The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport's new president Jim Steer FCILT has announced that decongesting city centres is key to economic growth and that the sector must collaborate more and look into new techniques in order to reduce traffic numbers.

The Director and Founder of Steer Davies Gleave was speaking to ITN Productions' Transport News Channel ahead of the Institute's Annual Conference and Dinner, where the logistics revolution is high on the agenda.

"Congestion is the enemy of us all," he said, "we need to work together as transport professionals to show what transport as a whole can do." Mr. Steer believes that reducing congestion will not just make city centres a more pleasant place to be, but also has the potential to drive "economic and social prosperity." 

Graham Inglis FCILT, former president of CILT and Chief Executive of DHL Supply Chain Europe, was part of the same discussion agreeing that "The current environment requires much more collaboration and innovation. At DHL we already use our network on a shared basis for the good of customers, but clearly we can do more. And whether it's night-time deliveries or consolidation centres, utilising new techniques to decongest our city centres is very important."

The CILT Annual Conference and Dinner 2013 took place yesterday in Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club, set in the heart of the Midlands amongst the rural Warwickshire countryside, where thought leaders from across the transport and logistics sector come together to discuss the future, latest innovations and to debate the latest issues.

To see the full panel discussion interview with Graham Inglis, Jim Steer and CILT Bus & Coach Ambassador and First Group CEO Giles Fearnley FCILT, and more exclusive content from industry professionals and experts in transport and logistics, please go to: http://www.transportnews.itn.co.uk/