On 12 March, 2020 the UK government published its report into the safety of so-called Smart motorways. David Jordan, deputy Editor of The Mover, looks at its findings.

Scania (Great Britain) Limited is sending out its hospitality trailer to serve complimentary refreshments to the truck drivers (#TransportHeroes) who are helping to keep the UK moving.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is urging the UK government to follow through on its promise made two years ago to provide safe parking spaces for HGV drivers charged with keeping goods moving throughout the pandemic and beyond.

UTA, a leading provider of fuel and service cards in Europe, together with DocStop and Service 24 Notdienst GmbH, are providing truck drivers on Austrian motorways and expressways with free protective masks and disinfectant during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ian Studd, Director General of BAR (British Association of Removers) in the UK, has been working with the Trailblazer group to develop a new apprenticeship standard for Category C drivers, the category most appropriate for the moving industry. The new apprenticeship is expected to be approved towards the end of this summer.

The EU has made temporary changes to the road transport rules that apply to operators and drivers of heavy goods and public service vehicles, to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the road transport sector.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has responded angrily to London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s announcement on 16 June that the capital’s Congestion Charge will increase from £11.50 to £15 on Monday, 22 June.

London’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS) will come into force on 26 October, 2020 and will operate 24/7, 365 days per year.

The UK’s Traffic Commissioner has extended the maximum period of grace for financial standing.

Scania (Great Britain) Limited has become the first UK commercial vehicle organisation to achieve accreditation to ISO 45001, the international Occupational Health and Safety Management Standard.

A new guide from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) for fleet operators shows how renewable fuels can immediately cut greenhouse gas emissions in road transport, particularly from commercial vehicles for which few low emission solutions are currently available.

DKV customers who use the DKV CARD +CHARGE will soon be able to recharge their electric car or hybrid vehicle at an additional 4,500 charging points across Germany, Austria and Switzerland and at a further 3,600 locations in Italy and Luxembourg.

Tyre company Michelin has issued special guidance for haulage companies parking fleets for extended periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. This follows a survey by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) which revealed 46% of the UK’s trucks – around 240,000 vehicles – are now parked up with no work.

Volvo Trucks’ latest launch film has reached new heights. To demonstrate the power and strength of its four new vehicles, Volvo built a colossal 15-metre, 58-tonne truck tower, stacking its four new trucks on top of one another. Adding to that, they stood President Roger Alm on top!

The search has begun for the UK’s best van drivers with the launch of FTA’s 2020 Driver of the Year competition. Now in its seventh year, the popular event will take place on Saturday, 13 June 2020 at the Bott Ltd facilities in Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

Heel-dragging at the top of government has meant that some HGV drivers critical to Britain’s response to the COVID-19 crisis have been forced to stop work altogether, according to the UK’s leading business organisation representing the logistics industry.

Driving electronics specialist Snooper has launched a new device to help prevent almost 2,000 bridge strikes that take place in Britain each year.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has launched e-DCPC, an online version of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) course to ensure heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and public service vehicle (PSV) drivers can continue to undertake essential compliance training throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.

Leading global manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, EVBox, has announced a new partnership with the eMobility platform provider has·to·be. The move will enable both EVBox and has·to·be cardholders to access their charging networks throughout Europe.