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.
🚧 National Highways clears the way for Christmas
With a record 29.3 million journeys expected this Christmas, National Highways is lifting over 1,100 miles of roadworks to ease congestion.
Major routes like the M25, M4, and M1 will see significant relief, helping transport companies and drivers stay on schedule.
However, with a 22% rise in winter breakdowns, fleets need to prepare for tyre trouble, battery failures and driver fatigue.
Less roadworks means a smoother ride, but fleets must stay vigilant to maintain safety and efficiency.
Check out Gareth Roberts’ guide to preparing your fleet for the Christmas rush on Fleet News.
🏷️ Q5 is almost here. Are you ready?
The holiday season may be over, but demand isn’t slowing down.
January sales, Christmas returns, and winter sports restocks are keeping retailers and manufacturers busy, and logistics companies are perfectly positioned to become valuable long-term partners.
Read our new guide to see how you can make the most of Q5.
⚡️ Is electrification a pipe dream?
A lot of fleet operators are struggling to align with the government’s truck electrification strategy.
Challenges like high EV costs, grid connection delays (up to 8 years), and infrastructure barriers are pushing operators to explore more immediate solutions.
Low-carbon fuels like HVO and biomethane offer a practical path to reduce emissions now. While electric is the long-term goal, embracing renewable alternatives today could make a bigger impact than waiting for the grid to catch up.
Read Andy Salter’s full commentary on Freight Carbon Zero to explore how the UK can balance progress with practicality.
🚛 Struggling to find ULEZ-compliant subbies?
London’s ULEZ expansion is creating headaches for transport companies, with time-consuming searches for compliant hauliers slowing operations.
The endless phone calls, unanswered questions, and growing frustration are all too familiar. But there are ways to take the stress out of ULEZ compliance, no matter your business size.
From leveraging professional networks to adopting smart tools, finding ULEZ-compliant hauliers can be faster and easier than you think.
Check out the guide and discover better ways to stay compliant without the hassle.
🚁 Drones, robots, and the future of last-mile delivery
Drones delivering medical supplies at 60mph? Robots navigating pavements in Cambourne? It’s like a spy film—minus the martinis.
Drones are proving invaluable for tasks like railway inspections, police surveillance, and medical supply transport, offering speed and efficiency in hard-to-reach areas.
Meanwhile, delivery robots are gaining traction as eco-friendly, last-mile solutions. @DPD and @Co-op are expanding fleets of autonomous robots, cutting emissions and operating costs while improving their urban delivery services.
Fleet News’ Andrew Ryan shares how these innovations are redefining fleet operations and paving the way for a more sustainable future.
🧑🔧 Self-driving trucks in the Lone Star State
DHL is making waves in Texas, rolling out Volvo VNL self-driving trucks on two busy routes: Dallas to Houston and Fort Worth to El Paso.
Texas is a big deal for freight—it moves more cargo than any other U.S. state. But what does this mean for UK fleet managers? With autonomous tech on the rise, the industry is watching closely to see how challenges like insurance, safety, and regulations unfold across the pond.
Check out Alejandra Carranza’s summary over on Supply Chain Dive.
💼 This week’s freight jobs
Considering a career change for 2025?
Azad Awan has curated his weekly roundup of the top transport and fleet manager jobs across the UK.
There’s a variety of the roles this week at Wincanton, Univar Solutions, DHL Supply Chain and more!
Finally, this will be our last TWIF update for 2024!
We’ll be back with the next edition on 10th January 2025. Subscribe now to get notified when it’s available.
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