Road freight supply chain

Transport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 Oct 2021 Closed: 16 Nov 2022 Parliament page
The Transport Committee is examining the road freight supply chain. The Committee's objectives are to explore the immediate and systemic challenges to the effective operation of the road freight supply chain and to assess the effectiveness of the Government’s policies to meet them. Read the call for evidence for more … Read more
14 Recommendations
11 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
1 Letter
3 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
30 Sep
2022
Report published
1 Jun
2022
Report published
2 Mar
2022
Correspondence
26 Jan
2022
Oral evidence
26 Jan
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Macmillan Room, Portcullis House
8 Dec
2021
Oral evidence
8 Dec
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
24 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
24 Nov
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
26 Jan 2022
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The Baroness Vere of Norbiton · Department for Transport
8 Dec 2021
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Jenny Tipping Jim French MBE · Road to Logistics Ken McMeikan · Moto Hospitality Limited Kevin Richardson · Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Matthew Rhind · Tesco PLC Mr Tim Morris · UK Major Ports Group
24 Nov 2021
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Adrian Jones · Unite the Union Duncan Buchanan · Road Haulage Association Elizabeth de Jong · Fuels Industry UK Kieran Smith · Driver Require Shane Brennan · Cold Chain Federation
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Road freight supply chain HC 162 1 Jun 2022 25 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
12 results
Clear
2 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
In the past, the Department for Transport argued that the haulage sector itself was primarily...
In the past, the Department for Transport argued that the haulage sector itself was primarily responsible for addressing driver recruitment and retention. The unprecedented nature of the recent crisis led the Government to take a different tack. That change was … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the central role of industry in ensuring a resilient workforce in the road freight sector and will continue to work with industry to make improvements for the long term and consider the need for short term mitigations.
Department for Transport
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3 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
We want to see greater ambition, which means the introduction of a coherent strategic plan.
We want to see greater ambition, which means the introduction of a coherent strategic plan. In the five years since our predecessor Committee examined this issue, the sector has failed to solve its own problems. Little to no improvement has … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the Committee's steer on the central role of industry, saying key issues are for industry to lead, but they will continue to work with industry and consider the need for short-term mitigations.
Department for Transport
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5 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
Driving an HGV is a challenging job.
Driving an HGV is a challenging job. It is physically demanding and involves lengthy, anti-social hours. The way in which drivers are treated and the conditions in which they are required to work can exacerbate those pressures. Unless these conditions … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the need for improved standards for HGV drivers, stating that industry must lead the implementation of working practices. They are investing £52.5M in roadside facilities and working with the sector on standards for HGV parking and facilities.
Department for Transport
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6 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
The Government, in consultation with the sector, should devise a binding code of conduct setting...
The Government, in consultation with the sector, should devise a binding code of conduct setting minimum standards for employers’ and other businesses’ treatment of HGV drivers.
Government Response
The government notes the need for improved standards for HGV drivers, but believes industry must lead the implementation of working practices. Government supports recent increases to remuneration and is providing £345,000 to support a recruitment campaign led by industry sponsorship.
Department for Transport
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11 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
HGV drivers need safe and secure places to stop, to rest and to recuperate.
HGV drivers need safe and secure places to stop, to rest and to recuperate. Drivers told us that too often the facilities available to them were unfit for purpose. Rest facilities must be improved if more drivers are to remain in the sector.
Government Response
The Government is considering what role standards have to play in driving improvements to driver facilities and encouraging providers to properly maintain and improve their business offerings, including on the areas raised by the Committee.
Department for Transport
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12 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
The Government should set a minimum standard for driver facilities.
The Government should set a minimum standard for driver facilities. This should cover: Ȥ Security to protect drivers and their vehicles; Ȥ Availability and cleanliness of toilet and shower facilities; Ȥ Food options, including healthy choices; and Ȥ Sufficient provision … Read more
Government Response
The Government is considering what role standards have to play in driving improvements to driver facilities and encouraging providers to properly maintain and improve their business offerings, including on the areas raised by the Committee.
Department for Transport
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13 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
The Government owns the freehold of a number of motorway service areas.
The Government owns the freehold of a number of motorway service areas. Delays in negotiating leasehold extensions with operators are holding up necessary investments in some of these facilities. While the Government must, of course, ensure it receives value for … Read more
Government Response
The government is assessing future ownership options for motorway service areas (MSA) freeholds and investing £52.5 million in roadside facility improvements, but makes no firm commitments regarding leasehold negotiations.
Department for Transport
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14 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
The Department should inject more urgency and immediately escalate and prioritise negotiations to agree new...
The Department should inject more urgency and immediately escalate and prioritise negotiations to agree new leases with motorway service operators operating on Government-owned land.
Government Response
The government is assessing future ownership options for government-owned MSA land to maximize taxpayer value and ensure responsiveness to future road users, and investing £52.5 million in roadside facility improvements including at MSAs.
Department for Transport
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17 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
In other policy areas, where the Government has run out of patience with inertia, it...
In other policy areas, where the Government has run out of patience with inertia, it has threatened industry with actions which would be taken if the industry does not find its own solution. Similar examples can be found in measures … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation but highlights its existing 33 interventions to address the HGV driver shortage and says it will continue to engage with industry stakeholders.
Department for Transport
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20 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
The average age of HGV drivers continues to increase.
The average age of HGV drivers continues to increase. Although the sector is perhaps more open to female drivers than in the past, it has largely failed to attract a diverse workforce. It is disappointing how little progress has been … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes that the lack of diversity continues to present a barrier to solving labor shortages and supports the industry-led Generation Logistics campaign highlighting sector opportunities to under-represented groups.
Department for Transport
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23 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Road freight supply…
We welcome the steps the Government have taken to get more freight off our roads...
We welcome the steps the Government have taken to get more freight off our roads and on to our railways. We hope this is a process the establishment of Great British Railways will accelerate. The current model which sees freight … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees that more freight should be taken from the road and on to rail and water and is exploring the potential to increase rail freight capacity on the rail network to help reduce carbon emissions from the freight sector.
Department for Transport
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25 Conclusion
First Report - Road freight supply…
The introduction of the EU’s new Entry/Exit system later in 2022 threatens to cause further...
The introduction of the EU’s new Entry/Exit system later in 2022 threatens to cause further confusion, disruption, and delay at the UK’s border, particularly at the Port of Dover. The Minister stressed that other Departments were primarily responsible for the … Read more
Department for Transport
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Government Response AI assessment · 24 of 14 classified
Accepted 9
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 11
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 1
Total 14 recs + 11 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
2 Mar 2022 Correspondence from Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Minister for Roads, Buses and Places, Department for Transport, relating to the road freight supply chain, dated 23 February 2022
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