Government provided funding, a lot of this money has remained unused by businesses who could hope to recruit the next generation of lorry drivers.

Read more...

The Deputy Prime Minister delivered a speech last week, claiming firms that trade within Europe should be ready for “significant change” with “inevitable” checks and searches for “almost everybody.” Which will impact the trading routes on an international scale for firms who operate in and outside of the UK.

Read more...

While officials sent out a warning telling road users to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary, for many HGV drivers it was business as always. While some did avoid the roads after the warning was sent out, many truckers continued about their business.

Read more...

Just as the next part of the introduction for the Lower Thames Crossing enters full swing, the FTA have demanded the Government address the lack of facilities that will be available to drivers who intend on using the route, with hopes that this will be altered before construction can begin. The FTA shared the view that little consideration had been given for lorry drivers who could need pit stops to take breaks for longer journeys, or for a bathroom break.

Read more...

The Government is being called upon by the Freight Transport Association, saying there is an urgent need for officials to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of road users who access Smart motorways, as the BBC Panorama reported on some of the issues Smart motorways face – their research has raised concerns for many regarding Smart motorways and some of the dangers they can cause at their current standard.

Read more...

Distribution management for Chilled food firm, NFT Distribution Holdings – which is currently a part of the EV Cargo Group is searching for a buyer after a report showing losses at over £30m. 

Read more...

The RHA has criticized the decision from Oxford officials to charge trucks for entering the zero-emission zone, which could put many smaller businesses at risk considering the overwhelming amount of costs they are already struggling to overcome.

 

Read more...

During Brexit negotiations, many hauliers across the UK and Ireland were concerned deals going sour could lead to a hard border at customs – which would make the movement of goods much more difficult than previously.

Read more...

The RHA released their strategy document, which plans out the coming years for freight and logistics sectors. Environmental issues were at the core of key points during the General Election. The RHA have asked the newly established Government to design a haulage road map for the next few years, offering an explanation of the progress that needs to be made in order to create a zero carbon future for road users.

Read more...