Legal Brief
Transport News Brief Week Eight
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The latest news roundup from SMMT.
Used van prices up 5.5% in January
Auctioneers Manheim say that at £2,676, the average wholesale used van sale price rose 5.5% or £140 in January compared with the previous month. This is the first increase since last September. Compared with January last year, average wholesale used van prices were down by 22.3% while average age was down two months at 52 months and average mileage down 3,217 miles to 68,348. "The buoyant atmosphere in November and December strengthened in January with good attendances in both the auction halls and online," said Alex Wright, sales director, commercial vehicles, Manheim Auctions. He said that in January many dealers were buying for stock rather than for orders and so auction values rose. He is also positive about the outlook for February.
More from Andrew Andersz on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or andrew.andersz@thejjgroup.com
Van buyers guide - press launch
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has produced a Van Buyers Guide which aims to help people cut their fuel use and CO2 emissions from vans. The SMMT will launch the guide at an event at its London HQ on Thursday 26 February. This is the first stage in a joint effort between the SMMT, the Department for Transport and the Vehicle Certification Agency who have all "committed to building awareness of van emissions among buyers and drivers". The next stage, due later this spring, is a searchable database to give fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from individual van models. "It is widely recognised that the environmental impact of a vehicle is affected by its use and the way it's driven. This applies even more so to vans," says Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. "The load carried, the way a vehicle is maintained and the type of journey it does, can all affect a vehicle's fuel use, increasing its CO2 emissions and making it more expensive to run."
More from Natasha James on +44 (0)2 073 441 621 or njames@smmt.co.uk
Manheim passes £1m online sales mark
Manheim Auctions says its online van and truck sales just broke the £1m mark. "Online truck sales have blown us all away, the auction halls are on fire," said Tim Spencer, regional CV manager and group auctioneer for the firm. "We're unique with live internet overage from all our auction halls. This has clearly paid off." He says that the firm already does over 30% of deals online and expects the volume to grow. "It's a winner for buyers and sellers alike - buyers can and do bid from 200 miles away or more, saving the time and cost of travel and sellers get a potentially huge audience." Spencer says much of the success is down to its pre-sale appraisal. "Buyers know we'll stand by these, so they trust them - they know what they're getting."
More from Andrew Andersz on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or andrew.andersz@thejjgroup.com
Standard terms and conditions for dealers?
Writing to dealers in the Motor Codes newsletter, Chris Mason, director, says he wants to gauge the demand for a set of standard terms of business for garages that subscribe to the code of practice. "If you all have a set of minimum terms and conditions to display, it could be a very powerful tool," says Mason. "These would be linked directly to the Code requirements. Customers would know what to expect and it would ease any potential for confusion." He says he's thinking of something that would say clearly what the main points of the Code mean, to complement the legal Terms and Conditions. "It could work well and would obviously provide some initial clarity for customers." He wants your views in quick 'yes or no' poll at www.blog.motorindustrycodes.co.uk
More from John Procter on +44(0)2 073 449 263 or jprocter@motorcodes.co.uk
Dennis wins 100-strong dustcart deal
Warwick-based Dennis Eagle has won a big order to supply around 100 dustcarts to the Nottinghamshire Vehicle Consortium, a group of eight local authorities that work together to buy goods and services. The two-year deal starts in April and includes an option to extend until 2013. Dennis Eagle expects to deliver some 100 vehicles ranging from 15 to 32 tonnes and fitted with Terberg bin lifts. As well as general compaction bodies, some councils may take specialist split compartment bodies; these prove increasingly popular for waste recycling. Speaking for the consortium, Dave Parton, chairman and head of direct services at Gedling Borough Council said that while capital cost is important, the added value of training, parts and warranties makes the deal "even more attractive". Parton says he expects other councils will follow the consortium approach.
More from Roberta Manca on +44 (0)1 926 316 000 or roberta.manca@dennis-eagle.co.uk
Another Solo as Ross goes for low-floor fleet
Yorkshire operator Ross Travel Group has taken another Optare Solo midibus as part of its move towards an all low-floor fleet. The family-run and 40 year-old firm, based in Featherstone, will put the 33-seater onto services between Pontefract, Wakefield and Castleford. With standees the bus can carry up to 54 at peak times. Like its predecessors, the new bus is a 9.5m model, but this time powered by an MAN engine. Owner Peter Ross prefers EGR technology as it removes the need to use AdBlue to hit the Euro 4 emissions standard. The engine drives through an Allison 2100 series five-speed automatic transmission with a lock-up torque converter in gears 3, 4 and 5 for improved fuel economy.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Bridgestone wins Jenkinson deal
Bridgestone says it has won a 12 month contract from A W Jenkinson for Bridgestone UK and its Truck Point network partners. A W Jenkinson Forest Products runs a 500 strong van, truck and trailer fleet, handling over 2.2m tonnes of wood fibre, paper products and recyclables. It says it is the largest bark processor in the UK. Under the deal, Bridgestone UK will provide tyre service and replacement tyres though its Truck Point service provider Harolds Tyres of Penrith.
More from Roger Moulding on +44 (0)1 926 488 505 or roger.moulding@bridgestone.eu
Stuff2Send.com delivers the goods for white van man
White van men who use Stuff2Send.com will gain competitive advantages over those who see it as a threat. That's the message from Colin Hay, the site's founder, following feedback in courier internet discussion rooms this year. He says net-savvy white van men are already using the site to connect with packages and parcels to be delivered across the UK. Mick Davidson of Carrick Couriers was one of the first. "Stuff2Send put me in touch with a customer 400 miles away who I wouldn't otherwise have known about," he said. "We both gained from the service."
More from Colin Hay on +44 (0)7 786 626 282 or colin@stuff2send.com
Van deals from Citroën
Through February and March, Citroën Contract Motoring, one of the UK's larger contract hire firms is offering very low contract hire rates on selected new Berlingo and Relay vans. The firm says this follows a decision to expand its product range and continue its policy of offering contract hire and leasing deals to suit current financial conditions. CCM's special van contract hire deals for February and March 2009 include New Berlingo vans from £169 a month and Relay vans from £279 a month.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Luxury 50 tonner for Hollingworth
85 year-old heavy haulage firm AP Hollingworth of Huddersfield has a new 150 tonne Daf XF105 tractor unit. The company specified luxurious comfort for its driver and a high mechanical standard to suit the truck's work. Although plated for 150t, the truck will typically run at around 120t GVW, moving heavy machinery for firms throughout the UK. Driver David Lockwood spends two or three nights a week in the truck and says he enjoys the roomy Super Space cab.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Business opportunities in Argentina and Mexico
To help UK firms understand and exploit the available opportunities in Argentina and Mexico, the SMMT and UK Trade and Investment plan a one-day seminar and workshop on Thursday 5 March 2009 at Forbes House, the Society's London HQ. The free event will include presentations and case studies from local market experts and companies successfully doing business in Argentina, Mexico or both. There will be opportunities for one-to-one discussions with the speakers and other market experts. Speakers include Juan Cantarella, Executive Director of AFAC Association, Alfredo Fierro from the British Embassy in Buenos Aires, and market specialists from Mexico. Alastair Kitson from GKN Driveline will chair the event. Guests will all get free copies of UKTI's new, special survey of the Argentine automotive sector and the SMMT's report on the Mexican motor industry.
More from Pat Shaw on +44 (0)2 073 449 260 or pshaw@smmt.co.uk
Another Ekeri side-loader for Griffiths
M J Griffiths Transport has added its fifth Ekeri side-loading trailer to its fleet. The firm does collection, storage and distribution in the temperature-controlled food chain and says the full, side-opening trailer doors are a "perfect solution" giving access to the whole load and speeding up loading and unloading times. "Ekeri trailers are extremely versatile as they are capable of doing fridge work one way and tilt trailer work on the return, says Mick Griffiths. "The ease of access enables a multi-drop capability that simply would be impractical with a normal reefer".
More from Sara Morris on +44 (0)1 326 560 402 or sara@oandbmarketing.co.uk
New Indian factory for Allison
Allison Transmission Inc, which says it the world's biggest supplier of commercial vehicle automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems, has started work on a new, 203,000ft2 factory in India. The firm says the aim is to help it meet the growing demand for automatic transmissions. From early 2010, Allison Transmission India Pvt Ltd will base its regional HQ, executive, marketing, and sales offices on the site. The plant will also do customisation and warehousing work.
More from Claire Dumbreck on +44 (0)1 295 277 050 or claire.dumbreck@m-eng.com
First Renault for Stanian
Manchester-based container haulage specialist, Stanian Transport just got its first Renault; a Euro 5 rated 6x2 Premium. The 450 hp tractor unit has an automatic gearbox and joins a 30 strong fleet, where it will work across the North of England. Customers include ICI and Index. The firm also has a Renault Magnum on order for international work. Renault distributor JDS Trucks did the deal.
More from Penny Randall on +44 (0)1 582 479 619 or penny.randall@renault-trucks.com
Seven Mega curtainsiders for Kelly
Kent-based Kelly International just got seven Mega curtainsider trailers from Schmitz Cargobull. They will carry big rolls of paper between the UK and mainland Europe for several leading paper makers. Each new trailer has Schmitz's Varios Top-Technology and its simple plug-in system to adjust the overall height to meet continental limits. The new trailers also have a skate and track system from Joloda, developed for the paper industry so that reels of paper can be easily loaded, unloaded and manoeuvred within the trailer. "Schmitz was the only trailer maker able to fit the Joloda system without compromising the internal height of the trailer," according to Martin Kelly. "This was a significant influence on our purchase decision." Cargobull Finance handled the deal.
More from Lloyd Arkill on +44 (0)1 923 777 897 or lloyd@am-pr.net
DHL welcomes Digital Britain report
DHL Express UK says it welcomes Lord Carter's recent report on 'Digital Britain.' DHL boss Ken McCall says that universal availability of broadband to UK households by 2010 will have a direct and positive effect on the home delivery market. "Home delivery has been a key consumer issue in recent years." He says it will remain important as more people get access to online shopping. Research firm Datamonitor says that home deliveries will be the big growth area for the European express and parcels market in the next few years, growing to €12bn by 2012. DHL says home deliveries grew 60% over the recent Christmas period.
More from Luke Baines on +44 (0)2 074 134 415 or luke.baines@hillandknowlton..com
Electric light trucks through Carillion
Poole-based Continental Landscapes just got four electric light trucks through Carillion Fleet Management. The grounds maintenance firm has taken two 4.6-tonne Ford Transits with beaver tail bodies and two 3.5 Transit tippers. All four run on batteries that can be recharged overnight using mains electricity. Carillion Fleet Management says it is one of only a handful of companies willing to underwrite electric vehicles on behalf of its customers and has supplied the four trucks on a seven-year contract hire and maintenance deal.
More from Martin Bayntun on +44 (0)1 628 526 208 or martin@nobull-communications.co.uk
Biffa fit 800 Tiss TankSafe kits
Biffa Waste has just fitted 800 Tiss TankSafe Impregnable fuel security and safety devices across its truck fleet. The firm says it expects the move to cut its fuel bills by 6% and its CO2 emissions by the same amount. The unit works by cutting fuel theft and spillage. This brings environmental and road safety benefits and David Wilson, Biffa's general manager, fleet says the Tiss unit helps the company cut its environmental impact and is "crucial in the achievement of our objectives."
More from Silvia Vitale on +44 (0)1 253 400 401 or silvia.vitale@tissltd.com
Sainsbury's cuts C02 by 30%
Clean Air Power says it has won an order from Sainsbury's for five Genesis Dual-Fuel™ kits as part of the supermarket's plans to cut its road transport emissions. The firm started a successful trial with Clean Air Power in August 2007. A year later it began to run one of its Mercedes-Benz Axor Euro 3 trucks fitted with Clean Air Power's Genesis Dual-Fuel™ combustion technology. The truck runs daily to Sainsbury's new flagship green store in Dartmouth, Devon from the Sainsbury's Emerald Park depot near Bristol. The Dartmouth truck and the others which Sainsbury's has ordered will be fuelled using a combination of diesel and biogas, 100% renewable methane produced from a landfill site and cleaned before use. Sainsbury's has named this initiative "Running on Rubbish" and aims to get more experience with Dual-Fuel™ trucks and use more biogas. It expects these modified trucks to produce 30% less CO2 than conventional models.
More from Andrew Andersz on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or andrew.andersz@thejjgroup.com
Zero waste from Daf
At the end of January 2009, Daf Trucks NV got formal confirmation from Lloyd's Register Netherlands that the firm's waste to landfill has been cut to zero. Daf says this "underlines its leading position" in environmental care. The company says it was one of the first truck makers in the world with an ISO 14001 certified environmental care system, confirmed in June 1998. The "Zero Waste to Landfill" policy means that a company doesn't dispose waste to landfill, but instead recycles it all, typically using it as raw material for building or energy generation. Daf says it has used this policy at its plants in The Netherlands and Belgium since 1 October 2008.
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
New contracts bring more fulfilment
Leeds-based logistics firm Bedfords Transport says it has expanded its services on the back of several big recent contract wins. The firm says this means it can handle even more warehousing and logistics contracts that include fulfilment work. It already has fulfilment deals for print, education, retail, entertainment, and leisure customers and has developed its own successful technology to handle the work in a 100,000 ft2 secure warehouse. Bedfords also uses its 100 strong truck fleet for many of the collections and deliveries.
More from Donna Bedford on +44 (0)8 700 552 040 or d.bedford@fantasticmedia.co.uk
Big order for Volvo buses in Canada
Volvo Bus subsidiary Nova Bus has won an order for 410 city buses from the city transit corporation, STM in Montreal, Canada. The order is worth SEK 1.3bn. Deliveries are to start this year. This latest order involves articulated as well as regular 12-metre buses. Over the next three years, Nova Bus will deliver a total of 214 buses in 2009, followed by 427 in 2010 and 317 more in 2011. The new buses use structural stainless steel, have particulate filters to cut emissions, front-door access ramps and safety camera systems. Nova Bus has two plants in Canada and a new plant in Plattsburgh, New York in the US, where production starts up this year.
More from Per-Martin Johansson, on +46 (0)31 322 52 00 or per-martin.johansson@volvo.com
Schmitz opens new business centre
Trailer maker Schmitz Cargobull has opened a new UK regional business centre in Warrington, Cheshire. The firm says this should become a focal point for its customers across the north west of England. Built on a 2.5 acre site, the 11,000ft2 unit has offices, a trailer showroom, workshops and a parts store. It will house a permanent display of new Schmitz Cargobull trailers as well as a fleet of used and refurbished models. The parts stock on the site means the firm will be able to offer both same-day and next-day delivery across the North West.
More from Lloyd Arkill on +44 (0)1 923 777 897 or lloyd@am-pr.net
70 years of straight profit for Paccar
Paccar says it earned the fourth highest annual net income in its 103-year history in 2008 and has delivered 70 straight years of net profit to its shareholders. "Paccar's financial results reflect the benefits of the company's quality products and services, geographic diversification, excellent aftermarket revenues and financial services income," said Mark C Pigott, chairman and CEO. Net earnings were $113.1m for the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the $261.1m in the fourth quarter of 2007. For the full-year 2008, consolidated net sales and financial service revenues were $14.97bn versus $15.22bn in 2007. "Industry sales above 15 tonnes in Western and Central Europe were 330,000 units in 2008, the second best year ever," said Aad Goudriaan, president of Daf, Paccar's European subsidiary. "Daf achieved an excellent market share of 14.2% in the over 15 tonne market has a medium-term goal of a 20% market share.
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
And finally
New Scientist magazine's Feedback page recently reported that reader Jack Wood saw a sign in a Jeweller's window in Northampton which read: "Eternity rings and half-eternity rings." He wants to know how long the latter last? Others might want to know how you keep half a ring on your finger.
More from www.newscientist.com
Auctioneers Manheim say that at £2,676, the average wholesale used van sale price rose 5.5% or £140 in January compared with the previous month. This is the first increase since last September. Compared with January last year, average wholesale used van prices were down by 22.3% while average age was down two months at 52 months and average mileage down 3,217 miles to 68,348. "The buoyant atmosphere in November and December strengthened in January with good attendances in both the auction halls and online," said Alex Wright, sales director, commercial vehicles, Manheim Auctions. He said that in January many dealers were buying for stock rather than for orders and so auction values rose. He is also positive about the outlook for February.
More from Andrew Andersz on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or andrew.andersz@thejjgroup.com
Van buyers guide - press launch
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has produced a Van Buyers Guide which aims to help people cut their fuel use and CO2 emissions from vans. The SMMT will launch the guide at an event at its London HQ on Thursday 26 February. This is the first stage in a joint effort between the SMMT, the Department for Transport and the Vehicle Certification Agency who have all "committed to building awareness of van emissions among buyers and drivers". The next stage, due later this spring, is a searchable database to give fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from individual van models. "It is widely recognised that the environmental impact of a vehicle is affected by its use and the way it's driven. This applies even more so to vans," says Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. "The load carried, the way a vehicle is maintained and the type of journey it does, can all affect a vehicle's fuel use, increasing its CO2 emissions and making it more expensive to run."
More from Natasha James on +44 (0)2 073 441 621 or njames@smmt.co.uk
Manheim passes £1m online sales mark
Manheim Auctions says its online van and truck sales just broke the £1m mark. "Online truck sales have blown us all away, the auction halls are on fire," said Tim Spencer, regional CV manager and group auctioneer for the firm. "We're unique with live internet overage from all our auction halls. This has clearly paid off." He says that the firm already does over 30% of deals online and expects the volume to grow. "It's a winner for buyers and sellers alike - buyers can and do bid from 200 miles away or more, saving the time and cost of travel and sellers get a potentially huge audience." Spencer says much of the success is down to its pre-sale appraisal. "Buyers know we'll stand by these, so they trust them - they know what they're getting."
More from Andrew Andersz on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or andrew.andersz@thejjgroup.com
Standard terms and conditions for dealers?
Writing to dealers in the Motor Codes newsletter, Chris Mason, director, says he wants to gauge the demand for a set of standard terms of business for garages that subscribe to the code of practice. "If you all have a set of minimum terms and conditions to display, it could be a very powerful tool," says Mason. "These would be linked directly to the Code requirements. Customers would know what to expect and it would ease any potential for confusion." He says he's thinking of something that would say clearly what the main points of the Code mean, to complement the legal Terms and Conditions. "It could work well and would obviously provide some initial clarity for customers." He wants your views in quick 'yes or no' poll at www.blog.motorindustrycodes.co.uk
More from John Procter on +44(0)2 073 449 263 or jprocter@motorcodes.co.uk
Dennis wins 100-strong dustcart deal
Warwick-based Dennis Eagle has won a big order to supply around 100 dustcarts to the Nottinghamshire Vehicle Consortium, a group of eight local authorities that work together to buy goods and services. The two-year deal starts in April and includes an option to extend until 2013. Dennis Eagle expects to deliver some 100 vehicles ranging from 15 to 32 tonnes and fitted with Terberg bin lifts. As well as general compaction bodies, some councils may take specialist split compartment bodies; these prove increasingly popular for waste recycling. Speaking for the consortium, Dave Parton, chairman and head of direct services at Gedling Borough Council said that while capital cost is important, the added value of training, parts and warranties makes the deal "even more attractive". Parton says he expects other councils will follow the consortium approach.
More from Roberta Manca on +44 (0)1 926 316 000 or roberta.manca@dennis-eagle.co.uk
Another Solo as Ross goes for low-floor fleet
Yorkshire operator Ross Travel Group has taken another Optare Solo midibus as part of its move towards an all low-floor fleet. The family-run and 40 year-old firm, based in Featherstone, will put the 33-seater onto services between Pontefract, Wakefield and Castleford. With standees the bus can carry up to 54 at peak times. Like its predecessors, the new bus is a 9.5m model, but this time powered by an MAN engine. Owner Peter Ross prefers EGR technology as it removes the need to use AdBlue to hit the Euro 4 emissions standard. The engine drives through an Allison 2100 series five-speed automatic transmission with a lock-up torque converter in gears 3, 4 and 5 for improved fuel economy.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Bridgestone wins Jenkinson deal
Bridgestone says it has won a 12 month contract from A W Jenkinson for Bridgestone UK and its Truck Point network partners. A W Jenkinson Forest Products runs a 500 strong van, truck and trailer fleet, handling over 2.2m tonnes of wood fibre, paper products and recyclables. It says it is the largest bark processor in the UK. Under the deal, Bridgestone UK will provide tyre service and replacement tyres though its Truck Point service provider Harolds Tyres of Penrith.
More from Roger Moulding on +44 (0)1 926 488 505 or roger.moulding@bridgestone.eu
Stuff2Send.com delivers the goods for white van man
White van men who use Stuff2Send.com will gain competitive advantages over those who see it as a threat. That's the message from Colin Hay, the site's founder, following feedback in courier internet discussion rooms this year. He says net-savvy white van men are already using the site to connect with packages and parcels to be delivered across the UK. Mick Davidson of Carrick Couriers was one of the first. "Stuff2Send put me in touch with a customer 400 miles away who I wouldn't otherwise have known about," he said. "We both gained from the service."
More from Colin Hay on +44 (0)7 786 626 282 or colin@stuff2send.com
Van deals from Citroën
Through February and March, Citroën Contract Motoring, one of the UK's larger contract hire firms is offering very low contract hire rates on selected new Berlingo and Relay vans. The firm says this follows a decision to expand its product range and continue its policy of offering contract hire and leasing deals to suit current financial conditions. CCM's special van contract hire deals for February and March 2009 include New Berlingo vans from £169 a month and Relay vans from £279 a month.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Luxury 50 tonner for Hollingworth
85 year-old heavy haulage firm AP Hollingworth of Huddersfield has a new 150 tonne Daf XF105 tractor unit. The company specified luxurious comfort for its driver and a high mechanical standard to suit the truck's work. Although plated for 150t, the truck will typically run at around 120t GVW, moving heavy machinery for firms throughout the UK. Driver David Lockwood spends two or three nights a week in the truck and says he enjoys the roomy Super Space cab.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Business opportunities in Argentina and Mexico
To help UK firms understand and exploit the available opportunities in Argentina and Mexico, the SMMT and UK Trade and Investment plan a one-day seminar and workshop on Thursday 5 March 2009 at Forbes House, the Society's London HQ. The free event will include presentations and case studies from local market experts and companies successfully doing business in Argentina, Mexico or both. There will be opportunities for one-to-one discussions with the speakers and other market experts. Speakers include Juan Cantarella, Executive Director of AFAC Association, Alfredo Fierro from the British Embassy in Buenos Aires, and market specialists from Mexico. Alastair Kitson from GKN Driveline will chair the event. Guests will all get free copies of UKTI's new, special survey of the Argentine automotive sector and the SMMT's report on the Mexican motor industry.
More from Pat Shaw on +44 (0)2 073 449 260 or pshaw@smmt.co.uk
Another Ekeri side-loader for Griffiths
M J Griffiths Transport has added its fifth Ekeri side-loading trailer to its fleet. The firm does collection, storage and distribution in the temperature-controlled food chain and says the full, side-opening trailer doors are a "perfect solution" giving access to the whole load and speeding up loading and unloading times. "Ekeri trailers are extremely versatile as they are capable of doing fridge work one way and tilt trailer work on the return, says Mick Griffiths. "The ease of access enables a multi-drop capability that simply would be impractical with a normal reefer".
More from Sara Morris on +44 (0)1 326 560 402 or sara@oandbmarketing.co.uk
New Indian factory for Allison
Allison Transmission Inc, which says it the world's biggest supplier of commercial vehicle automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems, has started work on a new, 203,000ft2 factory in India. The firm says the aim is to help it meet the growing demand for automatic transmissions. From early 2010, Allison Transmission India Pvt Ltd will base its regional HQ, executive, marketing, and sales offices on the site. The plant will also do customisation and warehousing work.
More from Claire Dumbreck on +44 (0)1 295 277 050 or claire.dumbreck@m-eng.com
First Renault for Stanian
Manchester-based container haulage specialist, Stanian Transport just got its first Renault; a Euro 5 rated 6x2 Premium. The 450 hp tractor unit has an automatic gearbox and joins a 30 strong fleet, where it will work across the North of England. Customers include ICI and Index. The firm also has a Renault Magnum on order for international work. Renault distributor JDS Trucks did the deal.
More from Penny Randall on +44 (0)1 582 479 619 or penny.randall@renault-trucks.com
Seven Mega curtainsiders for Kelly
Kent-based Kelly International just got seven Mega curtainsider trailers from Schmitz Cargobull. They will carry big rolls of paper between the UK and mainland Europe for several leading paper makers. Each new trailer has Schmitz's Varios Top-Technology and its simple plug-in system to adjust the overall height to meet continental limits. The new trailers also have a skate and track system from Joloda, developed for the paper industry so that reels of paper can be easily loaded, unloaded and manoeuvred within the trailer. "Schmitz was the only trailer maker able to fit the Joloda system without compromising the internal height of the trailer," according to Martin Kelly. "This was a significant influence on our purchase decision." Cargobull Finance handled the deal.
More from Lloyd Arkill on +44 (0)1 923 777 897 or lloyd@am-pr.net
DHL welcomes Digital Britain report
DHL Express UK says it welcomes Lord Carter's recent report on 'Digital Britain.' DHL boss Ken McCall says that universal availability of broadband to UK households by 2010 will have a direct and positive effect on the home delivery market. "Home delivery has been a key consumer issue in recent years." He says it will remain important as more people get access to online shopping. Research firm Datamonitor says that home deliveries will be the big growth area for the European express and parcels market in the next few years, growing to €12bn by 2012. DHL says home deliveries grew 60% over the recent Christmas period.
More from Luke Baines on +44 (0)2 074 134 415 or luke.baines@hillandknowlton..com
Electric light trucks through Carillion
Poole-based Continental Landscapes just got four electric light trucks through Carillion Fleet Management. The grounds maintenance firm has taken two 4.6-tonne Ford Transits with beaver tail bodies and two 3.5 Transit tippers. All four run on batteries that can be recharged overnight using mains electricity. Carillion Fleet Management says it is one of only a handful of companies willing to underwrite electric vehicles on behalf of its customers and has supplied the four trucks on a seven-year contract hire and maintenance deal.
More from Martin Bayntun on +44 (0)1 628 526 208 or martin@nobull-communications.co.uk
Biffa fit 800 Tiss TankSafe kits
Biffa Waste has just fitted 800 Tiss TankSafe Impregnable fuel security and safety devices across its truck fleet. The firm says it expects the move to cut its fuel bills by 6% and its CO2 emissions by the same amount. The unit works by cutting fuel theft and spillage. This brings environmental and road safety benefits and David Wilson, Biffa's general manager, fleet says the Tiss unit helps the company cut its environmental impact and is "crucial in the achievement of our objectives."
More from Silvia Vitale on +44 (0)1 253 400 401 or silvia.vitale@tissltd.com
Sainsbury's cuts C02 by 30%
Clean Air Power says it has won an order from Sainsbury's for five Genesis Dual-Fuel™ kits as part of the supermarket's plans to cut its road transport emissions. The firm started a successful trial with Clean Air Power in August 2007. A year later it began to run one of its Mercedes-Benz Axor Euro 3 trucks fitted with Clean Air Power's Genesis Dual-Fuel™ combustion technology. The truck runs daily to Sainsbury's new flagship green store in Dartmouth, Devon from the Sainsbury's Emerald Park depot near Bristol. The Dartmouth truck and the others which Sainsbury's has ordered will be fuelled using a combination of diesel and biogas, 100% renewable methane produced from a landfill site and cleaned before use. Sainsbury's has named this initiative "Running on Rubbish" and aims to get more experience with Dual-Fuel™ trucks and use more biogas. It expects these modified trucks to produce 30% less CO2 than conventional models.
More from Andrew Andersz on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or andrew.andersz@thejjgroup.com
Zero waste from Daf
At the end of January 2009, Daf Trucks NV got formal confirmation from Lloyd's Register Netherlands that the firm's waste to landfill has been cut to zero. Daf says this "underlines its leading position" in environmental care. The company says it was one of the first truck makers in the world with an ISO 14001 certified environmental care system, confirmed in June 1998. The "Zero Waste to Landfill" policy means that a company doesn't dispose waste to landfill, but instead recycles it all, typically using it as raw material for building or energy generation. Daf says it has used this policy at its plants in The Netherlands and Belgium since 1 October 2008.
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
New contracts bring more fulfilment
Leeds-based logistics firm Bedfords Transport says it has expanded its services on the back of several big recent contract wins. The firm says this means it can handle even more warehousing and logistics contracts that include fulfilment work. It already has fulfilment deals for print, education, retail, entertainment, and leisure customers and has developed its own successful technology to handle the work in a 100,000 ft2 secure warehouse. Bedfords also uses its 100 strong truck fleet for many of the collections and deliveries.
More from Donna Bedford on +44 (0)8 700 552 040 or d.bedford@fantasticmedia.co.uk
Big order for Volvo buses in Canada
Volvo Bus subsidiary Nova Bus has won an order for 410 city buses from the city transit corporation, STM in Montreal, Canada. The order is worth SEK 1.3bn. Deliveries are to start this year. This latest order involves articulated as well as regular 12-metre buses. Over the next three years, Nova Bus will deliver a total of 214 buses in 2009, followed by 427 in 2010 and 317 more in 2011. The new buses use structural stainless steel, have particulate filters to cut emissions, front-door access ramps and safety camera systems. Nova Bus has two plants in Canada and a new plant in Plattsburgh, New York in the US, where production starts up this year.
More from Per-Martin Johansson, on +46 (0)31 322 52 00 or per-martin.johansson@volvo.com
Schmitz opens new business centre
Trailer maker Schmitz Cargobull has opened a new UK regional business centre in Warrington, Cheshire. The firm says this should become a focal point for its customers across the north west of England. Built on a 2.5 acre site, the 11,000ft2 unit has offices, a trailer showroom, workshops and a parts store. It will house a permanent display of new Schmitz Cargobull trailers as well as a fleet of used and refurbished models. The parts stock on the site means the firm will be able to offer both same-day and next-day delivery across the North West.
More from Lloyd Arkill on +44 (0)1 923 777 897 or lloyd@am-pr.net
70 years of straight profit for Paccar
Paccar says it earned the fourth highest annual net income in its 103-year history in 2008 and has delivered 70 straight years of net profit to its shareholders. "Paccar's financial results reflect the benefits of the company's quality products and services, geographic diversification, excellent aftermarket revenues and financial services income," said Mark C Pigott, chairman and CEO. Net earnings were $113.1m for the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the $261.1m in the fourth quarter of 2007. For the full-year 2008, consolidated net sales and financial service revenues were $14.97bn versus $15.22bn in 2007. "Industry sales above 15 tonnes in Western and Central Europe were 330,000 units in 2008, the second best year ever," said Aad Goudriaan, president of Daf, Paccar's European subsidiary. "Daf achieved an excellent market share of 14.2% in the over 15 tonne market has a medium-term goal of a 20% market share.
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
And finally
New Scientist magazine's Feedback page recently reported that reader Jack Wood saw a sign in a Jeweller's window in Northampton which read: "Eternity rings and half-eternity rings." He wants to know how long the latter last? Others might want to know how you keep half a ring on your finger.
More from www.newscientist.com
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