Latest Industry news – Page 168

  • Article

    Bell questions one-size-fits-all O-licence fees

    2016-11-14T16:50:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    MPs call for fuel duty cuts to prevent “severe damage” to haulage industry

    2016-11-14T12:21:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    AA says smart motorway fines should be reinvested to improve network's safety

    2016-11-11T11:24:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    UK logistics businesses more confident now than six months ago

    2016-11-04T01:19:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    More than 70% of infrastructure providers aren't confident they can deliver vital road improvements

    2016-11-03T14:36:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    Stop exclusively penalising the road transport industry over emissions, says FTA

    2016-11-03T10:49:00Z

    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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    Article

    Government challenges industry to employ more minorities

    2016-10-28T14:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    Uncertainty over EU driver rights is major risk to UK

    2016-10-28T10:34:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    Third Heathrow runway met with cautious welcome by transport associations

    2016-10-25T16:09:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    Road haulage trailblazers given final go ahead as government confirms apprenticeship funding

    2016-10-25T15:57:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    HMRC "considering" low pay allegations against Hermes

    2016-10-21T15:43:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    EU-funded road upgrade in Belfast halted post-referendum

    2016-10-20T16:32:00Z

    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 ...

  • Article

    FFUK demands independent watchdog for fuel prices

    2016-10-20T10:21:00Z

    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, ...

  • Article

    No HGV Road User Levy review, says DfT

    2016-10-19T14:30:00Z

    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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    Article

    Prologis developing largest speculative build since UK's vote for Brexit

    2016-10-17T15:53:00Z

    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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    Article

    Industry must unite on Brexit wishes, says MP

    2016-10-13T16:17:00Z

    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 ...

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    Article

    Andy McDonald retains shadow transport secretary role

    2016-10-12T12:54:00Z

    Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald has retained his post as shadow transport secretary, surviving the latest Labour party cabinet reshuffle.McDonald took on the role in June after Labour’s Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood resigned the post in protest at Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn’s style of leadership.The role of Labour shadow transport ...

  • Article

    Motor Transport Podcast: Direct Vision Standard and DHL's UK Mail acquisition

    2016-10-10T09:48:00Z

    The MT team is back in the podcast studio after a summer break, and if you're ready for a hit of the latest news being dissected and discussed, the latest Motor Transport Podcast will not disappoint. In this episode, Christopher, Chris and Emma chat about London Mayor Sadiq Khan's newly ...

  • Article

    Has the EU won the HGV Road User Levy battle?

    2016-10-07T11:32:00Z

    Revisions could be made to the UK’s flagship HGV Road User Levy to make it compliant with EU rules, a source said this week.The claim followed a “positive” meeting last month between the European Commission (EC) and DfT officials.It comes after the commission’s decision in April to begin formal legal ...

  • Article

    O-licence financial standing levels could increase by 15%

    2016-10-03T11:47:00Z

    The level of financial standing standard O-licence holders will have to demonstrate is likely to increase in 2017, due to the drop in the value of the pound against the euro.The FTA estimated that the financial standing rate will increase by around 15% from 1 January, taking it from £6,650 ...