Commercial Motor articles from February 2005

Commercial Motor archives from February 2005

Nice one, Darling...
February 3, 2005... Brian Weatherley puts his head under the pillow and tries to block out the details of Alistair Darling's new road scheme. Today I shall be writing mainly about roads - not least as I've recently been inundated by press missives on the...

EVENTS.
February 3, 2005... FTA seminars Working Time Directive 23 February Wadhurst 3 March Wadhurst 10 March Wadhurst 15 March Leamington Spa 16 March Cardiff 17 March Exeter 18 March Reading 22 March Wadhurst 27 April Rochdale 30 June Leeds Contact: 01892 552222 RHA...

.....while others stall in pay talks.(Transport and General Workers' Union and Scottish Joint Industrial Council)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Pay negotiators for the Scottish hire-and-reward sector have failed to reach agreement during their first full meeting in four years. The Transport & General Workers Union presented a 10-point list of demands which includes 25 days' holiday...

A refreshing lack of zeal.(protection of workforce)
February 3, 2005... Too many laws and stultifying working practices choke Sandy Bruce who wishes we could shrug off the nanny state. We have recently been renewing our insurance arrangements and were a little disappointed by the reluctance of our insurers to...

A river of trucks.(Manheim Auctions)
February 3, 2005... Last year saw strong sales performances at the auctions. CM visits Manheim Auctions following its first sale of the year at Leeds. Leeds has benefited from substantial growth in recent years. Businesses have relocated from the south to its...

A simpler option?
February 3, 2005... Tory Peer Lord Attlee says the government's plans for Lorry Road User Charging are too complex and too expensive to run. But what is his alternative? Jennifer Ball finds out. The government's LRUC scheme aims to create a level playing...

A trial for; everyone.
February 3, 2005... The answer to the M42 single-lane problem lies with car drivers, so spare a thought for them as they approach the exit at Junction 11. Our lorries can only travel at the speed of the slowest vehicle in front; therefore we must be...

Administrators called in at Fruehauf.(Crane Fruehauf)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... One of the UK's best known trailer builders, Crane Fruehauf, has gone into administration with the loss of 345 jobs and the closure of its Dereham factory. PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed administrator of the [pounds...

BRUSSELS SPROUTS.(trade shows)
February 3, 2005... A HYBRID Andy Salter wanders the Brussels Show - and wonders if it was worth the effort... In days of old, Brussels and its near neighbour Amsterdam shared the dubious honour of kicking off the show season with their international CV...

Buyer beware.(stolen trucks)
February 3, 2005... If you're unlucky enough to buy a truck from someone who doesn't actually own it you might be entitled to keep it... Douglas Preece unravels one of the more complex aspects of sale of goods legislation. It's a sad fact of life that one...

Cigarette smugglers cost [pounds sterling]2.4m in tax.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... A gang haS been jailed for a total of nearly 12 years for attempting to smuggle some eight million cigarettes into the UK, evading [pounds sterling]2.4m in duty. Kelly Williamson from Selston was jailed for four years and nine months; Phillip...

Company director banned.(Lincolnshire Haulage)
February 3, 2005... A Lincolnshire firm which was a front for a "very bad operator" loses its licence for three years to protect public and legitimate operators. A Lincolnshire operator lost its licence after its operation was revealed as a front for a "very...

Decades of ; Daf dedication.
February 3, 2005... Daf Trucks sits at the top of the tree when it comes to selling new trucks, so how does its independent franchise network set about re-marketing in the used sector? CM visits Ford & Slater in Leicester. Leave the M1 at J21 to drive into...

Driver in fatal incident was careless but not dangerous.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... The appeal court decides a prostitute's death was caused by careless driving rather than dangerous driving Jennifer Ball reports. A truck driveR who killed a prostitute when he ran her over has won an Appeal Court battle to clear himself of...

FEBRUARY 2005.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Truck crime may seem to be falling but it still costs the industry a mint. And the threat of violence is growing. Crime by cost TruckPol figures show that the average loss per incident during the quarter was [pounds sterling]39,458, taking...

Ford flexes residual muscles.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... The Transit is proving its mastery of residual values three years after the launch of the Connect. CAP Red Book editors tell us why. Three years after the Ford Transit Connect was launched it has completed its domination of the middleweight...

Freight Speed crisis deepens as its bank account is frozen.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Debt collectors are sent to Freight Speed UK. David Harris reports. Freight Speed UK, the Derbyshire freight forwarder that ceased trading last month (CM 20 January) has been dealt a further major blow as its bank account has been frozen....

Geared for growth.(Northgate)
February 3, 2005... With turnover up more than 19% and profits up more than 23%, rental giant Northgate is clearly doing something right. To find out what, Andy Salter headed to its Darlington HQ. Before researching for this interview I have to admit to not...

GOOD.(lease trucks)
February 3, 2005... AS NEW? The condition of returning lease trucks is often the source of dispute. Steve Banner finds out what's acceptable - and what's not... What constitutes fair wear and tear can be a major cause for dispute between lessor and...

Hazardous by name...(hazardous truck loads)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Avon & Somerset police report that 61% of the trucks carrying hazardous loads they checked last year were breaking the law. Of the 180 vehicles stopped during 2004, police say 110 were found to be breaching the hazardous goods regulations. As...

IRU tells French to sort dispute now.(International Road Transport Union)(Striking Sea France)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... French strikes block Channel ports, again, to the frustration of UK unions... David Harris reports. Striking Sea France workers who again blockaded Channel ports last week have been condemned by the International Road Transport Union...

Industry veteran censured on maintenance.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... A Cumbrian haulier who has been in the industry for 40 years has had his licence curtailed from seven vehicles to four and he has been ordered to appoint a qualified transport manager within three months. Carlisle-based Thomas Littleton was...

LDV takes it to the Maxus.
February 3, 2005... Following years of determination in the face of some major setbacks, LDV has finally launched its first ever brand new model - the Maxus. It's a story many people thought would never be written... The project to replace the LDV Convoy was...

Licence mistake and ad hoc rest costs owner-driver a bundle.
February 3, 2005... An owner-driver has been ordered to pay [pounds sterling]450 in fines and costs for hours offences and for not having the right licence to drive his 7.5-tonner. Ian Robb, from Bexley Heath, admitted the offences before the Bexley magistrates....

Lock, stock and smoking barrels.(trucking crime)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Although the latest TruckPol figures show a drop in the reported level of truck crime during 2004, the statistics aren't all good news, with an alarming increase in the number of hijackings, robberies and driver intimidation and the average...

MIRAGE ; NO MORE.
February 3, 2005... Renault's original Mascott was so elusive we dubbed it the Mirage. But we've hunted down the latest version to find out if it can live up to that early shimmer of promise. Industry veterans may be able to cast their minds back to Telford...

Mersey toll cut plan.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Merseytravel is planning a radical restructuring of the Mersey Tunnel tolls in which the price for heavy trucks could be cut from [pounds sterling]4.80 to [pounds sterling]3.90 in April. Under its plans current toll classes 1 and 2 will be...

Mine's a double.
February 3, 2005... Take a stroll with us through the little sideroads of haulage, the diversions and detours, the quirky, the quixotic and the downright strange... One month into the New Year and already On the Margin's resolutions are dropping by the...

Payout for gay jibes.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... A manager for waste company Cleanaway has won a landmark case at an employment tribunal after enduring constant taunts over his homosexuality. Rob Whitfield, who earned [pounds sterling]54,000 a year as a business transformation manager, is the...

Perhaps our tolls should pay...(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Very interesting that the Highways Agency should react to the Freight Transport Association's suggestion that, in order to keep the Dartford Bridge open during storm conditions, windshields should be fitted by saying that "...engineers would...

Police warning: Don't pull ; over trucks for bogus cops.(Public Notice)
February 3, 2005... Police have warned operators to be on the look out for bogus police officers who attempt to stop trucks in order to steal them. The warning follows an attempted deception in which an unnamed operator received a phone call from a man claiming to...

RAINY DAY?
February 3, 2005... If you're carrying goods you'll need insurance. But will it cover all eventualities? Julian Milnes reports. Like death and taxes, goods-in-transit (GIT) insurance is unavoidable if you're carrying customers' goods over any distance. And,...

REGULATE TO ACCUMULATE.
February 3, 2005... The SMMT is preparing guidelines for bodybuilders to certify their quality levels in the run-up to Whole Vehicle Type Approval - and the industry will never be the same again. Bryan Jarvis reports. Truck manufacturers such as Iveco and MAN...

Rage attack on foreign driver.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... A Hungarian truck driver is seriously ill in hospital following a road rage attack in Birmingham which left him needing surgery. The incident happened late on the evening of 26 January after Peter Nagy was involved in an argument with four...

Security unit reaches Russia.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Pan-European security firm Eurowatch has expanded its service to include the Baltic Sates and Russia. The service allows subscribers who have had their loads stolen to call a single number where information can be communicated in any European...

Study says no scope for waste on trains.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... A two-year research project into waste transport in Scotland says the opportunities to switch from road to rail are limited. Gavin Scott, regional policy manager for the Freight Transport Association, predicted this outcome before the [pounds...

TNT drivers frustrated by lack of WTD change.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... TNT concludes the second stage of its annual pay rise, but its drivers feel let down by the WTD's Periods of Availability. David Harris reports. Name TNT drivers have received a 15p/hr pay rise as the second stage of their last annual...

That was the year...
February 3, 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 1908 and 1958. 1908 Legendary English cricketer Jack Hobbs kicked off the new year in style with his first ever test...

The sound of a great oak's fall.
February 3, 2005... Shhh. Did you hear that? It's the sound of a tree falling. The huge English oak that was Crane Fruehauf. It's sad, particularly for the 400 people who have lost their jobs since December. But there's no place for sentiment in the trailer...

Timber truck topples as ; it approaches school.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... A timber vehicle's brakes were found to be in an "appallingly bad condition" after it overturned while going downhill near a school. Welsh Deputy Traffic Commissioner Roger Seymour revoked the owners' licence for three years with immediate...

Transport Tribunal backs TC in latest round of Pallas case.(Pallas Transport Ltd.)(Sylvia Pallas)
February 3, 2005... Controversial north-eastern operators Pallas Transport and Montana Transport have had another difficult day in front of the authorities. Mike Jewell reports on the Transport Tribunal's findings. Troubled OPERATOR Pallas Transport Ltd of Co...

Transport help for LDCs.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Transport charity Transaid is to expand its remit by offering its expertise to other organisations working in developing countries. With a staff of only six, Transaid has already worked successfully in several African countries. It has set up...

Volvo faces tunnel death case.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Volvo will stand trial this week charged with manslaughter for its part in the 1999 Mont Blanc tunnel fire which killed 39 people. The truck manufacturer and 15 other defendants including a Belgian truck driver and the Italian and French...

Wheel loss awareness.(Road safety campaign)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Road safety campaign group Brake has published an information pack to highlight the danger of wheel loss. The Wheelsure-sponsored pack includes an information sheet for operators with sections on the law and practical measures to help stop...

Witnesses to collision wanted.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... South Yorkshire police are appealing for information following a collision between a car and a car transporter which left a Conisborough man badly injured. The incident happened at soon after noon on 24 January on the Great North Road. The...

[pounds sterling]690 blow for using a fraudulent disc.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Fraudulently displaying a car tax disc on a goods vehicle has cost a Wednesfield operator [pounds sterling]690 in fines, costs and back duty. And when searched the vehicle was found to contain tax discs for other cars as well. Malvinder Jeet...

EVENTS.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 10, 2005... FTA seminars Working Time Directive 23 February Wadhurst 3 March Wadhurst 10 March Wadhurst 15 March Leamington Spa 16 March Cardiff Contact: 01892 552222 RHA courses Working Time Directive 16 February Hull 17 February Milton Keynes 1 March...

...and only 318 shopping days till Christmas.
February 10, 2005... The lucky, nay skilful, readers who won prizes in Commercial Motor's Christmas Charity quiz are listed below. Thanks to all the manufacturers who donated prizes. John Comer, Rolleston on Dove, MAN TGA model from Corgi; RJ Bevan, Langstone,...

A plan for survival.(North East Assembly's regional freight strategy)
February 10, 2005... The North East Assembly thinks its regional freight strategy will enable its transport system to keep running efficiently. Dominic Perry reports. The North East of England has always been a centre of heavy industry and manufacturing - with...

ANOTHER GREAT BIRTHDAY PRIZE.
February 10, 2005... Win one of 20 copies of The Transport Manager's and Operator's Handbook in our competition! There are so many legal requirements and so much red tape surrounding road transport that it's often difficult to know exactly what you can and...

ROAR TALENT.(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 10, 2005... Peugeot's 206 van has been around for almost five years, and it's proved a hit with many buyers. But can it keep up with the latest opposition? Anyone considering buying a car-derived van has plenty of choice these days, with almost every...

memories...(transportation museums)(Directory)
February 10, 2005... The UK commercial vehicle preservation movement has never been stronger - we asked Bob Tuck to find the best places to see the sights and soak up the atmosphere during 2005. Listing all the places where you can see classic and vintage...

Alapont leaves Iveco.(Jose Maria Alapont)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Jose Maria Alapont has left Iveco after just 16 months as chief executive officer at the Italian truck giant - the Spaniard is to head up bankrupt automotive part specialist Federal-Mogul in the US. His replacement is Paolo Monferino, who...

Attempted theft on M57.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Police are appealing for witnesses to an attempted truck theft on the M57 to come forward. The incident happened at around 10pm on 24 January when two trucks carrying cigarettes and tobacco were en route to the Crewe area from Liverpool. As...

BDA dismisses reaction study.(British Dyslexia Association)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) has dismissed a study that claims that dyslexia can slow down drivers' reaction times more than moderate drinking can. The BDA says the Norwegian study is "too small to provide reliable, scientific...

Best of both worlds.(Mercedes-Benz Axor)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 10, 2005... Our series on some of the UK's most desirable used commercial vehicles focuses on the eagerly anticipated Mercedes-Benz Axor. The first second-hand Mercedes-Benz Axor should arrive on forecourts over the next 12 months, and that's good news...

Citroen newcomer.(Citroen C2 Enterprise, hatch-van)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... The latest addition to the burgeoning hatch-van sector is the Citroen C2 Enterprise. Powered by the same PSA 1.4-litre common-rail turbo-diesel as the Peugeot 206 tested in this issue, the stylish C2 is just 3,670mm long. With a modest 331kg...

Cocktail of offences leads to a two-month curtailment.(Ace Scaffolding )(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Unreported offences, maintenance problems and missing tachograph charts have led to a scaffolding firm losing two trucks from its six-vehicle licence for two months. Traffic examiner John Hassett told South Eastern & Metropolitan Traffic...

Denby does a double-decker.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Innovative haulier Denby Transport is at it again. Less controversial than its experimental B-double outfit, the Denby Double Deck is designed as a lower cost alternative to the current line-up of powered double-deck trailers. The trailer is...

DfT delays work on the 'killer'A14.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Upgrading the A14 in Cambridgeshire is a matter of life and death. Jennifer Ball reports on the 'killer road'. Operators and locaL residents in Cambridgeshire are stepping up their campaign for the A14 to be upgraded following a series of...

Doomtime coming.(for General Motors Corp. and Fiat S.p.A.)
February 10, 2005... The GM-Fiat deal, signed long ago, is about to come apart, laid low by heavy debt. Oliver Dixon looks at the potential fall-out for Iveco. These are nervous times in Turin. The GM-Fiat saga is now entering its final phase and while no half...

Drivers rise to challenge.(Fletchers Bakeries' Level 2 National Vocational Qualification)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... A Sheffield-based bakery is putting 30 drivers on a special training course in preparation for a new European Union directive. The Level 2 National Vocational Qualification (NVQs) in driving goods vehicles covers everything from technical...

February 2005.(working time directive)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... This month we look at the industry's attempts to accommodate the WTD Working time With the implementation date just over a month away only one in seven respondents is fully compliant with the WTD. However, a further two-thirds have...

Four-star story.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Stuart Thomas gives us his regular round-up of the way the newspapers have covered the transport industry this week... Two fuel stories were reported last week. First, Shell reported record profits of [pounds sterling]9.59bn, which upset...

Factors for tractors.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... The shortage of nearly-new tractor units is boosting demand for older models - if they have the right spec. Steve Banner reports. With late-MODEL tractor units in short supply, 1999 and 2000 models are increasingly popular says Dave Higgs...

Final WTD meeting?(Working Time Directive)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Transport Secretary Alistair Darling is poised to convene an 11th hour meeting of employer and trade union leaders to resolve outstanding problems with the Working Time Directive. A Department for Transport spokesman confirms that the meeting...

French driver held for two days for ; failing to take 45-minute break.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... A French driver arrested by Welsh police for drivers' hours offences was kept behind bars for two days before being given a conditional discharge and released from court a long way from his rig. Olivier Martin from Farschwiller was driving to...

Fuel's gold.(Ray Holloway, Petrol Retailers Association)
February 10, 2005... Trade association bosses rarely praise Treasury officials. Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers Association, does; but is it always so cosy? Chris Tindall finds not. Ray Holloway knows a lot about petrol and diesel. For someone who's...

Gang steals games from truck.(Public Notice)
February 10, 2005... Police are hunting a gang who stole a load of exclusive computer games not yet on sale in the UK from a truck parked in Hatfield. The incident happened at around 1pm on 2 February. A German truck driver had parked his vehicle overnight when a...

Grant cut hits rail freight hard.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Hauliers keen on using rail freight in the future could be forced to fund facilities themselves. Guy Sheppard reports. Rail freight grants are to be slashed by around a third in two years' time, dashing hopes of long-term growth in the...

Greengrocer claims to be green about the law.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Using a vehicle without an O-licence or tachograph has cost a fruit and vegetable merchant [pounds sterling]600 in fines and costs. Stuart Bryant, trading as S&H Fruits of Fleet, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to the offences when he appeared before...

Haulier fined for VAT cola fraud.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... A Northern Ireland haulier has been convicted for his part in a [pounds sterling]750,000 VAT scam. Investigating police officer Detective Inspector Sam Sittlingon said that according to the paperwork the fraudsters produced, "they were...

Heavy handed.(traffic police's duties)
February 10, 2005... What can a driver do when traffic police cross the line from being 'firm but fair' to over-zealous? Pat Hagan reports. Traffic cops are a bit like football referees - they're the butt of insults, they can bring out the worst in people and...

It's va-va-voom vans at auction...(van auctions )(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... The auction houses have started the new year in fine form with January proving profitable for van auctions at British Car Auctions. The company reported good crowds, strong bidding with healthy prices through the opening month at Blackbushe,...

January sales set record.
February 10, 2005... January was a great month for used sales. "It was the best January I've known in 20 years," says Phil Holmes, used sales manager, eastern region, at Scania dealership Keltruck. "It broke all records." "We had the best January we've had for the...

Long wait for 44-tonne Magnum.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Operators planning to put the revamped Renault Magnum to work at 44 tonnes will have to wait until November. The new model was launched last week and 4x2 versions will be here in the spring - but 6x2 tractors won't be available until November....

Maintenance falters; after death of founder.(JD Haulage and J&J Bulk Haulage)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Two firms run by the same family have escaped penalty after the TC accepted they were taking steps to resolve maintenance problems which had surfaced since the death of the founder last summer. North Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell...

Manchester considers charge.(Metrolink light rail system)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Hauliers delivering to businesses in Manchester could be forced to pay for the privilege in the future. Guy Sheppard reports. Britain's biggest congestion charge zone could be created around Manchester in a bid to fund public transport...

New ways to sell Renaults.(Regie Nationale des Usines Renault)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Renault dealers are wondering what impact the manufacturer's decision to scrap its 1.9% low-rate finance deal on used Premium tractor units will have on sales. "The finance deal undoubtedly attracted customers, and enquiries are dropping off a...

No care for regulations.(EMH International)
February 10, 2005... Long-distance operator and four of his drivers are fined nearly [pounds sterling]13,000 for working excessively long shifts. A long-distance operator which allowed drivers to work shifts lasting more than 19 hours has paid the price for...

Oil hauliers refuse sector talks on pay.(workers' compensation)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Industrial action by thousands of oil tanker drivers is looming after employers rejected demands for across-the-board improvements to their pay and pensions. Transport and General Workers Union branch officials will meet on Monday (14 February)...

Paccar soars to take 28% of all CV sales over 3.5 tonnes.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Light brigade leads the charge as UK commercial vehicle sales break all previous records. Colin Barnett reports on the winners and losers. The UK car market may be showing signs of a decline, but the same fate doesn't appear to afflict...

Police seek witnesses to assault by van driver.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Police are appealing for witnesses after a van driver assaulted a motorist as he sat in traffic in Slough. The incident happened at around 6.15pm on 2 February. A man driving a white Peugeot 205 was stopped at a red traffic light in Ragstone...

Price outcry at Ashford park.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... The Ashford truckstop has new owners who have ramped up prices and plan to close it down; drivers are not amused. Jennifer Ball reports. Drivers in the South-East are facing a parking crisis after the new owner of the Ashford Truckstop...