Category: Fleet News

Since October 2020, the Direct Vision Standard has been in effect in the Greater London Area. To drive in this area, HGVs will need to be assessed with the DVS star rating in order for drivers to get their safety permit.

But what do these new standards do, and how does complying improve the safety of all road users?

What is the Direct Vision Standard?

The DVS is in place to protect other road users by minimising the number blind spots in HGVs. This is part of the Mayor of London’s Vision Zero for London plan, which aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from London’s transport network. There were 125 deaths on London’s roads in 2019 – a 12% increase from the previous year.

It is a permit that HGV drivers need to obtain before operating in the Greater London area. Said permit can be granted when the vehicle is proven to comply with the required safety standards.

The standard uses the DVS star rating system to determine how well a driver can see from inside their vehicle. With a 5-star rating, your vehicle is fully compliant with the DVS, meaning drivers have excellent vision and awareness their surroundings.

With 0 stars, your vehicle will need to have extra safety equipment fitted before you can apply for the permit. 0 star rated vehicles are currently banned until they can achieve a higher standard. It is also expected that a minimum of 3 stars will be required by 2024.

What can be done to improve the driver’s vision?

Cameras

The main problem to be tackled is the amount of blind spots a driver is likely to have. However, by fitting cameras to the side of the cabin, these blind spots can be monitored from inside the vehicle. Cameras fitted to the front and a rear of the vehicle will also increase the driver’s awareness of their surroundings. Since some HGVs are so tall, it is often impossible to see pedestrians or small cars directly in front of them – a camera with a live feed could fix this issue.

Sensors

With a series of sensors fitted along the side of the vehicle, the driver can be notified to the presence of a vulnerable road user such as a pedestrian or cyclist. This will alert the driver to the hazard, and will hopefully prevent them from turning whilst they risk causing harm to anyone next to them.

Warning alarms

In addition to the sensors alerting the driver to a hazard on their sides, exterior alarms can be fitted that will alert other road users when the HGV is turning. This is often only necessary when the vehicle is turning left, and can be activated when the driver begins indicating. The sound of the alarm can vary from a beeping tone or recorded speech that announces the vehicle’s next manoeuvre.

Why has the Direct Vision Standard been introduced?

The size and weight of HGVs is a necessity due to their application. However, this extra size and weight can increase the severity of any road accidents they might be involved in. Because of this, it has become a priority to improve the safety of HGVs.

The Direct Vision Standard introduces a type of quality check that determines how well the driver can see from the interior of their vehicle.

Because of the size and shape of HGVs, a driver’s vision is likely to be impaired. They are traditionally seated at a very elevated position, so they may not see if a pedestrian were to walk directly in front of their cab. With no rear mirror, HGV drivers may not be aware if a vehicle driving extremely close.

You may be familiar with the signage seen on HGVs that tells you something along the lines of “if you can’t see my mirrors then I can’t see you!”. Road users are generally aware of the lack of vision that comes with driving a HGV, and therefore tend to be more careful around them.

In a built up, urban area such as the centre of London, however, this becomes difficult. With HGVs sharing congested streets with small cars and plenty of cyclists, there are a great number of hazards to watch out for the drivers simply can’t see from their cab.

With the DVS, Transport For London hopes to greatly improve safety in this circumstance. Simply put, if HGV drivers can see more clearly, less accidents will happen, and lives could be spared.

How do you apply for a DVS permit?

The application process for the permit can be done through the Transport for London website. You’ll need the following information to apply for the permit:

• Operator and contact details (this could be the business that owns the vehicle).
• Confirmation of your vehicle’s DVS star rating from the manufacturer.
• If needed, certification of a zero-star rating.

More information can be found on the TfL website, and the requirements could change depending on your vehicle.

Want to prepare for the future and increase the star-rating of your fleet’s vehicles? Get in touch with our expert team at Tele-Gence today. They can help to fit your vehicles with the needed technology to improve your drivers’ vision and awareness.

 

The UK driver shortage is a challenge facing that industry that predates even Covid. The RHA’s late 2021 report estimated that the scale of this shortage is significant, with companies across the industry missing around 100,000 drivers in total.

Further to this, 98% of all consumed goods in the UK are delivered by a truck at some point, meaning keeping the haulage industry well-staffed is crucial to minimising supply chain disruption. What’s more, research shows that without the haulage industry, other industries would also come to a standstill – so how can the UK go about addressing these driver shortages?

That’s exactly what we’ll dive into in this article, as we look at:

• The causes behind lorry driver shortages.
• Recruitment challenges for hauliers.
• Tackling stereotypes around HGV drivers.
• Market factors affecting shortages, including Brexit and COVID.
• How we can look to solve the HGV driver shortage in the UK.

What is the cause of the HGV driver shortage?

There are several reasons for the HGV driver shortage in the UK, making it difficult to solve.

Firstly, the average age of HGV drivers is on a continuous rise. According to the Road Haulage Association, the average driver age was 56 in 2018. In fact, less than 1% of drivers were under 25 at this time.

However, that isn’t to say that no young drivers are joining the industry. Rather, ONS data indicates numbers of drivers under the age of 35 are similar to 2017 levels. What we have seen, though, is a steep decline in middle-aged HGV drivers, which has not been balanced out by a spike in the recruitment of younger drivers.

So, the industry is failing to bring in younger drivers and, at the same time, current drivers are getting closer to retirement age. Consequently, it’s becoming clearer each year why the driver shortage is an issue, and this timeline has only been accelerated by the impact of COVID-19.

Why aren’t young people joining the haulage industry?

There’s a preconception that being a HGV driver means long hours away from home. These types of shifts aren’t seen as accommodating to young peoples’ lives, because many other industries that now operate on a work from home basis.

Whilst businesses could argue that their shift patterns are accommodating to the lives of their drivers, there are other barriers.

Getting a HGV license can cost up to £5,000, depending on the level of certification. For young people entering the world of work, this is quite unfeasible. From acquiring their initial category B driver’s licence, to medical tests, theory tests, practical tests and demonstrations, the costs add up. For some, the training is too expensive to even consider a career in HGV driving.

Even if a young person became qualified HGV driver, they face other barriers. Many companies won’t employ drivers below the age of 25. This is because the insurance costs are considered to be too high.

Stereotypes need to be broken to stop the shortage

One major issue is the stereotype surrounding HGV driving that leads people to believe the role is aimed more at men. As a result, only 1.2% of HGV drivers are female.

Many young women wouldn’t even consider becoming a truck driver as they are concerned about joining a massively male dominated industry.

More than half of the UK population is female, meaning this stereotype is creating a barrier to entry for more than 50% of the population. It needs to be broken down to get more women into HGV driver roles.

Brexit, delays and COVID-19 impacting the shortage

It’s been suggested that the advent of Brexit saw many European drivers return to their home country. It is possible that the lack of stability outweighs the financial benefits of living in the UK.

The number of European drivers working in the UK is estimated to be around 60,000, and it remains to be seen whether this number will change in our post-Brexit climate.

Towards the end of 2020, we saw massive delays causing long queues of lorries at ports like Dover. Brexit stockpiling, COVID-19 medical supplies and pre-Christmas build up are thought to be the causes o the delays. These delays received a good deal of news coverage. Unfortunately, that now means that when people (especially younger people) think of lorry driving, these queues quickly come to mind. These aren’t conditions that people look for when considering their career path.

The impact of COVID-19 is going to be severe on the shortage. Since lessons and tests could not happen during the various UK lockdowns, it is estimated that 16,000 new passes have been lost. With working from home becoming an attractive option as a result of lockdowns, it is likely that people will be less likely to pursue a career in HGV driving.

How can the HGV driver shortage be solved?

Make HGV driving appealing to young people

HGV driving isn’t seen as a viable career by young people – this is the main issue to be solved. Inspiring children from an early age could be the option. Junior driving experiences such as those provided by TrackDays hope to ignite a passion for HGV driving in young people.

Tom Cornwell of the Road Haulage Association has stated that the industry will struggle to solve the shortage without government intervention. By making the process of getting qualified more financially viable, especially for young people, government assistance would be a step towards increase the number of new drivers.

Making the haulage industry appear more technology-driven could help bring in more young people. As young people become more aware about the climate crisis, they may be reluctant to get behind the wheel of vehicles that emit large amounts of CO2. With the introduction of telematics to many fleets of HGVs, we are seeing emissions being reduced. Better route planning, reduced idling and more efficient driver habits are a just a few of the benefits that telematics can bring.

Improve public perception of the industry

The preconceptions about HGV driving are damaging the reputation of the industry. Many believe the job to be underpaid with long work hours and unpleasant conditions.

The truth is, the UK economy relies so heavily on HGV drivers that industries would be stuck without them. Until people understand this, people may continue to view the profession as undervalued.

Make the role more accessible to women

Again, this is all about fixing the public’s opinion on HGV driving. Gender imbalance is an issue many industries face, and it’s difficult to fix after it has taken hold.

Ensuring that young women have the opportunity to hear from female HGV drivers at events like career fares is essential for breaking the stereotype that only men can drive trucks.

Fuel Card Services is dedicate ourselves to assisting in all aspects of fleet management. Get in touch today to find out how you can avoid falling victim to a driver shortage.

How is Fuel Card Services supporting the industry?

At Fuel Card Services, we believe that being efficient with spend and minimising outgoings is essential for any commercial fleet businesses. That’s why we provide a range of products and services designed to help drivers achieve exactly this, including:

• Fuel cards from leading providers that help you save money on every mile driven.
• Fleet services such as advanced telematics and mileage trackers that can help your drivers become more efficient and safe.

For more information, get in touch with our experts to find out how we could help you save money that could be reinvested in key areas of the business such as recruitment.

For many businesses, being able to provide free work car parks for employees has been a standard perk over the years. However, as part of a new push to ease congestion and save the environment, this could soon become a thing of the past in some towns and cities.

Instead, a new licensing scheme called the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) may come into force. But how will it affect drivers and fleet managers? Let’s take a closer look.

What is the Workplace Parking Levy?

The WPL is a pioneering new initiative that will charge employers and education providers for the number of parking spaces they regularly offer to their users. This fee can be up to £750 per year (although it is typically much less) and it can either be absorbed by the employer or passed on to space users.

The aim is to encourage more commuters to use alternative means of sustainable transport rather than their cars. By law, the revenue raised through the WPL must be put back into improving local transport links.

It is hoped that as this funding grows through workplace parking legislation payments, everyone will be able to access low-carbon travel options and reduce their reliance on personal vehicles.

So far, 2024 data shows that The Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) – the first of its kind in Europe – has raised almost £90 million over the 10 years since its introduction. This has been re-invested into sustainable transport across the city.

Workplace Parking Levy reducing vehicle emissions

Transportation is one of the highest contributors to emissions, responsible for around 33% of CO2 emissions in the UK.

Traffic pollution is increasingly becoming a health hazard and a threat to the climate. During the first lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the world gained a unique insight into what cities could be like with fewer cars – and now environmentalists want to see this becoming the norm.

According to a University of York study, levels of nitrogen dioxide fell by an average of 42 per cent during the first and strictest lockdown. Meanwhile, further research from Defra suggested mean reductions of up to 40 per cent for nitrogen oxides, showing the impact of reduced traffic on air quality and carbon emissions.

This is significant, as an unacceptable number of people are currently dying as a result of pollution. World Health Organization figures attribute seven million premature deaths per year to unclean air, with 40,000 in the UK alone, according to the Royal College of Physicians.

Only radical new measures such as Clean Air Zones, Congestion Charges and perhaps the WPL are going to be enough to lower these figures and keep the UK on target to cut its carbon emissions by 78 per cent by 2035.

Which areas are considering the Workplace Parking Levy?

As of January 2020, a number of UK cities were considering the introduction of a WPL. These included Leicester, Bristol, Reading, Oxford and Birmingham.

Scotland had also passed permission for the charges as part of a new Transport Bill in 2019, with authorities in Edinburgh and Glasgow among those considering a WPL trial there.

In London, it is hoped that introducing WPLs will contribute to the city’s goal of ensuring 80 per cent of journeys are made through walking, cycling or public transport by 2041.

Also contributing to this is the UK Government’s £2 cap on single bus fares, which has now been extended until the end of 2024 due to it showing promising results, with a 17% increase in bus usage and a notable rise in individuals considering buses as a viable alternative mode of transport. 

On the other hand, the steady rise in rail fares has led to a decline in train travel. And despite a growing network of EV charging ports across the country, there has been no significant increase in the use of electric vehicles by commuters year-on-year.

Workplace Parking Levy: Nottingham

Since 2021, several updates regarding the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) have emerged, particularly in Nottingham, where it has been a pioneering scheme. The levy, originally set at £415 per parking space per year, has gradually increased to £458 and then £522 in April 2023. The primary goal remains to reduce congestion and improve public transportation systems.

One significant impact is that the revenue from WPL has been funneled into major transport projects, including the expansion of Nottingham’s tram network and improvements to the railway station. This has directly contributed to reducing the number of car journeys by millions and a notable 33% fall in the city’s carbon emissions since 2005. Additionally, Nottingham now boasts the highest rate of public transport use in Britain​.

Many other UK cities, including Oxford and Glasgow, have looked into introducing similar schemes, but progress has been uneven. 

In Nottingham, exemptions still apply for businesses with fewer than 11 parking spaces, motorbikes, and certain frontline NHS services, helping ease the burden on smaller businesses and essential services.

Who is exempt from the Workplace Parking Levy?

Although the WPL is city-wide, there are exemptions for these organisations and vehicles:

• Employers with fewer than ten parking spaces
• Motorbikes
• Customer vehicles
• Fleet vehicles not used to travel to and from work
• Vehicles used to deliver and collect goods

This means as many as 80 per cent of employers do not have to pay the levy. However, charges do apply for employees who drive company vehicles and take them home at night.

Since the WPL will also affect employees who drop off fleet vehicles and drive home in their own cars, businesses in areas set to be affected may want to consider schemes such as car sharing and special rates on public transport in future.

Criticism of charging for work parking

The WPL is proving controversial, with critics arguing that public transport is too unreliable in especially rural areas for people to use public transport and therefore avoid potential WPL levies.

However, WPLs are likely to only be introduced in the largest cities, which should already have good transport links in place.

There is also an argument that electric vehicles should be exempt from the workplace parking charge as they currently are for Congestion Charges, since they do not contribute to pollution. This is not currently part of the criteria, but it may be something the government considers in future.

Although the Workplace Parking Levy has already proved successful in Nottingham, it will certainly need some tweaks and additions to help employees use greener transport methods if it is to be widely rolled out in other cities.

But as the government moves towards a more environmentally-conscious agenda, it does look as though the WPL is becoming a more likely reality for road users going forward and will therefore be something we will all need to adapt to.

Keep up to date with fleet vehicle news

Keeping up with fleet vehicle trends is essential for businesses managing company cars, vans, and trucks. 

Whether it’s news on electric vehicle (EV) adoption, government policy changes, fuel price fluctuations, or advancements in fleet management technology, staying informed helps ensure your fleet operates efficiently and sustainably. Have further questions? Contact our friendly team today.

With environmental issues becoming more of a priority for nations across the globe, the UK government has been turning its attention towards policies aimed at lowering harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Traffic pollution in cities in particular has been a key concern, and Britain decided back in 2010 to impose limits on pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide.

By 2015, this had evolved into clean air plans for major conurbations, with local authorities told they needed to have blueprints in place by the end of 2018.

Clean Air Zones (CAZs) were the result – and they look set to become a way of life for drivers going forward.

What are CAZs?

Clean Air Zones are areas where action is being taken to improve air quality, whether that is along a single road or within most of a city. They are not the same as Congestion Charge Zones, where all vehicles must pay to drive. Instead, drivers will only be affected if their vehicles exceed designated emissions standards.

London already has CAZs in place that follow on from its pioneering Ultra Low Emission Zone, with more cities set to follow suit imminently. Unfortunately, the anticipated widespread 2020 introduction was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the rollout should start to gather pace soon.

How do CAZs work?

The Department for Transport and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs laid out their joint CAZ Framework Principles in England in February 2020. They provided a blueprint that local authorities will be expected to take when implementing and operating CAZs.

This includes where boundaries are defined and any policies that need to be applied as a result. Importantly, not all CAZs are charging. Instead, the government recommends that charges should only apply if non-charging measures are not likely to reduce air pollution rapidly enough.

Furthermore, charges can only be set at a level designed to reduce pollution, and any revenue collected must be invested in further environmental improvement.

All CAZs are aimed at reducing nitrogen dioxide emissions from transport as quickly as possible and discouraging the use of older, more polluting vehicles.

Drivers will be responsible for checking if charges apply before venturing into CAZs, which can be done using interactive maps like the one provided by the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association. The government also has its own portal for paying relevant fees.

CAZs must be clearly signposted and automatic number plate recognition will be used to capture all vehicles using them. If relevant charges are not paid within seven days of entry, a Penalty Charge Notice will apply.

Why are Clean Air Zones important?

CAZs are part of a wider ambition to comply with strict emissions targets and to make cities more attractive places to live at the same time.

Indeed, the UK has already said it will ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2030 with the aim of making all cars and vans zero-emission by 2050. Putting actionable steps in place towards these targets is likely to be the only way to ensure they will be met.

It is hoped that this will not only battle climate change, but also the rising problem of poor air quality affecting public health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), seven million premature deaths per year can be attributed to air pollution, with 40,000 in the UK alone, the Royal College of Physicians and of Paediatrics and Child Health states.

By delivering a significant reduction in nitrogen dioxide, many of these unnecessary deaths could be avoided.

This might not be the only advantage either. Research from CBI Economics suggests that by deterring the most polluting vehicles from entering populated areas, CAZs could inject £1.6 billion into the British economy each year through factors such as reducing time spent off work because of illness.

What will this mean for businesses and fleets?

Understandably, any changes to our network of roads can be a concern, especially if they look set to include charges. When asked about the main challenges for fleets in the next five years, 30 per cent of respondents to Arval Mobility Observatory’s 2021 Barometer cited the creation of more CAZs.

However, many businesses are actually likely to find that they can meet CAZ requirements with very little alteration to their typical routines. For example, they can check and pay for multiple vehicles at the same time using a company account and automated payment system. This is no more complicated than using fuel cards and telematics to manage routes and fleet vehicles.

Furthermore, as older vehicles are gradually upgraded to cleaner fleets anyway, the issue of fees and penalties will no longer be relevant. Businesses may even find they are actually increasing profitability as their locations become more attractive to other firms and prospective customers.

An incentive to upgrade?

One of the key benefits of electric vehicles in terms of CAZs is that they are automatically entitled to a national exemption from charges because of their zero-emission status.

This might therefore offer fleet owners an incentive to upgrade sooner rather than later, especially if they frequent affected routes. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles is potentially able to offer grants to help businesses go greener, with more information available via the Go Ultra Low Campaign.

Eventually, driving EVs and getting used to seeing CAZs may help to spark more environmental awareness within the general population and businesses too. For example, Fuel Card Services uses a vehicle emissions monitoring service called CO₂Count. For every certificate issued, a donation to the charity Cool Earth is made that goes towards preventing Amazonian deforestation.

As CAZs become more widespread in cities, it will be interesting to note their contribution to reducing Britain’s environmental footprint and to making urban areas healthier places to do business.

The idea that synthetic fuels could sustain the life of cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) brings hope to many car lovers.

Whilst the introduction of electric vehicles is a fantastic step forward in the goal for carbon neutrality, some can’t help but wonder what it means for those who still rely on fossil fuel burning vehicles.

What are synthetic fuels?

Synthetic fuels, or eFuels, are a liquid fuel just like the ones used today. However, they are manufactured using an environmentally friendly, carbon neutral process.

These artificial fuels are compatible with the combustion engines we use today. They can even be delivered through the same pump system.

With the government placing a ban on the sale of new petrol or diesel cars and vans in 2030, many have questioned what it means for their current vehicles.

Some people may not be ready to make the switch to electric vehicles by 2030, especially if their location means they don’t have access to charging stations.

With synthetic fuels, they may not need to make the transition. If eFuels were introduced commercially, we could see carbon neutrality in many vehicles – not just electric.

Why are synthetic fuels better for the environment?

These fuels are made with a carbon neutral process. The initial step is to extract hydrogen from water through a process called electrolysis. However, we still need carbon for liquid fuel. This can be extracted from the surrounding air, making use of the emissions that we are trying so hard to reduce.

Combining the hydrogen and the CO2 is what makes synthetic methanol. It can then be refined to create artificial petrol, diesel or kerosene.

Of course, the synthetic fuel is only as carbon neural as the process used to make it. The process is powered by green energy sources such as wind or solar power. Unfortunately, as of 2021, this is still an expensive and painstaking process.

Whilst electric vehicles are considered to be the future of transport, they falter in one aspect that synthetic fuels do not. Creating the batteries for EVs is actually less sustainable than the process of creating artificial fuel, due to the amount of lithium that is mined. Whilst EVs may not produce any environmentally damaging emissions, their creation process still needs refining before they can claim to be completely carbon neutral.

Cars running on synthetic fuel of course do have emissions, but are carbon neutral since their power source was created using recycled carbon.

Who is developing these new fuels?

Companies such as Bosch are committed to creating fuels generated from renewable energy sources to ensure carbon neutral combustion. They point out that there are 1.3 billion vehicles in the world right now. If all of them could be powered with carbon neutral fuels, the world’s environmental targets could be within reach.

Porsche have also teamed up with Siemens, as well as energy firms Enel, AME and petrol company ENAP to build a factory in Chile. The location was chosen for its wind, as this can be used to power the fuel creation process. The factory hopes to produce 550 million litres of synthetic fuel by 2026. Unfortunately, the UK uses over 46 billion litres of fuel a year, so advancements are still needed in this area.

When will eFuels become commercially viable?

According to Ansgar Christ at Bosch, eFuels will become the number one choice of fuel once its carbon neutrality is legally recognised.

The creation process will also have to be made cheaper and more efficient. The price of these fuels would be much higher than fossil fuels if released to pumps today.

However, once more refineries are built, Bosch predicted that price of eFuels could drop to £1.04 per litre by 2030, and continue to fall after that.

The future of transport likely lies with both electric vehicles and synthetic fuel. Whichever you opt for, the industry is pushing further towards carbon neutrality. Get in touch with our expert team to find out more about how you can contribute towards this goal.