IN THE NEWS
BIFA Standard Trading Conditions – New Edition Effective 1 January 2026
From 1 January 2026, Kukla UK will operate under the updated BIFA Standard Trading Conditions (STC) – 2025 Edition. As a BIFA member, we adopt these terms as part of our normal working practices, and from this date, all previous editions will no longer apply. This is a routine industry update and not something customers should be concerned about. It simply reflects BIFA’s periodic revisions to ensure the framework remains aligned with current regulations and operational realities. Read more: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/bifa-standard-trading-conditions-new-edition-effective-1-january-2026
Logistics experts debate the challenges of AI and reskilling
Employing over 2.5 million people across the UK, the logistics sector continues to face acute skills shortages, alongside rapid change driven by automation, digitalisation and the drive to net zero. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have a significant role to play in the logistics careers of the future and is not a threat to jobs, but cultural change is just as important as technological change if logistics businesses are to maximise the opportunities. So said experts during a round table discussion on Upskilling and Reskilling in Logistics organised by Generation Logistics, an industry awareness programme managed by business group Logistics UK, and the Learning and Work Institute. Read more: https://warehousenews.co.uk/2025/11/logistics-experts-debate-the-challenges-of-ai-and-reskilling/
Criminal gangs buying haulage firms and posing as subcontractors to steal freight, BBC investigation reveals
The BBC has uncovered a scam in which criminal gangs are buying up haulage firms to pose as subcontractors, so they can drive off with thousands of pounds of cargo. The fraud follows a pattern previously seen by Europol in mainland Europe, where legitimate companies on the brink of bankruptcy are bought by organised crime groups, who are then able to steal cargoes they have been contracted to pick up.
The BBC documentary Lorry Crime Exposed details one example, where a group of haulage companies was purchased using a dead man’s details. Read more: https://motortransport.co.uk/industry-news/criminal-gangs-buying-haulage-firms-and-posing-as-subcontractors-to-steal-freight-bbc-investigation-reveals/52679.article
ROAD FREIGHT
e-CMR: The road to wider adoption
CMR covers around 280 million international road transport operations every year. But its digital version, e-CMR, is used in less than 1% of operations – despite all its perks. Why, and what can be done? The Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR) provides legal certainty, standardises documentation, and protects both operators and consignors in road transport operations.
e-CMR takes these benefits further. It lowers administrative costs, does away with paper, speeds up invoicing, raises transparency and operational visibility, and complies with eFTI (the EU regulation to digitalise and standardise freight transport information). Read more:
https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/e-cmr-road-wider-adoption
Building trust in AI: from research to real-world deployment in transport
Three years of research, four real-world demonstrations: AIthena has shown how AI in mobility can be explainable, safe and compliant. The Artificial Intelligence: Trustworthy, Explainable and Accountable (AIthena) project –funded by the EU and SERI, as part of the Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) initiative – was launched to close the gap between AI research and real-world transport operations through four demonstrations.
AIthena addressed key challenges in deploying AI in mobility, from data governance and anonymisation to validation in real environments and public acceptance, with the goal of developing AI that is both technically reliable and socially trusted. IRU was a key project partner.
Read more: https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/athens-opens-its-arms-transport-and-logistics
SEA FREIGHT
CMA CGM to acquire stake in EUROGATE terminal in Hamburg
French shipping giant CMA CGM continues to expand in the intermodal market with the acquisition of a 20% stake in the EUROGATE Container Terminal Hamburg (CTH). The facility can currently handle four million TEUs every year, with the ambition of increasing capacity to six million TEUs with the Western Expansion.
Over the past few years, CMA CGM has strengthened its position as a vertically integrated logistics company. In 2019, the company bought a majority stake in CEVA Logistics. Three years later, it acquired automotive logistics specialist GEFCO. More recent moves include the purchase of Freightliner UK, finalised a couple months ago. Read more: https://www.railfreight.com/business/2025/11/17/cma-cgm-to-acquire-stake-in-eurogate-terminal-in-hamburg/
Suez Canal, ocean lines discuss return of global shipping
Officials from Egypt and major shipping lines met for discussions regarding a return of global shipping to the beleaguered Suez Canal trade route.
Ossama Rabiee, chairman of Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority, met with representatives of 20 shipping lines and agencies to discuss developments in the Red Sea and their impact on global trade transiting through the Canal and the maritime transport market.
Egypt is looking to recover from severe double-digit declines in canal toll revenues since late 2023 after Houthi attacks on merchant vessel forced the largest cargo lines to divert services away from the Suez route and on longer, more expensive voyages around Africa connecting Asia with ports in Europe, the Mediterranean and the United States. Read more: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/suez-canal-ocean-lines-discuss-return-of-global-shipping
Panama Canal fights drought with $8.5B plan to secure future trade
Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales says new water storage, port capacity and gas pipeline will secure the canal’s role in global supply chains.
The Panama Canal is investing billions in new water storage and alternative cargo infrastructure to keep global trade moving. Vásquez said the waterway’s sweeping $8.5 billion modernisation plan, which includes new port terminals, a gas pipeline, and a water-reservoir project, is designed to keep the 110-year-old canal competitive as global trade patterns and climate pressures evolve. Read more: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/panama-canal-fights-drought-with-8-5b-plan-to-secure-future-trade
RAIL FREIGHT
GB Railfreight’s new Class 99 get green light for UK operations
The UK’s Office of Rail and Road gave its Authorisation for Placing Into Service (APIS) to GB Railfreight’s (GBRf) Class 99 locomotives. In total, the company ordered 30 units, which will be able to run on both electrified and non-electrified routes.
GBRf relied on Stadler and Beacon Rail for the development of the new locomotives. The first ones should start running revenue generating services in early 2026, GBRf said. The company invested around 170 million euros (150 million pounds) for the 30 locomotives. Read more: https://www.railfreight.com/business/2025/11/06/gb-railfreights-new-class-99-get-green-light-for-uk-operations/
FEATURES
Customs Expertise You Don’t See, But Are Vital to the Operations
Photo credit: Pexels
As the festive season approaches and the imports surge ahead of Christmas, Kukla Customs Division (KCD) is once again at the heart of the action. The work done by the Folkestone-based team led by the KCD Director Martin Jacobs is absolutely vital to the seamless flow of trade, ensuring that every shipment clears UK borders swiftly, accurately, and compliantly.
While customers see only the final result, each clearance involves a detailed, multi-step process. Every bottle, case, or container that reaches UK shelves during the busy winter months passes through a chain of documentation, classification, and compliance checks carried out by our expert team.
It’s no surprise that November marks KCD’s busiest time as importers prepare for peak seasonal demand. The number of customs declarations rises by around 25% compared with other months. Volumes rise, timelines tighten, and precision matters most. Read more: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/customs-expertise-you-dont-see-but-are-vital-to-the-operations
What AI Really Means for Global Freight Forwarding
Photo credit: AI-generated
As the world of beverage logistics grows more complex, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an essential partner in moving wine, spirits, and soft drinks efficiently and compliantly. From automated documentation and customs checks to smarter route planning and carbon tracking, AI is helping ensure product quality, maintain temperature integrity, and improve visibility across every stage of the shipping journey.
In global logistics operations, AI can transform workflows, particularly in areas such as customs, scheduling and compliance. It enhances both speed and efficiency while reducing the risk of error. Yet, as with any technological shift, these opportunities must be balanced with care and the continued need for human expertise and oversight. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/what-ai-really-means-for-global-freight-forwarding
Stay informed with Kukla UK!
Check Kukla UK’s website for logistics updates, strikes, issues, regulations and much more. The page link remains the same throughout the year. We welcome your feedback and are always happy to hear from you. Access our dedicated page for the 2025 updates: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/news/information-update-2025
Kukla UK LIVE Sailing Schedule
The Sailing Schedule is updated weekly or as needed, so please bookmark it and refer to it when you need the information. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/sailing-schedule