Commercial Motor articles from April 2009

Commercial Motor archives from April 2009

BST is key catalyst for digitach time change.(This Week)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... At 2am last Sunday (29 March), British Summer Time (BST) began - which means the Universal Time Clock (UTC) on digital tachographs and local time in the UK will differ by one hour. BST isone hour ahead of UTC; for example, 8am local time (BST)...

This Week.(TruckNet UK provides online services for truck drivers)
April 2, 2009... Rikki Chequer reveals how TruckNet UK can be both a social tool and a business tool... "It's nothing but a talking shop, a load of drivers moaning and complaining."I've heard this comment about drivers' forums many times over the past...

This Week.
April 2, 2009... RHA warns HGV drivers: pull over to answer your phone By Chris Tindall The Road Haulage Association (RHA) is advising hauliersto pull over to answer phone calls following a landmark case in which a woman was found guilty of causing...

This Week.(Volvo Truck Corp.'s euro engine trucks)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... Those READERS looking tobuya new vehicleare reminded that the deadline for qualifying for a Reduced Pollution Certificate (RPC) on a new Euro-5-engined truck runs out when Euro-5 becomes mandatory on all new vehicles on 1 October. Volvo...

Legal.(Data Protection Act 1984 and Data Protection Act 1998)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... CM-2APRIL09-DATA SIDEBAR-MS PROTECTING PRIVACY - WHAT THE LAW SAYS acents The key acts are the Data Protection Act 1984 which was updated and superseded by the Data Protection Act 1998, which came into force on April 1 2000 acents...

Legal.(data protection rules for freight transportation companies)
April 2, 2009... CONTACT US: If you suspect that you've been denied employment because you've been put on a blacklist, call 020 8652 3678 or email: patric.cunnane@rbi.co.uk Protecting your privacy * The key acts are the Data Protection Act 1984,...

Legal.(snowflakes affects transportation)
April 2, 2009... Weather report Further information * www.berr.gov.uk * www.acas.co.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1360 * www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor.law *...

Operations.(Vincent Caulfield, Frank McMorrow and Joe Murray appointed at Irish Road Haulage Association)
April 2, 2009... For more information: www.irha.ie or email info@irha.ie THE NEW PRESIDENT Vincent Caulfield has been elected president of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) for the next two years. This will be his second term - he first...

New truckstops alleviate secure parking shortage.(This Week)(Extra Motorway Services provides truck parking facilities)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... By Christopher Walton The chronic lack of secure truck parking facilities has been eased with the opening of two new sites in southern England. Regular users of the M25desperate to stop on the 64-mile serviceless stretch between South...

MP wins reprieve for Steeton.(This Week)
April 2, 2009... The imminent closure of an essential West Yorkshire VOSAtesting station has been deferred after a local MP stepped in to save it. Ann Cryer, MP for Keighley, West Yorks,has won a temporary reprieve for theSteeton, Bradford station, which...

This Week.(European Union)(Road Haulage Association)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... Trade association backs 'three in seven' EU cabotage revisions The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has welcomed EU haulage revisions which tighten up the definition of cabotage. The Access to the Market Regulation now says operators...

Freight logistics being 'strangled' by fee rises.(This Week)
April 2, 2009... By Joanna Bourkee_SFlband Christopher Walton The Department for Transport (DfT) is killing off the freight logistics sector "with its own hands",argues theFreight Transport Association (FTA), after two DfTagencies confirmed increases in...

This Week.
April 2, 2009... By Joanna Bourke Devon haulage firm Don Gorton has had three quarters of its fleet stolen in two separate raids on its Newton Abbot premises. Two Scanias valued at [pounds sterling]25,000 each were stolen from the firm'scompound in...

The route to safety.(This Week)(vehicles height, weight rules used by transportation industry)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... The Department for Transport(DfT) is urging operators to ensure their routes are "lawful and appropriate" in the wake of the Liberal Democrats calling for action on inappropriate routeing by sat-navs. Last week Lib Dem shadow transport...

Legal.
April 2, 2009... A driver fined for a mobile phone offence has subsequently had his HGV licence suspended for 14 days by North-Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell. In 2007, Christopher Meagher, of Heysham, had been given a [pounds sterling]60 fixed...

Legal.(Philip Brown into cases with Star Forwarding for his wrong action)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... A COMPANY THAT had its licence revoked after it ignored letters from VOSA has lost its appeal before the Transport Tribunal. Kent-based Star Forwarding appealed against a decision made by South Eastern & Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner...

Legal.(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... (HEAD) Licence bid rejected from firm that operated illegally An international operator has lost its bid for an O-licence after an inquiry heard it operated for a year without one following the failure of a previous company. Vaxo,...

Legal.(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... (HEAD) Homework pays off as second licence bid succeeds An operator whose licence bid was adjourned because he could not meet compliance standards has succeeded in obtaining an interim licence for six months. At his last application,...

Legal.(international motor vehicle licence )(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... An international operator lost its bid for an O-licence after an inquiry heard that it had been operating for a year without one, following the failure of a previous company. Vaxo, which was trading as CDG Transport, had sought a new...

This Week.(road transportation rules)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... You'd need to be an optimist not to read between the lines in the latest communique from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) regarding proposed changes to the EU laws governing access to the road transport industry. According to the RHA's...

Few loan difficulties.(Fast Forward International)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... Despite concernsto the contrary, haulage operators are reporting little problem in securing loan finance packages for vehicles and equipment. Colin McKay, managing director atKent haulier Fast Forward International, says the recession has...

Legal.(drivers licence revoked for tachograph fiddling )
April 2, 2009... A CARLISLE MAN, Greg Hartness, has become the 13th HGV driver to have his licence revoked for tachograph fiddling while working for the same North-Eastern haulage firm. Described as a "main player" in the offences that occurred at...

Operations.(Navistar Corp.)(MaxxForce 15)
April 2, 2009... There was no doubting the main topic of conversation at this year's Mid-America Truck Show (MATS). After years of being in denial over the best way to tackle ever-tightening diesel emissions standards, most US truck and engine-makers have...

This Week.(TransAg)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... Sterling show from TransAg despite downturn Devon-based agricultural distribution firm TransAg is benefiting from the weak pound as the British public turns to buying local produce as opposed to goods sourced from the eurozone. ...

A glimmer of hope.(Carntyne Transport)
April 2, 2009... Those shiny silver-sided trailers running in and out of Glasgow are 'a'built in Springburn'. How come? When the old Fruehauf went belly-up, Carntyne Transport bought the dry-freight production line and rolled up its sleeves Distillery...

Operations.(Ekeri)
April 2, 2009... Watching the trailers Easy loading and unloading is one of the most essential factors when it comes to buying trailers. We look at some of the options available. Words: Steve Banner Box-bodied trailers can givetheir contents...

Operations.(European Union)
April 2, 2009... They might be taking a European emissions solution, but, despite the best efforts of Volvo and others, disc brake adoption remains a very slow process. Until, that is, a possible change in US stopping distance regulations later this year A...

Operations.(McCulla Ireland)(Company overview)
April 2, 2009... Family-owned hauliers often seem to have the worst of both worlds. They get criticismfrom their customers for not being able to handle all their requirements 'under one roof' - and because they are usually small to medium-sized businesses, they...

Operations.
April 2, 2009... A decadeago, apress officer for a well-knowntruck-maker was in the habit of sending out spoof press releases on April Fools' Day. One year's releaseconcerned a new sat-nav-cum-cruise-control system that could spothills and bends and adjust your...

This Week.
April 2, 2009... Firms turning blind eye to sight tests By Christopher Walton Thousands of British truck drivers could be driving with defective sight, according toone of the UK's leading opticians. Research carried out by Specsavers suggests that...

This Week.(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... Container rental firm calls in theadministrators Blue Cube Rentals, the Beaconside, Stafford-basedtrailer and container rental business, has entered into administration, resulting in nine job losses. AdministratorKPMG wascalled in on 26...

This Week.
April 2, 2009... Haulier fined following death of lorry driver By Chris Tindall The absence of adequate training and risk assessments led to the death of a lorry driver who was flung from his cab when it jack-knifed while unloading at a Readymix depot....

This Week.(Fraikin S.A.)(Bonnaure, Laurent)(Interview)
April 2, 2009... An international outlook on work With the acquisition of Lex Transfleet in 2007, Fraikin made a major leap forward in the UK. To find out what else is in store, CM spoke to the company's executive vice-president for international, Laurent...

Standard procedureTrading Standards officers in Suffolk are winning the war on overloaded vehicles, but they are still fighting sat-nav misuse and general ignorance.(This Week)
April 2, 2009... Drivers are nothing if not creative when Trading Standards officers request a reason why they have breached weight-restricted roads in Suffolk. Road traffic enforcement officer Peter Westcott says most blame their sat-nav system, but he has...

This Week.(redundancies)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... Legal costs may lead to redundancies A company that successfully appealed a licence revocation after the Transport Tribunal criticised a Traffic Commissioner's decision could be forced to make redundancies as a result ofthe huge costs it...

Calling all operators!(This Week)
April 2, 2009... Confused by all the claims and counter-claims over fuel and oil additives or other fuel-saving devices? Nanoboron(CM 20 November 2008) is looking for fleet operators prepared to provide vehicles for long-term fuel trials to test its oil...

This Week.(pre-pack administration)
April 2, 2009... This is written inresponse to your article regarding pre-pack administrations and their place in roadtransport('Making the most of assets',CM 12 February). Bulmers Logistics going into pre-pack administration and re-emerging as 'Bulmers...

This Week.(truck parking information website )(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... SETPOS website calls for more data on truck parks across Europe The backers of a pan-European truck parking information website are calling on UK truckstops to register with and provide data for the site. The European Commission-funded...

Used Trucks.(auction for used automobiles)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... Active Auctions has sold more than a third of its stock as more than 560 people registered for its rolling online sale. Chris Hart (pictured above), boss of Trucks2Go ('Hart set on success', CM 1 May 2008) and the man behind the rolling...

Used Trucks.(A&M Commercials)(Website overview)
April 2, 2009... Something in the Eire This week it is the turn of Monaghan, Ireland-based A&M Commercials to come under the eagle eye of Webwatch. Company:A&M Commercials Address: www.amcommercials.com Homepage A&M Commercials is a...

RHA cuts back-office roles at Weybridge.(This Week)(Road Haulage Association)(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... By Lindsay Clark The Road Haulage Association (RHA) plans to make 12 of its 37 Weybridge staff redundant. Back-office roles lost include IT, marketing and accounts, which will now be consolidated at the association's Peterborough...

This Week.
April 2, 2009... By David Harris Everybody wants cleaner trucks. But cutting emissions is not quite as straightforward as it might first appear. In the short term, hauliers need to spend money to buy the most up-to-date vehicles, and it is hardly...

This Week.
April 2, 2009... Ceva manages and operates the logistics operation for E.ON UK electricity in the UK, comprising a fleet of some140 trucks,along witha similar number of specially trained drivers. The team of drivers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a...

Life's a gas as Daily CNG launch looms.(This Week)
April 2, 2009... By Julian Milnes Iveco is to announce a preferred gas supplier in the next month as a precursor to the launch of its latest-generation Daily CNG (which runs on compressed natural gas) later this year. The deal will mean that vehicle buyers...

Used Trucks.(Brief article)
April 2, 2009... CM_020409_UT_TRUCKS2GO_KS [STANDFIRST] More than 560 people have registered for Active Auctions rolling online sale, snapping up more than a third of the available stock. Words: Kevin Swallow [MAIN TEXT] Active Auctions...

Legal.
April 9, 2009... C-9APRIL09-CASE2-MJ (HEAD) Councils' double whammy scuppers scaffolder Two local authorities have succeeded in blocking an O-licence application from a scaffolding firm on safety and environmental grounds. Surrey-based Lee...

Legal.(Linda Perry into investigation for running business without license)
April 9, 2009... CM-9APRIL09-CASE1-MJ (HEAD) Tribunal upholds decision to deny licence to "complete novice" The rejection of an O-licence application from a "complete novice" has been upheld by the Transport Tribunal on appeal. North-Eastern...

Legal.
April 9, 2009... CM-9APRIL09-CASE3-MJ (HEAD) Applicant must wait while TC considers his credibility Links to two disgraced operators and suspected forged documents means that a Carlisle operator must wait to hear if his O-licence application has been...

Legal.(T&P Logistics workers regulations)
April 9, 2009... CM-9APRIL09-CASE4-MJ (HEAD) Hearing adjourned to allow VOSA notes to be studied by legal team A public inquiry has been adjourned so that a haulier's legal team can examine handwritten notes made by VOSA when interviewing the...

Legal.(BDR Logistics in bankruptcy investigations)
April 9, 2009... CM-9APRIL-LEG LEAD-MJ (HEAD) New team and new O-licences for failed firm (STANDFIRST) Previous boss disqualified for two years for drivers' hours offences, tacho fiddling and inadaquate vehicle maintenance provision A company has...

This Week.(transport workers regulations for working time)(Brief article)
April 9, 2009... [HEAD] No agreement reached on WTD opt-out The proposal to end the Working Time Directive's opt-out clause is in danger of running out of time as talks in Brussels last week failed to reach agreement. If the opt-out clause...

This Week.
April 9, 2009... [HEAD] Port in a storm [STANDFIRST] There is a dire need for secure truck-parking across the UK and especially in Dover, Kent. CM visits a new 100-space truck park to see if it might start to tackle the parking problems near the...

This Week.(freight transportation grows)
April 9, 2009... RECESSION BUSTERS LOGO Market analyst predicts road transport slump Business for UK hauliers increased by just 1% in 2008, and, unsurprisingly, is predicted to slump in 2009, according to market analyst Keynote. Keynote estimates...

This Week.(transportation industry workers in demand)(Brief article)
April 9, 2009... FTA warns of skills shortage as more claim Job Seekers Allowance By ChrisTindall A huge increase in the number of drivers getting Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) could result in an industry-wide skills shortage once the recessions ends,...

This Week.(LE Jones Ltd and LE Jones International Ltd.'s liceses to be revoked)(Brief article)
April 9, 2009... [HEAD] LE Jones vows to appeal licence revocation By Christopher Walton North-Wales based independent haulier LE Jones has had its O-licence revoked but says it will "definitely" appeal the decision. A spokesman for the...

This Week.
April 9, 2009... [HEAD] Now EU wants new tyre labelling scheme Under new EU proposals, tyre manufacturers will have to label their products with information on fuel efficiency, safety and noise performance. The European Parliament's Industry Committee...

This Week.(regulations for commercial vehicle operators )
April 9, 2009... [COVER STORY ROUNDEL PLEASE] [HEAD] Northern Ireland O-licence bill not yet signed off By Chris Tindall Concerns are growing that the long-awaited introduction of a licensing system for Northern Ireland operators is being...

This Week.
April 9, 2009... [HEAD] Improving driver habits with MAN telematics MAN's telematics-based driver-monitoring system is providing truck operators with a reliable and transparent tool for assessing driver behaviour and making major savings on their...

This Week.
April 9, 2009... [HEAD] SfL asks industry for formal endorsements By Louise Cole Skills for Logistics (SfL) enters its relicensing process this week, and is asking for industry support. The six-month process, which assesses SfL's delivery...

Legal.(tachograph regulations)(Brief article)
April 16, 2009... CM-16APRIL09-CASE2-MJ (HEAD) Company escapes with a warning over hours' offences A haulier has escaped with a formal warning after its drivers breached the the drivers' hours and tachograph regulations. Welsh Deputy Traffic...

Legal.(Brief article)
April 16, 2009... CM-16APRIL09-CASE4-MJ (HEAD) Appeal against automatic termination fails A haulier has lost his appeal to the Transport Tribunal against the termination of his O-licence after it failed to believe that he had sent a renewal cheque last...

Legal.
April 16, 2009... CM-16APRIL09-CASE1-MJ (HEAD) Fines and a six-month ban for driving a prohibited truck An owner-driver who used a vehicle in breach of a prohibition notice has received [pounds sterling]299 in fines and costs and a six-month driving...

Legal.
April 16, 2009... CM-16APRIL09-CASE3-MJ (HEAD) New application rejected because of illegal use of previous O-licence An application by a scaffolding company has been turned down because of connections with a number of failed companies, including the...

Legal.
April 16, 2009... CM-16APRIL09-LEG LEAD-MJ (HEAD) No-show transport manager fails to win back repute (STANDFIRST) Offences included driving for an unlIcensed international operator The transport manager of a defunct haulage company that was linked...

This Week.(disqualification of Katharine Oliver )(Brief article)
April 16, 2009... Katharine Oliver loses disqualification appeal North-East operator Katharine Oliver has failed in her latest appeal against UK-wide disqualification, after the Transport Tribunal said she could not be trusted to comply with the regulatory...

Legal.
April 23, 2009... More information * Road Haulage Association RHA Contracts of Employment Service costs [pounds sterling]325 (ex-VAT) for members www.rha.net * UK Warehousing Association For UKWA conditions of contract ([pounds sterling]40...

Legal.(motor vehicle drivers regulations)
April 23, 2009... * Tim Ridyard is a partner and road transport lawyer at Barker Gotelee Contact: tim.ridyard@barkergotelee.co.uk Penalty boxes EU drivers' hours offences The offences in this category are numerous and relate to failure to take...

This Week.(lorry parking facilities planning)(Brief article)
April 23, 2009... Kettering council receives planning proposal for 24-hour lorry park With a recent study findingthat Northamptonshire needs three more lorry parks to help loseits image as a freight crime hotspot, Kettering Borough Council has received...

This Week.(truck drivers surveyed on their job losses )(Survey)(Brief article)
April 23, 2009... Poll: redundancies are widespread Early results from the latest Freight Transport Association (FTA) poll suggest48% of its members have made redundancies in the first quarter andfurtherjob losses are being forecast. Of the 100...

This Week.(milk tanker thefts investigations)(Brief article)
April 23, 2009... Milk tanker thefts prompt firms to offer cash reward By Chris Tindall A spate of milk tanker thefts in Cumbria has led operators to come together to offera rewardof [pounds sterling]1,000 for any information that resultsin their...

This Week.(road transport law)(Brief article)
April 23, 2009... 'European haulage needs harmonised law enforcement' Haulage regulations should be more consistent across Europe, a recent seminar on European road transport law heard. The Joint Seminar on Enforcement of EU Road Transport Legislation,...

This Week.
April 23, 2009... It's full speed ahead for LD Lines catamaran French ferry company LD Lines is to press ahead with its recession-busting expansion of Channel crossings by introducingsix fast ferry sailings from Dover to Boulogne from Friday 29 May ('LD...

This Week.
April 23, 2009... Suttons could reap rewards of British Sugar expansion By Chris Tindall plans to create an all-year-round-working British Sugar factory in Norfolk could benefit Suttons Group, the firm that handles its bulk distribution contract. ...

This Week.(Les Parrott sued for motor vehicle speeding)(Brief article)
April 23, 2009... Speeding ticket sparks confusion over definition of a dual carriageway By David Harris A ticket forspeeding issued to an owner-driver has caused confusion over what is defined as a dual carriageway and what is not. Les Parrott...

Operations.
April 23, 2009... Coming from a car background, our newest recruit at CM Towers voiced his concerns regarding the Caddy's refinement and comfort levels. But, as we guessed, he was soon won over by the solid interior, light and direct steering and the DSG box. A...

Operations.
April 23, 2009... The annual Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) Expo rolled into Harrogate, with the recession and a fuel duty increase at the top of everyone's agenda. Getting tanked up MechTronic was showcasing its innovative...

This Week.(Robert McCarroll uses Andover's axle trailer)(Brief article)
April 23, 2009... Construction firm gets triaxle trailer with self-steer axle Road paving and construction plant equipment firmRobert McCarroll has acquired an Andovertriaxle trailer to transport asphalt pavers, rollers and self-propelled chipping machines...

This Week.(CrossRail recycling service plans)(Brief article)
April 23, 2009... Nearly half of all Crossrail loads to be carried by road By Roger Brown Road transport will have to handle just under half of all loads required every day to build the Crossrail link betweenwest and east London. Approximately 600...

This Week.
April 23, 2009... Griffith Elder takes a weight off with easy-install beams Weighing equipment manufacturer Griffith Elder has developed new portable weigh beams for tipper, bulker or waste operators working out of remote locations who need an accurate...

Operations.
April 23, 2009... (Heading) Play your cards right (Standfirst) It's generally acknowledged that using fuel cards can save operators money, but how much? Louise Cole reports There are four ways to suppress your fuel costs: buying in bulk,...

Operations.(Anthony Bevan director at Bevan Group speaks on development of truck bodies)
April 23, 2009... The body politic The days when one body was expected to last the life of two or even three chassis have pretty much vanished, according to Anthony Bevan, managing director of bodybuilder Bevan Group. "Over the past five years we've...

Operations.
April 23, 2009... A wind of change Recent diesel price hikes have forced US truck-makers and operators to focus on fuel efficiency. So what can Europe learn from Freightliner's Innovation Truck project? When US truck operators complain about the price...

Widening its horizons for the 21st century.(This Week)
April 23, 2009... The UK Warehousing Association is determined to expand its offering to a 21st-century market. CM talks to CEO Roger Williams about what this entails. The UKWarehousing Association (UKWA) boastsabout 700 members, which makes it a small...

This Week.(truck drivers protests against long working hours)
April 23, 2009... Happy with their lot In the final part of CM's EuroWatch series, CM journeys over to the Low Countries and finds out something very surprising about Belgian drivers - they actually enjoy their jobs. Giventhat they work in a country...