Latest fleet news – Page 362
-
MT ArticleWoodland Group opens second distribution hub
Woodland Group has opened its second distribution facility at iPort in Doncaster, in response to significant growth.The 130,458 sq ft location was secured on a 10-year lease and is now fully operational with six clients under contract.The move follows the opening of a 195,000 sq ft fulfilment and distribution warehouse ...
-
MT ArticleGXO calls off strikes after improved pay offer
Strikes involving GXO drivers on the outsourced Co-op contract have been suspended after the company put forward an improved pay offer.More than 330 lorry drivers and transport clerks based at GXO’s distribution centre in St Helens were due to hold an initial 48 hour strike beginning on Tuesday 31 May.But ...
-
MT ArticleHydrogen the best bet for heavy trucks, claims Tesco transport director
Hydrogen technology is currently the best way to decarbonise heavy trucks, according to Tesco transport director Matt Rhind (pictured).Speaking in a panel debate at last week’s Microlise Transport Conference in Coventry, he said: “I talk to a lot of manufacturers and hydrogen is a thing. At the moment it’s feeling ...
-
MT ArticleGovernment accused of 'sneaking in' strict new tachograph rules
Road transport solicitors have criticised the government for ‘sneaking in’ tough new tachograph rules at the height of the pandemic and not publicising the changes.Backhouse Jones described the new EU requirements as the most onerous on drivers “since the tachograph was first invented” and that nothing at all had been ...
-
MT ArticleOperators hit with Public Inquiries over trailer defects
Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt (pictured) has warned hauliers of their obligations regarding trailers amid a spate of Public Inquiries following serious transgressions.Speaking at the Microlise Transport Conference last week, Turfitt said: “I need to flag up a concerning pattern of cases emerging from last year. It involves the maintenance ...
-
MT Article‘Work together on building customer solutions,’ Mercedes tells industry
Richard Skidmore, head of customer service delivery with Mercedes-Benz Trucks, has urged the industry to embrace the benefits of increased collaboration to save costs and improve efficiencies.Speaking at last week’s Microlise conference, he said the pandemic had accelerated three trends – electrification, automation and connectivity – and that the sector ...
-
MT ArticlePalletline board prepares to sell business, sources claim
The board of Palletline is undertaking a strategic review of all options for investment in the business including a sale, as requested by current shareholder members, Motor Transport has learnt.Potential buyers could include Amazon - a major customer of Palletline, which is currently the only pallet network to hold Amazon’s ...
-
MT Article'We're training more examiners than ever before,' claims DVSA chief executive
Loveday Ryder (pictured), chief executive of the DVSA, has hit back at claims that the agency needs to take urgent action to address a shortfall in HGV driving tests, which is said to be blocking industry attempts to address the driver shortage.In April, the Logistics Skills Network (LSN) put together ...
-
MT ArticleReed Boardall Driver Academy given top marks
Reed Boardall has hailed the success of its Driver Academy, which launched last autumn and has already qualified 14 drivers.The Yorkshire-based cold storage and distribution specialist has spent the last year setting up the training facility at its Boroughbridge site to help those wanting to change careers.It is now offering ...
-
MT ArticleDPD ahead of target on all-electric deliveries as roll out continues
DPD has confirmed it is now providing an all-electric service to 10 UK towns and cities.The delivery giant is targeting a further 30 locations by the end of 2023 - five more than originally planned and two years earlier than expected.In October 2020, DPD announced plans to create 25 all-electric ...
-
MT ArticleOwens Group becomes shareholder member of Pall-Ex
Owens Group has strengthened its service offering by becoming a shareholder member of Pall-Ex.The Llanelli-based family firm joined Pall-Ex in February having taken ownership of longstanding Fortec member Celtic Couriers in late 2021.Owens employs around 1,000 people across the UK and is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, commemorated with a ...
-
MT ArticleLogistics UK appoints Kate Jennings as policy director
Logistics UK has appointed Kate Jennings (pictured) as its new policy director.Jennings, who will be joining the organisation at the end of June, has worked in policy roles for both the government and the business sector for some years.Her most recent post was as the policy director of the Railway ...
-
MT ArticleTackle industry ills by improving drivers’ pay and conditions, RHA tells operators
Operators need to step up to the plate and pay their drivers more if they are to end the driver shortage crisis, attract new blood and retain staff, according to RHA’s policy chief Rod McKenzie (pictured).Speaking at the recent Microlise conference, McKenzie threw down the gauntlet to operators, challenging them ...
-
MT Article'Offer flexible shifts to retain drivers,' transport minister urges hauliers
Transport minister Baroness Vere (pictured) has urged fleet operators to review their shift patterns to encourage and retain a more diverse workforce.In a virtual presentation at the Microlise Transport Conference in Coventry last week, she reminded delegates that only 22% of industry roles are currently held by women and that ...
-
MT ArticleMicrolise chief hails the return of its transport conference in 2022
The Microlise Transport Conference returned to Coventry on May 18 2022 after a three-year gap due to the Covid pandemic and Microlise chief executive Nadeem Raza, pictured, said it was “fantastic to be back” with over 1,000 delegates in attendance.“We have clearly hit the mark in terms of the subjects ...
-
MT ArticlePalletline members take the stage in 30th anniversary and awards celebrations
Simmonds Transport, Law Distribution, Curvin Transport and Axtra were amongst the winners at Palletline’s latest awards ceremony.The event, which took place on Saturday (21 May), also marked Palletline’s 30th anniversary. Over 500 guests attended the event, which was held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Birmingham.A total of seven awards ...
-
MT ArticleUK must equip 10% of truck stop locations with electric chargers by 2027 to meet demand, manufacturers warn
The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) is calling on national governments to ensure that the top 10% truck stop locations within their countries are equipped with suitable electric chargers by 2027, at the latest.Research commissioned by the ACEA has shown that the best place to put electric charging points is ...
-
MT ArticleRHA intensifies call for essential user rebate as fuel prices continue to rocket
The RHA has renewed its call for an essential user rebate on fuel duty as the cost of diesel at the pump continues to rise sharply.The government's weekly fuel prices shows that the increase is currently running at more than one pence per litre (ppl) per week, with fuel prices ...
-
MT ArticleJCB delivery drivers at DHL call off strike after winning almost 10% wage hike
Delivery drivers at DHL working for JCB have called off a strike after securing an almost 10% pay rise.The drivers, who deliver JCB parts between factories across the UK, were due to walk out yesterday and today (23 and 24 May).However, an eleventh hour offer from DHL, of 9.5% plus ...
-
MT ArticleHermes pleads guilty to safety breach after employee crushed to death between trailer and lorry at depot
Delivery firm Hermes, which is now known as Evri, has admitted breaching health and safety laws after an employee was crushed to death at the Eurocentral parcel sorting centre at Motherwell, Scotland.The company appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week and admitted breaching health and safety laws at the depot ...