Latest Industry news – Page 166
-
Article
Cartwright leaps to no three in UK trailer rentals
An investment of £7m in 500 new trailers in the past 18 months to take the fleet to over 6,500 vehicles has catapulted Cartwright Rentals to number three in the UK trailer rental market.According to the 2016 CV Informer listing of truck and trailer rental companies, Cartwright has overtaken Ryder ...
-
Article
Longer semi-trailer trial extended by five years and 1,000 trailers
The FTA has welcomed the decision to extend the longer semi-trailer trial in both scope and length.In an update to its dedicated trial webpage, the DfT said an additional 1,000 longer semi-trailers were to be made available and the trial extended by five years.The DfT added that details on how ...
-
Article
Petit Forestier pulls out of Fraikin acquisition
Refrigerated vehicle rental firm Petit Forestier has abandoned its bid to buy leasing company Fraikin Group after opposition from the French Competition Authority.The deal between the two French-owned companies, announced in June last year, aimed to create a major European player in the sector with combined sales of £1.09bn.Petit Forestier’s ...
-
Article
News extra: The great insurance premium tax take
As hauliers face yet another rise this summer in insurance premium tax, MT looks at what action industry can take to lessen its impactHauliers have not taken kindly to the government’s decision to once again hike the tax on insurance premiums.The tax rise, announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip ...
-
Article
UK exports and international operators face delays post-Brexit
The Home Affairs Select Committee has been told that a significant proportion of UK exports will get delayed if customs clearance is reintroduced as a consequence of Brexit, and the government needs a "big step change" to deliver the promise of "frictionless trade".Yesterday the committee took oral evidence on the ...
-
Article
FTA questions effectiveness of Direct Vision Standard
The FTA has expressed concern over TfL’s Direct Vision Standard, and questioned whether it’s the most effective approach for improving road safety in London. TfL today launched the first consultation for the standard, and suggested non-compliance with it could be met with criminal proceedings.The association’s national and regional policy ...
-
Article
M1 to get 60mph speed limit?
Highways England has remained tight lipped amid rumours that it plans to introduce a 60mph speed limit on the M1.It was reported last week that the agency was considering the amended speed limit to improve air quality in the Sheffield area, but Highways England said it couldn’t confirm whether this ...
-
Article
Convoy in the Park to hold exhibitor open day
Come on and join our convoy. Truck show Convoy in the Park is holding an open day for potential exhibitors on 9 February at Donington Park.Companies interested in learning more about the event, which takes place on 22-23 July, are offered the choice of attending one of two sessions on ...
-
Article
Customs tariffs and border controls after Brexit could push up costs, MPs hear
Hauliers in Northern and Southern Ireland have expressed concern over customs tariffs and border controls springing up after Brexit, warning that costs must increase to mitigate the effects.MPs belonging to Northern Ireland’s Affairs Committee were told this week that a ‘hard border' between the two countries would cause economic problems ...
-
Article
Motor Transport Awards 2017 open for entries
Entries are now being invited for the 2017 Motor Transport Awards, with the winners to be revealed on 5 July at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.There are 20 awards categories to choose from - entry is free and companies can enter as many categories as they want, provided they meet the ...
-
Article
Brexit plans 'will add administrative cost' to UK operators, says RHA
The RHA has warned that leaving the European single market and the European Union Customs Union “will inevitably add a degree of administrative cost” to UK operators and could slow down the supply chain.The association also called on government to grant “significantly greater resources” to HM Revenue & Customs in ...
-
Article
FTA welcomes Severn Bridge toll cuts but says government could have done more
The FTA has welcomed the government's decision to slash the cost of using the Severn Bridges but said it should have gone further.The DfT has revealed a plan to slash the Severn Bridge toll by 50% for HGVs when the bridge enters public ownership next year.Trucks will pay £10 to ...
-
Article
Warehousing space must increase fivefold to keep up with e-commerce
The amount of warehousing space being built must rise fivefold if the UK is to keep pace with the e-commerce market, according to research by law firm Addleshaw Goddard.As online retailers compete on speed of delivery to win custom, the demand for industrial property is outstripping supply, with a premium ...
-
Article
Wider industry action to follow CitySprint self-employment ruling
The status of couriers across the industry could be affected by last week's tribunal ruling against CitySprint, according to a lawyer involved in the case.Paul Jennings, partner at Bates Wells Braithwaite, represented bicycle courier Maggie Dewhurst, who was ruled to be an employee of CitySprint rather than a self-employed worker.He ...
-
Article
CV Informer 2016 available to download now
The 50 largest commercial vehicle rental and leasing businesses in the UK had more assets on their books in 2016 than the largest 100 did in 2015 – according to research conducted for the 2016 edition of CV Informer.Published in association with ATS Euromaster, and in partnership with the BVRLA, ...
-
Article
IoC adds final mile delivery apprenticeship to training portfolio
A final mile delivery trailblazer apprenticeship was given the green light at the end of last year, backed by the Institute of Couriers (IoC). The level two apprenticeship will follow a year-long programme, training future final mile drivers , covering topics such as customer service, returns and failed deliveries.The scheme ...
-
Article
The insolvencies, closures and near misses that struck the industry in 2016
While Motortransport.co.uk did not see as many industry insolvencies or closures in 2016 as in previous years, there were still a number of high-profile cases that shocked the transport sector.A former Tip-Ex haulier of the year became one of the first business casualties of 2016 when restructuring firm FRP Advisory ...
-
Article
The mergers and acquisitions that shook transport in 2016
In an analysis of mergers and acquisitions in the global transport sector early this year, KPMG predicted activity would remain high in 2016 - and their forecast has proven to be spot on.Hargreaves Services (pictured top) kicked things off in January with the purchase of earthmoving and civil engineering firm ...
-
Article
Is the industry ready for the apprenticeship levy?
The government’s apprenticeship levy will come into force in April 2017. This means in just four months, companies with a payroll of £3m or more will be paying 0.5% of that cost into a pot, which UK businesses will be able to draw from for staff training.The tax was announced ...
-
Article
Year in review: road transport's themes of 2016
While it didn’t start so, the UK’s divisive EU referendum vote dominated the middle of the year onwards and much like the general public, appeared to split Motortransport.co.uk readers. For some it represented the chance to escape the red-tape generated by Brussels, ditch measures such as Driver CPC and stop ...