Without suitable apprenticeships standards against which to train recruits, the apprenticeship levy is nothing more than a secondary tax on the logistics industry, according to the Freight Transport Association, the business organisation representing the logistics industry. On the second anniversary of the Apprenticeship Levy 6 April, FTA’s Head of Skills Sally Gilson (right) is concerned that … [Read more...]
First Minister under renewed Black Route pressure
All Welsh Assembly Members are being urged to press the First Minister to approve the ‘Black Route’ plans for the M4 Relief Road, says the Freight Transport Association. Construction of the route, according to FTA, would provide a regional economic boost worth hundreds of millions of pounds and tackle the congestion that blights the lives of local citizens. Sally Gilson, Head of Welsh … [Read more...]
Role of HGVs is given light thought by Government
The primary role of the lorry in urban freight has been ignored once again in a major policy publication, says FTA, the organisation which speaks for the logistics sector, following publication of the Department for Transport’s 'Future of mobility: urban strategy' paper. According to Christopher Snelling, FTA’s Head of UK Policy, the document fails to make a single substantive mention of HGVs, … [Read more...]
European car prices face rise but Japanese go down
Some european cars will rise in price under the Government’s proposed post-Brexit tariffs structures. The new tariff regime would mark a shift in favour of products from non-EU countries. Even so, they mean 82% of imports from the EU would be tariff-free, down from 100% now, while 92% percent from the rest of the world would pay no border duty, up from 56%. Under the plan, the UK car … [Read more...]
Tradelines 6 March
A proposed ban on commercial vehicles using tyres over ten years old has attracted qualified support from the Freight Tansport Association. It says many member fleets would need tyres replacing inside a decade but some very low mileage vehicles should be exempt from the ban. About 79M cars were sold worldwide in 2018, say the manufacturers. There was a noticeable drop in Chinese … [Read more...]
Newslines 16 November
Cardiff Council is expected to get tough on illegally parked or untaxed vehicles abandoned on the streets, and it could be removing 20 a week. It already has powers to clamp and remove illegally parked vehicles but does not always use them and the additional powers would see them taking over duties from the DVLA with abandoned cars early in 2019. Wales First Minister intends to decide on the … [Read more...]
Logistics industry is lost over new rules
Logistics businesses are expected to check the right to work of their EU National employees both during the transition period and after Brexit, according to evidence presented to the Home Affairs Select Committee by the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Minister of State for Immigration last week. But, as FTA, the industry body which speaks for the logistics industry, points out, no system currently … [Read more...]
Tradelines 17 October
Following on from the first silhouette images, ŠKODA reveals the name of its new model – the ŠKODA Scala. The name derives from the Latin word ‘scala’ which means ‘stairs’ and is a step forward for the Czech car manufacturer in the compact hatch segment when it launches before 2019 and replaces the Rapid. Audi has been fined the equivalent of £702.54M by German prosecutors for violations … [Read more...]
Future logistics conference
Self-driving and electric vehicles, drone technology, Wi-Fi connectivity, artificial intelligence and more: the world around us is changing fast, and the logistics sector is one area embracing new technologies and solutions quickly. The Freight Transport Association, which has more than 17,000 members nationwide, will be holding a new one-day event, The Future Logistics Conference & Expo … [Read more...]
Businesses stranded by workforce uncertainty, say FTA
The Freight Transport Association is urging government to act on the findings of the Home Affairs Committee report on migration to ensure that UK business can continue to operate at full staffing levels after the UK leaves the EU. The logistics sector, which represents 11% of the British economy's GVA, relies heavily on EU workers, with 14% of HGV drivers and 25% of warehouse staff coming from … [Read more...]