The Freight Transport Association has proposed an overhaul of drivers’ hours concession arrangements to alleviate the impact of severe weather.
In the government’s Winter Resilience Review the FTA called on the government to use emergency concessions for gritters as a model for other critical deliveries such as heating fuels and animal feed.
Simon Chapman, FTA’s chief economist, said: “Life for road transport carriers making essential deliveries and collections during a spell of severe winter weather is made much easier by a temporary, modest increase in daily driving time and greater flexibility in the timing and duration of daily and weekly rest breaks.”
It also recommended regional salt stockpiles in order to shorten emergency salt supply chains. Furthermore it reckons the Cheshire salt mine should use a vehicle booking system, similar to those used in container ports, and provide better parking facilities to limit queuing.
