What does the future hold for the haulage industry?
With COVID19 now fading away, hopefully never to return, (although that is definitely not guaranteed), the UK can now start finding its way to a new normal. Of course, it has Brexit to negotiate first. This seems a good moment to think about what the future might...
Freight trends for 2020 – What’s left of it!
For many businesses, the effective new year is in April, when taxes close and people really start to emerge from winter hibernation. However, this year April was more lockdown than business growth, but as we emerge more and more, now seems like an appropriate time to...
Preparing for post-Brexit border checks
With Brexit less than six months away, the haulage industry now faces a race to prepare for what it brings. What’s more, it has to make its preparations while still dealing with COVID19 and facing the possibility of a second wave of the virus. Here are some thoughts...
Do all roads lead to recession?
The global lockdowns may have saved lives, but there can be little doubt that this has come at the expense of livelihoods. There is nothing can be done to change the past, so it makes sense to focus on finding a path into the future. This needs to balance keeping...
The Camel Trophy
When they said everyday was a school day they were not kidding. Since joining the team at the International Logistics Centre I have had so many opportunities to learn about historical events from around the globe. This latest shipment was by no means any different....
Quarantine rules for travellers explained
At a very high level, the new quarantine rules state that anyone arriving in the UK from an international destination must now self-isolate for 14 days. There are exceptions – read more
McLaren MP4-22 Mercedes
When we were asked by one of our key customers based in Shanghai to assist in the shipment of a McLaren MP4-22 Mercedes Formula 1 ® we could not wait to get involved. The MP4 – 22 is the 2007 model as driven by Lewis Hamilton was loaded into our specially...
Can the UK export its way towards growth?
News headlines are full of the damage the Coronavirus is doing to the UK. Headlines talking about infection rates, the R rate and the recovery rate sit alongside headlines about the suffering experienced by small businesses and the damage to the UK’s economy. This...
Coronavirus supply chain update
Essential supplier, offering and international freight services. Here is our latest supply chain update
Current challenges in shipping
The good news is that, for all the challenges brought by the Coronavirus, the global haulage industry has been holding up impressively well. It does, however, have to be said that there are still issues which need to be addressed urgently if the haulage industry is...
Trade Freight in history with Ford v Ferrari
Let us take a trip back to 1963, when Ford Motor Company’s Vice President Lee Iacocca convinced Henry Ford II to offer to purchase the cash-strapped Ferrari. The main purpose for this purchase would be to boost their car sales by entering the 24 Hours of Le Mans....
Why the supply chain is so important
Even though we’re less than half-way through it, 2020 looks like it’s going to go down as one of the most eventful years in human history. While the COVID19 pandemic will undoubtedly be followed by an analysis of what could have been done better, now may be a good...
Haulage workers must be allowed to keep on going
The last global pandemic was the Spanish Flu crisis of 1918. This is well out of living memory for most of the population, including everyone in government. It was also a time when the world was very different from today. This means that there is a limit to how much...
Letting drivers spend a penny could save lives
The haulage industry has long been under scrutiny for its approach to health and safety. To be fair, this is understandable. HGVs, literally by definition, are heavy, which means that they can cause serious damage if they become involved in accidents (as in killing...
Tradefreight and the Coronavirus
The Coronavirus pandemic has led to travel restrictions being imposed across the globe including the EU. At present, these restrictions exclude freight traffic which can, in principle, travel as normal, in practice, however, it is likely to be subject to long delays...
A brief overview of the budget
Although the budget (and the media’s response to it) was largely dominated by the Coronavirus (and its potential economic impact), it also contained a lot of other useful information. Here is a quick guide to its key facts and their implications. Interest rates are...
Understanding the customs clearance process
The customs clearance process will vary not only from country to country but according to the specific nature of the shipment, but, as a rule of thumb, most countries will permit people to bring in their personal effects without charge. If you are using a professional...
How to choose the right cargo insurance for your trade freight
If the international commercial terms of your consignment say that you are responsible for any damage incurred during shipping, then you almost certainly need cargo insurance. The simple fact of the matter is that even if you do everything right, something can still...