It’s a case of ‘good news, bad news’ for international hauliers today. Good news: it seems that any driver able to show that a stowaway found in their trailer is a “fence jumper” is not liable for a fine. Bad news: the Home Office is unable or unwilling to explain how exactly a driver might prove that.

Good news: road haulage across the EU is set for expansion until 2030, according to a recent European Commission report. Bad news: the amount of freight per unit of GDP will decline, so hauliers will have to find even more efficiencies to remain competitive.

One company that knows about “competitive pressure” is Tuffnells Parcels Express; nevertheless its latest report shows that profit and turnover are both up substantially despite the challenging market. The news is not so good for Eddie Stobart: its ‘Stobart Air’ plans have been grounded for another month while the application is considered by a government planning officer. Talking of plans stalling, Norwich has abandoned its proposed congestion charge – although the case for a Norwich Northern Distributor Road is growing.