What is your role in the industry? What does your organisation do?
M6toll is a privately owned and operated toll road in the UK providing an alternative route to the congested M6 motorway. It spans 27 miles and allows drivers, including those in the haulage and logistic sectors, to bypass a busy stretch of the motorway particularly around Birmingham and the West Midlands. The M6toll helps alleviate congestion, provides time savings and offers a better driving experience.
Why are you and / or your organisation getting involved in National Lorry Week 2024?
By supporting a major event like NLW the M6toll can demonstrate its commitment to the success and sustainability of the haulage industry. It supports the workforce that keeps the UK economy moving and shows support for the drivers and companies that depend on road networks for their livelihoods.
It will also allow the M6toll to showcase how it supports the haulage sector by providing a faster, more reliable route compared to the alternative routes such as the M6, A5 and A38. It offers us a chance to demonstrate how we can offer time savings, reduce fuel consumption and improve driver safety and wellbeing.
Why is it important to celebrate the road transport industry?
Celebrating the road transport industry helps recognise its enormous contributions to economy and society, raise public awareness, attract new talent, promote innovation and boost morale. It’s a real opportunity to highlight the wonderful job thousands of people do within the industry which spans from drivers, planners, compliance, admin and so many more.
Are there any misconceptions about road transport that you would like to put right?
Road transport is seen as a major contributor to environmental pollution and is often viewed as unsustainable. Whilst we can’t deny road transport does contribute towards emissions, the industry is making strides towards sustainability, with many companies adopting eco-friendly practices such as fuel-efficient vehicles, electric and hydrogen trucks and optimising routes to reduce fuel consumption. A lot of companies also have a dedicated ESG strategy.
What issues must we raise awareness about in road transport and why are they important?
Improving driver welfare and safety in the road transport industry is essential for maintaining a healthy, efficient workforce and ensuring we have safe roads to travel on. With the support of National Lorry Week, we want to:
- Provide safe and comfortable rest areas
- Regular health checkups
- Provide drivers with feedback on safety practices and identifying areas for improvement
- Education on fatigue and importance of sleep
- Promote use of toll roads which are less congested and provide a more stress-free drive
- Mental health support
On the 10th anniversary of National Lorry Week, what excites you about the future of road transport?
On the 10th anniversary of National Lorry Week, we’re thrilled about the future of road transport. The blend of cutting-edge technology, a strong emphasis on sustainability and changing consumer demands promises a transport system that is more efficient, safer, and kinder to the environment. The way we move goods and people is set to be revolutionised!
It’s also an exciting time for us at the M6toll as we celebrate our 20-year anniversary! We invested £20 million in a package of improvements which are now complete following the launch of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) tolling system. M6toll customers can now benefit from journeys which are a ‘Toll lot cheaper, easier and quicker’ with a breeze account.