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.
🚧 Brock and roll: M20 closed this Sunday
The M20 between Maidstone and Ashford will be closed this Sunday evening.
To safely deploy the contraflow as part of ‘Operation Brock’, the M20 will be closed – London bound from junction 9 to 8 and coastbound junction 7 to 9 – overnight from 8pm on Sunday 15th Dec to 6am on Monday 16th Dec.
Operation Brock – short for “Brexit Operations Across Kent” – is part of a series of measures to improve the flow of traffic to and from the English Channel in Kent.
Full details from National Highways.
✂️ How to cut your payment admin in half
Speedy Freight, a top UK same-day courier company, was spending days processing thousands of subscontractor invoices each month.
After adopting SmartPay, they cut payment processing time by 50%, completing eligible supplier payments in just 60 minutes.
📌 Live tracking = a competitive edge
The gig economy, worth £450 billion globally, presents big opportunities for small-to-medium haulage companies—if they embrace the right tools.
Vehicle tracking like Quartix enhances visibility, efficiency, and trust, helping businesses stay competitive in a fast-paced market.
From real-time load tracking to smarter route planning, see how technology is transforming SME success in Quartix’s article.
🤖 Not *everything* needs to be automated
Automation is transforming freight, but personal service and visibility are still the key to winning over your customers.
Frank Kenney of Cleo explains how balancing AI with human connections can boost trust, transparency, and sales.
Discover why customer experience remains key in freight tech.
🚢 NVOCC or freight forwarder?
If you’re planning to expand internationally, knowing who does what could save you time and money.
In our latest guide, we break down how NVOCCs and freight forwarders can support your haulage business with specialised services, flexible solutions, and cost-saving options.
Get the guide here and make smarter shipping decisions.
🥷 What’s your plan to stop van and cargo theft?
According to a new study by Fleet News, van theft and cargo fraud continues to rise across the UK, with London, West Yorkshire and Essex topping the list of hotspots.
Every logistics company is at risk (especially in October, according to the data), but you can minimise your chances of being targeted.
From locking vehicles to securing your yard and verifying deliveries with Trustd, these easy steps can make all the difference.
💼 This week’s freight jobs
Haulage Exchange’s very own Azad Awan has compiled his weekly roundup of the top transport and fleet manager jobs across the UK.
This week’s list includes exciting roles at DHL Supply Chain, Greene King, Biffa, British Airways and more.
Your dream job could be right around the corner! 👀
The article was published on . It was updated on 12 December 2024 to make it more relevant and comprehensive.
