FoxPost, the leading parcel locker service provider in Hungary, operates in one of the most competitive markets in Europe. In an interview with Ádám Bengyel, the company's founder and CEO, we discussed how Foxpost has fared in the country, the differences between the Hungarian market and others in Europe, and whether same-day and next-day delivery are sustainable services.

Hungary has one of the most competitive parcel delivery markets in Europe, says FoxPost CEO

After announcing a $40m Series B a year ago, logistics scale-up InstaFreight has lured senior DHL staff to take on key roles in the shape of Olivier Prigent, who recently became Vice President Freight Forwarding.

Instafreight’s Maximilian Schaefer & Olivier Prigent open up on Mobility Package’s sustainability shortcomings

InPost, the company that sparked Poland's parcel locker revolution, recently announced its UK parcel locker network had hit 5,000 units. Despite reaching this significant milestone, the company's UK network still lags behind its Polish equivalent. The company is nonetheless upbeat about growing its presence in the UK. Pete Blackburn, International Commercial Director at InPost, says that the parcel locker and last mile delivery company are seeing “sustained growth" for out-of-home delivery options in the UK.

InPost seeing “sustained demand” for out-of-home parcel deliveries in the UK

It’s no secret that the electrification of road freight cannot succeed without the charging infrastructure to meet the needs of growing electric truck fleets. Virta, the fastest-growing electric vehicle charging platform in Europe, is one of the players that is striving to address this demand. The company is currently working with Swedish charging station operator Nimbnet on a national HGV charging network with stations in Gothenburg, Söderhamn, Sundsvall, and Nordmaling.

Tech & etiquette just two of the factors key to road haulage electrification, says Virta’s Martin Lundgren

In today's Last Mile Brief, we bring you the latest on the Royal Mail labour dispute saga, plus a plethora of stories concerning DHL, Amazon, Deliveroo, Australia Post, Quadient, FedEx, Uber Eats and more.

Last Mile Brief 29/03/2023: Royal Mail’s industrial dispute escalates amid reported administration threat

Dutch haulier Van den Bosch Transport has been involved in a decade-long legal battle with ten Hungarian truck drivers over Dutch wages. The drivers were employed by the Hungarian TankTrans Kft (now Van den Bosch Transport Kft) but mostly worked in the Netherlands. The Dutch Supreme Court has now overturned a previous court ruling that entitled the HGV drivers to Dutch wages.

Supreme Court rules against Hungarian drivers’ claim to Dutch wages

The controversial block handling measure used in Tyrol <a href="https://tirol.orf.at/stories/3200491/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">will deployed on 17 dates in the second half of this year</a>, it has been announced.

Tyrol block handling: 17 dates planned for second half of 2023

<a href="https://www.bundestag.de/presse/hib/kurzmeldungen-940354" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Speaking at a meeting at Germany's Bundestag</a>, the spokesperson for the BGL, a major German haulage association, has warned that Germany's driver shortage is on course to be as bad as England's as soon as next year. 

BGL spokesperson warns Germany’s driver shortage will soon be as bad as England’s

Total-Energies has announced that its truckstop on the A4 near Dresden, located at the Ottendorf-Okrilla junction, shall be expanded with 70 extra lorry parking spaces as well as new facilities. 

Truckstop near Dresden to be expanded with more facilities and HGV spaces

According to reports in the local press, Henley on Thames Town Council has allocated £2,689 for experts to establish whether a HGV ban should be brought in to prevent lorries crossing Henley Bridge. The news follows a previous commitment to spend £2,000 on consultants regarding a possible HGV ban. 

Oxfordshire town invests over £4,500 to look into possible HGV ban

Waberer's subsidiary, the Polish LINK Sp. z o. o., has obtained the RA registered agent status, enabling the company to transport air cargo. With this new venture, the company can now transport a wide range of goods such as high-value products, perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, documents, fashion and textiles, and automotive parts by air.

Waberer’s subsidiary obtains RA Registered agent status, allowing air cargo transport

<span>Road police operating in the North Rhine-Westphalia region have stopped an obviously overloaded HGV and trailer that had travelled all the way from Serbia.</span>

Police stop obviously overloaded HGV hauling two cement mixers

Continental has launched a new Verified Inspection app in Europe to provide a “seamless and cost-effective system for managing compliance and defect management for commercial vehicle fleets," as well as to increase transparency and efficiency in fleet workshops.

Continental says it news smartphone app boosts efficiency of walkaround checks

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has announced that its Ketenis lorry park will open on Friday March 31st. The parking facility is free to use and has 280 parking spaces. There also also plans to install fast chargers for electric trucks at the site in the near future.

New free lorry park with 280 spaces opens at Port of Antwerp-Bruges

Hungarian logistics and transportation giant Waberer's is able to pay dividends to its shareholders for the first time in its history on the stock market. This comes after the company closed last year with a profit before interest and taxes of 33.3 million euros, the highest since 2017. As a result, the management is recommending a dividend of HUF 100 (approx 0.26 euro) per share to be paid at the annual general meeting.

Waberer’s nets record earnings, is set to pay 1st dividends since stock market flotation

A European Commission report has concluded that intermodal freight transport can't compete on equal grounds with road transport due to regulatory and infrastructure barriers.

EU Commission report: regulation & infrastructure making intermodal uncompetitive vs road freight

Two new lorry parking areas are coming to Huelva and Almería, bringing a combined total of 590 HGV parking spaces to Spain.

Two lorry parks with a combined 590 spaces to be built in Spain

The reintroduction of the HGV levy in August 2023 has raised concerns from the road haulage industry due to the timing and impact on small operators.

“Now is not the time to bring back the HGV levy,” says RHA

The hard shoulder is an essential safety feature on UK motorways, providing a space for vehicles to pull over in case of an emergency. Knowing when and how to use the hard shoulder can make a crucial difference in ensuring your safety on the road.

Hard shoulder safety on UK motorways: what you need to know

In a truly unique show, Romania's Basque theatre group, together with fellow theatre group Rimini Protokoll from Germany, have created a production that will see audiences learn first hand about the reality of trucking - all while sat in a specially-converted trailer.

Truckers play lead role in novel theatre show that lays bare challenges of life on the road

Police officers in the west of Germany recently came across a lorry driver who had prepared dinner on the hard shoulder of the autobahn while casually sat on a folding chair. Surprisingly, the officers didn't fine the driver, merely deciding to “educate" him by having a word and asking him to move on.

HGV driver who took meal break on hard shoulder while sat on folded chair avoids fine

Earlier this month, Girteka used the “celebrate" icon under a LinkedIn post detailing the EU Commission's clarification that HGV inspectors cannot demand documental evidence of past weekend rest spent outwith the cab. Girteka has since clarified what was meant by this gesture, and also offered its wider thoughts on weekend rest requirements as a whole.

Girteka offers thoughts on weekend rest rules and benefits of AI tools