Freight Research

Freight-Research

Freight Research

www.eadt.co.uk/news/25092339.suffolk-lorry-theft-offences-rise-new-figures-show/

Freight and cargo crime offences more than doubled in Suffolk in recent years, new police figures have shown.

Following an exclusive interview with a transport expert on the issue of crimes involving lorries, this paper has now spoken to a national expert on the criminal gangs involved and how they are so efficient.

In Suffolk the number of freight crime offences rose from 56 in 2023 to 118 in 2024, according to figures from the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, or NaVCIS.

Across the counties in the East of England in the last three months of 2024 it was estimated the cost of stolen cargo goods and damage to cargo vehicles was £2.8 million.

PC Mike Dawber, field intelligence officer for NaVCIS, described the gangs involved in freight theft as “seriously well organised”.

“We often get reports of offences in areas just outside of Felixstowe and we get the occasional offence reported to us at the Shell, at Orwell Bridge,” Mr Dawber said.

Mr Dawber explained how thieves target certain lorries: “They understand which haulage companies have got contracts to move certain goods, and they know the routes these companies take.”

He added these criminals know that drivers should not be on the road for long than four and a half hours without taking a break of at least 45 minutes.

“I believe that they’re traveling to certain routes and overnight parking locations such as motorway service stations to deliberately target certain goods and commodities”, Mr Dawber said.

The most likely way a lorry’s goods will be stolen is by thieves slashing the curtains of a target and simply removing the items into their own HGV.

However, Mr Dawber said another very common form of freight crime is trailer hook up thefts.

“They target unattended trailers left in yards on a weekend. Perpetrators will break into the yard, or get legitimate access to that yard, and hook up to preloaded trailers of goods”.

He added: “But from a policing perspective, there’s an awful lot of good work going on.

“Last year, we were notified or asked for assistance with 324 arrests just for lorry crime and cargo theft and on top of this we supported 48 policing operations.”

PC Terry Harvey of the Roads Policing Unit issued a plea to drivers last week.

He said: “Having goods taken from an HGV is hugely disruptive and expensive for the haulage company concerned.

“Criminals realise the goods stolen can be of a high value, so they will look to exploit any weaknesses in vehicle security, especially overnight.

“We continue to engage with haulage companies as part of our role to educate and inform them of the potential of criminals to steal goods from lorries.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2508n3ewy5o

Lorry drivers are calling for more secure truck stops across the UK to stop organised crime gangs from stealing cargo.

Last week the Road Haulage Association (RHA) called on the new government to create a specific freight crime offence, external and a national truck parking security standard to help tackle thefts.

In one incident this year, £1.1m worth of goods were stolen from a lorry parked in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

The government said it was working with a group whose vehicle crime specialists are sharing information with police forces across England and Wales, to “better tackle regional issues.”

“This is serious and organised crime”, a National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) officer told the BBC.

The body is a police unit that helps forces fight vehicle crime, funded by the logistics industry.

The officer, who wanted to remain anonymous, explained that the gangs understand supply chains, surveillance and policing, and have “underground networks of handlers that’ll handle a vast quantity of cargo for serious sums of money”.

They often target motorway service stations and truck stops on major routes like the M1, M25, and M40.

They slash curtains or bolt crop trailer doors until they find a valuable load, according to the NaVCIS.

Thieves target popular consumer items like alcohol, tobacco, electricals, and clothing.

The loads are then divided and sold on online selling platforms and in wholesalers, backstreet cash and carries, car boot sales, and markets.

There is no precise figure for the number of thefts from lorries in the UK, however the NaVCIS said there was more than 5,000 incidents of lorry crime in 2023, or about 14 every day.

They said this equated to a £68m loss of goods, but industry experts think the real figure could be seven times higher.

Hauliers also said their lorries were being targeted when parked in “secure” truck stops.

Even when no cargo is stolen, attempted thefts are costing the industry.

Each curtain tear costs about £100 to repair, explained Rhys Hackling, who runs Bicester-based Direct Connect Logistics.

“If you’re carrying food or a similar product, once that tear happens the goods will be rejected,” he said.

Ultimately, it is consumers who pay. The RHA’s Ashton Cull said these crimes ripple through the supply chain and increase “the costs of everything”.

Although rare, an increasingly perilous way of stealing cargo has been on the rise in the UK, according to the NaVCIS.

Typically attempted on long, straight highways at night, the “rollover” theft sees criminals drive their cars directly behind a fast moving lorry, the driver often unaware they are being followed.

“Someone will climb out of the sunroof of the car that’s directly behind,” the NaVCIS officer explained.

“They’ll bounce down onto the bonnet, angle grind, undo the back doors of the trailer, and jump in on the move to steal cargo.”

There have been nine “rollover” thefts recorded in the UK in 2024 so far, up from seven in 2023.

The NaVCIS said while they are still rare there is potential for “death and serious injury”.

The threat of theft is causing “significant issues” to drivers’ “wellbeing and welfare”, according to the RHA’s Ashton Cull.

Darren Brooker, who runs Daz Tran International in Hythe, Kent, said one of his hauliers has “packed up driving completely” after he woke up to thieves targeting his trailer.

He added: “He’s a bag of nerves. We had to go and rescue him and in fact, he said, I don’t want to do this no more.”

Oxfordshire driver Joe Alves told the BBC he does not get a full night’s sleep, and that he has had his lorry slashed even when parked up with the doors open, to show there is no cargo inside.

With no specific crime reporting category for cargo theft, it is difficult to assess the police record on tackling lorry crime.

But Mr Alves said he felt “there’s no communication” from the police after incidents are reported.

“I don’t always get an easy ride, particularly from drivers and haulage companies”, admitted the NaVCIS Officer, “[but] there is an awful lot of good work going on nationally to combat this type of offending.”

Freight Crime

Freight-Crime

Freight crime

According to the latest figures:

Freight crime value of goods stolen has risen to over £100 million

  • 2024 saw a significant rise in the value of goods stolen from lorries – up nearly two-thirds to £111.5 million.
  • Freight crime is at record levels with loses exceeding £1 billion since 2020.

Now the MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, Rachel Taylor MP, has tabled a Bill in parliament calling for action to tackle the scourge of organised freight crime (18 March).

The Bill is a Ten-Minute Rule Bill, a type of Bill used by backbench MPs to bring attention to issues of importance to them. The Bill is being supported by local haulage businesses in North Warwickshire and Bedworth, and by the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

Ms Taylor’s Bill calls on the government to introduce a specific crime code for freight crime, something the police and the freight industry say would make a huge difference in helping them tackle the issue.

Without a specific crime code, large-scale thefts of freight goods are often categorised in the same way as thefts from personal vehicles, hindering the ability of the police to track and ultimately catch freight criminals.

Recent figures from the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Police Service (NaVCIS) suggest that between 2023 and 2024 the total estimated value of goods stolen by freight criminals increased by 63%, to more than £110 million. However, without a dedicated crime code the true extent of the problem remains difficult to quantify.

Ms Taylor said the huge increase in freight crime showed that at present criminals saw targeting the freight sector as a low risk, high reward crime. Far from the perception of freight crime as being low level and opportunistic, she said, it was actually being perpetrated by organised criminal gangs with a high level of skill and expertise.

Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director, said: “Last year saw a significant increase in the value of goods stolen from lorries – over £110 million.

“Freight crime is becoming more serious, more organised, and more intelligence led. This is bad news for the industry and bad news for consumers.

“We’ll only know the true scale of the issue once the police have a specific crime code, and we welcome and support the steps that Rachel Taylor MP is taking to deliver on this.”The RHA has led the campaign calling for a national, co-ordinated approach to tackling freight crime and is again calling on policymakers to consider the needs of drivers and hauliers who play an essential role in the supply chain and in the wider economy.

Storage Solutions

Storage-Solutions

Storage Solutions

We don’t often mention it but we have a storage facility in Manningtree, with 20ft self-storage containers available for short or long-term hire for domestic and commercial use.

We offer 24/7 access to our secure, floodlit site.

Our site has easy, drive-up access to all units and locks are provided for a small deposit.

In addition, being a haulage company we can offer transport of units to your own site.

In other news, the RHA has repeated its call for or more safe and secure parking for drivers. There’s a real need for priority investment in roadside facilities, particularly in areas of high parking demand and high freight crime rates.

W we need to see 11,000 more safe parking spaces and better facilities across the country and our work on this continues.

For decarbonisation targets to be met, we need to see long-term investment in EV charging infrastructure for HGVs and coaches and lowering the expense of vehicles must be part of the plan. Costs are still holding many firms back from moving away from diesel. In our recent submission ahead of the Government spending review, we called for more clarity on final phase-out dates for HGVs and Coaches.

Call for major road investment

Call-for-major-road-investment

Call for major road investment

The RHA (Road Haulage Association has kicked off the new year with a report arguing that investing in the UK road network will bring a £26 billion benefit to the economy.

The report stresses the importance of the UK’s strategic road network in connecting towns, cities, communities, and businesses.

Looking ahead to the Government’s Spending Review, the RHA is also urging decision-makers to prioritise investment in the road network to secure long-term economic growth and create the conditions for British businesses to thrive.

RHA MD Richard Smith said: “The strategic network accounts for 70% of all HGV kilometres, making it central to the road freight, logistics and coach sector, as well as the tourism sector, with one in ten trips made by coach to holiday destinations and attractions.”

He is calling for urgent reform of the planning system and consent process to speed up the developments.

Earlier in the month On National Pothole Day (15 January), James Barwise, RHA Policy Lead, said:

“Poorly maintained roads cause misery for millions of road users in delays and increased costs; congestion costs the economy £30bn a year.”

“We urge the Government to ensure local authorities are equipped with latest technology for longer lasting and more cost-effective road maintenance. We also call on local authorities to allocate and ringfence pothole funding and perform permanent rather than temporary repairs.”

The effect of the budget on the transport industry

UK-Transport-Industry

The effect of the budget on the transport industry

Richard Smith, MD, RHA has responded to the Autumn budget.

“As critical economic enablers, we as an industry must be on the front foot to future-proof the supply chains. We therefore want the policymakers to work alongside us to minimise the financial burden and the regulations placed on businesses.”

He writes:

“Firms throughout the road transport sector were also delighted with the decision to continue with the freeze on fuel duty. We at the RHA have long been clear that raising fuel duty would have been catastrophic for operators. It would have been bad for the economy too. So, we’re pleased the Chancellor listened to our concerns on this.

The Chancellor’s commitment to increase the Employment Allowance for small businesses from £5,000 to £10,500 is also welcome but we do note this will only apply to the smallest companies, so many firms in our industry will not be eligible.

The increase to employer National Insurance contributions has left many business owners with much to think about – as they come to terms with the realities of the additional costs they’ll have to factor in.

With operating costs increasing and margins tightening, raising employer National Insurance contributions (NIC) to 15%, and the lowering of the threshold, will be a challenge for companies in an industry where 95% are small and medium sized and who could well do without this additional expense.

These changes will make things more difficult for many businesses of all shapes and sizes, be that operators of HGVs, LCVs or coaches.

This increase in employers’ costs in particular may force some businesses to re-think their recruiting strategies entirely. The National Insurance changes, on top of other cost implications from the planned employment law reforms, are increasing cost pressures on firms at a time when our sector is already dealing with rising expenses. This will ultimately impact the ability for some to hire new staff and expand.

Ultimately, the true test of this budget will be whether firms can invest, grow and boost the economy over the next 12 months. We stand ready to help to achieve this.

National Lorry week and fuel duty

UK-Lorry-fuel-duty

National Lorry week and fuel duty

The RHA (Road Haulage Association) started its four-nation National Lorry week on October 21 in Stoke on Trent before moving on to Crumlin in Northern Ireland.

Then it was on to Scotland and Wales with the tour to end in Northampton on November 4.

The event is an annual celebration of our industry and its people; it’s our campaign to showcase the vital role the trucks, drivers and our industry as a whole plays in our lives.

Ahead of the budget the RHA is highlighting the huge role the haulage industry plays in UK economic growth and is continuing its campaign for a high quality infrastructure.

It is also arguing that raising fuel duty will damage the UK economy and cause more hardship.

It says that being collaborative is a key hallmark of operating successfully and something talked about a lot at the Road Haulage Association.

The RHA is also continuing its campaign to encourage Government investment in skills training within the haulage industry pointing to a 41% decline in overall apprenticeships.

Improving Road Transport

Improving-Road-Transport

Improving Road Transport

The RHA is calling on the government to do more to ensure that roads are fit for purpose to deliver economic growth.

It says Congestion costs the UK economy £30bn a year and is ready to work with local authorities and the Government.

It has published a blueprint for improvement with four main themes:

Mission 1: Kickstart economic growth.

Mission 2: Make Britain a clean energy superpower

Mission 3: Take back our streets

Mission 4: Break down barriers to opportunity

The RHA has also welcomed new rules to tackle lte payment.

“According to figures from the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) and research from the Federation of Small Businesses, delayed payment of invoices currently cost smaller firms £22,000 a year on average. 

“New rules are being introduced today by Government that will require companies to include payment reporting in their annual reports. This is intended to increase the transparency of the payment process, in particular payments to smaller firms.

The government is also consulting on new laws that will hold firms to account for late payments and ensure cash flows into businesses.
The consultation will consider policies aimed at addressing poor payment practices.”

The state of our roads and an up coming deadline

State-of-the-roads

The state of our roads and an up coming deadline

The RHA (Road Haulage Association) says:

“To keep the economy moving and competitive, our industry needs robust infrastructure which is fit for purpose. We need a network of roads in place which are safe and reliable – with capacity to accommodate future growth in demand.

Congestion costs the UK economy approximately £30.8 billion which works out at an average cost per driver of £968 a year and for our sector, this can have real consequences where congestion is estimated to account for 16% of all outlays in road freight. “

It has issued a Blueprint document, making  it clear that it’s crucial that the Government invests in our road network soon and speeds up delivery of road projects at all levels; from pothole repairs to bypasses to major infrastructure.

“A more reliable road network in place will improve journeys, reduce costs for operators, tackle congestion and unlock economic growth through better connectivity between UK towns and cities.”

The RHA is also reminding drivers that those who gained their Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) before 2019, the deadline to renew in September is fast approaching.

Drivers must complete 35 hours of CPC every five years and the deadline to complete the CPC training for many is Monday 9 September.

Missing the deadline will mean they cannot drive professionally and face fines of up to £1000 if they do so.

New safety standard for hauliers driving in London launches in October

New-Safety-Standards

New safety standard for hauliers driving in London launches in October

The new Direct Vision Standard safety criteria are designed to meet Transport for London’s (TfL) Progressive Safe System (PSS).

The RHA has an explanatory document which sets out what a Blind Spot Information System and Moving Off Information System should do.

It can be found here https://bit.ly/DVSExp

Hauliers should have the PSS kit installed in their vehicles by October 28 after the RHA successfully negotiated for a three-month extension with TfL.

Full details of the scheme and its requirements are also on the TfL website here https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/deliveries-in-london/delivering-safely/direct-vision-in-heavy-goods-vehicles#on-this-page-5

The importance of Road Haulage to the UK economy

Road-Haulage-UK-Economy

The importance of Road Haulage to the UK economy

As the campaigning for the General Election continues James Barwise, RHA policy lead, appearing on BBC Politics South East, said new road projects are essential to make journeys more efficient.

Declan Pang, RHA Director of Policy and Public Affairs has also highlighted the needs of the Road Haulage industry:

He said: “At a time of rising cost pressures and regulations for businesses, there remains many unanswered questions on how the various parties will approach a number of key challenges. 

“Whoever forms the next Government will need to work collaboratively with industry to help minimise the financial burden on operators to support economic growth.

“The total cost of operating an HGV has increased by 10% over the past year and because of these rising costs, some hauliers have gone out of business and some other operators are running at a loss with their margins wiped out by cost increases. 

“With the average profit margin of a haulier at just 2% (which equates to around £70 per week or £3500 per year profit per lorry), the next Government needs to minimise taxation for operators, particularly given that the cost of distribution impacts the prices on our shelves and the cost of living.

“As businesses try to navigate rising costs and different regulations, we want the next Government to consider a review of road freight regulations which can be simplified and reduced. “

The RHA is also calling for the suspension of the HGV levy and a ringfencing of future funds for green fuelling infrastructure.