Main concerns over COVID-19 revealed as calls to FTA advice line more than double

The FTA has seen enquiries to its member advice centre more than double since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Common questions from haulage and logistics operators relate to the furloughing of drivers, medical certificates due to expire, relaxation of drivers’ hours rules and calibration of tachographs.

On average, it normally answers 28,000 questions from FTA members each year, but enquiries to the advice centre have spiralled as the unprecedented nature of the outbreak puts a huge strain on the industry and prompts a raft of compliance-related questions.

Robert Saunders, member advice centre manager, said: “FTA’s policy team have been working closely with the government to help it solve challenges arising from the pandemic – such as the need for delivery hours to be extended to help keep supermarkets and other retailers stocked during this period of high demand – and this has assisted logistics businesses endlessly.”