IOC The heads of industry round table agenda detail

IOC Chair Carl Lomas opened ‘A lens for all things express, final mile, last mile.’

The lens and view of our sector for this quarterly heads of industry round table. ‘Cartmarking and the taxation of trade vehicles in a ULEZ, The operators' words, Nick Langdon boss of Royal Mail parcels, ‘Express is exploding’. A look at what and where we are delivering, from e-retail shift to same day. Consolidation and the morality of delivery to a consolidated office. Looking at clean air and the LoCity groups, drivers charging at depot or home, micro-hub revolution best practice. Affordability and availability of the alternative fuel vehicles, consolidation loading at the road side parking space. A look at cargo cycles and the licence for powered two wheels, theory test a minimum to work. Reviewing the IOC five year delivery speed research, a 13% shift in request for same day. Terms of LSP, delivery network bandwidth, urban density and client chain.’ Lomas finished with the Sunday email and a gallery of a thousand images for final mile. The lens view was completed for a round table focus as the external experts took to the table.

TfL keynote ULEZ and Vision Zero by Lauren Preteceille, Head of National and Regional Partnerships

Lauren Preteceille, ‘Making the communities in London better, using policy and early engagement with organisations such as the IOC and cross spectrum to the London boroughs.’ ‘Making a case to govt is vital. Vision Zero is global, a vision for safer systems, save systems, safer behaviours. Road danger statistics are rising, we are working with the Met to get data clarity, drivers, social, domestic, pleasure or working. We are looking to lower speed limits in the most dangerous locations, we are tackling cyclists' behaviour, improving junctions, fitting speed limiters to our buses. Our challenge is to move around London in a safe and sustainable way. Data shows Bus as the biggest retail trip while Van remains the largest growing vehicle number on London's roads. Mayor's transport view is an 80% shift from car journeys by 2041. Getting people walking and cycling means we must make the streets safe. 80% of those killed today are walking, cycling or on powered two wheels. 22 powered two-wheelers killed in 2018, 2019 so far this year we are already at 22. Powered two-wheeler incidents, Three areas of focus, legislation is our priority, training is key, marketing is an issue to reach the target audience of two-wheelers.’ ‘We want a strong message on safer roads in london.

Lauren Preteceille on ULEZ,

This was the most radical step for TfL since the congestion charge, we are seeing strong compliance, Oct next year Low emission zone will be extended, Oct 2021 ULEZ will expand out to but not including the north and south circular. ULEZ inside the London ring-roads.

A better London for all in a growing London, my commitment is to engage with you and plug into the express sector at the earliest stage to create policy.

Questions from the floor...

Simon Allan-Brooks, ‘Do we have data to show age of vehicles in accidents, does modern technology and latest vehicles show a better statistic?’

Kate Lester, ‘Does TfL have data on ratio of accidents for powered two wheelers in the wider vehicle data group?’

Lauren was asked about UK-wide compliance for clean air, UEZ London and Clean Air Zone Manchester, Q how do we get similarity?  A We are talking to DfT about national standards for clean air.

Taylor update, Irwin Mitchell employment expert, Dr Sybill Steiner

I cannot solve status of employment this afternoon but I am here to signpost the steps to tests you can make. I believe when the Uber case gets to the Supreme Court a precedent will be set, but each case is individual. It is possible to be self-employed in a tax ruling but not in employment law. It is important to have a paper trail to demonstrate that the organisation has thought clearly about the employment status of individuals. ‘In reality, is this individual a worker or an employee?’

15% of today's workforce are counted as self-employed today. Are they self-employed? Who are the drivers of change? Taylor review 2017 has been well published, key is Taylor suggested a category of dependant contractor. My view is we have enough categories today; self-employed, PAYE and worker. This appears to be enough categories; the test which category you are in should be aligned. The test under tax law: you are self-employed or not, the hybrid worker status does not exist. Taylor suggests the test should be clearer. A fourth category would be more challenging.

Looking at the challenges - can someone be a worker who is self employed? In reference to the 2018 Good Work plan, testing employment status was recommended for alignment.

Presently everything is case law, clarity would be a test for employment status. Over the last two years there have been many challenges on employment status, famous cases included the Pimlico plumber, UBER, Deliveroo. Hermes, 65 drivers and the 'self-employment plus' contracts - this is not a legal term, it is a label.

Dr Steiner examined the employment test of status by the company using a variety of case studies. The group discussed the master/sub-contractor risk. How does IR35 stand next year?

Dr Steiner put up a Powerpoint slide for current legal tests to determine status.

To be an employee - The individual must provide personal service. There must be a mutuality of obligation. The employer must have control over the employee. Contractual terms must be consistent with employer status.

To be a worker – The individual must work under a contract. Have mutual obligations while working. Provide personal service. But no obligation to offer or accept work,

To be self-employed – No requirement to be offered or to accept work. Individual can decide when and how to work, no direct supervision. No requirement for personal service, can provide a substitute. Individual can provide services to competitors.

National Courier Awards nominations masterclass. Tracey Worth

Tracey talked case studies for a success in categories for the National Courier Awards, I am at your disposal for discussion on what winners fit which categories. Special nominations include groups or teams, not individuals. Recognising effort, success or impression made must be stated. ‘Going beyond the norm is what judges are listening for. Customer comment, a customer recommendation, a supervisors comment are always high scorers at judging panel. ‘Tracey finished with two case studies. Key is supervisor or customer commendations, these are vetted, but kept anonymous. We are always looking for individuals who have been in sector for many years and individuals who are making change in existing systems. The absolute deadline is Oct 4th, please get your nominations in.

Electric van whole-life cost. Fergus Worthy CENEX

Fergus Worthy, Why choose a low emission van?

Fergus Worthy, Lets talk BEHvs, PHEVs and EREVs. To comply with regulation, it's better for local environment, better for global environment, better for business.’ ‘three areas to consider, operational, financial, environmental.’

Operational, the vehicle needs to meet your requirements, the business mileage and driver commute, the infrastructure for fuel & the payload for delivery.

Financial, key is the whole-life cost, do you have the upfront cost and funding mechanisms?

Environmental, speaks for itself on an electric win.

Fergus talked detail of the terms BEVs PHEVs and EREVs. Battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and extended range electric vehicles. Explaining allowance in weight of batteries for licence category. Looking at infrastructure, there is not a charge point everywhere, but they are growing.

Looking at cost performance, a case study for 15,000 miles a year on small panel vans over five years, not coming into congestion charge the saving is ten per cent. Entering congestion charge-ULEZ the win can be fifty per cent on whole life cost for an electric van.

Fergus closed with the OLEV plug-in grant deal, up to eight thousand allowance and then finished with the improving residual values for EV vehicles.

Next steps...

Cenex / LowCVP Low Emission Van Guide: www.lowcvp.org.uk

Grants and Incentives: www.gov.uk search OLEV

Charging Infrastructure: www.zap-map.com and www.ukevse.org.uk

Help and Support: www.cenex.co.uk

Express apprenticeships at the heads of industry round table.

L2 delivery to manager degree Level 6

John Bowman explained the Trailblazer Group for Express chaired by Justin Moore.

Level two express delivery operative standard and end-point assessment is signed off, end-point assessment organisations are weeks away from availability. Levy funded starts could be before the end of the month. Sortation is agreed to proceed to standard development, IFA have asked for consultation with the pallet networks and this is set for a round table event at the Intralogistex trade show.

IOC round table discussion for distinction grades in the L6 Express manager.

Talking degree apprenticeship the IOC Round table reviewed distinction grades in the new Express manager level 6 end-point assessment.

Two unit highlights particularly showcased, units K20 and K24. The K20 distinction was warmly received to deliver a project identifying peak shifts in the cost implications for people, vehicles and fuel.

K24 brought discussion on threats to the express business and continuity. ‘Grade the risk bands’ Operator input focused on the range of threats to Express, ‘Fraud, malpractice, lack of insurance, flood & fire, crime & hijack, road and traffic incidents.’

Looking further: climate, cyber crime and market movement, Brexit. This drew a discussion on being clear that risks were graded all the way to catastrophic and by geographic location.

Operators were particularly excited by the timescale of L6 drawing close to the opportunity of candidate starts.