From October 26th to 31st, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) will be staging National Lorry Week - a national awareness campaign. 

The initiative has been developed in the hope of demonstrating to members of the public and politicians alike that lorries and road freight play a vital role in the national economy. 

Hauliers up and down the country will be opening their doors and inviting people to get up close and personal with their fleets.

There will also be the opportunity to meet drivers, find out how the industry keeps them stocked with materials throughout the supply chain, hear about careers in the industry and learn about efforts to minimise environmental impact. 

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said 85 per cent of everything we consume has been moved by a UK lorry at some point. 

"Without us, supermarket shelves would be empty, homes would not be built and manufacturing plants would grind to a halt. This industry employs over 2.2 million people and, quite literally, delivers the UK economy," he commented.