Coronavirus Response
How the fleet community is assisting the frontline The national effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic has been supported by the fleet and transport community, with many organisations offering their vehicles, drivers and services to help the frontline The transport and fleet community has come together to assist frontline responders during the coronavirus crisis. As part of a formalised initiative, the Department for Transport (DfT) has established a Transport Support Unit (TSU), which sees transport firms volunteer their vehicles, drivers and services to assist during the coronavirus pandemic. Those that have offered support include the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who have offered vehicles including four fixed-wing aircraft, one of them a Boeing 737. They can be made available for tasks including moving emergency patients and medical supplies. Highways England have agreed to release control vehicles for potential use as mobile COVID-19 testing centres. Network Rail, with the eighth largest commercial vehicle fleet in the country, has 8,500 vans and lorries which can be used to
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Getting people to appointments transport essential items during the crisis. Transport firms in Scotland have been It is making available its seven regional drafted in to help people with suspected distribution centres which can be used coronavirus symptoms attend for COVID-19 related supplies. urgent but non-emergency The DfT, its agencies or the medical appointments. wider transport sector The The Scottish have made more than Transpo Government, NHS 8,500 staff available r t Suppor Boards, and Scotland’s to volunteer to help t Unit sees tra business community in the crisis. n sport fi volunte have been working Transport Secretary r m s er their to make vehicles and Grant Shapps, said: v e d h rivers a drivers available to “As the country nd serv icles, ices to assis COVID-19 symptomatic works hard to beat t patients who are well this virus, it’s vital we the pan during enough to travel but do come together and help demic not have access to a car each other. The Transport and are unable to use public Support Unit is getting transport to reach their local to work, helping frontline COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre. staff, and making full use of the So far The Scottish Government has significant resources at its disposal.”
DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net
