Welcome to the July issue of Logistics Insight magazine, a quarterly in-depth study of the logistics industry. Logistics underpins the whole of the UK and world economy. Production, manufacturing and retail are all only possible with the movement of goods. Changes in the speed, reliability or cost of logistics directly affects the cost of living of the people who live in the UK. The UK logistics sector is vital for the country’s financial success, contributing 10% to the UK non-financial business economy. Logistics directly contributes to economic activity through investment in warehousing, road, rail, sea and air transport. It also creates many excellent jobs, providing skilled careers for thousands.

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The NHS will soon be receiving medical consumable products delivered by a fleet of eight fully electric trucks, as part of the Department for Transport’s £10 million Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT). NHS Supply Chain in partnership with its logistics provider Unipart Logistics is one of the key operators in the 12-month pilot project which is seeing 20 DAF LF Electric trucks using pioneering technology entering service with the NHS and local authorities. NHS Supply Chain is commencing use of eight 19 tonne LF Electric rigids with refrigerated bodies at four locations across the country.

The number of commercial vehicles on Britain’s roads has reached the highest level in history, according to the latest annual Motorparc data, published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Some 5,483,319 vans, trucks, buses and coaches were recorded in operation at the end of 2021, a 4.1% increase on the previous year. Working vehicles now comprise 13.5% of the 40,506,971 strong national fleet following a bumper year for van registrations and a return to growth for trucks and buses. Vans remain the most popular class of commercial vehicle in operation, comprising 4,804,833 units, up 4.3% from 2020.

PD Ports rounded off a successful period with a fourth award win after landing an internationally recognised standard for its commitment to health and safety. The port operator received GOLD status from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the second consecutive year, and the third overall, for continuing to uphold the highest health and safety standards across its 12 nationwide locations.

Network Space Developments (NSD) has been granted detailed planning approval by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council for the final phase at the successful Ashroyd Business Park, Barnsley close to M1 Junction 36. The detailed Reserved Matters approval is for a detached 94,500 sq ft unit comprising 90,000 sq ft at ground level and 4,500 sq ft of first floor office.

We congratulate the logistics industry, which has continually kept the UK supplied with goods, in all manner of challenging circumstances. Enjoy reading the magazine.

James Surridge

Publishing Editor

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