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The arrives at a difficult moment for the road transport sector. Operators are working against rising wages and operating costs, tight margins, ageing infrastructure and ongoing pressures around recruitment. At the same time, the shift towards cleaner mobility is accelerating, creating new expectations and increasing the need for long-term investment.The following article outlines what the Budget means for infrastructure, investment, workforce costs and the wider operating environment for haulage.For many years, fleets have been affected by deteriorating roads, weight restrictions on ageing bridges and the growing unpredictability of journey times. Government and industry data makes this clear. More than one in every ten miles of network in England and Wales is likely to require maintenance within the next year, according to reporting, and the backlogs for resurfacing work continue to rise. These issues lead to vehicle damage, driver fatigue, higher insurance costs and disrupted schedules. They also place additional pressure on operators already dealing with narrow margins.The new Budget acknowledges these concerns. One positive step is the substantial funding for strategic national projects, including almost £900 million allocated to the , which should reduce congestion, provide more reliable journey times and a safer driving environment for HGVs.Local authorities will also receive a share of and address the growing number of potholes. This could make a noticeable difference for fleets. Local roads carry the majority of domestic freight and serve as the first and last mile of nearly every delivery. Improving them should reduce wear and tear on vehicles as well as operational strain. These commitments will not fix decades of underinvestment immediately, but they represent an important shift towards a road network that is more resilient and better suited to the realities of modern logistics.The Budget also places more focus on skills. for under-25s working in small and medium-sized businesses could help attract new entrants into a profession that urgently needs them. The driver shortage is well documented. The UK must recruit around in order to stabilise supply chains, and across Europe the average age of professional drivers continues to climb. Only a small proportion of drivers are under 25, and training costs have been a barrier for many younger candidates.Providing funded apprenticeships makes logistics more accessible at a critical time. It also supports smaller operators, who often struggle to invest in training despite needing to expand their teams. The Budget introduces further support for investment, particularly around fleet renewal. Operators installing charging infrastructure can take advantage of a 100% first-year allowance until March 2027. This will help offset the upfront cost of electric HGVs and depot charging equipment.From January 2026, a new 40% first-year allowance will be available on many main-rate assets, including trucks – particularly useful where full expensing or the Annual Investment Allowance don’t apply, such as some leased fleets and unincorporated operators.While the Autumn Budget contains several positive measures, operators will also need to plan for increasing costs. Fuel duty will rise in stages between the end of August 2026 and March 2027. Fuel is already one of the largest expenses for operators, and the planned rises are likely to increase the emphasis on fuel efficiency, telematics, consolidated routing and fleet renewal.Vehicle Excise Duty (Road Tax) will be uprated in line with inflation from April 2026, including for HGVs. From April 2028, a new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) will also apply a mileage-based charge to battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, on top of existing VED. Although eVED initially excludes electric vans and trucks, it signals a longer-term shift toward distance-based taxation that fleets will need to factor into future planning.The HGV Levy will also return to rising with inflation. Vehicles over twelve tonnes must pay the levy before using A roads or motorways, and the revised rate will add another cost that fleets must factor into forward planning.Larger, higher‑value properties are also likely to feel more pressure from business rates changes. The Budget confirms permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure, funded in part by higher charges on the most expensive commercial premises. These include big warehouses and distribution centres, so operators with large sites can expect proportionately higher bills over time than smaller depots or high‑street locations.In addition, the Budget introduces several measures that directly affect the financial landscape for operators and the people who run or work within haulage businesses. Labour already represents one of the sector’s highest costs, and these changes will shape payroll planning, staff retention and the personal finances of many owner-operators.Minimum wage increases mean that employers will face higher staffing costs across warehousing, last-mile logistics and support roles. Many operators have already tackled wage rises in recent years, and this further uplift will add pressure at a time when margins remain narrow. For fleets that rely on overtime, night work or seasonal peaks, the impact will be even more noticeable.The Budget continues the government’s move toward greater digitalisation of tax and reporting. Compliance expectations will grow over the coming years, with stricter penalties for late VAT and Self Assessment returns and an expanded Making Tax Digital framework from 2027. Mandatory electronic invoicing will follow in 2029. Parcel carriers and mixed load operators will also be affected by changes to customs duty for low-value imports, which will apply to items worth less than £135 by March 2029 at the latest. While the aim is to even the playing field for UK manufacturers, it is likely to increase administrative pressure on haulage firms. These changes may eventually improve efficiency, but they will require investment in systems and staff training. Smaller fleets without dedicated administrative teams are likely to feel the adjustment most sharply.Although operators will face higher costs and increased administrative complexity, the 2025 Budget also provides some of the most significant commitments to the road network and skills pipeline seen in recent years. Taken together, these measures signal a Budget that attempts to balance fiscal constraints with long-term needs. The road ahead will still require careful planning and strategic investment, but there are genuine opportunities to strengthen the sector’s foundations and support a more resilient future for haulage.SNAP gives fleets practical tools to manage this shifting landscape, from parking access to data that supports compliance and operational decision-making. to discover how SNAP can help strengthen your fleet’s resilience in the months ahead.

The buzz around self-driving cars isn’t as loud as it used to be, but it remains a constant noise in fleet managers’ ears. The United Kingdom government has moved autonomous vehicle integration pilot plans to 2026, renewing interest in the technology. Will decision-makers ignore the noise or embrace early adoption?Autonomous vehicle integration involves embedding self-driving technologies like artificial intelligence, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and high-definition cameras into commercial fleets. On a broader scale, it entails introducing self-driving cars into existing public transportation systems.Driver assistance systems include collision avoidance, automatic speed adjustment, lane-centring, adaptive cruise control and intelligent ride-hailing. Partial and conditional automation leverage more advanced technologies to enable hands-free operation under certain circumstances.Level 4 and 5 automation are top priorities for automakers but challenging to implement in practice because engineers must account for countless edge cases. Even with advanced AI, perfecting parking and preventing collisions can be difficult. What if the pavement markings are barely visible or a child runs into the road? Adoption hinges on the car’s reaction.According to the Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles, transport secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the U.K. government will accelerate self-driving commercial pilot plans and aim for Spring 2026. The move could and add £42 billion to the U.K. economy by 2035.The country’s new automated vehicle legislation is among the most robust worldwide, laying the groundwork for widespread commercial adoption. Technological maturity is the only remaining hurdle.In an interview with McKinsey & Company, Sascha Meyer — the CEO of German automotive technology company MOIA — said predicting autonomous vehicle integration timelines has been challenging. In 2016, her enterprise MOIA throughout Europe by 2021.Since then, Meyer has realised adoption entails designing an entire ecosystem, not just driving functions. The new timeline sees self-driving cars in European cities by 2030 at the earliest. The engineers at MOIA are designing the prototype to exceed mandated redundancies. This way, they will be ready to operate commercially once the relevant legislation passes.Delivery, taxi, utility, and commercial fleets are seeing an uptick in driver assistance systems and intelligent automation. However, the penetration rate remains relatively low, especially considering how long the technology has existed. What are their plans for autonomy?Increased efficiency is among the main reasons fleet managers are embracing automation. Unlike humans, driverless vans can operate around the clock. With telematics systems, they can optimise driving and minimise idle time to improve fuel efficiency and expedite trips.AI is immune to human error, eliminating harsh braking and distracted driving. It cannot become fatigued and does not have blind spots. These improvements could help reduce road collisions and car accidents, which can mitigate costly workers’ compensation claims and potentially lower insurance costs.Cost savings are another contributing factor. At Level 4 and 5, owners can optimise labour expenses and compensate for driver shortages. Moreover, electric driverless cars with vehicle-to-grid capacity can over 30 years, helping offset the upfront investment.Aside from waiting for driverless technology to mature, fleet owners are delaying adoption due to high upfront costs. Embedding LiDAR, AI and telematics into every truck is expensive. Buying new instead of retrofitting is equally pricey. Even if cost savings could be found, technology is moving quickly — their investment may quickly become outdated.Safety is another concern. Photo-eye sensors garage doors. They stop the door from closing on objects, cars or people, and are used throughout the industry in car washes and automotive assembly lines. While some automakers utilise camera-only systems, engineers have had to pioneer new solutions. Today, many use LiDAR, global navigation satellite systems and ultrasonic sensors.However, even the most advanced systems are fallible. It is not enough to make automated cars perform as well as people — they must succeed where human drivers fail.Sensors have existed for years, but engineers have not perfected them yet. They may fail in edge cases or unfamiliar scenarios. Level 3 cars only work on premapped, divided highways in clear weather. Given that the U.K. in 2021, they may be too unreliable for adoption at scale.Autonomous vehicle integration may be moving slowly, but it is on track to reach its destination within the next decade. According to Goldman Sachs research, sold worldwide could be Level 3 vehicles by 2030. It forecasts that Level 2 — those requiring driver supervision — will increase from 20% of sales in 2025 to 30% in 2027.Managers should consider the scope and cost of autonomous fleet integration to determine whether early adoption is right for them. It will likely result in long-term savings, but waiting may be more rewarding because it allows time for technological advancement. If the cost-benefit analysis is unconvincing, they should consider incrementally upgrading as cars fail.Those who proceed with adoption must develop operation, storage, security and upgrades policies. These rules should vary depending on the automation level. For instance, drivers of Level 3 lorries should be required to pay full attention to the road to take control if necessary.Educating employees on their role is essential for successful implementation. Volkswagen Financial Services research found consider themselves better drivers than autonomous vehicles, so they are unlikely to overestimate the driverless system’s capabilities. However, they should still receive explicit training on best practices and habits to avoid.Self-driving machines are hard at work in ports and warehouses across Europe. Automating highway vehicles is more challenging because they are not on a fixed track. Also, they must account for variables like weather and other motorists. Geofencing, telematics and AI are accelerating adoption by making the unpredictable predictable. At the very least, these solutions enhance response times and mitigate human error, demonstrating that these previously unproven technologies are just as capable as human motorists.For now, full automation that eliminates the need for human attention remains theoretical. However, hands-free driving is a reality, and driverless systems could soon become standard issue in commercial fleets. As automakers perfect driving functions, fleet owners should prioritise route mapping, driver management and maintenance scheduling.Discover more from .

Europe’s roads are baking – and the heat is only rising. Across the continent, July 2025 delivered record-breaking temperatures, infrastructure failures and transport disruption on an unprecedented scale. For fleet operators and professional drivers, the challenge is no longer theoretical. Extreme heat is here and it’s reshaping the mobility landscape in real time.Much has been written about the health impacts and climate signals of this year’s heatwave. But far less attention has been paid to how it’s affecting logistics, freight networks and the people who keep goods moving across borders. This article explores how heatwaves are disrupting Europe’s road transport sector – from melting tarmac and cracked motorways to wildfires, driver safety concerns and delivery delays – and offers practical advice to help fleets stay operational, resilient and one step ahead.According to the , Europe regularly experiences extreme heat, with temperatures well above seasonal norms. In the first week of July 2025, Germany recorded , while Spain and Portugal faced temperatures exceeding 46°C during the month. Europe, as a whole, is warming at roughly .These conditions are not just uncomfortable – they’re operationally disruptive. Research cited by Logistics Business shows that heatwaves are a growing risk factor for freight operations, reducing driver welfare, damaging cargo and delaying deliveries.As a result, temperature-sensitive cargo such as food, pharmaceuticals and electronics are becoming harder to move safely. Operators are seeing rising spoilage rates and late delivery penalties. The situation is especially complex in areas where power grids are stretched by increased cooling demand, reducing cold chain reliability.One of the clearest signs of heat’s toll on mobility came in early July, when parts of Germany’s autobahn network began to crack under the pressure of thermal expansion. Sections of the A1, A9 and A10 motorways, amongst others, were closed for urgent repairs as – a direct consequence of the country’s prolonged heatwave.As ground temperatures rise and vegetation dries out, wildfires are also becoming a regular – and dangerous – feature of European summers. According to Wikipedia’s 2025 European heatwave summary, wildfires have broken out across southern Spain, Germany and Greece, prompting mass evacuations and the temporary closure of major roadways and border crossings.In June 2025, the due to wildfires, while fires closed several in France. These closures don’t just create traffic chaos – they mean that HGVs have to reroute, often through narrow, unsuitable roads that can extend journey times by hours.In addition, smoke reduces visibility for drivers and poses health risks, especially for those spending long hours in-cab with inadequate air filtration. And in many areas, emergency services are stretched, meaning delays in clearing affected roads or managing diversions.The risks to infrastructure are accompanied by risks to people. Professional drivers are particularly vulnerable to heat stress, dehydration and fatigue. SNAP’s for drivers outlines the dangers of overheating cabs, the strain of long hours in high temperatures, and the importance of cooling systems and rest.Many roadside facilities in southern and eastern Europe remain poorly equipped to support driver wellbeing during heatwaves. Air-conditioned rest stops, shaded parking and reliable water access are not guaranteed – making SNAP’s more important than ever.“This summer’s heatwave is a wake-up call,” says Raquel Martinez, European Sales Manager at SNAP. “Europe’s transport systems were designed for a cooler climate. But we’re not going back. Fleets that adapt now – with the right tools, the right rest strategies, and the right technology – will be the ones that thrive.”In response to the heat, several countries have introduced or extended heat-triggered truck bans. As , Bulgaria and Hungary enforced daytime HGV restrictions when temperatures soared in July 2025. Restrictions also applied to heavy vehicles on certain vulnerable roads during specified periods. In addition, national holiday-related truck bans in Germany, France, Poland and Italy are compounding summer congestion. Full details can be found at Trafficban.com, which lists regional and time-based restrictions across the continent.For drivers and planners, these bans create a patchwork of compliance zones and timing limitations that require careful navigation and up-to-date planning tools.With the increasing risks posed by extreme heat, insurers are starting to reassess their exposure. That’s likely to affect premiums across the board. Goods-in-transit cover is under pressure, particularly for temperature-sensitive loads, with more claims arising from spoilage and missed delivery deadlines. Vehicle insurance costs may also rise as claims for heat-related breakdowns and accidents increase. Meanwhile, there’s growing scrutiny around employers’ liability, especially if drivers or staff suffer heat-related health issues due to inadequate welfare provisions. Together, these trends could mean higher premiums and tougher renewal conversations for operators without clear resilience plans in place.At SNAP, we believe the key to navigating Europe’s heatwaves lies in preparation, planning and proactive welfare management. Use real-time weather data to help drivers avoid high-risk routes. Stock vehicles with water, shade equipment and emergency cooling kits. Stay informed of changing truck bans across borders using verified sources like Trafficban.com. Encourage drivers to use apps like to locate well-equipped, air-conditioned facilities across Europe. Pay extra attention to tyres, cooling systems and battery performance during maintenance – especially for electric or hybrid vehicles. Ensure policies account for climate-related delays, cargo spoilage and fire damage.Check out our or download the today. With thousands of trusted partners across Europe, it’s your shortcut to safer stops – whatever the temperature.