(Written Friday March 20th)
Alan Lewis was the last IOC round table keynote speaker; he is a partner at Constantine Law. He reminds us that events are moving rapidly with the Coronavirus.
He has put together an employment briefing for the IOC and he is updating next week with the Friday 80% payroll measures. The document can be accessed on the IOC web bubble for coronavirus information. We bring you the fifteen-point detail headings in summary below.
Richard England, IOC chair of owner-operator group - hygiene supplies to keep our drivers safe on the front line
We need the government to gain access to hygiene supplies to keep our drivers safe on the front line. Finding adequate supplies is very difficult currently.
Companies with sign-written vans or business accounts in a courier company's name should have priority access to fuel if supply chains break down. Identification with company ID badge a possible answer to policing this and members of the IOC should carry the IOC key worker certificate.
News on funding for business continuity and wage guarantees has been a good, but we now need practical reality, advice and procedures to put this in place.
Temporary exemption will enable vital services to continue, delivery to the door, frontline workers to get to work, and people to get essential food and medicine.
· Vans, motorcycles and cars to be granted MoT exemption
· this will allow people to carry on with essential travel
· vehicles must be kept in roadworthy condition
Vehicle owners will be granted a 6-month exemption from MOT testing, enabling them to continue to travel to work where this absolutely cannot be done from home, or shop for necessities.
Hermes has announced it is to make a £1 million pound fund available for its self-employed couriers, to help support them if they need to self-isolate as a result of the coronavirus.
It follows concerns about their welfare as self-employed people are not eligible for sick pay.
Hermes will also support them in finding someone to deliver on their behalf if they do not have a substitute and guarantee that their rounds will be kept open for them for when they return.
This initiative is supported by the GMB Union.
Transport Secretary sets out 18 point package of measures to improve safety and public confidence.
An action plan to ensure smart motorways are as safe as possible has been set out Thursday (12 March 2020) by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
Work will focus on getting help to broken down drivers much quicker and making the schemes less confusing.
September 28th launch date confirmed
Leeds City Council has confirmed that the Clean Air Charging Zone (CAZ) will go live on 28 September this year
IOC are talking to Leeds on van scrappage deal values similar to TfL; there is a vehicle checker launched, more details below.
© 2026 Institute of Couriers