Top 12 Policy Wins – 2022

1. Future of Freight: a long-term plan published

Logistics UK was pleased to see the publication of the government’s Future of Freight: a long-term plan – the first cross-modal and cross-government plan for the UK freight transport sector. This includes many of Logistics UK’s asks, such as the creation of a Freight Energy Forum, a review of regulatory barriers to deliver zero carbon energy infrastructure, a reform of training offers to encourage transferable qualifications, identification of a national freight network, and a valuation of freight studies.

2. Generation Logistics launch

An important launch for Logistics UK is Generation Logistics, the new flagship campaign that aims to help people to understand the logistics sector, the breadth of roles available across the industry, and why it is an exciting career to consider. The campaign is backed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and sponsors across the breadth of the industry. Find out more about the campaign at https://logistics.org.uk/generation-logistics.

3. Reducing the impact of rising energy costs and disruption

Logistics UK wrote to the Prime Minister and Cabinet in October, calling for clarity on government plans to mitigate the impact of significant current and future increases in energy costs and address concerns around potential supply challenges. To support this, members were surveyed to collect evidence on the expected impact. The government announced that businesses in Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be supported through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, a six-month scheme that will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for business customers.

4. Tachograph recording changes

Changes to the tachograph recording obligations for demonstrating activity away from an in-scope vehicle resulted in occasional drivers needing to spend a great deal of time making manual entries to comply with the legislation. Logistics UK collected evidence from members to demonstrate the impact of this as a significant barrier to operational efficiency and engaged with DfT and the Commercial Vehicle Road Safety Forum. This resulted in guidance being issued from DfT for members on how the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will enforce the new requirements.

5. GB-NI Trader Support Service extension

The government has extended the Trader Support Service for another year, a scheme which was initially awarded funding for two years only. Logistics UK has continually raised the importance of the Trader Support Service for members as a free-to-use service that helps traders and carriers in moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Logistics UK emphasised that the Trader Support Service should be extended because it reduces the costs associated with the Protocol as members do not have to pay for customs entries.

6. Decarbonising Logistics Report launched

Logistics UK published its first Decarbonising Logistics Report in May 2022 to review progress made towards achieving the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target. One of Logistics UK’s asks in its Route to Net Zero manifesto in November 2021 led to the government’s £200 million funding for an extensive zero emission road freight demonstrator programme. Government has committed to developing a plan with industry for the rollout of zero tailpipe emission HGV infrastructure, an extension to the Category B licence derogation, £300 million funding for the plug-in grants, and to expand public charging infrastructure.

7. Scottish Zero Emission Truck Taskforce

Logistics UK partnered with Transport Scotland and the Road Haulage Association to launch a Zero Emission Truck Taskforce, which brings together road haulage and logistics operators, manufacturing, energy, and finance sectors to explore the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to zero tailpipe emission trucks.

8. Driver facility improvements in England, Scotland and Wales

• In England, following Logistics UK’s engagement with National Highways and DfT, National Highways pledged £20 million of its Users and Communities Fund for the improvement of driver facilities and lorry parking. This is in addition to the £32.5 million already pledged by DfT.
• In Scotland, after regular meetings with Transport Scotland, the importance of safe and secure lorry parking for logistics drivers is being included in the latest version of the Strategic Transport Plan Review – STPR2.
• In Wales, Logistics UK submitted evidence to the Economy Committee of the Welsh Senedd during its inquiry on the driver shortage. This prompted the Senedd to call on the Welsh Government to update its planning policy to require warehouse facilities and other logistics sector spaces to include high-quality driver facilities. Welsh MPs also pursued an audit of roadside facilities and set out proposals to work with partners to improve commercial driver rest facilities.

9. Increasing efficiency of driver licensing medical assessments

DVSA introduced a new change to driver medical assessments. Previously, drivers could only seek medical assessments from doctors and Logistics UK raised this issue with the Agency, explaining the effect that the delays were having on the processing of applications. The change enables other named medical professionals to conduct assessments, increasing the speed of medical assessments, and enabling drivers to gain their licences more quickly.

10. Shortage Occupation List and the Skilled Worker Visa review

Logistics UK sits on the Migration Advisory Committee stakeholder group and has raised the significant challenge of the shortage of HGV drivers and mechanics. Currently, mechanics are on the Skilled Worker Visa and on the Shortage Occupation List and Logistics UK is urging government to maintain this, while HGV drivers do not meet the minimum skills requirement. After calling for this to be changed, The Migration Advisory Committee has been commissioned to review the Shortage Occupation List and the Skilled Worker Visa.

11. Improvements to MOT testing appeals process

Logistics UK held discussions with DVSA to propose solutions to the slow appeals processes for lorry, trailer and bus/coach MOT results. As a result, DVSA introduced an improved appeals process which involves a quick review of an annual test decision and consistent service to customers. The previous appeals process deterred operators from making appeals and taking vehicles off the road for weeks at a time. This quicker and simpler system advocated by Logistics UK came into force on 28 February 2022.

12. Improving urban access in Oxford 

Oxfordshire County Council is proposing to introduce traffic filters in six key locations around the city of Oxford aimed at reducing traffic. Following engagement with Logistics UK, local businesses, resident associations and other groups, the County Council has decided that the filters will only apply to private cars, with exemptions for HGVs and vans. It is expected that the logistics industry will benefit from this congestion reduction.

*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns

Published On: 22/12/2022 16:00:02

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