Member News – 15 April 2026

15 April 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:

• Logistics UK statement on fuel protests and fuel supply.
• Middle East disruption: survey reminder and information available to members.
• New consultation on updating the minimum emission standard for new road vehicles.
• Logistics UK’s response to consultation on electricity network connections.
• Consultation on changes to regulations to support the uptake of zero emission goods vehicles (ZEGVs) in Northern Ireland.
• New consultation on RIDDOR.
• DfT restructure brings changes to freight skills engagement and ends Freight Workforce Group.

Fuel supply and costs

The Middle East conflict is continuing to impact logistics and supply chains, including pushing up the price of fuel and leading to increased costs associated with managing supply chain disruptions. This is putting acute pressure on logistics businesses and, as logistics businesses typically operate on narrow margins, higher costs for consumers too.

In response to the conflict, Logistics UK is informing government and other key stakeholders of the impact on our sector; urging the government to reconsider the planned fuel duty increase this September, highlighting that an early decision would support business confidence and supply chain resilience; and sharing with members what we are hearing from government and others.

Government is reassuring industry that the UK benefits from strong and diverse security of fuel supplies, that it is monitoring stocks and sales closely and that production and imports are continuing across the UK as normal. The government has also reassured that contingency planning in this area is well established. Government has a range of measures it can use in the unlikely event that normal supply chains become disrupted from any cause. Logistics UK has underlined the importance of timely and clear communication with the industry when required.   

Fuel protests

While the rising cost of fuel is having a severe impact on a sector that operates on tight margins, we do not condone those taking part in any on-road protests, which cause disruption not only to logistics businesses themselves but also to all other road users and consumers. We continue to work closely with the UK government to highlight the impact of the conflict on our sector and are urging the Chancellor reconsider the planned fuel duty increase this September.

Middle East disruption: survey reminder and information available to members

To represent members at this time, we are collecting member feedback via our quarterly Logistics Performance Tracker survey, where anonymised and aggregated responses on the impact of the Middle East conflict on logistics will be fed directly back to government officials.

Complete the short survey on SurveyMonkey here, or via Microsoft Forms here.   

To support members, Logistics UK is also hosting two upcoming webinars: 

Middle East conflict and logistics – member webinar 

Wednesday 22 April, 13.00 – 14.00 

This webinar, hosted by Logistics UK and led by CEO Ben Fletcher, will provide an opportunity to hear our analysis of the impact of the conflict and how we are responding. It will also give members the chance to share how the situation is affecting businesses now, and how you expect it to affect you in the coming weeks and months. 

Register here.

Middle East conflict and fuel costs – member webinar 

Tuesday 28 April, 11.00 – 12.00 

This Logistics UK webinar will provide the latest insight and practical guidance to help logistics businesses understand and manage rising fuel costs in the context of the Middle East conflict. 

Members will hear from expert speakers at Portland Fuel and MyAutomate, who will share: 

• Insights on current fuel price volatility and market trends. 
• Practical tools to help operators manage fuel costs and risk. 
• Guidance on fuel purchasing, data and contracting approaches. 

There will also be an opportunity to put your questions directly to the panel.

Please hold the date in your diary. Further details, including registration, will follow shortly. 

In the meantime, we have updated our weekly update on the Middle East conflict, which is available to read here. 

New consultation on updating the minimum emission standard for new road vehicles

The Department for Transport has launched a consultation seeking views on a proposal to update the minimum emission standard to Euro 7 for new cars, vans, trucks, buses and coaches. 

Euro 7 is the EU’s latest emission standard. It will apply to new light-duty vehicle models from 29 November 2026 and to new heavy-duty vehicle models from 29 May 2028. The UK has helped develop this standard through the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). 

The government is proposing to update the minimum emission standard for new light and heavy-duty vehicles in Great Britain to the Euro 7 emission standard, in line with the EU. It is also proposing to change the light-duty in-service conformity (ISC) testing obligations. Logistics UK will be responding before the deadline of 25 May. To share your views, contact Engineering Policy Lead, Arthur Gribbin.

Logistics UK’s response to consultation on electricity network connections

Logistics UK submitted its response to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) consultation on accelerating electricity network connections for strategic demand on 15 April 2026. 

The response sets out the sector’s need for freight and logistics infrastructure to be formally recognised as strategic demand. Logistics UK called on government to ensure DfT sponsorship for the sector’s connection needs, explicit inclusion of logistics infrastructure within the definition of strategic demand, and accessible nomination pathways that operators can realistically navigate. 

The response also raised serious concerns about the risk of a two-tier system emerging if current processes are not simplified. Complex and resource-intensive connection processes disproportionately disadvantage SME operators, who make up a significant share of the logistics workforce yet are least equipped to absorb the cost and administrative burden of securing grid connections. If the government is serious about meeting its climate targets, Logistics UK has said it must ensure that the infrastructure needed to decarbonise the sector is within reach for operators of all sizes. 

Members can read Logistics UK’s submission here.

Consultation on changes to regulations to support the uptake of zero emission goods vehicles (ZEGVs) in Northern Ireland

Logistics UK has responded to a consultation from the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland on the regulations surrounding 4.25t zero emission goods vehicles, calling for regulatory alignment on licensing with GB.  

Members can read Logistics UK’s submission here. 

New consultation on RIDDOR

HSE has launched a consultation on The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR). 

The consultation seeks stakeholder views on a range of legislative and non-legislative proposals to help reduce work-related ill health. It looks for options to reduce the burden on businesses, in making these reports to the regulator, through simplification of the reporting process. Logistics UK will be responding to the consultation and is seeking members views by the 26 May to Maddi Solloway-Price. 

DfT restructure brings changes to freight skills engagement and ends Freight Workforce Group

The Department for Transport has announced organisational changes following a wider Civil Service drive to reduce costs and headcount, which will affect how it engages with the freight and logistics sector. As part of a restructure, there will no longer be a dedicated team focused on logistics and freight skills within the Freight and Borders Directorate. Responsibility for road freight skills policy – specifically HGVs and warehousing – will sit with the Road Freight Division, while broader workforce and skills issues will be handled centrally across government. As a result, the Freight Workforce Group, of which Logistics UK was a member, will be discontinued. While this marks the end of a formal forum for sector collaboration, the DfT has highlighted the value of the work produced so far. The Freight Council will continue as the main sector engagement body, of which Logistics UK are a member. 

Logistics UK continues to engage across government on a broad skills agenda. Members wishing to join the Employment and Skills Working Group should contact Head of Skills Policy, Bethany Windsor.

Average EU and UK forecourt prices

Please find the average EU and UK forecourt prices here.