The government has unveiled a multimillion-pound new plan to bolster the supply chain and create a more resilient and greener haulage sector as a part of their Future of Freight plan. 

A major campaign is being launched to recruit and retain a skilled workforce in the logistics sector. This builds on the government’s unprecedented action during the pandemic, which has led to sector reports of pressures easing, following global challenges on the supply chain.

The campaign is one part of the government’s Future of Freight plan published today, setting a strategy for the government and industry to work more closely together to deliver a world-class, seamless flow of freight across the UK’s roads, railways, seas, skies and canals.

The strategy launched today includes £7 million investment to boost the uptake of innovative new technology, helping decarbonise and digitalise the sector. Today’s investment will support wider economic growth by ensuring businesses can operate efficiently, getting the goods they need on time and at a reasonable cost while safeguarding their jobs.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“The pandemic shone a spotlight on the importance of our country’s freight sector. As a proud, free-trading nation, moving goods at home and abroad has always been the backbone of Britain’s economy.

“Our 33 interventions to tackle the shortage of drivers means we now have a stable recruitment pipeline and a robust supply chain, and today’s measures will help the sector grow from strength to strength.

“We are committed to working closely with the industry to attract a strong pipeline of talent, decarbonise the freight network and deliver a world-class haulage sector.”

Today’s Future of Freight plan explains how a National Freight Network will be explored to help remove any existing barriers faced by the sector that prevent it from delivering a seamless flow of goods across the country.