HGV LEVY: ONE YEAR SUSPENSION TO SUPPORT HAULAGE LOGISTICS INDUSTRY

Philip Andrews, DfT, Deputy Director, I am writing to the IOC to let you know that the Government will be suspending the HGV Levy for 12 months, from 1 August. As you will appreciate, the haulage industry is critical to keeping the country moving and plays a key role in supporting our economy recovery and growth. The suspension of the Levy is intended to provide some relief to hauliers, given the difficulties faced by the sector during the pandemic.

DPD has confirmed that it is to partner with the London EV Company (LEVC) for a series of road trials ahead of the launch of the company's new VN5 Electric Van later this year.

IOC fellow, Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO commented, ‘We are committed to having the greenest fleet in the UK, as soon as possible."

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL ENHANCES ITS FLEET AND NEW EV TRIALS SCHEME WITH THE ADDITION OF OVER 120 ALL-ELECTRIC RENAULT KANGOO Z.E.33

· Leeds City Council takes delivery of 122 Renault Kangoo Z.E.33

· All-electric LCV to be used for the delivery of council services and have a major role in new EV Trials Scheme

· Award-winning Kangoo Z.E.33 chosen for its value, space and range of up to 143 miles (WLTP)

· Renault Kangoo Z.E.33 priced from £19,380, excluding VAT, after the Plug-in Van Grant.

Congestion starting to rise in Central London due to challenging restrictions and one-way systems

Stuart Godman, ‘I really see our Cargo Bike fleet returning to pre-covid demand and more.’

At the end of May, IOC fellow, Stuart Godman, London courier company boss of Absolutely, highlighted some of the potential challenges of deciding how companies return to work and how the logistics landscape was going to change

It was clear that the square mile and many busy locations such as Park Lane (pre covid-19) were certainly going to introduce more restrictions to ensure the safety of the public.

We thought we would catch up with Stuart a month on from his initial thoughts to see what’s developed at Absolutely.

DfT Review of last mile logistics 2019 s

From a meeting in 2019, the numbers appear far removed from present day in the Govt Position statement on last mile logistics, but vision of electric van and cargo cycle is in there. Published this week 19 June 2020, this states the independent position of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Science Advisory Council on last mile logistics in transport. The report includes:

·         a summary of the issues around last mile delivery

·         a summary of potential technical solutions and business-model measures to minimise negative impacts of last mile delivery

·         recommendations on how Department for Transport could support future solutions for last mile delivery​

Greater Manchester Highway Works on the Key Route Network from 19/06/2020

DPD scales-up to meet ‘New normal' demand from online retailers

Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO commented, "We are experiencing the biggest boom in online retailing in the UK's history’. DPD has announced 6,000 new UK jobs and a major infrastructure investment in response to the unprecedented boom in online shopping caused by Covid-19."

· £200m of new investment includes vehicles and 15 new regional depots

· 2,500 new full-time jobs including depot, hub and management positions

· 3,500 new drivers being recruited nationwide

The IoC held its first quarterly Heads of Industry since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic via Zoom on 14 May 2020.

The proceedings are available to the public and the recording of the meeting can be viewed on Zoom here (opens in a new window on Zoom)