Behind Barnes: A Day In The Life Of A Transport Planner

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We recently caught up with our very own Ben Alker, Transport Planner here at The Barnes Group to find out about his career journey and what a typical day looks like for a Transport Planner like Ben.

  1. What does your role as a Transport Planner entail?

I deal with the day to day operational running of the drivers and I plan each individual drivers’ day, including the organisation of what sites they are going to and where they are delivering. I monitor the drivers once they are on the road and advise customers if drivers are going to run into any delays.  Adhering to driving rules and regulations is something I have to carefully monitor every day to make sure drivers and vehicles are sent on the road legally.

  1. Can you tell us about your career journey, how did you get your job at The Barnes Group?

I have 2 years previous experience working in the transport/haulage industry, working for Eddie Stobart. I enjoy the transport industry as I find it challenging and no two days are the same. I wanted to progress in the transport industry and build on the knowledge I already previously obtained.

  1. What does a typical day (or week!) look like for you?

A typical day for me would be to complete a plan for the following day. This would mean I have to make sure all our load requirements are confirmed and on the system. This is then followed by allocating a suitable driver and unit. Dependant on the day this can be a challenge and we may have to call in additional support from agency drivers in the local area.  After we plan for the following day, we monitor the current drivers that are on the road, constantly feeding back any problems we foresee to customers and drivers.

  1. What would you recommend to others looking to join the industry?

I would recommend for people to go for it, if they are looking to get into the transport industry.  I was quite lucky and fell into this career path, but I enjoy my work. This industry is fast-paced, challenging and good problem-solving skills are always crucial.

 

To find out more information on working life at The Barnes group, click here.

What Can You Expect From Working In Logistics?

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Have you ever considered a career in logistics? It’s no big secret that the logistics sector has a skills gap, largely a generational one. Research from Unite shows that just 1% of HGV drivers in the UK are aged under 25. Not only this, but there’s a proven gender disparity in the logistics industry too. Just 2% of the global logistics industry is female, indicating that a clear gap is present. However, working in logistics has a whole host of benefits.

 

So why is there such a recruitment shortage in an industry that’s so accommodating and rewarding? Perhaps the polarity in employees is merely down to a lack of education. Which is why, in this blog post, we’re exploring what it’s like to work in logistics. We’ll traverse the sector and explain why this is a great career option for all ages and genders.

 

One of the first things you can expect from working in logistics is a career that’s indisputably rewarding. It’s a simple fact of the matter that without logistics, everyday life would look entirely different. As a HGV driver, you’re responsible for the safe passage of countless goods that are used for a variety of purposes. From gifts to groceries, every time you turn on your engine, you’ll be transporting a load that’ll be important to a great deal of people. To put the importance of logistics into perspective, it was recently found that over 130 billion cards and parcels are delivered around Christmas time. Imagine all the unhappy faces if logistics didn’t ensure the safe passage of these items.

 

Furthermore, you can expect employment where you are not disregarded due to your level of education. A great deal of logistics-sector employers will take on people with very little experience, those with a relevant and specialised degree, as well as those with decades worth of experience under their belt. Unlike most industries, you don’t need a very specific education and career path to be rewarded with a great role in the logistics industry. So if you’re wondering how to start a career in logistics, you can feel safe in the comfort that it is possible without taking the higher education path, which isn’t for everybody.

 

You can also expect to work in a job where no two jobs are the same. Boredom isn’t a word you’ll find in most logistics employees’ vocabularies, as working in this sector is exciting and unpredictable. No matter what department you opt to work in, there’s every chance that with a career in logistics, you’ll get to explore parts of the UK – and even Europe – that you’ve never seen before. You’ll be interacting with different people, and having new experiences almost every day – so if you’re an amicable person who loves to be on the ball, then this is definitely a profession for you.

 

There’s a plethora of things you can expect from working in logistics, but one we thought was really worth mentioning is that you can certainly expect to make some great friendships. From HGV Drivers, to Warehouse Operatives, when you work for a great logistics company, your colleagues will become your family. A perfect career choice for any gender and any age group, working in logistics is versatile enough to cater to everybody.

 

Is logistics a good career? For reasons above, we’d say irrefutably yes. To work in an environment that values your wellbeing, is rewarding, and is accommodating and flexible, sounds like the ideal situation for most. As an HGV driver, you’ll have a lot of responsibility and your work might be challenging sometimes, but the benefits far outweigh this and make logistics a wholly attractive career choice.

 

Would you consider a career in logistics and help to close the skills gap? Let us know on Twitter.

Barnes Logistics on 2020: The Year Ahead

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Here we are again, 2019 is drawing to a close and it feels like just yesterday when we wrote our blog last year, preparing for what 2019 had in store.  This past year has seen a great deal of back and forth on multiple variations of Brexit deals.

 

Before 2018 came to a close, we said our final Brexit prediction is that of uncertainty and although there is still a need for clarity in some cases, we now have a deadline on 31st January.  Businesses are now less in the dark over whether Brexit is going ahead or not and can begin preparations throughout next year. But what will this mean for logistics?

 

Although 2020 will be a year of waiting for trade deals and agreements between the UK and Europe, it would be beneficial to think about the future of businesses   It’s safe to say that we’re in a better position now, with the new Brexit deadline approaching on 31st January of next year, to be prepared. Investing in surplus stock and storing the excess in safe and secure warehousing is important during the time of uncertainty.

 

Though the value of the pound recently surged, there is every chance it could dip again around the 31st January, purely down to the element of the unknown. This has every potential to affect businesses for a short period of time.

 

But the real challenge that 2020 has in store is the watching and waiting while trade deals are agreed. If all goes well with the withdrawal deal that Prime Minister Boris Johnson puts forward, the UK will then undergo almost a year’s worth of trade negotiations with the EU – lasting until December 2020. Whilst waiting for deals to be agreed, some may feel uneasy about the precariousness of the situation and thus this might affect how they operate day to day. Once negotiations end, though, it is likely that businesses will settle once more, and that 2021 will be much more stable for those in the logistics sector and beyond as both the EU and Britain are aiming for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

 

2020 is likely to continue to undergo the same pressures as its predecessor years: the skills shortage. Logistics famously has an ageing workforce, and the percentage of female and young workers is small. Will this new decade bring about a new start? We certainly hope that next year will be the one where a more diverse workforce becomes interested in the exciting prospects that a career in logistics has to offer. At Barnes Logistics, we’re big advocates of employing both female and young workers – so we hope to see real change in attitudes in the year ahead.

 

Border checks are another of the most important focuses for the year ahead. Amid Brexit, there are likely to be heightened and more thorough checks of those passing through borders whilst regulations are ironed out in talks. This could potentially cause queues at border control which in turn may have an impact on turnaround times. This being said, one way to soften the wait at the border which could be brought in to play would involve a ‘recognised business’ system. Where logistics companies, such as Barnes Logistics, would have to apply for a pass that would deem them as a safe passer at border control – meaning they wouldn’t be subject to thorough checks and thus, would reduce the wait time when passing.

 

There are certainly a lot of speculations to be had around what 2020 will bring, with the country in one of its most uncertain yet opportunistic periods in decades. What do you think the future holds for logistics? Let us know on Twitter.

The Logistics Behind The Holiday Season

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Without logistics, your Christmas Day would look rather different. From the food to the presents, the decorations to the drinks – everything that makes the holiday season what it is, starts with logistics.

 

It’s estimated that 4.7 billion miles are covered collectively in the UK every year to deliver presents on time. A further 2 billion miles are travelled just to drop off Christmas cards. It’s a great distance that perhaps isn’t always necessarily appreciated nor considered.

 

When making online purchases, or posting packages, there’s a lot of work that ensues behind the scenes to ensure the safe delivery of a package. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of logistics and HGV drivers at Christmas.

 

Despite what the old fairytales would have you believe, your Christmas essentials aren’t actually made by elves in Santa’s workshops. They’re typically manufactured and then stored in warehouses, ready to make their way to their recipient in time for 25th. It’s very important that goods are stored somewhere safe and secure to meet supply and demand. To support of client’s businesses that require warehousing, we offer 50,000 sq. ft of secure storage space.

 

Your goods are then transported from manufacturer to supplier. This is a transition that ensures when you order something for Christmas, be it a tree, a toy or tinsel, it’s received from the company you bought it from.

 

Following this, is arguably the most important step of the logistics behind your Christmas day – the actual delivery of your goods. It takes a sturdy and reliable logistics company to ensure that the circa 130 billion cards and parcels that circulate the UK during the festive period make it to you safely. There’s an abundance of activity that goes on behind the scenes to ensure that buying gifts and essentials in time for Christmas is an easy and streamlined process for the consumer. That’s why at Barnes Logistics, we aim to maximise our efficiency through a ‘Just In Time’ strategy – flow times are reduced as orders are only moved to specific locations at the required time; reducing the amount of inventory, which in turn reduces waste and saves money.

 

Every step of the ‘logistics behind Christmas’ process requires hard workers and sound planning and organisation. Barnes Logistics is one such business that provides this kind of reliable service. With more than 100 drivers on the road each day, we ensure each of our nationwide customers receive the best logistical solutions to their delivery and distribution requirements, as well as storage. Our ‘just in time’ approach is dynamic and keeps the business of Christmas logistics in check.

 

Did you realise how much happens behind closed doors in the run up to the Christmas period? Tweet us and let us know. Merry Christmas!

Sustainable Logistics – Clean Air Zones and Their Impact

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Clean Air Zones (CAZs) – they seem to be cropping up in proposals all over the country. CAZs are areas where action is being taken to improve air quality and lower congestion, making for more sustainable logistics. Designed for cities or certain areas with high levels of urbanisation, Clean Air Zones are attempting to tackle all sources of air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide, whilst also reducing public exposure to unclean air.

 

The Government proposed CAZs as areas that aim to “improve the urban environment to support public health and the local economy, making cities more attractive places to live, work, do business and spend leisure time. They support cities to grow and transition to a low emission economy thus ensuring these benefits are sustainable for the long term”, as discussed in Motoring Research.

 

CAZs propose that HGVs are the leading cause of the nitrogen oxides (NOx) that pollute our cities and therefore are faced with charges of up to £100 a day just to enter the area. On the contrary, in fact, HGVs account for only 18% of local road traffic NOx emissions nationally.

 

HGVs play an essential role in the economy – irreplaceable in some respects. The largest truck can carry the load of 20 vans. If some areas replaced trucks with vans as several local authorities are proposing in an effort to reduce emissions, they will end up increasing the number of vehicles on the road, along with their congestion and emissions. This would result in a total contradiction to their original aim.

Clean Air Zones also run the risk of displacing traffic to the surrounding residential areas as many drivers will undoubtedly drive around the zone in order to avoid paying charges and penalties. This will lead to increased pollution and exacerbate existing problems with congestion outside the CAZs.

 

SMEs will suffer when it comes to these daily charges as many will not have the expenses to upgrade their fleets to cleaner vehicles – a typical 18 tonne truck can cost over £40k; even seasoned hauliers cannot afford to make these replacements over a period of months as many local authorities are proposing.

 

The proposed daily charges on top of fleet upgrade costs will undoubtedly result in a tax on haulage as well as a tax on business, leading to higher prices for everyone. This could potentially see the decline of high street businesses and other small business owners closing down because they cannot afford to shoulder the increase in costs that hauliers will have to charge to keep business profitable.

 

Although Clean Air Zones as they are, may not be the most effective way of combating the environmental problems emissions cause, there are things we can do to improve them as well as other measures we can take to prevent the situation from getting any worse.

 

One suggested improvement, there should be more of a restriction on the placement of CAZs. Given their disruptive effects on local businesses and people, as well as limited benefits, they should only be used where absolutely necessary – places where NOx levels are extremely high or at risk of getting higher.

 

Local authorities should also look into smarter uses of their roads. For example, giving hauliers the flexibility to deliver at night would result in HGVs being removed from many congested urban roads during peak business hours. By allowing HGVs to use bus lanes outside of commuting hours, drivers would be able to operate as efficiently as possible and avoid sitting in congestion. A lorry stuck in traffic, can sometimes consume up to three times the normal amount of fuel they would use travelling at a constant speed. In addition, the Government needs to provide local authorities with sufficient guidance and resources to identify congestion hotspots and improve traffic management. This could reduce emissions and minimise the need to charge any road users, including HGVs.

 

These are only a few suggested changes but there are others that should be considered. The British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA), Freight Transport Association (FTA), Road Haulage Association (RHA) and National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) have come together to create a handy guide to CAZs, including several other suggestions for CAZ modification. You can find it here.

 

We hope that some of these suggestions will be implemented in the near future so we can start to make a real change to our emission levels without dramatically affecting businesses.

 

What are your thoughts? Tweet us and let us know!

Gender Equality – How Can We Make The Logistics Sector A More Welcoming Place?

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The logistics industry is typically male dominated, with female employees making up just 2% of the global sector. However, at Barnes Logistics we don’t see it as so. Women in varied positions make up a large chunk of our valued workforce, and we are always invested in encouraging more women into logistics.

How can we make logistics a more welcoming industry for all genders?

Altering perceptions

Logistics typically has the stereotype of being a ‘man’s line of work’. For example, when picturing a delivery driver, one might typically picture a male. The same goes for those working within warehouses. Of course, this illustration doesn’t paint a modern picture, and the industry has seen a vast transformation. Nevertheless, the stereotypes still seem to linger to this day.

To make the logistics sector a more welcoming and inclusive place for all, we need to rid ourselves of stereotypes and start recognising this industry as an opportunistic place to work that welcomes people of varying ages, genders, race and so forth. Altering dated stereotypes can help to change perceptions, and so the rest will follow suit as more women feel encouraged to start a career in logistics.

Speaking to all audiences

Due to the nature of the logistics sector, this could leave other genders that don’t typically confirm with the ‘male’ stereotype, anxious about approaching the industry, not least looking to work within it.

Organisations such as Women In Logistics, who are part of the CILT and currently have over 4000 members, are doing tremendous work in encouraging varying genders into the industry. However, there’s always more that we can be doing.

Pledging to alter perceptions is one thing, but what can be done

Another way to make the logistics industry more inclusive and welcoming could be to host open days. Focusing these on female-friendly working environments could be a great way for the logistics sector to pull together and make the entire industry a more welcoming and equal place for all.

Shifting the focus from young people to women

The logistics industry is very focused on recruiting fresh new talent into their pool, which of course is inclusive to young women too. But in order to make the sector more welcoming in the name of gender equality, something could certainly be done to place more emphasis on attracting and hiring young female talent through school visits, open days and strategic targeted marketing. Organisations like Think Logistics could be utilised in this way, they were created to “bridge the gap between young people looking for a rewarding career and logistics companies looking for talented individuals capable of moving the industry forward.” If such organisations can gear their efforts towards young women, then the sector could begin to see real change.

What are your thoughts? Let us know on Twitter.

Tackling Climate Change: Who Foots The Bill?

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As a forward-thinking business in the industry, climate change and environmental issues are topics we have discussed at great length – from HGV Levies to emissions statistics. However, it has been noted by more than ourselves that the transport and logistics industry seems to take a disproportionate level of blame and, therefore, expectation for change.

 

Of course, all must work to reduce our carbon footprint, but the world cannot simply expect the logistics industry to foot the bill of climate change – both in terms of finance and convenience – of lowering the sector’s impact on the planet, whilst relying on it with increasing demands.

 

Never has this disparity become more starkly clear than in the results of a recent report from Barclays. The study looked at customers’ willingness to be greener with their retail deliveries.

 

Although respondents indicated that they expect businesses to offer more sustainable options for deliveries to help tackle climate change, they do not wish to share the increased cost associated with this. Customers are more likely to be swayed by businesses which offer green options for their deliveries, however, 62% said that they would not be willing to pay for these, and a large majority of older shoppers would expect the business to fully absorb the cost.

 

The study focuses on a respondent’s relationship with retailers, but the issue is inherently tied with retail business’ logistics providers. Although there are increasing demands from customers to have deliveries which are increasingly quicker and greener, the expectation is that this is not something worth paying for – a clear discrepancy between expectations and responsibilities.

 

The first step has been made with this study – it is important to discover more about consumers’ true feelings on eco-friendly deliveries and payment if plans are to be made to tackle a change in attitude.

 

Reducing the impact we have on our planet is an effort shared by all – where it is everyone’s responsibility, everyone should share the burden of cost. This could be in the form of higher delivery charges to cover the cost of eco-friendly fuels and lorries, or working with consumers to reduce the expectations of same- or next-day deliveries.

 

In time, it is hoped that the choice to be greener will be less costly as technologies advance; but, until then, let us remember that working to save our planet and tackle climate change is a responsibility and cost we all must carry together.

Smart Tachographs and Logistics Investment

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The DVSA have recently announced that they will not be investing in the technologies to read data from new smart tachographs. Following recent EU legislation which lead to the mandatory move from digital to smart tachographs in new commercial vehicles this summer, the agency stated that the cost of these new technologies are too high to justify the benefits.

 

So, how do these new smart technologies differ? Data from smart tachographs will be able to be read remotely and in real time, rather than vehicles having to be pulled over and stopped for this data to be read by enforcement agencies.

 

The idea behind these new tachographs would seem to benefit all parties – enforcement agencies will save a significant amount of time with all the necessary data at their fingertips, professional drivers’ schedules will not be disrupted and, most importantly, increases compliance, ensuring the safety of HGV drivers and other road users.

 

It can be understood why the DVSA has made this decision – with only new vehicles fitted with smart tachographs, they must still invest in manpower to maintain the physical checks necessary for current vehicles’ digital tachographs. This decision will have been further influenced by the fact that the same regulations which mean new vehicles must be fitted with smart tachographs only require that agencies employ full use of monitoring technologies in 2034 – 15 years away.

 

But where does this leave the logistics industry? And what does this say about the investments made to improve our sector?

 

It shows an inconsistency within policies. The latest technologies are being pushed on industry professionals – but, despite this, drivers are still being held to old rules by other parties, meaning that we cannot fully reap the benefits.

 

Surely, as an industry, embracing new technologies should be encouraged and made as easy and attractive as possible. Legislations which enforce new technologies which cannot be monitored by the appropriate enforcement parties can leave the industry feeling flat – as if the new advances in safety and efficiency are not taken as seriously as they should.

 

Should all bodies not be working together and moving at the same pace? The RHA certainly seems to think so – they have recently expressed their disappointment, with Tom Cotton, head of licensing and infrastructure at the RHA, stating: “Our members have invested in this technology to become compliant with these new regulations, so why is DVSA not prepared to show the same commitment?”

 

Surely, rather than holding off until more lorries are fitted in the future, a middle ground should be met which proportionately matches the use of new smart technologies and can be increased as more vehicles are equipped with them?

 

What are your thoughts on this latest decision? Let us know in the comments below or by tweeting us.

Barnes on: The Importance of Logistics

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Can you ever imagine what life would be like without the convenience of next day delivery?  Or perhaps you were hoping an item in your favourite shop was getting restocked so you could buy it during your next trip to your local high street but to no avail?  Imagine that suddenly, multiple people are reporting that their goods have not been delivered on time or supermarkets are not receiving their regular orders.  This is certainly a scenario that may not be out of the ordinary, reflecting a future, where the driver shortage has gone too far and put an obstacle in the smooth-running of the UK’s supply chain.    

It is without a doubt that logistics and professional drivers are the lifeblood for not only the UK supply chain but also the economy.  This was strengthened by a recent statement from the FTA’s Peter Snelling who said that “Over 90% of everything the public eat, drink, wear and build with travels on an HGV at some point in the supply chain.” 

In light of the current difficulties that the industry is facing, specifically the skills gap and the uncertainty presented by Brexit, logistics operators and HGV drivers are still working hard to meet the needs of customers and keeping shops stocked.  The upcoming deadline of Brexit is expected to worsen the situation as restrictions will be put in place, affecting international workers in the UK. 

In the 2019 Logistics Report, it was cited that 15% of HGV driver vacancies are not being filled because of the current skills shortage; which begs the question of how much longer the industry can keep its head above the parapet?  It is imperative that changes are made.  

The industry is facing an ageing workforce with a small number of young entrants, which is partly down to the lack of education on career paths.  It is important now more than ever to change young people’s perceptions and correct any misconceptions.  Statistics from the FTA advise that only 1% of HGV drivers are under the age of 25, with the average age of a driver being 53 years old and the over 50s age group represent 47% of all drivers.  

The FTA has advised the Government to reform the Apprenticeship Levy and replace it with a new Training Levy, leading to more opportunities for vocational training, as well as ensuring the upskilling of the UK’s workforce. 

There can often be expectation for school pupils to access the career paths, what has become over the past decade, the ‘traditional’ way through university.  The importance of professional driving jobs needs to be conveyed as they contribute to the success of the UK’s supply chain.  The Government could certainly use its platform to raise awareness of jobs in the logistics industry.  

Clarity on Brexit is needed, and it is the country’s political and trade uncertainties that has initially affected the number of drivers from the EU working in the UK.  We need to see a change in the industry and great urgency is needed to break out of the ageing workforce to keep the supply chain afloat. 

What do you think can be done?  Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @Barnes_Logistic.

How To Choose a Logistics Company?

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When businesses expand start looking for external secure storage solutions, or large established companies begin the search for professional road haulage, there are a deluge of deliberations to take into consideration which all boil down to one question: how to choose a logistics company?

Location

Logistics is all about physical connectivity, so it is only natural that location is a major consideration. A logistics company’s headquarters must be well placed for both intra- and international travel. With close links to the UK’s major road networks, our new headquarters in Rochdale – located just off the M62 – is the ideal location for businesses throughout the UK.

Safety

Just as the ease of getting your stock to customers is an essential consideration, so too is its safety before that journey. The safety of your goods is paramount, which is why we take pride in our own industry-leading standards of warehouse health and safety. We go above and beyond the necessary requirements – in fact, we were praised at our most recent inspection for our high levels of safety and security.

Professionalism

With a huge range of logistics companies out there, true professionalism stands out. You need to be confident that every member of your logistics team – from the office, to the warehouse floor, to the drivers. Professionalism can be boiled down into two main qualities: training and attitude. We ensure our employees are all highly-trained and enjoy being a part of the Barnes team.

You can find out more about our team of professionals, from our Transport Planners to our Human Resources team.

Flexibility

Finally, the nature of logistics must allow an element of flexibility. As specialists in Just In Time logistics, we ensure that strategies are precisely timed for maximum efficiency with goods re-stocked and distributed before they are sold out. However, should an unexpedectly large order come in from your customers, the flexible nature of Barnes Logistics means that our transport managers and drivers will work to create a plan to get the best outcome for your business.

So: how to choose a logistics company? Simple: choose Barnes!

OUR ACCREDITATIONS

 

Contact Details

Tel: 0161 684 3070
Email: admin@barneslogistics.com

About us

Barnes Logistics’ fleet operates from more than seven sites across the country and supports a nationwide client base.

Our Service

We supply ‘just in time’ logistics support and warehousing to businesses across the UK.

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Barnes Logistics Ltd
Cowm Top Lane
Rochdale
OL11 2RG