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Winter is never an easy time of year for haulage companies operating in the United Kingdom, especially not with adverse weather conditions closing off many of the roads up and down the country, as well as increasing the chance of accidents. In 2010, the snow caused an array of challenges for the haulage and delivery industries, with the increased demand for deliveries during the holiday season as well as the regular supply runs and pick-ups. Haulage work is made considerably harder with adverse weather conditions, including ice and snow on the roads, and all the assorted problems associated.

Vehicle Collisions

Haulage companies make it a point to employ skilled drivers, all of whom are qualified and experienced in handling larger vehicles, and in some cases, a wide range of makes and models. However, collisions in the snow are more likely when it comes to smaller cars with stressed or rushing drivers, and one collision half a mile ahead can put a virtual stop to traffic on a motorway for hours – and any haulage vehicles waiting to proceed further. As anyone who has been stuck in winter traffic will tell you, it’s not a pleasant experience with cold, snowy, and misty conditions outside – but the feeling is worse during haulage work where a driver may have a tight schedule to keep to and a backload waiting for the return journey.

Ice on the Road

The hazards of ice on the road were made all too apparent over the Christmas weekend for haulage companies, as a liquefied petroleum gas tanker crashed on the M25. It caused the closure of the motorway in both directions next to the exit to Dover, affecting haulage work to and from mainland Europe. The German state of North-Rhine Westphalia took the threat of road closure so seriously that it temporarily banned large trucks from its highways altogether. During the beginning of December 2010, there were a few reported shortages as the cold weather and hazardous driving conditions resulted reduced supplies of bread on supermarket shelves. Cold weather issues can also cause serious backlogs for haulage companies and other delivery workers – the Royal Mail brought in 250 extra lorries to help it catch up on its monthly quota of deliveries.

Delivery Clauses

Considering the sensitive nature of many deliveries, such as frozen foods required to be in supermarkets, haulage companies often need to keep their operations going in adverse weather conditions. While an effort is made to ensure that the routes around major supply depots are gritted and cleared of snow, the UK lacks an infrastructure to cope with snowy and icy roads, and many go unattended, making it difficult for heavy vehicles to operate. While haulage companies definitely don’t want vehicles damaged or the safety of their drivers compromised, some contracts also contain penalty clauses for late deliveries. This makes deliveries on time a large part of the reputation of any specific company. Whatever the weather, haulage companies work to make sure foodstuffs and other items make it to the people who need them.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry across the UK and Europe. It provides services for haulage companies to buy and sell road transport and freight exchange in the domestic and international markets.

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