We will cope and succeed to deliver.’ commented Jeffrey Ritterband FFIoC CitySprint

Home delivery, e-retail final mile looks set to set even bigger records than first predicted.

In 2016, more than a quarter of retail value was sold online, (source: IMRG) and that does not include eBay.

BBC News for this Black Friday - 2.5 Billion ‘online Sales’ in one day - The public have been considering for a week what they were to buy on Black Friday.

Manufacturers saying they have to sell on Black Friday to encourage more Christmas sales, but some retailers have said 'No' to Black Friday as they are losing more than they make.

‘Winners this year are the shoppers as retailers make low profits’. Black Friday has been stretched all week, Black Tag week on electronic goods, free home delivery.

Many retailers have stretched the other side to Monday 27th. Big sortation shed folk are talking a new term, Sortation Sunday.

IOC were guests of the MCIA for the Birmingham Bike Show and the 45th AGM of the MCIA.

Over a hundred thousand new two wheelers sold in the UK last year- UK fatalities on two wheels down 13% in 2016 DfT figures. Birmingham showcase for Motorcycle Live bike show. Everything two wheels from retro cool bike launch to winter clothes at this years NEC bike show. IOC most cool machine at the Motorcycle Live event goes to Honda for the re-invention of the step threw Super Cub, seriously cool machine for London Knowledge, a run to Brighton or some sunshine deliveries in the West End.

Over a hundred thousand new two-wheelers sold in the UK last year- Eve of Black Friday, take a look at the two wheel NEC bike showcase before Sortation Sunday and Cyber Monday.

Everything two wheels from retro cool bike launch to winter clothes at this year's NEC bike show.

Walk away with a pair of tyres straight from the stand. IOC were at the NEC, Motorcycle Live bike show this week.

The rails were stacked full of winter courier clothing at bargain prices.

IOC chair got turbo-charged when he met the restored Honda CX650 but it had no courier panniers!

IoC Fellow Bob Black, former TNT, presently CEO Startrack Australia has just taken the Transport and Logistics national award for Australian CEO win.

Express logistics enters peak with a rich demand for workforce while UK Govt report lowest unemployment in 40 years.

National employer group for Dept for Work and Pensions reported (Nov 16) Unemployment is down 59,000 on the quarter and is the lowest rate since 1975.

Employment rate is at a near record of 75.0% with 32 million people in work. Official figures show that unemployment has remained at 4.3%, the lowest rate since 1975.

The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, also show that employment remains at a near record high, with 32 million people in work. Increases in full-time and permanent work are behind the figures. In the last year the number of people on zero hours contracts has fallen by 20,000.

Breaking news Friday November 10th  - The Employment Appeal Tribunal has upheld a ruling that Uber drivers should be classified as workers. The taxi service appealed against the original tribunal decision, which took place after the GMB union brought claims on behalf of its members in July 2016, identifying their workers as self-employed.

The tribunal found Uber drivers are not self-employed, but workers that are entitled to basic workers’ rights, including holiday pay, a guaranteed minimum wage and an entitlement to breaks.

The ruling will have implications for many delivery companies which rely on self-employed couriers for their final mile deliveries.

Institute of Couriers completed a substantial response to the Taylor Review detailing that the majority of Express companies are bricks and mortar with a solid tradition of self-employment and not in the worker status category.  

Click here for the IOC response to Taylor document