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.
🧐 New eyesight requirements for UK drivers?
The UK is the only European country to issue licences without any visual checks for a continuous period up to the age of 70.
But that’s about to change – the Department for Transport is now considering updating eyesight requirements for driving as part of the Government’s road safety strategy.
Here’s why it’s now more urgent than ever.
🌞 Solar-powered HGVs? Almost
Birds Eye is rolling out two new solar-powered refrigerated trailers to transport thousands of tonnes of product each year, eliminating around 24 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually from its extensive supply chain.
See how it works, and what it means for the future of chilled transport.
📊 When is “waiting around” actually working time?
Periods of availability (POA) are often misunderstood — especially by new operators.
But logging this time correctly makes a real difference to compliance and driver welfare.
❌ Not the same as a break
❌ Not the same as rest
✅ But still needs recording
See when POA applies and how to use it properly in your fleet.
🌍 New rules for international drivers’ hours
The DVSA has announced changes to the drivers’ hours rules that will apply to international journeys from Monday 21 April 2025.
If you only drive within the UK, nothing changes for you.
But if you’re driving internationally, you’ll need to carry 56 days of driving records (up from 28), follow AETR rules on trips to or from the UK and non-EU countries, and more.
Read up on the new rules on Gov.uk.
💼 How to hire the right transport manager
You know you need a transport manager, but how do you hire the right one?
Should you recruit in-house, look externally, or outsource? What’s the cost difference?
Our transport manager guide breaks down the hiring process, the training needed, and how to get the best value for your business.
📦 New Windsor Framework rules from May
From 1 May 2025, new rules under the Windsor Framework will require more information for business-to-business parcels sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. While consumer parcels won’t need full declarations, businesses must be ready to provide product details and work with carriers or the Trader Support Service to stay compliant.
Logistics UK is urging HMRC to step up awareness efforts, warning that many businesses are still unprepared for the changes despite previous delays.
With NI’s reliance on parcel delivery only growing, smooth compliance is key to avoiding supply chain disruption.
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