Opinion, analysis and views on the trends in road transport, haulage and logistics

Read the latest opinions, analysis and views on the trends in road transport, haulage and logistics, from experts in the industry to the thoughts of our own team of experienced journalists.

Latest opinions

An operator knows in a week. The money never asks

2026-06-01T08:54:00+01:00

When KleanDrive entered administration, it had working technology and real customers. What it didn’t have was investment backing that valued operator judgement over financial hunches. One fleet operator explains why firms with proven kit keep failing, and why the industry keeps losing suppliers it claims to want.

Insurance two-year rule blocks 87% of HGV jobs for newly qualified drivers

2026-05-27T10:57:00+01:00

Investigation reveals no major fleet insurer can provide actuarial evidence for the two-year licence restriction that excludes newly qualified HGV drivers from most operator policies, despite commercial fleet premiums rising 8% in a year when personal motor insurance fell 10%.

HGV driver market still broken despite reform efforts

2026-04-27T15:44:00+01:00

A joint industry report reveals the UK HGV driver market remains structurally flawed, with insurance barriers and poor data visibility preventing newly qualified drivers from entering the workforce—even as demand shows early signs of recovery.

AI search reshapes online visibility beyond SEO budgets

2026-04-23T15:54:00+01:00

AI-powered search is disrupting two decades of SEO dominance, allowing specialist operators with genuine expertise to compete for visibility against national competitors—regardless of marketing budget. But businesses that fail to adapt may lose enquiries without knowing why.

Latest opinions

Trade without borders – why drivers need a Schengen exemption

2026-03-05T16:24:00+00:00

€505 billion. That’s the value of UK–EU goods trade – goods moved across borders by road freight.

Custody discipline: the low-cost fix for vehicle transport disputes

2026-02-23T18:04:00+00:00

With HGV driver numbers down 1.9% and schedules running tight, operators face growing dispute risk. David Heeney explains why custody discipline—not just careful driving—is now a core commercial control.

The clock in the cab: Are we managing fatigue — or managing behaviour?

2026-02-20T11:54:00+00:00

A transport operator with nearly 40 years’ experience argues the Working Time Directive may create behavioural pressure for HGV drivers without measurable safety gains beyond existing drivers’ hours regulations.

We’ll need more than derisory grants to electrify our 26-tonne-plus HGV fleet

2026-01-13T16:26:00+00:00

For UK operators, the decision to transition from their existing internal combustion engine (ICE) fleets to electric alternatives is shrouded in uncertainty. A good example of this is the derisory £18m grant allocated to operators who are considering the procurement of electric trucks.

Europe’s used truck market has come of age - what it means for UK hauliers

2026-01-06T11:31:00+00:00

As UK hauliers face rising costs, persistent driver shortages and new CO₂-linked road charges for European operations from 2026, 2025 marked a turning point in Europe’s used truck market — offering British fleets a clearer, more strategic path to renewal

Customs changes demand urgent digital shift for freight operators

2025-12-26T16:15:00+00:00

International freight businesses must urgently modernise customs systems to meet incoming UK and EU regulatory changes, including ICS2 Phase 3, France’s ELO requirements, and enhanced HMRC transparency measures, warns Derry Bros customs manager Sarah-Louise Murray.

More opinions