The IOC quarterly round tables for heads of industry have become the jewel in the crown of top line briefing sessions for express logistics. The January event hosted in the City of London was no exception, with a big turnout of both national brands, regional and SME operators. Free network and natter buffet set the scene for discussion of express delivery to door. The agenda from one was red hot, fast and varied. TfL opened on road charges for the tunnels even before the introductions landed. Callum Macpherson delivered on fuel values, with an exceptional political review of uncertainty of future costs. Heads at the table were asked to outline sector contingencies. Education featured, as fellows voted essential for the next generation 'duty of integrity' for parcel delivery. There was an overview of compliance in the lens of the traffic commissioners from Andy Miles. Bob Hannigan from DVSA gave great energy to a govt update on compliance. Lyndsay Cracknell DEFRA spoke clean air zones UK-wide and delivered detail on Manchester. AI for fleet maintenance featured strong from Tom Coker who spoke AI and dynamic management of vehicle serviceability. Matthew Knowles from the Anti- Counterfeiting Group (ACG) spoke on fake automotive goods including brake pads made of sawdust.
At the table to close the event was City of London Alderman and road safety guru, Alison Gowman, who spoke of an engaged, valuable event of knowledge and skills at a single table.
The free to attend round table for fellows has become a must-do for the express logistics diary, set your date for the next one, May 20th
In the tradition of the IOC round tables, fellows were asked to say who they were, where they were from and what the key issue was on their own agendas for the round table. The answers were focused and topped with political business challenge impacts.
- Political business challenges made top of the tree of importance.
- Cost & budget from road to vehicle and team.
- Networking & benchmarking best practice between brands, measuring comparisons
- Self-employment
- Alt vehicle fuel options for fleet and availability in world markets
- Sustainability
- EV cargo bike impacts and future
- Learning and next generation
- Compliance for vehicles and best practice.
A look at the first keynote of the IOC Q1 round table.
Alina Tuerk TfL Silvertown Tunnel opens April 7th
Setting the charges.
Alina gave a frank and detailed explanation of charge rates, discounts and autopay, including pre-registration.
‘We have set open year user charges.’ ‘Autopay will bring a discount’
Alina Tuerk at TfL, ‘Following five years of construction and rigorous testing of systems, we can now set out a planned opening date for the Silvertown Tunnel as 7 April 2025. The new tunnel, along with the initial user charges, discounts and exemptions, will support growth in the local area and provide new public transport and freight connections across the river. These measures will also help manage traffic demand as well as the environmental impacts, and ensure the new tunnel delivers on its objectives of reducing traffic congestion and providing resilience at the Blackwall Tunnel, while ensuring we support local residents on low income, small businesses, sole traders and local charities.
To help manage traffic levels across the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels, repay costs for building the new Silvertown Tunnel, and cover ongoing maintenance and operation costs at both tunnels, a user charge will be introduced on 7 April 2025 and will operate between 06:00 and 22:00, seven days a week. The proximity of the two tunnels has meant that, ever since the plans were first conceived, both need to be charged to ensure that traffic levels do not increase as a result of drivers seeking to use the uncharged crossing.
We have addressed 4.25t ev vans to fit in the regular van weight charge.
Detailing the construction. ‘Throughout the construction of the new tunnel, which began in 2021, more than 1,860,000 tonnes of material have been transported to and from the site via river rather than using roads – helping to remove around 110,000 lorry trips from local roads around the construction site. The tunnel boring machine, Jill (named after Jill Viner – London’s first female bus driver), was also innovatively turned around within the rotation chamber in Greenwich to then bore the second tunnel back towards Newham – a UK engineering first. As a project, the Silvertown Tunnel has also enabled more than 120 apprenticeships across the supply chain, as well as supported the hiring of more than 90 people who were previously unemployed and offered more than 1,500 days in placements for the next generation of engineers.’
Inst of Couriers – Heads of Industry January Q1 round table
Photo Gallery
Stacey Willets DPD, Alderman Alison Gowman, Lizz Lloyd Royal Mail, Claire Morley University of Derby
Keynote speaker Callum Macpherson from Investec reviewed the state of the global oil market
Andy Miles keynote on O-Licence compliance
DVSA Keynote by Bob Hannigan
Carl Lomas with Matthew Knowles from the Anti- Counterfeiting Group (ACG) global trade in counterfeit and dangerous consumer goods for delivery to door.