Member News – 21 January 2026

21 January 2026

Your weekly member email from Logistics UK sharing the latest updates addressing industry-relevant developments, legislation and compliance updates and campaigns to help you stay informed.

In this issue:

• Government announces funding to decarbonise aviation.
• Logistics UK’s Decarbonisation Working Group meeting.
• Domestic driver’s hours rules briefing note.
• Logistics UK member meetings underway
• Upcoming works and closures affecting the M3, A34 and A33..

Government announces funding to decarbonise aviation

The government has announced £43 million in funding for green aviation projects, through Innovate UK and the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The funding will be allocated via a series of competitions planned to be launched in February, which will support research and development projects aimed to help deliver net zero aviation by 2050.

This funding is in addition to £63 million announced last July to accelerate the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

To also help support the market, The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill is expected to come into force later this year, which aims to provide long-term certainty for the SAF market by guaranteeing a set price for UK producers. 

Logistics UK’s Decarbonisation Working Group meeting

The Decarbonisation Working Group met last week to discuss Logistics UK’s decarbonisation policy work and priorities for the year ahead. The meeting was attended by VEV who shared positive decarbonisation stories, and by the Department for Transport who provided an overview of their ongoing HGV CO2 emissions consultation which was followed by a Q&A discussion led by members. The group also signalled its interest in a Logistics UK response to the Transport Select Committee’s consultation on ‘Supercharging the EV Transition’, to which Logistics UK will be responding.

The next meeting will be held on 27 May, and members who are interested in joining the group should email the meeting secretary Stephanie Haszczyn. 

Domestic driver’s hours rules briefing note

An increasing number of operators are adopting digital tachographs to record domestic driver’s hours rules, as this approach reduces administrative time and costs. Using a tachograph provides a more accurate record of drivers’ activities throughout the day, however, this accuracy may also highlight non-compliance, leading to potential infringements if drivers are unfamiliar with the rules. The briefing note outlines the key aspects of the domestic regulations, focusing on daily driving and duty limits.

The briefing note can be downloaded from here.

Logistics UK member meetings underway

The first round of member meetings of 2026 has begun, bringing together members across the UK to share views and help shape Logistics UK’s policy positions.

During this round, the agenda includes discussion items on the DVSA fee structure, the DfT consultation on HGV decarbonisation and a possible mandate, driver health and wellbeing as well as options to recruit and retain drivers in the industry.

Members have already met in Wales, Scotland, South West, West Midlands and London, with guest speakers joining from DVSA.

The below member meetings are still to take place:

• Thursday 22 January: South East, 9:00-12:00
• Thursday 22 January: East Midlands, 8:30-12:00
• Tuesday 27 January: North West, 13:00-16:00
• Wednesday 28 January: Yorks and Humber, 13:00-16:00
• Wednesday 28 January: East of England, 9:30-13:00
• Wednesday 28 January: Northern Ireland, 9:30-12:30

To register for upcoming meetings, please contact Head of Road Freight, Maddi Solloway-Price.

Upcoming works and closures affecting the M3, A34 and A33

National Highways has shared that there are essential upcoming works that will affect the M3, A34 and A33 as part of the M3 junction 9 improvements programme. These works will take place over several weekends and will require temporary closures to ensure the safety of road users and our workforce.

M3 – full weekend closures

To enable the safe installation of steel beams for the new M3 roundabout bridge decks, the M3 will be fully closed in both directions between junctions 8 and 9 on the following weekends:

• 9pm Friday 30 January to 6am Monday 2 February 2026.
• 9pm Friday 13 February to 6am Monday 16 February 2026.

Local diversion routes can be found here: M3 junction 9 to 8 northbound and southbound diversion.

Strategic diversion for freight, large vehicles and coastal flows

Operators of HGVs, large vehicles, and freight travelling to or from the coast are strongly advised by National Highways to use the designated strategic diversion via the A3. This route is designed to avoid congestion on local roads and reduce delays for long‑distance and commercial traffic.

A34 and A33 – 24-hour southbound closure

Following November’s successful removal of the northern beam at Kings Worthy Bridge, National Highways will now be installing the replacement beam. Due to the size and reach of the crane required, a full southbound closure is necessary on:

• 9pm Saturday 7 February to 9pm Sunday 8 February 2026.
• A34 southbound from Three Maids Hill.
• A33 southbound from the Cart and Horses junction.

A signed diversion route will be in place via the A34, A303 and M3. Further details are available here: A34/A33 southbound diversions.

While National Highways is making every effort to minimise disruption, some delays are expected during these essential works.

Average EU and UK forecourt prices

Please find the average EU and UK forecourt prices here.