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Forth Bridge shutdown hits express deliveries – updated
[ December 8, 2015 // Chris ]Express carrier TNT says it is unable to guarantee the availability of timed premium services in parts of Scotland due to the closure of the Forth Road Bridge
All traffic in and out of Fife and Tayside (DD and KY postcodes) is being diverted away from the bridge ona 60mile detour which is causing significant congestion.
TNT says that wherever possible, it will attempt to deliver as normal, but, until further notice is unable to guarantee on time delivery of pre-9am, pre-10am and pre-12 noon deliveries, while collection cut-off times for guaranteed domestic next day deliveries from these areas will be brought forward to 3pm.
FedEx said on 9 December that it had currently suspended its 9am and 10am domestic delivery service in the DD (Dundee) and KY (Kirkcaldy) postcode areas but pickup times from these areas were not affected, adding: “We don’t foresee and impact to international delivery and pickup services.” FedEx intends to resume its 9am and 10am domestic service to the affected postcodes as soon as possible.
The Road Haulage Association added that journeys north of Edinburgh that would normally take 30 minutes can now take up to three hours. It did though welcome the setting up of a dedicated truck route on the A985 and the temporary and limited relaxation of drivers’ hours regulations. However, many operators will be unable to complete their contracts during the course of a normal working day, it warned.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) added that the temporary relaxation of drivers’ hours will help operators make vital Christmas deliveries. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced on 6 December that drivers’ hours would be relaxed until 6 January, allowing goods drivers who would normally have used the route to drive for 11 rather than nine hours a day.