While self-driving cars were once seen as something out of a science fiction movie, their use on the UK’s roads has just moved one step closer. The government has confirmed that the Highway code is set to be changed in preparation for their launch, with the first self-driving trucks, vans, buses and cars being introduced as early as 2023.

As per the UK government’s announcement on 19th April, the new rules come after a public consultation, during which respondents were largely supportive of the proposed amendments. The changes themselves refer to the responsibility of drivers in relation to self-driving vehicles, to include when to resume control – like when exiting the motorway.

Safer, More Efficient Roads

The Department for Transport (DfT) has heralded self-driving technology as being revolutionary. Claimed to be able to ‘level-up’ the UK transport network, cut emissions, ease congestion and significantly reduce road traffic accidents (RTAs) caused by human error, there are great hopes for what the technology will bring.

Also included in the proposed changes are amendments to the current laws that allow the viewing of non-driving-related content on integrated screen displays while in motion. However, this excludes currently-outlawed mobile phone use, due to the risk presented by the driver being overly distracted.

DfT : “A Major Milestone in Self-Driving Vehicles”

Self-driving cars will aid a reduction in urban congestion, connecting to traffic control systems (traffic lights) to ensure smooth, flowing traffic – meaning lower emissions and improved air quality. It’s also hoped that the technology will offer improved access to transport for those with mobility issues.

Minister for Transport Trudy Harrision had this to say on the matter…

“This is a major milestone in our safe introduction of self-driving vehicles, which will revolutionise the way we travel, making our future journeys greener, safer and more reliable.  This exciting technology is developing at pace right here in Great Britain.

We’re ensuring we have strong foundations in place for drivers when it takes to our roads. In doing so, we can help improve travel for all while boosting economic growth across the nation and securing Britain’s place as a global science superpower.”

38,000 New High-Skilled Jobs for the UK

Further cementing the wisdom of the move, the UK government has estimated that self-driving vehicle technology could lead to the creation of 38,000 brand new, skilled jobs in the UK – something that may be worth as much as £41.7 billion by 2035. Its introduction will initially be seen in the form of slow-moving motorway vehicles.

By 2025, it’s anticipated that a full regulatory framework for self-driving vehicles will have been implement to enable its widespread deployment. The DfT has claimed that this could greatly reduce human error-related collisions – something that currently contributes to around 88% of all recorded RTAs.

The Key Is Widespread Awarness of the Law

The imminent changes have been welcomed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), whose Chief Executive Mike Hawes stated “Amending the Highway Code to reflect the pace of technological change will help clarify what motorists can and can’t do when a self-driving feature is engaged, so promoting its safe use.

The technology could be available in the UK later this year and, with the right regulations in place, consumers are set to benefit from safer, more efficient journeys while the UK will strengthen its position as a global leader in the deployment of self-driving technology.”

The need to raise awareness of the changes is of paramount importance – something echoed by RAC Foundation Director Steve Gooding… “The final part of the jigsaw is to ensure the amendments are widely communicated to, and understood by, vehicle owners. It’s important that drivers fully appreciate the capabilities of the cars they buy and the rules that govern them.”

An Interesting Period For the UK Haulage Industry

Technology rarely stands still and it would seem that self-driving vehicles are closer than many thought possible. At Insite, we’re in full support of any new advancements that will make the haulage industry and in turn, the UK’s roads safer. It certainly is an interesting development that could see big changes occur over the coming years.

Whatever the future holds, the Insite team will continue to support the haulage sector with industry-leading HGV licence acquisition programs via our national network of training centres. If you’d like to learn more about how we’re helping businesses upskill staff and circumvent the current driver shortage, please take a look around our website.

Alternatively, to speak to us directly, click on ‘contact us’ or call us on 0330 818 8888 today and we’ll be delighted to discuss your driver training needs.

The landscape in the UK’s logistics sector has been evolving quickly over the last couple years. Instability caused by HGV driver shortages, Brexit, supply chain delays and the global pandemic has resulted in a number of government-backed measures being implemented to help the sector cope.

Adverse industry conditions like these often lead to innovation and according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) – the transport and logistics industry is leading the way in terms of new businesses opening up. This is being driven by the boom in courier and postal services.

Growing Faster Than Any Other Industry

Outstripping the retail, construction and manufacturing industries, the ONS study has shown that the logistics sector has expanded more quickly than any other. Soaring sales from a UK public that has been conditioned by lockdowns to primarily shop online mean that more and more goods are needing to be delivered.

The figures bear this out, as they show that the total number of transport firm premises has increased by 88% over the course of the last 11 years. That said, 21% of this increase has occurred since 2019 – despite the tumult caused by Covid-19 and Brexit. Online consumer demand needed to be meet and the industry has reacted.

Postal & Courier Operations Outperform Overall Logistics

The reasons mentioned about the surge in new logistics business premises were recently echoed by David Jinks, Head of Consumer Research at ParcelHero – a Brentford-based UK company that operates in the courier and express delivery sector. He had this to say about the ongoing surge:

“The growth in new premises for postal and courier operators in particular has outstripped any other area of any industry, and even outperformed the overall logistics sector growth.

Since 2011, the number of postal and courier depots and distribution centres has grown by an astonishing 147%, as Covid restrictions fuelled a surge in demand for home deliveries”.

The Surge Is Not Though Reflected in Rates of Pay

While the described surge would seem to be good news for those employed in last-mile delivery and courier work, it hasn’t been reflected in the hourly earnings available within the niche. Hourly rates are below the national average, with couriers and HGV drivers working almost 42 hours a week, compared to the UK average of 39.

This, according to Jinks, is due to fewer positions being created by this explosion than expected. While the number of business premises has doubled over the last decade, the workforce has only grown by 20% over the same period.

Jinks cites increased automation and other leading-edge technologies as the reason behind this fact, with warehouse management software and sophisticated features like ‘voice picking’ increasing speed and efficiency while reducing the need for manual labour.

Supporting the Sector with Industry-Leading Programs

At Insite, we understand the challenges faced by all parts of the logistics industry, as we’re immersed in it as part of our day-to-day work. Evolutions like this are a natural consequence of the sector doing its utmost to and serve the UK’s public and businesses effectively.

Whatever form the UK’s haulage industry takes over the coming years, we will continue to support it by providing scalable, industry-leading HGV licence acquisition programs via our wide network of training centres across the country.

To find out more about us and how we work, you should take a look around our website. Alternatively, to get in touch, simply click on ‘contact us’ or call us on 0330 818 8888 today where a member of our team will be happy to discuss your driver training needs.

The UK supply chain has been greatly affected by the combined paradigms of Brexit and Covid-19, with a range of government measures being introduced to combat HGV driver shortages and other related issues. In a new development, an additional move has been made by Conservative Chancellor Rishi Sunak to support the logistics sector.

As was announced by the government in their Spring Statement on the 23rd of March 2022, fuel duty has been cut by 5p per litre for a period of 12 months across the United Kingdom. According to Elizabeth De Jong, Logistics UK’s Director of Policy, it will allow logistics companies to continue to keep supplying the country with goods.

Facing Down Increasing Fuel Prices

The temporary cut in duty will help logistics companies to overcome pressures caused by recent increased fuel pump costs and other inflationary pressures. Speaking on the subject, De Jong had this to say…

“With average fuel prices reaching the highest level on record and rising inflation, there has been an unsustainable burden on logistics businesses which operate on very narrow margins of around 1%. The Chancellor’s decision today will help to ensure operators can continue to afford supplying the nation with all the goods it needs.

Fuel is the single biggest expense incurred by logistics operators, accounting for a third of the annual operating cost of an HGV.  The cut in fuel duty of 5ppl will result in an average saving of £2,356 per year per 44-tonne truck. This move will help to strengthen the UK’s supply chain during a time of ongoing financial and operational challenges.”

A Response to An Earlier Request?

The decision to make this cut is sure to be welcomed by everyone in the logistics sector and it would seem that Logistics UK may have played a big part in making it happen. Just a couple of weeks earlier, the organisation wrote to Rishi Sunak MP, urging him to consider a fuel duty cut.

As one of the UK’s leading business groups that represents logistics businesses, the work they do is important to the more than 7 million people currently employed in the manufacturing, selling and transportation of goods. They stand up for the safety, rights and wellbeing of personnel, whether in road, rail, sea or air logistics.

Fully Behind Moves to Support UK Logistics

This latest government decision will almost certainly benefit the UK’s haulage sector, with HGV lorry drivers alone saving thousands of pounds over the 12 month period. We’re fully behind the move and all others designed to make living and working in logistics safer and more comfortable.

At Insite, we’ll continue to support the UK’s haulage sector by providing industry-leading, scalable HGV licence acquisition programmes. Thanks to our nationwide network of training centres and highly experienced instructors, we’re well placed to assist you, irrespective of the size of your organisation.

To find out more about us and what makes us different, you should take a look around our website, where you’ll find everything you need to know and more. Alternatively, to get in touch with us, simply click ‘contact us’ or call us on 0330 818 8888 and we’ll be delighted to discuss your training needs.

During 2021, the ongoing HGV driver shortages greatly affected supply of goods to convenience stores across the UK, however, according to the Managing Director of Unitas, John Kinney, the chronic issues exacerbated by the pandemic & Brexit, have started to show signs of improvement.

The shortage – one that affected both suppliers and wholesalers – resulted in wastage and availability issues, hindering retailers in the efforts to meet rebate targets. However, in the view of Kinney, speaking at Unitas’s annual trade show recently, wholesalers have been much more relaxed about the issue.

“Not Hearing Many Member Driver Concerns Internally”

John Kinney went on to explain this lack of worry about the shortage “I’m not hearing a lot from members about concerns of drivers internally. Some of them are incentivising and have offered double digit pay increases. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and drivers will stay if we pay them well”.

Kinney also urged suppliers to ensure 2021 issues are not repeated in the lead up to Easter…“How many more drivers are there leading up to Easter compared with Christmas? The numbers probably haven’t changed significantly. We’re talking to suppliers and asking if they’ve forecast to ensure the convenience sector is in a good position for Easter”.

One issue that wholesalers are facing, however, is poaching of personnel, with the big boys doing what they can to secure the services of all available HGV drivers, with Kinney saying “Amazon is one company in particular that has told drivers they’d pay the penalty clause of exiting their contract early.”

“Independent Retailers Shouldn’t Miss Out”

Mr Kinney continued, talking about improving things further in the future “We can’t just bottle a problem that might come across the line again. We had issues where the suppliers provided products to the multiples and not independent retailers. That’s not right. We don’t want the multiples to get preference.”

Speaking about Unitas’s Today’s, Day-Today and Lifestyle Express Fascias, Kinney stated that the company had begun to offer enhanced financial incentives for retailers that remained compliant, saying…

“A lot of ranges changed through Covid-19 due to availability. The main task is to get retailers back into the support of our core range. It’s never been about increasing numbers, it’s about rewarding our members for compliance.”

Doing Our Bit to Support The Haulage Industry

After so many challenges faced throughout 2021, it is nice to hear that improvements are being felt at any level in the UK’s haulage industry, although this is not yet echoed in the wider picture. However, the Insite team will continue to support the industry through the provision of high quality HGV licence acquisition programmes.

Thanks to our national network of driver training centres and highly experienced, expert instructors, we have the capacity to deal with any level of requirement. From small businesses, right up to the largest operators, we can scale our services to meet all of your licensing needs.

If you’d like to learn more about us and what sets us apart, please take a look around our website, where you’ll see everything you need. Alternatively, to speak to us about your needs directly, call us on 0330 818 8888 or click on our ‘contact us’ link and send us a message.

In a move designed to alleviate ‘significant’ pressures on the supply chain caused by the ongoing HGV driver shortage, the decision concerning the extension of current cabotage rules – that govern foreign drivers moving cargo within the shores of the UK– is going to public consultation.

The current cabotage laws are themselves part of a previous temporary extension that was granted by the government in October of 2021 – something that’s due to expire on 30th of April 2022. These rules allow unlimited cabotage movements within the United Kingdom for up to 14 days after entry on a laden international journey.

DfT Seeking Evidence & Views About New Extension

According to the Department for Transport (DfT), it is seeking views and evidence with regards to whether these extra rights should be extended past the current deadline. Also requested is information about the level of cabotage uptake, focusing on how specific sectors have taken advantage of the allowance.

Both positive and negative viewpoints on the extension are being considered, with the DfT suggesting that the uptake of cabotage rights had been at a lower level than anticipated. A spokesman from the department summed the status quo up by simply saying “While measures to tackle driver shortages are having an effect, issues remain”.

Logistics UK Against the Extension

The UK government has stated that the idea behind extending cabotage laws beyond their current limit is to ease pressure in certain areas of the supply chain. These pressures could have to be faced the instant cabotage rights end or later in the year e.g. when things get busier in the lead up to Christmas.

One particular body opposed to the extension is Logistics UK who voiced their opinion when the last extension was granted back in October 2021. At the time, they suggested that the move would compel more HGV drivers to have to park up in lay-bys overnight to remain on course, meaning that it should only be a temporary state of affairs.

“The Supply Chain Concern Is Not the Same”

James Firth, Logistics UK Head of Road Freight Regulation Policy had this to say on the subject – “Logistics UK members – both shippers and road freight operators – supported the option of extensions to cabotage rules at a time when, ahead of the Christmas peak, there was genuine concern over the integrity of the supply chain as a result of the driver shortage.

At the time, we called for it to be used only as a short-term measure and while members would say the challenges of the driver shortage are not past, there is not the level of concern that there was in November ‘21”.  The public consultation ends on the 23rd March 2022.

Insite – Offering Leading HGV Licence Programmes

Everyone in the logistics industry can see that the problems of 2021 have improved slightly, but there is still a long way to go until we get to the point where the sector could be said to be enjoying rude health. There is certainly a lot of hard work ahead.

No one said it would be easy, but the Insite team will be doing everything it can to support the industry with industry-leading, scalable HGV licence acquisition programmes. To find out more about us, simply take a browse around our website.

Alternatively, if you’d like to speak to us about how we can help your organisation circumvent the current HGV driver shortage, click ‘contact us’ or give us a call on 0330 818 8888 today. Our team is ready and waiting to discuss your driver training needs.

If you’ve been reading the news in the past few months, then you’ll know that recent moves by industry organisations and the UK government have served to ease the shortfall in HGV driver numbers – to a degree. A modicum of improvement has been seen, but there’s no doubt that there’s still a long way to go.

So long as the logistics industry faces a significant shortfall in HGV drivers, businesses, the economy and ultimately, consumers will continue to be impacted. You only have to look back to the Autumn of 2021 to see what that impact looks like, with petrol shortages and empty shelves abound.

So, how can this issue be tackled? Well, at Insite, we believe that the answer lies in carrying on addressing barriers to entry into the profession. This is key to solving the problem, as is improving driver retention long-term, so that the issue doesn’t reappear further down the line.

An Acute, Ongoing Shortage

The reality of the situation is that there has been a chronic HGV driver shortage for some time now and there are a number of reasons behind it. Those taking HGV driver training typically have to pay for it themselves and it’s expensive. £3,000 is a lot of money to younger trainees and this often means that HGV driver training is simply out of their reach.

Currently, 50 is the average age of a UK lorry driver and when combined with the high cost of training, it has created a situation where there just aren’t enough new drivers entering the profession to replace those leaving through retirement. It’s a problem that was made so much worse when Covid-19 hit.

Coronavirus Turned the Shortage Into a Crisis

Lockdowns and social distancing restrictions severely restricted national HGV testing capacity, meaning that even those able to pay for their training, couldn’t take their test. This led to a worsening of the problem, as 25,000 fewer HGV candidates obtained their licence in 2021 when compared to the previous year.

So, where we find ourselves now is at the end of a road that has seen the number of HGV drivers working in the UK drop steadily. According to the Office for National Statistics, in 2017, there were 321,000 lorry drivers in the UK, but just four years later, that figure stands at 268,000.

Finding a Solution to the Problem

The first problem that must be solved is the high cost of training and to achieve this, the government has taken positive steps. Back in December of 2021, the Department of Education (DoE) launched their HGV Driving Skills Bootcamps, which will eventually offer full funding for as many as 11,000 candidates.

This important scheme is one that’s helped to eliminate one of the biggest barriers to entering the profession – the cost. At the Driver Academy, we’ve seen a huge spike in interest in the scheme since its launch, with an impressive number of applications received – 8,300 to be exact.

Diversity Has Also Improved

Furthermore, the diversity of applicants coming forward has increased, with people from all walks of life showing interest in becoming HGV drivers. For instance, the proportion of ethnically diverse and female applicants is already much higher than currently exists in the industry.

Based on the success of the scheme so far and the generated interest, there’s more than a compelling argument that the DoE should extend the Skills Bootcamps for an extra year. This would help to continue the trend, as well as encourage the necessary new blood into the industry.

It would also serve to demonstrate how the government and industry is able to collaborate in order to solve critical issues.

Taking a Long-Term view

Looking to the future, we’d also like to see the haulage industry and UK government work together to improve the industry’s driver retention rates. In some ways, companies have responded, with pay increasing dramatically over the last year and working conditions improving, as the value of each HGV driver becomes ever clearer.

That said, in other areas, the industry has become stagnant, with the best example of this being that the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DQC) requires 35 hours’ training every 5 years. Often seen as irrelevant, boring, repetitive and costly, many consider this aspect of HGV driving as sufficient reason to leave.

Time to Overhaul the DQC System

As such, we believe it’s time for an overhaul of the DQC system, with the necessary courses needing to be modular and uniform. Courses could cover important elements like Healthy & Safety, hazardous loads, advanced driving skills and more.

Instead of repetitive training, there should be incremental skill-level building, allowing drivers to take on more responsibility and enjoy higher salaries. If the government is serious about improving the landscape for HGV drivers in the UK, assisting workers to acquire new skills will play a critical part.

For the logistics industry as a whole, an approach of this kind would help to increase driver retention and go a long way to alleviating the ongoing supply chain issues that have been seen across the UK and wider EU.

Industry-Leading Licence Acquisition Programs

At Insite, we understand the complexities of the challenges faced by the UK Haulage industry, but we believe that with the right approach, we can achieve the changes the sector desperately needs. While this is happening, we will continue to provide industry-leading, scalable, HGV licence acquisition programs via our network of training centres.

If you’d like to find out more about us and how we do things, we recommend that you take a look around our website. Alternatively, to get in touch with us, all that’s required is that you click on ‘contact us’ or call us on 0330 818 8888 today and we’ll be happy to discuss your driver training needs.