Important air quality event for the freight sector – 24th April Tweet #

As you may have seen, Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside Councils are presently carrying out a joint consultation to examine options for reducing Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels on key roads on order to meet government targets and deliver a cleaner environment for our residents and visitors.

The largest contributor to these harmful emissions is road transport, including freight vehicles.

Options being considered include a Charging Clean Air Zone, or a Low Emission Zone with cross-river tolls. Also under consideration is a ban on goods vehicles using part of the Central Motorway during peak hours.

The consultation runs until 17th May and it is important that the freight industry have their say. You can read the details in full at https://www.breathe-cleanair.com/ and let us have your comments on the various options.

We’re interested in getting more details about the potential impact of these proposed measures on businesses. If you are a freight operator and would like to tell us more about the effect on your business, please get in touch at contact@breathe-cleanair.com after you’ve completed the questionnaire.

We are also organizing a special event for the freight sector to discuss the air quality proposals that will be held in the Whickham Room at Gateshead Civic Centre between 11am and 1pm on 24th April. If you are interested in attending, please contact John.Bourn@northeastca.gov.uk to confirm your attendance. An agenda will be published closer to the meeting date.

North East Freight Partnership Brexit Report Tweet #

A new report into how Brexit may impact how freight is transported in the region and potential mitigation is available for download in our reports section here

The North East Freight Partnership is supported by the North East Combined Authority and the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

Change of Date - North East Water Freight Event - now 6th February 2019 Tweet #

Dear all,

Following feedback from delegates and potential speakers, we have taken the decision to postpone the North East Water Freight Event to a date in the new year -now Wednesday, 6th February 2019. The event will not take place on 16th November as previously stated.

Apologies for any inconvenience this change may cause.

This is in order to maximise attendance and provide the best agenda we can. The event remains at the National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland SR6 0GL. We will hear from a number of the region’s Ports (including Port of Sunderland), have updates on developing strategy and policy, the Freight Transport Association and others. There will be a chance to network and lunch will be provided.

A more detailed agenda will be sent out in due course.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Terrorism Risk and Incident Prevention (TRIP) – Free courses for North East Operators Tweet #

Unfortunately, the risk of terrorism in the UK is something that we all have to live with every day and as seen in many of the recent terrorist attacks, commercial vehicles are commonly used by terrorists as weapons, resulting in a large number of fatalities and casualties. As security at operating sites increases, as well as changes in security procedures in the hiring of vehicles, the risks to commercial fleet drivers in the potential theft or hijacking of their vehicle for terrorism purposes also increases.

In recognition of this the North East Freight Partnership are fully funding two further TRIP courses to be held on the 23rd June and 29th September at Holiday Inn Washington, Emerson Road, NE37 1LB.

CPC Accredited, the TRIP training course provides drivers with the underpinning knowledge and understanding relating to the background, activity and methods adopted by International and Domestic terrorists that concern all who operate within the Transport Industry. The course identifies and describes the type of threats and risks that Drivers face and will enhance Driver and employer roles and responsibilities when carrying out daily tasks and duties to reduce these risks. TRIP is a 7-hour, JAUPT Approved course and can contribute towards the 35 hours approved DCPC training that professional Drivers require.

If you would like to book you or your drivers onto courses please follow the links below
https://www.fleetsource.co.uk/driver-training/trip/

Let me know if you have any questions.

Have your say on: Freight fleet operator compliance schemes Tweet #

Erica Ballantyne (University of Sheffield) and Graeme Heron (Newcastle University) are two ex-transport industry professionals and academic researchers with comprehensive cross sector knowledge, are investigating the appropriateness of Fleet operator recognition and compliance schemes (such as FORS) as business management tools.

The timing of this research is appropriate for a number of reasons including the second anniversary of the FORS national roll-out and the triggering of Article 50.

One of these is still expected to be to reduce end to end route times looking at ‘first mile / last mile’ scenarios and urban consolidation. These could impact upon our sector so being a member of a compliance scheme can bring potential benefits in that you are seen as being practice / continuously improving, rather than complying.

The research aims to:

• Develop suggestions for membership to assist companies overcoming barriers to membership regardless of their size or industry sector.
• Assess the suitability of compliance schemes as a business quality management tool.
• Reveal hidden links between operator schemes and management theory.

Your participation in this survey is greatly appreciated and entirely voluntary. The survey will take approx. 10-12 mins to complete and all responses will remain entirely anonymous.

The survey is open now until April 30th 2017, to take part follow this link address: Investigating the efficiency of fleet compliance schemes for freight transport operators or search Google Docs using the search term: FORS survey: Investigating the efficiency of fleet compliance schemes for freight transport operators

Additionally, if you are willing to participate in an interview on this topic please contact: Dr Erica Ballantyne e.e.ballantyne@sheffield.ac.uk or Dr Graeme Heron graeme.heron@ncl.ac.uk

You can also use this button
Open in Forms

Logistics higher skills workshop in Middlesbrough 15th December Tweet #

Operators in the south of our region may be interested in an event being held at Teesside University on 14th December, in partnership with our neighbours in the Tees Valley Combined Authority. The free to attend breakfast workshop is intended to help the university develop its new degree level qualifications for the logistics sector. The attached flier provides more details including how to book a place on the workshop.

Smith Electric Vehicles is making a return to the UK market Tweet #

Smith Electric Vehicles is making a return to the UK market with its new range of all-electric delivery trucks due to hit the roads next March.

The North East-based OEM has produced electric vehicles for more than 70 years, from its early days as a milk float specialist to its modern electric CV range that started development in the mid 2000s.

Link to article: http://freightinthecity.com/2016/11/new-smith-electric-vehicles-zero-emission-trucks-to-arrive-next-spring/

Rail group appreciate visit to Hitachi factory Tweet #

The North East Freight Partnership’s Rail Partner Group enjoyed a special meeting on 15th November. Their autumn meeting was held at the Hitachi Rail factory in Newton Aycliffe and incorporated a fascinating tour of the manufacturing and assembly plant which was developed to support the DfT-led Intercity Express Programme and future Hitachi Rail projects.

The factory is currently building 500 carriages for the East Coast Main Line and a further 360 for the Great Western as well as new 100mph commuter trains for ScotRail’s Edinburgh to Glasgow service. Attendees at the meeting were able to watch as construction work took place on the new trains and tour the impressive facilities of the plant.

The meeting which followed enjoyed informative updates about Network Rail’s investment plans, Transport for the North’s recent freight report, national trends in rail freight traffic and Durham County Council’s proposals for a possible new intermodal freight interchange at nearby Forrest Park.


Partnership Chair John Bourn commented: “This was another stimulating and well-attended meeting and we must give a special thanks to Hitachi Rail for their hospitality and for the fascinating tour of the facility. We have had lots of positive feedback from attendees saying how much they enjoyed the day.”

November Rail Partner Group Presentations Tweet #

Presentations from the November meeting are available for download here.
Including
• East Coast Route Study
• Forrest Park Rail Interchange
• DFT Study: Modal Shift
• TfN Freight and Rail Update

Construction Logistics and Cyclist Safety (CLOCS) Tweet #

Northumberland County Council have committed to raise awareness of the Construction Logistics and Cyclist Safety (CLOCS) standard within the region. The Council has agreed to adopt the CLOCS standard for its own vehicle fleet and drivers. They are also working towards only engaging suppliers in 2020 who meet the standard. In addition, during 2016-17, the Council plans to apply for Bronze accreditation in the Fleet operators Recognition Scheme (FORS) and will then aim to achieve Silver, and ultimately Gold membership.

The attached letter from the County Council give full details of their proposals and of the benefits from involvement in CLOCS, FORS and the Safe Urban Driving courses organised by the Freight Partnership.

The Butterwell Report Tweet #

Harworth Estates, the owners of Butterwell Disposal Point, intend to put forward the following major rail-associated proposals as part of the ‘Butterwell’ surface mine restoration scheme.

The Butterwell Disposal Point to remain in place as a long term strategic commercial rail-connected facility, the facility to be further enhanced with the introduction of additional land for future rail-associated use. This additional land would be created during the restoration of Butterwell surface mine and would offer a rail-connected facility with a total site area of 20 hectares. It also involves the full reinstatement of Harworth Estates’ privately-owned ‘Ashington to Butterwell’ railway line which runs via New Moor, Potland, and Linton Lane. This line runs through Butterwell Disposal Point.

The document discusses the proposals in more detail. You can download the document here