Logistics UK

SEAMUS LEHENY, LOGISTICS UK, POLICY MANAGER, NORTHERN IRELAND

What a couple of years this has been right across our local economy. First, we have the uncertainty of Brexit, then Covid came along in 2020 that caused widespread disruption and in the middle of it we had to deal with the introduction of the Northern Ireland Protocol at the start of 2021.

We are now dealing with inflationary pressures affecting everything from fuel, labour, machinery and vehicles. Then in recent months we witnessed how vulnerable the NI supply chain is with the problems encountered by P&O that resulted in the suspension of the Cairnryan – Larne service that no doubt affected many of our construction industry exports to GB. Recent legislative changes such as the end of use of red diesel hasn’t helped the logistics or construction sector with many operators facing a 30% increase in fuel costs due to the mandatory switch to white diesel for fridge units, shunters and construction plant and machinery. I know from speaking to and working with Gordon at MPANI, many days and hours were spent lobbying government and politicians on alternatives to ending the use of red diesel in the UK but to date those arguments fell on deaf ears at Treasury. Its easy to forget a lot of other issues have been happening that didn’t attract as much attention.

In November 2021 the then Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, launched The Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland consultation, outlining the Executive’s proposed approach to road safety until 2030 As part of the proposed changes, a review of the current handheld mobile phone offence will be carried out by the Department for Infrastructure, aimed at tightening their use based on advancements in modern smart phone technology. The review will echo that carried out by Department for Transport in Great Britain, which recently broadened the offence so that it is no longer limited to just making calls and texting. It is, however, recognised that effective communications are critical to many modern logistics operations – handheld communication devices are used in several elements of logistics including ‘Proof of Delivery’, waste, construction and utility operations – and therefore Logistics UK outlined why a pragmatic approach with full regard for road safety should be adopted and why some handheld devices are required for deliveries and collections.

With the safety of all road users vital, Logistics UK welcomed the reference to the use of targeted enforcement within the strategy consultation document. Logistics UK has worked consistently with the Driver & Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland on road safety initiatives for commercial vehicles; it would endorse any system that would target noncompliant operators who undermine our industry and often undercut compliant operators who regularly invest in keeping their commercial vehicles safe and compliant for use on the roads. Targeted enforcement would certainly help to address this imbalance and remove non-compliant operators and vehicles from our roads. On the transition to alternative fuels in the years ahead, Great Britain has legislation passed however Northern Ireland risks being left behind and economically disadvantaged compared to GB and Ireland if we don’t have a comparative legislation with a realistic timeframe for businesses and consumers to plan and implement the changes. Only then will local commercial vehicle operators have some clarity on a future time scale for the transition of alternatively fuelled vehicles. While it is encouraging to see much progress being made towards the UK’s environmental targets, decarbonising the road sector will be complex, with fleet replacement cycles to be considered in addition to charging infrastructure concerns. Logistics UK will continue to work with government as well as its members to ensure industry is doing all that is possible to meet these deadlines, alongside ensuring sufficient government support. Logistics UK will also continue to work proactively with our local politicians and civil service here in Northern Ireland to ensure any plans and legislation agreed will assist our industry in the future transition and uptake of zero emission vehicles. In the meantime, businesses here in Northern Ireland will continue to deal with the immediate issues in front of us, the skills shortage is obviously affecting both of our industries and in recent months its been great to see our local authorities deliver HGV driving academies to help with the driver shortage and I know from speaking to these councils, these schemes have been over subscribed therefore they will likely run again. Logistics UK will also be working with 13 other leading trade organisations here in NI including the MPANI as part of the NI Brexit Business Working Group in seeking solutions and compromises to deliver the necessary easements and ensure we have an agreed negotiated outcome to talks between the UK and EU, anything other than agreement will only replace one set of problems with a new set, after the last few years we have all endured, I think its safe to say none of us need that.

Seamus Leheny.