RHA Road Haulage Association : Messenger 04 January

Happy New Year to all our members.

2017 will bring both opportunities and challenges for the RHA and the industry. On the policy side, key themes will include productivity and competitiveness, the image of the industry, and driver conditions. We will be aiming for transformation in the industry in the area of recruitment and training.

Triple-whammy on haulage costs

The 2016 Haulage cost movement report released today advises that the industry is facing a 'triple-whammy' of fuel, truck and wage inflation.

It details the cost of operating* has increased by 2.79% (ex-fuel). However, fuel has increased dramatically over the past month, adding around £2135 to annual costs and a current 'fuel-inclusive' percentage would be an increase of 4.36% compared to the lower rate detailed in the report. Members can view the report HERE.

Members can request a copy from Nick Deal [e-mail]

Cost tables and a pay report will follow in January 2017

*44-tonne articulated combination

Bath tipper crash verdicts

A haulage boss and an HGV mechanic were both found guilty of the manslaughter of four people, at the end of the trial resulting from the Bath tipper crash in February 2015. They will be sentenced at the end of January.

The driver of the 32-tonner, which ran out of control after its brakes failed, was cleared of dangerous driving and of careless driving.

The Apprenticeship Levy - the opportunities for your business

Driven by their productivity agenda, the government is committed to achieving three million apprenticeship starts by summer 2020.

To do so, the government will be introducing an Apprenticeship Levy from April 2017 - a fundamental change to the way Apprenticeships in England are funded.

Employers with a UK paybill of over £3m from both the private and public sectors will be required to pay 0.5% of that into a levy, the government will then add 10% to this amount, however employers will need to use it or lose it within a 24 month period.

The levy payment will then be used within a new digital system that can be used to purchase apprenticeship training, see HERE for further info

Understand the new Apprenticeship Levy facts so far and how it will affect businesses from April 2017 by attending the Seminar.

The RHA will be holding a second Apprenticeship Levy Seminar on 24th Jan 2017, 10.30am to 2pm. The venue will be GTG Training West Midlands, bearing Drive, Wolverhampton, WV11 3SZ.

If you would like to attend this seminar please let me know via email [e-mail] with your delegate's name.

Air quality in London

As part of a continuing engagement, the RHA has formally responded to Sadiq Khan's consultation on improving air quality. We rejected the imposition of further measures against the road haulage industry, which is working towards meeting the 2020 ultra-low emission zone. We have also urged measures to improve congestion, a key factor in the air quality debate. To read more, CLICK HERE.

Urban transport inquiry

The RHA is challenging the City of London's plan to close the road junction at Bank between 7am and 7pm to everything but buses from late April. We have sought details of the alternative routes envisaged for goods vehicles and also for details of any analysis that may have been done on the likely safety, pollution and economic impacts for planned diversions. Details: [e-mail]

Bank closure in London

The RHA is challenging the City of London's plan to close the road junction at Bank to everything but buses from late April. We have sought details of the alternative routes envisaged for goods vehicles and also for details of any analysis that may have been done on the likely safety, pollution and economic impacts for any planned diversions. Details: [e-mail]

Truck park at Thurrock

Severe lorry parking problems in the area of Thurrock, Essex could be much reduced following the approval of a new temporary park for 441 vehicles in Stanford-le-Hope by the council's planning committee. The parking will be within an existing haulage yard and will support for the London Gateway hub. We are seeking clarification, especially of the temporary nature.

ADR2017

A 'main amendments' view of ADR2017 is available for members to view along with a longer full list of nearly 100 pages of text changes for the dangerous goods by road international rules. For the carrier there is little in terms of real change apart from updated Instructions in Writing.

A copy of these instructions can be found on the link - these need to replace the current version being used by drivers transporting dangerous goods and must be in place by 1 July 2017.

At present seven language versions of the instructions are available on the UNECE website including English, French, Russian and Latvian copies are available but others will start to appear over the coming weeks. Members of a vehicle crew must have a copy in a language they can read and understand.

The RHA Hauliers Shop can produce laminated copies for members or all languages can be viewed HERE.