WTD regulations relaxed as big freeze grips the country
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Hauliers and operators put in place bad weather contingency plans to ensure minimum disruption to supply chain during inclement weather
CM COVER STORY c hristop herwaltontBrbi.co,uk and roger.brownrarbi.co.uk LAST WEEK SAW heavy snowfalls paralyse much of the country, with hauliers in Scotland, the east and south-east of England hit the hardest during the height of the Christmas delivery peak.
Operators across the country reported difficult conditions in which to keep normal routes running and the government relaxed the Working Time Directive for all hauliers for four days. David McCutcheon, MD of Bullet Express. says: -On [Monday] we still had more than 500 pallets backlogged to cover over subsequent days. We made plans for subbies to help and drivers made some home deliveries over the weekend."
He adds: "It was not a good situation at this important time of the year and was very costly." Martin Lowrey, national operations manager at TNT Express Services, says the company had well-rehearsed contingencies to deal with severe weather conditions. "Our in-house road-gritting vehicles continued to serve a number of our key operational centres, hubs and depots to ensure access at all times.
"Safety is paramount and were doing all we can to ensure customers goods are handled securely and delivered on time during these challenging conditions."
Royal Mail took on additional trucks and rail services to move mail to distribution centres as close as possible to delivery areas.
To ease the backlog, the Department for Transport (DfT) also temporarily relaxed EU drivers' hours rules for all haulage firms until I I:59pm on 7 December.
A MT spokeswoman says the department expects businesses to plan for, and manage, the risks of disruption to supply chains. "Driv er safety must not be jeopardised, drivers should not be expected to drive while tired employers remain responsible for the safety of employees and other road users.
-Drivers in question must note on the back of their tachograph charts or printouts the reasons why they are exceeding the normally permitted limits," she explains. -This is usual practice in emergencies and is essential for enforcement purposes."
Road Haulage Association director of policy Jack Semple says: "The decision, which is allowed under EU rules, is an appropriate and proportionate response to the serious disruption caused to the UK supply chain by the severe weather."
Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond says the DfT would be conducting a review into the implementation of the Winter Resilience Plan. An independent review conducted in the summer by David Quarmby. of the RAC Foundation, was meant to ensure that all government departments were better prepared for bad weather.