The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT UK) has called on the government to embed freight and logistics into the heart of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) newly published Integrated National Transport Strategy. While welcoming the strategy’s ambition to shift the UK toward a fully integrated transport system, the institute emphasised that success will depend on practical delivery rather than policy intent alone.
The DfT strategy marks a significant move toward treating transport as a connected system rather than a collection of individual modes, offering a framework to align infrastructure, operations, and planning. Daniel Parker-Klein, Director of Policy, Communications and Insight at CILT UK, said:
“This strategy is an important step in recognising transport as a system that needs to work as a whole, rather than as a set of individual parts. The challenge now is delivery. Integration is not achieved through strategy alone; it depends on how networks are planned, funded, and operated in practice.”
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Parker-Klein highlighted the centrality of freight in economic performance. “Freight and logistics must be part of that system from the outset. The movement of goods underpins economic activity, supply chain resilience, and everyday life. Without embedding freight, integration risks being passenger-focused and economically limited,” he added.
Implementation Challenges and Opportunities
CILT UK noted that effective implementation will require coordinated action across all levels of government and industry, including:
- Alignment of policy, funding, and operational execution across national, regional, and local frameworks.
- Enhanced data coordination to support decision-making and network efficiency.
- Clear delivery mechanisms, responsibilities, and accountability across organisations.
- Performance metrics that capture both passenger and freight outcomes, including reliability, economic productivity, and cargo efficiency.
The institute also emphasised that transport planning must reflect how people and businesses use networks in practice. A place-based approach, integrating passenger movement with logistics operations such as servicing, deliveries, and loading, is critical to ensure the system functions efficiently for the wider economy. While the strategy references improvements to walking, cycling, and accessibility around transport hubs, it provides limited guidance on accommodating essential freight operations.
Freight as an Economic Priority
According to CILT UK, the movement of goods is as vital as passenger transport but requires recognition as a distinct yet interdependent component of the transport ecosystem. Effective integration depends on streets and networks that support deliveries and servicing without disrupting passenger flow. The institute urges policymakers to consider freight from the outset to avoid the unintended consequence of passenger-centric infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
CILT UK expressed commitment to collaborating with the government and industry partners to translate the strategy’s ambitions into operational realities. Parker-Klein concluded:
“We look forward to supporting the practical delivery of a more integrated, efficient, and resilient transport system. Integration is not just a policy objective—it must be reflected in how transport networks operate, how freight flows are supported, and how economic productivity is sustained across the UK.”
The institute’s recommendations underscore that embedding freight and logistics in transport planning is essential not only for supply chain efficiency but also for economic resilience and regional development.
