Commercial Motor articles from August 2007

Commercial Motor archives from August 2007

WIN ATRUCKERS' ATLAS BRITAINFROM THE FTA.(Operations)(Freight Transport Association)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... The Freight Transport Association is offering five copies of its new prestige publication the Truckers' Atlas Britain, produced in association with the AA. To win a free copy all you need to do is answer the question below and send your...

This Week.(new regulations implemented regarding recovery chares)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... The government has just closed its consultation on revised recovery charges and we await the industry's response with interest. Clearly a system that sees police-contracted recovery firms paid only [pounds sterling]105 regardless of the...

Used Trucks.
August 2, 2007... CONT-UT 67 Dealer news: Weather "Rain, rain, go away, Come again another day" Gloucestershire's used truck dealers are thankful they were left relatively unscathed by the recent floods. 68 Interview: David Lewis Delivering a...

Legal.(new regultions regarding fine payment by transport workers in case of traffic violations)
August 2, 2007... Further information For more information on the Department for Transport consultation paper on the Graduated Fixed Penalty and Deposit Schemes, go to www.dft.gov.uk, click on 'Consultations' and then 'Open Consultations'. Jury out on...

The great escape.(Used Trucks)
August 2, 2007... Used truck dealers in the West Country were comparatively unscathed by the recent record rainfall and floods. Kevin Swallow reports. Used truck dealerships feared the worst in the West Country when record rainfall for July (according to Met...

Operations.(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Intelligent trucks are all very well, but don't make them too intelligent please. If you watch TV or follow Hollywood blockbusters closely you will no doubt have seen the adverts for the upcoming Transformers film. Although the cartoon...

Operations.
August 2, 2007... Lazy or enlightened? That's the debate the Anglo-Saxon world usually has when faced with Continental Europe's habit of closing down its businesses in August. When the BBC ran an online debate about the controversial practice a few years ago,...

Two become one.(Imperial Commercials site )
August 2, 2007... As the new Imperial Commercials site at Frome nears completion, regional director David Lewis explains to Kevin Swallow the potential of a tailor-made satellite dealership. The trading estate that will house the new two-acre Imperial...

This Week.(trade laws for Freight transportation)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... [HEAD] Brussels opposes truck bans based on load types Under European Union freedom of trade laws, the European Commission has declared illegal truck bans that are based on the cargo carried (other than dangerous goods). The...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Two truck crashes shut M6 Amazingly the driver of the car transporter pictured above was cut free from the smash alive, but with serious leg injuries. The accident was the second to occur on the M6 in Warwickshire on Monday. The first...

This Week.(Dixons and Currys drivers complain of underpayment)
August 2, 2007... Drivers claim that Dixons is 'changing the goalposts' Dixons and Currys drivers say the retailers are pushing them to install white goods without training or additional pay. Chris Tindall reports. Angry owner-drivers working for the...

This Week.
August 2, 2007... EC consults the industry on Euro-6 standards The road haulage industry is being consulted by the European Commission (EC) on its favoured scope and timetable for introducing Euro-6 emission standards for trucks (exceeding 2.8 tonnes)....

This Week.(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Orwell allowed to serve the public - conditionally The owners of the Orwell Crossing Lorry Park in Suffolk have given a cautious welcome to a decision allowing it to continue serving both LGV drivers and the public. The long fight by...

This Week.(social life of transport workers)(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Driving can have a dramatic effect on family life, especially if you're a distance driver. Those of us with dependants at home tramp for one reason. We may joke about how four nights out a week is the secret to a happy marriage, but that's...

This Week.(carjacking incidents)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Two LGVs were hijacked in separate incidents in the West Midlands last week. In the early hours of Monday 23 July an Austrian LGV driver, who had parked up in the Erdington area of Birmingham, was woken by a white male aged about 45 and of...

This Week.(financial report of Volvo Truck Corp.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Sales of Volvo Trucks continue to be strong in Europe but weak in the United States, according to the company's latest figures. In the second quarter of 2007 orders rose by 68% in Europe, where Volvo says it is increasing capacity to make...

This Week.(monitoring of foreign vehicles)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Having targeted vehicles on international journeys in the South-East as part of the South-East International Pilot, Vosa is now making these additional checks part of its everyday role across the rest of the UK. A Vosa spokesman says:...

This Week.(Highways Agency launches traffic service)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... HA launches traffic service on digital radio and internet The Highways Agency has launched a digital radio service providing details of traffic conditions on motorways and major roads. Traffic Radio, which is being run on the Highways...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... EC to take action on logistics The European Commission has outlined its intentions to promote better planning in the logistics industry and its support of multimodal distribution. Speaking at the European Freight and Logistics Leaders...

This Week.(United Kingdom. Department for Transport gives health and safety legislation)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Safety scheme backs ESC for new vehicles A government and industry-backed scheme aimed at reducing work-related injury rates on UK roads has recommended that fleet managers specify ESC (electronic stability control) on new vehicles....

This Week.
August 2, 2007... Innovate Logistics wins supply chain award Innovate Logistics has won a Best Temperature Controlled Supply Chain Company award after proving it has a "total quality management approach" and strong relationships with its customers. The...

This Week.(resignation of Stephen Bowles from Road Haulage Association)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Bowles resigns as chairman of Road Haulage Association After two months, Stephen Bowles feels it is "not appropriate" to continue in his post. Andy Salter and Roanna Avison report. Stephen Bowles, chairman of the Road Haulage...

This Week.(reports of Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... CV production up in Q2 UK production of commercial vehicles rose by nearly 9% in the second quarter of 2007, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive, says:...

This Week.
August 2, 2007... The governing body of world motor sport, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), has bought five Mercedes-Benz Actros 1848LS with BlueTec Euro-5 SCR engines from Surrey and Sussex dealer Rossetts Commercials. The trucks...

This Week.
August 2, 2007... Under-inflated truck tyres are costing hauliers thousands of pounds in extra fuel, according to manufacturer Michelin. The tyre-maker has launched a campaign to alert drivers to the potential costs of under-inflated tyres. Although it is...

This Week.(Traffic Commissioner for O-licences)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Hauliers that operate in more than one Traffic Area will have to apply to only one Traffic Commissioner for their O-licences from this week. The new system, being introduced on 1 August, means operators that have bases in several parts of...

This Week.
August 2, 2007... Digital tacho cards have been the subject of many threads on the forums but the latest question to arise about the troublesome plastic items is what to do if you accidentally press the eject button when you were seeking to change the work mode....

This Week.(second quarter financial report of United Parcel Service of America Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Global parcel supply service UPS says its European and Asian arms performed strongly in the second quarter, overcoming a "challenging" small parcels market in the US. Its consolidated results show a rise in turnover to $12.2bn (E6bn) for...

This Week.(prevention of van breakdowns)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... 'Simple, routine checks' can prevent van breakdowns INSURANCE FIRM MoreThan Business is urging van operators to check their vehicles more regularly, after it released figures showing that firms across the UK are losing [pounds...

This Week.(Gloucester LGV reopens its test station)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Floods close test station Vosa'sGloucester LGV test station has reopened after closing last week due to flooding in the area. The site was without electricity and fresh water and was forced to close on Monday 23 July. It was able to...

This Week.(financial report of Scania AB)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Scania profit is up 44% as demand for heavies rises With the market growing especially rapidly in Eastern Europe, the truck giant is aiming to increase its production capacity. Dylan Gray reports. Demand for vehicles and services is...

This Week.(Dennis Eagle develops Elite 2)(Brief article)
August 2, 2007... Dennis Eagle is introducing a host of changes to its latest chassis, cab and body. On the body front, the Duo recycling unit is the first to be developed specifically for kitchen waste. It features a 4m3 top-loading pod located...

This Week.(Department for Transport funding to freight transportation)
August 2, 2007... In a move designed to shift more freight onto the rails and remove 39 million truck-km from the roads over the next 10 years, the Department for Transport (DfT) is to provide [pounds sterling]20m in funding to support rail freight in the UK....

Changeof tune.(This Week)
August 2, 2007... Dawsonrentals is one of the high flyers of the truck and trailer rental and contract-hire business. Andy Salter caught up with managing director Steve Miller to get the low-down on the latest plans When any operator puts pen to paper for an...

Operations.(an interview with safety officer Chris Frost)(Interview)
August 2, 2007... Chris FrostFleet Safety Forum officer for Brake, the national road safety charity What got you started in transport? A great opportunity to do something positive for a very worthy charity. What do you love/hate about it? ...

Centred on profitability.(This Week)
August 2, 2007... Making consolidation centres profitable is a challenge, but not an unattainable one, according to DHL. Roanna Avison discovers why. On paper, consolidation centres sound like the ideal way to remove a large number of LGVs from congested...

This Week.(fuel marker developed using nanotechnology)
August 2, 2007... A fuel-proof system Scientists in the US have developed nanotechnology fuel markers to beat diesel thieves. Mark Rowe takes a look. A fuel marker so complex that it is all but impossible for thieves to replicate has been developed by...

This Week.
August 2, 2007... I wondered if I might take issue with a couple of points made by Ralph Ingham-Johnson (CM 19 July), in particular his assertion that enforcement officers engage in "a silly season". With over 9,000 convictions of commercial drivers a year...

This Week.
August 2, 2007... The regions This year has shown a marked difference in business optimism for hauliers depending on the part of the country they operate in, according to the latest Freight Transport Association (FTA) quarterly survey. In a measure of...

promise of power.(Operations)
August 2, 2007... Toyota's latest Hilux was accused of lacking horses on its launch, so the firm did the decent thing and came back with a 3.0-litre engine to set things right. You'd think that a global vehicle manufacturer would have its eye on the ball...

Operations.
August 2, 2007... In it for the long haul CFI is one of America's most respected transport companies - but how is it coping with the stagnant US economy? Tom Cunningham reports. From his first-floor office on Joplin's East 32nd Street, ever-resourceful...

Heir to the Dragon's lairThe Welsh Valleys have become a rewarding outlet for Iveco thanks to Dragon Truck and Van. Now, reports Kevin Swallow, ......(Used Trucks)(Dragon Truck and Van Ltd.)
August 2, 2007... Heir to the Dragon's lairThe Welsh Valleys have become a rewarding outlet for Iveco thanks to Dragon Truck and Van. Now, reports Kevin Swallow, Jaime Powell is ready to take it to the next level.Until 2003, Iveco's presence in Cardiff and the...

Legal.
August 9, 2007... What lessons can hauliers learn about limiting liability from this summer's floods?e_SDRq Damage limitation, see page 36 Knowing the basics of tax and allowance is the first step to a successful businesse_SDRq Business basics, see...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Fuel consumption up in bad weather Weathering the crisis Even disregarding the flooding, this summer's high level of rain has been a constant drain on hauliers' operating costs. Wet roads mean higher fuel consumption and more...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Movement bans for livestock hauliers due to foot and mouth Livestock hauliers have been hit hard by the foot and mouth outbreak, with Defra banning all livestock movement within England, Scotland and Wales. A spokeswoman at Cheltenham,...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Ite_SSRqs the end of the line at Alconbury The popular Alconbury truckstop will close at the end of August - the site is expected to be used for warehousing. Chris Tindall reports. The Nightowl truckstop in Cambridgeshire will close its...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Operators go to the wall The number of transport companies going bust rose 13.1% in the second quarter of 2007 compared with the same period last year, according to business information specialist Equifax. This reversed the first-quarter...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Industry welcomes MPs' freight investigation Operators' organisations have welcomed the Transport Select Committee's decision to set up an inquiry into freight transport. The committee of MPs, chaired by Gwyneth Dunwoody, says one of...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Wincanton packs a [pounds sterling]150m Punch Supply-chain specialist Wincanton has renewed its contract with pub company Punch Taverns for 10 years. Under the [pounds sterling]150m deal Wincanton will manage the food supply chain to...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Mercedes vans for Lyreco Office stationery and supplies company Lyreco is taking delivery of 84 vans - 40 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 511s and 44 Ford Transits. They are being supplied on a four-year full-service contract-hire deal by fleet...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Rates rise in the East Cut-price competition from the former Eastern Bloc has caused many British hauliers to pull out of Continental work - but now UK firms importing items from the East are reporting that local operators have increased...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Union condemns Ipswich port redundancy offer as 'insult' Jobs will be lost following the closure of the Ferryways RO-RO service to Ostend, but ABP has refused arbitration. David Harris reports. The loss of the Ferryways RO-RO service...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Owner-driver Dick Flute is worried about the implications of the upcoming London low emission zone (LEZ). The journey to compliance In road transport, especially on international work, the goalposts are being moved almost daily, but...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Seven arrested in fatal crash case after raids A police investigation into a fatal accident involving a Dorset haulage company has led to a series of arrests. A married couple died when a Taymix-owned ERF artic hit their car on the...

This Week.(Trucking hit hard by Foot and mouth disease)(Truck stops planning required)(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... FOOT AND MOUTH HITS HAULage TOO We all hope fervently that the latest outbreak of foot and mouth is contained and neutralised quickly, not least because of the devastating impact to the agrarian economy and the UK balance of trade...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Total guarantee Jonathan Garton from Total Lubricants is so confident of the new Fuel Economy range of lubricants that he is willing to refund customers if they aren't satisfied. Dylan Gray finds out why. Silverstone racetrack began...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Water shortage/driver shortage Secure your loads properly or leave the industry for good I was extremely interested to listen to David Wickens, director of Severn Trent Water, commenting on the shortage of trained LGV drivers (BBC's...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Ford sales Ford Commercial Vehicles has recorded its best sales result for six years, selling 56,682 vehicles in the first seven months of 2007 including the Transit, Transit Connect, Fiesta van and the Ranger. Lousy weather ...

Used Trucks.(www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk)(website launch)(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... The Volkswagen dealer network now has a central website that allows customers to glean as much information about a product as possible before contacting the relevant dealership. On the website (www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk) is a comprehensive...

Used Trucks.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... As the name suggests, ATE Truck & Trailers has a good selection of both trucks and trailers, although trailers outnumber trucks by about four to one. To find a truck or a trailer that meets your criteria click on the flashing 'online...

Legal.(St Helens Commercials)(JLS Carriers)(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... A bid for a new licence for three vehicles and three trailers by St Helens Commercials following the dissolution of a predecessor company has been turned down by the North-Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell. Company director John...

Legal.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... A finance house that leased a vehicle to a customer after being duped by a forged O-licence has succeeded in its bid for the return of the vehicle after it was impounded. Traffic examiner Colin Rowlands said the vehicle had been impounded...

Legal.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... An operator who specified other people's vehicles on his O-licence has lost his appeal against revocation after the Transport Tribunal ruled that the firm was not a "genuine haulage contractor". His use of low-paid Romanian drivers was...

Legal.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Consideration of action against the 20-vehicle licence held by Worcester-based Mid Developments has been adjourned for a second time to allow Vosa to carry out maintenance and tachograph investigations. The first hearing was adjourned in...

Legal.(Alan Charman two-vehicle revoked )
August 9, 2007... The two-vehicle licence held by Neils of Whitby has been revoked and the firm's partners Alan Charman and John Saw disqualified from holding an O-licence for six months by North-Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney. Charman was also...

This Week.(Austrian drug smuggler Walter Aichberger is been jailed after his attempt to smuggle into UK)(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... [HEAD] Seven years for drug smuggler An Austrian haulier has been jailed for seven years after he attempted to smuggle [pounds sterling]1m worth of cannabis into the UK. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers searched Walter...

This Week.(Owens Road Services Ltd. creates new jobs after signing a deal for a new factory site)(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... [HEAD] Owens to create 200 jobs after taking on new site Welsh haulier Owens Road Services hopes to create up to 200 jobs after signing a deal for a new factory site in Port Talbot. The operator is in talks with a large...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... [HEAD] MPs push for carbon tax to shift freight to water [STANDFIRST] Freight should be transferred to the waterways, according to MPs, but British Waterways has highlighted the cost of doing so. Chris Tindall reports. MPs...

This Week.(United States Development Resource Corporation)(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Andover Trailers has delivered a three-axle centre-spine extending plant trailer with beavertail to the US Development Resource Corporation for transporting containers and construction machinery in Kabul, Afghanistan. The SFCLEX56 trailer...

This Week.(investigations on death of Laurence McCourt)(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Police in Northamptonshire investigating the death of a truck driver on the A45 say they gained useful leads from motorists. Laurence McCourt died after an incident at 4am on Friday 27 July near Wellingborough. He was hit by building...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... IF a UK border police force is established it should have responsibility for cargo as well as people, according to the British International Freight Association. BIFA, which represents Britain's freight forwarders, wants the management of...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... A tree surgeon has been given an on-the-spot fine of [pounds sterling]1,000 for running his truck on rebated red diesel. Douglas Hutsby was said to live on a farm with a supply of red diesel which is restricted to farm tractors and other...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Hewden picks Stralis tractors for plant work Equipment rental specialist Hewden has taken delivery of three new Iveco Stralis Active Day tractor units from Glasgow-based Iveco distributor Kerr & Smith. The three Stralis AD440S36T/P...

LHV rail-freight critics stand accused of 'distorting reality'.(This Week)(Report)
August 9, 2007... Claims that LHVs would cause more congestion have been rubbished by the Association of European Vehicle Logistics. David Harris reports. One of Europe's leading car-transport associations has reacted angrily to claims by rail-freight...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Vosa analyses data from dual tacho trial Data collected by two hauliers that ran digital and analogue tachographs simultaneously for a month is being analysed by Vosa to see whether the two devices record time differently, as many operators...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... It's another busy week on the TruckNet UK forums. Unsurprisingly, the owner-operators and drivers in the agricultural sector are already talking about the foot-and-mouth outbreak and the possible consequences for their livelihoods. In the...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... A haulage boss serving eight years for drug dealing has been ordered to pay [pounds sterling]45,000 from his illegal profits. John Pickering was jailed in March after police found more than [pounds sterling]100,000 worth of cocaine and...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Nottingham-based Rennie Hogg Transport, part of The RH Group, has taken delivery of 22 Euro-4 Renault Magnum 500.25 tractor units and has 20 Euro-5 Magnums on order. The trucks were supplied by Rennie Hogg's RH Group stablemate RH...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... TDG BOOSTED its first-half turnover by 26% to more than [pounds sterling]300m but pre-tax profits fell. Pre-tax profit fell from [pounds sterling]5.7m in the first half of 2006 to [pounds sterling]4.4m on a turnover of [pounds...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Mercedes Actros tailored to the job for Cox Skips Cox Skips has bought a pair of specially adapted Mercedes 6x4 tractor units. Each vehicle is an Actros 3351S with 510hp SCR Euro-4 engine originally specced for Special Types work at...

This Week.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... Employer 'cannot afford to pay' drivere_SSRqs compensation A driver is awarded compensation for unfair dismissal - but his former boss is "barely keeping his head above water". Peter Swingler reports. A truck driver who had a foot...

Operations.(Brief article)
August 9, 2007... What got you started in transport? Freight forwarding rather than transport, but by accident. I was a civil servant and saw an advert for "shipping clerk". I was intrigued as to what a "shipping clerk" would be doing in the centre of...

Recovery positions.(This Week)
August 9, 2007... The consultation period on recovery charges is over. Roanna Avison finds out what those in the industry hope for from the proposals. Recovery operators that are contracted by the police or the Highways Agency currently receive only [pounds...

This Week.
August 9, 2007... Holders of a full Category B (car) driving licence may drive: l a goods vehicle propelled by steam (eg large vehicles with coal or wood-burning engines) l a road construction vehicle used or kept on the road solely for transporting...