Spotlight
Applications open for lorry park improvement funding
HGV parking operators are urged to apply for funding to improve their facilities after a multi-million-pound scheme was extended for applications.
Latest news
Hawks Haulage joins Palletways as part of expansion plans
Leicester-based Hawks Haulage has joined pallet network Palletways UK, as part of plans to expand the company’s services and drive growth
RHA renews call for fuel rebate as operators face rising diesel costs
The RHA has renewed its call for an Essential User Rebate for transport operators, arguing that recent government support measures do not go far enough to offset the impact of rising fuel costs on the sector.
Palletline London expands in-night delivery operations
Palletline London is increasing its capacity for overnight and in-night deliveries with investment in additional warehouse space and a dedicated fleet, including two electric vehicles.
Hawks Haulage joins Palletways as part of expansion plans
Leicester-based Hawks Haulage has joined pallet network Palletways UK, as part of plans to expand the company’s services and drive growth
Palletline London expands in-night delivery operations
Palletline London is increasing its capacity for overnight and in-night deliveries with investment in additional warehouse space and a dedicated fleet, including two electric vehicles.
MAN TopUsed Centre officially opens in Swindon
MAN Truck & Bus UK has officially opened a new MAN TopUsed Centre in Swindon, Wiltshire, which specialises in providing manufacturer-backed used trucks, buses, coaches and vans.
Exol Lubricants expands fleet with new Scania trucks
Exol Lubricants has expanded its delivery fleet with the addition of four new replacement Scania trucks, as part of the the company’s investment strategy to boost its growth and distribution reach.
Strong talent pipeline for HGV technicians
HGV apprenticeship starts are at their highest level in five years, following a sharp decline during the pandemic, according to research from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).
Aldi makes first delivery from gigantic £500m Bardon distribution centre
Aldi has made the first delivery from its new warehouse in Bardon in Leicestershire, marking the start of the first phase of operations at Britain’s largest distribution centre.
Logistics sector backs apprenticeships push after Milburn report warns of “lost generation”
The logistics sector has backed calls for a stronger focus on apprenticeships and technical skills reform following the publication of Alan Milburn’s interim review into the growing number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Hawks Haulage joins Palletways as part of expansion plans
RHA renews call for fuel rebate as operators face rising diesel costs
Palletline London expands in-night delivery operations
MAN TopUsed Centre officially opens in Swindon
Exol Lubricants expands fleet with new Scania trucks
Strong talent pipeline for HGV technicians
Aldi makes first delivery from gigantic £500m Bardon distribution centre
Logistics sector backs apprenticeships push after Milburn report warns of “lost generation”
Operator news
Hawks Haulage joins Palletways as part of expansion plans
Leicester-based Hawks Haulage has joined pallet network Palletways UK, as part of plans to expand the company’s services and drive growth
Palletline London expands in-night delivery operations
Palletline London is increasing its capacity for overnight and in-night deliveries with investment in additional warehouse space and a dedicated fleet, including two electric vehicles.
Exol Lubricants expands fleet with new Scania trucks
Exol Lubricants has expanded its delivery fleet with the addition of four new replacement Scania trucks, as part of the the company’s investment strategy to boost its growth and distribution reach.
Strong talent pipeline for HGV technicians
HGV apprenticeship starts are at their highest level in five years, following a sharp decline during the pandemic, according to research from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).
RHA seeks to clarify details of HGV VED holiday, as hauliers left confused
Confusion surrounds the details of the government’s recently announced 12-month vehicle tax holiday for hauliers, with the RHA fielding a “growing number” of enquiries from operators wanting more information on timings, eligibility and how the scheme will work in practice.
Luton Airport and GXO Logistics celebrate launch of major new consolidation centre
Luton Airport and GXO Logistics have announced the launch of the airport’s new consolidation centre this week, which will streamline the delivery and processing of thousands of retail goods delivered to the airport each year.
AIT strengthens London operations with £25m facility
AIT Home Delivery has opened a depot in Enfield to meet growing e-commerce demand and reduce stem mileage.
Future Forwarding delivers giant water slide to UK aqua park
Future Forwarding Co has completed the transport of one of the UK’s largest water slide structures to Cliff Lakes in Warwickshire, following a complex oversized freight operation involving five flatbed trailers and coordinated cross-border movements from France.
Drug gang used lorries and ‘ghost warehouses’ to smuggle tonnes of Class A drugs into UK
An organised crime gang used legitimate HGV delivery routes and covert warehouse operations to smuggle large quantities of cocaine and heroin into the UK before distributing the drugs across the country, a court has heard.
French contract logistics giant boosts UK footprint with new site in Rugby
ID Logistics UK has acquired a 673,270sq ft site in Rugby, Warwickshire as part of a plans to expand the company’s UK footprint and give it greater geographic reach.
Administration watch
Welsh haulier prepares to call in administrators after 54 years in business
Third generation family-run haulier Sunhill Transport has filed a Notice of Intention (NOI) to appoint an administrator, 54 years after the company was founded.
Over 40 jobs lost as “operational and financial challenges” take down Northampton haulier
“Operational and financial challenges” forced Northamptonshire haulier Instant Despatch Services (IDS) to close its doors after 25 years of trading, resulting in the loss of 42 jobs, administrators revealed this week.
Yorkshire haulier closed down amid loss of contracts and soaring costs
The collapse of a family-run, East Yorkshire haulage firm was triggered by rising fuel costs and the loss of contracts resulting in more than 20 redundancies, according to its liquidator.
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Industry news
RHA renews call for fuel rebate as operators face rising diesel costs
The RHA has renewed its call for an Essential User Rebate for transport operators, arguing that recent government support measures do not go far enough to offset the impact of rising fuel costs on the sector.
MAN TopUsed Centre officially opens in Swindon
MAN Truck & Bus UK has officially opened a new MAN TopUsed Centre in Swindon, Wiltshire, which specialises in providing manufacturer-backed used trucks, buses, coaches and vans.
Logistics sector backs apprenticeships push after Milburn report warns of “lost generation”
The logistics sector has backed calls for a stronger focus on apprenticeships and technical skills reform following the publication of Alan Milburn’s interim review into the growing number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Watch: biggest item ever escorted through Warwickshire
The largest package ever transported through Warwickshire was escorted by the force’s abnormal loads team earlier this month.
Applications open for lorry park improvement funding
HGV parking operators are urged to apply for funding to improve their facilities after a multi-million-pound scheme was extended for applications.
Food export rules binned from 2027
Brexit rules on fresh food movements to the EU will be scrapped in a move Logistics UK said could boost the country’s economy by £5.1bn.
Transaid supporters see charity’s life-saving work in Zambia
Transaid hosted a group of nine corporate supporters from the logistics sector on a self-funded, four-day trip to visit its access to healthcare and professional driver training projects in Zambia.
Study reveals best early applications for autonomous trucks
Hub-to-hub trunking and intermodal shuttle operations are the most viable starting points for early deployment of autonomous HGVs in the UK, a nine-month study has found.
Isuzu dominates Asia-Pacific and plans to invest £6.6bn in R&D in race to zero emission vehicles
Japan’s second-largest vehicle manufacturer controls 25% of Asia-Pacific heavy truck market but faces mounting pressure to accelerate zero-emission vehicle development, with ICCT urging government intervention on decarbonisation targets.
Top economist Vicky Pryce to deliver keynote address at Logistics UK Finance Forum
Leading economist Vicky Pryce, CEBR chief economic adviser and Visiting Professor at King’s College London, has been announced as the keynote speaker for Logistics UK’s Finance Forum 2026.
Interviews
From vans to trucks: the Dash Express journey
Paul Dash has helped grow Dash Express from a small South West van firm into a multi-depot logistics operation with a turnover topping £25m. Partnerships with APC Overnight and, more recently, Palletways have expanded the business into parcels, pallets and heavy trucks, while keeping the company’s hands-on, family-led approach.
“This changes everything” - megawatt charging for long-haul passes the test
Kempower used its MCS Live Winter Days event in Norrköping, Sweden for megawatt testing of Volvo, MAN and Scania trucks. The results show heavy-duty electric HGVs are ready for real-world operations
“Fleets won’t switch until TCO and profit stack up — here’s how to make it work”
New Voltempo chief executive Simon Smith admits HGV fleets are holding off on electrification because high energy costs, standing charges, and underused infrastructure are eroding margins. But could smarter depot charging and energy management finally make electric trucks commercially viable?
Harris MAXUS expands technician training to tackle skills shortage
The Dublin-based importer has invested significantly in its training academy to meet rising demand from over 90 UK dealers, delivering structured programmes from system technician to master technician level with particular focus on electric vehicle safety and diagnostics.
Martin Willmor’s vision for DHL Supply Chain: strategy, challenges and growth targets
Returning to DHL at a pivotal moment, new UK&I CEO Martin Willmor lays out a focused five-point strategy - spanning growth sectors, transport reform, major startups and property investment - to steer the business confidently through a shifting economy
John Lewis cutting emissions today and in the future with the best technology available
The John Lewis Partnership’s fleet manager has cut transport emissions in half since 2018 by switching 500 trucks to bioCNG and trialling electric vehicles, achieving a major milestone by purchasing the company’s final diesel vehicle this year.
Hydrogen a viable option in a future multi-fuel zero carbon landscape
The HydraB group is targeting hydrogen pricing of £8/kg to 9/kg to achieve total cost of ownership parity with diesel equivalents, as CEO Harry Bowcott explains how an integrated approach across vehicle manufacturing, fuel production and infrastructure can simplify hydrogen adoption for fleet operators.
Malcolm Logistics looks for customer support for next steps on sustainability journey
Malcolm Logistics picked up the Haulier of the Year Award at the 2025 Motor Transport Awards, the second time the company has collected this coveted award.
Opinion
An operator knows in a week. The money never asks
When KleanDrive entered administration, it had working technology and real customers. What it didn’t have was investment backing that valued operator judgement over financial hunches. One fleet operator explains why firms with proven kit keep failing, and why the industry keeps losing suppliers it claims to want.
Insurance two-year rule blocks 87% of HGV jobs for newly qualified drivers
Investigation reveals no major fleet insurer can provide actuarial evidence for the two-year licence restriction that excludes newly qualified HGV drivers from most operator policies, despite commercial fleet premiums rising 8% in a year when personal motor insurance fell 10%.
HGV driver market still broken despite reform efforts
A joint industry report reveals the UK HGV driver market remains structurally flawed, with insurance barriers and poor data visibility preventing newly qualified drivers from entering the workforce—even as demand shows early signs of recovery.
AI search reshapes online visibility beyond SEO budgets
AI-powered search is disrupting two decades of SEO dominance, allowing specialist operators with genuine expertise to compete for visibility against national competitors—regardless of marketing budget. But businesses that fail to adapt may lose enquiries without knowing why.
Contracts
Sweet deal for IPP with Swizzels contract extension
Pallet pooler IPP has renewed its contract with sweet firm Swizzels, taking the long-standing partnership to over 17 years.
Primeline Group crunches ten-year deal with Tayto Snacks
Primeline Group has signed a multi-million euro warehousing and distribution agreement with Tayto Snacks, building on a long-standing partnership between the two companies.
Meachers and Ferryspeed’s partnership sails on
Meachers Global Logistics has extended its partnership with Ferryspeed with a new three-year contract.
XPO flies high with Uniload Aviation deal
XPO has been chosen by unit load devices management provider Unilode to be its global logistics partner.
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