Defusing a loaded question: Delivery companies and local authorities are looking for ways to make loading and unloading rules work

摘要

The delivery of goods and stock is as vital to retailers as the provision of parking for customers. While shopping centres and supermarkets will have dedicated loading areas for lorries and vans, high street retailers are dependent on kerbside deliveries. It is not surprising then that freight vehicles frequently fall foul of on-street parking restrictions and end up accumulating penalty charge notices (PCNs). Indeed, the Tradeteam division of delivery firm Exel Logistics now employs four full-time staff to contest PCNs. In 2004 Tradeteam was issued some ￡217,000 worth of PCNs in London alone. Its decision to contest penalties paid off, as its fine costs had fallen to ￡170,000 last year.