Welcome to This Week in Freight, your go-to source for the latest haulage and road freight news and advice in the UK.
From ex-bankers turned truckers to new cash for cleaner fleets, the UK haulage scene is shifting gears fast.
This week’s TWIF covers it all: a major extension to plug-in grants, why some drivers are ditching office life for the open road, the growing backlash over Operation Brock/M20 delays, and a no-nonsense guide to HGV speed limits.
Plus, what to know about driverless trucks, dodgy Wi-Fi, and smarter fleet growth.
⚡ Plug-in grants extended to 2027 — but is it enough?
There’s good news for fleets eyeing the switch to electric: the government’s plug-in grant scheme for electric vans and lorries will now run until at least 2027.
That means up to £25,000 off per HGV — and £5,000 off qualifying vans — helping to soften the upfront cost of cleaner transport.
The extension gives fleets more time to plan their transition and secure financial support. But industry bodies like the RHA say it’s not enough on its own. With charging infrastructure still patchy and vehicle lead times high, the sector needs a clearer roadmap and more joined-up investment.
Still, if you’re considering electric in the next few years, this gives you more breathing room — and potentially thousands in savings.
→ Find out what support’s available and who’s eligible.
🚚 Bye, office job – hello, open road
Forget what you thought you knew about life behind the wheel — for a growing number of career-changers, HGV driving isn’t a last resort. It’s a conscious move towards more freedom, flexibility, and structure.
Ex-chef Matteo wanted clearer hours. Shane left finance behind to spend more time with family.
They’re part of a growing wave of new recruits trading burnout and high-pressure desk jobs for a simpler, more grounded career on the road.
With the UK still facing driver shortages, their stories challenge old stereotypes and highlight the real lifestyle benefits of haulage work — from predictable schedules to travel and autonomy.
→ Meet the new faces behind the wheel and see why they made the switch.
📏 How fast can you go? A guide to HGV speed rules
Whether you’re hauling freight across a quiet A-road or heading down a busy motorway, knowing the speed limits for your vehicle type is essential — and not always straightforward. HGV speed rules differ across the UK, depending on your vehicle weight, road type, and even which country you’re in (hello, Scotland’s A-road quirks).
Our no-nonsense guide breaks down exactly how fast you can go — and where. It covers single and dual carriageways, motorways, built-up areas, and more, with helpful tables and real-world examples.
It also explains how the law views speed limiters, POA, and tachograph compliance — so your drivers stay safe and your operation stays legal.
→ See what applies to your vehicle, your route, and your team.
🛑 “Second-class citizens”? Truckers stuck in M20 chaos again
Operation Brock is back — and so are the queues. Designed as a temporary post-Brexit traffic control system for the M20, it’s now become a long-term burden for UK truckers. With little warning, limited facilities, and miles of disruption, drivers are once again forced to wait it out with no toilets, no food, and no idea how long they’ll be stuck.
Logistics UK has had enough, calling for the scheme to be scrapped and replaced with something that respects drivers’ time, health and working conditions. After all, should the people keeping supply chains running really be treated as second-class citizens?
→ See why hauliers are fed up — and what needs to change.
Also worth a read
- That free motorway services Wi-Fi? According to UK Haulier, it could cost you more than data. This guide shows how to keep driver data safe on public networks — from using VPNs to spotting spoof hotspots.
- A DVSA report says most HGV drivers are following new restrictions on the Severn Bridge, with few infractions so far. It’s a rare good-news story for road safety and enforcement.
- Gut instinct’s great. But data-backed decisions are better. This guide from FreightWaves breaks down how to use analytics, KPIs and planning tools to grow your fleet the smart way.
- The UK government’s launching a study on how driverless HGVs could safely operate on UK roads. Still a way off, but it’s a sign of what’s coming.
