What does the Olympic London Lorry ban mean for HGV operators?

Jan. 29, 2012 - PRLog -- Provider of first class HGV training HGV Express (http://www.hgvexpress.co.uk/) has already looked at the impact this year’s Olympic games will have upon the Heavy Goods Vehicle industry. Now it considers what the Olympic London Lorry Control Scheme will mean for HGV operators.

In advance of this year’s Olympic Games in London, the London council has released a factsheet with information on their imposed London Lorry Control Scheme which will affect HGV operators, drivers and – potentially – providers of HGV training courses. The factsheet outlines the newly imposed regulation which stipulates that HGV operators which carry vehicles over 18 tonnes are required to register with the relevant London Council before using roads which are restricted while the Olympic games are being held.

London Councils will consider granting special routing request permissions from individual HGV operators on a case-by-case basis, special requests being particularly relevant to areas close to venues on the Olympic Route Network. The factsheet continues by saying that HGV operators which already hold permissions for restricted roads do not have to make any additional applications for the sole purpose of the Olympic Games, and that temporary permits can be issued to hauliers who have to go into London at short notice during the Games.

The Royal Haulage Association (RHA) had consistently campaigned against any such ban on HGV access to London roads but the campaign fell on deaf ears on the side of the London Council. Commenting on the issue in their regular newsletter, the RHA stated, “It is regrettable that despite campaigning by the RHA, no general exemption or lifting of the restrictions on HGV movements during the Games has been authorised.

This is particularly disappointing as freight operators are likely to face many extra problems supplying London when the Olympics and Paralympics are taking place.”

Those undergoing HGV training in and around London up until the Olympic Games are over and the road restrictions are lifted should check with the provider of their HGV courses that the Olympic London lorry ban will not affect their HGV training. HGV Express (http://www.hgvexpress.co.uk/) can confirm that none of their London courses will unduly be affected by the lorry ban.