In just over one week, the UK could be leaving the European Union.

Are you ready?

With Cabinet ministers and the Brexit deadline moving around more than one of our busy transport vehicles, you’d be forgiven for wanting to forget about the whole thing until we have some certainty.

But wait.

Don’t let 31^st October be the most frightening day of your year for all the wrong reasons.

If you haven’t taken them already, following these easy steps will help you to be prepared for a no-deal scenario and minimise any potential disruption to your business.

Already acknowledged as having the best technology in the industry, express distribution network Palletforce has gone one step further, becoming the first network to roll-out artificial intelligence technology with the launch of Alliance Sense. With the ability to predict delivery issues before they happen, the innovation behind Alliance Sense will help drive Palletforce’s sector-leading service levels further, giving members a competitive edge.

Palletforce, Europe’s leading logistics network, continues its investment in innovation and technology by unveiling a new £2 million upgrade of its electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) system, cementing the company’s position at the forefront of the sector.

Smart tachographs are now mandatory in all new trucks. This is great news for haulage operators and drivers alike as these smart tachographs will help to cut administration costs, reduce roadside interrogations and further improve road safety.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is the body that provides independent advice climate change to government, providing recommendations for future policy. In the latest “Net Zero – Technical Report” the CCC recommended that a number of targets be made more ambitious, leading to the UK’s emissions falling to ‘net zero’ by 2050.

 

According to the latest statistics from gov.uk, both domestic and international freight activity has seen some decline over the last year or so. But at Chambers & Cook we’re bucking the trend, with our latest growth figures being over 20% higher than those in 2017/18.

Onwards & Upwards

While many major players in the UK haulage industry have been experiencing a bumpy ride over the last year or two, our steady growth has been gathering pace thanks to our reputation for reliability and our major investment programme.

Our continuous investment in the company will exceed a whopping £750,000 this year alone.

With increased business from both new and extended contracts, we’ve recently grown our team by employing five new office staff and have taken on new drivers to cope with our increasing workload. We’ve also invested in new HGVs to meet the demands for our haulage and freight services.

Investing in the Future

With road freight transporting 98% of all the UK’s machinery, consumer products and food, road haulage is critical to the hundreds of thousands of businesses up and down the country that rely on HGV transportation for the delivery of their goods. And as the haulage and logistics industry employs over 2.5 million people in the UK, keeping this sector strong helps our future economy stay strong, too.

The road haulage industry has encountered many threats over recent years, from the threat of driverless HGVs to Brexit uncertainty. But as our growth figures show, a clear strategy, a strong reputation and a solid programme for continuous investment keeps us moving forward. And we’ve been on the move for quite some time. 

Driving Business Since 1925

Next year will be our 95^th year in business and we’ll be celebrating almost a century of being a successful, family-owned haulage company (a company operating since the time of the Charleston and the fame of Charlie Chaplin!) Today, we’re proud to be one of the West Midlands’ largest import and export companies.

Our continuous investment in the company and the relationships we develop with our customers are at the heart of everything we do at Chambers & Cook — and these are no doubt the driving force behind our continued growth. Our honest approach, personal touch and industry expertise has helped us to develop solid, long-term relationships with all our customers over the years.

From UK distribution vehicles and European transport services to worldwide freight and next day Palletforce services, our industry experience can rarely be matched.

If you’re looking to partner with an experienced UK freight company who will keep your business moving, call one of our friendly team today, on 0121 356 1441 or email us at info@ccfreight.com. Why not let Chambers & Cook become part of your amazing journey?

We are investing. We are growing. We are Chambers & Cook.

Brexit: Deal or No Deal? Now, that really is the question.

And much like Noel’s sealed red boxes, we can’t know exactly what Brexit will bring until the final box is opened on the 29^th March.

But whatever sits inside the Brexit box — we are prepared.

Don’t panic

We understand the uncertainty and concern the run-up to Brexit is causing. But know we are doing the only responsible thing we can and fully preparing for a no-deal scenario. So in the event the UK leaves the EU without a trade agreement and with no transition period, we can give you maximum support to make sure any disruption to your business is minimised.

If a deal is negotiated and we leave the EU with a trade agreement in place at the end of the month, great. But if we don’t — we are ready.

Trade between the UK & EU?

A few key things you can do now in preparation for a no-deal EU exit:

• You’ll need an EORI (Economic Operator Registration & Identification) number, so you can continue to trade. If you haven’t already got this, register today.
• You’ll need a commodity code to classify your goods. This will make sure you pay the right amount of duty and will let you know if you need an import or export licence. Find your code here.
• Find out if you’re eligible to use facilitations, such as TSP (Transitional Simplified Procedures). Following a no-deal outcome, customs simplifications and special procedures aim to make importing from the EU easier than it’s otherwise likely to be. This process will require prior authorisation from HMRC — registration for this is open now.

Find out more about how you can prepare with HMRC’s partnership pack: preparing for changes at the UK border after a no deal EU exit.

Keeping you on the move

We always give our customers the highest level of service and support at every stage of every journey — and the journey into the unknown territory of Brexit is no exception.

We have plans in place and are prepared for a no-deal exit. So no matter what the outcome of Brexit, we can continue to provide you with the best options, advice and support to keep your goods on the move.

Need help, advice or have a question?

From establishing your commodity codes and INCOTERNS to knowing what documentation you’ll need and applying for your EORI number, we can help to navigate you through the potential no-deal process.

For more information, please contact our friendly team.

Email: info@ccfreight.com

Call: 0121 356 1441

We are prepared. We are ready. We are Chambers & Cook.

Port of Felixstowe, berths eight and nine Picture: HUTCHINSON PORTS

As of 2 August 2018 there have been no major improvements in the issues recently reported at the Port of Felixstowe, following the roll-out of the NEW TERMINAL OPERATING SYSTEM.

All carriers utilising the Port of Felixstowe continue to be affected with significant delays. All other UK ports have been impacted by the increased pressure of dealing with additional volumes as containers continue to be rerouted to alternative ports.
 
However, it is reported that no new issues have arisen since the system went live 13 June. The port handled 66,000 teu and said that productivity is running at 80% of the level before the system went live.

In addition to delays to sailing schedules and the issues moving cargo from the terminal in Felixstowe, there are reports of severe haulage issues at all UK ports as they continue to deal with increased container volumes. 

Hauliers are facing very long queues at UK terminals and issues with exiting the ports. Some carriers are reporting up to 5 hours of delay. 

This situation is further compounded as Felixstowe and Southampton ports have recently been affected by essential engineering works on the main rail link from Freightliner Terminal. As a result containers are being trucked the final mile and in some cases missing their booked vessel.
 
It is hoped operations will soon return to normal.
 
Chambers & Cook are working hard to minimise the impact of this situation. If you have any queries or concerns please contact your account manager who will be able to give you an update.
 
We thank you for your continued support.

More information can be found by visiting https://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/

We understand: all you want is for your goods to be transported from point A to point B.

However, the two parties that are involved in any international shipping contract – buyer and seller – each have different payment responsibilities which will alter depending on the kind of delivery taking place. You should know what you are responsible for organising and paying for, and if a cargo happens to arrive in poor shape, which party is responsible for having provided the insurance cover.

If you like to spend your evenings in front of the telly, chances are you might have seen the trailer for Mutiny, an exciting documentary that premiers this week on Channel 4. The show follows a crew of nine as they attempt to re-enact the famous Mutiny on the Bounty, when Captain of HMS Bounty Lieutenant William Bligh and 18 of his loyal shipmates were given the heave-ho after the rest of the crew rebelled in 1789. They were cast adrift on the Pacific Ocean in a 23-foot long open vessel that gave but a fraction of the protection of the far larger HMS Bounty, and faced an arduous 4000-mile journey from Tonga to Timor.