Fleets should plan ahead for air quality restrictions, says FTA

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is warning fleet operators that, with plans under way for cities across the UK to implement Clean Air Zones (CAZs) or similar air quality improvement schemes, they could face prohibitively high charges for using older HGVs and vans. 

London has proposals that could see, at the same time, many HGVs banned from the capital for having insufficient direct vision. 

The FTA has warned that operators need to plan procurement or other strategies in order to cope with this complicated patchwork of schemes, which are not consistent across the country, to ensure that the impact on their business is minimised.

FTA’s Transport Manager autumn conference series, sponsored by Bridgestone Tyres, will brief delegates on this topic, bringing them up to date with the latest on air quality plans nationally and in their local area which may impact on their fleet, ensuring attendees have the latest information about what will happen where, which vehicles will be affected, and how best to plan ahead.

Natalie Chapman, FTA’s head of urban policy, said: “While the logistics sector is fully committed to reducing vehicle emissions wherever possible and acknowledges the role the industry must play in improving the air quality of our cities, the introduction of a complex and messy patchwork of schemes presents businesses with a difficult task. 

“The aim of this session is to demystify the subject for delegates and enable them to plan procurement of fleets and other strategies so they can keep trading effectively and carry on supplying our cities with everything they need.”

The conferences, which are also sponsored by Schmitz Cargobull and Brigade Electronics, highlight key developments and challenges within the logistics industry and provide an opportunity for delegates to hear direct from the Traffic Commissioner and the DVSA, with other sessions covering tyres, technology and how to significantly reduce your fuel budget; brake testing; urban restrictions; trailer developments, drivers’ employment status and the use of vehicles as a weapon by the National Vehicle Threat Mitigation Unit.

There will be an essential legislative round up and technical update highlighting the main topics on the horizon that vehicle operators need to be aware of in order to ensure the safety, compliance and efficiency of their organisation, and there will also be the return of the highly popular interactive quiz.

Prices for attendance have once again been held at last year’s rates.  For FTA members the cost is £295 plus VAT for the first delegate and £265 plus VAT for subsequent delegates; for non-FTA members £395 plus VAT for the first delegate and £365 plus VAT for subsequent delegates. 

Transport Manager will be touring the UK from September to November 2019.  For further information or to book a place go to https://fta.co.uk/tm2019.