Driver fatigue: employers urged to rethink planning and responsibility
A new industry-facing article tied to the Work-Related Road Safety Charter pilot reframes fatigue as an organisational risk rather than an individual failing. The practical thrust is operational: realistic route planning, shift design that protects sleep quality, and a workplace culture where stopping to rest is expected—not quietly punished. It also stresses that technology (telematics, driver monitoring, time tracking) should support early intervention and compliance rather than be used punitively. For fleet managers, the message is clear: the strongest defence is a documented, auditable fatigue management approach that aligns scheduling, monitoring and driver wellbeing—especially as policy attention moves toward shared responsibility and work-related road risk. (FleetPoint)
Leyland Trucks opens 21 apprenticeships for September 2026
Leyland Trucks has opened applications for its 2026 apprenticeship intake, with 21 roles spanning degree pathways (including design engineering, IT software engineering and supply chain), Level 4 programmes (automotive engineering, facilities & maintenance, fabrication & welding) and a Level 5 HR role, plus 10 assembly operator advanced apprenticeships. The programme is positioned as a practical route into commercial vehicle manufacturing—combining classroom learning with workshop-based training from day one. Notably, it highlights exposure to emerging technologies including battery-electric vehicles, signalling how OEM workshops are increasingly expected to support mixed drivetrains. For operators and suppliers in the region, it’s also a marker of how the talent pipeline is being rebuilt with “future workshop” capability in mind. (leylandtrucksltd.co.uk)
C&M adds DAF XG+ 530 (press release dated 14 Jan — included by request)
Temperature-controlled specialist C&M Transport has added a model-year ’25 DAF XG+ 530 6×2 (mid-lift) to its fleet, taking total vehicles to 23 and reinforcing a DAF-heavy split. The operator emphasises intensive, time-sensitive work across UK and European routes, where reliability and driver comfort directly affect delivery performance. A key operational detail is that each truck is assigned to a specific driver, building accountability and pride of ownership—linked to high satisfaction with the premium-spec XG+ units. Important note for your “new since last Monday” rule: the DAF page is dated 14 January 2026, so it predates last Monday; it’s included here specifically because it was one of your uploaded press releases. (DAF Trucks)
Skills: new HGV technician apprenticeship partnership announced
A new partnership announced on 22 January aims to strengthen the pipeline of heavy vehicle technicians entering the industry, pairing an industry body’s apprenticeship delivery capability with Loughborough College Group’s Stephenson College training provision. The focus is practical: vehicle maintenance and repair apprenticeships designed around employer needs, and built on specialist facilities and trade course expertise. For fleets, the relevance is immediate—workshop recruitment and retention is now a constraint on uptime, not just a back-office concern. As fleets add new powertrains and more advanced safety systems, technician capability becomes a strategic risk area. This initiative frames technician skills as a long-term resilience play for the sector, not simply an HR initiative. (logistics.org.uk)
Wales: industry calls for an urgent freight strategy after budget omission
A 22 January statement calls on the Welsh Senedd to urgently publish its long-awaited freight and logistics strategy, arguing that the absence of explicit freight provision in the Welsh budget fails to reflect the sector’s economic importance and risks creating investment uncertainty. The argument is that freight policy needs an “overarching plan” to support economic growth, and that recent disruption—such as Holyhead Port closures following storm damage—shows how exposed supply chains can be without coordinated resilience planning. For operators serving Wales, this type of policy gap can manifest as practical constraints: inconsistent investment signals, weaker infrastructure prioritisation and slower progress on freight-critical planning. The ask is clear: publish the strategy and deliver it before the next Senedd elections. (logistics.org.uk)
Trade risk: logistics sector urges calm over transatlantic tensions
An industry statement dated 19 January warns against escalation in trade negotiations, arguing that supply chains and global markets are still stabilising after recent shocks and remain vulnerable to inflationary disruption. For UK road haulage, the risk isn’t abstract: sudden policy shifts can ripple into demand volatility for import/export lanes, unpredictable customer volumes and cost pressures across fuel, insurance and inventory buffers. The sector’s stance is essentially risk management—calling for a measured approach that avoids destabilising supply chains at a moment when “first shoots of recovery” are being seen. For fleet leaders, it’s a reminder to pressure-test exposure: which customers are trade-sensitive, what contingency routes exist, and where cost escalations are likely to land first. (logistics.org.uk)
Hydrogen: Daimler sets timeline to deploy 100 fuel-cell trucks from end-2026
A 26 January report says Daimler Truck plans to place 100 hydrogen fuel-cell trucks into customer operations from the end of 2026, presenting this as a step toward production maturity for long-haul applications. It highlights Daimler’s preference for liquid hydrogen (LH₂) as a route to higher energy density, longer range and payload practicality compared with compressed hydrogen. The piece positions the move as a bridge between pilot programmes and scaled deployment—still limited volume, but meaningful for infrastructure planning and early adopter fleets. For UK operators watching alternative fuels, it’s another indicator that the heavy-duty transition is not “battery-only”: OEMs are still advancing multiple pathways, and fleet decarbonisation strategies may need flexibility around routes, refuelling models and contract requirements. (Trans.INFO)
đź“… Event & Policy Reminders (approx. 5)
- 1 March 2026 — Leyland Trucks apprenticeship applications close. (leylandtrucksltd.co.uk)
- 30 Mar–17 Apr 2026 — Leyland Trucks apprenticeship interviews. (leylandtrucksltd.co.uk)
- 17 March 2026 — DfT HGV CO₂ framework consultation closes. (GOV.UK)
- 31 March 2026 — Older drivers eyesight testing consultation closes. (GOV.UK)
- 5 February 2026 — CILT(UK) Transport & Logistics Safety Forum Conference.
Sign up to the Trucking Newsletter
