BIFAlink is BIFA's monthly magazine covering issues of importance for the logistics and supply chain industry.
BIFA link January 2026 The magazine of the British International Freight Association
BIFA Awards: Thank you to our sponsors
INSIDE: Training in Ethiopia • Felixstowe charity ball • Customs Policy Group elections • IMDG Code compliance • Regulations for electric vans • Shipping emissions
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Issue: 425
Steve Parker’s Column
What to expect in 2026
BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266 (A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: 00391973. VAT Registration: 216476363) Director General Steve Parker s.parker@bifa.org Member Policy, Compliance & External Affairs Director Pawel Jarza p.jarza@bifa.org Member Support Director Spencer Stevenson s.stevenson@bifa.org Member Services Director Carl Hobbis c.hobbis@bifa.org Member Engagement Director Denise Hill d.hill@bifa.org Senior Policy Advisor – Ocean & Legal matters Robert Windsor r.windsor@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Customs Igor Popovics i.popovics@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Sustainable Logistics Jamie McKean j.mckean@bifa.org Communications Manager Natalie Pitts n.pitts@bifa.org Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond s.hammond@bifa.org Membership Supervisor Sarah Milton s.milton@bifa.org Web site: www.bifa.org E-mail: bifa@bifa.org Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors Steve Parker, Robert Windsor, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Igor Popovics, Denise Hill, Pawel Jarza, Natalie Pitts Note to media: If you wish to use items in this magazine that are older than one month, please contact the editorial co- ordinator to ensure that the item in question still reflects the current circumstances. Please be advised that BIFA DOES NOT OFFER LEGAL ADVICE. BIFA is not a law firm and the authors of this publication are not legally qualified and do not have any legal training. The guidance and assistance set out herein are based on BIFA’s own experience with the issues concerned and should not be in any circumstances regarded or relied upon as legal advice. It is strongly recommended that anyone considering further action based on the information contained in this publication should seek the advice of a qualified professional.
S o, what will 2026 bring? First of all, let me wish you a happy New Year and every success in 2026. Previously, I have shared the fact that I receive lots of different survey results and commentary on what is going to happen to both our country and our industry. Feedback for 2026 is mixed: some pointing to poorer GDP and productivity, and others saying lower inflation and improved output. All that is without external influences like the US President and global conflicts, and other geopolitical issues. With all this in mind, BIFA’s management team have been busy working out what we can we do to support our Members and give them the best help. Here are some of the topics we discussed.
Information Keeping you up-to-date with changes and their impact on members’ activities is key. We see BIFA TV as the foremost method to do this and we will continue to enhance and improve the episodes. More training Introduction of our eLearning programme in 2025 was well received and our plan is to constantly update it with new courses in bite size modules that make them easier to consume. We also plan to develop our face-to-face training to ensure it remains useful and relevant. Potential new groups We are keeping a very close eye on the impact of AI on our sector and are considering the establishment of a working group to help us understand and embrace the changes. If this is an area of interest for you, please keep your eyes peeled for further information about this from us. More political engagement 2025 saw a shift in the way we undertake political engagement, and we found ourselves at the Houses of Parliament meeting MPs and their advisors much more often than in the past. Indeed, we even attended a party conference in 2025. We plan to continue this work in 2026 And fi nally Make sure you find out more about our next Business Leaders Forum that is scheduled for May, as well as our Annual Conference in September. These will be great places to obtain the latest information about what is happening within our sector. I wish you well for 2026 and assure you that BIFA is here to support our industry in any way it can.
Director General
January 2026 | 3
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Contents
IN THIS ISSUE Click on the page to see full story
Page 3 What to expect in 2026
Page 6 China increases use of Northern Sea Route
Page 12 BIFA Awards: Thank you to our sponsors
Page 8 BIFA takes training to Ethiopia
Page 9 Felixstowe charity ball raises £11,000
Page 14 Customs Policy Group elections
Page 10 Supporting standards in journalism
Page 16 UK regulations for electric vans
Page 18 Round-up from the regions
Page 15 Practical guidance to assist with IMDG Code
Page 17 Shipping emissions in the spotlight
4 | January 2026
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BIFA Website News
NEWS FROM THE BIFA WEBSITE – in case you missed them, recent news stories posted to the BIFA website can be accessed here. Click on the image for the full story
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Industry News
Ian Matheson , from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business. Don’t miss Ian’s weekly news round up on BIFA TV, which can be seen on our You Tube channel. Subscribe by scanning the QR code.
China makes increasing use of Northern Sea Route
brought renewed interest in improving lorry drivers’ facilities, prioritising security alongside parking capacity and driver welfare. However Transport Focus, which produced the report, said there is more to do. implement new speed limits for HGVs on its roads following the National Speed Management Review. It means HGV speed limits will go from 40 to 50 mph on single carriageways and 50 to 60 mph on dual carriageways, matching both England and Wales, effective after 7 May 2026. ACROSS THE BORDER From July, the EU will start collecting a three-euro flat fee for each small parcel valued below €150 (US$176) sent directly from a non-EU country Transport Scotland has confirmed that it will to customers in the bloc, following a decision by EU finance ministers in December. This marks a milestone in Europe’s fight, led by France, against the influx of small parcels, mostly from Chinese platforms such as Temu and Shein, entering the union tax free. Their effectiveness remains to be seen, given both platforms’ extensive warehouse and logistic networks in Europe. Global trade is on course to exceed US$35 trillion in 2025 for the first time, according to UNCTAD’s final Global Trade Update of the year. The new data confirms that trade continued expanding through the second half of 2025, even as geopolitical tensions, higher costs and uneven global demand slowed momentum. ON THE QUAYSIDE In the first 11 months of 2025, Shanghai port handled 50.56 million teu, up 6.7% year on year, leading the port authority to predict that its annual container throughput would set a record, maintaining its position as the world’s busiest container port for the 16th consecutive year.
ON THE OCEAN China significantly expanded its use of the Northern Sea Route in 2025, completing 14 containership voyages between Asia and Europe, up from 11 such voyages in 2024 and seven in 2023. The latest figures underscore a steady rise in Chinese-led container activity along the Arctic corridor, and reflects growing confidence among Chinese operators in the seasonal Arctic route, which shortens the distance between northern China and Europe. According to data from Linerlytica, the total number of containerships ordered was a
IN BUSINESS Ongoing geopolitical instability and persistent supply chain disruptions look set to continue to shape the supply chains of global manufacturers and logistics operators in 2026. Freight intelligence platform Xeneta says that geopolitical flashpoints have the potential to continue disrupting major trade lanes from the Middle East to the Taiwan Strait with little warning, which could force shippers to plan for sudden rerouting, longer transit times and higher costs. In a survey conducted by market analysts from OntegosCloud, the vast majority of forwarding agents worldwide are bracing for another year of margin pressure in 2026. The findings prolonged period of structural headwinds. This could trigger another wave of industrial consolidation. IN THE AIR Air cargo volumes in 2026 are expected to increase 2.4% year on year, according to IATA’s latest analysis. The trade body reflect a global market development facing a said air cargo volumes are expected to reach 71.6 million tonnes for next year, noting that the “resilience in air cargo has been particularly impressive” given the challenges the market has faced. OVERLAND An increasing number of drivers are dissatisfied with the quality and availability of lorry parking facilities, with fewer than 40% feeling they could rest when security is poor, according to a report based on a survey of more than 13,000 HGV drivers. Recent investment from the DfT and National Highways has
record 633 vessels at 5.08 million teu, surpassing the previous record of 4.74 million in 2021 and 4.77 million in 2024, with almost three-quarters of the orders being placed with China’s shipyards. December saw some notable container losses overboard. The containership ONE Continuity pulled into port in the Canary Islands for assistance after a stack collapse caused it to lose about 50 containers over the side in heavy weather. Furthermore, the Baltic Klipper lost 16 reefer boxes over the side off the Isle of Wight, putting thousands of pounds of green bananas onto the shore.
6 | January 2026
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BIFA News
BIFA takes its training to Ethiopia
Continuing the partnership with the Ethiopian Freight Forwarders and Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA), BIFA was pleased to honour the Memorandum of Understanding by supporting the exchange of knowledge through the delivery of face-to-face training in Addis Ababa. The visit was another phase in the growing partnership between BIFA and EFFSAA which is focused on capacity building, training, and the exchange of best practice in logistics management and supply chain efficiency. Carl Hobbis, member services director with responsibility for training at BIFA, and Liz Sumner, trainer of freight and customs procedures, visited Addis Ababa in November and delivered, two bespoke, two- day training courses. The first, a specially crafted Freight Forwarding Essentials course was delivered to 22 delegates by Liz, covering a range of international trade The course ended with a fun assessment testing delegate knowledge after the two days of training and concluded with the presentation of certificates to all of them by an EFFSAA board member. One of the delegates enthused: “We are using Incoterms every day, and from the BIFA course now understand more about them and their precise meaning in more detail. We also learned about key topics such as letters of credit, marine insurance, as well as a wider appreciation of the features and benefits that the various modes of transport provide, plus much more.” Training the trainer The second part of the training agreement was a brand new two-day Train the elements; it saw great participation from all.
Trainer workshop delivered by Carl to more experienced delegates, many who are delivering the FIATA Diploma. The workshop covered setting objectives, setting-up the learning environment, and concluded with an individual 15-minute micro-session. Carl shared his experience of training, giving the 20 delegates various tips and tricks to make face-to-face training as interactive as possible, putting the learner at the heart of it. Carl commented: “The week certainly pushed both of us out our comfort zone, which is never a bad thing, and it was a great experience. We have been made to feel most
welcome and the feedback we received was excellent as well. “We certainly hope that we have inspired and shown delegates that everyone needs some foundation freight forwarding skills, and hopefully inspired experienced lecturers and trainers to try alternative ways to make training as engaging as possible.” eLearning workshop The two training sessions were sandwiched around a workshop about eLearning where Carl shared the experience of setting up BIFA Bitesize and the lessons learned. Whilst a lot of the training
that takes place in Ethiopia is still delivered traditionally face-to-face, there is an understandable ambition to have an eLearning solution to build up skills capacity. Carl and Liz were also able to visit the British Embassy, with consultants Tripleline and Trademark Africa, to give an update on this and the wider project. Dawit Woubishet, EFFSAA president, commented: “We would like to thank BIFA for all its support towards this partnership so far. The longer- term project and local skills training will be stronger as a result of the training courses, the recent UK mission and sharing knowledge.”
8 | January 2026
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BIFA News
What’s at stake in 2026?
Industry publication Logistics Matters has
published the Annual Guide 2026, a free reference tool offering insight into the key industry associations. BIFA was delighted to be invited to contribute to this publication in which Director General Steve Parker outlined the association’s plans for the year and shone a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Other contributing associations included: the UK Material Handling Association; the Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association; the United Kingdom Warehousing Association; and the Cold Chain Federation. You can read the full publication by clicking on the image.
Felixstowe Christmas charity ball raises £11,000
On the fi rst Friday in December, BIFA was delighted to co-host the Felixstowe Port Users Association (FPUA) Christmas Charity Ball. Thanks to the generosity of the 250
organisations for their support in ensuring the event was a great success: • Fargo Group • MCP • KWL Logistics • Porttalk • Lombard Shipping
Members, guests and industry stakeholders in attendance, £11,000 was raised for local charities Brave Futures and
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The FPUA and BIFA would like to thank the following
• Multimodal • 3PL • Keystone Law • Grange Shipping
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January 2026 | 9
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BIFA News
Supporting standards in journalism
BIFA was a proud supporter of the Seahorse Freight Association Journalism Awards 2025 and joined the finalists at the event in early December. The Seahorse Freight Association brings companies in the supply chain, logistics and transport industry together with the media who report on them, and the public relations and marketing professionals who work in the sector. As the leading trade association for UK freight forwarders and logistics companies, BIFA recognises the vital role that journalists and media professionals play
in shining a light on the challenges, achievements, and evolving landscape of the global supply chain. By supporting these prestigious and long- standing awards, we reaffirm our commitment to encouraging accurate, insightful and impactful reporting across the freight and logistics industry. We congratulate all the winners and runners-up, as well as all who entered. More details about the awards and the full list of this year’s winners can be seen at: https://seahorseclub.co.uk/jo urnalist-awards-2025/
Christmas jumpers boost Transaid appeal
The BIFA secretariat joined Transaid's Christmas Jumper Day last month to celebrate #givingtuesday, part of the charity’s Christmas Appeal! As proud supporters, we’re delighted to celebrate some of the remarkable milestones achieved by Transaid over the past year. Highlights include:
• 9,000+ professional drivers and riders trained across Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Ghana; • Provided 2,000+ eye tests to long- distance truck drivers in Kenya, with 700 pairs of glasses distributed; • Supported 1,000 minibus taxis in South Africa to adopt the Safe Taxi Charter;
• Published new community-level guidelines for treating severe malaria in children. If you wish to help improve road safety and access to healthcare across sub- Saharan Africa, you can find out more at https://www.transaid.org/
10 | January 2026
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BIFA TV
BIFA has now been bringing Members their “Daily dose of industry information” since July 2024, originally as BIFAlink TV and as BIFA TV since July 2025 The evolution of BIFA TV
“ The year also saw the launch of feature episodes including Crime (30 July 2025) in which the methods and reach of the organised criminal gangs often behind crimes of this nature were explored NaVCIS: Fighting Freight
I n 2025, 237 episodes were released covering topics as diverse as staff training, sustainable logistics, customs and related matters, the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions, BIFA events and a wide range of other relevant material. By views, the most popular episode in 2025 was the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2024 Showreel (24 January 2025), closely followed by Customs Policy Advisor Igor Popovics explaining C21 Customs Clearance Request Changes (20 March 2025). Guest speakers from HMRC, the Department for Business & Trade, TT Club, the Transported Asset Protection Association, Planet Mark, Albacore Systems and Descartes have also contributed throughout the year. Regular episodes include the monthly Director General’s column from Steve Parker, a weekly round- up of industry news from Ian Matheson in What the Papers Say , and updates from the BIFA member engagement team on the regional meetings and other events held throughout the year. All episodes are still available to view on the BIFA You Tube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BIFA_ TV/ Feature episodes The year also saw the launch of feature episodes including NaVCIS: Fighting Freight Crime (30 July 2025) in which the methods and reach of the organised criminal gangs often behind crimes of this nature were explored. In Future Forwarders: Connecting Industry to the
Still not subscribed? The simplest way to ensure that you stay up to date with BIFA TV is to subscribe to the YouTube channel. You can also update your preferences in the BIFA Member portal to opt-in to BIFA TV communi - cations.
Classroom (27 October 2025) BIFA highlighted its growing collaboration with the South Hampshire College Group as a way to attract as diverse a group of college leavers as possible to the huge range of opportunities in the sector. Following the session presented at the fifth Business Leaders Forum in October, Menzies LLP tackled the question of Should we return to the of fi ce? (24 November 2025) with a range of issues from inclusion, flexibility and staff wellbeing addressed. In the final feature episode of
2025 and possibly the most significant yet, Pawel Jarza sat down with Robert Windsor of BIFA and John Stubbings of Woodland Group to discuss the new BIFA Standard Trading Conditions 2025 (17 December 2025). Robert explained the reasoning behind the rewrite and, as a practising freight forwarder, John was able to highlight the importance of the BIFA STC to all BIFA Members. Pawel summed up the episode by reminding members of the importance of incorporation of the STC with the phrase “No incorporation = no protection”.
January 2026 | 11
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BIFA Awards
This month sees the BIFA Freight Service Awards return to The Brewery for the annual celebration of the industry and BIFA Members BIFA Awards: Thank you to our sponsors
J oining the fi nalists and other guests at the BIFA Freight Service Award luncheon ceremony this month will be the all-important sponsors. CATEGORY SPONSORS The 11 category sponsors, who give their time to review the submissions and select the winners, are integral to the event. They are: • Albacore Systems supplies and supports efficient and reliable IT systems that ensure productive, empowered and satisfied staff. It has been sponsoring the Staff Development Award for 17 years. • American Airlines Cargo , sponsor of the Sustainable Logistics & the Environment Award , provides one of the largest cargo networks in the
world with cargo terminals and interline connections across the globe operating an approximate average of 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in over 50 countries. • Having been engaged in the industry for more than four decades, BT powers the air cargo community as its system provider, bringing innovation and digitalisation to air cargo. In 2025, BT joined the list of sponsors by supporting the Project Forwarding Award . • CNS has served the port community and logistics sector with leading-edge digital systems since 1986. CNS designs industry-first solutions and pioneers innovative solutions tailored to clients’ needs, ensuring regulatory compliance with unmatched expertise, making it an ideal sponsor for the new Customs Compliance Award . • Sponsoring the Extra Mile Award once again,
12 | January 2026
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BIFA Awards
Descartes gives international freight forwarders and shippers a single customs platform to import and export freight across international borders. Its transport management solutions will increase efficiency, reduce costs and enhance customer service when using outsourced multimodal transportation operations. • IAG Cargo , the single business combining the strengths of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus and LEVEL, has sponsored the BIFA Awards for over 30 years. Its support of the freight forwarding community through the Air Freight Forwarder of the Year Award continued in 2025. • Menzies LLP decided to switch its sponsorship this time to the brand-new Value-Added Services Award . Menzies is a UK-based advisory and accountancy firm with 11 offices. It combines deep sector expertise with the Brighter Thinking approach to deliver strategic, financial and operational support to businesses and individuals. • Supporting the Sea Freight Forwarder of the Year Award again is Port Express, a specialist in container haulage. Port Express provides innovative, cost-effective and increasingly sustainable logistics services. It is committed to operating with integrity and to the highest standards of health and safety, as well as playing its part in supporting a greener, more responsible supply chain. • Established in 1968, TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry and a long-time supporter of the BIFA Awards sponsoring the European Logistics Forwarder of the Year . • With a network extending from the west coast of America to Incheon, South Korea, in the east, Virgin Atlantic Cargo is proud to sponsor BIFA’s Young Freight Forwarder Award to recognise and encourage the next generation of industry leaders. As well as rewarding the progress of the best young people, this award helps to highlight the vital role freight forwarders play in the growth and development of the industry. • World Insurance Services, Inc completes the category sponsor line-up for 2025, taking on the Apprentice of the Year Award for the very first time. As the designated in-house risk management advisor for all WCAworld networks, it is committed to helping advance the future of global logistics. BIFA also recognises the support of the following ceremony sponsors: • ASM (UK) Ltd – sponsoring the celebrity host Steve Backshall, • MCP Plc – sponsoring the finalists’ certificates, • Seetec – sponsoring the sponsors’ logo board, • Simpex – sponsoring the ceremony tickets, • Transportify – sponsoring the ceremony programme, • Woodland Group - sponsoring the winners’ trophies. TICKETS A limited number of tickets remain for the ceremony on Thursday 15 January. Go to https://awards.bifa.org/request-tickets/ to book.
“ A limited number of tickets remain for the ceremony on Thursday 15 January
The 2024 Awards sponsor wall
CATEGORY SPONSORS
CEREMONY SPONSORS
January 2026 | 13
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Policy & Compliance
Customs Policy Group chair and vice chair elections Vicky Petrova re-elected and to be joined by Mark Redding
CCS UK on air cargo inventory systems, and chairs the Customs Policy Group at BIFA, where she has been contributing to customs policy and implementation for more than 15 years. Mark Redding Mark has more than 40 years of industry experience, having entered the sector in 1983 through Pandair’s UK freight training scheme, where he began learning customs processes from day one. He remained with the organisation throughout the AEI, Danzas and Exel mergers, building a career in customs operations. He now serves as UK customs compliance director for DHL Global Forwarding (DGF), overseeing day- to-day customs compliance across all DGF locations and modes of transport, and ensuring adherence to a wide range of authorisation and procedural requirements. Alongside his role at DHL, Mark contributes extensively to industry policy and engagement. He is an active member of several JCCC sub-groups and serves on the BIFA Air Cargo Community Advisory Body, which has assumed responsibility for the CCS UK User Group, where he previously served as a director.
E lections were held for the positions of chair and vice chair at the most recent Customs Policy Group meeting held on 27 November 2025. As the chair role was uncontested, Vicky Petrova (pictured top right) was duly re- elected and will continue to serve in her current capacity. Following a formal voting process, Mark Redding (pictured lower right) was elected as the new vice chair of the policy group. Vicky Petrova Vicky is director of customs compliance at DSV Limited, with over 30 years of experience in the forwarding industry. She oversees customs and trade compliance across all business areas: air, ocean, land and contract logistics, providing expert guidance company-wide. Vicky serves on the board of ASM Limited, advises
“ Vicky Petrova has been contributing to customs policy and implement- ation on the BIFA Customs Policy Group for more than 15 years
14 | January 2026
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Policy & Compliance
Practical guidance to assist with IMDG Code compliance
Units (CTU Code) has been adopted as non- mandatory international law and is referenced from the IMDG Code. This guide will refer to the CTU Code as the definitive industry guidance document on how to pack and secure cargo of all types in cargo transport units. Reminders The document reminds those who transport and handle dangerous goods into cargo transport units of their responsibilities for classifying, packaging, declaring and documenting dangerous goods and of their legally binding duty to do so in accordance with the rules of the IMDG Code.
The latest amendment to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code (42-24) became mandatory on 1 January 2026. BIFA Associate member TT Club has updated its joint Book it Right and Pack it Tight guide with UK P&I Club
A s years go by, serious incidents caused by or involving dangerous goods continue to occur, not only on ships but also in ports. Errors, mis- understandings,
The requirements for the training of shore- based personnel are also detailed and include general awareness/ familiarisation training, function specific training and safety training. The guide is illustrated throughout with clear photographs and diagrams for the avoidance of doubt and also includes easy-to- use tables and reference charts.
“ This guide is intended to support shippers, forwarders, shipping line booking staff and those who pack dangerous goods into cargo transport units for carriage by
misdeclarations and inadequate packing and securing lie at the heart of many of these incidents. As ultra-large containerships and the marine terminals they call at increase in size and capacity, the potential for economic, human and environmental accidents rise in proportion. This guide on the technical aspects of the IMDG Code is intended to support shippers, forwarders, shipping line booking staff and those who pack dangerous goods into cargo transport units for carriage by sea. Following an introduction, the guide is split into two parts – Part A: Processing a Dangerous Goods Consignment, and Part B: Reference and Classification. Processing a Dangerous Goods Consignment Part A of the guide breaks down the process of preparing and booking the cargo into the following steps, and looks at the
roles and requirements for the parties involved in each step: • Step 1: Classification of dangerous goods, • Step 2: Selection of packaging, • Step 3: Marking and labelling the packages, • Step 4: Preparing the transport document for booking with the shipping line, • Step 5: Applying the segregation rules, • Step 6: Packing the cargo transport unit, • Step 7: Producing the cargo transport unit packing certificate. Reference and Classi fi cation Part B provides background to the IMDG Code and references to further materials. The IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport
Book it Right and Pack it Tight is free to download from the TT Club website.
Useful links IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) CTU Code – a Quick Guide Cargo integrity - Loss Prevention
sea in the technical aspects of the IMDG Code.
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January 2026 | 15
Policy & Compliance
UK regulations for electric vans A look at the pros and cons of switching to electric vehicles as government regulations continue to change “ A derogation was announced ... which allows
a trailer on a Category B licence, as long as the total weight does not exceed 7 tonnes. This aligns the regulation for electric and internal combustion engine powered vehicles. Currently vans exceeding 3.5 tonnes fall into the scope of the assimilated drivers’ hours rules and therefore the assimilated tachograph rules apply. However, there is a national derogation exempting electric, natural gas or liquified gas powered goods vehicles weighing up to 7.5 tonnes (inclusive) used to transport goods within a 62-mile (100 kilometre) radius of their base, from requiring a tachograph to be fitted. Between 24 December 2024 and 3 March 2025, the DfT ran a consultation on proposals to amend other regulations for ZE vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes. The main areas under consideration were: • Altering drivers’ hours and tachograph rules applicable to 3.5-4.25 tonne zero emission vans and • Proposed changes to the
S ome road freight operators have stated that they are not transitioning to Zero Emission (ZE) electric vehicles because they are subject to additional regulation compared with their Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) counterparts. In this article we look at the main changes that have been implemented and those that are proposed by the UK government. One of the issues with electric vehicles is that the batteries increase the vehicle weight significantly, in the case of vans by up to 800 kilos. This has caused considerable concern to many transport professionals as it means that vans exceeding the 3.5-tonne limit trigger the additional regulatory requirements for HGVs. Within the UK, for domestic transport only, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced a derogation on 25 June 2025 that allows drivers with a standard
Category B (car) driving licence to drive ZE vehicles of up to 4.25 tonnes. This applies only to zero emission electric vehicles and is intended to compensate for the additional weight of the batteries. This exemption does not apply to petrol or diesel vans, which remain capped at 3.5 tonnes. Additional entitlement Also, the announcement permits the driving of ZE vehicles using a Category B licence, without additional training. This removed the previous requirement for drivers to undertake five hours of additional training before handling the heavier vehicle. The additional entitlement to drive electric vehicles is automatic and is recorded on the driver’s licence. The prohibition on drivers of electric vans towing a trailer was also revoked. Drivers of such vehicles are now permitted to tow
drivers with a standard Category B (car) driving licence to drive ZE vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes. This applies only to zero emission electric vehicles...
16 | January 2026
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Policy & Compliance
Soaring shipping emissions are a wake-up call for regulators, indicating that fuel consumption needs to be improved and shipowners rewarded for using less carbon intense fuels Shipping emissions in the spotlight
roadworthiness testing process for 3.5-4.25 tonne ZE vehicles. The suggestion was to remove electrically powered vehicles from the HGV testing requirements to the Class 7 MOT, an annual safety and environmental test for light commercial goods vehicles (LCVs) with a design gross weight (DGW) of between 3,001 kg and 3,500 kg. The majority of respondents were supportive of the proposal to move 3.5-4.25 tonne zero emission vehicles into the scope of the GB drivers’ hours rules. This change would mean that such vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes would in most cases not require a tachograph to be fitted. Regarding the second bullet point, having considered the responses, the DfT agreed with the view to move 3.5 to 4.25-tonne ZE vehicles into the scope of the class 7 MOT testing system (without adding features from the HGV test into the class 7 MOT), with a first test three years from first registration (and then annually). Full outcome The full outcome of the consultation can be read at https://www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/zero-emission- vans-regulatory-flexibility/outcom e/zero-emission-goods-vehicles- regulatory-flexibility-consultation- response It must be noted that the proposals will require legislative changes, and parliamentary time will have to be sought to pass the necessary legislation. In terms of transition from petrol and diesel powertrains for commercial vehicles, it is the light commercial vans that have seen the greatest growth in the use of alternative fuels. The number of electric commercial vehicles in the UK in 2023 was 68,664. In 2024, this rose to 90,058, demonstrating a 31% year-on-year increase. The majority of these electric vehicles were light commercial vehicles – 67,672 in 2023, rising to 88,787 in 2024. It is hoped that by aligning the regulations for internal combustion engine powered vans up to 3.5 tonnes and 4.25 tonnes in the main electrically powered vans will help control costs, whilst at the same time simplifying and making fleet management more efficient.
I n 2024 shipping emissions in the EU rose by 13% to their highest level since reporting began in 2018. The reasons for this increase were largely due to well- documented issues facing the international maritime industry. This increase has to be seen against a downturn in trading levels. Figures indicate that increases in emissions from containerships, up by 46% compared with 2023, were responsible for all of the increase. The primary reason for this was the long diversion around the Cape of Good Hope, for both east- and westbound journeys. There are two distinct but related issues driving this increase. The longer Red Sea journeys to avoid Houthi attacks pushed up the average distance per ship by 18% to 42,842 nautical miles. However, average speeds did not increase from the 2023 figure when a 13% increase was seen. More vessels What did happen, due to problems caused by the Houthis, was that shipping lines deployed more vessels, an increase of 11% to 2,210, in order to maintain schedules. Without this increase, in all probability, global trade would have slowed down. In many ways these figures are a wake-up call for regulators, indicating that fuel consumption needs to be improved and shipowners rewarded for using less carbon intense fuels. The big emitters of carbon were MSC, producing 15.5 million tonnes of CO 2 in 2024, followed by Maersk, which emitted 10.3 million tonnes, and CMA CGM
8.3 million tonnes. This has created a cash bonanza for the EU because, since January 2024, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has been extended to cover CO 2 emissions from all large ships (of 5,000 gross tonnage and above) entering EU ports, regardless of the flag they fly. The system covers: • 50% of emissions from voyages starting or ending outside the EU (allowing the third country to decide on appropriate action for the remaining share of emissions) • 100% of emissions that occur between two EU ports and when ships are within EU ports. EU Emissions Trading System The EU ETS covers CO 2 (carbon dioxide), CH 4 (methane) and N 2 O (nitrous oxide) emissions, but only the two latter as from 2026. Emissions from maritime transport are included in the overall ETS cap, which defines the maximum amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted under the system. The cap is reduced over time to ensure that all ETS sectors contribute to the EU’s climate objectives. This will incentivise energy efficiency, low-carbon solutions, and reductions of the price difference between alternative fuels and traditional maritime fuels. It will be interesting to see how the scheme develops over time and, should the IMO implement a global emissions levy, whether the EU will withdraw the EU ETS, because many argue that the shipping lines will effectively be charged twice for their emissions.
“ It is hoped that by aligning the regulations for internal combustion engine powered vans up to 3.5 tonnes and 4.25 tonnes in the main electrically help control costs, whilst at the same time simplifying and making fleet manage - ment more efficient powered vans will
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Member Engagement
The BIFA regional representatives have again been busy organising meetings to keep Members updated on latest developments Round-up from the regions
B IFA Members are reminded that they are welcome, indeed encouraged, to attend Regional Member meetings. While the standard agenda for these meetings is the same across the country, a wide range of local issues are also discussed. Attending meetings will keep you informed of current events, forthcoming issues and items of local and national interest. Update your communications preferences in your BIFA Member portal to ensure that you are advised of meeting dates. Solent PCM In late November, BIFA and CNS were pleased to host the Solent Port Community Meeting (PCM) at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, where 60+ Members gathered to hear news from stakeholders at both the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth. The presentations were engaging and demonstrated the importance of logistics to the region. Tom Dynes from ABP attended and provided information on Southampton port operations and connectivity, as well as the Solent Gateway 2 project to reclaim land further up the River Test. Current port space is nearing capacity and expansion is required to support demand. A statutory consultation period will begin in 2026. James Francis from DP World advised that it is on track to handle 2 million TEU in 2025, some of which is due to the disruption factors in northern Europe and alliance changes. The new Parkmark accredited pre-gate and truck parking facility is open and has been welcomed by drivers. A representative from Portsmouth International Port outlined the developments taking place there, notably the Sea Change project which will provide
shore power for hybrid ferries, reducing pollution in the local area. Works to expand the Portico terminal are under way. Daphne Comber from Portico, which is owned by Portsmouth City Council, gave an insightful presentation on the Portico group of companies and the services they provide. There is investment for development of the terminal to open up the quayside as part of the Solent Freeport capital fund, which should complete in spring 2026. Mark Hooper, from Solent Stevedores, explained the services
it provides from handling out-of- gauge cargo to stores management and baggage handling services for cruise lines. Mark also explained how the open- access rail terminal now has capacity for up to 12 daily services and aligns with the port and DPW sustainability journey. Jo Landon and Steve Harris from the South Hampshire College Group also attended and advised Members about the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), an innovate UK programme that helps businesses grow by connecting with academic expertise. Members
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Member Engagement
may have the desire to innovate but be lacking the skills or capacity to do so; this programme allows them to gain access to cutting- edge research. Stu Baker of Maritime Solent completed the meeting with an overview of its services and how it promotes the maritime sector through industry, academia and government engagement to help the Solent region become a world leading maritime cluster. London East At the London East meeting in early December, we were joined by Darren Wright from the charity Veterans into Logistics, which promotes the use of ex-military personnel as HGV drivers, with his own personal story providing an insightful video. Lexi Laybourne from DP World provided information about London Gateway port with performance metrics as well as updates on the inter-port train service, which now runs to Southampton five days per week. Berth 5 development was discussed and is due to open in 2027, as was Berth 6 and the BOXBAY project to store empty containers 16 high, which will provide additional capacity and efficiencies. CNS representative Peter Nicholls informed Members of the latest developments, including rollout of the compass system replacement to several smaller sites with larger sites like Southampton expected mid-2026. MCP was represented by Kieran Rodwell who would like Members to be involved in the beta testing of new system functionality; if interested, please contact the helpdesk. Weekly cybersecurity updates will now be run on a Monday at 21.00 hrs rather than on a Sunday. Border Force personnel spoke to Members about changes in the Thames command, namely more officers moving to London Gateway port. Piers Harrington from APHA advised the group that there was no further update on the EU reset and this was not expected now until 2027. Steve Higgon from City of London Port Health informed Members of the latest issues his team are facing, including the continuing problems with freight from Africa and specific issues with
many HMRC platforms were still causing significant workloads. FEDAT accepted the comments and will report this to HMRC. BIFA will continue to promote the need for single data point entry. Further guidance to clarify the delivery time window was promised by FEDAT. This will be circulated to Members. Andy Cooke from BIFA, and Mark Bellis and Claudia Carley from BT, gave an update on the Heathrow Cargo redevelopment programme, with the following key milestones for the Landside Efficiency Project now agreed: • 2025: Cargo Handler workshop completed in November; • 2025/2026: Community rules discussion; • 2026: Deployment of AIS; • 2026: Training (supported by BIFA); • 2025/2026/2027: Business change programme. The Cargo Handler Workshop in November provided detailed input on operational requirements for future AIS functionality and operational procedures. At the breakout sessions following the updates, Members contributed their views on the challenges and roadblocks to AIS implementation. This feedback will significantly help the construction of future AIS functionality and training. Robert Windsor from BIFA discussed with Members the review of the Standard Trading Conditions (STC), with particular focus on the advantages of the 2025 edition over the 2021 edition, and key points to consider when moving to the 2025 STC. Eight key documents to support Members on this topic are available on the BIFA website Updates on the latest from the policy groups were provided covering sustainability, customs, air freight, road, rail and key port activities and investments. Upcoming BIFA events and improving Member contact details accuracy and access to the BIFA website portal were shared along with the latest on training, notably the success of the Bitesize eLearning. New modules for Dangerous Goods and Sustainability will be released in January 2026.
Regional structure BIFA has regional representatives covering the UK and all meetings for the year ahead are listed on the BIFA website. Get in touch with your regional representative:
Northern England – Andrew Melton a.melton@bifa.org Central England – TBC
Scotland – Jack Rice j.rice@bifa.org
Southeast England – Paul Newman paul@pnauk.com
Northern Ireland – Shauneen McConville ShauneenM@tr- logistics.com
South & Southwest England – Paul Cunningham p.cunningham@bifa.org
spices from India containing high toxin levels. Denise Hill, member engagement director, updated attendees on recent policy group meetings as well as highlighting the revised 2025 STCs, which are available to use from December 2025. Heathrow The December Heathrow meeting opened with safety and security updates from the Border Force Freight Engagement and Data Acquisition Team (FEDAT) on levels of compliance for ENS declarations and GVMS. They reported that user compliance was high and that those carriers/intermediaries failing to address notified compliance issues were at risk of action from FEDAT. Members commented that multiple data entries across the
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Policy & Compliance
BIFA Standard Trading Conditions 2025 Don’t forget that there is a new set of BIFA Standard Trading Conditions that should be adopted and incorporated into customer contracts as soon as practical
the topic. To ensure that you benefit from the protections afforded by the BIFA STC 2025, it is imperative that they are brought to the attention of both existing and new customers and properly incorporated into your contracts. If you have any questions regarding the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions, please contact Robert Windsor by email at r.windsor@bifa.org
B IFA Members are reminded that during 2025, the Legal & Insurance Policy Group carried out a full review of the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions (STC)
BIFA’s Senior Policy Advisor, Robert Windsor, held a number of webinars on the subject towards the end of 2025, but if you missed these you can find relevant information on the BIFA STC 2025 on the website at https://bifa.org/information- guidance/trading-conditions/bifa- standard-trading-conditions- 2025/ and in the BIFA TV feature on
which has resulted in the publication of a new set of
conditions that should be adopted and incorporated into customer contracts as soon as practical.
BIFA utilises a network of Regional Representatives around the UK to act as a conduit for the dissemination of information and to seek local Member views on topics of interest. Forthcoming meetings are listed here. All BIFA Members are encouraged to attend their regional meetings, however pre-booking is essential. If there is no event listed in your region see www.bifa.org/events for future dates or contact your local Regional Support your local Member group
Region
Date
Venue
Kent & East Sussex
13 Jan 21 Jan
Dover Marina Hotel & Spa City of Bristol College
Avonmouth
Scotland and the Borders – Jack Rice j.rice@bifa.org Midlands and the North – Andrew Melton a.melton@bifa.org Anglia, London East & South East - Paul Newman paul@pnauk.com Northern Ireland – Shauneen McConville shauneenm@tr- logistics.com BIFA Young Forwarders’ Network FREE networking and information events for younger team members, see www.bifa.org/events
Representative: London West, the South & the South
West – Paul Cunningham p.cunningham@bifa.org
Reporting Freight Related Crime to Border Force – Operations Pegasus and Pandora Please note that there are different numbers for air and ocean. Border Force has confirmed that all reports will be treated in the strictest confidence. Air Contact Numbers Tel: 0203 196 2456 (0700-2000) Tel: 0203 014 5604 (24-hours) Crimestoppers: 0800 555111 or 101 quoting reference Pegasus Ocean Contact Numbers Tel: 01394 303 116 (Office hours) Tel: 07920 587808 (24-hours) Quoting the reference Pandora.
BIFA Events
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