Suffolk New College is expanding its transport and logistics offer with new driver training designed to make professional driving more accessible and help meet the region’s need for skilled professional drivers.

Led by the College from its Suffolk Rural campus in Otley, the provision supports learners from their first introduction to the industry through to licence training and workplace preparation.

By working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and other referral partners, Suffolk New College is reaching people seeking work, considering a change of direction, or who may previously have faced barriers to employment.

The first group is already underway, attending regular sessions and receiving revision support ahead of their theory tests. Practical driver training is due to begin on 14 September 2026, while expressions of interest and referrals continue to be welcomed.

Road to Logistics is contributing specialist industry expertise and will deliver the licence acquisition element during the programme’s first year.

Baker Transport is also supporting the provision by sharing employer insight and operational experience, giving learners a clearer understanding of professional driving, workplace expectations and the careers available across transport and logistics.

Emma Taylor, Director of Business Development & Major Projects at Suffolk New College, said:

“Driver Training at Suffolk New College is a key part of our wider strategy to develop the transport and logistics skills our region needs.

“We want to make careers in the industry more accessible and provide a clear, supported pathway from initial interest through to training and employment.

“By working with DWP, Road to Logistics and Baker Transport, we can reach people who could benefit from this opportunity and combine specialist training with the individual support and employer insight they need to succeed.”

The provision is intended to open the industry to a wider range of people, including those seeking a fresh start and those considering professional driving for the first time.

It also seeks to challenge outdated perceptions of the role by highlighting professional driving as a skilled, rewarding career with long-term prospects.

Daniel Dempsey, Commercial & Transport General Manager at Baker Transport, commented:

“Addressing the driver shortage is not only about training more people; it also requires changing perceptions and making the industry more accessible.

“Professional driving can offer a skilled, rewarding and long-term career to people from many backgrounds. By supporting Driver Training at Suffolk New College, we can help learners understand what employers need, what the role involves and where their qualifications could take them.”

Baker Transport’s involvement also reflects a longer-term ambition to strengthen links between newly qualified drivers and employment opportunities with local businesses.

Driver Training at Suffolk New College forms part of the College’s wider commitment to equipping local people with the skills employers need and creating practical routes into lasting employment.

The current programme focuses on HGV driver training, with PCV training also being developed as part of the College’s expanding transport offer. Further information on PCV training is expected in early 2027.

Anyone interested in the current HGV programme can register through the Suffolk New College driver training page.

Image credit: Suffolk New College/ Kev Bennett Imagery

Growth in transport isn’t simply about putting more trucks on the road.

For Felixstowe-based Martello Transport, it’s about having the people, reach and equipment to respond as the freight its customers need to move becomes more demanding.

That’s the thinking behind a series of developments now taking shape across the business.

A new Manchester operation is up and running. Five additional appointments have strengthened the Felixstowe team. Two new Broshuis step-frame trailers are expanding Martello’s out-of-gauge offering, while two new heavy-haulage tractor units will join the fleet in October.

Together, they represent a deliberate move to broaden the range of work Martello can handle, while creating the capacity for further growth.

The Manchester operation extends Martello’s support for customers across the North West and North East, with experienced traffic operators Richard Collins and Damien Thompson joining the business.

In Felixstowe, Martello has also increased its commercial, customer service and operational resources. Glenn Giles joins as Commercial Manager; Virginia Urnikyte, Agne Baliukonyte and Kevin Smith have joined customer service; and Deividas Bunokas has been appointed as a traffic operator.

All five are additional appointments that add further strength and experience as the business develops.

But it’s Martello’s investment in specialist transport that perhaps offers the clearest indication of where it sees future opportunity.

The first of two new four-axle extendable Broshuis step-frame trailers is already operational, with the second due shortly. With a payload capacity of up to 45 tonnes at STGO Category 2, they increase Martello’s ability to handle over-height, over-width and out-of-gauge cargo.

The new equipment is already in use, including for specialist export glass movements, a practical example of the more challenging OOG work Martello is increasingly equipped to undertake.

Crucially, the proposition goes beyond equipment. Martello can manage abnormal-load requirements in-house, from planning and movement applications through to notifications and transport – giving customers a single point of responsibility throughout the process.

The next stage arrives in October.

Two new DAF XG 530 FTN 6×2 tractor units will join the fleet, further strengthening Martello’s capacity across heavy and specialist transport.

The final operating specification is under review to ensure the vehicles are equipped to meet changing market demands, including increasingly heavy Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units, while remaining within STGO Category 2.

The rapidly developing BESS sector has very different requirements from those of conventional container movements. As unit weights increase, the right vehicle-and-trailer combination becomes even more critical, supported by the planning and operational expertise needed to deliver safely and efficiently.

It’s an area Martello is actively targeting as it develops its heavy-transport offering – and an example of why preparing for tomorrow’s freight matters today.

Commercial Manager Mark Walsh says the developments are all part of the same strategy.

“It’s about making sure Martello continues to evolve with our customers and the freight they need us to move. We’re strengthening the team, extending our reach and investing in equipment that allows us to handle more specialist work.

“The industry doesn’t stand still, and neither can we. We’ve made these investments so we can continue to provide the service our customers rely on, while giving us the capability to take on new opportunities as the business grows.”

For Martello, the direction is clear: broader reach, greater operational depth and the ability to respond to a changing freight market.

As freight evolves, so too must the transport solutions behind it.

martellotransport.co.uk

OneAdvanced, one of the UK’s largest providers of sector-focused SaaS, today publishes a new survey of road transport operators, conducted in conjunction with members of the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

The research paints a picture of a sector that has reached the limits of its current systems. Its standout finding – that 91% of hauliers operate below seamless integration, with no improvement at scale – shows an “integration ceiling” that point solutions cannot break through. At the same time, operators are clear about what they want from technology: less daily friction, watertight compliance, protected cash flow and AI that is useful rather than futuristic.

The findings reinforce the proposition behind IQ – the intelligent system of work – which OneAdvanced launched earlier this year and brought to the wholesale & logistics, transport and retail sectors at Multimodal 2026. IQ unifies workflows, data, and people on one sovereign platform and embeds governed AI directly into the flow of work, so operators can move faster, decide with confidence, and adopt AI without risk or disruption.

Seven headline findings:

1. The integration ceiling (91%): 91% of hauliers operate below seamless integration – and it does not improve with scale. Enterprise fleets are no more integrated than medium ones, leaving the sector stuck at “Functional” as its best achievable state.
2. Paper still dominates the back office (43%): Manual data entry is the highest-impact daily friction across all fleet sizes, intensifying with scale. Volume amplifies process gaps.
3. BI quality scales with fleet size (44%): 44% of micro fleets rely purely on intuition for strategic decisions, falling to near zero for fleets over 50 vehicles. The “data gap” is a small-fleet crisis, not a sector-wide problem.
4. DVSA compliance and cash flow are non-negotiable (76%): Compliance and financial volatility are rated above the combined risk of cyber, ESG, and subcontractor risk. New technology investments must solve for compliance and cashflow – not digital transformation.
5. AI demand is pragmatic, not hype (59%): The top two AI use cases – smart document processing (59%) and predictive maintenance (54%) – exactly mirror the top two operational pain points. Respondents want AI that removes daily drudgery, not futuristic platforms.
6. A TMS and WMS refresh cycle is incoming (36%): 36% say their transport management system (TMS) needs significant modernisation – tied with warehouse management systems (WMS). Combined with poor integration scores, this signals a window for next-generation systems.
7. Customer demands are bifurcating (51%): 49% report unchanged customer demands, but 51% now face growing pressure for visibility portals, carbon reporting or digital PODs – splitting the sector between digitally-led customers and traditional ones.

Read together, the findings map directly to the three principles behind IQ: Connected (breaking the integration ceiling by unifying systems and data), Intelligent (embedding AI that removes manual, paper-based drudgery in the flow of work) and Trusted (leading with the compliance, data sovereignty and resilience operators rate as non-negotiable).

Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director, said: “Our members consistently tell us that the biggest barriers to productivity aren’t a lack of ambition or willingness to embrace new technology – they’re the time and effort required to manage multiple disconnected systems whilst maintaining compliance and keeping vehicles on the road. These findings reinforce what we’re hearing across the sector. Operators are looking for practical solutions that reduce administrative burden, simplify compliance and improve efficiency, allowing them to focus on running successful businesses. Technology should remove friction from day-to-day operations, and that’s where it has the greatest value.”

Anwen Robinson, SVP for Wholesale & Logistics, Transport and Retail at OneAdvanced, said: “This research confirms what our customers tell us every day. Road transport has hit an integration ceiling, and bolting on more point solutions will not break through it. Operators are not asking for futuristic platforms – they want technology that removes daily friction, keeps them compliant and protects cash flow. That is exactly what IQ is built to do.”

Andrew Henderson, Chief Technology Officer at OneAdvanced, said: “The most striking finding is how pragmatic demand for AI has become. The use cases operators want – smart document processing and predictive maintenance – map directly to their biggest daily pain points. This is not about adding another tool; it is about embedding governed intelligence in the flow of work.”

The full survey report is available here:
UK Haulage: Technology & Resilience Benchmark Report

The People Behind Britain’s Supply Chains

Every container passing through the UK’s ports relies on road transport for at least part of its journey. From the quayside to the customer, haulage remains the vital link that keeps supply chains moving.

National Lorry Week shines a spotlight on the people, businesses and expertise behind freight movement across the UK. It comes at a time when operators continue to navigate rising costs, infrastructure pressures, recruitment challenges and growing customer expectations.

For Karl Baker, Managing Director of Baker Transport, the week is an opportunity to recognise the professionalism underpinning the entire sector.

Karl Baker, Managing Director, Baker Transport, said:

“Every delivery, collection and container movement relies on skilled people working together to get the job done. The transport industry often operates behind the scenes, yet its contribution to the economy and everyday life is enormous. National Lorry Week is an opportunity to recognise the professionalism, dedication and commitment shown across the sector every day.”

Yet successful transport operations rely on far more than the driver behind the wheel. Planning, customer communication, port coordination and operational decision-making are critical to keeping freight moving efficiently.

For container haulage specialist Martello Transport, National Lorry Week is an opportunity to recognise the operational expertise and teamwork required to keep freight moving every day.

Mark Walsh, Commercial Manager at Martello Transport, said:

“Moving freight is rarely as simple as taking a load from A to B. Every day, our teams coordinate customer requirements, port operations, transport planning and shifting priorities to keep goods moving. National Lorry Week is a great opportunity to recognise the people whose experience, commitment and teamwork make this possible.”

While drivers and vehicles are the most visible part of the industry, road transport underpins every stage of the wider logistics chain. Warehousing operations rely on reliable transport links to ensure goods flow efficiently between ports, storage facilities and customers.

Liam Hall, Commercial Director, GMA Warehousing, said:

“At some point in every journey, every pallet moving in or out of a warehouse relies on road transport. Hauliers and drivers play a vital role in keeping the supply chain running smoothly, linking ports, warehouses, manufacturers, and customers. National Lorry Week is a great opportunity to recognise their contribution and to remember that the logistics industry depends on a strong, reliable road transport network.”

As logistics operations continue to evolve, organisations are looking for ways to make better use of available resources, identify opportunities and make more informed decisions. Technology is playing an increasingly important role in supporting these goals.

Ash Karia, Founder and CEO, IntelliLog, said:

“Most logistics businesses are not short of data, systems or experience. The challenge is identifying opportunities, making informed decisions and adapting quickly when conditions change. National Lorry Week is an opportunity to recognise the people, expertise and innovation that enable supply chains to perform more effectively every day.”

National Lorry Week may focus on the vehicles seen on Britain’s roads, but those vehicles represent something much bigger.

Behind every journey is a network of drivers, planners, customer service teams, warehouse operators, technology providers and logistics professionals working together to keep supply chains moving.

From ports and distribution centres to manufacturers, retailers and consumers, road transport remains the backbone of the UK’s supply chain.

National Lorry Week, an RHA initiative, is a reminder that every delivery depends on far more than the vehicle on the road. Behind every journey are skilled people, operational expertise, warehousing infrastructure, technology and collaboration working together to keep Britain’s economy and supply chains moving.

Martello Transport has finalised the phased rollout of 20 new Volvo tractor units as part of a structured fleet investment programme to improve operational resilience, specialist capability, and efficiency across UK port operations.

Ten vehicles entered service at the start of the year, followed by five EX/II-specification units delivered in February and a further five arriving this month – marking one of the company’s most significant single-cycle fleet upgrades in recent years.

Five of the February deliveries are EX/II units configured for specialist and high-compliance operations. These vehicles are equipped to handle tanktainers and hazardous containers, including ADR Class 1.3 and 1.4 movements, alongside integrated electrical isolation systems. The specification enhances Martello’s capability in regulated and safety-sensitive freight sectors across the UK port network.

While visually consistent with the company’s established fleet profile, the EX/II units feature improved compliance architecture and increased operational flexibility, facilitating complex cargo movements through the UK’s major ports.

Additionally, Martello is adding three lightweight truck-and-trailer combinations to its fleet. Designed to maximise legal payload capacity for weight-sensitive container movements, the lightweight specification increases efficiency per journey, reduces trip frequency, lowers fuel consumption, and decreases the overall carbon footprint, all while maintaining reliability and performance standards.

Commercial Manager Mark Walsh stated:

This programme concentrates on strategically enhancing the fleet. The EX/II units enhance our specialist capabilities, while the lightweight combinations improve operational efficiency.

 It’s a balanced investment in compliance, sustainability, and long-term performance.

The 20-truck investment highlights Martello’s long-term confidence in the UK port haulage sector. Amid margin pressures, fluctuating volumes, and cost volatility that continue to challenge operators, investing at scale shows strategic stability and proactive planning.

Operating across all key UK ports, including Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway, Liverpool, and Teesport, the company continues to bolster its national presence through fleet renewal, specialised capabilities, and operational optimisation. Based in Felixstowe but active throughout the wider UK port network, Martello is positioning itself as a resilient, capability-led operator with both regional strength and national reach.

We expect further phased fleet upgrades later this year as part of our deliberate, strategic investment approach.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation on new regulations designed to reduce CO₂ emissions from heavy goods vehicles and support the transition to zero-emission HGVs across the UK logistics sector.

Under the proposed framework, the government plans to phase out sales of new non-zero-emission HGVs up to 26 tonnes by 2035, with all new HGVs required to be zero-emission by 2040.

The consultation explores a range of regulatory options, including vehicle categorisation, emissions reduction targets, and the technical criteria that would define what qualifies as a “zero-emission” HGV. Officials are seeking feedback from operators, manufacturers, freight forwarders, and broader supply chain stakeholders on how the policy can be implemented effectively while supporting a practical, commercially viable industry transition.

Industry views will inform the final policy design, ensuring the regulatory framework balances environmental ambition with operational and investment realities across the haulage and logistics sector.

How to respond
Stakeholders are invited to submit their views by 17 March 2026 via email at hgvconsultation@dft.gov.uk or by post to the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.

More information on the consultation and supporting documentation can be found on the Department for Transport website.