All Industry News articles – Page 221
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MT Article
FairFuelUK makes last ditch call for fuel duty cut in Autumn Statement
Campaign group FairFuelUK (FFUK) has called again on chancellor Philip Hammond to use tomorrow's Autumn Statement (22 November) to cut fuel duty and boost the economy.Following speculation that the chancellor will announce a freeze, FFUK urged him to go one step further and slash fuel duty by 3ppl.The group argues ...
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MT Article
Ocado shares fall as Morrisons announces Amazon delivery collaboration
Ocado shares took a tumble today as Morrisons announced a new store-picking service with Amazon Fresh.The supermarket’s tie-up with Amazon, available initially to Prime members in selected London and Hertfordshire postcodes, will allow customers to do a “full” Morrisons shop through Amazon.Customers are able to choose from delivery within an ...
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MT Article
FairFuelUK takes case for duty cut to the Treasury
FairFuelUK (FFUK) joined forces with fifty MPs yesterday to present an independent economic report to the Treasury, which argues that cutting fuel duty will boost the haulage industry and the wider economy.The report comes ahead of the government’s Autumn Statement next week. It was handed into the Treasury along with ...
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MT ArticleFors version four raises the bar for gold operators
Version four of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (Fors) standard has raised the bar for accredited hauliers, particularly gold operators, according to scheme director John Hix (pictured).Speaking to Motortransport.co.uk at Fors’ first annual conference at Birmingham’s National Conference Centre, Hix said: “The key changes in the new standard are some ...
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MT Article
Bell questions one-size-fits-all O-licence fees
Senior traffic commissioner (TC) Beverley Bell (right) has questioned whether a one-size-fits-all O-licence fee is still appropriate given the diversity in the type, scale and size of transport operations across today’s road transport industry.In the TCs’ annual reports for 2015/16, Bell noted that nearly three-quarters of goods and PSV O-licences ...
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MT Article
MPs call for fuel duty cuts to prevent “severe damage” to haulage industry
More than 50 MPs are calling on the chancellor to cut fuel duty, warning that the haulage industry faces “severe damage” if fuel duty rises in line with RPI next April.The MPs are also calling for the creation of an independent watchdog to monitor pump pricing.In a letter to ...
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MT Article
AA says smart motorway fines should be reinvested to improve network's safety
The AA has told Motortransport.co.uk that speeding fines from smart motorways should be ring-fenced and used to improve safety on the controversial routes.The motoring organisation has backed calls for urgent safety improvements on smart motorways.It argues there are not enough refuge areas for motorists on stretches where all-lane running is ...
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MT Article
UK logistics businesses more confident now than six months ago
Despite the continuing uncertainty over the UK economy and the future of foreign drivers post-Brexit, confidence amongst UK’s logistics businesses has risen from the historic low registered in the first half of 2016, according to a new survey.Although the latest UK Logistics Confidence Index from Barclays and Moore Stephens, remained ...
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MT Article
More than 70% of infrastructure providers aren't confident they can deliver vital road improvements
Infrastructure providers are concerned that they cannot deliver the government’s roads improvement strategy (RIS), according to the findings in a CBI/AECOM survey.It found that despite 95% of the 728 businesses surveyed seeing delivery of the RIS as important to the country’s economic growth, 71% of providers are not confident, or ...
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MT Article
Stop exclusively penalising the road transport industry over emissions, says FTA
The government must change tack and stop penalising the road transport industry over emissions while allowing car owners to get off scot-free, according to the FTA.The call came after environmental group ClientEarth yesterday (2 November) won its High Court action against the government.The group had said the government's plans to ...
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MT ArticleGovernment challenges industry to employ more minorities
The government has challenged the logistics industry to boost the number of its female and ethnic minority employees. The government itself has a target of 20% of entrants to the engineering and technical apprenticeships to be female of BAME, and said in its response to a Transport Committee skills report ...
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MT Article
Uncertainty over EU driver rights is major risk to UK
Uncertainty over EU workers’ future employment rights is a “major concern” given that 10% of the UK’s driver workforce is from the EU, the FTA has warned. In a new report, The driver shortage: issues and trends, the FTA highlights the UK’s reliance on the 31,542 EU drivers in the ...
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MT Article
Third Heathrow runway met with cautious welcome by transport associations
The decision to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport has been tentatively welcomed by the industry. While the general consensus is that it was the correct decision, there remain uncertainties that need clarification, according to road transport representatives.The decision to expand Heathrow was announced today (25 October) after years ...
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MT Article
Road haulage trailblazers given final go ahead as government confirms apprenticeship funding
The HGV driver training apprenticeship has been given the official go ahead with the government’s confirmation of apprenticeship funding today. The department will fund 100% of apprenticeship training for companies with fewer than 50 employees taking on candidates aged 16-18, as well as committing more than £60m of funding for ...
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MT Article
HMRC "considering" low pay allegations against Hermes
HMRC has responded to MP Frank Field’s call for an investigation into low pay at Hermes, stating it had referred his evidence to the “appropriate compliance teams for consideration”. Field sent HMRC information last month, which he claimed was evidence of the courier failing to meet minimum wage requirements for ...
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MT Article
EU-funded road upgrade in Belfast halted post-referendum
A road upgrade programme in Belfast, which was to be largely funded by the EU, has been put on hold following the referendum.The upgrade of the York Street interchange, used by 100,000 vehicles every day, was planned to improve air quality and traffic flow, as well as make journey times ...
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MT Article
FFUK demands independent watchdog for fuel prices
FairFuelUK (FFUK) is demanding the creation of an independent watchdog to monitor pricing and transparency at the pumps, amid warnings that the cost of fuel could hit £1.43/44 for diesel.The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Fuel held its annual general meeting earlier this week and new FFUK chairman, Charlie Elphicke, ...
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MT Article
No HGV Road User Levy review, says DfT
The DfT has denied that it is looking to replace the HGV Road User Levy with a distance-based road user charge for HGVs.The response came after the RHA issued a release stating that the review of the HGV road charging system had been confirmed by Duncan Price.Price is DfT divisional ...
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MT ArticlePrologis developing largest speculative build since UK's vote for Brexit
Prologis is developing the largest speculative build since the UK’s referendum on EU membership, a 275,000ft² DC at its Marston Gate site.Located next to the 151,000ft² national DC that Prologis is building for furniture retailer Dwell, the speculative facility will complete the second phase of Prologis Park Marston Gate, which ...
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MT ArticleIndustry must unite on Brexit wishes, says MP
The industry must present its Brexit wishes to government with a united voice in the lead up to the UK’s exit from the EU, MP Rob Flello has said. Speaking at Motor Transport’s Brexit Debate earlier this week, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent South (pictured) said government would only listen to ...