Legal Brief
 |
 |
Transport News Brief Week 43
Document Actions
The latest news roundup from the SMMT.
Operators need to understand emissions
Speaking at the recent Commercial Motor conference on emissions, Simon Barnes, manager environmental affairs for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said that while truck and van makers have done a great deal to cut their emissions, they can't control those from transport operators. "These are entirely dependant on vehicle use and as UK road freight figures are growing, it is no surprise that the sector's emissions are growing too." Barnes said that the transport industry has to take responsibility for all its emissions and should expect that the rules will widen to include air quality. "The other threat is that of different standards for different Low Emission Zones - keeping pace with those would be a nightmare." But he said the news isn't all bad, as cutting emissions means cutting fuel use, "and that clearly means running more efficiently and cutting costs in the long run."
Simon Barnes on +44 (0)2 073 449 200 or sbarnes@smmt.co.uk
TipCon 2008 - the tipper industry's ultimate one-stop shop
Floor planning for TipCon 2008 is well underway after an excellent response to the news that the show will be back, at the CV Show in the NEC next Spring. "TipCon 2008 promises to be the British tipper industry's ultimate one-stop shop," said Bob Sockl, boss of Crystal Communications, the CV Show's sales and marketing consultancy. "Visitors will find a wide range of products specific to the tipper business as well as all the other goods and services needed to keep tipper trucks running profitably, and all in one show." He says there will be a substantial assembly of specialist bodies and related equipment packed into halls 17 & 18 at the CV Show, from 15 to 17 April. "Central to TipCon will be an RHA seminar theatre where key issues facing the UK's tipper business will be put under the microscope by industry experts." This will be complemented by a huge outside display and demonstration area, "where you can see the very latest kit in action."
More from Bob Sockl on +44(0)1 634 261 262 or bob.s@crystal-communications.co.uk
London mayor's plans won't cut congestion or CO2, says SMMT
The SMMT wants the London mayor to extend the consultation on planned changes to the congestion charge. The motor industry body has told Transport for London that its plans won't significantly cut CO2 or congestion in the capital. The SMMT says that given the complexity of the scheme, there should be more time for discussion. TfL's own figures claim a CO2 saving of up to 8,100 tonnes under the plan to base central London charges on car CO2 emissions. That compares to total ground-based transport emissions in London of 9.7 million tonnes. In other words, the TfL plan would cut CO2 by just 0.084%. "To put this in context, UK car and commercial vehicle manufacturing sites have cut CO2 from 2.14 to 1.36m tonnes in just four years, a 36.5% saving," says the SMMT. "Average new car CO2 emissions have also come down by 12 per cent in a decade, saving an estimated one million tonnes of CO2 each year in the UK."
More from Sara Lee on +44 (0)2 073 449 219 or slee@smmt.co.uk
Rai truck show this week
The Rai truck show opens in Amsterdam on Friday 26 October and runs through to Saturday 3 November. With over 350 exhibitors selling pretty much everything from maximum capacity trucks to vans, trailers, bodywork and supporting services, the Rai show is the mainland's second biggest commercial vehicle show. As usual, it will be host to a number of national and international exhibition debuts and attracts visitors from across north western Europe. The exhibition centre is quite close to the centre of Amsterdam and well served by tram, bus and trains, including a frequent direct train service Schipol airport. You'll find details of opening times and ticket prices on the show's website.
More from www.roadtransportshow.com
Iveco hybrids at the Amsterdam Rai truck show
Iveco says it its exhibits at the Rai truck show, opening in Amsterdam on Friday 26 October, will focus on hybrid power for its heavy truck range and on new models in its light off-road range. The firm will show two diesel-electric parallel hybrid powered trucks, one a Daily van in FedEx colours and the other a Eurocargo in TNT colours. Iveco is working closely with both firms to develop commercially viable models to help operators cut their carbon footprints - its hybrid technology offers fuel savings of up to 30% on urban work.
More from Nigel Emms on +44 (0)1 923 259 513 or emms@iveco.com
Renault wins record Russian truck order
Russian haulier TR Axis, a leading car transport firm in Russia has ordered 500 Renault Premium 380.19 tractors from Renault Trucks Vostok for delivery next year. This is the biggest deal done by Renault in Russia since the company opened for business there in 1992. TK Axis, whose head office is in Saint Petersburg, has become one of the market leaders in vehicle transport in Russia in just four years. The firm runs a 700 strong fleet, dominated by Renault. Its rapid growth follows recent big transport contract wins.
More from Penny Randall on +44 (0)1 582 479 619 or penny.randall@renault-trucks.com
Biodiesel vans from Nissan
justauto.com reports that Nissan France has introduced biodiesel-powered versions of its Interstar and Primastar vans, for fleet customers. The same source says the firm also plans a Euro 4 pickup.
More from www.just-auto.com
Massif 4x4 at Amsterdam
Iveco says it will use the Rai truck show at Amsterdam to launch its new Santana-derived 4x4 workhorse, the Massif. The new vehicle will be the centrepiece of the firm's off-road vehicle display, which will also include the recently launched Daily 4x4.
More from Nigel Emms on +44 (0)1 923 259 513 or emms@iveco.com
Diesel price hike
Petrolprices.com was amongst those reporting that the retail diesel prices broke the £1 a litre mark on the back of oil prices at over $90 a barrel. The BBC website suggests that worries about military action between the Turkish army and Kurdish rebels may make matters worse.
More from www.petrolprices.com
FTA wants an essential user fuel rebate
The spiralling price of oil on the world market, together with the Chancellor's two pence a litre fuel tax hike earlier this month has pushed the price of diesel to record levels. The Freight Transport Association wants the UK government to cut industry's transport costs by introducing an essential vehicle fuel rebate scheme as soon as possible. "We desperately need a system which separates the way we tax fuel for cars compared with fuel for commercial vehicles . says Geoff Dossetter, says, FTA's director of external affairs.
More from Geoff Dossetter on +44 (0)1 892 552 255 or gdossetter@fta.co.uk
Transit range gets heavy
Ford says it has expanded its Transit van range with "a raft of developments." The changes include a new 4.6 tonne model and a new heavy duty version and a new, five cylinder and 3.2 litre, 200hp engine that develops 470 Nm torque. The firm says the aim is to help operators downsizing from 7.5 tonne trucks. Emergency services and municipal services as well as the construction and motor home industries benefit from higher gross vehicle weights. The front axle is uprated to 1,850 kg while the rear axle is now rated for 3,300. "The commercial vehicle market continues to evolve, and it's important we continue to develop our range to meet customers' changing needs," said Steve Kimber, director, commercial vehicles, at Ford of Britain. The 4.6 tonne range is available in van, chassis and chassis double cabs with the six-speed 140hp or 200hp powertrains.
More from Anne-Marie Chatterton on +44 (0)1 277 253 944 or achatter@ford.com
ATS Euromaster does a three-year deal with the AA
ATS Euromaster has won three-year contract with the AA, taking over the supply and service of tyres for the firm's roadside and recovery patrol fleet. The AA will switch its preferred tyre brand to Michelin, with ATS Euromaster fitting new rubber across the company's fleet of around 2,500 patrol vans and 300 recovery trucks. The deal also means that all AA members can get a wide range of discounts, including 10% off tyres and up to 20% off other selected goods and services at any ATS Euromaster service centre, if they present their membership card when paying. AA members can also use a pre-bookable next day mobile tyre-fitting service, allowing them to have new tyres fitted at home or workplace for standard ATS Euromaster prices with a call-out charge of only £15.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
Where are all the engineers?
PublicTechnology.net reports that 90% of 14 and 15 year olds know little or nothing about careers in engineering and technology. These are the gloomy results of a study by Europe's largest professional society for engineers, the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Engineering also fails to make the top ten career choices among the same age group; ranking behind hotel management. The top three are the law, teaching and professional sports, in that order.
More from www.publictechnology.net
New van from Vauxhall
Vauxhall says its new Combo van model, the Expression comes with power steering, a 1.3 litre, 75 hp diesel and a five-speed gearbox. Prices start at £7,995, excluding VAT and the Como Expression offers 2.76m3 load volume and up to 613 kg payload. The sophisticated braking system includes ABS, Electronic Brake Assist with and an electronic brake distribution to more evenly distribute brake forces between wheels. Other goodies include remote central deadlocking, a driver's airbag, stereo-radio, half-height steel bulkhead, pyrotechnic seatbelt pre-tensioners, pedal release system and overhead storage shelf and an electronically operated engine deadlock immobiliser. Options include single or twin side-loading doors, a tailgate with rear wash-wipe, load bay protector mat, restraint mesh and a versatile FlexCargo fold-flat passenger seat There is a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, 12 months' roadside assistance and a six-year anti-perforation warranty
More form Craig Cheetham on +44 (0)1 582 427 612 or craig.cheetham@uk.gm.com
Scania fits Isotrak telematics for Asda
Scania is fitting Isotrak telematics equipment as part of an ongoing contract to supply 200 fully finished tractor units for the Asda retail fleet. The firm will do the work at its factory in Zwolle, the Netherlands and the deal will eventualy include Asda's entire 1,000 strong tractor unit fleet. Asda has commissioned Scania to install Isotrak's track and trace unit, driver data terminal and communications microphone and speaker, as part of a package of special options, to aid the supermarket's change to Isotrak's Active Transport Management System (ATMS) announced in July 2007. "Asda is one of our largest customers and, when they approached us to install their Isotrak telematics components in the new vehicles, it made complete sense for us to do so," said Tim Pugh, Scania's business development director.
More from Chris Love on +44 (0)1 908 210 210 or chris.love@scania.com
Two-pedal Vivaro and Combo vans
Vauxhall says it just added two new clutchless transmissions to its range. The Combo 1.3 CDTi Easytronic and Vivaro 2.0 CDTi Tecshift complement existing Vauxhall two-pedal transmissions; an automatic for the Astravan and a two-pedal Techshift for some Vivaro and Movano models. The firm says the Vivaro 2.0 CDTi six speed Tecshift is a key new model, offering customers a two-pedal transmission at a lower price than when it was only offered on 2.5-litre models. It is available as an £800 option on all 115hp Vivaros. The Combo Easytronic offers either a fully automatic mode, or a set-up where gears can be individually selected electronically. Offered as a standalone model, the Combo Easytronic costs from £10,665, excluding VAT.
More form Craig Cheetham on +44 (0)1 582 427 612 or craig.cheetham@uk.gm.com
Dispatches for Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets Council just got its first nine Citroën Dispatch one tonne payload panel vans. The council's environmental services team will use seven of them for pest control and specialist laundry services while the Council's animal wardens will use the remaining two, fitted with roof-mounted and powered extractor fans, for rounding up stray dogs and cats. All the vans have been specially fitted with interior storage and washable interior linings by Colchester-based converter Fleetshield. Citroën dealer Evans Halshaw Mansfield did the business and Translinc will operate six-year, full maintenance, 15,000 miles-a-year contract agreements.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Mack helps Share the Road again
Mack Trucks just said it will again will be a primary sponsor of the American Trucking Associations' Share the Road program next year. Designed to improve the safety of America's roadways by teaching car drivers how to safely drive around large trucks, Share the Road delivers life-saving messages to hundreds of US cities and reaches millions of motorists annually. The program uses a group of professional truck drivers with exemplary safety records as spokespeople. These drivers do safety demonstrations for local media, students, community leaders and highway users in cities around the country to deliver the program's life-saving messages about potential blind spots, safe following distances, truck stopping distances and the like. 2008 will mark Mack's eighth consecutive year as a Share the Road sponsor.
More from John Walsh on +1 610 709 2560 or john.walsh@macktrucks.com
Truck bodybuilding from Nissan
justauto.com reports that Nissan Motor will open a truck body-building centre beside its factory at Avilla in Spain next summer. The new plant means that the Cabstar and Atleon buyers may expect high quality bodywork at shorter delivery times and lower cost, according to the manufacturer. The versions on offer will include dropside, tipper and box body models. Nissan expects to do 2,000 light truck bodies in the plant's first full year, though none will come to the UK.
More from www.just-auto.com
Daimler's world diesel.
Transport Topics reports from the US that the Daimler Truck Group just unveiled its new, 14.8 litre diesel. This is first part of the firm's five-year, $1.5bn plan to develop a single heavy-duty diesel engine range for its markets around the world. The new engine, shown at the Detroit Diesel factory, will replace Daimler, 20-year-old Series 60 models and is the first in a range that will include four models between 10.8 and 15.6 litres. Andreas Renschler, head of Daimler's global commercial vehicle operations, called the new engine "the most significant development in the heavy-duty market in the millennium." Freightliner boss Chris Patterson said full commercial production of the new "world-class engine" would begin late in the first quarter of 2008.
More from www.ttnews.com
Paccar wins more recognition
Paccar has earned the distinction of being named a leading manufacturing company in Assembly magazine's recently published "Assembly Top 50" world manufacturer rating. The firm, which owns the Daf, Kenworth and Peterbilt truck brands has made four straight years of double-digit revenue and net income growth. "This industry recognition is a wonderful reflection of the dedication and innovation of PACCAR employees worldwide," said Mark C. Pigott, chairman and chief executive officer. The magazine (www.assemblymag.com) ranks the largest global publicly owned manufacturing firms by gross revenue and requires a significant portion of gross revenue to be derived from products designed or assembled in the United States. Paccar was ranked 38th based on worldwide revenue of $16.45 billion in 2006.
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
Swedish fork-lift firm falls to Nissan
Nissan Motor Co says its just bought Swedish fork-lift truck maker Atlet AB. The firm, based in Mölnycke, has sales worth some €182m and employs about 1,000 people including Keiji Ikeda, its new boss.
More from www.nissan-global.com
UK is GM's biggest European van market
Vauxhall says the UK is General Motor's biggest market in Europe for commercial vehicles, with almost 40,000 new vans registered between January and September 2007. The GM plant at Luton is building more vans than ever before, with over 90,000 units forecast for 2007. This summer, the plant produced its 500,000th van since the introduction of the Vivaro in 2001.
More form Craig Cheetham on +44 (0)1 582 427 612 or craig.cheetham@uk.gm.com
FTA says O-Licence powers must not go to Vosa.
The Freight Transport Association has rejected Department for Transport plans for a radical change in the structure of the Traffic Commissioner system that controls truck Operator Licences. The FTA says that the present system with a new statutory role for the Senior Traffic Commissioner would be preferable, together with the establishment of a separate bus industry regulator. 'It would be entirely inappropriate and unacceptable for Vosa to be the primary enforcement agency, working at operational level in carrying out tests and roadside enforcement and also managing and taking decisions on the actual issue, renewal and legal management of Operator Licences," said James Hookham, FTA policy director. "There can be no judicial system which allows one agency to act as both judge and jury on the one hand, and policeman on the other."
More from Geoff Dossetter on +44 (0)1 892 552 255 or gdossetter@fta.co.uk
Handling equipment training partnership
The United Kingdom Warehousing Association has done a deal with The Resources Group to offer material handling equipment training for its members. Courses include forklift truck, truck-mounted crane, overhead gantry crane, LGV licence acquisition and driver assessments. This means that, for the first time, UKWA - which is the leading trade association for the third party logistics sector - will be able to provide training throughout the UK to its members, at preferential prices.
More from Lloyd Arkill on +44 (0)1 923 770 455 or lloyd@am-pr.net
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports that this month's Good Housekeeping magazine has an advert for a new CircoSteam oven. It says: "Attention to detail means that Neff's CircoSteam doesn't have complicated functions - just simple one-touch controls, including 52 cooking programmes..." Reader Xavier Mooney suggests this statement contradicts itself and New Scientist agrees.
More from www.newscientist.com
Speaking at the recent Commercial Motor conference on emissions, Simon Barnes, manager environmental affairs for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said that while truck and van makers have done a great deal to cut their emissions, they can't control those from transport operators. "These are entirely dependant on vehicle use and as UK road freight figures are growing, it is no surprise that the sector's emissions are growing too." Barnes said that the transport industry has to take responsibility for all its emissions and should expect that the rules will widen to include air quality. "The other threat is that of different standards for different Low Emission Zones - keeping pace with those would be a nightmare." But he said the news isn't all bad, as cutting emissions means cutting fuel use, "and that clearly means running more efficiently and cutting costs in the long run."
Simon Barnes on +44 (0)2 073 449 200 or sbarnes@smmt.co.uk
TipCon 2008 - the tipper industry's ultimate one-stop shop
Floor planning for TipCon 2008 is well underway after an excellent response to the news that the show will be back, at the CV Show in the NEC next Spring. "TipCon 2008 promises to be the British tipper industry's ultimate one-stop shop," said Bob Sockl, boss of Crystal Communications, the CV Show's sales and marketing consultancy. "Visitors will find a wide range of products specific to the tipper business as well as all the other goods and services needed to keep tipper trucks running profitably, and all in one show." He says there will be a substantial assembly of specialist bodies and related equipment packed into halls 17 & 18 at the CV Show, from 15 to 17 April. "Central to TipCon will be an RHA seminar theatre where key issues facing the UK's tipper business will be put under the microscope by industry experts." This will be complemented by a huge outside display and demonstration area, "where you can see the very latest kit in action."
More from Bob Sockl on +44(0)1 634 261 262 or bob.s@crystal-communications.co.uk
London mayor's plans won't cut congestion or CO2, says SMMT
The SMMT wants the London mayor to extend the consultation on planned changes to the congestion charge. The motor industry body has told Transport for London that its plans won't significantly cut CO2 or congestion in the capital. The SMMT says that given the complexity of the scheme, there should be more time for discussion. TfL's own figures claim a CO2 saving of up to 8,100 tonnes under the plan to base central London charges on car CO2 emissions. That compares to total ground-based transport emissions in London of 9.7 million tonnes. In other words, the TfL plan would cut CO2 by just 0.084%. "To put this in context, UK car and commercial vehicle manufacturing sites have cut CO2 from 2.14 to 1.36m tonnes in just four years, a 36.5% saving," says the SMMT. "Average new car CO2 emissions have also come down by 12 per cent in a decade, saving an estimated one million tonnes of CO2 each year in the UK."
More from Sara Lee on +44 (0)2 073 449 219 or slee@smmt.co.uk
Rai truck show this week
The Rai truck show opens in Amsterdam on Friday 26 October and runs through to Saturday 3 November. With over 350 exhibitors selling pretty much everything from maximum capacity trucks to vans, trailers, bodywork and supporting services, the Rai show is the mainland's second biggest commercial vehicle show. As usual, it will be host to a number of national and international exhibition debuts and attracts visitors from across north western Europe. The exhibition centre is quite close to the centre of Amsterdam and well served by tram, bus and trains, including a frequent direct train service Schipol airport. You'll find details of opening times and ticket prices on the show's website.
More from www.roadtransportshow.com
Iveco hybrids at the Amsterdam Rai truck show
Iveco says it its exhibits at the Rai truck show, opening in Amsterdam on Friday 26 October, will focus on hybrid power for its heavy truck range and on new models in its light off-road range. The firm will show two diesel-electric parallel hybrid powered trucks, one a Daily van in FedEx colours and the other a Eurocargo in TNT colours. Iveco is working closely with both firms to develop commercially viable models to help operators cut their carbon footprints - its hybrid technology offers fuel savings of up to 30% on urban work.
More from Nigel Emms on +44 (0)1 923 259 513 or emms@iveco.com
Renault wins record Russian truck order
Russian haulier TR Axis, a leading car transport firm in Russia has ordered 500 Renault Premium 380.19 tractors from Renault Trucks Vostok for delivery next year. This is the biggest deal done by Renault in Russia since the company opened for business there in 1992. TK Axis, whose head office is in Saint Petersburg, has become one of the market leaders in vehicle transport in Russia in just four years. The firm runs a 700 strong fleet, dominated by Renault. Its rapid growth follows recent big transport contract wins.
More from Penny Randall on +44 (0)1 582 479 619 or penny.randall@renault-trucks.com
Biodiesel vans from Nissan
justauto.com reports that Nissan France has introduced biodiesel-powered versions of its Interstar and Primastar vans, for fleet customers. The same source says the firm also plans a Euro 4 pickup.
More from www.just-auto.com
Massif 4x4 at Amsterdam
Iveco says it will use the Rai truck show at Amsterdam to launch its new Santana-derived 4x4 workhorse, the Massif. The new vehicle will be the centrepiece of the firm's off-road vehicle display, which will also include the recently launched Daily 4x4.
More from Nigel Emms on +44 (0)1 923 259 513 or emms@iveco.com
Diesel price hike
Petrolprices.com was amongst those reporting that the retail diesel prices broke the £1 a litre mark on the back of oil prices at over $90 a barrel. The BBC website suggests that worries about military action between the Turkish army and Kurdish rebels may make matters worse.
More from www.petrolprices.com
FTA wants an essential user fuel rebate
The spiralling price of oil on the world market, together with the Chancellor's two pence a litre fuel tax hike earlier this month has pushed the price of diesel to record levels. The Freight Transport Association wants the UK government to cut industry's transport costs by introducing an essential vehicle fuel rebate scheme as soon as possible. "We desperately need a system which separates the way we tax fuel for cars compared with fuel for commercial vehicles . says Geoff Dossetter, says, FTA's director of external affairs.
More from Geoff Dossetter on +44 (0)1 892 552 255 or gdossetter@fta.co.uk
Transit range gets heavy
Ford says it has expanded its Transit van range with "a raft of developments." The changes include a new 4.6 tonne model and a new heavy duty version and a new, five cylinder and 3.2 litre, 200hp engine that develops 470 Nm torque. The firm says the aim is to help operators downsizing from 7.5 tonne trucks. Emergency services and municipal services as well as the construction and motor home industries benefit from higher gross vehicle weights. The front axle is uprated to 1,850 kg while the rear axle is now rated for 3,300. "The commercial vehicle market continues to evolve, and it's important we continue to develop our range to meet customers' changing needs," said Steve Kimber, director, commercial vehicles, at Ford of Britain. The 4.6 tonne range is available in van, chassis and chassis double cabs with the six-speed 140hp or 200hp powertrains.
More from Anne-Marie Chatterton on +44 (0)1 277 253 944 or achatter@ford.com
ATS Euromaster does a three-year deal with the AA
ATS Euromaster has won three-year contract with the AA, taking over the supply and service of tyres for the firm's roadside and recovery patrol fleet. The AA will switch its preferred tyre brand to Michelin, with ATS Euromaster fitting new rubber across the company's fleet of around 2,500 patrol vans and 300 recovery trucks. The deal also means that all AA members can get a wide range of discounts, including 10% off tyres and up to 20% off other selected goods and services at any ATS Euromaster service centre, if they present their membership card when paying. AA members can also use a pre-bookable next day mobile tyre-fitting service, allowing them to have new tyres fitted at home or workplace for standard ATS Euromaster prices with a call-out charge of only £15.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
Where are all the engineers?
PublicTechnology.net reports that 90% of 14 and 15 year olds know little or nothing about careers in engineering and technology. These are the gloomy results of a study by Europe's largest professional society for engineers, the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Engineering also fails to make the top ten career choices among the same age group; ranking behind hotel management. The top three are the law, teaching and professional sports, in that order.
More from www.publictechnology.net
New van from Vauxhall
Vauxhall says its new Combo van model, the Expression comes with power steering, a 1.3 litre, 75 hp diesel and a five-speed gearbox. Prices start at £7,995, excluding VAT and the Como Expression offers 2.76m3 load volume and up to 613 kg payload. The sophisticated braking system includes ABS, Electronic Brake Assist with and an electronic brake distribution to more evenly distribute brake forces between wheels. Other goodies include remote central deadlocking, a driver's airbag, stereo-radio, half-height steel bulkhead, pyrotechnic seatbelt pre-tensioners, pedal release system and overhead storage shelf and an electronically operated engine deadlock immobiliser. Options include single or twin side-loading doors, a tailgate with rear wash-wipe, load bay protector mat, restraint mesh and a versatile FlexCargo fold-flat passenger seat There is a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, 12 months' roadside assistance and a six-year anti-perforation warranty
More form Craig Cheetham on +44 (0)1 582 427 612 or craig.cheetham@uk.gm.com
Scania fits Isotrak telematics for Asda
Scania is fitting Isotrak telematics equipment as part of an ongoing contract to supply 200 fully finished tractor units for the Asda retail fleet. The firm will do the work at its factory in Zwolle, the Netherlands and the deal will eventualy include Asda's entire 1,000 strong tractor unit fleet. Asda has commissioned Scania to install Isotrak's track and trace unit, driver data terminal and communications microphone and speaker, as part of a package of special options, to aid the supermarket's change to Isotrak's Active Transport Management System (ATMS) announced in July 2007. "Asda is one of our largest customers and, when they approached us to install their Isotrak telematics components in the new vehicles, it made complete sense for us to do so," said Tim Pugh, Scania's business development director.
More from Chris Love on +44 (0)1 908 210 210 or chris.love@scania.com
Two-pedal Vivaro and Combo vans
Vauxhall says it just added two new clutchless transmissions to its range. The Combo 1.3 CDTi Easytronic and Vivaro 2.0 CDTi Tecshift complement existing Vauxhall two-pedal transmissions; an automatic for the Astravan and a two-pedal Techshift for some Vivaro and Movano models. The firm says the Vivaro 2.0 CDTi six speed Tecshift is a key new model, offering customers a two-pedal transmission at a lower price than when it was only offered on 2.5-litre models. It is available as an £800 option on all 115hp Vivaros. The Combo Easytronic offers either a fully automatic mode, or a set-up where gears can be individually selected electronically. Offered as a standalone model, the Combo Easytronic costs from £10,665, excluding VAT.
More form Craig Cheetham on +44 (0)1 582 427 612 or craig.cheetham@uk.gm.com
Dispatches for Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets Council just got its first nine Citroën Dispatch one tonne payload panel vans. The council's environmental services team will use seven of them for pest control and specialist laundry services while the Council's animal wardens will use the remaining two, fitted with roof-mounted and powered extractor fans, for rounding up stray dogs and cats. All the vans have been specially fitted with interior storage and washable interior linings by Colchester-based converter Fleetshield. Citroën dealer Evans Halshaw Mansfield did the business and Translinc will operate six-year, full maintenance, 15,000 miles-a-year contract agreements.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Mack helps Share the Road again
Mack Trucks just said it will again will be a primary sponsor of the American Trucking Associations' Share the Road program next year. Designed to improve the safety of America's roadways by teaching car drivers how to safely drive around large trucks, Share the Road delivers life-saving messages to hundreds of US cities and reaches millions of motorists annually. The program uses a group of professional truck drivers with exemplary safety records as spokespeople. These drivers do safety demonstrations for local media, students, community leaders and highway users in cities around the country to deliver the program's life-saving messages about potential blind spots, safe following distances, truck stopping distances and the like. 2008 will mark Mack's eighth consecutive year as a Share the Road sponsor.
More from John Walsh on +1 610 709 2560 or john.walsh@macktrucks.com
Truck bodybuilding from Nissan
justauto.com reports that Nissan Motor will open a truck body-building centre beside its factory at Avilla in Spain next summer. The new plant means that the Cabstar and Atleon buyers may expect high quality bodywork at shorter delivery times and lower cost, according to the manufacturer. The versions on offer will include dropside, tipper and box body models. Nissan expects to do 2,000 light truck bodies in the plant's first full year, though none will come to the UK.
More from www.just-auto.com
Daimler's world diesel.
Transport Topics reports from the US that the Daimler Truck Group just unveiled its new, 14.8 litre diesel. This is first part of the firm's five-year, $1.5bn plan to develop a single heavy-duty diesel engine range for its markets around the world. The new engine, shown at the Detroit Diesel factory, will replace Daimler, 20-year-old Series 60 models and is the first in a range that will include four models between 10.8 and 15.6 litres. Andreas Renschler, head of Daimler's global commercial vehicle operations, called the new engine "the most significant development in the heavy-duty market in the millennium." Freightliner boss Chris Patterson said full commercial production of the new "world-class engine" would begin late in the first quarter of 2008.
More from www.ttnews.com
Paccar wins more recognition
Paccar has earned the distinction of being named a leading manufacturing company in Assembly magazine's recently published "Assembly Top 50" world manufacturer rating. The firm, which owns the Daf, Kenworth and Peterbilt truck brands has made four straight years of double-digit revenue and net income growth. "This industry recognition is a wonderful reflection of the dedication and innovation of PACCAR employees worldwide," said Mark C. Pigott, chairman and chief executive officer. The magazine (www.assemblymag.com) ranks the largest global publicly owned manufacturing firms by gross revenue and requires a significant portion of gross revenue to be derived from products designed or assembled in the United States. Paccar was ranked 38th based on worldwide revenue of $16.45 billion in 2006.
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
Swedish fork-lift firm falls to Nissan
Nissan Motor Co says its just bought Swedish fork-lift truck maker Atlet AB. The firm, based in Mölnycke, has sales worth some €182m and employs about 1,000 people including Keiji Ikeda, its new boss.
More from www.nissan-global.com
UK is GM's biggest European van market
Vauxhall says the UK is General Motor's biggest market in Europe for commercial vehicles, with almost 40,000 new vans registered between January and September 2007. The GM plant at Luton is building more vans than ever before, with over 90,000 units forecast for 2007. This summer, the plant produced its 500,000th van since the introduction of the Vivaro in 2001.
More form Craig Cheetham on +44 (0)1 582 427 612 or craig.cheetham@uk.gm.com
FTA says O-Licence powers must not go to Vosa.
The Freight Transport Association has rejected Department for Transport plans for a radical change in the structure of the Traffic Commissioner system that controls truck Operator Licences. The FTA says that the present system with a new statutory role for the Senior Traffic Commissioner would be preferable, together with the establishment of a separate bus industry regulator. 'It would be entirely inappropriate and unacceptable for Vosa to be the primary enforcement agency, working at operational level in carrying out tests and roadside enforcement and also managing and taking decisions on the actual issue, renewal and legal management of Operator Licences," said James Hookham, FTA policy director. "There can be no judicial system which allows one agency to act as both judge and jury on the one hand, and policeman on the other."
More from Geoff Dossetter on +44 (0)1 892 552 255 or gdossetter@fta.co.uk
Handling equipment training partnership
The United Kingdom Warehousing Association has done a deal with The Resources Group to offer material handling equipment training for its members. Courses include forklift truck, truck-mounted crane, overhead gantry crane, LGV licence acquisition and driver assessments. This means that, for the first time, UKWA - which is the leading trade association for the third party logistics sector - will be able to provide training throughout the UK to its members, at preferential prices.
More from Lloyd Arkill on +44 (0)1 923 770 455 or lloyd@am-pr.net
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports that this month's Good Housekeeping magazine has an advert for a new CircoSteam oven. It says: "Attention to detail means that Neff's CircoSteam doesn't have complicated functions - just simple one-touch controls, including 52 cooking programmes..." Reader Xavier Mooney suggests this statement contradicts itself and New Scientist agrees.
More from www.newscientist.com
About TNN News Feed
