After months of largely positive news in the UK logistics sector, global events look likely to complicate matters significantly. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is set to impact international hauliers through increased fuel costs, freight rate hikes, surcharges and general supply chain disruption – with the entire EU to be affected.

The disruption will clearly impact war-affected areas directly, however, nothing ever happens in isolation, with the fuel prices already rocketing across Europe as a result. In addition to the physical disturbances created by the conflict, there is also likely to be reduced ability for international transactions to occur.

Global Supply Chain Inflation

Speaking about the situation in the region, Chris Rogers, Flexport supply chain economist, had this to say “The conflict in Ukraine could, of course, cause supply chain and international transaction issues and there’s also likely to be increased commodity prices, which could further exacerbate the ongoing global supply chain inflation”.

There is also a major worry over the likelihood of Russian cyber attacks affecting those working in logistics, with many forwarders expressing concern. Wars also affect haulage prices in general, with fuel and BAF surcharges impacting air and deepsea ocean freight – as has happened during conflicts occurring in the Middle East.

Further Delays & Disruption Expected

According to Marc Boileau of FourKites, ongoing and worsening issues in the region are certain, with significant road and rail delays expected through Ukraine and the countries it shares a border with. Increased border controls and the enforcement of sanctions are said to be complicating factors.

Boileau also warned that these issues could spread, saying “A ripple effect is likely to increase delays & costs around the whole supply chain. For example, shippers from China to Europe may switch to sea to avoid the unpredictability of land routes. This mode is already under strain because of Covid-19, and Ukraine is likely to make that situation worse”.

Global Companies Cease Ukrainian Operations

Unsurprisingly, global logistics firms have ceased operations in Ukraine due to concerns over staff safety. DB Schenker spokesman echoed this fact, stating “We are observing the situation with the greatest concern. What is important is the safety of our approximately 90 employees in the country. We have paused our logistics operations in Ukraine and asked our employees to stay home.”

What’s more, due to the increasingly uncertain fuel prices being experienced, truckers themselves have spoken about the fact that they’re becoming ‘ever-more selective’ in the jobs that they choose. Crude oil prices have risen to their highest levels for several years, passing $100 a barrel recently.

An Uncertain & Critical Time Ahead For Europe

Of course, the wellbeing and safety of the Ukrainian people is of great importance in the face of this aggression and we currently live in a time of uncertainty, the kind we’ve not seen for several decades. However, we must remain focused on doing what we can to ensure the global supply chain keeps moving.

At Insite, we’ll be continuing to support the UK logistics industry by providing industry-leading, scalable HGV licence acquisition programs. Across our nationwide network of training centres, we have both the expertise and experience to assist, regardless of the size of your organisation.

If you’d like to know more about us and what separates us from our competition, take a look around our website, where you’ll find everything you need to know. Alternatively, to get in touch, click on ‘contact us’ or call us on 0330 818 8888 and we’ll be happy to discuss your training needs.

A great deal of effort has already gone into making the UK transport industry an attractive career proposition, particularly when talking about the HGV driving sector.  Further to this, the government has now launched a new consultation with a view to ‘supercharging’ skills in the industry, as well as addressing diversity.

Marking the beginning of National Apprentice Week 2022, the 12-week consultation will be spearheaded by the newly-formed Transport Employment & Skills Taskforce. It’s one that’s led by President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) – Rachel Skinner who’ll also be focusing on the underrepresentation of women and minorities.

Just 20% of the Current Transport Sector Is Female

Working with industry leaders and representative groups, Skinner will be looking primarily at improving skills in the sector, but also into ways to increase the number of women and minorities working in it.

Right now, only 20% of the transport industry is made up of women and only 9% minorities, with the ICE President having this to say…

“I know how challenging, rewarding and fascinating working within the transport sector can be, particularly at the forefront of our net zero transition.

It’s well-known that a more diverse and inclusive workforce increases creativity, collaboration and productivity, and I’m excited to use my experience to ensure people from underrepresented groups can build brilliant careers in transport.”

“We Want the Brightest & Best to Join the Sector”

Government Transport Minister Andrew Stephenson was keen to point out the need to focus on attracting talent from every part of society, speaking enthusiastically about the role of the taskforce in this quest, saying…

“This taskforce will break down barriers to the leaders of the future who will deliver services that are essential to keep our country and economy moving.”

This positive standpoint was echoed by Sally Gilson – the skills policy lead of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) who said..

“We welcome the consultation, which highlights the wide-ranging skills required, and the need to promote and future-proof the sector.”

Amongst the subjects to be considered during the consultation are five main pillars that include:

• Promoting social mobility, inclusion and diversity
• Improving training & employment
• Raising awareness of the virtues of a career in the transport sector
• Ensuring the future workforce has the right skills
• Building evidence and assessing progress

The consultation itself closes on the 9th of May 2022 at 11.45am.

Contributing to a Larger Talent Pool In the UK

The future of the transport industry in the UK is an uncertain one, but one thing is for sure, success is going to require lots of people with the right skills. We’re fully behind the government’s attempts to attract people from all walks of life and we’re doing our own bit in addressing the current skills gap in the HGV driving sector.

Via our national network of training centres, Insite offers HGV licence acquisition programs that can cater for any scale and specification. If you’d like to know more about how we can help your organisation circumvent the current driver shortage, please take a moment to browse our website.

Alternatively, so speak to us directly about your driver training needs, call us today on 0330 818 8888 or click ‘contact us’ and send us a message.

In the United Kingdom, the Highway Code is set to be updated this weekend, with the new ‘THINK!’ campaign being launched to ensure that all motorists are aware of how the new rules will affect them. From the 29th January 2022, these adjustments will come into force, as the government attempts to make the roads safer.

Also, if passed by Parliament, this weekend will also see a ‘hierarchy of road-users’ introduced – something that means that those driving heavier and quicker modes of transport will need to bear the biggest responsibility for minimising the threat they pose to other drivers on the road.

The ‘Dutch Reach’ to Be Encouraged

As part of the rule changes, motorists are to be encouraged to use what’s known as the ‘Dutch Reach’ when opening their door, which involves using the opposite hand. The reason for this is that it makes you look over your shoulder when doing so, resulting in less accidents where pedestrians and cyclists are injured by opening vehicle doors.

The THINK! Campaign will cost the government £500,000 and will launch across the UK in order to teach all drivers about their new responsibilities, being broadcast on radio and across social media channels. This will be followed by another campaign later in the year to refresh the message.

Updates Are Advisory & Not Fineable

It’s important to understand that these new updates fall into the ‘advisory’ category, which means that there will be no fines issued for those found not following the new rules. On the subject, UK Roads Minister, Baroness Vere had this to say…

“I’m proud to say we have some of the safest roads in the world, but I’m determined to make them safer still for everyone. These updates to The Highway Code will do just that by bringing the rules into the 21st century, encouraging people to respect and consider the needs of those around them, ensuring all road-users know the rules of the road.”

The soon-to-be introduced changes were initially announced to the national media in the Summer of 2021 following a public consultation that took the opinions of more than 21,000 people into account. The vast majority supported all the updated changes coming into force this weekend.

Making the Roads Safer in the United Kingdom

These are the latest in a range of measures that have been introduced by the government to make the roads in the UK safer. At Insite, we’re right behind any moves that have road safety in mind, something that we always prioritise in all of the industry-leading HGV driver training we offer to people via our nationwide network.

If you’d like to know more about what allows us to meet the HGV driver training needs of companies up and down the country, regardless of the scale of the requirement, please take the time to browse our website, where you’ll find everything you need to know.

Alternatively, to talk to us directly, call us on 0330 818 8888 or click our ‘contact us’ link and message us, after which we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Following what has already been a busy month in the transport and logistics sector, the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) now looks set to increase the statutory fees for both driving tests and Ministry of Transport (MOT) tests. This comes after 68% of consultation respondents gave their support for the move.

However, these changes won’t be seen immediately, with what have been described as ‘modest’ increases being introduced later in the year. This is a notable move by the DVSA, as the majority of their fees haven’t changed at all in more than 10 years, with some even having been reduced during this time.

2,573 Respondents Support a 1.5% Increase

The consultation into raising fees involved 2,573 respondents, most of whom expressed a feeling that the rise would be a fair one. This is due, in part, to the fact that the proposed increase is just 1.5% – well below the rate of inflation that exists right now in the United Kingdom.

Just 21% stated a strong disapproval for the changes, with a number of this figure saying it’s the wrong time for any kind of price rises. Many feel that the current service is not fit for purpose and needs significant investment to improve levels of efficiency. Very few, however, felt that larger fee increases would be acceptable.

Only 3% Of Those Consulted Were Hauliers

What reduces the validity of the consultation made by the government, however, is that just 3% of a sector that would be impacted most by any MOT and driving test fee increases – the haulage industry – was surveyed. Given that the industry is attempting to attract new HGV drivers, the change affects affordability, so a larger representation in the process would have made sense.

A spokesperson for the DVSA had this to say about the results of the consultation… “Whilst there was significant support for the proposed fee increases, many (of those conducting the tests) expressed an interest in seeing a rise in the maximum amount they were allowed to charge for an MOT Test. DVSA will take on board these comments for further consideration”.

Influence On the Haulage Sector Must Be Examined

While price rises like these affect everyone, the DVSA must closely examine any changes it makes to any of its regulations carefully, as to the affect it might have on an industry that’s currently trying to combat issues like HGV driver shortages. The proposed rise is just 1.5%, but when combined with rising fuel and road freight costs, it could serve to provide an extra obstacle that needs to be navigated.

At Insite, we are keen to support the logistics industry through the provision of high quality, scalable HGV driver licence acquisition programs we offer on a national basis via our numerous UK testing centre locations. If you would like to know more about us and our industry-leading services, please do take a good look around our website.

Alternatively, if you would like to discuss your driver training needs, simply call us on 0330 818 8888 or click on our ‘contact us’ link and send us a message.

Introduced across Europe as a way to ensure HGV drivers remain compliant and safe on the UK’s roads in 2008, Driver CPC has traditionally been delivered in a classroom environment. That was until the start of the pandemic when gatherings of this type were replaced with remote eLearning to help stop the spread of the virus.

With 35 hours of CPC training needed to be taken by each HGV driver every 5 years for their DQC (Driver Qualification Card) to be validated, it’s a necessary part of being a Lorry Driver in the UK. However, now that classroom-based CPC is able to recommence, it seems that hauliers much prefer the eLearning method.

1,000 Haulage Firms Surveyed

Following the eLearning method for Driver CPC training as many did during the pandemic, is something that is overwhelmingly preferred by haulage operators, according to the 1,000 firms that were surveyed. This was expressed as part of an ‘unequivocal response’ that the industry made to the government.

There’s a strong feeling that the current development regime is in dire need of overhaul, as many made their thoughts known during the consultation about the future of Driver CPC. Involved was the Road Skills Organisation (RSO), who’s Managing Director David Somers had this to say…

“It is quite clear that the people who operate in the logistics and transport sector of the UK want a modern, driver-friendly solution and a modern approach to learning for driver development. The benefits of continuous bite-sized, and accredited professional development are both accepted and fully established.

It is now incumbent on the DfT and DVSA to enable our professional operators to take advantage of the latest in learning technology to maintain and improve standards.”

Almost 95% of Companies Already Using eLearning

Of the 1,000 companies surveyed, the overwhelming majority were said to already be using eLearning across their wider business. The same amount declared that Driver CPC should be being delivered within normal working patterns and hours – something that modular eLearning allows for.

As of the Driver CPC system itself, operators were typically supportive of the professional development that it provides, with 59% saying that it was having a positive influence and impact on their business and just 20% saying that it didn’t. Further to this, almost ⅔ of respondents said that eLearning is more valuable and impactful than classroom training.

New Technologies That Help the Haulage Sector

We’re right behind any kind moves that would make things easier for the haulage industry to work smarter and more efficiently. We’re also keen to embrace new technologies that allow this to happen and eLearning would seem to be something that’s almost universally welcomed by hauliers across the country.

At Insite, switch to offering remote CPC at the start of the Pandemic and will continue to do so for as long as we are able. We also provide companies across the UK with HGV driver acquisition training that’s scalable to any need. If you’d like to know more about how we help businesses tackle the HGV driver shortage via our network of national training centres, our Driver CPC provision, or anything else, please take a look around our website.

Alternatively, to get in touch, click on ‘contact us’ or call us on 0330 818 8888 today and we’ll be happy to discuss your driver training needs.

At the end of an eventful year in the logistics industry in 2021, research conducted by the Transport Exchange Group (TEG) has shown that the effects of Brexit and inflation have caused road freight prices to climb significantly. During November and December, the price-per-mile has risen by as much as 5.3 points.

As operators brace themselves for more supply chain tumult in 2022, this hike is perhaps not surprising, but rather unwelcome at the same time. Despite a 3.3 point drop during the previous two months, the average rate is now at levels not seen since the beginning of 2019.

The First Interest Rate in Three years

One of the driving factors, as mentioned is inflation, which is now at a 10-year high, something that’s also led to the first rise in interest rates in three years. Petrol price increases are cited as being a leading driver this inflation rise, in addition to increased costs for road freight services.

In November, petrol costs hit an unprecedented 145.8p per litre – equating to a 30% or 33.6p rise in just 12 months. According to the TEG index, this translates to an average year-on-year cost-per-mile increase for haulage vehicles of 30.3 points. It’s a similar case for courier vehicles who’ve had to face a 16 point increase.

MPs Warned Over January Customs Changes

Further to this, MPs have been warned by business groups of the impact of numerous customs rule changes in January of this year, combined with the Brexit ‘Horror story’ and an expected growth slump ahead in 2022. While the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is set to increase the number of customers buying goods, the hospitality sector and in-person services are likely to take another hit.

A TEG spokesperson had this to say… “This is expected to cause continued strain on supply chains, which could hit the food industry particularly hard. The sector is striving to adapt to our post-Brexit world, but is suffering labour shortages that are endangering food security.

Businesses faced a new challenge as soon as the New Year began, as full customs checks on EU imports to the UK were introduced on 1 January. As well as disruption at the border, this change could also lead to costs incurred through non-compliance.”

Supporting The Haulage Industry Into 2022

There was much to be positive about during the latter part of 2021 in terms of tackling ongoing supply chain issues and HGV driver shortages, however, there’s clearly still much to do in order to address all the issues being faced.

Going into 2022, the Insite team will continue to support the industry through the provision of high quality, scalable driver acquisition programs. Our national network of driver training centres staffed by highly experienced, expert instructors gives us the capacity to deal with any level of requirement.

If you’d like to learn more about what separates us from our competitors, please take a browse around our website, where you’ll find everything you need to know. Alternatively, if you’d like to speak to us about your requirements directly, call us on 0330 818 8888 or click on our ‘contact us’ link and send us a message.