Abnormal Loads Group supporting hauliers

Early last year we brought a group of trade associations, stakeholders and operators together to tackle issues hauliers faced moving abnormal loads.

Firms told us that some forces were imposing blanket embargoes on movements, increasing bureaucracy, were being inflexible on dates and wouldn’t accept short-notice movements.

They said this led to increased costs and delayed projects.

We’re spearheading the group – now known as the Abnormal Loads Group (ALG) – which has built new relationships with key stakeholders.

We’ve made steady progress and secured commitment from the National Police Chiefs Council that the group can help them review outdated guidance that we’re confident will encourage more consistency across forces.

There’s been some other positive developments following our campaigning with seven police forces in east England committing to work collaboratively to ensure that hauliers planning to move through their patches will be met with a consistent enforcement approach.

In the meantime, the ALG has commissioned research from the Centre for Economics & Business Research (CEBR) to fully understand the impact of inconsistent police actions on the industry and the wider economy.

They found that the total financial impact of increased bureaucracy on abnormal load movements to be an estimated £16.8m per annum.

The report also estimates that increased regulatory demands have led to reduced activity for hauliers, resulting in wasted time and decreased revenue with significant economic losses amounting to up to £171 million per annum. We’ll be speaking more about this report in the coming weeks.

The ALG stakeholders – who include Heavy Transport Association,National Caravan Council, British Holiday & Home Parks Association, Hanson European Caravan Transport Ltd – are fully committed to collaborating with their respective members, forces and other parties on these issues. 
Our group continues to seek certainty, clarity and continue to invest in this vital sector and ensure these loads are moved safely. Thank you all for your continued support.