FTA Delivers Freight Manifesto – Ridgeway – CPC Holder

The Freight Transport Association has delivered its London Elections 2016- Freight Manifesto which was aimed at candidates in the Mayoral election.

Ridgeway Training – CPC Holder

Whilst launching the Manifesto, the FTA brought along with them a box of trucks, showing how many freight vehicles it would take to build and furnish a standard three bedroom house.

In the Manifesto, FTA outlines how all of London’s needs require freight movements, specifically looking into the example of housing. To build just one three bedroom house it would require around 34 commercial vehicles.

On top of this, FTA urged all the candidates to avoid ‘simplistic blanket approaches’ such as HGV bans. FTA claimed that going for an approach like this would increase the costs of doing business in the capital, especially in the construction industry. Especially without achieving the huge safety that are assumed.

CPC Holder, CPC Holder Training — FTA put forward their Manifesto – Ridgeway Training – CPC Holder

FTA Chief Executive, David Wells said: “Freight is vital to the future of London. Cities are built by freight and they live on freight. The social importance of the logistics industry is all too often overlooked.

“FTA’s Manifesto emphasises that freight is always only used when there is a purpose. Construction is a great example of this – London apparently needs 59,000 new homes built every year. It is clear that you cannot get this done without the use of lorries to supply the building and fitting of them.”

The people and businesses of London require over 360,000 tonnes of good to be supplied by lorry every single day. That works out at 250 tonnes every minute and as this figure only accounts for lorries and excludes vans and other modes, it only shows a part of what freight delivers.

It goes without saying that freight has its social costs – in accidents and emissions. But these problems are being addressed in the form of new technology, better driving practices and better regulations.

Mr Wells continued to say: “FTA believes that working with the logistics industry, the next Mayor of London and the London Assembly can make the capital a better place to live and work.”

If you’re interested in reading through the whole Manifesto, you can do so here.

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