Commercial Motor articles from December 2005

Commercial Motor archives from December 2005

Get our house in order.(managing the fuels)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Mr X says two recent reports show the industry is wide open to criticism on fuel monitoring and compliance. Am I being paranoid, or are we getting more reports on the state of our industry than is usual for the time of year? Most of us...

AIR ON A SHOESTRING.
December 8, 2005... Punctures can bring even the most well-maintained trucks to a halt, so when you're across the water it's nice to know help is at hand when and where you need it. Steve Banner investigates. It's the call that is dreaded by every haulier on...

AT LAST, SOME GOOD NEWS...(Freight Transport Associations)(Government to assist)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Anyone who takes the trouble to read the full pre-Budget report will have to conclude that for the road transport industry this is one of the most positive November statements for some time. Not only has diesel duty been frozen again - which...

Actros tractors join PTM fleet.
December 8, 2005... Thatcham, BERKS-based PTM International has taken delivery of two new Mercedes-Benz Actros 2550 MegaSpace tractor units. The trucks join a 10-vehicle fleet on international work to destinations including Scandinavia and North Africa.

Agency drivers: unsung heroes.(safety at drive)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Once again, I'm very concerned at the portrayal of agency drivers as being unsafe and uncontrollable (CM 17 November). I've already responded to previous comments on this subject and stated I would welcome the introduction of a code of...

Baylis takeover leads to multiple resignations.(Baylis Distribution )(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Bristol-based Baylis Distribution has seen a string of resignations following its recent takeover by former Culina boss Thomas van Mourik. IT director Christopher Helps, commercial director Robert Marshall and operations directors...

Campaign attacks Dartford.(Dartford Crossing)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Operators are supporting a new campaign to scrap tolls at the Dartford Crossing. The Scrap the Tolls campaign was launched on Friday with the backing of three UK Independence Party (UKIP) MEPs - Nigel Farage, Gerard Batten and Tom Wise. A...

Changing 62 tyres in 40[degrees]C... tough truckies Down Under.
December 8, 2005... It's the height of an Aussie summer in Karratha, and Rob Bilato tells us even the trucks are sweating... It's 40[degrees]C out here in the sticks and not the best time for heavy manual labour which would be fine if heavy manual...

Cleanaway's up for grabs.
December 8, 2005... THE Waste collection company Cleanaway is to be sold by Australia-based parent group Brambles less than two months after rumours of a possible sale were emphatically denied. Cleanaway has a UK fleet of 2,000 specialist vehicles that remove...

Code of practice might end London parking fine fiasco.(penalty charge notices)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Operators delivering into London may have an answer to the huge numbers of parking fines they currently incur. Guy Sheppard reports. A code of practice is being launched next month (January) in a bid to reduce the number of parking fines...

DHL makes a good START.
December 8, 2005... DHL has put itself at the forefront of discussions over agency driver training by proposing an industry-wide standard. The Standardised Training for Agency Workers in Road Transport (START) programme was developed in response to widespread...

Digitachs as soon as April?(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Digital tachographs could be introduced as early as next April, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). However, the exact launch date is still unclear and could be anywhere between April and June....

Don't be a victim!
December 8, 2005... We're approaching the season of goodwill and generosity - but that doesn't have to extend to thieves. Louise Cole reports on how to keep high-value Christmas loads safe. Do you know what your local criminals want for Christmas this year?...

Drivers are given community service for falsifying charts.
December 8, 2005... Winding the clock back, pulling the fuse and using 'sacrificial' charts have landed three drivers with hefty community punishment orders. Three North Wales drivers caught falsifying tachograph charts have been given a total of 500...

Drivers' delight.
December 8, 2005... CM tests CVs every week. In the used vehicle section we dig into our archives to put you on the inside track when hunting through our classified ads for a bargain. This month we're focusing on the Mercedes-Benz Actros. In 2003 a series of...

Dubai bidder for P&O says it will maintain services.
December 8, 2005... A potential [pounds sterling]3.3bn takeover of P&O should not affect the ferry services used by hauliers, according to the company. P&O's board has recommended acceptance of an offer from Dubai Ports World (DPW), which is owned by the...

End of overtaking on A14?(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... A business leader is calling for trucks to be banned from the outside lane of the A14 during the rush hour in an attempt to cut congestion and improve road safety. Bob Feltwell, chief executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce,...

Fines top [pounds sterling]500 for company and driver operating artic with the wrong licence.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... A demolition firm that pleaded guilty to allowing a driver to operate a 40-tonne artic with the wrong driving licence has been fined [pounds sterling]150 with [pounds sterling]148 costs. Finchley, London-based JD Demolition pleaded...

Five transport firms in UK top 100.
December 8, 2005... Two acquisitions propelled contract leasing specialist Prohire into the UK's 100 fastest-growing companies, says its chairman. The Stoke-on-Trent-based firm was one of five road transport businesses in the latest edition of the Sunday...

Fruehauf to enter rigid body market.( )(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... CM EXCLUSIVE Born-again tipper maker Fruehauf is planning a move into the rigid tipper body market, says MD Dave Tallent (pictured, left). A Daf 8x4 chassis is currently at the Grantham, Lincs factory awaiting a new aluminium body and...

Haulage boss sells up after driver dies in bridge plunge.( Keith Brown Transport)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... A haulier who pleaded guilty to falsifying tacho records after one of his drivers died in a crash has sold his business. Robert Izzard reports. The owner of Yorkshire haulage company Keith Brown Transport has received a 240-hour community...

IN THE NEWS.
December 8, 2005... Stuart Thomas brings you his regular round-up of the way our local and national press has covered the wonderful world of road transport this week... We're frequently warned that one day robots will carry out the jobs we're too busy, too...

LOAD LUGGERS BEAUTIFUL.(shows and exhibitions)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Your choice of body or trailer can make the difference between profit and oblivion. We checked out the latest choices at Kortrijk. The 11th European Trailer Show at Kortrijk in southern Belgium was the biggest to date, attracting 182...

Lost contract leads to redundancies.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Cumbria-based RJ Murray & Sons has made 10 of its drivers redundant after losing a contract. The drivers lost their jobs at the company's Longtown base. But MD Stephen Murray says better news is likely to follow, with several deals in...

Making a new START.(agency drivers )(logistics industry)
December 8, 2005... Many operators are reluctant to allow untried agency drivers anywhere near their trucks - but Chris Evans of DHL hopes to change that. Chris Tindall reports. The recent claims that agency drivers are less professional than their full-time...

Mega-truck trial decision soon.
December 8, 2005... As CM went to press, rumours were circulating that the government is about to announce trials for 25.25m vehicles. A Department for Transport spokesman says that he doesn't know "for definite" whether Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman...

THE BLOCK NEW KID ON.
December 8, 2005... It's a case of mixed emotions on CM's long-term term test fleet. We welcome the Volkswagen Caddy, but bid farewell to the multi-purpose Nissan Terrano. It's still early days, and only fools rush in, but we've already become firmly...

No quick fix for M6 jams.(transportation road will expand)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... The Transport Minister denies ignoring jams on the M6 - but they won't be cured any time soon. Dominic Perry reports. Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman has told Staffordshire businessmen that problems with congestion on the M6 are...

O-licence training persuades TC to grant a fresh licence.(Traffic Commissioner)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... A Norfolk operator has been granted a fresh one-vehicle restricted licence after attending an RHA training seminar on O-licence compliance. Norwich-based Peter Shreeve had continued to operate his vehicle after his licence expired in August...

Operator must be on its best behaviour or no extra trucks.
December 8, 2005... A Scottish operator appearing at its third public inquiry in eight years has had its application to expand its fleet postponed for a month. The application to add six vehicles and four trailers to its licence will only be granted if there...

Pallet networks to issue drivers with PDAs.
December 8, 2005... The first stage of Pall-Ex's plans for a real-time 'live' pallet network will be complete in January, when the company completes the deployment of 700 hand-held personal digital assistants (PDAs). These will enable delivery drivers to...

EVENTS.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
December 8, 2005... RHA courses Operator compliance 11 January Taunton 17 January Oldham Drivers' hours 11 January Bradford 12 January Gloucester 12 January Newcastle 16 January Exeter 19 January Southampton 25 January Bury St Edmunds 25 January Darlington...

Repaid with interest.(Late Payment of Commercial Debt Regulation Act 2002)
December 8, 2005... In our second feature on debt recovery, Jayne Lees and Cheryl O'Brien look at charging interest on bad debts. Late payment is a serious problem for the road transport industry - research shows it is the sector with the longest gap between...

Rigids in demand.
December 8, 2005... It's time for the winter slowdown, but a shortage of good quality rigids is keeping values firm, while tractor prices show signs of falling. George Alexander, chief commercial editor of Glass's Guide, reports that in recent weeks the truck...

SAFED driver of the month.(Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving)(Christopher Morris)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Christopher Morris of Widnes Skips has been named driver of the month by the Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) scheme which was set up for aggregates drivers. Morris is one of 15 drivers from the Widnes, Cheshire-based firm to have...

Should training earn insurance discounts?(drivers training)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... A TC suggests that driver training on hours and tachos should cut your premiums. Mike Jewell reports. A Traffic Commissioner is considering contacting insurance firms to see if extra training for drivers on hours and tacho rules would lead...

Smoother operator.
December 8, 2005... Volvo's 'next generation' FH and FM boast a brand new 13-litre Euro-4/5 six-pot lump driving through a revised I-Shift auto box. Brian Weatherley and Kevin Swallow have driven them. Although Volvo nailed its Euro-4/5 colours to...

Spirit of Christmas yet to come.
December 8, 2005... The potent combination of the festive season and 24-hour licensing has put drink-driving at the top of the road safety agenda. To measure the effects of booze on our driving skills, CM gets stuck into the vodka The things we do in the name...

TNT aims to sell off its logistics division.
December 8, 2005... Dutch giant TNT is selling its logistics division to focus on its core business of mail and freight delivery. Chief executive Peter Bakker says that although the logistics business is a strong operation, it no longer fits with the...

TNT boss wants Parcelforce to be privatised.
December 8, 2005... The boss of TNT has called for the Royal Mail's parcel delivery business, Parcelforce, to be privatised and forced to compete on equal terms. Tom Bell, MD of TNT Express Services, claims Parcelforce operates with an unfair advantage...

Taskforce to look into burning issues.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... A taskforce that includes industry reps has been briefed to build on the Burns Report's recommendations. Lucia Cockroft reports. Operators have cautiously welcomed a package of government measures, including a taskforce building...

That was the year...(motor in past)
December 8, 2005... CM was launched in 1905; for our centenary year we're bringing you stories from years gone by. This week we're back in 1952 and 2002. 1952 George VI died overnight of lung cancer at Sandringham House, Norfolk. From 5 to 9 December a London...

The new professionals.
December 8, 2005... Tomorrow's drivers will be fully trained and will earn a professional qualification. Will the advantages outweigh the costs? Patric Cunnane reports from CM's conference on the Compulsory Training Directive. Drivers won't have to write...

The new recruits.
December 8, 2005... Although a regular in the classified ad sections of the tabloids, Clearstone has always been a relative unknown to us. Andy Salter meets up with MD Chris Philps to find out more... The back streets of Camden in North London aren't the...

Truck ban will benefit residents.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Longthornes Transport is exactly right about the possible truck ban in Otley, which could have serious economic consequences for both hauliers and quarry operators (CM 24 November). However, you must have sympathy with Otley residents,...

Truck thieves steal [pounds sterling]500,000 of consoles.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... Thieves have made off with two trailers and their [pounds sterling]500,000 loads. David Harris reports. Detectives are hunting thieves who stole two trailer-loads of Sony Playstation 2 consoles worth [pounds sterling]500,000 from a secure...

Used truck schemes.
December 8, 2005... Dipping into the used market for the first time? Let CM's list of manufacturers' approved used vehicle schemes help you. If you've never delved into the used market before, it's worth starting with the manufacturers' approved used schemes....

VW Crafter will replace LT.
December 8, 2005... Volkswagen plans to unveil the new Crafter range of light CVs at the CV Show next April. The Crafter replaces the LT in the VW line-up. It will be powered by a new five-cylinder common-rail engine developing up to 164hp and driving through...

Who will pay for driver CPCs?(Certificate of Professional Competence)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... The Driving Standards Agency has just published the proposed arrangements for the implementation of the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for professional lorry drivers. It could well be the end of the transport industry in the UK....

A bridge-bashing too far.
December 15, 2005... The Department for Transport has pinpointed the bridges in the UK that are most frequently hit by careless truck drivers. The most vulnerable bridges are hit with monotonous regularity - four of them have been struck more than 100 times...

Anything, anywhere, anyhow!
December 15, 2005... Dominic Perry has been to meet the team behind Fortec Pallets - a relatively small player in a booming sector but one that has the advantage of a giant parent company. Of all the pallet networks out there, the one that's hardest to...

BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
December 15, 2005... We do more roadtesting than anyone else - but readily admit that a trip around the Scottish route isn't the same as a week on the job. So just for a change, CM sent Oliver Dixon out to make his living in a top-of-the-range Stralis. ...

British truckers accused of smuggling 'presumed guilty'.
December 15, 2005... Specialist lawyers warn that truck drivers arrested for offences on the Continent aren't getting a fair hearing. David Harris reports. Guilty until proven innocent: that's the problem for British truck drivers who are accused of smuggling...

Business Post Group boss quits.
December 15, 2005... Paul Carvell, the chief executive of Business Post Group, has quit following a marked downturn in its fortunes. His resignation after nearly five years in charge of the parcels and letters business was prompted by three profit warnings...

CS profits up despite tough trading in UK.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... The MD of Christian Salvesen says the first half of the year was tough for its UK transport business, with no sign that volumes will increase any time soon. However, the UK's number-three logistics company's interim results show...

Company with no CPC holder has licence cut for 30 days.
December 15, 2005... Avon-based Thornbury Car Transporters has had its licence cut following its second appearance at disciplinary proceedings within three years. The licence has been trimmed from five vehicles and five trailers to three vehicles and three...

Consultation on Bath bypass.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... Plans for a [pounds sterling]100m Bath bypass are out for public consultation. Richard Rawlinson, Bath and North East Somerset Council's head of transport and highways, says an A46/A36 link across the Avon valley could be built within...

Coroner slams M-B after fatal accident.
December 15, 2005... Mercedes-Benz has come under fire for being "slow off the mark" in responding to a potentially deadly braking fault in the Sprinter van. Louth, Lincolnshire District Coroner Stuart Fisher has criticised Mercedes-Benz for its slow reaction...

Easier finance hits sales of older tractor units.
December 15, 2005... Demand for older used tractor units is being hit hard by the ease with which hauliers can finance late-registered examples, says Jim Bentley, general manager of MAN Diesel's Scottish regional centre. "With money available at under 4%, the guy...

Euro-4 is set to boost demand for Euro-3.
December 15, 2005... Used truck dealers are expressing cautious optimism about sales in 2006. Faced with the new technology associated with Euro-4, not to mention the introduction of smart-card tachographs, many operators will opt for late-registered Euro-3...

FTA slams EU for 'inflexible' changes to drivers' hours.(freight transport association)(european union)(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... Just when you thought no more rule changes could be generated by the EU, it meddles with the drivers' hours rules. Chris Tindall reports. The EU's meddling with drivers' hours rules will kill the flexibility the road transport industry...

FTA's NI road budget anger.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... THE FREIGHT Transport Association has reacted angrily to proposed cuts of 20% to Northern Ireland's road maintenance budget. The proposals are set out in a consultation paper called Draft Priorities and Budget for Northern Ireland. ...

Fortec Pallets too big for Rugby.
December 15, 2005... Pallet network Fortec Pallets expects to outgrow its Rugby hub by 2007 if current growth levels are maintained. The 58-member network handles 2,500 pallets at the hub every night; throughput is set to be nearer 3,500 a night by 2007. ...

GIVE INNOVATION A FAIR CHANCE!
December 15, 2005... Dick Denby is remarkably philosophical about the government's refusal to evaluate his 25.25m trucks, and we congratulate him on that. In fact, we congratulate Denby and his associates on the whole project. Whether or not you believe bigger,...

Going, going, gone.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... Chris Hart has started up an independent used vehicle dealership after more than a decade working for a franchised vendor. Steve Banner reports. Almost four months after setting up the independent dealership Trucks 2 Go on a 1.5-acre site...

Goodwill to nearly all.
December 15, 2005... Christmas - ah, Christmas. The season of massive overindulgence and binge-eating is well and truly upon us. We contemplate the meaning of it all... As we cram another mince pie down our throat and quaff yet more sweet sherry, On the Margin...

Green light for huge shared warehouses.
December 15, 2005... Plans to allow large shared warehouses to be built throughout Britain have been welcomed by the FTA, which says they are needed for the industry to tackle the "massive" growth in internet and home shopping. Deputy Prime Minister John...

Higginbottom challenges Monks to lead URTU.(United Road Transport Union)(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... CM EXCLUSIVE A period of upheaval could be on the cards for the United Road Transport Union (URTU) after former general-secretary David Higginbottom announced plans for a comeback. Higginbottom retired in 2000, prompting the election...

High-tech traps on the way following trial.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... More than 20 roads around the country are to be fitted with high-tech devices to trap law-breaking operators. The Department for Transport is spending [pounds sterling]2m on weigh-in-motion systems (WIMS) and automatic number plate...

Iceland drivers win new 4% pay deal.
December 15, 2005... Iceland thaws its pay freeze for almost 100 drivers in the face of strike threats. Guy Sheppard reports. Nearly 100 drivers who deliver for Iceland have won a substantial pay increase despite the food retailer operating a nationwide pay...

Industry response to fuel depot fire.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... Fuel distributors have stepped in to help out with the shortfall in petrol station deliveries following the explosion at the Buncefield, Herts fuel depot. UK Petroleum Industry Association spokesman Nick Van Der Vell says there will be an...

Join me in motorway campaign.
December 15, 2005... My local MP, David Kidney, recently invited Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman to meet the people of Stafford and talk about the future of the M6 - either widening the existing M6 or building a new M6 toll road. As things stand, there...

Mega-truck trials are blocked - for now.
December 15, 2005... Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman has refused to allow trials of heavier, longer trucks on UK roads. Despite the setback, mega-truck pioneers such as Dick Denby and Stan Robinson plan to carry on lobbying for tests of 60 and 80-tonners....

ND scorns payment order from UK court.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... A Berkshire subcontractor has still not been paid by Norbert Dentressangle, despite a court order ordering the French giant to pay up after a load was stolen. Bradley Nussey says ND accused him of wilful misconduct when his load of...

North-East firebombing attacks - suspect bailed.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... Police in Newcastle upon Tyne have made an arrest in connection with a string of arson attacks in which at least 18 haulage yards were torched over almost five years. A man from the west of Newcastle was arrested in connection with the...

On the trail of new sales.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... Eurowise Truck and Van has entered the new trailer sector and is already enjoying some success selling Schmitz Cargobull trailers, says Peter Hassan. "We managed to sell three in our first week alone," he reports to CM. ...

Operator that lent out vehicles faces action against licence after inquiry.
December 15, 2005... Bury-based MVP (Spares), which allowed another company to use MVP vehicles with the other company's drivers, has to wait to see what action North-Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell will take against its licence following a two-day...

Partners who threatened violence to vehicle examiner are disqualified.
December 15, 2005... Two partners in a West Yorkshire firm threatened a vehicle examiner with violence then failed to appear at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry. As a result of these and other offences, they have lost their licence and been disqualified from...

Previously jailed haulier awaits TC's decision on fresh licence application.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... A Southampton haulier who was jailed for eight years in 1999 for conspiracy involving money laundering and the importation of cannabis must wait to see if his bid for a fresh O-licence is successful. Locks Heath-based Kenneth Roy Simmonds...

Putting safety first.
December 15, 2005... Safety is paramount in the transport industry, so how do you increase it? CM's news team went to the Transport Research Laboratory to find out. Integrated systems are the future when it comes to improving industry safety, says Dr Tim...

Reports of ERF's death 'greatly exaggerated'.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2005... To paraphrase Mark Twain: "Your reports of ERF's death are greatly exaggerated." Your excellent roadtest report of our ERF ECT 8x4's record-breaking performance (CM 1 December) was marred only by your unfounded insistence that this may be...

Retraining needed?(Letter to the Editor)
December 15, 2005... Responding to the letter from Rob Roweth (CM 1 December), I fully agree that the drivers of the HGVs involved in the 17.5-mile mobile roadblock he saw lacked professionalism and plain courtesy - not only to the general motorist but also to...

Roll up, roll up for Euro-3.
December 15, 2005... With 30 September 2006 as the final date for registering a Euro-3 truck, the anticipated surge in orders has begun. Louise Cole reports. Truck manufacturers say buyers are starting to place their final orders for Euro-3 vehicles, leading to...

Self-help is the answer.
December 15, 2005... Brian Weatherley welcomes the Burns Inquiry report but wonders whether it will suffer the fate of previous reports sent to the government - and if self-help is a quicker fix for the industry's ills. Dig and delve within the cabinets of...