Urgent plea for storage as more than 50 transport firms sign up to help Ukraine

Logistics UK has had more than 50 offers of help from transport firms keen to distribute aid donations to Ukraine.

But with storage capacity under increasing strain, companies with available warehousing space are being urged to come forward.

The call comes as Moody Logistics opened its warehouse facilities to Newcastle’s Polish Centre to help it cope with a flood of donations.

Pall-Ex is also coordinating the collection of aid at its central hub in Leicestershire, where it will then be transported to its new Poland hub in Łódź.

“The whole industry has really stepped up, the response has been incredible,” Logistics UK deputy communications director Rona Hunnisett told MT.

“But the Ukrainian embassy have been inundated with people arriving with donations so they’re really keen to find warehousing space to move it to. People have so much stuff but we need to find a way to store it and then get it on the move.

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"If any operators have spare capacity and can email supplyukraine@logistics.org.uk that would be amazing.”

Logistics UK were initially approached by the CBI who had members with products they wanted to move but no vehicle availability.

HMRC initially raised concerns over mixed loads at the border, but donations are now reaching their destination, Hunnisett confirmed.

“We’ve had offers of help ranging from an individual manager with a Class 2 licence happy to drive, to people such as DWP offering a whole refrigerated fleet,” she added.

“It’s been everyone from Asda to Heron Foods, FMX Event Services, Jaguar Land Rover, Middlegate, Harrier Express in Kent, Gist, Burke and Wills Removals, even a pet transport company.

“These vehicles are being volunteered willingly but not breaking the supply chain. It’s the small right up to the big guns. We’ve also had offers from road hauliers in Germany including fine art transporters and orchestra movers.

“There are also so many individuals who have taken time off in lieu to help. It’s very humbling. I’ve been overwhelmed by people who’ve said, ‘I’ve got a vehicle, I can take time off work, let’s go’.”