As ten new mayors take office across England, there’s a pivotal opportunity to reshape local transport strategies. The recent local elections have placed freight movement in the spotlight, emphasising its critical role in stimulating economic growth.
- The RHA is urging new mayors to prioritise freight strategies that support business and align with Net Zero goals.
- Mayors are encouraged to collaborate with local authorities to enhance understanding of the road haulage sector’s significance.
- There’s a push for dedicated funding towards improving regional freight corridors to boost connectivity.
- Addressing the skills shortage in road transport through collaborative efforts remains a key focus.
The election of ten new mayors across England has created a significant opportunity to address longstanding issues in freight movement. By focusing on freight, mayors can play a crucial role in enabling economic growth. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has been vocal in its demands, encouraging the mayoral candidates to prioritise the development of clear and coherent road freight strategies that are in tandem with business objectives and environmental targets, such as the transition to Net Zero.
Combined Authorities, which are central to the UK’s strategic planning, can counteract ‘freight blindness’—a tendency among local governments to overlook freight-related concerns in favour of managing car traffic. With strategic oversight, these authorities are well-positioned to acknowledge and integrate the needs of the freight and coach sectors, thus preventing impulsive policies that could negatively impact businesses.
To alleviate congestion and enhance productivity, the RHA suggests allocating devolved transport funding to support road improvements that facilitate regional freight movements. This would establish vital East-West connectivity and strengthen critical freight corridors, which are essential for robust local economies.
One of the persistent challenges faced by the road transport sector is a shortage of skilled employees. This issue calls for a concerted effort between the industry, local authorities, and the government to attract, train, and retain drivers and other personnel. Recognising the efficacy of Skills Bootcamps in providing swift training to job seekers, the RHA underscores the importance of maintaining support for these initiatives to ensure they continue to meet sector demands when economic activity intensifies.
The commitment of the RHA and its members to collaborate with the new mayors and Combined Authorities reflects a shared dedication to bolstering local economies and supporting commercial vehicle operations. This proactive approach anticipates engaging dialogues and partnerships in the coming months to solidify these strategic goals.
The election of new mayors is seen as a crucial moment to advance freight-friendly policies that future-proof economic and transport development.
