Multimodal 2025 became a launchpad for cutting-edge solutions spanning AI-powered warehouse automation, autonomous vehicle fleets, and sustainable transport innovations. Industry leaders used the platform to unveil major partnerships and technological advances, signalling a decisive shift toward digital transformation across the UK’s £124 billion logistics sector.
This year’s event is home to over 275 exhibitors and around 100 speakers across 71 conference sessions – representing the largest gathering of logistics expertise ever assembled at Multimodal. Running from 17th to 19th June 2025, the three-day event brings together every facet of the logistics sector under one roof.
Day one’s keynote session featured Gary Jeffreys, Managing Director of Maersk, speaking at the panel discussion “Unlocking UK Connectivity Puzzle,” which explored how cross-modal connectivity between roads, railways, ports and warehousing clusters can drive productivity improvements whilst supporting decarbonisation objectives.
“Over the last two years, customers are ramping up interest in working with us as partners to reduce their emissions,” said Jeffreys. “There’s more opportunity in the UK – it’s small enough to be innovative. Each mode has its challenges – whether it’s having enough electricity in the grid or getting the next generation of people.”
Tim Morris, Group Head of Corporate Communications at Associated British Ports, highlighted infrastructure challenges: “Logistics and freight continue to be the poor relation of transport debate. It takes us so long in the UK, and is so expensive, to develop and grow transport infrastructure.”
A major theme throughout the opening day was the impact of new US trade policy, with Nicolas Collart from Customs Support Group examining how Trump’s policies on tariffs, near-shoring and trade wars will affect freight rates and European operations.
“At the heart of the trade war, companies are looking at options. The UK was the first to strike a deal with the US,” said Collart. “There is a new sense of urgency for negotiations and ratifying trade agreements.”
The session “How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Multimodal Logistics” chaired by Samantha Brocklehurst from Maersk featured industry leaders exploring practical AI applications across different transport modes.
Dawn Rasmussen, CEO of Problems Solved, highlighted AI’s transformative potential: “In the short term we’ve already seen the industry begin to adopt automation of bookings and quotations. Today when there’s an incident in logistics, the time it takes people to resolve that situation, AI can do that very, very quickly.”
James Coombes, CEO of Raft, emphasised AI’s role as a standardisation tool: “We’ve always seen AI as being a kind of Rosetta stone in our industry. AI is really good at taking human language elements and bringing that back into your standards so you can use it effectively.”
Adnan Zaheer, CEO of iCustoms, focused on immediate opportunities: “The immediate opportunity is about time and cost savings. Tasks which used to take a lot of manpower can now be significantly reduced.”
Another critical session addressed the UK’s changing trade landscape, with Phil Roe, President of Logistics UK, launching new research findings: “The UK’s logistics performance is declining, pulling the UK’s productivity down with it. We are held back by border friction, congested infrastructure, skills shortages, outdated regulations and patchworks of urban rules.”
Leading industry voices dominated the conference programme, with representatives from Maersk, Malcolm Logistics, DP World, Maritime Transport, MSC, Peel Ports, CMA CGM, Freightliner, Kuehne+Nagel, Hapag-Lloyd, ASM, Ocean Network Express, DHL, and CEVA sharing insights on the day’s key themes.
Event Director Robert Jervis commented on the opening day’s success: “Today’s sessions have demonstrated the industry’s commitment to practical innovation. From connectivity solutions to AI transformation and understanding global trade impacts, we’re seeing forward-thinking approaches that will help businesses build resilience in an increasingly complex environment.”
The Multimodal 2025 Awards evening will take place tonight at the VOX, hosted by Martin Bayfield, with industry leaders gathering to celebrate excellence across rail, road, air, maritime, and freight forwarding services.
