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Stress Awareness Month: Move More & Reduce Stress

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It’s Stress Awareness Month and so we wanted to talk about moving more and reducing stress. We know that getting active is not easy in this profession. Being behind the wheel for long hours leaves little room to stretch your legs. This can sometimes lead to a build-up of tension and stress. Fortunately, we have some simple steps to help you relieve such feelings.

 

Many of these steps can also help improve your overall health as well, including your mental health. Exercise is one of the best strategies for combating stress and supporting your mental wellbeing. Getting active can help lower your overall stress levels and improve your quality of life, both mentally and physically. It can also improve the quality of your sleep, which can be negatively impacted by stress, depression, and anxiety. Another positive is that it can also boost your confidence levels.

 

How Does Exercise Help with Stress?

Getting active, even if it is just a short walk, improves your body’s ability to use oxygen and also improves blood flow. Both of these changes have a direct effect on your brain. Exercise also increases your brain’s production of endorphins. Endorphins are the “feel-good” neurotransmitters that can boost your mood and help you build healthy habits.

 

Physical activity can also help take your mind off your worries. The repetitive motions involved in exercise promote a focus on your body, rather than your mind. By concentrating on the rhythm of your movements, you experience many of the same benefits of meditation. Focusing on a single physical task can produce a sense of energy and optimism. This focus can also help provide calmness and clarity.

 

Some people notice an improvement in their mood immediately after getting some exercise. But the great thing is these feelings aren’t just a one-time thing, they build up over time and boost your mood. Stress Awareness Month is a great time to start considering what you can do for yourself to help reduce stress.

 

In addition to having a direct effect on your stress levels, regular exercise also promotes optimum health in other ways. Improvements to your overall health may help to indirectly moderate your stress levels.

 

Among some of its additional benefits, exercise can help:

 

  • Strengthen your muscles and bones
  • Boost your immunity, which can decrease your risk of illness and infection
  • Lower your blood pressure, sometimes as much as some antihypertensive medications
  • Increase levels of good cholesterol in your blood
  • Improve your blood circulation

Help you sleep better at night

 

What Types of Exercise Help with Stress?

There are many ways to get moving but what are some of the most effective?

 

You don’t need to be a marathon runner or elite athlete to experience stress relief from exercise. Almost any kind of exercise can be helpful.

 

For example, consider trying moderate aerobic exercises such as:

 

  • Biking
  • Walking
  • Jogging
  • Swimming
  • Playing tennis or other racquet sports
  • Football

 

Even something as simple as gardening or choosing to take the stairs rather than the elevator can give you an emotional lift. Any type of exercise can increase your fitness and decrease your stress. However, it’s important to choose an activity that you enjoy rather than dread. If you don’t like the water, don’t choose swimming as your activity. If the thought of running makes you anxious, training for a 5K race won’t help relieve your stress. Try a variety of activities until you find some you enjoy. When you’re having fun, you’ll be more likely to stick with your workout routine.

 

If you have any tips for getting active that you’d like to share, during Stress Awareness Month and beyond, please let us know on Twitter or LinkedIn, we’d love to hear from you.

 

To read more of our blogs, click here.

 

HGV Drivers: The Importance Of Sleep

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Sleep is arguably the most important factor in maintaining a healthy body and mind. Without it, our minds become sluggish, and our bodies weary. HGV drivers are often working long shifts and on the road for many hours, so it is crucial for their physical and mental health that they take breaks and get the sleep that they need during in-between and overnight stopovers.

 

Most adults need between 7–9 hours of sleep per night, according to the Sleep Council. Getting the right amount of rest is essential for our long-term health and mental performance, and when we don’t get enough over a consistent period, our overall alertness and concentration is badly affected. If we’re starved of sleep for long enough, the neurons in our brain stop functioning properly, leading to temporary mental lapses and reduced reaction times.

 

Sleep for the Body

Not getting enough sleep can seriously impair your health. In addition to the common side effects, a lack of sleep over a prolonged period of time can cause cardiovascular problems; lead to obesity and Type-2 diabetes; and reduce immune system functioning.

 

Getting plenty of high-quality sleep, on the other hand, is very healthy. Your body is getting enough time to heal damaged cells, lower your blood pressure, and boost your immune system as well as making sure it is properly regulated.

 

If you have any infections or feel ill, sleep is your body’s chance to do the repairs that it needs to do. Most of the physical benefits of sleep occur during NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep, which makes up around 75% of your total sleep.

 

Sleep for the Mind

Sleep is also directly related to your mood, and in the long term, to your mental health. If you don’t get enough sleep for one or two nights, you may notice yourself getting grumpy and irritable. Lack of sleep over long periods can be a factor in depression in anxiety.

 

The other type of sleep is REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This makes up around 25% of total sleep. You may already know that it is during this time that we dream, even if you don’t remember having one. Dreams help us to process our emotions, memories and reduce the stresses of the day. It’s important to get a good night’s sleep so that you get time in both NREM and REM sleep. This way, your body and mind can recover fully, and you will wake up the next day feeling refreshed.

 

Staying Safe

Not getting enough sleep affects your ability to perform physical and mental tasks. After a bad night’s sleep, you may notice that you have difficulty with concentration, as well as absorbing and processing information. If you drive for a living, it’s especially important that you get a good night’s sleep, falling asleep at the wheel or even driving drowsy could have serious repercussions. A report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that drivers who only got 5-6 hours of sleep (as opposed to the optimal 7-9 hours) were 1.9 times more likely to be involved in an accident than those who got 7 hours sleep or more. Those who got less than 4 hours sleep were 11.5 times more likely to be in an accident.

 

What Can You Do to Improve Your Sleep Habits?

When it comes to getting enough sleep, there’s only so much an employer can do. As a driver, you have a personal responsibility to be well-rested on the job and must do what you can to try and get the best sleep possible.

 

If you are struggling to get the recommended amount of sleep, then there are a number of things that can help:

 

Optimising sleeping environment: Blackout blinds or curtains can be especially helpful for shift workers.

Ensuring bedding is comfortable: A mattress should support the hips and spine completely, and a pillow should keep the neck in alignment with the body. Natural-fibre bed linen can also help keep the body cool at night.

Consider a daylight lamp: Daylight lamps can boost natural waking. They’re especially useful for shift workers, who may need to get up at night.

Reduce blue light before bed: The blue light on our phones and computers interferes with the body’s circadian rhythm, so electricals should be swapped for a book at least an hour before bed.

Learn more about your unique sleep pattern: We’re all different, so you should pay attention to your own unique needs. For instance, some people can fall asleep very easily, while other people are more sensitive to caffeine, alcohol or certain foods, which can keep them awake. You need to know your own body and try to avoid things you know will keep you up.

Maintain the rhythm: It is also important to maintain your sleep habits whilst at home or on days off. This will make it easier to get the correct amount of sleep when you return to work and avoid having to reintroduce yourself to a certain sleep pattern.

 

If all these measures fail, or you should feel tired on the road, you should drink some caffeine and take a short nap which can provide a burst of energy during a long shift. Studies have shown napping after caffeine can boost your energy more than normal upon waking. You should also know what you can do if a lack of sleep is becoming a problem, including reporting it to your manager and seeking medical treatment.

 

If you have any other tips or tricks for a better nights sleep you’d like to share, please let us know on Twitter or LinkedIn, we’d love to hear from you.  To read more of our blogs, click here.

 

 

Logistics Services: How Investing in Roads Can Help

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Logistics services are an important element of a successful supply chain that helps to increase the sales and profits of businesses that deal with the production, shipment, warehousing and delivery of goods worldwide. A reliable logistics service can not only boost the economic strength of any business but also help to maintain a positive public image.

It is therefore imperative that this service is able to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible and that is hugely reliant on the improvement and maintenance of UK roads. In August, Highways England unveiled the details of plans for a £27.4 billion investment in the strategic road network across the country.

They promise to deliver £14 billion of projects improving the quality, capacity and safety of the motorways and major A roads that have helped keep the country going during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UK’s road network is a vital part of everyone’s life. It continues to serve the country well during the ongoing pandemic, keeping supermarket shelves stocked and enabling key workers to get where they need to be.

However, operations can only continue to run smoothly if proper funds are injected into the maintenance and improvement of this country’s roads. Over the next five years, Highways England plan to increase capacity where it is most needed and continue to upgrade more of the network which has suffered from decades of under-investment.

Improved roads could mean an easier drive for many hauliers. Less instances of acceleration and deceleration due to the lack of potholes, narrow roads and maintenance vehicles will mean a decrease in the level of fuel consumed during transport. If routes were more efficient or roads were improved, vehicles would produce less emissions. Not only would this lead to cheaper overall costs in terms of fuel but it would also contribute to the management of future environmental damage.

Further improvements will lead to a decreased need for maintenance on vehicles. Many roads have cracks that are just waiting to turn into dangerous potholes that could potentially cause collisions. Local roads where hauliers make their last-mile deliveries are often in an even worse state and the damage to HGVs – in particular, to their suspension systems – can have quite an impact. Resurfacing those roads would incur less damage to hauliers and other road users.

More potholes mean more breakdowns, more roadworks and more delays. These delays for a ‘just-in-time’ industry can be disastrous. Faster travel times with less obstacles and more efficient routes would make journeys faster and more reliable for haulage companies across the UK.

The FTA reports that improving the country’s roads is the most important thing politicians can do to support an efficient logistics industry. Implementing seamless logistics is a key element in keeping pace with consumer demands and outperforming competitors. In 2018, over 193 billion tonne kilometres of domestic freight was moved within the UK, of which 79% was transported by road. If these transport routes are not kept in tip-top shape, these figures will only decrease.

Share your view on this countries’ roads and the difference proper investment would make, on our Twitter or LinkedIn. You can also follow us for regular updates on the logistics industry as well as information on our logistics and warehousing services.

For more Barnes blogs, click here.

Smart Tachographs and Logistics Investment

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The DVSA have recently announced that they will not be investing in the technologies to read data from new smart tachographs. Following recent EU legislation which lead to the mandatory move from digital to smart tachographs in new commercial vehicles this summer, the agency stated that the cost of these new technologies are too high to justify the benefits.

 

So, how do these new smart technologies differ? Data from smart tachographs will be able to be read remotely and in real time, rather than vehicles having to be pulled over and stopped for this data to be read by enforcement agencies.

 

The idea behind these new tachographs would seem to benefit all parties – enforcement agencies will save a significant amount of time with all the necessary data at their fingertips, professional drivers’ schedules will not be disrupted and, most importantly, increases compliance, ensuring the safety of HGV drivers and other road users.

 

It can be understood why the DVSA has made this decision – with only new vehicles fitted with smart tachographs, they must still invest in manpower to maintain the physical checks necessary for current vehicles’ digital tachographs. This decision will have been further influenced by the fact that the same regulations which mean new vehicles must be fitted with smart tachographs only require that agencies employ full use of monitoring technologies in 2034 – 15 years away.

 

But where does this leave the logistics industry? And what does this say about the investments made to improve our sector?

 

It shows an inconsistency within policies. The latest technologies are being pushed on industry professionals – but, despite this, drivers are still being held to old rules by other parties, meaning that we cannot fully reap the benefits.

 

Surely, as an industry, embracing new technologies should be encouraged and made as easy and attractive as possible. Legislations which enforce new technologies which cannot be monitored by the appropriate enforcement parties can leave the industry feeling flat – as if the new advances in safety and efficiency are not taken as seriously as they should.

 

Should all bodies not be working together and moving at the same pace? The RHA certainly seems to think so – they have recently expressed their disappointment, with Tom Cotton, head of licensing and infrastructure at the RHA, stating: “Our members have invested in this technology to become compliant with these new regulations, so why is DVSA not prepared to show the same commitment?”

 

Surely, rather than holding off until more lorries are fitted in the future, a middle ground should be met which proportionately matches the use of new smart technologies and can be increased as more vehicles are equipped with them?

 

What are your thoughts on this latest decision? Let us know in the comments below or by tweeting us.

Self-Driving Lorries: Could Public Fear Help Our Industry?

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Automated, self-driving lorries have been a contentious topic which have grown from rumour to near-reality in recent years. We’ve voiced our concerns about the introduction of semi-autonomous vehicles when the planned ‘platooning’ technique was announced last year – from the decrease in road safety to the threats to employment.

But it seems that it is not just those in the road logistics and professional industries who are troubled by the looming threat of autonomous HGVs: Logistics Manager revealed the results of a survey which found that self-driving lorries were the second most frightening technological advancement, coming closely behind conscious machines.

The fact that self-driving HGVs are only slightly bested in the ‘fear factor’ by, essentially, the concept of robots which can think for themselves outside of human control, is telling.

When delving deeper into the 2,000 respondents’ worries, the reason ‘I don’t trust that they’ll be reliable and as quick to react as a human would’ was a top response, with an incredible 62% sharing this fear. This was a concern raised in our post last year, and the fact that it’s shared by the public only strengthens this.

Interestingly, when probed about their top concern, the respondents also cited that the possibility of machines replacing human workers was worrisome. Given that the study was asking the general public rather than a group of professional logistics workers, it’s understandable that autonomous lorries don’t evoke the same fears of job replacement for our nation’s professional drivers – but the fact that it is still a concern in general shows that we are not happy with the morality of people being replaced by machines.

The less trust the public has in the new technologies behind driverless HGVs, the more barriers the Government will face to implement them on our roads. As well as supporting our dedicated professional drivers, this public fear could also help to boost our industry’s image. The discrepancy between the public’s feelings towards the haulage sector and the reality of their reliance and the high standards of safety has been a topic which we’ve explored previously.

But when forced to think about the impacts of autonomous lorries on our roads, society must reflect on the fact that current drivers are, in fact, an incredibly safe and reliable workforce. Quick reaction times, practical human intelligence and expert training makes our professional drivers the dependable, reliable and indispensable part of the logistics chain.

Let’s hope that the future will bring even more awareness and recognition for our nation’s dedicated professional drivers!

Merry Logist-mas!

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As is oft noted, the logistics industry is integral to British economy. Of course, the professional drivers of the country work tirelessly all year round to meet the targets that the economy requires to continue functioning, however, when it comes to the festive season, there are even greater expectations to go that extra mile. Drivers commit more hours and miles to ensure that Christmas will be a success, so as a light-hearted post towards the end of the year, we thought we’d look into the logistics of Christmas.

  • In 2015, UK couriers delivered 11.01 billion orders from UK retailers.

 

  • Each person travels on average of 92 miles to deliver their gifts to loved ones.

 

 

  • 130 million cards and presents were delivered in the run up to Christmas in 2016

 

 

  • …In October this year, internet sales made up 18% of all UK commerce – that’s more deliveries for professional drivers!

 

 

 

 

As we all relax and enjoy festivities, we hope you’ll join us in taking a moment to remember the hard-working logistics professionals who make it all possible – Merry Christmas from all at Barnes!

Rest Stops and Tired Driving

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Drivers are regularly advised not to drive tired; motorways light up with overhead signs, road safety charities campaign against fatigued driving, and the DVLA has a page dedicated to informing the relevant authorities on medical conditions that may cause tiredness. Naturally, when it comes to the professional driving industry, the laws are stricter still, with drivers not permitted to work for more than 4.5 hours without taking a minimum 45 minute break. These laws can be appreciated for the safety they offer both HGV drivers and others on the road, however, in reality, these laws are continually compromised due to the lack of dedicated spaces for lorries to park during rest periods.

 

Not only are professional drivers legally required to take these breaks, but all too often we hear reports of drivers not taking them or of parking in residential areas, but we must question why this may be. Whilst we acknowledge that some drivers may work through their breaks or park inconveniently simply to meet targets quicker – this is an issue in itself – it should also be brought to light that it is also entirely probable that a lack of breaks can be the result of a decreasing number of much-needed amenities.

 

In this digital age, the movement of goods across the EU has grown rapidly, and so long hours are inevitable with the profession. To guarantee the safe arrival of commodities across borders, laws must be abided by, including those of rest periods. A driver who is well-rested is more likely to be able complete their job and continue the functioning of the supply chain system than one who is fatigued. However, without the required rest, risk is imminent.

 

When considering this issue, it is important to begin with a more general perspective; all employees, regardless of their occupation or workplace environment, expect access to clean WCs and hygienic spaces to take lunch breaks. For most, these facilities do not have to be campaigned for – they are a given. Yet when it comes to professional drivers, the case is different; despite their integral role to the UK economy, such facilities are not guaranteed. Of course, it would be unreasonable to expect these facilities fitted within each individual vehicle, however, all drivers are hypothetically always within easy reach of ‘rest periods’ – safe places to park overnight, eat and wash.

 

Despite their need, HGV rest stops have always been few and far between, but over recent years, roadside cafés and other rest stops have been closing at an alarming rate, leaving drivers minimal options when it comes to parking up. Similarly, this reduces the amount of dedicated parking areas for truck drivers and when the number of trucks on the roads are increasing (considering the growing amount of goods transported everyday), parking opportunities become more limited still.

 

It seems that, as a result, many drivers have been taking to parking in spaces which some deem unacceptable and inconvenient. All too often, the media transcribes local villager’s frustrations regarding HGV traffic and parking. In Yorkshire alone, residents are reporting to councils that there is ‘clear evidence’ of HGVs damaging roads and verges, drivers participating in antisocial behaviour by littering and creating noise pollution. In this particular case, the article claims that the vehicles in question are, “foreign registered vehicles that choose not to use or have no financial means of using dedicated lorry facilities”. However, the issue would still exist regardless: there are few – if any at all – rest stops in the area, and those that are available do not have enough space to cater for all who need to use them. It therefore seems unsurprising that in such situations, drivers have little choice but to stop in laybys or similar areas – and with an estimated 20% of all road accidents caused by fatigue, it is imperative that they rest somewhere.

 

How can this issue be resolved? Increased funding to develop parking facilities along with amenities which allow drivers to wash and take food breaks is the most obvious option. And with this need for funding comes an equally important need to educate the wider public on the lack of amenities available to drivers; as we have highlighted before, the professional driving and logistics industry are an imperative part of the British economy, but like other occupations, they need to take regular breaks.

 

Drivers, let us know your thoughts on the matter by dropping us a tweet, and if you’re on the road soon and need a rest stop, find your nearest one here.

Mentoring the Next Generation of Professional Drivers

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Just a few weeks ago, students dusted off their stationary, gathered their books and packed their rucksacks, ready to begin the new academic year. For many, the return of September meant continuing their studies in a new term, but for others, it marked a new beginning as thousands enrolled on courses and apprenticeships in an effort to propel themselves further towards their new career.

Almost two months into the new academic year, courses and apprenticeships are well underway, and so we turned to look at an event back in October of a similar nature: National Mentoring Day. Here at Barnes, the day highlighted an opportunity to raise awareness of the availability of apprenticeships within the Professional Driving and Logistics industryand the opportunities they present.

For a number of years now, pursuing a University degree upon completion of A Levels has been positioned as the traditional ‘norm’ for UK-based students. However, with the pressure growing for young people to have more ‘hands-on’, practical skills, apprenticeships have seen a growth in popularity, whilst University applications are slowly falling. As professionals within the industry, we feel proud to speak on behalf of ourselves and many others when we say that the level of support that learners entering into the logistics sector receive is invaluable and incomparable – and so National Mentoring Day is a fantastic day to bring this topic into discussion.

With various job roles available within the logistics sector, from HGV drivers to warehouse operators, vehicle mechanics, business developers and managers – to name but a few – the sector truly offers something for everyone and is inclusive of all interests and talents. However, with each of these roles comes a need for experience, something which is achieved through apprenticeships. Apprenticeships not only provide such relevant industry experience but also allow the individual to expand their skillset whilst offering the opportunity to earn an income and secure a place on the pathway for professional and personal growth.

Of course, an apprenticeship is not the route for everyone, and some may feel better suited to a University degree in a related subject– both are viable directions to take and can lead to a successful career. For those who would prefer to study academia to a higher level, we offer our full support but would also recommend that such applicants gain work experience in the field of logistics management in addition to their studies.

At Barnes Logistics, we offer both apprenticeships and placements for those who wish to join this vital industry. We can provide a rich, hands on learning environment with a strong system of professionals there to mentor you. Our network of colleagues will teach apprentices all the necessary skills before stepping back, allowing you to develop independence and confidence in your abilities, but, with this in mind, mentors will always remain close by, available to help should you require it. Similarly, for those looking for a more temporary placement, such mentoring will also be available for those on placement alongside their studies – we want all our employees, be that full time, part time, apprentice or volunteer, to enjoy their working day and begin to shape their dream career.

We cannot stress enough how much we value hiring and engaging with young individuals whose fresh thinking and curious nature is invaluable to the entire industry – after all, such individuals are the very people who will be the face and future of one of the country’s most integral and imperative sectors.

If an apprenticeship or placement is something which you are interested in, we are keen to hear from you. Please get in touch with our team today using the following details:

Tel: 01706 248795

Email: admin@barneslogistics.co.uk

Twitter: @Barnes_Logistic

The Immigrant Lorry Crisis

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When it comes to news reports involving the professional driving industry, there is a scarcity in themes. Largely, reports fall into three categories; road accidents involving HGVs, the implications that Brexit may have and the ‘illegal immigrant lorry crisis’. The immigrant crisis, as it’s labelled, is a topic which we at Barnes are yet to speak on, and it is a topic that can be difficult to discuss as there are various elements to it – but as an issue which can compromise the safety of hardworking professional drivers, it is one we feel compelled to explore.

A story of ‘illegal immigrants’ recently circulated the British tabloids; eleven people, including three children and a baby, entered the UK by lorry, only surviving their journey by eating the chocolate that the haulier was carrying. The circumstances surrounding this particular story are not uncommon; the group had boarded the lorry as it travelled from mainland Europe and then secured the vehicle in such a way that it could not be easily opened again, reducing the likelihood of them being found before reaching their desired destination. Although this narrative is a commonality, it is important to consider that not all who secretly stow themselves away are criminals, in many cases, the very act of illegal hitch-hiking appears desperate and involves a significant level of risk to it, suggesting that it is entirely possible that the people found on board were refugees or asylum seekers who simply hoped for a safer life based in the UK.

 

In such situations, regardless of the circumstances of the stowaway, it is also important for us to address how drivers can deal with such situations, as ensuring their safety is paramount. Unfortunately, many professional drivers feel let down by the existingHYPERLINK “https://www.gov.uk/guidance/secure-your-vehicle-to-help-stop-illegal-immigration” legalities; as it currently stands, legislation states that drivers must secure their lorry in a way that would prevent anyone from entering the trailer. In the event of a ‘clandestine entrant’ being found on board, drivers can face a fine of £2000 per person found on board. Even if the driver did not willingly or knowingly transport them, they face the fine as it demonstrates that their vehicle security measures have failed, and were therefore insufficient. These penalties are severe, particularly when the majority of drivers are not intentionally smuggling people across borders; in many cases, the desperation of stowaways can overcome the efforts of the driver, and there have been multiple cases reported where the driver has checked, rechecked, and even passed through specialised scanning equipment, but all have failed to detect any bodies on board. In such instances, the driver truly cannot be held accountable; if advanced technology fails to find stowaways, how could the driver be expected to? And yet many miles later, when eventually discovered, both the driver and stowaways face being detained.

 

It seems that the system of fining and detaining has fuelled anger towards immigrants who cross borders on lorries. Make no mistake, we are certainly not encouraging, agreeing with or promoting illegal immigration, but, we urge both the government and public to consider the safety of both the driver and immigrants. Our hardworking drivers should not be penalised or faced with potential penalties in these events, nor should they be locked away in a cell whilst investigations are begun.

 

As a business that operates within the logistics industry, we know that drivers are experiencing this far too commonly, and as a result, better systems are needed immediately, as they cannot continue to be subjected to the physical, emotional and financial stress that comes with the discovery of unknown passengers in their vehicle and the legalities that follow. If the circumstances are not addressed, we fear that drivers will continue down this same road for the foreseeable future, but we are hopeful that if we, and others alike, continue to raise awareness of this issue, policy makers will be encouraged to take necessary action.

 

Please share with us how you think our country can better protect our professional drivers by dropping us a tweet.

The Rising Cost of UK Roads vs the Rising Expectation of HGV Drivers

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As public and business demand for logistics increases, the nationwide shortage of HGV drivers only becomes more detrimental. As it currently stands, the UK are short of approximately 45,000 drivers – a figure which in a society with a high demand for delivered goods is extremely concerning. Perhaps more concerning still is the lack of efforts being exerted to secure more drivers; it seems that recent industry proposals which supposedly aim to tackle the problems at hand are instead focused on government economic gain rather than real solutions. The monetary gain of which we speak is largely referring to the abundance of new regulations which seemingly aim to lower the worrying levels of emissions yet cause financial strain for those who work within the driving industry. In recent months, the news has emphasised how such financial strains also exist beyond the topic of pollution – articles have detailed how drivers will be fined for working beyond legal hours and how networks such as the M6 toll as well as local councils plan to introduce new HGV charges. Whilst we at Barnes are keen to play an active role in tackling the environmental and social issues that the UK faces, we also wish to highlight the detrimental nature that increasing fines have on an already strained, short-staffed and much-needed industry. The following offers a reflection, drawing on many of our past comments, but considers them in terms of financial impact that new proposals may have by asking, how are the rising costs of UK Roads affecting the rising expectation of HGV drivers?

In July an increase in M6 toll prices was announced. Vehicles can expect to see an increase of approximately 50p; for lorries, this takes prices up to £11.50 during the week and £9.80 at the weekend. The news has attracted criticism from supportive industry bodies like The Road Haulage Association, with the body’s chief executive claiming that the changes make the M6 an unaffordable, unviable route for HGV drivers. The Midland Expressway, however, claim that there is a ‘necessity’ for increases as it will reduce journey times and result in a motorway system that is “great value for money”. They offer further attempts of justification by  adding that ‘pay-as-you-go’ routes are very popular with HGV drivers. The RHA chief, who directly communicate with drivers, presents a contrasting but pivotal point: “Why have the Midlands Expressway decided to increase the rate for HGVs now – at a time when the price of diesel has just risen by another two pence per litre – adding over £800 per vehicle to a trucker’s annual operating costs?”

The news comes after it was announced that haulage companies can now also expect to pay less tax on ‘environmentally friendly’ vehicles, but as we have previously highlighted, it seems that the greater issue at hand is not being addressed; not all can afford to buy an entire new fleet and so are forced to pay more tax.

Additionally, with emissions levels deemed a major issue, hauling bodies are confused as to why such charges are being increased, as they will undoubtedly lead to HGV drivers to use alternative routes to the M6. Such routes are likely to be A and B roads – the very urbanised areas where the government and local councils are attempting to lower pollution levels.

Yet in these very areas, some councils are campaigning to introduce ‘congestion’ charges for HGVs. Dorchester town centre, for example, is keen to implement fines on lorries that travel through the borough without making deliveries, using cameras to track their movements. But as discussed above, it is likely that the M6 toll price hike will cause an increase in town traffic.

In addition to these expected cost increases, there have been a number of other financial hits to the HGV driving industry. Earlier this year, it was announced that on-the-spot-fines would be given to drivers exceeding their tachograph hour restrictions. Having spoken in depth on this issue before, we can only reiterate our previous comments: are drivers only tampering with tachographs to meet strict delivery deadlines? As these issues have continued to develop since our last blog post, we would now like to additionally ask, how can financial punishments be effective when the pressure and expectation on HGV drivers is not easing, particularly with a severe skills shortage to also consider?

It is with great disappointment that we pen our beliefs: eventually, all HGV drivers will be penalised, regardless of route, and yet demand for logistics and deliveries will not falter. With the news of various fines dominating our daily news, we fear that prospective drivers may be deterred from entering the industry, thus worsening the problem at all angles. Thankfully, as an industry, we have a supportive body that campaigns against newly proposed charges, but, as an individual business, we urge the government to address the problems at hand before imposing fines. Realistically, the expectation on drivers is set to increase, therefore it is vital to exert greater efforts into the recruitment and retention of new drivers, whilst also exploring alternative ways to reduce emissions and congestion. If these requests are met, it is possible that the industry can thrive once again.

Let us know your thoughts by dropping us a tweet.

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Email: admin@barneslogistics.co.uk

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Barnes Logistics fleet operates from more than seven sites across the country and supports a nationwide client base.

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We supply ‘just in time’ logistics support and warehousing to business across the UK.

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