The railways in Sweden have 13,000 km of track, about a third are privately owned. The rail network includes a rapid rail link between Arlanda airport and the center of Stockholm, which makes transporting goods quickly and efficiently.

There are a number of major ports and harbors, including the state of the art terminals and provide facilities for handling containers. These include Gaevle, Göteborg, Malmö, Sundsvall, Helsingborg, Halmstad, Kalmar and Stockholm. The Swedish merchant fleet, with 165 modern vessels, is also seen as an economic priority of the government and the industry of international freight transport Sweden as a whole enjoys the support of the Government of the shipping companies and infrastructure .

The domestic air market in Sweden was deregulated in 1991 and since then a number of Swedish airlines were competing to serve the international freight market in the transport of goods. These companies include Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), Transwede and Malmö Aviation.

Gordon Telling, FTA’s Head of Policy for London, said:

“City Hall has listened to industry and the free trade agreement and considered this unpopular and ill-conceived scheme, which amounted to little more than window dressing. The LEZ is very little especially because many of emissions compliant vehicles are already operating in and around London. Unfortunately, the cost to businesses - and Londoners - is far from being little. ”

The LEZ was launched on February 4 last year to reduce emissions in the capital, but he left the local people and businesses with a large bill to pay and very little improvement in the quality of air.

Telling continued:

“LEZ benefits have been overestimated, the difference in price that goes with it. Taxpayers’ money was wasted in advertising, signage and cameras to catch a few more, the most polluting lorries. The cost of this finding was approximately 50 million pounds in total costs and another £ 10 million in annual operating costs. At least now, the damage was limited and we can begin to consider a more intelligent emission reductions in the capital without being more companies into bankruptcy. ”

Bringing vehicles meet the standards required of business has already cost about 40 million pounds sterling. It is feared that if the green light was given to extend the scheme to include vans, thousands of small businesses, including builders, electricians, plumbers, florists and vegetables, which have face punishment costs. Many were driven out of business simply because they could not afford the cost of modification, which can reach £ 5000, or replace their vehicles.

The FTA argued that recognition of the freight operator Scheme (FORS) - a unique, industry-led membership scheme which aims to transform the delivery of cargo to London - it will be a more effective way to reduce London LEZ emissions than the priority of best practices, including procedures to reduce the impact of transport on the environment. However, the potential LEZ actually diverted funds from the purchase of cleaner vehicles that have been produced by commercial vehicle operators to encourage adoption of electric, hybrid and cleaner, the highest standard Euro (Euro 5) vehicles.

On the one hand, we have Nick Clegg to take a sledgehammer to road construction and maintenance budget and the other, we have Vince Cable and Sarah Teather announcing their bid to stimulate the construction industry. Without decent, well-maintained roads, how can they expect to work in construction sites to obtain a safe and effective? And would not the construction industry achieve greater kickstart if they were allowed to continue construction of the planned route and maintenance?

The logistics industry is highly diversified, taking elements of the construction and utilities sector and the retail sector more familiar. However, all these elements are dependent on a reliable road network for safety and fuel travel. FTA is concerned that the compartmentalized attitude displayed by the LibDem - and others - could damage the ability plc of the United Kingdom to make a successful return to the recession.

We are all dependent on the logistics, the supply of electricity and water to buy our groceries, but too often it is taken for granted. FTA is ready and willing to work with politicians to find positive solutions to the challenges ahead, but reflexes for infrastructure projects such as road construction and maintenance of no help.