Alastair Gunn - RHA, Trade

Policy Lead on Trade for the Road Haulage Association (@RHANews)

[RHA @RHANews]

Today, our Senior Public Affairs Lead, @RHA_Ferdy, and Trade Policy Lead, @RHA_Alastair, joined @LibDems MPs Dr Al Pinkerton and Sarah Olney at family-owned specialist logistics firm Hedley's Group Ltd, hosted by General Manager Victor Jaques.

Ahead of the UK–EU Summit on 20 November, we highlighted the practical barriers facing British international road transport operators. Negotiations must prioritise a targeted, reciprocal exemption from the Schengen 90/180-day rule for professional HGV, coach, and van drivers, alongside reliable Entry/Exit System (EES) border recording and reduced customs duplication to keep British businesses competitive across Europe.

Thank you to Victor and the @HedleysGroup team for hosting, and to @AlPinkerton and @sarahjolney1 for taking the time to listen to some of the experiences from our sector.

#RHAcampaigns

[RHA @RHANews]

Our thanks to @A_J_Snowden MP for Fylde for joining us at Walton’s Coaches in Lancashire today.

Our Policy Lead, @JamesBarwiseRHA presented Andrew with a copy of the RHA Coaching Manifesto - Coaching Ahead and joined Jill Atherton Transport Manager in discussing the challenges coach operators are facing.

Amongst the items on the agenda with Andrew were: Fuel prices, the lack of recognition of the sector by planners, and barriers around doing school work.

#RHACoaches #RHACampaigns #RHAMembership

[RHA @RHANews]

Two independent reports shared this week by @Economy_NI strongly support many of the concerns our member firms have been raising for years.

Both reports find similar problems: smaller businesses struggling with admin and compliance, duplicated processes, regulatory divergence, and inconsistent guidance. Some suppliers aren’t providing enough information for goods movements, while others have chosen to stop supplying Northern Ireland altogether.

We contributed to the Fortior Insight Report which supports the development of a pilot Trusted Haulier scheme to support groupage movements. This is one of our key asks.

As things stand, one supplier’s missing information can hold up the whole process. A Trusted Haulier Scheme would recognise compliant operators and help keep loads moving more efficiently.

Since the reports were submitted, the new Trader Support Service platform (TSS 2) has gone live. We continue to work with the new providers to develop the service, but small and medium-sized hauliers have yet to see the improvements they need. They’re the very firms the reports say find it hardest to keep up with ever-changing requirements.

We'll continue to make the point that businesses need clarity and certainty. That means straightforward, clear and timely guidance. Our engagement with officials and policymakers at Westminster and Stormont continues on all of these issues - working towards finding solutions that improve processes and reduce costs and bureaucracy.

You can read both reports via:

🔗 https://t.co/29Uz9Q2MCW

[RHA @RHANews]

Today we were at the Seagoe Hotel in Portadown for our Northern Ireland Autumn Member Briefing – and the Northern Ireland launch of the RHA Wellbeing Charter.

Our regional briefings bring members together to share experiences, hear industry updates and access practical advice to support their businesses.

Across this autumn’s programme, we’re covering:

• Regulatory compliance, with Traffic Commissioners and RHA Legal Services, Backhouse Jones, exploring operator responsibilities, driver welfare, training and management oversight.

• Transport insurance and risk management with RHA Insurance Services.

• Benchmarking operating costs and identifying savings with RHA Business Finance.

• Our Business Confidence Survey and campaigning ahead of the Budget.

Today was also an opportunity to hear directly from members about the pressures they face and what support would make a difference.

That made the briefing an important setting for the Northern Ireland launch of our Wellbeing Charter, supporting everyone who keeps road transport moving – drivers, technicians, planners, office teams and business leaders.

Built around six pillars – learning and development, mental wellbeing, leadership and resilience, connecting with others, exercise, and food and nutrition – the Charter aims to deliver one million moments of improvement over ten years.

More than 2,600 have already signed up. We’re encouraging more businesses and colleagues to join them and turn that commitment into practical action.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Portadown today.

Make your wellbeing pledge: https://t.co/BnQR6Taghr

Find your next member briefing: https://t.co/tvv8OQyzrm

#RHACampaigns

[Alastair Gunn - RHA, Trade @RHA_Alastair]

@anandMenon1 I speak to plenty of UK hauliers with EU work who consider Brexit a “disaster”.

But then again, most also say the worm turned for the sector long before 2016 let alone 2021.

Does wrong question in 2016 = wrong answers in 2026?

[RHA @RHANews]

Rising fuel prices are pushing local hauliers to the brink across our regions. 📈⛽

Speaking to BBC Look North, Policy Lead @JamesBarwiseRHA highlighted the severe reality facing haulage firms: fuel accounts for roughly a third of operating costs, with many members facing an EXTRA £350 per week, per truck. For fleets operating dozens of vehicles, even minor price spikes quickly spiral out of control.

Without decisive action and relief from government, more vital businesses risk being forced out of operation.

That's why we're calling on the government to back the businesses that keep Britain moving, by keeping the freeze on fuel duty, scraping planned fuel duty increases, and introducing a rebate on fuel for essential users.

Members can support the campaign by taking part in our ongoing business confidence survey. Responses will inform our ongoing conversations with ministers.

Please take a few minutes to offer your perspective and strengthen our case for more government support here: https://t.co/kFsqqXhGEj

#RHACampaigns
#StopTheFuelHike
#Budget2026

[SME4Labour @SME4LABOUR]

A great discussion at Connecting the UK to International Markets: Road Haulage, Trade and Growth at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool!

@OliverRyanUK MP on the party's "blank canvas" on EU policy post-Brexit, and the £4 billion in agrifood exports missed out on since 2018. @gareththomasMP on why a Swiss-style EU deal would be a game changer for road haulage, and the need for clarity on when the UK-EU summit will take place. @RuthCadbury MP, Chair of the Transport Committee, on the problems with the EU's entry/exit system and the policy vacuum on HGV driver facilities. Declan Pang @RHADeclan (Road Haulage Association) on progress towards a simpler border, and the case for a more sectoral approach to driver rules. Marco Forgione @marco4gione (Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade) on resilience, national security and rebuilding the EU relationship since 2024.

A brilliant panel on what it will take to rebuild Britain's trading relationship with Europe.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to our partners Road Haulage Association @RHANews for making this session possible.

[RHA @RHANews]

Our MD, @RHARJSmith announces the launch of our new report to support our industry on its #decarbonisation journey.

#RHACampaigns #NetZeroForum

[RHA @RHANews]

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners at last night’s Export & Freight Transport & Logistics Awards.

We were especially pleased to see a number of RHA members among the winners:

* @McCulla_Ireland
* @derry_transport
* @Manfreightltd
* @MontgomeryTG
* @PRMGroupLTD

Thank you to the organisers for a fantastic evening, to our guests for joining us, and to everyone who stopped to speak to Lynne Mason and @RHA_Alastair.

#EXFAWARDS2026 #Freight #Logistics

[RHA @RHANews]

Our senior public affairs lead, @RHAAshton told @BBCOxford that we need reliable roads to ensure transport operators can move goods efficiently.

Officials in #Henley are concerned about HGVs using the town as a ‘short cut’ and are considering options to manage access.

Ashton reiterated the vital role that lorry drivers do to ensure that we all have the goods we need – 85 percent of freight moves by road – and said that we will work with local authorities and others to help resolve their concerns whilst representing the needs of our sector.

In our #Budget2026 submission we have restated our calls on the Government to invest in our roads and infrastructure to back the businesses that keep Britain moving.

#RHACampaigns #RHACostsAndRegulation #RHAInfrastructure

[RHA @RHANews]

A lack of safe and secure parking leaves truckers parked in residential areas, our senior public affairs lead, @RHAAshton @BBCSuffolk. This is amid concerns in hashtag#Felixstowe about parking and littering.

"The least we should be able to do as a country is to provide them with facilities, a toilet, a place to have some food. We don't want drivers to be there. We know members of the public don't want drivers to be there and the drivers don't want to be there either. Quite frankly though, they have no other choice."

We believe there's 11k too few safe and secure lorry parking spaces in the country - and fixing this is a key priority for us. Changes to planning regulations announced this week that we've encouraged will see the needs of our sector more prominent.

#RHACampaigns #RHAfacilities #RHAInfrastraucture

https://t.co/NDps3mwYMe

[RHA @RHANews]

📻 CLIP: More lorry parking is needed in #Felixstowe, our Vice Chair Tim Wray told BBC Suffolk. The Managing Director of Multimodal Logistics Ltd said the port is the busiest container port in the country and needs more facilities for drivers to rest amid reports of increasing congestion.

There’s a national shortfall of 11,000 parking spaces he told the broadcaster, and securing more safe and secure parking is a key industry priority.

#RHACampaigns #RHAFacilities #Wellbeing

[RHA @RHANews]

Our Public Affairs Executive Caitlin Delaney today joined Fermanagh & South Tyrone MP, @patcullen9 on a visit to RHA member Liam Connolly (Roadfreight) in Lisnaskea to discuss the pressures facing the road transport sector.

The visit covered skills shortages, the high cost of insurance for young drivers trying to enter the industry, and the lack of safe, secure parking and roadside facilities across Northern Ireland.

Our thanks to Pat, and to the team at Liam Connolly for hosting.

[RHA @RHANews]

📻 "For every 10p fuel price increase, we've seen at least a £5,000 a week increase in cost just on fuel, that's a minimum."

Managing Director of Multimodal Logistics, and Vice Chair of the RHA, Tim Wray, was on BBC Radio 4 yesterday, continuing to highlight the impact of ongoing volatility in fuel prices for our sector.

Tim and the RHA are calling on the UK government to introduce an Essential User Rebate because haulage, coach and van operators are not discretionary fuel users.

This would provide targeted support to help operators remain viable, protecting jobs and reducing inflationary pressure.

You can support the campaign by emailing your MP - Calling on them to lobby for an essential user rebate 👉 https://t.co/bDoX5BVcT2

[RHA @RHANews]

More reports in the @Daily_Express about insolvencies hitting our sector amid continuing cost challenges.

Our External Affairs Director, David Boot recently told them: “Higher interest rates, increased regulatory burdens, and ever-rising running costs continue to make trading more expensive, sending many long-established firms to the wall. Sadly, insolvency levels may rise as the impacts of the Middle East conflict continue in the months ahead.”

We're calling on the Government to introduce an essential user rebate on fuel, freeze fuel duty indefinitely, scrap plans to link it to RPI, and support cash flow through 28-day payment terms.

#RHACampaigns #RHACostsAndRegulation

[RHA @RHANews]

Concerns are growing about congestion at #Dover ahead of the summer getaway as French authorities haven't switched on #EES kiosks at the port.

Our trade policy lead, @RHA_Alastair said we're concerned about tailbacks and disruption which affects coach operators on Channel crossings, and risks serious delays to the just-in-time supply chains that hauliers operate.

“We echo calls for flexibility. We've long called for pre-registration and online documentation, so travellers can register in advance and speed up crossings,” he told @Independent.

We urge drivers making the trip through Channel ports to follow advice from the @PoD_travelnews and other authorities.

https://t.co/wL9txlNssH

#RHACampaigns #RHAInternational #EES #OpBrock

[RHA @RHANews]

Our Trade Policy Lead, @RHA_Alastair, recently met with @jcartlidgemp hosted by Director of @KerseyFreight, David Crawford.

They discussed the big issues hitting local operators right now: Rising business costs squeezing the sector; A focus on the urgent need for progress at the Copdock Interchange and Orwell Bridge; And the ongoing challenge of driver recruitment.

A huge thank you to David Crawford for hosting and to James Cartlidge MP for listening.

We continue ensuring our members' voices are heard loud and clear where it matters most.

#RHAcampaigns

[RHA @RHANews]

🚐 Operators of vans over 2.5t running international work now have just days left to comply with the EU’s Smart Tachograph 2 rules.

From 1 July 2026, light commercial vehicles over 2.5 tonnes used on international journeys must be fitted with a Smart Tacho 2 device. This includes UK-registered vans operating into or through the EU.

Our latest article explains who is in scope, what needs to be fitted, and why you hopefully have installations completed. Read it here: https://t.co/ZpCbsMDK77

If you operate 2.5t+ vans internationally, time is of the essence to remain compliant.

[Richard Smith @RHARJSmith]

It was great to be in Brussels today to meet with both the European Commission and the IRU. Our conversation centred around SPS, training and conditions, trade more broadly, and the issues surrounding decarbonisation, skills, infrastructure and regulation across both the EU and the UK.

Today reminded me of the value of being part of the IRU and of taking the time to engage with the EU on the major issues challenging our industry.

Thanks to Alastair Gunn for joining me as our lead on trade and for adding so much to the conversation.

Marc Billiet and Raluca Marian, as always I value the time you give us to share your insights, and I look forward to seeing you with the electric van at the end of the year.