Welcome to This Week in Freight, your go-to source for the latest haulage and road freight news and advice in the UK.
Every Friday, we gather the week’s top stories affecting fleet managers, operators, and drivers, keeping you informed on industry trends, updates, and key developments.
🚚 London’s DVS deadline is this Monday—are you ready?
Businesses with HGVs over 12 tonnes must meet the new Direct Vision Standard, or install Progressive Safe Systems before Monday 28th October.
Otherwise, you’ll receive a £550 penalty charge (PCN) per HGV, and the HGV could be barred from operating in Greater London.
Similar to the Dartford Bridge system, you’ll get a 50% discount if you pay within 14 days, but it’ll jump up to £825 if you pay after 28 days.
Full details on TFL’s website.
⚙️ Best practices for optimising your fleet
Efficient fleet management is key to a successful haulage business. In our latest guide on Freight Focus, we cover everything from reducing fuel costs to investing in the right certifications.
By adopting these strategies, you’ll build a safer, more efficient, and more profitable fleet.
Read our fleet management guide.
⏰ When clocks go back, collisions go up
According to a new study by AA’s Accident Assist team collisions rise by 11% in the two weeks after the clocks go back, compared to the fortnight before the clocks fall back.
This is mainly because of darker evenings, wet weather, and being dazzled by low-lying sunshine. Fleet managers are encouraged roll out defensive driving techniques in their fleets.
Check out their recommendations on FleetNews.
🎤 “The Story of Us” and $15M in freight
As part of her Eras Tour, Taylor Swift’s company spent nearly $15.4 million, including insurance and freight, to ship about 850 tons of stage equipment from London to Miami.
It required 90 twenty-foot shipping containers, which made their way from London to Port Hamble in Southampton, then onto a Singapore-flagged cargo ship bound for Port Everglades in Florida.
🔌 Charging downtime costs fleets 8x more than the electricity
Co Charger, the neighbourhood community charging company, estimates that time lost to charging typically costs £17,000 per year per asset – or around 260 non-productive hours across a 12-month period – to charge while “on shift”.
Thankfully, they have a solution: charge in someone else’s driveway.
♻️ Circular economy logistics: a smarter way to operate
Instead of a linear “take, make, dispose” model, forward-thinking businesses in all industries are adopting circular practices, focusing on recycling, refurbishing, and reusing materials.
For logistics companies, this means more efficient use of vehicles, minimising empty runs, and optimising return journeys. By supporting circular economy practices, fleets can reduce costs, improve environmental impact, and offer added value to clients looking for greener solutions.
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