Legal Brief
Transport News Brief Week 26
Document Actions
The latest news roundup from SMMT.
Heavy van opportunity
Heavy vans have the worst MoT pass rate of any vehicle type seen on UK roads, so commercial vehicle workshops could get new business if they aim their direct marketing at van users, according to the Retail Motor Industry Federation. Data from the UK's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency show vans between 3.0 and 3.5 tonnes had failure rate 44.7%, the worst of any vehicle in the year 2007-2008. Stephen Coles, head of the RMIF's MoT technical operations says that high failure rate clearly shows a lack of maintenance. "Owners may not realise that prevention could be cheaper than cure in the long run. This means that with correctly targeted marketing, commercial vehicle repairers could generate new business."
More from Alex Wells on +44 (0)2 073 073 424 or alexwells@rmif.co.uk
Red van shortage
Eagle Couriers says it may retire red-liveried vans due to a European shortage of red vans. The firm, working out of bases in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bathgate has won lots of new business recently and needs more vans for its fleet. Eagle says it has hit a Europe-wide shortage of new red vans. After waiting more than a year for a batch of new vans, it may change to white. "Here we are, a Scottish success story, but we're stumped for red vans," said Jerry Stewart, director. "If we can't find red vans soon we may have to look at changing the fleet over to another colour.
More from Craig McGill on +44 (0)1 315 612 244 or craig@holyroodpr.co.uk
Motor industry cautious over Digital Britain
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says it welcomes the government's aim to work with the industry to deliver a smooth switch to Digital Audio Broadcast radios in new vehicles by 2013 but is not so happy about the ambitious timetable. The SMMT told the government that before it would commit to providing DAB as standard, digital coverage must be as good as FM coverage in the UK. The Society worries that only a few of the 32m on the road will have DAB radios fitted, leaving millions needing new kit or conversions in a very short time.
More from Sara Lee on +44 (0)2 073 449 219 or slee@smmt.co.uk
CV production down 73.5% in May
Recent data from the SMMT show the outlook difficult, but with some positive signs as firms restart production with scrappage schemes lifting orders. "Commercial vehicle production is severely affected by low business confidence and economic uncertainty," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. "Businesses across the economy are still holding back on expenditure and want better access to finance and stronger domestic demand."
More from Sara Lee on +44 (0)2 073 449 219 or slee@smmt.co.uk
3,000 Fiat vans for Swedish Post Office
Fiat says it has recently handed over the first of 3,000 Fiorino 1.3 MultiJet vans to Posten, the Swedish Post Office. All have six speed Comfort-matic semi-automatic transmissions. All 3,000 are right-hand control to make the postmen's delivery job easier. The vans also have better internal lighting and other job-related modifications. Fiat says low fuel use at 62 mpg and thus low CO2 emissions, at 116 g/km, were important in winning the business.
More from Puneet Joshi on +44 (0)1 753 519 591 or puneet.joshi@fiat.com
Lifetime Achievement Award for Nikki King
Nikki King OBE, managing director at Isuzu Truck (UK) Limited, won a PwC Lifetime Achievement Award at the First Women Awards in London on Thursday 11 June. King, who runs Isuzu Truck UK, was a company administrator until she was 40 years old before going on to lead a £32m management buyout of the firm in 2004. Judges at the sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers said she provided "an outstanding role model and leadership figure for women at every stage of their career"'.
More from David Nash on +44 (0)1 614 567 870 or quadpr@globalnet.co.uk
New Multi-temperature units from Thermoking
Thermo King has launched a range of multi-temperature fridge units based on its SLX concept. Benefits include 65% less noise and up to 30% better fuel use and so similarly lower CO2 emissions Designed to for a wide range of trailer configurations, the SLX Spectrum can now drive up to nine remote evaporator blowers and can give the driver easy-to-read data on up to three compartments at once.
More from Annick Van Oosterwijck on +32 (0)2 714 57 51 or annick_van_oosterwijck@eu.irco.com
Race the original Stig
Transaid says it has 10 places up for grabs to race Top Gear's original Stig, Perry McCarthy, in Transaid's charity auction. "If you think you can beat the Stig, you could try on 25 August at The Raceway in London," said Chris Saunders CEO of Transaid. "You'll find the on-line auction at www.ebay.co.uk/transaid. It starts at 11:00 am on the 29 June." He says the charity relies on support from the industry and is grateful to all who help. "The auction includes many more exciting prizes and is a great way to increase our awareness within companies whilst raising money for our projects in Africa."
More from April McGhee on +44 (0)2 073 878 136 or april@transaid.org
New Citroën van carries five and a load
Citroën says its new Berlingo Crew Van, on sale on 1 July, has up to five seats, a 716kg payload potential, a 3.35m3 load compartment and can carry a 1,805mm long load length. It also meets HM Revenue and Customs requirements for a van so operators can reclaim the VAT. The new van has separate driver's and front passenger's seats and a folding, three-seat rear bench seat with a full-height metal bulkhead and mesh top section. "A key feature of this new van is its innovative folding rear seat and bulkhead design," said Robert Handyside, Citroën's commercial vehicle operations manager. "We expect strong demand for this important new model from operators involved in civil engineering, construction and utilities maintenance businesses."
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Vosa gets new powers to tackle cowboys
On 1 October, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency will get tough new powers to seize vehicles in a bid to crack down on illegal bus and limousine operators. The new powers will allow Vosa to seize vehicles with more than eight passenger seats - including buses, coaches, minibuses and large limos - without a valid Operator's Licence. This brings bring the rules on public service vehicles into line with those for trucks. "Illegal bus, coach and limousine operators put the safety of their passengers and other road users at risk as well as creating unfair competition for law abiding businesses," said Paul Clark, road safety minister. "These new powers show that we are determined to force cowboy operators off the road."
More from www.vosa.gov.uk
Unipart supports Motor Code
Unipart Automotive says it supports the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair and will encourage all its Unipart Car Care Centres to sign up to the Code of Practice. The firm will demand that any new Unipart Car Care Centres joining the network sign up too. It wants to help maintain high standards in the independent garage sector and will contribute towards the cost of signing up for its Car Care Centres.
"It is more important than ever for independent garages to show they are willing and able to sign up to a code of practice on their own accord, said Wendy Williamson, marketing director of Unipart Automotive.
More from Lynda Heath on +44 (0)2 077 345 666 or Lynda@ashcommunications.com
Small Solo suits Exmouth
The size of Optare's smallest bus the 7.1 metre Solo SE, has made it a natural choice for a town centre service in Exmouth, run by Devon independent operator Dartline Coaches. Restrictions on the route and heavy summer traffic make the 2.33m wide Solo SE ideal for the service. The low-entry 23 seater is the eleventh Solo in the firm's 40-strong fleet. It replaces a larger, high floor bus that had a smaller passenger capacity.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
More from Cummins
Engine maker Cummins says its 6.7 litre ISBe six-cylinder engine now comes with more power and torque- up to 300hp and 1100Nm for use in city buses. The engine meets Euro 5 and EEV emissions levels without additional particulate filtration. The firm says using SCR after-treatment helps deliver better fuel use and longer service intervals.
More from Steven Nendick on +44 (0)1 325 556 717 or steven.nendick@cummins.com
Fuel duty hike to hit recovery
The Road Haulage Association says in the past few weeks hauliers have had an extra £1,000 a truck slapped on to their annual fuel bill. "On 22 April 2009, the Chancellor told us he expected energy prices to come down," said Kate Gibbs, head of communications for the RHA. "The opposite happened." She says this adds more weight to the RHA's case to drop the planned two pence a litre duty hike in September. If it goes ahead, Gibbs says the third rise in nine months will equate to fuel tax rise of 12%. The RHA says this will hurt already hard-pressed hauliers. "The health of the UK road freight industry is key to the recovery of UK plc. The healthier the industry, the more rapidly the economy will recover. Surely the Chancellor realises that?"
More from Kate Gibbs on +44 (0)1 932 838 917 or kate.gibbs@rha.uk.net
15 mega liners for Brian Yeardley
West Yorkshire based Brian Yeardley Continental Ltd. just got 15 new Krone Mega Liner trailers. Established in 1975 as a family run firm, Brian Yeardley Continental Ltd. carries ADR goods and high volume cargo such as plastics, chemicals, automotive parts, white goods and pharmaceuticals to and from the European mainland. The new 100m3 trailers are part of Yeardley's investment in its driver accompanied full load and groupage services. Each trailer has a hydraulic lifting roof with a maximum lift of 450mm. Variable ride hide of 120mm at the front and 50mm at the rear allows the operator to adjust between maximum internal height or lower overall height to cut fuel use.
More from Judith Ball on +44 (0)1 326 560 400 or jude@m1marketing.co.uk
New locking caps for AdBlue tanks
TruckProtect has launched what it says is Europe's only non-corrodible locking AdBlue caps for commercial vehicles. "Even the smallest amount of contamination in an AdBlue tank can cost over £2,000 to remedy, so a locking cap is essential," said Russell Fowler, CEO, TruckProtect. "AdBlue is very corrosive and has caused problems with previously available locking caps, but ours are guaranteed to last." The firm's range of three models fit all major commercial vehicles. "A small cost now will save operators vast amounts. Already the caps are flying off the shelves"
More from Russell Fowler on +44 (0)1 633 252 093 or russell.fowler@truckprotect.com
New medium engine from Volvo
Volvo says it has developed its own medium-heavy engine for truck and bus use. The firm's boss Leif Johansson said it would launch the first of the new engines next year.
More from Mårten Wikforss on +46 31 661 127 or marten.wikforss@volvo.com
Whale wins £1m Gulliver deal
Whale Tankers says it just won an order worth over £1m from Gullivers Municipal Hire for 18 trucks. The order includes ten High Volume Combination and seven GullyWhale Plus Medium Volume Combination tankers and one KiloWhale Plus - a vacuum tanker that also combines jetting for deep sewer cleaning and maintenance. Gullivers will put the trucks to work on newly won contracts and in its own hire fleet. All of the new HVC and MVC tankers are based on 18-tonne Daf LF 55 chassis with a combination of day and sleeper cabs, whilst the KiloWhale Plus is on a Daf CF 75.310 eight wheeler.
More from Paul Watson on +44 (0)1 619 736 763 or paul@wentworthcomms.co.uk
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports that reader Kevin Picton wishes to disobey the instruction that his new password "must contain at least 0 non-alphanumeric characters" The magazine says he seeks your assistance.
More from www.newscientist.com
Heavy vans have the worst MoT pass rate of any vehicle type seen on UK roads, so commercial vehicle workshops could get new business if they aim their direct marketing at van users, according to the Retail Motor Industry Federation. Data from the UK's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency show vans between 3.0 and 3.5 tonnes had failure rate 44.7%, the worst of any vehicle in the year 2007-2008. Stephen Coles, head of the RMIF's MoT technical operations says that high failure rate clearly shows a lack of maintenance. "Owners may not realise that prevention could be cheaper than cure in the long run. This means that with correctly targeted marketing, commercial vehicle repairers could generate new business."
More from Alex Wells on +44 (0)2 073 073 424 or alexwells@rmif.co.uk
Red van shortage
Eagle Couriers says it may retire red-liveried vans due to a European shortage of red vans. The firm, working out of bases in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bathgate has won lots of new business recently and needs more vans for its fleet. Eagle says it has hit a Europe-wide shortage of new red vans. After waiting more than a year for a batch of new vans, it may change to white. "Here we are, a Scottish success story, but we're stumped for red vans," said Jerry Stewart, director. "If we can't find red vans soon we may have to look at changing the fleet over to another colour.
More from Craig McGill on +44 (0)1 315 612 244 or craig@holyroodpr.co.uk
Motor industry cautious over Digital Britain
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says it welcomes the government's aim to work with the industry to deliver a smooth switch to Digital Audio Broadcast radios in new vehicles by 2013 but is not so happy about the ambitious timetable. The SMMT told the government that before it would commit to providing DAB as standard, digital coverage must be as good as FM coverage in the UK. The Society worries that only a few of the 32m on the road will have DAB radios fitted, leaving millions needing new kit or conversions in a very short time.
More from Sara Lee on +44 (0)2 073 449 219 or slee@smmt.co.uk
CV production down 73.5% in May
Recent data from the SMMT show the outlook difficult, but with some positive signs as firms restart production with scrappage schemes lifting orders. "Commercial vehicle production is severely affected by low business confidence and economic uncertainty," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. "Businesses across the economy are still holding back on expenditure and want better access to finance and stronger domestic demand."
More from Sara Lee on +44 (0)2 073 449 219 or slee@smmt.co.uk
3,000 Fiat vans for Swedish Post Office
Fiat says it has recently handed over the first of 3,000 Fiorino 1.3 MultiJet vans to Posten, the Swedish Post Office. All have six speed Comfort-matic semi-automatic transmissions. All 3,000 are right-hand control to make the postmen's delivery job easier. The vans also have better internal lighting and other job-related modifications. Fiat says low fuel use at 62 mpg and thus low CO2 emissions, at 116 g/km, were important in winning the business.
More from Puneet Joshi on +44 (0)1 753 519 591 or puneet.joshi@fiat.com
Lifetime Achievement Award for Nikki King
Nikki King OBE, managing director at Isuzu Truck (UK) Limited, won a PwC Lifetime Achievement Award at the First Women Awards in London on Thursday 11 June. King, who runs Isuzu Truck UK, was a company administrator until she was 40 years old before going on to lead a £32m management buyout of the firm in 2004. Judges at the sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers said she provided "an outstanding role model and leadership figure for women at every stage of their career"'.
More from David Nash on +44 (0)1 614 567 870 or quadpr@globalnet.co.uk
New Multi-temperature units from Thermoking
Thermo King has launched a range of multi-temperature fridge units based on its SLX concept. Benefits include 65% less noise and up to 30% better fuel use and so similarly lower CO2 emissions Designed to for a wide range of trailer configurations, the SLX Spectrum can now drive up to nine remote evaporator blowers and can give the driver easy-to-read data on up to three compartments at once.
More from Annick Van Oosterwijck on +32 (0)2 714 57 51 or annick_van_oosterwijck@eu.irco.com
Race the original Stig
Transaid says it has 10 places up for grabs to race Top Gear's original Stig, Perry McCarthy, in Transaid's charity auction. "If you think you can beat the Stig, you could try on 25 August at The Raceway in London," said Chris Saunders CEO of Transaid. "You'll find the on-line auction at www.ebay.co.uk/transaid. It starts at 11:00 am on the 29 June." He says the charity relies on support from the industry and is grateful to all who help. "The auction includes many more exciting prizes and is a great way to increase our awareness within companies whilst raising money for our projects in Africa."
More from April McGhee on +44 (0)2 073 878 136 or april@transaid.org
New Citroën van carries five and a load
Citroën says its new Berlingo Crew Van, on sale on 1 July, has up to five seats, a 716kg payload potential, a 3.35m3 load compartment and can carry a 1,805mm long load length. It also meets HM Revenue and Customs requirements for a van so operators can reclaim the VAT. The new van has separate driver's and front passenger's seats and a folding, three-seat rear bench seat with a full-height metal bulkhead and mesh top section. "A key feature of this new van is its innovative folding rear seat and bulkhead design," said Robert Handyside, Citroën's commercial vehicle operations manager. "We expect strong demand for this important new model from operators involved in civil engineering, construction and utilities maintenance businesses."
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Vosa gets new powers to tackle cowboys
On 1 October, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency will get tough new powers to seize vehicles in a bid to crack down on illegal bus and limousine operators. The new powers will allow Vosa to seize vehicles with more than eight passenger seats - including buses, coaches, minibuses and large limos - without a valid Operator's Licence. This brings bring the rules on public service vehicles into line with those for trucks. "Illegal bus, coach and limousine operators put the safety of their passengers and other road users at risk as well as creating unfair competition for law abiding businesses," said Paul Clark, road safety minister. "These new powers show that we are determined to force cowboy operators off the road."
More from www.vosa.gov.uk
Unipart supports Motor Code
Unipart Automotive says it supports the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair and will encourage all its Unipart Car Care Centres to sign up to the Code of Practice. The firm will demand that any new Unipart Car Care Centres joining the network sign up too. It wants to help maintain high standards in the independent garage sector and will contribute towards the cost of signing up for its Car Care Centres.
"It is more important than ever for independent garages to show they are willing and able to sign up to a code of practice on their own accord, said Wendy Williamson, marketing director of Unipart Automotive.
More from Lynda Heath on +44 (0)2 077 345 666 or Lynda@ashcommunications.com
Small Solo suits Exmouth
The size of Optare's smallest bus the 7.1 metre Solo SE, has made it a natural choice for a town centre service in Exmouth, run by Devon independent operator Dartline Coaches. Restrictions on the route and heavy summer traffic make the 2.33m wide Solo SE ideal for the service. The low-entry 23 seater is the eleventh Solo in the firm's 40-strong fleet. It replaces a larger, high floor bus that had a smaller passenger capacity.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
More from Cummins
Engine maker Cummins says its 6.7 litre ISBe six-cylinder engine now comes with more power and torque- up to 300hp and 1100Nm for use in city buses. The engine meets Euro 5 and EEV emissions levels without additional particulate filtration. The firm says using SCR after-treatment helps deliver better fuel use and longer service intervals.
More from Steven Nendick on +44 (0)1 325 556 717 or steven.nendick@cummins.com
Fuel duty hike to hit recovery
The Road Haulage Association says in the past few weeks hauliers have had an extra £1,000 a truck slapped on to their annual fuel bill. "On 22 April 2009, the Chancellor told us he expected energy prices to come down," said Kate Gibbs, head of communications for the RHA. "The opposite happened." She says this adds more weight to the RHA's case to drop the planned two pence a litre duty hike in September. If it goes ahead, Gibbs says the third rise in nine months will equate to fuel tax rise of 12%. The RHA says this will hurt already hard-pressed hauliers. "The health of the UK road freight industry is key to the recovery of UK plc. The healthier the industry, the more rapidly the economy will recover. Surely the Chancellor realises that?"
More from Kate Gibbs on +44 (0)1 932 838 917 or kate.gibbs@rha.uk.net
15 mega liners for Brian Yeardley
West Yorkshire based Brian Yeardley Continental Ltd. just got 15 new Krone Mega Liner trailers. Established in 1975 as a family run firm, Brian Yeardley Continental Ltd. carries ADR goods and high volume cargo such as plastics, chemicals, automotive parts, white goods and pharmaceuticals to and from the European mainland. The new 100m3 trailers are part of Yeardley's investment in its driver accompanied full load and groupage services. Each trailer has a hydraulic lifting roof with a maximum lift of 450mm. Variable ride hide of 120mm at the front and 50mm at the rear allows the operator to adjust between maximum internal height or lower overall height to cut fuel use.
More from Judith Ball on +44 (0)1 326 560 400 or jude@m1marketing.co.uk
New locking caps for AdBlue tanks
TruckProtect has launched what it says is Europe's only non-corrodible locking AdBlue caps for commercial vehicles. "Even the smallest amount of contamination in an AdBlue tank can cost over £2,000 to remedy, so a locking cap is essential," said Russell Fowler, CEO, TruckProtect. "AdBlue is very corrosive and has caused problems with previously available locking caps, but ours are guaranteed to last." The firm's range of three models fit all major commercial vehicles. "A small cost now will save operators vast amounts. Already the caps are flying off the shelves"
More from Russell Fowler on +44 (0)1 633 252 093 or russell.fowler@truckprotect.com
New medium engine from Volvo
Volvo says it has developed its own medium-heavy engine for truck and bus use. The firm's boss Leif Johansson said it would launch the first of the new engines next year.
More from Mårten Wikforss on +46 31 661 127 or marten.wikforss@volvo.com
Whale wins £1m Gulliver deal
Whale Tankers says it just won an order worth over £1m from Gullivers Municipal Hire for 18 trucks. The order includes ten High Volume Combination and seven GullyWhale Plus Medium Volume Combination tankers and one KiloWhale Plus - a vacuum tanker that also combines jetting for deep sewer cleaning and maintenance. Gullivers will put the trucks to work on newly won contracts and in its own hire fleet. All of the new HVC and MVC tankers are based on 18-tonne Daf LF 55 chassis with a combination of day and sleeper cabs, whilst the KiloWhale Plus is on a Daf CF 75.310 eight wheeler.
More from Paul Watson on +44 (0)1 619 736 763 or paul@wentworthcomms.co.uk
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports that reader Kevin Picton wishes to disobey the instruction that his new password "must contain at least 0 non-alphanumeric characters" The magazine says he seeks your assistance.
More from www.newscientist.com
About TNN News Feed
