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Road freight resilience starts before the truck arrives

Sep 16, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

UK haulage is entering a period in which access to the right vehicle, route and transport option could become increasingly important. For shippers, that makes planning and flexibility just as important as the rate agreed for an individual movement.

More than half of UK HGV drivers are aged between 50 and 65, while fewer than 2% are under 24. Replacing an ageing workforce brings recruitment, training, insurance and employment costs at the same time as operators manage wider pressure on vehicle operating expenses.

That does not mean the UK is heading inevitably towards a nationwide shortage of trucks. But it is going to make availability more variable by location, vehicle type and periods of peak demand.

For shippers, the response is to look beyond simply finding a truck when one is needed for UK or international movements and consider the strength, flexibility and resources behind their transport solution.

More ways to keep freight moving

Access to multiple transport options provides an important buffer when individual parts of the market tighten.

Metro combines its own commercial fleet with a wider UK and European road freight network, giving customers access to dedicated domestic transport, groupage, less-than-truckload (LTL) and full-truckload (FTL) solutions.

Dedicated vehicles can operate on fixed routes, with GPS tracking providing visibility throughout the journey. Different equipment, security and service options also allow the transport solution to be matched more closely to the cargo, delivery environment and required transit time.

Metro’s UK road freight teams are strategically located close to major manufacturing and transport hubs, supporting both domestic movements and international connections.

That capability extends across Europe, with established groupage services connecting customers with France and Germany, including the industrially important Ruhr region, with further services into the Netherlands, Poland, Iberia and Turkey. Frequent departures and established partner networks provide further options for both inbound and outbound freight.

This breadth matters when availability changes. Rather than depending on one mode of road transport or a narrow pool of vehicles, shippers can combine dedicated, groupage, LTL and FTL services according to shipment size, urgency and destination.

Plan capacity, not individual movements

The other side of road freight resilience is using available capacity efficiently.

Booking transport at the final stage of a shipment can leave logistics teams with fewer choices if the required vehicle or departure is already constrained. Earlier visibility of inbound and outbound requirements creates more opportunity to plan collections, consolidate freight, secure equipment and select alternative services.

It can also help businesses avoid treating domestic or European haulage as an isolated final step.

A container arriving at a UK port, an urgent movement into Germany or several smaller consignments moving into continental Europe all create different transport requirements. Connecting those movements with the wider supply chain makes it easier to choose the right solution before capacity becomes critical.

That could mean consolidating smaller shipments into groupage, moving time-sensitive cargo on a dedicated vehicle, using LTL where greater flexibility is available or securing FTL capacity earlier for larger movements.

The objective is not simply to source the lowest rate for today’s shipment. It is to create enough options to keep freight moving efficiently as demand, availability and operating costs change.

For UK and European shippers, the resources behind a road freight provider are therefore becoming increasingly important. Its own fleet, access to additional capacity, range of service options, network coverage and ability to adapt routes when circumstances change.

Metro combines its own commercial fleet with an extensive UK and European road freight network, giving customers the flexibility to move from dedicated vehicles to groupage, LTL and FTL solutions as requirements change. 

With strategically located teams, MVT supply chain management platform, GPS-tracked services and strong connections across key European markets, we can build road freight solutions around your cargo, keeping goods visible, capacity accessible and supply chains moving.

Survey EU

Businesses target European growth despite customs barriers

Sep 2, 2026 | , ,

UK businesses remain positive about their prospects in Europe, but customs complexity, compliance costs and uncertainty over future trading arrangements may limit the potential for faster growth.

That is the picture emerging from Metro’s latest customer survey, which asked businesses how they expect their EU trade to develop during 2026-27 and what would make cross-border trade easier.

The survey followed Metro’s recent review of the UK’s evolving international trade relationships, including ongoing discussions designed to improve elements of the UK-EU trading environment.

While negotiations between the UK and EU continue, the responses suggest businesses are not waiting for political agreements before pursuing growth. Instead, many are already looking at new products, markets and logistics strategies, while seeking practical ways to reduce the friction associated with European trade.

Almost three quarters expect EU trade to grow

The strongest signal from the survey is confidence.

More than 72% of respondents expect their EU trade to increase over the next 12 months, evenly divided between those anticipating significant growth and those expecting a more modest increase.

This is significant because the relationship has not become operationally simple. Companies continue to deal with customs declarations, VAT considerations, border processes and differing regulatory requirements, but these obstacles do not appear to have materially weakened their appetite to trade.

Respondents expecting growth are not primarily relying on established customers buying more.

Almost two-thirds identified new products or services as a growth driver, making this by far the most selected response. That distinction matters.

European growth appears increasingly linked to active business development rather than organic increases in existing trade. New products and markets can create more complex supply chains, placing greater emphasis on customs, VAT, transport and inventory planning.

Road remains dominant, but businesses are open to alternatives

Accompanied road freight remains the most widely used option, with 80% of respondents currently using it, but they are also using or considering a much broader mix of solutions.

Short-sea shipping already has over 60% penetration, while unaccompanied road freight is established among almost 50% of respondents. Rail and intermodal stand out because interest in considering these services (35%) is considerably higher than the current 18% usage.

Accompanied road freight may remain the default solution for many UK-EU movements, but businesses increasingly benefit from being able to switch between modes and accompanied or unaccompanied, depending on cost, capacity, urgency and border conditions.

Customs friction dominates customer concerns

When respondents were asked what would most improve their ability to trade efficiently with the EU, one issue stood well above the others, with 82% selecting fewer customs formalities and border delays.

Cost and regulatory certainty were the next largest concern, with 55% selecting lower transport and compliance costs, while the same proportion wanted greater clarity over future UK-EU trade rules.

More than a third highlighted simpler VAT and fiscal-representation arrangements.

Together, these findings suggest businesses are less concerned about whether European opportunities exist than about the administrative and financial complexity involved in exploiting them.

That includes avoiding customs errors, preventing unnecessary delays, establishing the correct VAT arrangements and understanding how regulatory changes will affect future supply chains.

More than a quarter of respondents identified simpler food and drink certification requirements as one of the changes that would improve EU trade.

Negotiations over sanitary and phytosanitary standards are intended to reduce some of the inspections, certificates and border requirements affecting agri-food movements.

Compliance support is the service customers value most

Perhaps the most decisive result came when businesses were asked which logistics services would make it easier to grow or operate within the EU. 80% selected customs clearance and compliance support.

Alternative road, short-sea or intermodal transport solutions ranked second at 40%, followed by fiscal representation at 30%.

If customs formalities are the principal obstacle, businesses naturally place the greatest value on expertise capable of removing that obstacle.

For a company entering a new EU market, getting classification, declarations, origin, documentation, VAT and fiscal obligations right from the outset can be just as important as selecting the right transport service.

What the findings mean for successful European trading

Taken together, the survey points towards several practical priorities for businesses targeting EU growth.

Build customs into the commercial strategy. Consider classification, origin, documentation and importer responsibilities before entering a market, rather than when goods are ready to move.

Look at total landed cost. Freight is only one component; customs administration, VAT, compliance, inventory and border delays can all affect profitability.

Maintain modal flexibility. Accompanied road remains important, but unaccompanied, short-sea and intermodal alternatives can provide valuable options as cost, capacity and requirements change.

Plan expansion market by market. New products and new markets can introduce different customs, VAT, regulatory and logistics requirements that need to be understood from the outset.

Watch UK-EU negotiations, but do not wait for them. Future agreements may reduce friction, but businesses can already improve European trade through better customs management, routing and supply-chain planning.

Customs, compliance, cost and regulatory uncertainty remain prominent concerns. Businesses best positioned for growth will be those that treat logistics and customs as part of their European market strategy rather than simply an operational requirement.

Metro combines European freight solutions with customs expertise and supply-chain support, helping businesses assess routes, manage cross-border requirements and build flexible solutions as their European trade develops.

As UK-EU arrangements continue to evolve, that combination of compliance, flexibility and forward planning can help turn confidence in European markets into sustainable growth.

EMAIL Andrew Smith, Metro’s Managing Director.

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Employee engagement reaches record levels across Metro

Aug 5, 2026 | , ,

Metro's latest employee engagement survey has delivered our strongest results yet, with colleagues reporting significant improvements across every key area measured.

With a 74% response rate across our UK, India and US operations, the survey provides a valuable snapshot of how colleagues feel about working at Metro and where we should continue to focus our efforts.

The results reflect the progress we've made over the past year and reinforce our belief that creating a positive workplace culture is fundamental to delivering great service for our customers.

Engagement continues to strengthen

Overall employee engagement increased to 82%, up from 68% in the previous survey, while every major category recorded year-on-year improvement.

Among the strongest-performing areas were:

  • Purpose: 84%
  • Leadership: 84%
  • Growth: 80%
  • Wellbeing: 78%

The improvements across every category demonstrate the positive impact of continued investment in leadership, employee development and workplace wellbeing.

What colleagues value most

The survey highlighted several themes that consistently define the Metro experience.

Colleagues told us they value:

  • supportive leadership and approachable managers
  • a culture built on trust and accountability
  • the freedom to make decisions and take ownership
  • understanding how their role contributes to the wider success of the business

These qualities help create an environment where people feel trusted, empowered and able to make a meaningful contribution.

Turning feedback into action

Our engagement survey isn't simply about measuring satisfaction. It helps us understand where we're succeeding, where improvements can be made and how we can continue building a stronger organisation.

The feedback received will help shape future priorities across our business, ensuring we continue investing in the areas that matter most to our colleagues.

Listening to employees and responding to what they tell us remains an important part of our Progressive value and our commitment to continuous improvement.

Building on strong foundations

While we're delighted with this year's results, we know that building a great workplace is an ongoing process rather than a destination.

We're grateful to every colleague who took the time to share their views. Their feedback helps us strengthen our culture, support our people and continue building a business where everyone has the opportunity to grow, contribute and succeed.

If you, or someone you know, would like to work with a progressive colleague-focused business, please EMAIL Paul Moss with a CV and covering letter.

container loading

Why more importers are rethinking FCL during peak season pressure

Jun 9, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Metro’s LCL Optimised Solution lets shippers move smaller, more frequent orders without paying for empty container space, freeing up working capital and easing the current squeeze on capacity.

As peak season tightens capacity across the major east-west container trades, many importers are reassessing whether shipping partially filled containers still makes commercial sense.

With space tighter, container equipment under pressure and freight markets increasingly volatile, Metro is seeing growing interest in flexible LCL (Less than Container Load) solutions that help businesses reduce costs, improve inventory flow and avoid paying for unused container space.

For many shippers, particularly those moving fluctuating or irregular cargo volumes, the traditional Full Container Load (FCL) model can tie up unnecessary working capital and create avoidable inefficiencies across the supply chain.

When LCL becomes more cost-effective

While FCL remains more cost-effective as shipment volumes scale, cargo volumes below 15 CBM are generally better suited to LCL solutions, while 15 to 20 CBM represents a tipping point where FCL and LCL options should be compared carefully.

That calculation becomes even more relevant during peak season periods, when under-utilised containers effectively mean paying premium freight rates for empty space.

However, the headline freight rate is only part of the picture. Many origin and destination charges, including customs clearance, documentation and terminal handling, apply whether cargo moves as FCL or LCL. The real saving often comes from avoiding under-filled containers and reducing indirect costs linked to excess inventory.

Metro’s LCL Optimised Solution

Metro’s Optimised Solution converts under-utilised 20′ and 40′ FCL shipments into LCL by loading cargo into Metro’s own consolidated containers alongside compatible freight from other customers. This improves container utilisation while giving customers access to guaranteed capacity during peak periods without paying for unused space.

Customers benefit from lower freight costs per cubic metre compared with similar volumes moving in partially filled FCL containers, alongside reduced administration and handling complexity through simplified pricing and regular consolidated departures.

Although LCL shipments naturally involve additional consolidation and deconsolidation handling, Metro’s priority processes for LCL conversions minimise disruption, reduce risk and maintain cargo integrity throughout the shipment process.

The overall result is a more flexible and commercially efficient shipping model for importers whose cargo volumes no longer justify dedicated FCL space on every movement.

Reducing inventory pressure and improving flexibility

Smaller and more frequent shipments help reduce the amount of cash tied up in bulk inventory while also lowering storage pressure and dwell time at origin.

Businesses gain greater flexibility to respond to changing demand patterns without committing to large inventory positions weeks or months in advance. In volatile market conditions, that flexibility can become a major operational advantage.

Metro’s regular consolidated departures also help customers reduce origin delays and improve supply chain responsiveness during periods of disruption, particularly when container shortages and rolling bookings are affecting traditional FCL movements.

As market conditions remain volatile and peak season pressure continues building, many importers are reviewing whether every shipment genuinely requires a full container, or whether a smarter consolidation strategy could unlock greater efficiency across the supply chain.

Metro’s Optimised LCL Solution helps customers reduce freight costs, free up working capital, secure guaranteed space and avoid paying for under-utilised containers during volatile market conditions.

If you would like to explore whether converting FCL shipments into Metro’s consolidated LCL solution could improve your supply chain efficiency, save money and improve your cash flow, EMAIL Key Account Director Jane Kenny.

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