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DPD racing ahead of ambitions for all-electric deliveries DPD has confirmed it is now providing an allelectric service to 10 UK towns and cities. The delivery giant is targeting a further 30 locations by the end of 2023 – five more than originally planned and two years earlier than expected. In October 2020, DPD announced plans to create 25 all-electric towns and cities in the UK by 2025. Oxford became its first ‘green’ city last July, with a fleet of 40 electric vehicles based at the new Bicester eco-depot (pictured), delivering over 15,000 parcels a week across the city. The nine other UK locations to achieve all-
electric delivery status are Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Hull, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Southampton and Stoke.
Progress is also being made at DPD’s remaining 15 original green delivery locations – Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Cambridge, Coventry, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Sheffield. DPD expects these to achieve all-electric status two years earlier than planned, by the end of next year. It is also planning for five more towns – Birkenhead, Gateshead, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Rotherham and Shipley – to become all-electric by the end of 2023.
Downgrading of station size will see HGVs, not rail, removing waste
Euston HS2 plan would need 800 trucks a day A decision to reduce the size of HS2’s London terminus station at Euston means spoil will no longer be shifted by rail and may have to be achieved with thousands of HGVs instead. In a written statement transport minister Baroness Vere said a smaller, 10-platform station design at Euston was prompted by the Oakervee Review, which addressed efficiency concerns. She said: “Following the move to the more affordable 10 platform station design, the original plans for the removal of a proportion of construction spoil by rail are no
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By Chris Tindall
longer possible. “In response, HS2 has been working, in close liaison with colleagues from Network Rail, to
consider alternative options for how to remove spoil from the construction of HS2’s Euston station and how it can minimise impacts.” Camden Council has previously raised concerns about the number of lorry movements required to remove 1.2m tonnes of demolition, construction and waste material from Euston and its approach during the redevelopment works. In a report, the council said: “The net effect is up to 800 daily two-way lorry movements in the Euston area during busiest times. “Around 90% of those lorries will be heavy goods vehicles.”
Strict tacho rules were ‘sneaked in’ Road transport solicitors have criticised the government for “sneaking in” tough new tachograph rules during the pandemic. Backhouse Jones described the new EU requirements as the most onerous “since the tachograph was first invented” and said nothing at all had been done to raise awareness of the rules. However, the DfT said it sent three bulletins to operators highlighting the August 2020 changes. According to Backhouse Jones, the rules require every professional driver, regardless of how little EU-regulated driving they undertake, to record every minute of every day – whether driving, undertaking other work, taking rest, on holiday, or even on sick leave. The record must be made on a tacho chart or the driver’s digi-card, or using a printout from the digital device.
Vehicle shortage will stop hauliers meeting London ULEZ deadline The logistics industry is calling for mitigations for hauliers if plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the whole of London by 2023 go ahead. The call follows the news that TfL has been instructed by London mayor Sadiq Khan to launch a consultation on the proposed expansion. Logistics UK is warning that a shortage of ULEZ-compliant trucks is preventing operators maintaining continuity of operation in the existing ULEZ zones. The shortage has been exacer4 MotorTransport
bated by delays to the delivery of cleaner vehicles due to the impact of Covid-19 and supply chain disruptions created by the Ukraine war and microchip shortages. Natalie Chapman, head of policy for the south at Logistics UK, has urged TfL to consider helping hauliers. She said: “Until cleaner vehicles are available, Logistics UK is urging TfL to consider mitigations – such as those being implemented by councils that have introduced clean air zones – for those that have ordered them and are awaiting the delivery.”
ON TRACK: Woodland Group has opened its second distribution facility at iPort in Doncaster, in response to significant growth. The 130,458sq ft location was secured on a 10-year lease and is now fully operational with six clients under contract. The move follows the opening of a 195,000sq ft fulfilment and distribution warehouse at iPort in February last year. The company said the multimodal freight terminal, iPort Rail, has enabled it to develop carbon-conscious solutions across its supply chains and it has even launched a dedicated rail service through iPort Rail for onsite clients. 6.6.22
