Online shopping slows in January (25th February 2010)

Index shows online shopping feeling January blues.

From Newsletter Stories

Three arrested after warehouse fire (25th February 2010)

Three fire service staff have been arrested over the deaths of four firefighters in a Warwickshire warehouse in 2007.

From Newsletter Stories

Retailers reduce lorries on road (25th February 2010)

The food and grocery industry has saved 124 million HGV miles from UK roads through sustainable initiatives according to the retail industry information and training body IGD.

From Newsletter Stories

RTPI berates Government on 'half-baked' ports policy (22nd February 2010)

The Royal Town Planning Institute has slammed the Government’s recently published draft planning policy on ports provision as ‘unfit for purpose’ in a formal response to the consultation on a National Policy Statement for Ports.

From Newsletter Stories

Tesco turns food waste into power (22nd February 2010)

Pioneering distribution centre to be powered by waste products.

From Newsletter Stories

Getting past its peak or will it be ‘oil right on the night’? (1st February 2010)

A group of British businessmen, known as the UK Peak Oil Task Force, is warning that oil supplies could dwindle much more rapidly than many realise

From News

Walmart to pioneer fuel cells in Canada (1st February 2010)

Walmart Canada has announced it will open its first sustainable refrigerated distribution centre in Balzac, Alberta, later this year.

From News

400 logistics jobs axed (1st February 2010)

The logistics industry in the north-west suffered a blow as more than 400 warehouse and distribution staff were laid off as a result of retailer Ethel Austin going into administration

From News

Early peak oil forecast threatens industry (1st February 2010)

A group of leading business people have called for urgent action to prepare the UK for Peak Oil.

From News

Fleet managers turn to used trucks in recession (1st February 2010)

The British Industrial Truck Association has suggested used truck sales have risen significantly in the UK, as many fleet and warehouse managers turn away from buying new equipment.

From News

RFID standard issued by ISO (1st February 2010)

A new ISO RFID standard has been issued to help trace products in the supply chain. The ISO 17367:2009 standard is designed to help manufacturers and distributors track products and to help manage their traceability.

From News

Trailer prices may rise (1st February 2010)

Despite signs of an improvement in market conditions, trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull is warning that trailer prices are likely to rise across Europe in the coming months.

From News

AA: Use fuel duty windfall to fill potholes (1st February 2010)

The AA has claimed diverting nearly 2p per litre from the fuel tax windfall generated by soaring pump prices would fund filling the UK's potholes in 100 days.

From News

EPAL eyes opportunities for EURO pallet portfolio (1st February 2010)

The European Pallet Association (EPAL), which is best known for maintaining a quality assurance and inspection standard for the EURO pallet, has claimed huge potential for expansion in the UK

From News

£42m saving to be made (1st February 2010)

English Farming and Food Partnerships’ and partners Openfield, DHL Supply Chain and Rank Hovis say measures could deliver a potential annual saving of £42 million in reduced haulage charges to the grain supply chain.

From News

Heavy load row erupts (1st February 2010)

Geoff Dossetter says there is a convincing case for the introduction of longer and heavier lorries. But don’t hold your breath...

From Logistics distribution

Taking a toll on business (1st February 2010)

Reader David M Woods, chief executive of Acclaim Handling, shares a letter he sent to MP Andrew Mackinlay outlining his concerns that the congestion caused by the Dartford Crossing is costing businesses dearly

From Industry update

Jobs Jim, but not as we known them... (27th January 2010)

A Government commissioned report on career evolution over the next 20 years has predicted odd jobs such as ‘vertical farmer’ (vertical farm pictured), ‘space pilot’ and ‘body part maker’.

From Newsletter Stories

Tripack Solutions acquires Rosewood Scotland (18th January 2010)

Packaging solutions company Tripack Solutions has bought Cumbernauld-based firm Rosewood Scotland for an undisclosed sum.

From Newsletter Stories

Workers win right to request time-off for training (18th January 2010)

USDAW welcomes workers being given right to request time-off to undertake training.

From Newsletter Stories

Forklift computer simulation hits shelves (18th January 2010)

Gain an insight into the work life of your lift truck driving colleagues

From Newsletter Stories

Tough challenges ahead for new year but opportunities do exist (1st January 2010)

2010 is a hard year to call.We are arguably at the tail end of the worst recession in living memory but it is very difficult to tell how long that tail will stretch out.

From News

A little local difficulty... (1st January 2010)

Freight transport can be dangerous, intrusive and unwelcome but local regulation is over the top.To correct this, Geoff Dossetter urges industry to get involved in local planning

From Logistics distribution

Warehouse worker 'made millionaire' (16th December 2009)

A warehouseman wrongly paid a fortune was rewarded with a £10 crate of beer when he handed the cash back.

From Newsletter Stories

PFI bombshell opens can of worms (2nd December 2009)

We’ve got a packed issue for November and December, with not only news of key product launches such as the new Flexi VNA from Narrow Aisle – our cover story, but best practice guidance and breaking news for the handling and storage industry.

From News

Bigger not always better (2nd December 2009)

Smaller providers are giving top LSPs a run for their money according to consultant Gideon Hillman

From News

FTA calls for Wales rail investment (2nd December 2009)

Wider rail tracks, greater load capacity and more freight terminals – allowing goods to be exchanged between road and track

From News

BITO hopeful despite 20% decline in orders (2nd December 2009)

Storage and order picking specialist BITO has reported orders 20% down this year compared to 2008, a rate the firm considers to be moderate compared with competitors

From News

Tories pledge to drop PFI funding model (2nd December 2009)

The Conservatives will drop Labour’s private finance initiative (PFI) and replace it with another funding model for major projects such as road building and widening.

From News

UK warehouse occupiers cautioned to plan ahead (2nd December 2009)

Warehouse occupiers have been warned the collapse of the new-build warehouse market will push prices up in the medium term, especially for good quality, modern units. The finding comes as occupiers are enjoying a strong negotiating hand with landlords as demand has slumped due to the recession.

From News

W’house blaze man caught (2nd December 2009)

A man who owned a wine storage business in California pleaded guilty this month to burning down the warehouse he rented, destryoing fine wines worth up to $400m.

From News

Roads to the good life (2nd December 2009)

The UK roads network lags way behind the needs of its users says Geoff Dossetter, with congestion a senseless waste of time and money. UKplc should spend more on roads, he argues, not less

From Logistics distribution

CEVA sees revenue fall (27th November 2009)

Global supply chain management company CEVA Logistics has announced revenue down by 15.7% for the nine months ended 30 September 2009.

From Newsletter Stories

Corporate manslaughter warning (27th November 2009)

CTFS has urged industry to ensure compliance with corporate manslaughter legislation by obtaining Thorough Examinations

From Newsletter Stories

Action needed as online sales of stolen goods mount (27th November 2009)

Hire Association Europe (HAE) is seeking talks with auction sites to counter the sale of stolen hire plant on websites.

From Newsletter Stories

Change or face the consequences (1st October 2009)

Mike Brannigan, the chief executive of TDG, said at a CILT conference earlier this year: “We have yet to find anything green that does not have a payback.”More recently,Marks & Spencer said it hopes to save £150m per annum by honing its supply chain. And in December, world leaders meet in Copenhagen to work out whether anything can be done to halt irreversible climate change.

From News

Re: Letter by Mr Jim Hardisty, Goplasticpallets, HSS September Mr Hardisty clearly does not understand the rules of ISPM 15. (1st October 2009)

Re: Letter by Mr Jim Hardisty, Goplasticpallets, HSS September Mr Hardisty clearly does not understand the rules of ISPM 15.

From News

Re: Letter by Mr Stuart Hex, TIMCON secretariat (1st October 2009)

Re: Letter by Mr Stuart Hex, TIMCON secretariat

From News

Accidental heroes (1st October 2009)

Every single day an average of eight people lose their lives on UK roads.Geoff Dossetter says we must all do everything we can to reduce this figure

From Health & Safety

Show them the money (1st September 2009)

I visited a lift truck manufacturing plant in Northern Ireland recently. The firm, like all forklift manufacturers, has seen production drop off dramatically during the last year

From News

720 DRIVERS SOUGHT FOR FREE CPC (1st September 2009)

Free CPC development training is being offered to participants of a new DfT study into the benefits of driver training, which commenced last month.

From News

Drivers for growth (1st September 2009)

Geoff Dossetter says that drivers are a key factor in the performance of any transport operation – the good guys can improve efficiency, save money and be an important representative for the company.Others, however, could do just the opposite

From Logistics distribution

Keeping the world turning (1st August 2009)

Our increasingly complex industry sometimes masks the simplicity of its fundamentals: moving stuff from A-B within a given time frame without screwing it up.

From News

IMHX postponed until November 2010 (1st August 2009)

IMHX 2010 is to move from its traditional March slot to November. Organisers, Quartz, say the decision was put to all exhibitors and that the “overwhelming majority” voted for the November option, according to MD, Paul Michael.

From News

News in brief (1st August 2009)

FLTA urges Archie entries The Fork Lift Truck Association is calling for 2010 award entries.

From News

Burning cash and rubber? (1st August 2009)

The Industrial Tyre Association is calling for more action to reduce the risks of making false economies when it comes to selecting and fitting industrial tyres

From Lift trucks

Road to Damascus returns prodigal profits (1st August 2009)

The recession brings the need to cut corners, reduce costs and to save on actions too costly for comfort. Or does it? Geoff Dossetter says that some economies can be false

From Features

Jam tomorrow? (1st February 2009)

Geoff Dossetter says that 2009 will require transport operators to keep their nerve and trust that things will eventually turn around

From Industry update