Legal Brief
Transport News Brief Week 45
Document Actions
The latest news roundup from SMMT.
Humbaur buys Kögel
Kögel, Europe's third-largest trailer maker, has a new owner, the Humbaur Group from Gersthofen near Augsburg. The move comes three months after Kögel filed for bankruptcy, following the trailer market collapse that caused a 90% drop in business. Humbaur will take on 442 of Kögel's 763 people. An earlier sale and lease back property deal on Kögel's Burtenbach site complicated the sale and leaves unresolved issues over its use. Founded in 1957, the family-owned Humbaur GmbH is a leading European trailer maker the firm employs around 450 people making trailers from 750kg to 40t. Its turnover is some €120m. Ulrich Humbaur wants Kögel to continue as an independent brand and business. "There will be a very clear and defined dual-brand strategy with different products and each with its own sales activities."
More from Andreas Lubitz on +49 (0)82 85 88 12312 or andreas.lubitz@koegel.com
Used van prices up again say Manheim
Manheim Auctions' latest monthly Van Market Analysis reports that at £3,429, the average wholesale used van sale price increased by 4.8% or £156 in September compared with August. This is the seventh month this year that average values have increased. Compared with September last year average wholesale used van prices are up by 19.3% or £554. At the same time, average age is up by three months to 56 months and average mileage is 1,674 miles higher at 73,092. "This year we are selling vans faster and for more money as volumes have reduced by 13% compared with September last year," said Alex Wright, commercial vehicle sales director for Manheim.
More from Andrew Andersz on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or andrew.andersz@thejjgroup.com
Post strike delivers more business
UK-based parcel carrier APC Overnight says that it has gained 20% more business since the start of the latest series of strikes by UK postal workers.. The firm has handled the extra traffic with little need for extra capacity. "We've had some more overnight sorting to do, but haven't needed more vehicles or journeys," said Ivor Skinner, managing director. "We saw a similar pattern in the last postal strike two years ago and held onto a proportion of the new business once that strike stopped. Obviously we hope to do the same this time."
More from Celeste Clarke on +44 (0)7 799 064 066 or celeste@centurypr.co.uk
Industry wants better van emissions law
The EC just proposed a tough new law to cut average fuel use and CO2 emissions from vans with a target average of 42.8mpg or 175g CO2/km from 2014, phased-in to 2016. In the UK the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders wants European policy-makers to come up with a more realistic plan. It says these lead-times are too short, particularly in an economic downturn. "Industry needs sufficient lead times and reasonable targets to provide affordable products," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. Across the EU, demand for vans fell 35% this year. UK demand is down 41% in the first nine months of 2009 and likely to end the year 37% down on 2008.
More from Sara Lee on +44 (0)2 073 449 219 or slee@smmt.co.uk
Geodis and APC deal
Geodis Calberson and APC Overnight just announced a joint parcel and pallet distribution in the UK and the rest of Europe. Geodis will promote a UK and Irish parcel service alongside its existing services and APC will have access to the Geodis Fortec network so that it can offer a Europe-wide pallet distribution service, with an overnight service in the UK and Ireland. The deal is "strategic" rather than financial, meaning the two will work together, for instance to integrate their IT systems to give track, trace and proof of delivery across their combined network. There are no plans for one to take a stake in the other. French rail operator SNCF owns Geodis Calberson.
More from Celeste Clarke on +44 (0)7 799 064 066 or celeste@centurypr.co.uk
Paccar making money
"Paccar reported improved third quarter revenues compared to the second quarter of 2009," said Mark Pigott, the firm's chairman and CEO, last week. The net income of $13m in the third quarter "reflects the impact of a recessionary economy," with freight and truck sales down, but Paccar is one of the very few global automotive firms to earn a profit this year. Piggott says this puts the company in a good position as the industry returns to a normal vehicle replacement cycle. The net income for the first nine months of 2009 is $65.8m. In Europe, Paccar subsidiary Daf improved its share of the >15t truck market in the same period.
More from Belle Moss on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or bmoss@automotivepr.com
More ready to run Citroëns
New products from Tawe Coachbuilders, KFS, Somers and Supertrucks are joining Citroën's award-winning Ready to Run programme. The Ready to Run programme, which the firm says is already the most comprehensive of its type in the UK, includes dropsides, tippers, Luton vans, glass-carrying vans, temperature-controlled vans, car transporters, minibuses and dual-fuel vans.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
HDNL takes first 158 MAN trucks
Home Delivery Network is taking its first MAN trucks, 158 of them, as fleet replacements. Bevans fitted box bodies and tail-lifts to 61 of the 7.5-tonners, while Cartwrights fitted demount bodies another 84 7.5-tonners. There are also 13 18-tonners with Cartwright two-axle drawbar trailers and demount bodies. All are on four and five year repair and maintenance deals plus MAN Fleet Management, MAN's own online Vosa and 'O' licence compliance tool. HDNL is the UK's largest home delivery and collection service, working across the UK daily.
More from Paul O'Malley on +44 (0)1 263 715 900 or comms@btinternet.com
Citroën's new Enterprise models
Citroën is adding seven new Enterprise versions of the Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay to its van and light truck range from January 2010. All gain air-conditioning, Bluetooth and reverse parking sensors. The firm says drivers look for more comfort and operators demand better on-board communications. "Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay Enterprise models meet the aspirations of both driver and operator in one efficient package," said Robert Handyside, commercial vehicle operations manager. At the same time, the firm says its new pan-European Business Centre programme will bring even higher levels of sales and aftersales service to its small and medium van and light truck fleet operator customers.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Omnibus for more cross-border bus routes
The International Road Transport Union just put a blueprint for regular bus and coach lines to the UN Economic Commission for Europe. The IRU says its plan, called Omnibus, will pave the way for better routes across Europe, with a common legal framework, paperwork and enforcement routines. Over 3,000 international regular bus and coach services already offer green, safe and reliable transport at affordable prices. Sadly the bilateral agreements that cover them make getting an OK for a new scheduled international service very complicated, despite continued liberalisation. Omnibus would harmonise applications, agreements and passengers' travel papers, cut consultation times and give priority to bus and coach services at border crossings. This is the first step of the Smart Move awareness campaign, launched at the recent Busworld Europe show in Kortrijk.
More from Juliette Ebélé on +41 (0)22 918 27 00 or juliette.ebele@iru.org
Get registered
You can now register on-line for a Fast Track entry pass to next spring's Commercial Vehicle Operator Show at the NEC, near Birmingham. Go to the show website, www.cvoperatorshow.com and you can register for a free, queue-busting Fast Track entry pass to the show. "There are always queues, particularly first thing as the show opens," said Robin Dickeson, press officer. "So as there will be lots to see, it's well worth getting ahead of the game and beating those queues to make the most of the time in the exhibition." The CV Operator Show will be open from 08:30 to 17:30 on Tuesday 13 April, Wednesday 14 April and Thursday 15 April.
More from Robin Dickeson on +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Kögel and Ekeri win 900 strong trailer deal
German trailer maker Kögel and Finnish bodybuilder Ekeri have won an order for 907 trailers, semi-trailers and bodies from the Norwegian postal service. The vehicles will work for Bring Logistics and Bring Frigoscandia, two of the logistics divisions run by Norwegian Post. The deal was not affected by Kögel's insolvency or recent sale and will see deliveries scheduled over two or three years.. Running under the Bring brand since 2008, the state-owned Norwegian Postal Service combines all its mail, parcel and logistical services. It is one of the largest post and logistics businesses in Northern Europe, employing 27,000 people. The turnover is 24.4bn Kronor (€2.9bn).
More from Andreas Lubitz on +49 (0)82 85 88 12312 or andreas.lubitz@koegel.com
More wheelchair access from Citroën
Citroën says it has just done a big mobility accessible vehicle deal with Glasgow's Allied Vehicles Group to convert hundreds of Dispatch Combis into wheelchair-accessible taxis and people carriers.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
It's from 1 to 7 November, but don't all rush - unless you're in the US you could be forgiven if this one passed you by. But the American Trucking Association and others want people to honour drivers for their hard work and commitment. The ATA says truckers do one of the economy's most demanding and important jobs. The ATA wants people to use the 14th National Truck Driver Appreciation Week to say "thank you for delivering America" to the men and women across the country who "work hard every day to deliver the Good Stuff." Maybe the UK could learn from this?
More from www.truckline.com
Mind the scam
Exhibitors at next year's Commercial Vehicle Operator Show are already getting misleading and official-looking letters from firms that offer a "pre-registered," free entry in an exhibitors guide. One letter that Transport News Brief has seen comes from Expo Guide, with a form for you to confirm that the guide's publisher has your details right. But sign and return that form and you've agreed to an "irrevocable" order, committing you to pay €1,181 (about £1,000) year for three years. For that, you get a listing among "3.2 million exhibitors" on a website. The CV Operator Show organisers say this deal has no connection with the event next April and resembles a notorious scam still run by Fairguide from Austria. Their recommendation is "don't go there." But if you have, look at the Association of Exhibition Organisers website at www.aeo.org.uk. It has advice on how to handle the situation. If in doubt, check with Crystal Communications, the CV Operator Show organiser.
More from Bob Sockl on +44 (0)1 634 261 262 or bob.s@crystal-communications.co.uk
Study looks for heavy-duty efficiency
The Energy Technologies Institute says it plans to study to "look at increasing efficiency and cutting emissions of heavy-duty vehicles, such as coaches, buses and mining vehicles." This aims to look the way we use these vehicles and try to find "efficiency improvement technologies" and check the benefits for them. "Carbon reduction from heavy-duty vehicles presents a significant challenge, many of the current options to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles are not feasible for heavy duty applications," said Dr David Clarke, ETI boss. The study, led by Ricardo and including Caterpillar and Rolls-Royce should last nine months.
More from Richard Robinson on +44 (0)1 509 202 026 or richard.robinson@eti.co.uk
Fresh fruit and veg by fridge train from Spain
The first weekly Stobart Rail service arrived in the UK on Friday 30 October. The new train service arrived in Britain on time after a 1,100 mile journey from Valencia. Run with rail operator DB Schenker, the train offers an efficient way to import fresh Spanish produce from Valencia to Dagenham. The service is the first fully refrigerated train service through the Eurotunnel and the longest train journey in Europe by a single operator. It should also cut 13.7m km of road journeys a year with big emissions savings.
More from Dani Grecian +44 (0)1 925 605 323 or greciand@eddiestobart.co.uk
Ceva wins BMW parts distribution deal
Ceva Logistics says it has won a contract with BMW UK to manage parts delivery to some 200 BMW and Mini dealers across the UK. The firm will use a "specialist collaborative delivery service" to handle overnight deliveries at "a significantly lower cost" than normal for this type of service. The move extends Ceva's successful and international relationship with BMW.
More from Jess Burr on +44 (0)2 074 133 070 or jess.burr@hillandknowlton.com
Fleet replacement deal in the can
Schmitz Cargobull says it has won a 20-trailer deal from Kent-based haulier MJD Services. The firm will use the new S.CS Freepost curtainsider trailers to deliver soft drinks across southern England and into Belgium and Holland. The trailers are four metres high so that they can use the Blackwall Tunnel under the Thames in east London and meet mainland height restrictions. The full length side of the Freepost trailer is clear of obstruction, making loading and unloading much easier. MJD has some 100 trailers on the soft drinks contract and will replace the entire fleet with Schmitz Cargobull Freeposts over the next three years, financed by Cargobull Finance.
More from Lloyd Arkil on +44 (0)1 923 777 897 or lloyd@am-pr.net
Turn-by-turn navigation by iPod
GeoLife and PosiMotion say they have sent a new application to the Apple App Store which enables personal turn-by-turn navigation on both the iPod touch and the iPhone. When approved it will be the first navigation system for the iPod touch, turning the unit into a personal navigation device with smart routing, interactive maps and spoken directions.
More from Chris Bignell on +44 (0)7 834 020 460 or chris@xl-comms.com
Optare's Mercedes-Benz milestone
Optare says it just passed a big milestone, delivering its 3000th Mercedes-Benz powered bus. The latest one went to Arriva North East. Optare's relationship with Mercedes goes back to a 1997 exclusive deal to use the OM904LA engine in the Solo midibus model. The first Mercedes powered Solo went to work for Wilts & Dorset in 1998. Its OM904LA is still going strong, in daily service with 500,000 miles to its credit. 19 Solos from the same batch have hit the same mileage, making 10m miles for this one operator alone. "These exceptional engines have been critical to the success of our buses and particularly the Solo model," said Glenn Saint, commercial director at Optare.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
More Dafs for Freshlinc
Lincolnshire chilled food distributor Freshlinc just added 15 more Daf XF 105 three-axle tractors to its fleet. The firm runs some 140 tractors units and 160 tri-axle trailers. The new trucks mean 60 of its tractor units are now Daf 105s. "As well as operating throughout the UK delivering locally grown produce, these trucks will support our expansion into Europe, from where we bring cut flowers and fresh produce," said Andy Marchant, fleet manager. "A number are already operating on a shuttle service to Felixstowe and Harwich ferry terminals to collect and return unaccompanied trailers." Good fuel figures and residual values over a 720,000km, four-year service life clinched the deal for the top of the range Daf XF105.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
New IT system at Fortec
Neil Hodgson, newly promoted to UK managing director of Calberson's Fortec Pallet Network, says the business has a new IT system. He says ForTrack is designed "to give customers the most flexible and user-friendly" IT service available in the industry. The result is a web-based pallet tracking system that offers a range of interfaces. It can be set up to work to with each customer's system at the level they want. "Instead of needing to use a specific computer, customers can check their accounts and individual pallet movements from any internet access device." The system supports all major web-browsers so people using different operating systems can use ForTrack.
More from Celeste Clarke on +44 (0)2 476 228 881 or celeste@centurypr.co.uk
Volvo wins
Volvo won Ireland's leading trucking honour when the Volvo 11-litre FM won 'Irish Truck of the Year 2010' recently at the Marriott Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield, County Meath. Göran Nyberg, Volvo Trucks UK managing director collected the award, presented by 'Fleet Transport' magazine at its seventh annual awards ceremony. The firm also collected the Greenfleet 'Large Goods Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year'. This time John Comer, Volvo Truck's product manager for the UK and Ireland collected the award at London's Guildhall.
More from Nigel Hanwell on +44 (0)1 926 414 210 or nigel.hanwell@volvo.com
Drive for better business
Driving for Better Business, the major government-backed outfit set up to help cut road crashes aims to help firms meet their obligations to their employees. It says some 200 deaths and serious injuries a week are from accidents involving drivers at work, with more employees killed and seriously injured on Britain's roads while driving for work than in any other job. So the campaign, at www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com aims to cut the carnage. Delivered by RoadSafe and originally to run until mid-2009, the programme has been so successful it has won another three years' funding.
More from Ed James on +44(0)2 073 449 236 or ejames@roadsafe.com
Accelerating South
Lancashire-based vehicle maintenance software Technopoly has opened a southern office in Poole, Dorset. "We have an ever-growing customer base in the south of England, right from Exeter in the southwest up to Cardiff and Bristol and right across to the Thames estuary," said Graham Helliwell, business development director. The firm's AcceleratorVMS offers wide ranging and Vosa-compliant maintenance software for commercial vehicle and car fleets and workshops.
More from Graham Helliwell on +44 (0)1 706 830 930 or graham@technopoly.co.uk
Scottish Rewards
600 Scottish hauliers will gather for the 16th annual Transport News Scottish Rewards celebration breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow on Friday 6 November. Guest speakers are Kenny MacAskill, Scottish Justice Secretary, Geoff Dunning, RHA chief executive and Henk van Leuven, managing director of Iveco UK, the principal supporter of the annual event. Editor Alistair Vallance says the next issue of Transport News will carry a full report on Scotland's premier transport event.
More from Alistair Vallance on +44 (0)1 355 279 077 or info@transportnews.co.uk
ATS Euromaster and Michelin win Redditch deal
Redditch Borough Council has appointed ATS Euromaster and Michelin as the tyre and related service supplier in a four-year deal. This covers the council's 150 strong mixed fleet, including vans, agricultural kit, dustcarts and road sweepers. It is part of a pan-government tyre-sourcing plan started by the Office of Government Commerce in 2007.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 086 474 467 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
£3m chocolate deal for Atchison Topeka
Droitwich-based logistics company firm Atchison Topeka says it has won the renewal of its £3m distribution and warehousing contract with Belgian chocolate makers Barry Callebaut, a customer for 14 years, with sales over £2.5bn. Atchison will collect chocolate from factories across Europe and the UK, keep it in its new 20,000-pallet store and handle UK deliveries. The firm says high levels of automation and integration allows it and Barry Callebaut to concentrate on core activities whilst the Wesupply web-based b2b integration software handles sales order and inventory management.
More from Angela Davis on +44 (0)1 905 754 916 or angela.davis16@btinternet.com
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports another of those warnings that imply people have some very odd ideas about what their microwave ovens are for. "Security protected," warns a label on a DVD that Richard Brice bought from his local Sainsbury's store. "Please remove prior to putting in microwave." Richard wonders what Sainsbury's legal position would be should someone take the warning at its word and microwave the DVD - after removing the label first, of course.
More from www..newscientist.com
Kögel, Europe's third-largest trailer maker, has a new owner, the Humbaur Group from Gersthofen near Augsburg. The move comes three months after Kögel filed for bankruptcy, following the trailer market collapse that caused a 90% drop in business. Humbaur will take on 442 of Kögel's 763 people. An earlier sale and lease back property deal on Kögel's Burtenbach site complicated the sale and leaves unresolved issues over its use. Founded in 1957, the family-owned Humbaur GmbH is a leading European trailer maker the firm employs around 450 people making trailers from 750kg to 40t. Its turnover is some €120m. Ulrich Humbaur wants Kögel to continue as an independent brand and business. "There will be a very clear and defined dual-brand strategy with different products and each with its own sales activities."
More from Andreas Lubitz on +49 (0)82 85 88 12312 or andreas.lubitz@koegel.com
Used van prices up again say Manheim
Manheim Auctions' latest monthly Van Market Analysis reports that at £3,429, the average wholesale used van sale price increased by 4.8% or £156 in September compared with August. This is the seventh month this year that average values have increased. Compared with September last year average wholesale used van prices are up by 19.3% or £554. At the same time, average age is up by three months to 56 months and average mileage is 1,674 miles higher at 73,092. "This year we are selling vans faster and for more money as volumes have reduced by 13% compared with September last year," said Alex Wright, commercial vehicle sales director for Manheim.
More from Andrew Andersz on +44 (0)1 865 343 100 or andrew.andersz@thejjgroup.com
Post strike delivers more business
UK-based parcel carrier APC Overnight says that it has gained 20% more business since the start of the latest series of strikes by UK postal workers.. The firm has handled the extra traffic with little need for extra capacity. "We've had some more overnight sorting to do, but haven't needed more vehicles or journeys," said Ivor Skinner, managing director. "We saw a similar pattern in the last postal strike two years ago and held onto a proportion of the new business once that strike stopped. Obviously we hope to do the same this time."
More from Celeste Clarke on +44 (0)7 799 064 066 or celeste@centurypr.co.uk
Industry wants better van emissions law
The EC just proposed a tough new law to cut average fuel use and CO2 emissions from vans with a target average of 42.8mpg or 175g CO2/km from 2014, phased-in to 2016. In the UK the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders wants European policy-makers to come up with a more realistic plan. It says these lead-times are too short, particularly in an economic downturn. "Industry needs sufficient lead times and reasonable targets to provide affordable products," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. Across the EU, demand for vans fell 35% this year. UK demand is down 41% in the first nine months of 2009 and likely to end the year 37% down on 2008.
More from Sara Lee on +44 (0)2 073 449 219 or slee@smmt.co.uk
Geodis and APC deal
Geodis Calberson and APC Overnight just announced a joint parcel and pallet distribution in the UK and the rest of Europe. Geodis will promote a UK and Irish parcel service alongside its existing services and APC will have access to the Geodis Fortec network so that it can offer a Europe-wide pallet distribution service, with an overnight service in the UK and Ireland. The deal is "strategic" rather than financial, meaning the two will work together, for instance to integrate their IT systems to give track, trace and proof of delivery across their combined network. There are no plans for one to take a stake in the other. French rail operator SNCF owns Geodis Calberson.
More from Celeste Clarke on +44 (0)7 799 064 066 or celeste@centurypr.co.uk
Paccar making money
"Paccar reported improved third quarter revenues compared to the second quarter of 2009," said Mark Pigott, the firm's chairman and CEO, last week. The net income of $13m in the third quarter "reflects the impact of a recessionary economy," with freight and truck sales down, but Paccar is one of the very few global automotive firms to earn a profit this year. Piggott says this puts the company in a good position as the industry returns to a normal vehicle replacement cycle. The net income for the first nine months of 2009 is $65.8m. In Europe, Paccar subsidiary Daf improved its share of the >15t truck market in the same period.
More from Belle Moss on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or bmoss@automotivepr.com
More ready to run Citroëns
New products from Tawe Coachbuilders, KFS, Somers and Supertrucks are joining Citroën's award-winning Ready to Run programme. The Ready to Run programme, which the firm says is already the most comprehensive of its type in the UK, includes dropsides, tippers, Luton vans, glass-carrying vans, temperature-controlled vans, car transporters, minibuses and dual-fuel vans.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
HDNL takes first 158 MAN trucks
Home Delivery Network is taking its first MAN trucks, 158 of them, as fleet replacements. Bevans fitted box bodies and tail-lifts to 61 of the 7.5-tonners, while Cartwrights fitted demount bodies another 84 7.5-tonners. There are also 13 18-tonners with Cartwright two-axle drawbar trailers and demount bodies. All are on four and five year repair and maintenance deals plus MAN Fleet Management, MAN's own online Vosa and 'O' licence compliance tool. HDNL is the UK's largest home delivery and collection service, working across the UK daily.
More from Paul O'Malley on +44 (0)1 263 715 900 or comms@btinternet.com
Citroën's new Enterprise models
Citroën is adding seven new Enterprise versions of the Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay to its van and light truck range from January 2010. All gain air-conditioning, Bluetooth and reverse parking sensors. The firm says drivers look for more comfort and operators demand better on-board communications. "Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay Enterprise models meet the aspirations of both driver and operator in one efficient package," said Robert Handyside, commercial vehicle operations manager. At the same time, the firm says its new pan-European Business Centre programme will bring even higher levels of sales and aftersales service to its small and medium van and light truck fleet operator customers.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Omnibus for more cross-border bus routes
The International Road Transport Union just put a blueprint for regular bus and coach lines to the UN Economic Commission for Europe. The IRU says its plan, called Omnibus, will pave the way for better routes across Europe, with a common legal framework, paperwork and enforcement routines. Over 3,000 international regular bus and coach services already offer green, safe and reliable transport at affordable prices. Sadly the bilateral agreements that cover them make getting an OK for a new scheduled international service very complicated, despite continued liberalisation. Omnibus would harmonise applications, agreements and passengers' travel papers, cut consultation times and give priority to bus and coach services at border crossings. This is the first step of the Smart Move awareness campaign, launched at the recent Busworld Europe show in Kortrijk.
More from Juliette Ebélé on +41 (0)22 918 27 00 or juliette.ebele@iru.org
Get registered
You can now register on-line for a Fast Track entry pass to next spring's Commercial Vehicle Operator Show at the NEC, near Birmingham. Go to the show website, www.cvoperatorshow.com and you can register for a free, queue-busting Fast Track entry pass to the show. "There are always queues, particularly first thing as the show opens," said Robin Dickeson, press officer. "So as there will be lots to see, it's well worth getting ahead of the game and beating those queues to make the most of the time in the exhibition." The CV Operator Show will be open from 08:30 to 17:30 on Tuesday 13 April, Wednesday 14 April and Thursday 15 April.
More from Robin Dickeson on +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Kögel and Ekeri win 900 strong trailer deal
German trailer maker Kögel and Finnish bodybuilder Ekeri have won an order for 907 trailers, semi-trailers and bodies from the Norwegian postal service. The vehicles will work for Bring Logistics and Bring Frigoscandia, two of the logistics divisions run by Norwegian Post. The deal was not affected by Kögel's insolvency or recent sale and will see deliveries scheduled over two or three years.. Running under the Bring brand since 2008, the state-owned Norwegian Postal Service combines all its mail, parcel and logistical services. It is one of the largest post and logistics businesses in Northern Europe, employing 27,000 people. The turnover is 24.4bn Kronor (€2.9bn).
More from Andreas Lubitz on +49 (0)82 85 88 12312 or andreas.lubitz@koegel.com
More wheelchair access from Citroën
Citroën says it has just done a big mobility accessible vehicle deal with Glasgow's Allied Vehicles Group to convert hundreds of Dispatch Combis into wheelchair-accessible taxis and people carriers.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
It's from 1 to 7 November, but don't all rush - unless you're in the US you could be forgiven if this one passed you by. But the American Trucking Association and others want people to honour drivers for their hard work and commitment. The ATA says truckers do one of the economy's most demanding and important jobs. The ATA wants people to use the 14th National Truck Driver Appreciation Week to say "thank you for delivering America" to the men and women across the country who "work hard every day to deliver the Good Stuff." Maybe the UK could learn from this?
More from www.truckline.com
Mind the scam
Exhibitors at next year's Commercial Vehicle Operator Show are already getting misleading and official-looking letters from firms that offer a "pre-registered," free entry in an exhibitors guide. One letter that Transport News Brief has seen comes from Expo Guide, with a form for you to confirm that the guide's publisher has your details right. But sign and return that form and you've agreed to an "irrevocable" order, committing you to pay €1,181 (about £1,000) year for three years. For that, you get a listing among "3.2 million exhibitors" on a website. The CV Operator Show organisers say this deal has no connection with the event next April and resembles a notorious scam still run by Fairguide from Austria. Their recommendation is "don't go there." But if you have, look at the Association of Exhibition Organisers website at www.aeo.org.uk. It has advice on how to handle the situation. If in doubt, check with Crystal Communications, the CV Operator Show organiser.
More from Bob Sockl on +44 (0)1 634 261 262 or bob.s@crystal-communications.co.uk
Study looks for heavy-duty efficiency
The Energy Technologies Institute says it plans to study to "look at increasing efficiency and cutting emissions of heavy-duty vehicles, such as coaches, buses and mining vehicles." This aims to look the way we use these vehicles and try to find "efficiency improvement technologies" and check the benefits for them. "Carbon reduction from heavy-duty vehicles presents a significant challenge, many of the current options to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles are not feasible for heavy duty applications," said Dr David Clarke, ETI boss. The study, led by Ricardo and including Caterpillar and Rolls-Royce should last nine months.
More from Richard Robinson on +44 (0)1 509 202 026 or richard.robinson@eti.co.uk
Fresh fruit and veg by fridge train from Spain
The first weekly Stobart Rail service arrived in the UK on Friday 30 October. The new train service arrived in Britain on time after a 1,100 mile journey from Valencia. Run with rail operator DB Schenker, the train offers an efficient way to import fresh Spanish produce from Valencia to Dagenham. The service is the first fully refrigerated train service through the Eurotunnel and the longest train journey in Europe by a single operator. It should also cut 13.7m km of road journeys a year with big emissions savings.
More from Dani Grecian +44 (0)1 925 605 323 or greciand@eddiestobart.co.uk
Ceva wins BMW parts distribution deal
Ceva Logistics says it has won a contract with BMW UK to manage parts delivery to some 200 BMW and Mini dealers across the UK. The firm will use a "specialist collaborative delivery service" to handle overnight deliveries at "a significantly lower cost" than normal for this type of service. The move extends Ceva's successful and international relationship with BMW.
More from Jess Burr on +44 (0)2 074 133 070 or jess.burr@hillandknowlton.com
Fleet replacement deal in the can
Schmitz Cargobull says it has won a 20-trailer deal from Kent-based haulier MJD Services. The firm will use the new S.CS Freepost curtainsider trailers to deliver soft drinks across southern England and into Belgium and Holland. The trailers are four metres high so that they can use the Blackwall Tunnel under the Thames in east London and meet mainland height restrictions. The full length side of the Freepost trailer is clear of obstruction, making loading and unloading much easier. MJD has some 100 trailers on the soft drinks contract and will replace the entire fleet with Schmitz Cargobull Freeposts over the next three years, financed by Cargobull Finance.
More from Lloyd Arkil on +44 (0)1 923 777 897 or lloyd@am-pr.net
Turn-by-turn navigation by iPod
GeoLife and PosiMotion say they have sent a new application to the Apple App Store which enables personal turn-by-turn navigation on both the iPod touch and the iPhone. When approved it will be the first navigation system for the iPod touch, turning the unit into a personal navigation device with smart routing, interactive maps and spoken directions.
More from Chris Bignell on +44 (0)7 834 020 460 or chris@xl-comms.com
Optare's Mercedes-Benz milestone
Optare says it just passed a big milestone, delivering its 3000th Mercedes-Benz powered bus. The latest one went to Arriva North East. Optare's relationship with Mercedes goes back to a 1997 exclusive deal to use the OM904LA engine in the Solo midibus model. The first Mercedes powered Solo went to work for Wilts & Dorset in 1998. Its OM904LA is still going strong, in daily service with 500,000 miles to its credit. 19 Solos from the same batch have hit the same mileage, making 10m miles for this one operator alone. "These exceptional engines have been critical to the success of our buses and particularly the Solo model," said Glenn Saint, commercial director at Optare.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
More Dafs for Freshlinc
Lincolnshire chilled food distributor Freshlinc just added 15 more Daf XF 105 three-axle tractors to its fleet. The firm runs some 140 tractors units and 160 tri-axle trailers. The new trucks mean 60 of its tractor units are now Daf 105s. "As well as operating throughout the UK delivering locally grown produce, these trucks will support our expansion into Europe, from where we bring cut flowers and fresh produce," said Andy Marchant, fleet manager. "A number are already operating on a shuttle service to Felixstowe and Harwich ferry terminals to collect and return unaccompanied trailers." Good fuel figures and residual values over a 720,000km, four-year service life clinched the deal for the top of the range Daf XF105.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
New IT system at Fortec
Neil Hodgson, newly promoted to UK managing director of Calberson's Fortec Pallet Network, says the business has a new IT system. He says ForTrack is designed "to give customers the most flexible and user-friendly" IT service available in the industry. The result is a web-based pallet tracking system that offers a range of interfaces. It can be set up to work to with each customer's system at the level they want. "Instead of needing to use a specific computer, customers can check their accounts and individual pallet movements from any internet access device." The system supports all major web-browsers so people using different operating systems can use ForTrack.
More from Celeste Clarke on +44 (0)2 476 228 881 or celeste@centurypr.co.uk
Volvo wins
Volvo won Ireland's leading trucking honour when the Volvo 11-litre FM won 'Irish Truck of the Year 2010' recently at the Marriott Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield, County Meath. Göran Nyberg, Volvo Trucks UK managing director collected the award, presented by 'Fleet Transport' magazine at its seventh annual awards ceremony. The firm also collected the Greenfleet 'Large Goods Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year'. This time John Comer, Volvo Truck's product manager for the UK and Ireland collected the award at London's Guildhall.
More from Nigel Hanwell on +44 (0)1 926 414 210 or nigel.hanwell@volvo.com
Drive for better business
Driving for Better Business, the major government-backed outfit set up to help cut road crashes aims to help firms meet their obligations to their employees. It says some 200 deaths and serious injuries a week are from accidents involving drivers at work, with more employees killed and seriously injured on Britain's roads while driving for work than in any other job. So the campaign, at www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com aims to cut the carnage. Delivered by RoadSafe and originally to run until mid-2009, the programme has been so successful it has won another three years' funding.
More from Ed James on +44(0)2 073 449 236 or ejames@roadsafe.com
Accelerating South
Lancashire-based vehicle maintenance software Technopoly has opened a southern office in Poole, Dorset. "We have an ever-growing customer base in the south of England, right from Exeter in the southwest up to Cardiff and Bristol and right across to the Thames estuary," said Graham Helliwell, business development director. The firm's AcceleratorVMS offers wide ranging and Vosa-compliant maintenance software for commercial vehicle and car fleets and workshops.
More from Graham Helliwell on +44 (0)1 706 830 930 or graham@technopoly.co.uk
Scottish Rewards
600 Scottish hauliers will gather for the 16th annual Transport News Scottish Rewards celebration breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow on Friday 6 November. Guest speakers are Kenny MacAskill, Scottish Justice Secretary, Geoff Dunning, RHA chief executive and Henk van Leuven, managing director of Iveco UK, the principal supporter of the annual event. Editor Alistair Vallance says the next issue of Transport News will carry a full report on Scotland's premier transport event.
More from Alistair Vallance on +44 (0)1 355 279 077 or info@transportnews.co.uk
ATS Euromaster and Michelin win Redditch deal
Redditch Borough Council has appointed ATS Euromaster and Michelin as the tyre and related service supplier in a four-year deal. This covers the council's 150 strong mixed fleet, including vans, agricultural kit, dustcarts and road sweepers. It is part of a pan-government tyre-sourcing plan started by the Office of Government Commerce in 2007.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 086 474 467 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
£3m chocolate deal for Atchison Topeka
Droitwich-based logistics company firm Atchison Topeka says it has won the renewal of its £3m distribution and warehousing contract with Belgian chocolate makers Barry Callebaut, a customer for 14 years, with sales over £2.5bn. Atchison will collect chocolate from factories across Europe and the UK, keep it in its new 20,000-pallet store and handle UK deliveries. The firm says high levels of automation and integration allows it and Barry Callebaut to concentrate on core activities whilst the Wesupply web-based b2b integration software handles sales order and inventory management.
More from Angela Davis on +44 (0)1 905 754 916 or angela.davis16@btinternet.com
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports another of those warnings that imply people have some very odd ideas about what their microwave ovens are for. "Security protected," warns a label on a DVD that Richard Brice bought from his local Sainsbury's store. "Please remove prior to putting in microwave." Richard wonders what Sainsbury's legal position would be should someone take the warning at its word and microwave the DVD - after removing the label first, of course.
More from www..newscientist.com
About TNN News Feed
