HGV driver shortage

Motorists could be allowed to drive lorries without an HGV licence

Could motorists being allowed to drive an HGV without an additional test alleviate the lorry driver shortage? That’s the question being asked by the UK government. Before 1997, anyone with a car licence (category B) also got automatic category C1 entitlement meaning they could drive a lorry up to 7.5 tonnes. This was known as Read More

road freight felixstowe strike

Beat the Felixstowe port strike. Switch from sea freight to road freight

2022 is turning out to be the summer of discontent. After enduring numerous rail strikes, port workers will now follow suit until the end of August. Have you thought about the advantages of using Road Freight? The walkout at the UK’s largest container port, Felixstowe, is set to cause chaos. The Unite union has reported Read More

fuel surcharges

What are fuel surcharges, and why have they gone through the roof?

Fuel surcharges are an extra fee that carriers like DHL, UPS, TXT, and FedEx charge on top of their standard shipping rates. In the good old days, fuel surcharges were straight pass-through levies accurately reflecting a carrier’s fuel costs. But those days are long gone. Now, they routinely trade fuel prices and surcharges to eke Read More

smart directions are aeo certified

We are AEO Certified. What are the benefits of AEO Certification?

In December 2020, we announced that Smart Directions were AEO Certified – becoming an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO). Why? Well, besides being another string to our bow, AEO certification demonstrates that our role within the international supply chain is secure and that our customs controls and procedures are efficient and compliant. Yes, we’re a safe Read More