And efforts by fleets to reduce traffic problems can only work in collaboration with massive multi-billion pound investment from the Government, a major new survey has claimed.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said a new report showed many firms were making the effort to reduce pressure on Britain’s road infrastructure, but the network required drastic improvements – and soon.
The survey showed that 63% of firms believed the situation would get worse in the next five years and more than half thought the UK’s business reputation was suffering as a result of transport problems.
Sir Digby Jones, director general of the CBI, said that at least £300 billion of public and private investment in transport was needed over the next decade.
He said: ‘The Government is not spending enough money. Companies of all sizes and sectors rely on an integrated transport network to keep the wheels of business turning. ‘We should all make more efficient use of transport, but unless we invest more to renew and upgrade the network, the economy cannot reach its full potential.’
Jones said many fleets were doing their part but many more were not.
He said: ‘A lot of businesses take the easy way out and jump in the car and there’s a lot more that they could do. That’s for business to sort out, not the Government.’
CBI director of transport Michael Roberts said: ‘The main impact of transport problems, highlighted by 80% of respondents, is increased costs, while more than 60% report unreliable deliveries.’
Half the companies surveyed said they suffered a lack of productivity as a result of transport problems.
The survey showed that of firms trying to tackle the problems more than half had introduced flexible working and 49% had altered delivery schedules or logistics. But 93% said this alone could not overcome the problems.
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