Changes to the Highway Code that will create a hierarchy of responsibility for road users are expected to be ratified by the UK government later this year. ​

As the world faces a shortage of truck drivers, youngsters could offer a glimmer of hope for the future of HGV transport, according to a leading driving experience provider.

The sale of new under 26-tonne diesel and petrol trucks are to be banned in the UK by 2035 with larger vehicles following suit in 2040. The UK government has already said it will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and that it will replace its own fleet of 40,000 cars and vans three years earlier in 2027.

Quartix, a leading supplier of subscription-based vehicle tracking systems, has announced the appointment of Richard Lilwall as managing director and CEO. Richard takes over from Andy Walters, who will retire following 20 years' service in October.

Almost 600 offences were discovered in a week of action in May by police and personnel from Highways England patrolling the M6 motorway in unmarked HGV ‘supercabs’. The HGV tractor units give officers a clear view into cabs and often catch offending drivers unawares.

The European Commission (EC) has announced that from 2 August, 2021 UK drivers will no longer be required to carry Green Card insurance when travelling to EU countries.

In an attempt to ease the effects of the chronic shortage of HGV drivers – now estimated to be around 100,000 - the UK government has announced a temporary relaxation of drivers’ hours rules.

The Worldwide ERC, Canadian Employee Relocation Council and the European Relocation Association have joined forces under the name WECAN to issue a joint declaration to governments and business leaders.

ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) has released a new interactive map that shows the number and location of hydrogen refuelling stations that will be required to meet the needs of fuel cell HGVs in the future. It says that binding targets should be set for each member state.

Logistics UK, the business group representing the logistics industry, has announced the launch of a brand-new eLearning course, Van Driver Safety Training, with the aim of ensuring the four million vans currently on the UK’s roads are being driven safely, efficiently and in compliance with government legislation.

The Department for Transport is seeking views on changes being made and adopted as part of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. These changes, already planned for Europe, will allow the continued operation of goods vehicles between the UK and EU.

For the fifth year running, Scania has won Germany’s coveted ‘Green Truck’ title. The prestigious press test competition is organised by two leading German trade magazines and over the years has become something of a world championship in transport efficiency for long-distance trucks.

Scania (Great Britain) Limited has announced a new official partnership with leading UK charity, Cancer Research UK.

On 20 May, Germany passed new legislation that will allow driverless vehicles, including autonomous taxis, on public roads by 2022.

In a press release issued on 1 June, Transport for London (TfL) claims that its Direct Vision Standard (DVS), introduced in March this year, is “already helping to save lives” and warns of a further tightening of regulations in 2024.

Ever mindful of safety, Volvo Trucks has developed an acoustic alert system with unique sound effects for its electric trucks so that pedestrians, cyclists and other road users can hear them coming.

Almost one in ten logistics businesses in the UK say the recruitment of drivers is an ‘extreme barrier’ to the recovery of their business, according to The Logistics Report 2021 released on 21 May by business group Logistics UK.

Fuel card provider DKV Mobility has announced that its customers are now able to use Nordic energy company Gasum’s network of gas filling stations across Finland and Sweden.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has published long-awaited guidance to improve safety around the use of tail lifts.

Tachograph analysis and compliance specialist TruTac has launched an all-new software feature - Driver Compliance Risk Score (DCRS) - to simplify how fleet operators monitor and manage the potential risk drivers can pose to compliance levels.