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Transport News Brief Week 48
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The latest news roundup from the SMMT.
Operators want fuel and CO2 data from van makers
A straw poll among the 170 delegates to last week's Fleet Van conference showed that almost without exception they wanted van makers to come up fuel economy and CO2 data along the lines of the figures provided for cars. From 1 January 2008, all new vans will have to be tested according to a New European Driving Cycle, a car standard that combines both urban sub-urban driving, unladen. At the moment there is no obligation for van makers to publish the data, though it seems likely this will change. In the meantime, van operators at the conference said they are increasingly asked about fuel economy, emissions data and carbon footprints and want van makers to help sooner rather than later. Operators acknowledged that data derived from unladen driving tests would be a little unrealistic, but felt it would be better than nothing.
More from John Maslen on +44 (0)1 733 468 307 or john.maslen@emap.com
More municipal exhibitors at CV Show
Go Plant, Translinc, WCR and Zoeller Waste are the latest firms to book space in Municipal 2008, the specialist sector at next year's CV Show, which the organisers expect will have well over 600 exhibitors as usual. "This will be the biggest single display of refuse collection and street cleaning vehicles anywhere in the UK," said David Crawford, CV Show sales manager. "Municipal 2008 will be 20% bigger this year and with 60 exhibitors already, our many local authority visitors will be spoilt for choice, particularly as the municipal zone is embedded in the biggest commercial vehicle and support service exhibition of its type in Europe." He says that there are fewer than 600m2 of floor space left available in the very successful specialist area. "Any firm that wants to be part of next year's success needs to get in touch very quickly."
More from David Crawford on +44 (0)1 634 261 262 or sales@cvshow.com
Mobile engineers for Scania
Scania says it has introduced a 70-strong fleet of mobile engineers to help tackle faults on trucks across the UK. These people specialise in the repair and maintenance of ancillaries like tail-lifts, fridges, shutter doors, air-conditioning systems and wheelchair lifts and will work at truck, bus and coach operators' depots or even the roadside. Scania's James Armstrong, aftersales director, says that, as many operators have the Scania network maintain their vehicles, "it makes perfect sense to entrust their ancillary equipment to us too, with the mobile engineers adding even greater flexibility and convenience." Armstrong says the move is backed by £1m spent on service vehicle, equipment and training.
More Phil Sampson on +44 (0)1 908 329 384 or phil.sampson@scania.com
Demand for cleaner vehicles needs joined-up thinking
Costs still trump emissions when it comes to vehicle buyers priorities. That is the main finding of a Society of Motor Manufacturers and Trader survey for release on Tuesday 27 November. The survey pools the views of more that 100 industry bosses. Financial incentives including tax breaks and cheaper fuels emerge as crucial in driving demand for lower carbon vehicles. "Our industry colleagues clearly feel that partnership between industry, government, fuel companies and customers is the best way to deliver sustainable road transport sooner and most effectively," said Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive. The full survey will be available for download from the SMMT website www.smmt.co.uk from 18:00 on Tuesday 27 November.
More from Nigel Wonnacott on +44 (0)2 073 449 226 or nwonnacott@smmt.co.uk
Fleet Van Conference success
The first Fleet Van Conference, sponsored by Volkswagen and held last week at Millbrook, was a great success, say its organisers. "The response from delegates, and there were over 170 of them, has been excellent," said John Maslen, editor-in-chief at Fleet News. "It shows there is a real appetite in the market for expert information and advice on van fleet management." He says the event is now an important addition to the conferences the magazine runs each year. The next is the Fleet News Europe Conference, in Brussels in February.
More from John Maslen on +44 (0)1 733 468 307 or john.maslen@emap.com
Free deal from Teleroute
Online freight and vehicle exchange service Teleroute says it is offering customers free, domestic freight domestic postings until the end of 2007. The aim is to raise awareness of the benefits of its freight exchange service and cut the number of trucks running empty on UK roads. If successful it will also help cut fuel use and carbon emissions. The firm says that latest estimates show that one in four trucks run empty, so ensuring more run fully loaded out and back will hike efficiency and cut costs. Teleroute's services are free till the end of the year, giving access, it says, to 150,000 freight and vehicle movements by a 60,000 strong UK network.
More from Georgia Collins on +31 (0) 172 428 508 or georgia.collins@teleroute.co.uk
Rossington lands top truck job at Manheim
Manheim Auctions says that Brian Rossington is its newly-appointed national HGV and plant manager.
More from Lucy Brake on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or lucy.brake@thejjgroup.com
Vehicle production up 28.3% in October
The Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders published figures last week to show UK vehicle production in October up by almost a third on a year ago, at 174,469 units. Car production was up 31% and commercial vehicle output rose 11.8%.
More from John Procter on +44(0)2 073 449 263 or jprocter@smmt.co.uk
LDV helps AA sort mis-fuelling
UK van maker LDV says it just delivered 13 specially liveried 3.2 tonne Maxus vans to the AA to help the roadside assistance firm fix its customers mis-fuelling problems. Each van has Sortimo racking and a Whale-supplied 330 litre tank so that a car, typically a diesel filled with petrol, can have its tank safely drained. The AA says its research shows that 150, 000 motorists a year get it wrong and need fuel systems drained.
More from Steve Miller on +44(0)1 213 223 089 or smiller@ldv.com
New head of engineering policy for FTA
The Freight Transport Association says Andy Mair is its new head of engineering policy. He succeeds Geoff Day, who retired earlier this year. He has been with the Association for six years and was previously an area manager in FTA's Vehicle Inspection Service. Before joining FTA Andy worked for 14 years as a vehicle technician at a truck dealership.
More from Andy Mair on +44 (0)7 818 450 585 or amair@fta.co.uk
More Berlingos help Integra cut carbon footprint
Integra Utility Services just got 62 Citroën Berlingo Enterprise vans - its third big order for the model since 2002. By using the latest Euro 4 Berlingos to replace all its small van fleet, the firm says it will "considerably reduce" the carbon footprint of this part of its operations. "The latest Euro 4 Berlingo 1.6HDi showed that it could meet our carbon-footprint reduction criteria with a 26% reduction in CO2 emissions over the previous model and make a big cut in fuel consumption too," said Dave Knowles, Integra Utility Services' fleet manager. Murley Citroën at Leamington Spa did the business and the new vans are on 30 month contract hire and maintenance deals with Pendragon. During their service life with Integra Utility Services the Berlingos will each do some 62,500 miles.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Wreford stops fuel theft
One of Britain's oldest hauliers, SW Wreford & Sons has fitted its trucks with Tiss' 'tanksafe' anti-siphons to stop fuel theft. The decision was prompted by October's two pence a litre fuel duty hike. Before fitting the Tiss systems, the firm was losing fuel every month to pilfering. "Since fitting, I am delighted to say that these incidents have stopped," said Andy Wreford, fleet engineer. "I've no hesitation in recommending Tiss' anti-siphons to other hauliers."
More from Matthew Rose on +44 (0)1 253 400 401 or matthew.rose@tissltd.com
Vehicle parts market set to open
The SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin says that the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee has backed a Commission proposal to end design protection for vehicle spare parts and other machinery components. The committee wants a five-year transitional period before full liberalisation of the market.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service is 100% Iveco
Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service just got a new, ten tonne 4x2 Iveco Eurocargo 100E22D fire appliance. Supplied by local Iveco distributor Bourgourd Ford, it is the eighth Iveco to join the Guernsey fleet, making the Service the only predominately Iveco fire-fighting fleet in the UK. Responsible for 25-square mile island and protecting its 60,000 inhabitants, the Iveco Eurocargos have been selected as the preferred truck chassis by the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service for its ability to meet the island's unique criteria. "To cope with the roads on Guernsey, we needed a vehicle with a good blend of power and handling, together with the availability of a narrow-track chassis offering the bodybuilding flexibility required for such a specialist application," says Ron Taylor, chief fire officer. The appliance has a Plastisol body, supplied and fitted by The Vehicle Application Centre. The vehicle should be on call for some 12 years, with the Service's workshop handling maintenance.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
Van, truck and bus makers want harmonised standards
The SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin says European commercial vehicle makers want technical standards harmonised on a world-wide basis to help the industry stay competitive. This call came from a half day conference called "The Challenge of Globalisation" and involving senior people from the EU institutions, the automotive industry and related interest groups across the EU. The industry said it will cut nitrogen oxide emissions by a further 80% and particulate matter by 50% compared to the current air pollution control standards for trucks in the EU.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
IPCC report demands action
The SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin says the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change wants governments to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The report says climate change is real and caused by human activity and that unless there are specific changes in policy, its effects will be disastrous and irreversible.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Lochside route for new Solo
Wilson's of Rhu has put a new, 33 seat Optare Solo to work on its 316 service in Scotland, along the scenic route between Helensburgh and Coulport. This hugs the coastline of Gare Loch and Loch Long in Argyll and Bute.. The new bus joins the firm's 12-vehicle fleet and its service connects lots of small communities along the 23 mile route with Helensburgh, from where there are onward connections to Glasgow and beyond. "It's compact, which suits the local roads, yet has a good seating capacity of 33," says Alistair Wilson, "We've been running Solos on this route since 2001 and they've proved very suitable. Our drivers like them and passengers appreciate the low entry and the pleasant interior."
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
UK's first bioethanol plant
The SMMT's Week in Westminster bulletin says Lord Rooker, food and farming minister, has opened the UK's first bioethanol plant, in Norfolk.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
On-board weighing saves cash
Owner driver Rob White of Rowen Bulk Services reckons that in over four years of hauling grain and aggregates across southern England, fitting of aVishay PM Onboard weighing kit has saved him thousands of pounds in otherwise hidden costs. The kit means his 44 tonne tipping rig neither runs light or heavy. He can load to the legal maximum first time, every time. And in doing so, he says he avoids the irksome time wasting associated with sometimes repeated trips to the site or quarry weighbridge, rejoining the queue after adding or shedding payload to get the gross weight spot on. He has no fear of his vehicle being overloaded, so he cuts the chance of big fines and potentially saving cash in that direction too. "Individual axle loadings and gross vehicle weight readings are available simply at the touch of a button," says White, who also likes the comfort of the inclinometer that warns of potential danger when tipping on uneven ground.
More from Trevor Longcroft on +44 (0)1 202 840 662 or tlongcroft@aol.com
New helmet safety rating scheme
Jim Fitzpatrick, the minister responsible for road safety, has launched a new motorbike helmet safety rating scheme. The Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme gives an independent rating of the level of impact protection given by a helmet in an impact, with a star rating from one to five.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
High productivity skip loader
Merseyside recycling firm Mainsway Limited says its new Daf 12 tonne, Trio-equipped skip loader is doing up to 20 pick ups a day and proving highly productive, with a payload just under six tonnes. It just joined a ten-strong fleet operated by the Huyton-based, family-run firm and collects waste materials from a wide area around Merseyside. These are processed at the firm's recycling centre, recovering up to 90% of the materials for second life use. The truck is on an R&M contract with supplying dealer North West Trucks..
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Denmark plans Euro referendum
The SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin says Danish prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen plans a referendum on whether to adopt the euro and drop exemptions to closer cooperation with the EU on defence.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Volvo truck deliveries up
Volvo Group says deliveries from its four truck firms, Mack, Nissan Diesel, Renault and Volvo are up 2% to 185,048 by the end of October this year compared to same time last year. Figures from Nissan Diesel only cover April to October 2007. Excluding Nissan, deliveries amounted to 157,031, down 13%, on last year.
More from Claes Claeson on +46 31 663 908 or claes.claeson@volvo.com
A straw poll among the 170 delegates to last week's Fleet Van conference showed that almost without exception they wanted van makers to come up fuel economy and CO2 data along the lines of the figures provided for cars. From 1 January 2008, all new vans will have to be tested according to a New European Driving Cycle, a car standard that combines both urban sub-urban driving, unladen. At the moment there is no obligation for van makers to publish the data, though it seems likely this will change. In the meantime, van operators at the conference said they are increasingly asked about fuel economy, emissions data and carbon footprints and want van makers to help sooner rather than later. Operators acknowledged that data derived from unladen driving tests would be a little unrealistic, but felt it would be better than nothing.
More from John Maslen on +44 (0)1 733 468 307 or john.maslen@emap.com
More municipal exhibitors at CV Show
Go Plant, Translinc, WCR and Zoeller Waste are the latest firms to book space in Municipal 2008, the specialist sector at next year's CV Show, which the organisers expect will have well over 600 exhibitors as usual. "This will be the biggest single display of refuse collection and street cleaning vehicles anywhere in the UK," said David Crawford, CV Show sales manager. "Municipal 2008 will be 20% bigger this year and with 60 exhibitors already, our many local authority visitors will be spoilt for choice, particularly as the municipal zone is embedded in the biggest commercial vehicle and support service exhibition of its type in Europe." He says that there are fewer than 600m2 of floor space left available in the very successful specialist area. "Any firm that wants to be part of next year's success needs to get in touch very quickly."
More from David Crawford on +44 (0)1 634 261 262 or sales@cvshow.com
Mobile engineers for Scania
Scania says it has introduced a 70-strong fleet of mobile engineers to help tackle faults on trucks across the UK. These people specialise in the repair and maintenance of ancillaries like tail-lifts, fridges, shutter doors, air-conditioning systems and wheelchair lifts and will work at truck, bus and coach operators' depots or even the roadside. Scania's James Armstrong, aftersales director, says that, as many operators have the Scania network maintain their vehicles, "it makes perfect sense to entrust their ancillary equipment to us too, with the mobile engineers adding even greater flexibility and convenience." Armstrong says the move is backed by £1m spent on service vehicle, equipment and training.
More Phil Sampson on +44 (0)1 908 329 384 or phil.sampson@scania.com
Demand for cleaner vehicles needs joined-up thinking
Costs still trump emissions when it comes to vehicle buyers priorities. That is the main finding of a Society of Motor Manufacturers and Trader survey for release on Tuesday 27 November. The survey pools the views of more that 100 industry bosses. Financial incentives including tax breaks and cheaper fuels emerge as crucial in driving demand for lower carbon vehicles. "Our industry colleagues clearly feel that partnership between industry, government, fuel companies and customers is the best way to deliver sustainable road transport sooner and most effectively," said Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive. The full survey will be available for download from the SMMT website www.smmt.co.uk from 18:00 on Tuesday 27 November.
More from Nigel Wonnacott on +44 (0)2 073 449 226 or nwonnacott@smmt.co.uk
Fleet Van Conference success
The first Fleet Van Conference, sponsored by Volkswagen and held last week at Millbrook, was a great success, say its organisers. "The response from delegates, and there were over 170 of them, has been excellent," said John Maslen, editor-in-chief at Fleet News. "It shows there is a real appetite in the market for expert information and advice on van fleet management." He says the event is now an important addition to the conferences the magazine runs each year. The next is the Fleet News Europe Conference, in Brussels in February.
More from John Maslen on +44 (0)1 733 468 307 or john.maslen@emap.com
Free deal from Teleroute
Online freight and vehicle exchange service Teleroute says it is offering customers free, domestic freight domestic postings until the end of 2007. The aim is to raise awareness of the benefits of its freight exchange service and cut the number of trucks running empty on UK roads. If successful it will also help cut fuel use and carbon emissions. The firm says that latest estimates show that one in four trucks run empty, so ensuring more run fully loaded out and back will hike efficiency and cut costs. Teleroute's services are free till the end of the year, giving access, it says, to 150,000 freight and vehicle movements by a 60,000 strong UK network.
More from Georgia Collins on +31 (0) 172 428 508 or georgia.collins@teleroute.co.uk
Rossington lands top truck job at Manheim
Manheim Auctions says that Brian Rossington is its newly-appointed national HGV and plant manager.
More from Lucy Brake on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or lucy.brake@thejjgroup.com
Vehicle production up 28.3% in October
The Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders published figures last week to show UK vehicle production in October up by almost a third on a year ago, at 174,469 units. Car production was up 31% and commercial vehicle output rose 11.8%.
More from John Procter on +44(0)2 073 449 263 or jprocter@smmt.co.uk
LDV helps AA sort mis-fuelling
UK van maker LDV says it just delivered 13 specially liveried 3.2 tonne Maxus vans to the AA to help the roadside assistance firm fix its customers mis-fuelling problems. Each van has Sortimo racking and a Whale-supplied 330 litre tank so that a car, typically a diesel filled with petrol, can have its tank safely drained. The AA says its research shows that 150, 000 motorists a year get it wrong and need fuel systems drained.
More from Steve Miller on +44(0)1 213 223 089 or smiller@ldv.com
New head of engineering policy for FTA
The Freight Transport Association says Andy Mair is its new head of engineering policy. He succeeds Geoff Day, who retired earlier this year. He has been with the Association for six years and was previously an area manager in FTA's Vehicle Inspection Service. Before joining FTA Andy worked for 14 years as a vehicle technician at a truck dealership.
More from Andy Mair on +44 (0)7 818 450 585 or amair@fta.co.uk
More Berlingos help Integra cut carbon footprint
Integra Utility Services just got 62 Citroën Berlingo Enterprise vans - its third big order for the model since 2002. By using the latest Euro 4 Berlingos to replace all its small van fleet, the firm says it will "considerably reduce" the carbon footprint of this part of its operations. "The latest Euro 4 Berlingo 1.6HDi showed that it could meet our carbon-footprint reduction criteria with a 26% reduction in CO2 emissions over the previous model and make a big cut in fuel consumption too," said Dave Knowles, Integra Utility Services' fleet manager. Murley Citroën at Leamington Spa did the business and the new vans are on 30 month contract hire and maintenance deals with Pendragon. During their service life with Integra Utility Services the Berlingos will each do some 62,500 miles.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Wreford stops fuel theft
One of Britain's oldest hauliers, SW Wreford & Sons has fitted its trucks with Tiss' 'tanksafe' anti-siphons to stop fuel theft. The decision was prompted by October's two pence a litre fuel duty hike. Before fitting the Tiss systems, the firm was losing fuel every month to pilfering. "Since fitting, I am delighted to say that these incidents have stopped," said Andy Wreford, fleet engineer. "I've no hesitation in recommending Tiss' anti-siphons to other hauliers."
More from Matthew Rose on +44 (0)1 253 400 401 or matthew.rose@tissltd.com
Vehicle parts market set to open
The SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin says that the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee has backed a Commission proposal to end design protection for vehicle spare parts and other machinery components. The committee wants a five-year transitional period before full liberalisation of the market.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service is 100% Iveco
Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service just got a new, ten tonne 4x2 Iveco Eurocargo 100E22D fire appliance. Supplied by local Iveco distributor Bourgourd Ford, it is the eighth Iveco to join the Guernsey fleet, making the Service the only predominately Iveco fire-fighting fleet in the UK. Responsible for 25-square mile island and protecting its 60,000 inhabitants, the Iveco Eurocargos have been selected as the preferred truck chassis by the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service for its ability to meet the island's unique criteria. "To cope with the roads on Guernsey, we needed a vehicle with a good blend of power and handling, together with the availability of a narrow-track chassis offering the bodybuilding flexibility required for such a specialist application," says Ron Taylor, chief fire officer. The appliance has a Plastisol body, supplied and fitted by The Vehicle Application Centre. The vehicle should be on call for some 12 years, with the Service's workshop handling maintenance.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
Van, truck and bus makers want harmonised standards
The SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin says European commercial vehicle makers want technical standards harmonised on a world-wide basis to help the industry stay competitive. This call came from a half day conference called "The Challenge of Globalisation" and involving senior people from the EU institutions, the automotive industry and related interest groups across the EU. The industry said it will cut nitrogen oxide emissions by a further 80% and particulate matter by 50% compared to the current air pollution control standards for trucks in the EU.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
IPCC report demands action
The SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin says the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change wants governments to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The report says climate change is real and caused by human activity and that unless there are specific changes in policy, its effects will be disastrous and irreversible.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Lochside route for new Solo
Wilson's of Rhu has put a new, 33 seat Optare Solo to work on its 316 service in Scotland, along the scenic route between Helensburgh and Coulport. This hugs the coastline of Gare Loch and Loch Long in Argyll and Bute.. The new bus joins the firm's 12-vehicle fleet and its service connects lots of small communities along the 23 mile route with Helensburgh, from where there are onward connections to Glasgow and beyond. "It's compact, which suits the local roads, yet has a good seating capacity of 33," says Alistair Wilson, "We've been running Solos on this route since 2001 and they've proved very suitable. Our drivers like them and passengers appreciate the low entry and the pleasant interior."
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
UK's first bioethanol plant
The SMMT's Week in Westminster bulletin says Lord Rooker, food and farming minister, has opened the UK's first bioethanol plant, in Norfolk.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
On-board weighing saves cash
Owner driver Rob White of Rowen Bulk Services reckons that in over four years of hauling grain and aggregates across southern England, fitting of aVishay PM Onboard weighing kit has saved him thousands of pounds in otherwise hidden costs. The kit means his 44 tonne tipping rig neither runs light or heavy. He can load to the legal maximum first time, every time. And in doing so, he says he avoids the irksome time wasting associated with sometimes repeated trips to the site or quarry weighbridge, rejoining the queue after adding or shedding payload to get the gross weight spot on. He has no fear of his vehicle being overloaded, so he cuts the chance of big fines and potentially saving cash in that direction too. "Individual axle loadings and gross vehicle weight readings are available simply at the touch of a button," says White, who also likes the comfort of the inclinometer that warns of potential danger when tipping on uneven ground.
More from Trevor Longcroft on +44 (0)1 202 840 662 or tlongcroft@aol.com
New helmet safety rating scheme
Jim Fitzpatrick, the minister responsible for road safety, has launched a new motorbike helmet safety rating scheme. The Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme gives an independent rating of the level of impact protection given by a helmet in an impact, with a star rating from one to five.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
High productivity skip loader
Merseyside recycling firm Mainsway Limited says its new Daf 12 tonne, Trio-equipped skip loader is doing up to 20 pick ups a day and proving highly productive, with a payload just under six tonnes. It just joined a ten-strong fleet operated by the Huyton-based, family-run firm and collects waste materials from a wide area around Merseyside. These are processed at the firm's recycling centre, recovering up to 90% of the materials for second life use. The truck is on an R&M contract with supplying dealer North West Trucks..
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Denmark plans Euro referendum
The SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin says Danish prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen plans a referendum on whether to adopt the euro and drop exemptions to closer cooperation with the EU on defence.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Volvo truck deliveries up
Volvo Group says deliveries from its four truck firms, Mack, Nissan Diesel, Renault and Volvo are up 2% to 185,048 by the end of October this year compared to same time last year. Figures from Nissan Diesel only cover April to October 2007. Excluding Nissan, deliveries amounted to 157,031, down 13%, on last year.
More from Claes Claeson on +46 31 663 908 or claes.claeson@volvo.com
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