Guidance & Support

Concerns are rising within the UK transport and touring industries over the looming enforcement of EU travel restrictions. The Entry/Exit System (EES), expected to launch in November, will enforce the 90/180 rule - limiting stays in the Schengen Area to 90 days within any 180-day period. This has major implications for British hauliers, coach operators, and touring crews supporting UK performers across Europe.

Unlike EU artists entering the UK under a single immigration framework, UK performers must navigate varying entry rules across EU member states. The British government is working with industry voices to push for more flexible arrangements, aiming to make travel smoother for creative professionals and their support teams. These discussions are expected to feature in upcoming UK-EU talks, with calls for visa-free movement and streamlined customs processes.

Although some EU countries have shown hesitation towards the UK’s proposals, there is interest in reaching a broader agreement, particularly around youth mobility between the UK and EU. This has encouraged hopes of a tailored exemption or visa scheme to avoid disrupting international tours.

Industry leaders are calling for solutions that will maintain the UK’s strong touring presence in Europe and protect the livelihoods of those working behind the scenes in transport and logistics.

Logistics professionals are embracing artificial intelligence at a rapid pace, with a recent study revealing that 62% of information-handling staff in the sector are already using it—and nearly all report positive results. According to research from The Access Group, 97% of logistics workers using AI say it has improved their working life.

Although the logistics industry trails the tech sector in AI uptake (74%), it far outpaces sectors like not-for-profit and health and social care, where adoption is below 30%. Within logistics, employees highlighted reduced workloads, improved focus, and increased productivity as the main benefits. Better communication and enhanced customer service also ranked highly.

ChatGPT emerged as the most widely used AI tool, with more than half of respondents relying on it. Many users said it helped ease workplace stress. However, concerns remain - particularly around the risk of job losses (51%) and data privacy (46%).

Industry leaders say AI offers a transformative opportunity. Jarrod Adam of Unleashed noted that AI can help small and mid-sized logistics firms overcome skills shortages and cut costs. Meanwhile, Access Group’s Marko Perisic stressed the importance of proper training and secure platforms. With the right approach, AI can foster innovation, efficiency, and safer data handling across the logistics workforce.

East Sussex County Council is set to review a petition urging stricter enforcement of vehicle weight limits on Bexhill’s High Street. Campaigners want large vehicles, particularly HGVs, banned from the route, which currently carries a 7.5-tonne restriction that residents say is frequently ignored.

More than 500 people have signed the petition, raising concerns that oversized vehicles are damaging the road’s heritage buildings - some of which are centuries old. Lead campaigner Sandra Bandirali said urgent action is needed to preserve the street’s historic character before irreversible damage is done.

Council officers have recommended that the issue be fully assessed but warn that any measures to tackle the problem may not be implemented until later in the year. Their report highlights several obstacles, including the need to maintain access for emergency services and legitimate deliveries.

Proposals put forward by residents include redesigning the street layout to physically prevent large vehicles from using it, and rerouting buses. However, officers have raised concerns about changing bus routes, warning it could negatively impact passengers, especially those needing access to Bexhill Hospital. Meanwhile, enforcement of the existing weight limit remains a concern, with Sussex Police now asked to look into the issue further.

HGV drivers operating in London are being urged to ensure their vehicles meet the latest safety standards or risk receiving fines of up to £550. The new rules form part of an update to the Direct Vision Standard, aimed at reducing road danger across the capital, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.

To comply, operators must fit a Progressive Safe System (PSS) to their vehicles and apply for an updated safety permit from Transport for London (TfL). This enhanced safety kit includes features such as sensors, camera systems, and audible alerts to improve visibility and awareness for drivers of heavy goods vehicles.

TfL had previously offered a temporary grace period to give operators more time to carry out the necessary upgrades, but this is coming to an end. Once enforcement begins, any HGV travelling through London without the required equipment and valid permit could face a fixed penalty or fine issued directly to the operator.

Authorities are encouraging all logistics firms and drivers to act now, ensuring their vehicles are properly fitted and fully compliant. These measures are part of broader efforts to improve road safety in London and reduce the risk of collisions involving larger vehicles in urban areas.

Parcel locker provider InPost has acquired courier company Yodel in a £106 million deal, propelling the business into the top three UK logistics providers. With over 9,000 collection lockers across the country, InPost will now expand its reach through Yodel’s door-to-door network, increasing its share of the independent delivery market from 2% to 8%.

The acquisition allows InPost to combine its automated parcel machine (APM) network with a full courier service, creating a hybrid offering that serves both out-of-home and doorstep delivery needs. InPost’s CEO and founder, Rafał Brzoska, described the deal as “transformational”, saying it accelerates the company’s UK expansion plans by five years.

The takeover sees InPost secure a 95.5% stake in Yodel’s parent company, Judge Logistics Ltd, by converting £106 million in loan notes into equity. PayPoint, known for its bill payment services in local shops, retains the remaining 4.5% stake. The acquisition builds on a partnership launched in late 2024, when Yodel began providing last-mile delivery from lockers to homes.

With this deal, InPost now handles more than 300 million parcels annually and partners with over 500 e-commerce businesses in the UK. Brzoska says the company is ready to reshape delivery in Britain, as it has already done in several European markets.

Surrey Police have hailed an unmarked HGV cab as a “golden ticket” in their efforts to catch reckless drivers, particularly those using mobile phones behind the wheel. The initiative, known as Operation Tramline, has been running nationwide for a decade, allowing officers a high vantage point to monitor behaviour inside vehicles.

Sgt Dan Pascoe, who has led the operation for Surrey and Sussex since 2015, said the initiative is making a difference, with fewer offences being detected in recent years. “The truck gives us a unique and valuable perspective,” he explained. According to National Highways, police forces have used the cab for more than 13,000 hours since the scheme began.

The top offences caught through the operation over the years include failing to wear a seatbelt, recorded 14,861 times, and mobile phone use at the wheel, with 13,553 incidents. In one case, a driver claimed they had to call their new partner because their song had come on the radio. Last month alone, three drivers in Surrey were seen using their phones with no hands on the wheel.

Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: “Driving while distracted is not only illegal, it’s extremely dangerous and puts countless lives at risk. The success of Operation Tramline shows just how vital this tool is for road safety.”

The planned reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport is expected to drive major economic growth in South Yorkshire, with the haulage industry set to play a vital role in its redevelopment, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA). The Department for Transport has said the airport project could generate 5,000 jobs, inject £5 billion into the economy, and bring wider benefits worth £2 billion by 2050.

The airport, which closed in 2022 after 17 years in operation, is now being brought back to life with the support of devolved funding. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hailed the move as a key part of the government’s plan to stimulate regional prosperity, adding, “I’m delighted to see South Yorkshire investing in its future and can’t wait to see flights return to the skies.”

James Barwise, policy lead at the RHA, welcomed the decision and highlighted the crucial role the logistics sector will play: “The redevelopment of the airport and its infrastructure offers long-term opportunities for both businesses and communities,” he said.

However, Barwise also stressed the urgent need to address driver shortages, warning that an additional 40,000 lorry drivers will be needed annually over the next five years to meet demand and support continued economic growth across the UK.

A new weight restriction is set to come into force on the M48 Severn Bridge from 27 May, following inspections that revealed deterioration in the structure’s suspension cables. National Highways has announced that vehicles over 7.5 tonnes will be banned from using the bridge for safety reasons, with the measures expected to remain in place for up to 18 months.

While emergency services, buses, coaches, gritters, and recovery vehicles will be exempt, most HGVs will be diverted to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge. This move affects around 10% of the bridge’s daily traffic – around 3,270 heavy vehicles. National Highways said the bridge remains safe but wasn’t built to handle the weight and volume of modern traffic.

Local councillors have voiced concern about the impact on businesses and communities. Councillor Lisa Dymock said firms in her ward that rely on the M48 face rising costs and logistical challenges. Delays caused by ongoing M4 roadworks and potential diversion routes of up to 95 miles are also fuelling worries.

National Highways is now working with hauliers and stakeholders to manage the changes. The recent cable assessments, finalised in late 2024, confirmed significant deterioration in cable strength, prompting the precautionary restrictions.

The government has given the go-ahead for the construction of the UK’s longest road tunnel, as part of a £9bn infrastructure project aimed at easing congestion in the South East. The Lower Thames Crossing will connect Tilbury in Essex with Gravesend in Kent, featuring twin tunnels running beneath the River Thames to reduce pressure on the Dartford Crossing by an estimated 20%.

Spanning 14.5 miles (23km), the route will link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Thurrock. Of the total route, 2.6 miles (4.2km) will be underground. Construction is expected to start in 2026, with completion targeted for 2032. The scheme, first proposed in 2009, has already cost over £1.2bn in planning and consultations.

Dartford MP Jim Dickson hailed the announcement as long overdue, calling it a solution to the “gridlock” suffered daily by local residents. However, not everyone is convinced. Environmental groups and local campaigners have voiced serious concerns about the project’s ecological impact, especially on ancient woodland and greenbelt areas.

While the full funding model remains undecided, the government confirmed that public investment will support early utility works, with private finance expected to play a major role. National Highways has described the development as a transformative step towards safer, more efficient road travel.

DPD is taking another step towards greener logistics with the launch of real-world trials for a new electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) developed by MAN. The vehicle, known as the MAN eTGX, will operate from DPD’s Hinckley hub and features a range of up to 500 miles and a rapid charging capacity of up to 750 kW.

Following extensive driver training, the eHGV will be trialled on a live DPD route, pulling a standard trailer to test its suitability for everyday operations. This move builds on DPD’s previous sustainability efforts, which included converting 95% of its 1,600-strong HGV fleet to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in 2023 - cutting emissions by 83% compared to diesel.

DPD has long utilised double-decker trailers to boost efficiency and reduce vehicle numbers on the road. The company is now working closely with MAN to develop an electric truck capable of hauling these larger trailers, with the first model expected to be tested later this year.

With over a third of its van fleet already electric, DPD remains committed to reaching net-zero by 2040. Tim Jones of DPDgroup UK confirmed that the company is on track, having already cut emissions by 47.5% since 2020, and continues to push forward with both HVO and electric innovation.