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Liverpool haulage firm expands within port and aims for Southern growth

JWT Commercial, a growing independent haulage firm, has expanded its footprint at the Port of Liverpool by investing in over 5 acres of land. It will use the new site to manage its growing workload as more and more businesses start to ship their cargo closer to their destination a move that will see the rebalancing of UK logistics flows.

JWT's site at the port includes 5 acres of container storage facilities, allowing it to handle larger volumes of goods for distribution to stores across the UK.

JWT has also spotted an opportunity to work with Peel Ports other UK Ports, including London Medway and Great Yarmouth and has invested almost ₤2 million into new trucks, with trained staff ready to be deployed to the South East Ports. The move will allow them to transport a range of cargo, that includes steel, bulk and containers that are bound for other areas of the UK, including Greater London.

The bold move comes as cargo owners continue to experience growing delays in the South East and reroute using alternative solutions.. JWT estimate it will be able to operate upwards of 100 per week for each customer through the new service.

Recently a multi billion pound value retailer B&M announced plans to increase its imports in to the Port of Liverpool by 30% after growing increasingly frustrated with delays at Southern Ports. JWT is the inland logistics supplier for the retailer.

Jon Whiteley, Director of JWT, said:- "We are delighted to be investing further at The Port of Liverpool and to be working so closely with Peel Ports. Not only does this relationship allow us to be closer together, it allows us to offer customers a joined up approach to logistics, and a consistently efficient service.  Because of the current delays being experienced across major Ports in the South East of the UK, there is a real gap in the market to anticipate increased cargo throughput through Ports including London Medway and Great Yarmouth. This investment puts us in a strong position to offer our services to cargo owners looking to transport their goods across the UK in the fastest way possible."

Stephen Carr, Commercial Director from Peel Ports, said:- "JWT's investment in Liverpool illustrates the confidence the firm has in growing even further this year. With problems only expected to worsen as Brexit moves closer at Southern Ports, congestion shows no sign of easing and delays get longer. Because of this we are seeing Ports such as Liverpool and London Medway benefit, and firms such as JWT able to help customers move their goods to where they are needed in the most efficiency way possible."

JWT has also invested ₤500,000 at its Port of Liverpool base to create an automated system that will significantly speed up its turnaround time for containers travelling through the port.

JWT Haulage is a family owned haulage company that has been operating since 2001. It provides road transport across the UK, working with global shipping lines and freight forwarders. It currently employs around 135 staff.

Drivers call on Government to ensure high car safety standards Post Brexit

DRIVERS across the UK are calling on the Government to ensure high car safety standards Post Brexit, according to a new report published by Brake, the road safety charity, and Direct Line. The report, based on a survey of more than 2,000 UK drivers, found that more than 9 in 10 want car safety standards within the UK to remain at least as high as those across the EU, Post Brexit.

The report comes as EU vehicle safety is set for a giant leap forward, with a crunch European Parliament vote on new safety regulations taking place, on 21 February 2019. The new regulations seek to mandate life saving technology, including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), and Lane Keep Assistance (LKA), on all future new vehicles entering the European market. Conservative estimates predict the life-saving potential of these measures as preventing 25,000 deaths and 140,000 serious injuries from 2022 to 2037.

Moves to mandate vehicle technologies are widely supported amongst UK drivers, with nearly 9 in 10 agreeing that all new cars should be fitted with the latest life saving safety features as standard. The report also found that more than ½ of drivers would not spend more on a new car to ensure it had AEB, ISA or LKA, highlighting how the EU's regulatory action can help deliver the life saving potential of these technologies for all.

Commenting, Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake, said:- "As 29 March edges ever closer, UK drivers have made clear that, post-Brexit, they want the cars on our roads to meet the highest safety standards possible; but they don't want the money in their pockets to take a hit.  The EU is taking bold steps to transform road safety by seeking to mandate life saving vehicle technology, taking the onus off drivers and placing it on manufacturers. Drivers want these technologies to be fit as standard and so we urge our representatives in the European Parliament to listen and give these measures their full support. The opportunity to prevent 25,000 road deaths is there for the taking and they must grasp it with both hands. The UK has committed to be at the cutting edge of vehicle development with huge investment in connected and autonomous vehicles; technologies which have the potential to eliminate driver error and save countless lives. It would be a tragedy if the Government allowed the safety of vehicles on our roads to lag behind those in Europe and so it is vital that these ground breaking EU standards are maintained, or improved, in the UK, Post Brexit."

Commenting, Neil Ingram, Head of Motor Product Management at Direct Line Insurance, said:- "This important report provides a mixed picture. There is clearly appetite for ADAS features but overall awareness of what they can offer today's driver is perhaps not as widespread as it could be. And while people buy cars for a number of reasons, the safety benefits of ADAS do not motivate consumers as much as other factors when making a purchase. However, research and development costs are significant and it's important to enable and sustain this age of motor vehicle innovation and ensure a balance is met. Manufacturers still need to be able to innovate and vehicles to remain affordable ensuring that motorists are able to make informed choices."