Commercial Motor articles from April 2006

Commercial Motor archives from April 2006

A PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION.
April 6, 2006... When we re-opened the debate recently on managing agency drivers (see Round Table, page 28) we were planning to report on operator best practice but many other issues sprang out from the undergrowth. One critter which wouldn't go away was the...

Big plans for Bathside Bay.
April 6, 2006... A recent planning decision means that container hauliers will soon have a new destination to add to the list of Southampton, Felixstowe and Tilbury. But what about transport links? Chris Tindall reports. Following the government's decision...

Healthy growth in licensed vehicles.(vehicles licensed for use on UK roads)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... DfT figures show that the number of vehicles licensed for use on UK roads continues to grow - with one notable exception... Figures just released by the Department for Transport show that the number of large goods vehicles licensed for use...

Off to a flying start.(Commercial Motor Health Challenge)
April 6, 2006... The launch of the CM Health Challenge was a roaring success and brought truck drivers' issues to television screens across the country. Louise Cole reports from the Nightowl truckstop in Wolverhampton. It was still dark when the CM convoy...

Sprinter sets a new standard.(Mercedes-Benz Sprinter )
April 6, 2006... A Mercedes launch is always an event, but with the revamped Sprinter we get the feeling that the company has produced something special. Before we were allowed to get behind the wheel of the new Sprinter, Mercedes showed us a static...

Just sort it out.
April 6, 2006... Employment tribunals can award unlimited compensation to employees who are victims of discrimination in the workplace. But how do these tribunals work? Patric Cunnane focuses on 10 things you need to know. Most workplace disputes...

Hot data.
April 6, 2006... Never write 'this man's an idiot' on interview notes. Anna West explains how careless use of data can come back to haunt you later. In the day-to-day running of a transport business data is bound to be stored that is no longer needed, but...

Free advice...(Commercial Vehicle Show)
April 6, 2006... Our legal clinic is returning to the CV Show this month. Patric Cunnane explains how to book a free consultation with a top transport lawyer. Spring is finally here and once again the industry looks forward to the Commercial Vehicle...

Sorry but it doesn't add up.(Commercial Motor)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... CM's inside contact bemoans the number of operators who expect vehicles with glaring faults to attract top dollar at part exchange. The answer to the question is no. What's the question? I'll let you work that one out as you read this. ...

Designed to do business.(web services for automotive industry)(Website overview)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... CM's web expert Chris Snook checks out European Vehicle Sales's website and finds a no-nonsense business tool. Company: European Vehicle Sales Address: www.evsuk.com Overview: At last, a site that is no-nonsense, easy to use...

Low on power - high on desirability.
April 6, 2006... Looking back at CM's old roadtests can help you pick the right second-hand vehicle. This time we're focusing on a Scania 8x4 tipper we drove in 2003. Scania is one of three manufacturers to sell multi-axle chassis in serious numbers on the...

Seek out those weekly deals on 6x2 tractors.
April 6, 2006... Manufacturers were always going to face the problem of flooding the second-hand market with 400hp-plus fleet-spec 6x2 tractors. The result is a ferocious competition to see how little a truck can cost you per week. One of the longest-running...

Polish driver kidnapped in Brackmills truck theft.
April 6, 2006... After a brief period of calm, attacks are again being reported on a Northamptonshire industrial estate. Bridget Carter reports. Police fear that a spate of attacks on drivers parked up on the Brackmills industrial estate in...

Castle goes back on the rails.
April 6, 2006... After abandoning rail freight 14 years ago, Castle Cement is moving to an intermodal freight terminal. Guy Sheppard reports. Castle Cement has become the first major customer at the Mossend Railhead in Glasgow since [pounds sterling]3m...

Cat hints at Euro return.(Caterpillar)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Caterpillar seems to be gearing up for a renewed assault on the European heavy truck engine market. Speaking at this year's Mid America Truck Show, Jim McReynolds, Caterpillar's general manager of on-highway engines and power systems North...

Central success at NVQ2.(Central Construction Services)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Twenty-five drivers working for a Leicestershire tipper operator have successfully completed Level 2 NVQs in Driving Goods Vehicles. This means that Central Construction Services of Coalville and its training provider, Omnia Driving,...

Second trial in killing of Currys driver.(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... The brother of a man convicted of manslaughter denies committing the same offence. David Harris and Jane Wharton report. Nearly three years after truck driver Ian Jones was run over by his own vehicle, a second man has gone on trial for ...

Taxman was wrong over Crewvan VAT status.
April 6, 2006... Vauxhall is celebrating a landmark victory over HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over the VAT status of its Combo Crewvan. The van, which features a second row of seats, was originally type-approved as a light CV by the Vehicle...

ARR Craib sticks with Boalloy.(Boalloy Industries)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... High-profile Aberdeen-based haulage operator ARR Craib has placed an order for 50 Tautliner trailers from Congleton, Cheshire-based manufacturer Boalloy Industries. Craib has also ordered another batch of 20 M&G PSK trailers, also from...

Dyce moves into models.(Dyce Carriers)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Aberdeen-based Dyce Carriers has started selling model trucks as a commercial sideline to its main business. The haulier is starting with a limited edition of 100 models of its vehicles priced at [pounds sterling]100 each. Director...

Insurers to consider lower premiums for secure trucks.
April 6, 2006... At last, operators could earn lower insurance premiums by picking trucks with effective security features. Guy Sheppard reports. The insurance industry is to investigate ways of standardising premiums to reflect the effectiveness of...

Dublin toll bridge row.(protest at Dublin's East Link toll bridge)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... As CM went to press, the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) was calling on its members to join a protest rally at Dublin's East Link toll bridge on Wednesday 5 April. The IRHA wants the protest to take place at a peak period of the...

Lafarge sets up a flexible fleet to cover the UK.
April 6, 2006... Construction materials supplier Lafarge Aggregates has created its own fleet of vehicles to be brought in for major projects or to provide cover. The 20 company-owned vehicles with full-time drivers will give the company flexibility...

Jury's out on multiple stabbing in yard.(mechanic's Cases)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... A mechanic killed an operator's son and stabbed two other family members in a revenge attack following a long-running dispute, Leeds Crown Court heard. He was on police bail at the time. Gavin Hogg allegedly stabbed David Burrows just 24...

RF Fielding founder steps down as MD following TC's reprimand.(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Cheshire haulier RF Fielding is making sweeping changes to its management structure after abuses of drivers' hours and tacho rules were exposed at a public inquiry. Founder Reuben Fielding has resigned as MD; responsibility for legal...

Herculean task for Hallets.(fuel system of aircraft)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Abnormal load specialist Hallett Silberman was kept busy over the weekend hauling a Hercules C130 military aircraft from Tilbury docks to Cambridge. The plane had been dismantled for its journey from Milwaukee in the United States, and a...

Police call for secure parking on the A5.(kidnapping of truck drivers)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Police are holding talks with bosses at Europe's largest distribution park in an attempt to improve overnight safety for drivers. There has been a spate of raids on trucks parked overnight in lay-bys in Leicestershire - in ...

Faux pas to cherish.
April 6, 2006... Peter Larner isn't writing from the Mermaid Tavern this month; instead, he and the chaps have been riding the Spearmint Rhino in that den of iniquity, Harrogate. My colleagues from the haulage industry swapped the Mermaid Tavern for the...

Another fleet goes under the hammer.(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Spiralling fuel prices and red tape have forced Ian Hay into retirement after 20 years in the business. Ian Hay was a serious operator. Passionate, driven and professional, he took part in the 2001 fuel protests and lobbied MPs about the...

Application refused because of dangerous site entrance.(Road Safety)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Trucks sharing a private road with residents are a "threat to personal safety" - this must be addressed before the TC will grant a licence. An operator has been refused permission to base 10 vehicles and six trailers at its distribution...

CM legal clinic at the CV show.(commercial Motor)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... CM READERS can benefit from free legal advice at the Commercial Vehicle show later this month. CM is offering the chance to book a 30-minute consultation with a top transport lawyer. To book your free slot ring our hotline on 020 8652...

DON'T GET BURNT BY BAD DEBT.
April 6, 2006... In an industry with such small margins, bad debts can have a devastating effect. So what action can your company take to reduce the risk, and is insurance worth the cost? David Harris reports. Bad debtors leave a particularly bitter...

Driving debate.(participants opinion on agency drivers)(Discussion)
April 6, 2006... We gathered some of the industry's great and good around a table in the hope of provoking some robust discussions on the issue of managing agency drivers. Dominic Perry recorded the debate... To kick off we asked the participants...

EVENTS.
April 6, 2006... GB Tachographs Digital tachographs - drivers 10 May Wilmslow Contact: 01472 210102 / www.tachopak.co.uk FTA courses Public authorities conference 7 June Birmingham Construction and plant 20 June Birmingham Home deliveries 21 June...

Hanbury hits top 100 list.(Hanbury Holdings)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Hanbury Holdings, the parent company of Felixstowe-based container haulage and distribution firm Hanbury Davies, has made it into the latest edition of The Sunday Times Profit Track 100 that lists the fastest-growing businesses in the country....

Innovate bids for Celcius First depot.(Innovate Logistics)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Another week, another acquisition for Innovate Logistics. This time it's rumoured to be buying part of Celsius First. Chris Tindall reports. Acquisition-hungry Innovate Logistics is currently eyeing up the assets of Celsius First, the...

Licence authority is cut but may be restored after Vosa report.(truck drivers licence cancelled by Deputy Traffic Commissioner )(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... North-Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Patrick Mulvenna has cut a Cheshire partnership's O-licence authority from two trucks to one pending a report from a Vosa vehicle examiner. Vehicle examiner Peter Rimmer reported that vehicles run...

Operator fined for using wrong tax disc.(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... A London operator has been ordered to pay more than [pounds sterling]1,000 in fines and costs for the fraudulent use of a roadtax disc and for using a vehicle without insurance. Anthony Le Fevre of Hampton Road, Chingford, London...

Paying the price.
April 6, 2006... Haulage companies picking up the pieces following a major incident will have yet another cost to take into account - rising insurance premiums. Chris Tindall reports. As far as major incidents go, the explosion at the oil depot in...

Planning schemes are often selfish.(Weight restriction for Truck)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Having followed with interest the debate surrounding the introduction of the 7.5-tonne weight restriction on the A514 in Derby, why did it come as no surprise to learn that a local councillor who was proactive in its introduction...

Plea of ignorance wins new licence - this time.(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... A company that operated without an O-licence has been granted a new licence after it was accepted that the offence had been committed unintentionally. North-Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney was considering disciplinary action...

Seek out those weekly deals on 6x2 tractors.
April 6, 2006... Got a 6x2 tractor with more than 400hp on tap to sell? Move over - the market's awash with them. So how are you going to get yours noticed? Manufacturers were always going to face the problem of flooding the second-hand market with...

SfL serves the whole industry.(Skills for Logistics )(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... I noted your Comment piece asking the question "Who does Skills for Logistics serve?" (CM 9 March). I think the answer is the whole industry, but Skills for Logistics itself recognises that its engagement with the smaller operators in...

The price is right?(Effective costing systems of Freight transportation industry)
April 6, 2006... Effective costing systems can make or break a business. We check out a new step-by-step guide to accurately pricing transport jobs. The latest publication from the Freight Best Practice Programme provides invaluable guidance on the...

Transport Tribunal impounds leased vehicle and refuses to return it.
April 6, 2006... The Transport Tribunal has refused to return an impounded vehicle to Construction Access UK. North-Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney impounded the vehicle after it was stopped in October last year running in the livery of...

Why go green before you have to?
April 6, 2006... The surge in demand for new trucks is expected to end this autumn when new rules on buying and running vehicles tax-efficiently come into force. Guy Sheppard reports. Despite intense lobbying, Chancellor Gordon Brown refused to include...

Lost brake parts smash into car.(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Northamptonshire Police have launched an appeal to find the driver of an artic after its brakes disintegrated and parts smashed through the windscreen of an oncoming car, leaving a passenger with serious injuries. The incident happened at...

NYK site will support Jaguar production.
April 6, 2006... NYK Logistics has opened its new 5,000m2 site in St Helens, Lancs. The depot will cater for its healthcare and automotive customers, providing support to the nearby Jaguar production site at Halewood. In September production of the Land Rover...

Gorry signs up with Palletline.(JM Gorry & Son has joined the Palletline network)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Morecambe-based JM Gorry & Son has joined the Palletline network; it will cover the LA postcode. A Palletline spokesman says: "This development isn't because someone has left the network - it is just a particularly busy area and...

UK warehousing rentals are among the highest in Europe.
April 6, 2006... The UK may be the most expensive place in Europe to site a distribution park, but that's because it's best, right? Not quite, according to a new study. Dominic Perry reports. Three sites in the UK have been identified as being among the...

Stiller goes for growth with a three-way split.(Stiller Group )(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... North-Eastern transport firm Stiller Group is to divide itself into three divisions. Guy Sheppard reports. Stiller Group is splitting its business into three separate operating divisions as part of a plan to propel it to the top of the...

SOE guide to safe coupling.
April 6, 2006... In a bid to cut the growing number of accidents involving trailers, the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) has launched a guide for drivers. The code of practice, called Coupling or Uncoupling and Parking of Large Goods Vehicle Trailers,...

Golden age for Ross Hillman.(tipper operator Ross Hillman has gone for gold with its latest purchase)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... Wewstbury-based tipper operator Ross Hillman has gone for gold with its latest purchase. Vehicles in the Wiltshire firm's 20-strong fleet usually carry the company's green livery, but this 4x2 Volvo FL is its 100th acquisition and MD Keith...

Check out the CV Show on CM's webcast.(Commercial Motor Co. to launch online information services)(Brief article)
April 6, 2006... With this year's CV Show set to be the biggest ever, Commercial Motor is launching a web-based information service to bring the latest news, pictures and events from the exhibition direct to your computer. Each day we'll be producing a...

BEST FOOT FORWARD.(forward-control cabs)
April 6, 2006... To cab-forward or not to cab-forward, that is the question. So does Toyota's Dyna offer a solution? There was one way to find out Philosophers have often broached the subject of people being split into opposing camps. For instance: "There...

FASTER, THRIFTIER, SAFER.(Daimler-Benz AG's training program for truck drivers)
April 6, 2006... Despite electronic brains in the cab, leaden-footed drivers will still waste fuel. Mercedes-Benz has developed the ProfiTraining training course to teach drivers the right habits - we sent Kevin Swallow back to school. There's...

value judgements.(Road transport industry's Success)
April 6, 2006... Does it matter how you go bust? More than you might think. Louise Cole looks at the implications - and how to stay solvent. At times, it seems that the vocabulary of failure is more common in the UK road transport industry than that of...

WORK SPACE OR LIVING SPACE?(Workplace smoking)(Transport workers Health aspects)
April 13, 2006... By the end of 2008 all public and work places should be smoke-free. This is the government's aim and, in many ways, it is laudable. But there are some basic operational issues which road transport companies need to consider, and suggest their...

More haste, more speed.
April 13, 2006... The DfT's latest figures show that trucks are still speeding on dual and single carriageways, and even in built-up areas. So do speed limits need to be changed, or simply enforced more rigorously? Recently published figures from the...

Merc's box with brains.(Daimler-Benz AG on its power shift design)
April 13, 2006... Mercedes-Benz hasn't been a front runner in the race to develop full auto boxes for LGVs, but it's finally caught up with the leaders. We've been getting to grips with Power-Shift 12. Colin Barnett reports. The G211-12 Power-Shift is...

Delivering the facts on EU distribution.(European Union)
April 13, 2006... Globalisation, EU legislation and growth in the accession countries all influence the European logistics market. Dominic Perry reports. The latest study by global real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, European Distribution Report 2006,...

Pack it in.
April 13, 2006... The smoking ban in Scotland extends to truck cabs. Drivers can now be fined [pounds sterling]50 every time they light up - and their bosses pay [pounds sterling]200. Adam Hill reports. Truck drivers in Scotland are no longer allowed to...

Free legal advice at the NEC.
April 13, 2006... If you're coming to the CV show, bring your legal queries with you. Patric Cunnane explains how you can book a free consultation with a top transport lawyer. There can be few people working in the road transport industry who fully...

StockLink boosts residuals.
April 13, 2006... Volkswagen has developed an internet-based system that allows its franchised dealers to acquire used vans direct from the major fleets. Volkswagen has set up StockLink to allow Volkswagen Assured Used Van Centre dealers to purchase used...

Bidding boom raises prices.(Tata Motors Ltd.)
April 13, 2006... Light CV sales are revving up at British Car Auctions as its UK business development manager Duncan Ward reports a strong first quarter. Light CV sales hit the ground running in January and have gone from strength to strength throughout the...

TGA 150-tonners for crane hire fleet.
April 13, 2006... Leading crane-hire firm Ainscough has just taken delivery of a batch of 10 new MAN TGA tractor units to add to its 20-strong heavy haulage fleet. The trucks are all high-specification units which are plated at 150 tonnes. Unsurprisingly,...

Amtrak remains upbeat as profit margin falls.
April 13, 2006... Amtrak Express Parcels' profit margin fell by 50% last year - pre-tax profits for the 12 months to 31 May 2005 were [pounds sterling]1.4m, compared with [pounds sterling]2.8m for 2003/4. Turnover fell 3.6% to [pounds sterling]67.2m, giving...

Sign up for free CV Show 'Newscast Special'.
April 13, 2006... With this year's CV Show set to be the biggest ever, CM is launching a web-based service to bring you the latest show news, pictures and events. We'll be producing a web-based video show full of all the action from the Birmingham NEC; it...

No licence for former Kilsyth boss.(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... The Scottish TC has turned down an O-licence application by a well-known Strathclyde haulier because of his brother's "tarnished" reputation. Mike Jewell reports. A Scottish operator who infuriated creditors when a firm he was involved...

Belgians force out truckstop.(Shipping industry shuts truckstop)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... A truckstop used by drivers at Dartford International Ferry Terminal is being forced to shut by Belgian shipping firm Cobelfret. The Quayside Cafe offers showers, toilets and overnight parking for up to 50 units. It has been on its current...

Tories go for bigger trucks.
April 13, 2006... The shadow Transport Minister has condemned the DfT for refusing to to evaluate 25.25m vehicles. Chris Tindall reports. The Shadow Transport Minister has criticised Tony Blair's government for being closed to the idea of 25.25m trucks....

'Shocked' RF Fielding aims to fight licence revocation.(Transportation industry)
April 13, 2006... Has a management shake-up come too late to save RF Fielding following a revocation order? Sally Nash and Mike Jewell report. Beleaguered Cheshire operator RF Fielding plans to appeal against the decision taken last week to revoke its...

Police clamp down on O-licence fraudsters.
April 13, 2006... Three men have been arrested as part of a police investigation into operators fraudulently obtaining O-licences in a bid to get round the rules governing the industry. The arrests follow a lengthy intelligence-led operation which...

Fergusons has good year?(Ferguson Transportation Inc.)(Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe B.V.)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... Fergusons Transport of Blyth predicts its workload will increase on the back of a rise in tyre imports following Goodyear Dunlop's decision to axe nearly 600 jobs at its factory in Washington, near Sunderland. Goodyear Dunlop says it can...

Life sentence for Burrows murder.
April 13, 2006... A long-running feud led to an operator's son being stabbed to death and two other family members wounded. Chris Tindall reports. A mechanic has been convicted of murder after he stabbed an operator's son to death just 24 hours after being...

HOMES FROM HOME.(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... For 51 weeks a year we test CVs ranging from microvans to 44-tonners. But sleeper cabs are bedrooms as well as workplaces so once a year we shake out the CM sleeping bag for our annual group cab test... The brief to the manufacturers for...

Height limit on Irish roads will 'increase export costs'.(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... Irish plans for a national height limit have been received with anger by the road transport industry. Guy Sheppard reports. Business leaders warn that a threatened height restriction of 4.6m on Irish roads would increase the republic's...

FTA members call for LEZ rethink.(Freight Transport Association (United Kingdom))(ondon, England. Transport for London)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... The FTA wants Transport for London to reconsider the details of its Low Emission Zone so the cost to industry is lessened. Sally Nash reports. London members of the Freight Transport Association are calling for a simpler rolling age-based...

Satisfied with falling profits.(Transportation industry)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... Family-owned warehousing and distribution firm Massey Wilcox is satisfied with trading results for last year, despite an almost 50% decline in pre-tax profits. Director Robert Wilcox says the [pounds sterling]243,000 profit for the 12...

MAT debts could hit [pounds sterling]5m.(MAT Group Ltd. speaks on its debts)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... Collapsed transport firm MAT Group has debts of up to [pounds sterling]5m, administrator KPMG says. Initial estimates put the figure at [pounds sterling]2.5m but KPMG's James Money warns that the sum "could be as high as [pounds...

Data download.(Transaction cards usage)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... Here's the fourth instalment in our series of weekly bulletins to help you prepare for the new technology, courtesy of the FTA. You must be able to copy data from the digital tachograph vehicle unit (VU) and driver cards to demonstrate...

60-second interview.(Clarke, Jon director of Brittany Ferries)(Interview)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... Jon Clarke Brittany Ferries freight director, UK and Ireland What got you started in transport? The school bus. What do you love/hate about it? I love the fact that every day is different, even if in only a small way. ...

Application delegated to mechanic.(Traffic violations)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... An operator convicted of not having an O-licence had delegated the task of applying for one to a mechanic. But no application was made and the vehicle was subsequently impounded. South Ockenden-based John Saunders has now lost his bid...

BVRLA praises listening TfL.(British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association)(Transport for London)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... A meeting designed to defuse a row over congestion charging seems to have paid dividends, with the director general of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) praising the "listening ear" of Transport for London (TfL). ...