Industry News

Scaffolding haulier launches legal challenge against ULEZ after winning fight over LEZ fines

October 13, 2023 Chris Tindall

The boss of a scaffolding firm that won a legal case after refusing to pay LEZ fines is now crowdfunding to assemble a legal team and prove that the ULEZ is unlawful. Noel Willcox, MD at Elevation Access, took Transport for London (TfL) to an appeal tribunal, which found that the LEZ signs provided no […]

Logistics UK to hold Virtual Transport Manager conference on 10 November

October 12, 2023 Chris Tindall

Logistics UK said it would once again hold a virtual version of its transport manager conference taking place next month, to cater for managers unable to attend in person. First rolled out during the height of the pandemic in 2020, the business group said Virtual Transport Manager would cater for those who cannot travel to […]

Panattoni passes £350m mark in southern acquisitions in 2023

October 12, 2023 Carol Millett

Panattoni has acquired a 26-acre logistics development site in Sittingbourne from Abrdn for £150m, taking the total of the logistics real estate developer’s acquisitions in the south this year to £350m, along with sites in Poyle and Newport Pagnell. The first quarter of this year saw Panattoni acquire a West London redevelopment site near Heathrow […]

Most electric van operators would share charging infrastructure, AFP research reveals

October 12, 2023 Chris Tindall

Almost six out of 10 van fleets would consider entering into a co-operative agreement and sharing EV charging infrastructure. Research conducted for the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) found 58% of fleets are up for sharing their charging apparatus to make electrification more practical. It also found 62% would consider co-operative agreements with other fleets […]

Bin Busy fined £40,000 after fatal accident

October 12, 2023 Chris Tindall

A recycling firm has been fined £40,000 after an employee became trapped in a bin lorry and was crushed to death. Bin Busy Recycling pleaded guilty to breaches of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 9 October. The court heard […]

Fleet switch will need stronger business plan, operators warned

October 12, 2023 Tim Wallace

Operators looking to switch to zero emission fleets have been told they will need to present a convincing financial strategy to underwriters and a solid return on investment. Tom Brown, a director at PMD Business Finance, warned delegates at the RHA Forum for the Future in Birmingham that funding for zero emission vehicles would be […]

RHA launches Member Assistance Programme

October 12, 2023 Tim Wallace

The RHA, alongside the RHA Benevolent Fund, launched its Member Assistance Programme (MAP) at its recent Forum for the Future in Birmingham. The confidential service – which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – is staffed by qualified counsellors and aims to help member employees deal with personal or work-related challenges. The […]

New rules on driving zero emission vans with trailers risk road safety, driver training firm warns

October 12, 2023 Carol Millett

RED Corporate Driver Training has raised safety concerns about new rules which will allow Cat B licence holders who drive zero emission vans weighing up to 4.25 tonnes to also tow a trailer – so long as the combined weight does not exceed 7 tonnes. The new regulations are the result of a recent government […]

Hydrogen will play key role in long-distance haulage, claims BP

October 11, 2023 Tim Wallace

Adrian Brabazon (pictured), head of UK fleet solutions at BP, has insisted hydrogen will play a crucial role in the future of long-distance haulage and outlined the company’s plans to roll out 25 refuelling hubs by the end of the decade. However, he also told delegates at the RHA’s Forum for the Future that BP’s […]

‘Reporting shoddy hauliers requires huge culture shift,’ DVSA tells RHA members

October 11, 2023 Tim Wallace

Senior road transport officials have urged RHA members to help them bring operators to accountant if they suspect them of non-compliance. DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder (pictured) told delegates at the RHA’s Fourm for the Future that the organisation was working to build stronger ties with hauliers and asked them to report their peers if […]