TfGM Manchester freight – the fifth annual event.

Clean air at the heart of it.

Post Bank Holiday sunshine, the Manchester event focused on informing and engaging the Freight sector on the Outline Business Case for the TfGM Manchester Clean Air Plan.

Megan Black spoke passionately for Manchester, Lomas from the IOC looked at Client Chain driven decisions in express.

Tracey Worth talked inclusion of millennials in the logistics workforce alongside DWP Job Centre Plus guru Alex Farkas.

Lorna McAtear, Royal Mail, ‘We are investing 7 million in new compliant delivery vehicles’. We are trialling everything from LNG, CNG and even e-bikes.’ Toby Poston BVRLA, ‘There is a growing demand for petrol vans.’

The full house TfGM freight event delivered a cracking lunch and a magic mix of multi-modal operators. The target was to engage logistics industry operators and it delivered with final mile excellence from heavy LGV to two wheels and walking post.

The forum with over fifty individual operators in the room, generated a better understanding of freight operations in GM. Informing and identifying future needs and the development of potential interventions, Megan Black, TFGM, ‘clean air at the heart of it.’

Greater Manchester Highway Works on the Key Route Network from 12/04/2019

The toughest global emission standard, operating 24 hours, seven days a week, launched Monday this week (April 8th) in Central London to help reduce toxic air pollution. Van drivers working in Central and millions of Londoners, will breathe cleaner air with NO_x road transport emissions estimated to fall by 45 per cent in ULEZ zone.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: ‘This is a landmark day for our city. Our toxic air is an invisible killer responsible for one of the biggest national health emergencies of our generation. I simply refuse to be yet another politician who ignores it. The ULEZ is the centrepiece of our plans to clean up London’s air – the boldest plans of any city on the planet, and the eyes of the world are on us. ‘

Is your vehicle compliant? Not sure? TfL’s ULEZ vehicle compliance checker is available here

NEC standing room only seminars worth the sixteen quid parking in gifts alone.

Royal Mail deliver – ‘Delivery Matters’ data review at the NEC

eDX e-delivery show at the NEC this week in a double deal with IRX internetRetailing expo and then a walk down the NEC aisles for TraffEx and ParkEx but it was sixteen pounds on the parking.

All worthwhile for a bumper visit, if you did not make it, see the photo gallery below.

Sam Clarke and the flying dogs

On Wednesday 3rd April Sam Clarke - the IoC's own Chair of Electric Vehicles (or Electric Chair) and Founder of all-electric London delivery company Gnewt Cargo - presented on the role of EVs in urban last mile logistics at the inaugural Everything EV Event.

His engaging talk included the challenges around achieving a truly smart charging fleet solution, details of the joint Gnewt/Mayor of London Commercial EV Trial and even featured a huge flying dog in a drone!

The event was held close to St Paul's Cathedral in the heart of London, and was attended by over 150 from both the public and private sector.

Greater Manchester Highway Works on the Key Route Network from 05/04/2019

IOC fellows were all about the NEC this week for a two-day diary slot of four-way trade show availability.

IRX, eDX retail internet and delivery in one set of halls stuffed to busting with seminars, and Traffex, Parkex in the next halls; beware of the parking charge, it's sixteen pounds!

Traffex was full-on clean air in seminars by TfL, TfGM and Bristol as keynote delivery was given by the Highways England Chief Exec, Jim O’Sullivan.