FTA Releases 2016 London Elections Freight Manifesto

As the dust settles after London’s latest mayoral election, the FTA has released a manifesto, proposing a number of ways in which haulage companies and the Mayor’s office could work together in order to benefit the entirety of the logistics industry, as well as the capital as a whole.

The manifesto makes a number of suggestions, with Christopher Snelling, Head of National and Regional Policy for the FTA, highlighting three main areas of work. These cover the majority of the manifesto, which focuses primarily on these areas.

Avoid Poorly Thought-Out HGV Bans

HGV bans in high-congestion areas have long been considered a possible means of reducing congestion and making cities safer, particularly for cyclists. It’s no surprise that haulage companies have always opposed such bans, which could severely hinder their work, but the FTA goes further, pointing out that such bans could have unintended consequences, both on people’s safety and the local economy.

Firstly, bans could result in unintended safety consequences: a timing-based ban could result in “bunching” of congestion just before and after the ban, which itself could make the roads extra dangerous at these times. Additionally, haulage companies would be incentivised to replace HGVs with smaller vehicles which could circumvent the ban. Such vehicles are actually more dangerous than HGVs by certain metrics.

Secondly, these bans may not have the intended effects on emissions. For one thing, haulage companies have noted that geographically determined congestion bans can lead to a “ring” of emissions and congestion around the areas in question, merely displacing the problem. On the other hand, HGVs would likely be replaced with vans, leading to higher emissions.

Moreover, a huge portion of London’s economy depends on prompt deliveries, some of which must be overnight and some of which at the start of business hours, meaning that a ban on HGVs could have a severe impact on such businesses.

Improve Road Infrastructure

This one is fairly simple: investment in road maintenance and building of new roads in order to enable easier, quicker transport, while simultaneously easing congestion on existing roads. This would also make life easier for everyone and, by making goods transit more efficient, would be a boon to the economy. One of the main obstacles to this is that it can be difficult to build additional roads while preserving the quality of life for local residents, as well as the environment.

Financial Incentives for Lower-Emissions Vehicles

The FTA suggests that the new-generation, low-emissions HGVs should be offered a discount on the congestion charge. This would get low-emissions vehicles onto the city’s roads in advance of the planned Ultra-Low Emissions Zone, or ULEZ, which the FTA supports.

Strictly Enforce Existing HGV Regulations

It’s not all de-regulation and discounts, however: the FTA states that it recognises the value of existing regulations, and that it is in full support of ensuring that existing regulations are enforced. As well as being in the interest of the general public, enforcing these regulations ensures that haulage companies and owner-operators who run a clean, safe operation are valued over maverick hauliers.

There’s a lot to think about in the FTA’s latest manifesto, and it is my hope that Sadiq Khan and the FTA will be able to reach an understanding that best serves the interests of the capital’s residents, the local economy and the logistics industry.