Enquiries into FTA’s Member Advice Centre (MAC) have more than doubled since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak as the dedicated team seek to help logistics professionals with pressing legal, technical and operational matters pertaining to the pandemic.

Robert Saunders, Manager of the MAC, comments: “Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, member questions into the MAC have more than doubled; our team are working tirelessly to ensure logistics businesses are armed with the insights they need to keep goods moving across the UK throughout the pandemic. The advice team are some of most knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the industry, with each bringing their own specialism into the mix; we are determined to help logistics professionals through this difficult time as much as possible.”

Answering 28,000 questions from FTA’s members per year on average, the MAC provides expert advice and answers to questions on legal, technical and operational matters relating to logistics, on topics such as Brexit, Covid-19, drivers’ hours, through to vehicle maintenance standards.

Mr Saunders continues: “FTA’s policy team have been working closely with government to help it solve challenges arising from the pandemic – such as the need for delivery hours to be extended to help keep supermarkets and other retailers stocked during this period of high demand – and this has assisted logistics businesses endlessly. With thanks to them, we are seeing growing confidence from our members, but we are still needed to help answer pressing questions as the pandemic continues.”

Common questions relate to the furloughing of drivers; medical certificates due to expire; relaxation of drivers’ hours rules; and calibration of tachographs.

For more information on the Member Advice Centre please visit: https://fta.co.uk/membership/member-information-services/member-advice-centre

Freight Transport Association

About the Author: John Loughran