Member News – 10 June 2026

10 June 2026

In this issue:

• GB-NI B2B parcel arrangements to ensure correct duty charges.
• M48 Severn Bridge resurfacing trial.
• Vauxhall Bridge, diversion route weight restrictions.
• Milburn Review highlights untapped youth talent opportunity for logistics.
• EU launches standardised methodology for calculating transport emissions.
• Invitation to Connected Places Catapult’s workshop on humans and digital twins in transport decarbonisation.
• PD Ports site visit, 23 June.

GB-NI B2B parcel arrangements to ensure correct duty charges

HMRC is aware that following the arrangements for business-to-business (B2B) parcels coming into effect on 1 May 2025, some businesses in Northern Ireland (NI) may have been charged customs duty on goods sent from Great Britain (GB) where this could have been relieved or waived.

If a member’s business sends or receives B2B parcels moving from GB to NI, then it is important that these members are aware of what information express operators need to ensure goods continue to move smoothly and customs duty is not charged unnecessarily.

• Moving goods under the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS). The express operator will require the UKIMS authorisation number and the associated EORI for the responsible business. If members are not already registered for UKIMS, they should check eligibility and apply online here.
• Claiming preferential origin treatment under the UK-EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement if the goods are of UK origin. Information and/or evidence needs to be provided to the express operator. This may be through a commercial invoice.
• Claiming Returned Goods Relief if the goods are eligible. Information and/or evidence needs to be provided to the express operator. This may be through a commercial invoice.

Using a waiver under the Customs Duty Waiver Scheme (CDWS) if the responsible business has a CDWS account which can be used. The express operator must be informed that a waiver should be used and the EORI associated with the CDWS must be provided.

The Duty Reimbursement Scheme (DRS) remains available if members are not able to relieve or waive duty via any of the mechanisms above and the goods did not enter the EU. To make a claim members will require certain information including the Movement Reference Number (MRN) from the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) which express operators will be able to provide.

Improvements to the DRS are now live. HMRC will be hosting a webinar on Thursday 11 June 14:00 – 14:45 to talk through the changes, what they mean, and answer any questions businesses may have. Members can join the session through the following Microsoft Teams link.

For information and support, members can visit the Gov.UK Windsor Framework resource page for moving parcels (this is for specific support for businesses in GB sending goods via parcels, or businesses in NI receiving goods via parcels).

M48 Severn Bridge resurfacing trial

Historically, National Highways has hand laid the surfacing on the M48 but, to ensure the works can be machine laid, it will be resurfacing a 200m section of the bridge this summer as a trial of machine laying. The works are being carried out over the summer to minimise the disruption as it recognises the commuter heavy nature of the route.

Closures to facilitate installation of contraflow:

• Saturday 1 August
  – (8pm – 6am) -Full overnight closure of westbound carriageway and lane 2 closure eastbound. Westbound diversion via M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
• Sunday 2 August
  – (6am – 8pm) – Daytime westbound lane 2 closure. 30mph limit in place.
  – (8pm – 6am) – Full overnight closure of eastbound carriageway and lane 2 closure westbound. Eastbound diversion via M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
• Monday 3 August
  – Thursday 06 August
  – (6am – 8pm) – Daytime eastbound and westbound lane 2 closure. 30mph limit in place.
  – (8pm – 6am) – Full overnight closure of westbound carriageway and lane 2 closure eastbound. Westbound diversion via M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
• Friday 7 August (daytime)
  – (6am – 8pm) – Daytime eastbound and westbound lane 2 closure. 30mph limit in place.
• From 8pm Friday 7 August until 8pm Saturday 8 August, inclusive
  – Full 24 hour closure of westbound and eastbound carriageways. Diversion via M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

Contraflow:

• From 8pm Saturday 8 August until 8pm Friday 18 September
  – Contraflow in operation. There will be a single narrow 3m wide lane running in each direction on the eastbound carriageway. National Highways will be working on the westbound carriageway. There will be a 30mph limit in place and average speed cameras. In addition, the footpath on the westbound side will be closed. The footpath on the eastbound side will remain open.

Closures to facilitate removal of contraflow:

• From 8pm Friday 18 September until 8pm Saturday 19 September, inclusive
  – Full 24hour closure of westbound and eastbound carriageways. Diversion via M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
• Saturday 19 September (8pm – 6am) – Overnight eastbound and westbound lane 2 closure. 30mph limit in place.
• Sunday 20 September – Thursday 24 September
  – (6am – 8pm) – Daytime eastbound and westbound lane 2 closure. 30mph limit in place.
  – (8pm – 6am) – Full overnight closure of westbound carriageway and lane 2 closure eastbound. Westbound diversion via M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
• Friday 25 September
  – (midnight – 8pm) – Eastbound and westbound lane 2 closure. 30mph limit in place.
  – (8pm – 6am) – Full overnight closure of westbound carriageway and lane 2 closure eastbound. Westbound diversion via M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
• Saturday 26 September
  – (midnight – 8pm) – Eastbound lane 2 closure. 30mph limit in place.
  – (8pm – 6am) – Full overnight closure of eastbound carriageway and lane 2 closure westbound. Eastbound diversion via M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
• From 6am Sunday 27 September
  – Contraflow removed and road fully reopened.

Once the trial surface has been laid, regular inspections will take place to ensure the surface remains in sound condition. If the trial is successful, National Highways will be fully resurfacing both carriageways in 2027 and 2028.

More information can be found on its webpage here.

Vauxhall Bridge, diversion route weight restrictions

Transport for London (TfL) is introducing a temporary 18-tonne weight restriction (except buses and emergency vehicles) on Vauxhall Bridge from 1 July 2026 to ensure safety for bridge users.

Engineering assessments show that Vauxhall Bridge is safe and does not currently pose any risk to people using it. However, the most recent inspection showed that some elements of the structure have deteriorated, and these new measures are being introduced to avoid any further damage while TfL works to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Vauxhall Bridge carries 39,500 vehicle movements every day, of which only around 200 are over 18-tonnes typically HGVs. The bridge has been closed to abnormal loads (any vehicle exceeding 44t gross vehicle weight or 11.5t per axle) since 2023. The 0.5 per cent of current traffic that is above 18t will be required to use a signed diversion route.

Please see the proposed diversion route for vehicles over 18t here.

The weight restriction will remain in place while TfL works to resolve the problems as quickly as possible and continues developing a long-term plan for the bridge’s future. However, this is complex work which will take several years.

For more information, please visit River crossing restrictions in central London – Transport for London.

Milburn Review highlights untapped youth talent opportunity for logistics

A new government review highlights a growing challenge with direct implications for logistics: nearly one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training, even as employers report ongoing labour shortages.

With entry-level routes declining and recruitment becoming more automated, many young people are struggling to access that crucial “first job”, despite most wanting to work. For logistics, this presents a clear opportunity: by expanding accessible entry-level roles, apprenticeships and workplace support, the sector can help rebuild the talent pipeline while addressing its own workforce needs.

EU launches standardised methodology for calculating transport emissions

Last week the EU launched the CountEmissionsEU framework: a voluntary, standardised methodology for calculating and reporting emissions from freight and wider transport. This new framework aims to provide a more comparable emissions dataset across all transport modes.

By launching a comparable emissions data framework, the EU is supporting its own mission to tackle greenwashing or misleading claims around emissions. The framework aims to encourage behavioural change, for example through encouraging greener transport choices, which ultimately supports the EU’s Green Deal goals.

The regulation applies to transport operators who already fall into scope of emissions reporting in the EU (for example, companies who directly report, or whose customers report, to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)), but otherwise can be used for reporting on a voluntary basis.

Invitation to Connected Places Catapult’s workshop on humans and digital twins in transport decarbonisation

Connected Places Catapult and TransiT will be hosting an in-person workshop on Tuesday 23 June 2026.

Digital twins are virtual, data-driven replicas of transport systems that mirror real networks in real time. Digital twins can test scenarios like route changes or passenger flows which helps planners model behaviour, optimise operations and identify low‑carbon pathways for decarbonising transport.

If members are interested in attending, please register for the event here.

PD Ports site visit, 23 June

A reminder that Logistics UK’s Water Council is organising a site visit to PD Ports in Groveport, Lincolnshire on Tuesday 23 June. This event offers a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand insight into operations at one of the UK’s key logistics and distribution hubs. During the visit, attendees will:

• Hear from PD Ports representatives about Groveport’s role in supporting supply chains.
• Tour the site and observe operations in action.
• Explore current developments, challenges, and future opportunities in the ports and logistics sector.
• Network with fellow Logistics UK members and industry professionals.

Places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to attend, please register here or contact Alexandra Herdman for more details.

National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service

The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) has published its monthly UK freight crime update report for April 2026, which can be viewed here.

In addition, on Monday 1 June, NaVCIS hosted the quarterly freight members’ and sponsors’ webinar and a summary report can be downloaded here.

Average EU and UK forecourt prices

Please find the average EU and UK forecourt prices here.