Delivering in London is tougher than ever, say operators

Friday 07 October 2016

Ninety-six per cent of transport operators questioned by FTA say delivering in London is harder than five years ago – with congestion, restricted delivery times and an excessive number of compliance schemes among the reasons.

A survey by the Freight Transport Association in partnership with Road Transport Media (RTM) quizzed operators on their experiences in the city and asked about issues including penalty charges, vulnerable road users and the London Lorry Control Scheme. The majority of respondents named increased traffic as the biggest problem.

Christopher Walton, RTM Group Managing Editor, said: “Congestion is overwhelmingly the number one factor when it comes to the challenges of delivering in London, with vulnerable road users and too many compliance schemes both very close in second place.”

RTM’s Freight in the City Expo on 2 November will explore how delivering in London can be cleaner, safer and quieter. Air quality, alternative fuels, consolidation, cycle safety and quiet deliveries are all on the agenda and speakers include FTA’s Head of Policy for London Natalie Chapman.

Ms Chapman said: “Delivering in an ever-growing city is a huge challenge but HGVs remain the most effective way of getting goods in and out so it’s vital to ensure this is done safely, cost-effectively and with consideration for the environment.

“FTA believes there are many improvements that can be made without compromising the efficiency of transport operations, such as reforming night-time delivery restrictions, avoiding lorry bans and increasing enforcement of existing HGV legislation.”

For more information about the Freight in the City Expo go to www.freightinthecity.com
 
 
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