The Brief | Edition 7 | For Supply Chain Leaders

Every fortnight, we bring you The Brief: bite-sized updates from the supply chain and logistics sectors to keep you in the loop while you’re on the go.

This week’s edition covers some key compliance and initiative updates worth looking into:

RIS3 Road Investment Blitz Targets Freight Bottlenecks

The UK Government has unveiled its third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), pledging £25 billion to tackle freight bottlenecks, modernise motorway assets, and prioritise key trucking routes. The strategy includes targeted improvements to freight-heavy corridors, designed to ease congestion and improve supply chain continuity.

What this means for you:

Although delivery will take years, RIS3 signals a clear government focus on freight efficiency. Review which corridors you rely on most, as upgrades could affect long-term site planning, routing strategies, or investment in nearby hubs. Engaging with industry bodies during planning stages may help ensure freight priorities are not overlooked.

DHL eCommerce Opens New Depot in Birmingham

DHL eCommerce UK has opened a new logistics depot in Minworth, Birmingham, expanding fulfilment capacity and coverage in the Midlands. The facility supports faster turnaround for parcel deliveries and adds stability to DHL’s national network.

What this means for you:

For shippers, this strengthens capacity in one of the UK’s busiest logistics regions. It’s worth exploring DHL’s improved capabilities if you rely on Midlands distribution or want to benchmark service expectations against competitors. Local operators should also note the added competition for warehousing talent and transport contracts.

Boost for the EV Transition

The UK Government has extended subsidies for electric vans and trucks, reducing upfront costs for businesses investing in cleaner fleets. The grants are designed to accelerate decarbonisation in road freight, with eligibility spanning light vans to HGVs.

What this means for you:

This reduces the near-term financial barrier to fleet electrification. Even if your transition plans are medium-term, it’s a good moment to assess total cost of ownership, trial smaller EV deployments, or explore depot charging options. Early movers may also find opportunities to win new business on the strength of green credentials.

Electric Tug Pilot Tested by DPD

DPD UK has successfully trialled an electric tug vehicle at its Oldbury hub, part of its strategy to decarbonise depot operations. The pilot demonstrated potential for reducing emissions in internal yard shunting and first-mile activities.

What this means for you:

While niche today, tug and yard automation could become widespread in large depots. If you operate high-volume sites, keep an eye on this technology for efficiency gains and emissions reduction. Small-scale trials now could position your operations ahead of the curve when wider adoption arrives.

Maersk Highlights Digital Transformation as Key Trend

A.P. Moller - Maersk has flagged digitalisation and e-commerce as defining themes in European air cargo, with AI-driven planning tools and automation supporting a 4.5% demand uplift. The carrier points to digital workflows as a way to tackle both speed and network strength challenges in the air freight sector.

What this means for you:

Digitalisation in freight is translating into tangible operational benefits. Consider whether AI-enabled forecasting, booking, or routing tools could strengthen your own planning. Even if you don’t operate in airfreight, these practices are likely to set broader customer expectations for visibility and agility.

Dimension Rules Change as UPS Aligns with FedEx Shipping Policy

From 18 August, UPS began rounding up parcel dimensions to the next inch for all shipments, mirroring FedEx’s earlier policy. The shift could increase dimensional weight charges, particularly for eCommerce and retailers shipping lightweight but bulky goods.

What this means for you:

Shippers should review packaging practices urgently. Consolidating orders, redesigning cartons, or adopting packaging optimisation tools could help reduce exposure to higher costs. This is also a chance to revisit carrier contracts, benchmarking against rivals to secure more competitive terms.

Insights for Supply Chain leaders

We’ll be back in two weeks with The Brief. Until then, feel free to share this with your team or reach out if there’s something you’d like us to cover next.

Till next time,

The MVP Recruitment & Talent Solutions Team

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