August Edition
Tuesday 13 August 2024
Main news
Demand for new vans down in July but 2024 market remains robust
Figures released Monday (5 August) by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the UK’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) market dropped -8.5% last month with registrations for the sector of 24,689 LCVs, when compared to July 2023. However, the overall market remains robust with 2024 registrations up 2.7% year to date and are the best first seven months since 2019.
Apart from demand for the smallest vans, which continued to remain strong with July registrations more than double (117.6%) to 929 units, all other segments were down. Largest vans still represent more than two thirds (68.1%) of the overall market, but last month registrations were down -12.0% to 16,814 units, while -8.4% fewer new medium-sized vans were registered.
Disappointingly, BEV registrations for July were down to 1,415 units (-14.6%). Since January 2024, BEVs have accounted for 5.1% of all new vans – a share that includes those weighing up to and equal to 3.5 tonnes (4.8%) and those weighting above 3.5 to 4.25 tonnes (0.3%) – meaning zero emission uptake is down -7.0% across the year so far.
SMMT’s latest outlook for the year remains robust, with 351,000 LCV units expected to be registered this year, which will be an increase of 2.8% on 2023. However, the BEV share of LCV registrations under 3.5 tonnes has been revised downwards to 6.6%. Logistics UK alongside partners of the Zero Emission Van Plan Campaign has been calling on government to ensure van fleet operators have the confidence to invest in zero emission vehicles. Our asks include improved charging, regulatory and fiscal support and the removal of regulatory barriers to minimise the barriers impacting on the uptake of zero emission vehicles.
Latest figures on electric vehicle public charging infrastructure
At the end of last month (30 July), the Department for Transport published the latest statistics about the number of publicly available electric vehicle charging devices in the UK. As of 1 July 2024, there were 64,632 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK, up by 47% (20,612 new devices) compared to 1 July 2023.
Of these charging devices, 19% (12,474) had a charging speed of 50kW of power or above and 60% (38,468) had a power rating of 3kW up to 8kW.
The most common location category for charging devices was 'destination' accounting for 30,921 charging devices or 48% of all publicly available devices. These are categorised as being found at the end of an electric vehicle journey or where a driver may typically stop for an extended period of time.
There continues to be an uneven geographical distribution of charging devices within the UK. London and Scotland had the highest level of charging provision per 100,000 of population, with 234 and 103 devices per 100,000 respectively. In comparison, the average provision in the UK was 96 per 100,000.
Northern Ireland continues with the lowest level of charging device provision in the UK, with 32 devices per 100,000, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber with 56 devices per 100,000.
Government outlines its legislative programme for the year in the King’s Speech
On 17 July, the King’s Speech outlined the new government’s ‘mission-led’ legislative programme. Key announcements of relevance to the logistics sector include:
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The establishment of Great British Railways (GBR) under the Rail Reform Bill. This will introduce a statutory duty on GBR to promote the use of rail freight, alongside an overall growth target set by the Secretary of State and safeguards to ensure that freight operators continue to receive fair access to the network.
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The introduction of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) Bill to deliver a revenue certainty mechanism for SAF producers who are looking to invest in new plants in the UK. This builds on the SAF mandate, which will create demand for SAF by setting targets on fuel suppliers to use a proportion of SAF.
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Reform of the Apprenticeship Levy through a new Growth and Skills Levy and the Establishment of Skills England which will convene employers, unions, education and training providers, and experts with national government to develop a single picture of national and local skills needs.
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Enhanced powers for metro mayors and combined authorities under the English Devolution Bill. This will include greater powers over strategic planning, local transport networks, skills, and employment support and create duties for local leaders to produce Local Growth Plans.
The King’s Speech background briefing note can be read here.
Logistics UK has written to all MPs and ministers sharing the logistics sector’s priorities for the government’s first 100 days and our manifesto.
The Chancellor announces spending cuts to transport infrastructure projects
On 29 July the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced government cuts to infrastructure spending following a public spending audit carried out by the Treasury. The audit highlighted a £22 billion overspend in the current financial year. The government has announced it will be considering spending cuts of £5.5 billion this year and £8 billion over the next year across all departments. This will include an internal review by the Secretary of State for Transport of the Department for Transport’s capital spend portfolio, where the government has reported that there is £2.9 billion of unfunded transport commitments.
As part of that work, the Secretary of State has agreed to not move forward with the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel and the A27 Arundel Bypass projects.
The Chancellor also announced that an Autumn Budget will be held on 30 October. Logistics UK will be working with members to develop its submission to the Treasury ahead of the Budget. The deadline is 10 September and submissions must be made via the online portal.
New form to report dangerous goods incidents
The Department for Transport has published a new form for freight companies transporting dangerous goods by road. This is relevant to those transporting dangerous goods involved in a serious incident that happens during filling, loading, carriage and unloading.
As a reminder, it is a legal requirement to report an incident if it is ‘serious’. Full details are available here.
Reminder to renew Driver Qualification Cards before deadline
September 2024 is the anniversary for many drivers of goods vehicles with Driver Qualification Cards (DQCs) due to expire, as it is the end of the third five-year cycle since Driver CPC was introduced in 2009 for drivers of goods vehicles. This applies to drivers of vehicles C1 and above.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has issued a reminder this week, as many drivers still requiring periodic training to renew their DQC need to complete their 35 hours of training at the same time. In August and September 2019, the end of the last five-year cycle, the volume of training required was three times higher than usual, according to DVSA data.
Any drivers who do not complete their periodic training by the expiry date of their DQC will not be able to drive in-scope of Driver CPC.
Logistics UK offers a range of Driver CPC courses, the link to which can be found here.
National Emergency Area Retrofit programme
National Highways has published its July newsletter for its National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme.
The programme has been developed to create over 150 additional emergency areas of sections of All Lane Running (ALR) motorway across the country. The investment in extra emergency areas, along with technology such as stopped vehicle detection, more signs and clear advice about ALR motorways online is to improve safety across the network.
The newsletter outlines open NEAR locations as well as ones in construction and relevant details.
UK to host Invictus Games 2027
The UK has won the bid to host the Invictus Games 2027 in Birmingham, beating six other cities around the world. The Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 will be held at the NEC in July 2027, two years on from the upcoming Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, taking place next year in February.
Logistics UK will be calling for information about how logistics operations can continue to meet servicing and deliveries for the area before, during and immediately after the event to be made available as soon as possible to ensure operators can plan routes effectively and to minimise operational disruption. More information and to subscribe to updates here.
Logistics UK meets with new Minister for the Future of Roads
David Wells OBE, Logistics UK Chief Executive, met recently with Lilian Greenwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport, responsible for the Future of Roads. In the meeting on 17 July, the Minister explained that her role covers all of logistics, including by coordinating with her Ministerial colleagues across the Department, and that she looks forward to working closely with Logistics UK.
David Wells set out that logistics underpins the economy, employs 8% of the UK workforce and generates £185 billion in GVA and, as such, is crucial to delivering the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth. He highlighted that the sector has strategic, long-term policy priorities, from infrastructure to decarbonisation, as well as more immediate priorities, such as tackling the challenges posed by the EU Entry Exit System and other border regimes and seeing Parliament pass the CPC reforms.
Environment Working Group discusses electrification challenges
Logistics UK's Environment Working Group met (25 July) to discuss a range of topics including transport electrification and other decarbonisation options, policy updates and the latest industry trials.
Guest speakers included Charlotte Patch, Head of Electrification and Fiona Lawler, EV Strategy Advisor, from Ofgem who outlined steps the energy regulator is taking to address electrification across the sector. Discussion focused on increasing grid capacity and specifically, the location of charge points, as well as meeting expected future energy demands.
The next Environment Working Group meeting is scheduled for Thursday 24 October and all members are welcome. To attend, please email group secretary, Denise Beedell.
Road Closures
Blackwall tunnel southbound weekend closure in August
Transport for London (TfL) has announced a weekend closure of the southbound Blackwall tunnel to support the construction of the new Silvertown tunnel across the weekend of 17-19 August.
Planned closure is required to complete the road layout to support the new Silvertown tunnel which opens in 2025. Northbound traffic will not be affected and will be diverted via the southbound tunnel when required.
Across the weekend, the Blackwall Tunnel will be closed for southbound traffic and drivers will need to take alternative routes. Northbound traffic will not be affected by the closure as traffic will be diverted through the southbound Blackwall Tunnel when required. The weekend closure will start at 00:01 on the Saturday morning, with southbound traffic being restored by 05:00 on the Monday morning at the latest. Further information about the closure can be found here.
A20 Sidcup By-Pass closures in late August
Road closures to the eastbound carriageway (towards Kent) of the A20 Sidcup By-Pass between Green Acres Kemnal Park and Swanley Service are planned on Friday 23 August, 22:00 to Tuesday 27 August, 05:00. A single lane restriction westbound will be required to preserve a safe working environment for contractors.
Carriageway resurfacing works of the of the westbound carriageway (towards London) are also required from Wednesday 28 August, 22:00 to Thursday 29 August, 05:00.
The works include resurfacing and drainage work on the eastbound carriageway, as well as some essential works to the central reserve on the westbound carriageway between the Sidcup Services and Swanley Interchange (M25 Junction 3).
Diversions will be introduced for motorway and non-motorway traffic throughout the works period. Local roadside signage will be put in place two weeks in advance of the works.
Once these works have finished, the speed limit will be returned to its previous restriction (70mph east of Crittalls Corner and 50mph west of Crittalls Corner).
M62 closures to rebuild Castleton Bridge in September
Network Rail will be demolishing the current structure and installing a new bridge, resulting in two full weekend closures of the motorway. The M62 eastbound junction 18 to 20 and the M62 westbound junction 20 to 19 will be closed:
In addition, there will be nightly closures of the motorway in both directions between the two weekend closures. More information from National Highways about the planned closures available here.
Charging Zones
Improving the Clean Air Zone Business Account service and August Clean Air Zone member briefing
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is looking to engage with interested parties who would like to take part in research to improve the Clean Air Zone Business Account service. Feedback will be used to design services and products for current and future users.
The research sessions will be one-to-one interviews either in person or via Microsoft Teams and will last no more than one hour.
For more information or to volunteer to take part in the research, please email UX@dvla.gov.uk and include CAZ Business Accounts in the subject.
Logistics UK’s monthly Clean Air Zone (CAZ) member briefing note contains a full list of all schemes. The note covers Logistics UK’s policy position on urban air quality restrictions and contains information on all CAZs in development, including Low Emission Zones (LEZs) and other clean air measures proposed for cities across the UK.
International
Poland – Changes in the SENT system
Poland has announced that new obligations for journeys related to the System for Electronic Transport Supervision (SENT) system will be introduced from 1 January 2025.
Presently, the monitoring system SENT only applies to selected products, However, from 1 January 2025, it will be necessary for every non-EU carrier performing international transport, and for EU carriers if cabotage operations takes place, to notify their operations on the system.
Bulgaria – Preventive disinfection of vehicles
On 15 July 2024, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency started carrying out preventive disinfection of all vehicles entering Bulgaria from Türkiye due to the epizootic (term used for an outbreak of disease affecting many animals of one kind at the same time) situation there.
Drivers will have to pay the following fees at the border crossing point:
This decision is based on an alert by the Food Chain Risk Assessment Centre of a direct risk of transmission of animal disease viruses, including FMD, Sheep and Goat Pox, Plague of Small Ruminants, "Blue tongue", "Brucellosis in cattle", "Brucellosis in sheep and goats", "African swine fever", with more than 90% of epidemic outbreaks in settlements located close to the border.
Poland – New Low Emission Zone
On 1 July 2024, the first Clean Transport Zone (SCT) Low Emission Zone in Poland began to operate in Warsaw and covers the centre and parts of the surrounding districts.
The zone is marked with road signs. The entry of vehicles emitting the most toxic exhaust gases will be restricted in this area.
In total, the SCT covers an area of 37 square kilometres, which is approximately 7% of the capital.
The entry of vehicles with a petrol engine (including LPG) older than 27 years or not meeting the Euro 2 standard and diesel vehicles (including LPG) older than 19 years or not meeting the Euro 4 standard will be restricted.
Vehicles entering the zone will be exempted from ban according to the following schedule:
From 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2025, motor vehicles:
There will be a gradual tightening of the Euro Standards of vehicles allowed into Warsaw over the coming years which will start on an annual basis as of 1 January 2026 with the aim by 1 January 2032, that no vehicle will enter Warsaw unless they meet Euro 6 emission standard or manufactured no earlier than 2012.
France – African swine fever prevention campaign
France’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty is launching a campaign on the potential spread of the African swine fever (ASF) all around Europe. Scheduled to run from the beginning of July to the end of November 2024, the aim of this campaign is to raise awareness among all those whose activities involve border crossing. Although harmless to humans, the disease is contagious and fatal to pigs and wild boar and has serious economic consequences for farmers and the entire pork industry.
Even though the spread of the virus remains very limited, the Ministry warns of a possible spread throughout Europe. Several cases have been detected in wild boar in Italy and Germany. For this reason, FNTR (La Fédération Nationale des Transports Routiers) and the French Ministry are calling for vigilance.
The virus has a long lifespan, including in meat and charcuterie. It is therefore essential not to bring back food made from pork or wild boar from abroad, particularly from areas affected by ASF.
The campaign includes specific messages for each of the relevant groups. It calls on international hauliers to dispose of leftovers from their meals in closed bins provided for this purpose, to prevent them being eaten by wild boar (particularly at resting areas surrounded by wooded areas).
When transporting pigs, the vehicle must be cleaned and disinfected after unloading.
Members can find out more about the campaign by contacting the Member Advice Centre where a full communication kit is available, which includes posters and animations.
Consultations
Government announces an overhaul of the planning system
On 30 July, Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced a series of measures to overhaul the planning system. These new measures, including the reintroduction of housing targets on planning authorities, are primarily aimed at increasing the number of new homes built in the UK. This includes a review of the greenbelt to identify ‘grey belt’ sites for development.
In addition, the consultation highlights the critical role of freight and logistics in UK economic growth and productivity, setting out the importance of the national network of storage and distribution infrastructure to enable local, regional, national and international operations. The consultation proposes wording to ensure supply chains, transport innovation and decarbonisation are considered in terms of the locational requirements of the storage and distribution centres. These proposals aim to support the growth of the sector, through facilitating decarbonisation, adapting to changing patterns of global change and adopting new technologies.
Logistics UK has responded to the announcement welcoming proposals to streamline the planning system which will support logistics developments and grid connectivity. However, we have urged the government to consider the everyday needs of the sector as part of the planning and construction process, to allocate sufficient space for logistics facilities and ensure that the needs of the sector are included as an integral part of any planning process.
The announcement includes a review of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Logistics UK will be responding to the NPPF consultation which closes on 24 September.
Proposed new charges for Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels
Transport for London (TfL) is consulting on user charges for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels once the new Silvertown Tunnel opens in spring 2025. The charges are aimed at helping manage traffic and to repay the construction costs. The charges will apply between 06:00 and 22:00, seven days a week.
The proposed charges are:
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Off peak - £1.50 for cars, motorbikes and small vans, £2.50 for large vans, and £5 for HGVs registered for AutoPay.
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Peak (6am to 10am northbound, 4pm to 7pm southbound Monday to Friday) - £2.50 for motorbikes, £4 for cars and small vans, £6.50 for large vans, and £10 for HGVs. These charges would also apply during off-peak charging hours for vehicles not registered for AutoPay.
Further details of the proposed charges can be found here. The consultation on charge levels, including discounts and exemptions, runs until 3 September 2024.
FROM THE MAC
Q: One of our drivers is planned to do a journey into Europe next week but was also required to send their licence off to DVLA in order to renew it. As it has not yet been received back, would a letter from DVLA stating that the licence is currently with them be sufficient to allow them to drive within the EU?
A: This would not be permitted as they do not have their correct licence, and any documentation would be challenged roadside. Forgeries of letters are much easier to produce and authorities would have no way of checking the legitimacy of any such document.
Drivers are expected to have their correct licence on them for production to any enforcement officer on request.
Q: Our flatbed vehicles often carry lengths of pipe that is carried over the headboard of the vehicle. We have been stopped and told that we need to use loop, or choke, lashings. What are these?
A: These types of restraints wrap in a loop around the items to be restrained and are then tightened to hold them together. Using two of these types of restraints in opposite directions should ensure that they hold the load tight.
Jargon/definition buster
kW vs kWh – Kilowatt vs Kilowatt hour – A kilowatt measures power, or the rate at which a device consumes electricity, whereas a kilowatt hour measures the amount of electricity consumed in a time period. For example, a 7.5kW charger used for three hours will consume 22.5kWh of energy.
Events
Urban Logistics and Van Forum – 19 September 2024 - London
Free half day event will allow attendees to hear advice and top tips from a number of different leading speakers. In small groups, delegates will receive a short presentation from each expert and have the opportunity to ask questions. Spaces are limited, book now to avoid disappointment here.
Digital Transformation in Logistics – 22 October 2024 – Birmingham
Returning for its second year and featuring a number of inspiring and informative keynotes and panel sessions, Digital Transformation in Logistics conference will once again bring together senior leaders, industry experts and distinguished speakers to delve into the latest trends and strategies driving the future of logistics through innovation and digitalisation. Places are strictly limited – register your interest here.
Delivering Decarbonisation – 21 November 2024 – London
An essential conference for senior logistics leaders and decarbonisation experts, that explores the roadmap to Net Zero, delving into the plans, initiatives and ongoing projects that are shaping the decarbonisation journey for businesses. More information and to register – here.
For more information about all Logistics UK events visit https://logistics.org.uk/events
