With the industry facing a serious shortage of skilled workers, Logistics UK has launched a comprehensive, free guide for employers from across the sector on “Funding and support for accessing logistics skills.”
Logistics UK has said that the timing of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) consultation on increasing the fees it charges is inconsiderate, given the impacts that the agency’s actions have had on the industry and the public over the past 18 months.
The Government’s announcement late last week (6 August 2021) that it would be extending the temporary relaxation of drivers’ hours until October 2021 is only of limited value and will not address the deep-rooted causes of the driver shortage crisis, Logistics UK has said.
The promised Delivery Plan for transitioning to zero emission cars and vans was published by the Department for Transport on 14 July 2021 setting out investment and policy initiatives for meeting the 2030 and 2035 phase out dates affecting vans and included significant milestones and ways progress will be monitored.
Following the success of the first ITT Hub, organiser Farnborough International is announcing growth plans for 2022.
The introduction of a new Apprenticeship category for HGV drivers, enabling them to drive HGVs and trailers (or C+E as categorised on their driving licence), has been welcomed by Logistics UK as a positive step in building and retaining the workforce of tomorrow.
Following temporary changes introduced last summer, Transport for London (TfL) launched a consultation on permanent changes to the Congestion Charge last week (28 July 2021).
Logistics UK is inviting its members that operate van fleets to attend one of three events it is holding in September.
Logistics UK urged the government to review its decision not to grant temporary work visas to EU HGV drivers last week (29 July 2021), in the wake of mounting pressure on the UK's supply chain caused by a lack of available delivery personnel.
With the ‘pingdemic’ placing intense pressure on logistics businesses and UK supply chains, Logistics UK continues to press the Government to allow logistics workers to avoid isolation if they are contacted by the NHS COVID-19 app, providing they have received two vaccinations and have negative PCR test results.
With the UK now in Step 4 of the Government’s Roadmap out of lockdown, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published updated Working safely during coronavirus guidance to help businesses reduce the risk of transmission and protect staff and customers.
With the ongoing driver shortage causing headaches for members across the country, and many struggling to identify the workforce of tomorrow, Logistics UK held a webinar this week to explain more about how members in England can use the apprenticeship levy to recruit and train new staff.
Logistics UK continued to pressure the Government this week to seek effective resolutions to the HGV driver shortage.
Tuesday’s (20 July 2021)’s announcement of a government plan to support the recovery of the logistics sector and tackle HGV driver shortages acknowledges industry concerns over testing delays and the simplification of the process involved in the acquisition of an HGV licence.
The expected launch of the new C+E driver apprenticeship standard for Large Goods Vehicles on 1 August, with a funding level of £7,000, is encouraging news for the logistics sector, particularly for businesses currently struggling to fill driving vacancies, Logistics UK has said.
It is estimated that more than 1,400 HGV drivers were forced to spend the night sleeping in their cabs on Sunday, owing to a chronic lack of safe and secure parking spaces for their vehicles.
When it comes to decarbonising the UK’s commercial vehicle parc, the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sector promises to be the scene of the earliest wins.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP heralded the government’s publication of its long-awaited Transport decarbonisation plan yesterday (14 July 2021) as “just the start” of a revolution that will see all modes of domestic transport decarbonised by 2050.
Employment Minister Mims Davies MP met with Logistics UK and A.I.M Commercial Services Ltd at the company’s site in Ripley, Derbyshire this week (14 July 2021), to discuss how best to attract new recruits to the sector and help businesses across logistics to drive the economic recovery.
Logistics UK reacted with dismay to the announcement last week (7 July 2021) of the continued relaxation of drivers’ hours legislation until 8 August 2021, which governs the length of time which HGV drivers are legally expected to work.
Logistics Magazine will cover all the latest news on stories breaking in the industry, including developments on COVID-19, Brexit, Clean Air Zones, transport law and decarbonisation.
Our frequent features will tackle the broader issues affecting logistics such as the COVID-19 vaccination programme, technology and innovation, the political and economic landscape, global trade and the drive to reduce emissions across all transport modes.
Each month we explore a different topic in depth in our popular Compliance section, while each week we will publish answers put to our Member Advice Centre team.
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