In addition 60 miles of road works will be suspended over the Christmas period between 23^rd December and 3rd January.

Transport secretary Justine Greening said:

“Christmas is one of the busiest times on our roads and that’s why we will be completing or lifting roadworks wherever possible to help people get back to see their families and loved ones.

“More than 98 percent of the strategic road network will be roadworks free, meaning that more lanes will be open and many speed restrictions lifted.

“The Highways Agency is well prepared for winter, but experience from recent years shows that we must all play our part. I’d urge all drivers to make time for winter and visit the Highways Agency’s website, where there are lots of tips to help keep winter journeys safe and trouble free.”

Some essential works will remain in place, including widening works on M25 and work on M1 near London.

Please visit the links below for more information on road works over the festive period:

Roadworks cleared for the Christmas and New Year period
Roadworks remaining

Malcolm Bingham, FTA’s Head of Road Network Management Policy, said: “Congestion on our roads represents a massive drag on the economy, the businesses that rely on a timely and robust supply chain and the environment.  Obviously when parts of the strategic road network are obstructed by accidents, weather and other unforeseen incidents like strike action, transport operators need to be kept on the ball.  After all, with the cost of diesel so high, a 300-mile detour is not something a haulier wants to enter into lightly; good, real-time information is therefore vital.”

“While gaps in knowledge on the strategic road network are mercifully few, there are gaping holes in local authority areas where operators also struggle to get the information they urgently need.”

The report recommends that the Department for Transport (DfT) should decide what real-time information should be made available from local authorities and the Highways Agency to road users and what should be provided by the private sector.  It also asks DfT to identify and overcome the barriers to collating and delivering that information.

Bingham concluded: “We urge the Government to take up the recommendations made to DfT on the supply of traffic information to allow the freight industry to make better informed choices to deliver goods to customers when the road network is under stress.  Real-time information is critical if we are to ensure that deliveries are made on time and are not delayed because of congestion.”

Isis insurance are not a call centre and when you contact us you will get straight through to a lorry insurance specialist who will be able to discuss your individual lorry insurance requirements with you.

Launched at the end of July by the FairFuelUK campaign team, in conjunction with Robert Halfon MP for Harlow, the petition crossed the 100,000 signature point at 7.45pm on Friday (30 September)

Campaign founder Peter Carroll, says: “The government made it clear that they wanted this new e-petition facility to be a means by which the public could express what they saw as the most important issues in their lives. The public have spoken loud and clear.”

Backed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Road Haulage Association (RHA), FairFuelUK was instrumental in getting the planned duty rise in March abandoned.

Theo De Pencier, chief executive of the FTA says: “If policy makers ignore the disastrous impact of high and unfair fuel duty rates they will put more businesses on the brink of collapse and run the UK off the road to recovery. This e-petition represents an important milestone in the fight for a fairer deal on fuel which we will use to hold the government to account for its self-destructive fuel tax policy.”

RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning adds: “We are now in a much stronger position to push the issue of fuel duty to the top of the political agenda. Recent figures from a leading motoring organisation suggest that a cut in duty might actually increase the government’s tax revenue as a result of the increased tax yield from economic growth.”

Halfon says cutting fuel duty must now be a priority for the Chancellor, over and above the clamour to cut taxes for millionaires. “Rip-off petrol and diesel prices are now so high they are a poverty trap, keeping people on benefits as job-seekers can’t afford to travel. Many businesses are struggling to stay afloat.”

You can still add your support by signing the FairFuelUK e-petition.

Isis Insurance is aware that the high cost of fuel has impacted many industries, in particular the road transport and haulage industry and believes that any debate which may lead to a reduction in the cost of fuel would be welcome.

We are regularly approached by customers who are confused as to whether they need an operator’s licence to operate a vehicle which will carry goods.

There is a detailed amount of information available on the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA) website, but, if you use a motor vehicle on a road with a gross plated weight of more than 3.5 tonnes or if it has no gross plated weight, but an un-laden weight of more than 1525kg then an operator’s licence would normally be required.

An operator’s licence is necessary even if you use the vehicle for only a short period of time, even just one day.

The use of vehicle combinations also requires a licence. If you decide to use a vehicle without an operator’s licence when you should have one, you risk having the vehicle and its goods impounded by the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

A person becomes the user of a vehicle if they are the driver and are the owner, or the vehicle is in your lawful possession under an agreement for hire, hire purchase, or loan. You also use a vehicle if the driver is your servant or agent.

There are certain exemptions which can also be checked via the VOSA website.

An operator’s licence can be issued in one of three formats:

Restricted – To carry your own goods in the course of your trade or business in Great Britain you need a restricted licence. You must not carry goods for other people for hire or reward if you have a restricted licence. If you do, you could be fined and lose your licence.

Standard National – A standard national licence allows you to carry your own goods in Great Britain, and to carry goods for other people for hire or reward in Great Britain. Even if you carry other people’s goods only occasionally, you must have a standard national licence. You can be fined if you use your vehicles for international hire or reward work when your licence covers you for national operations only. However, a standard national licence allows you to haul loaded trailers to or from ports within Great Britain as part of an international journey as long as your motor vehicles do not actually leave Great Britain.

Standard International – A standard international licence allows you to carry your own goods, and goods for other people for hire or reward, both in Great Britain and on international journeys. Operators who are issued with international licences will also receive Community Authorisations which are required for all hire or reward operations in, or through, European Community countries.

Isis Insurance is a specialist HGV insurance broker and can also arrange lorry insurance for non HGV’s. We have many years experience in arranging HGV and lorry insurance and we are not a call centre so when you contact us you will get straight through to a lorry insurance specialist who will be able to discuss your individual needs with you.

Unfortunately, commercial vehicle manufacturing dropped 5.9% in July and has declined 5.1% over the seven months of 2011; this may have a dramatic effect on Motor traders in the near future as fewer vehicles will be available for sale on a second hand basis.

Since MG Rover went under in 2005, the UK does not have a native car manufacturer who produces in mass volumes. Despite this, vehicle production is still a large part of the UK’s manufacturing sector. Many large brands like Ford, GM, Honda and Nissan hold significant factories in the UK.

British Luxury marques like Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and the premium BMW MINI brand guarantee cars suitable for the foreign market boosting the UK’s trade figures. 10% of all UK exports are accounted for by the automotive industry.

“Economic growth remains fragile but thanks to a strong export market, automotive manufacturing continues to outperform the broader economy,” said SMMT Chief Executive Paul Everett. “SMMT expects vehicle and engine production to continue to rise fuelled by demand in the fast growing BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies, as well as mainland Europe and the US. The UK industry is globally recognised for its high quality, innovative design and exceptional reliability.”

Vehicle manufacturing is predicted to steadily grow, though focus will continue on the export markets due to the high demand in vehicles. Isis Insurance recognizes this is a difficult time for the UK due to the recession, many people were opting for a second hand car previously but with the slight increase in jobs, some have decided to purchase a new vehicle.

Isis Insurance are a market leading motor trade insurance broker offering competitive insurance for all tailored Motor Trade packages, so if you require a competitive price give us a call and let’s see what we can do for you.

The Government is now considering changing the rules for MOT testing to make the rules more relaxed – even though they have been warned it could result in an extra fifty deaths on the road each year.

Under the plan, a new car would have its first MOT at the age of four years old, instead of the current 3 year period. Then, instead of having a MOT the following year for the rest of the cars life, the car would have its MOT every two years up until it reaches the age of ten, where it will have an MOT every year.

Three years ago, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown dismissed plans to change the MOT testing system when it was found that it could increase casualties on the road. Now the Government wants to put these changes into place with the intention to reduce the financial strain for motorists, though this could easily affect garages, which may see a drop in their income.

At present, more than 23 million vehicles in the country need a yearly MOT test, and at least 35% of these vehicles fail, meaning 8.5 million cars have problems that list them as un-roadworthy. 3% of road accidents are caused by defective cars each year, The Transport Research Laboratory estimates.

What the government would also need to consider is that this will have a major impact on MOT stations  due to not as much demand for MOT’s, this could lead to many garages failing and closing down so the government really need to consider if this is the correct way to relax the MOT testing.

Isis Insurance are a specialist motor trade insurance broker and understands the costs and repairs to a car every year for MOT testing but we also understand the need for our roads to be safe. Whatever the government decides with regards to relaxing the MOT test you still need competitive motor trade insurance and Isis Insurance can offer you a tailored insurance package to suit your Motor Trade insurance needs, so give us a call and let’s see what we can do for you.

Of those businesses which currently offer death in service benefits or private health cover, some 57 per cent did not realise that the cost of providing these would probably soar for those employees aged over 65.

And 54 per cent said they would no longer honor those staff benefits if costs rose, leaving staff reaching 65 having to accept potentially worse pay and conditions in order to stay in work.

ELAS’s head of employment law, Peter Mooney, said: “Most businesses we speak to are now aware that they cannot force staff to retire due to age alone, but it seems many businesses haven’t actually thought through how the new law will affect them in practice.

“Expensive death in service and healthcare benefits are just two examples of how employing older workers will affect businesses – risk assessments, access requirements and adjustments for disability may also need revision as workforces grow older.”

Isis Insurance Services are a specialist Haulage insurance broker and offer products specifically designed to meet the needs of the haulage industry. We would encourage haulage and HGV customers to review the requirements that their business may face as a result of the changes in retirement age, along with other changes in employment legislation.

We are able to offer competitive terms and premiums for HGV and haulage insurance and would be happy to discuss your requirements with you.

Completed eight months ahead of schedule, the M74 is expected to take around 20,000 vehicles per day off the M8 reducing peak hour journey times by up to 10 minutes.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said; ‘This road is of major significance to the city. For years, Glasgow made the case for the completion of the M74 and since day one has been the force behind the project. The council staff have worked tirelessly to get the road finished ahead of time and under budget.

The new road will no doubt assist truck and HGV drivers in their journeys in and around the Glasgow area enabling them to carry out deliveries much quicker now that the new motorway is fully open.

Whilst there has been some debate as to the total cost of the project and no little objection from local environmental groups the building and opening of the new motorway can only be seen as good news for the local haulage industry.

Given the testing times that most of the UK’s transport industry is currently facing any good news however small, will be most welcome.

Isis Insurance services are a specialist Lorry and truck insurance broker and have many years experience in arranging competitive lorry and truck insurance for both individual truck drivers and lorry fleet operators.

We deal with many clients from large companies to smaller sole traders and owner drivers and from our many discussions with them we are able to understand both their individual needs in respect of arranging insurance cover and also the issues which they face in business on a day to day basis.

One of the key areas where our clients tell us they face challenges in the ever increasing cost of running their business and also the mountains of legislation they are faced with. A key area is the constantly changing employment law requirements.

Most clients are facing challenges imposed by the economic environment within the UK at present and they expend most of their time and energy in ensuring the continuity and growth of their business, so have little time to ensure they are abreast of the latest employment law developments.

There are a number of employment law service providers who have developed products to assist with employment matters such as how to deal with a troublesome employee or what they should do if they are faced with a tribunal claim.

Many of the schemes can provide a 24 hour advice line, available 365 days a year in many cases, which provide employers with legally compliant employment documentation and even offer schemes which can even fund the costs of awards made against businesses.

Whilst this area is unlikely to be a high priority in view of the many issues facing customers during the current business environment it could prove to be one of the most valuable business tools should an employment problem occur.

Isis Insurance would be happy to discuss the products available to businesses along with the wide range of cover for HGV insurance and Haulage insurance both in respect of vehicles Liability and goods in transit insurance covers.

We aim to take the time to understand your needs and arrange appropriate cover to suit your individual requirements.