Commercial Motor articles from January 2004

Commercial Motor archives from January 2004

time to Change the rules...(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... Our survey into truck accidents was revealing, in terms of fact and, possibly, a certain amount of prejudice. No one likes smug gits in BMWs... but are they really, objectively, the worst drivers? However, it's an unescapable fact that the...

Something in the air?
January 8, 2004... The government is increasing fuel duty on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Will this stop hauliers moving to other alternative fuels? Jennifer Ball reports. In its pre-budget statement the government said that the "environmental benefits...

Crunching numbers.
January 8, 2004... In addition to CM's survey of truck drivers, Volvo has researched truck accidents. Brian Weatherley assesses the danger zones. Since 1969 Volvo Trucks has run its own HGV Accident Research Team which, in the words of the Swedish truck maker...

Threat analysis.
January 8, 2004... Commercial Motor has carried out an exclusive survey into accidents involving trucks - and it seems sales reps in Mondeos are the ones to avoid! Andy Salter reviews the findings. This week's CM investigation focuses on road safety and...

Leg injury blamed for breaking the rules.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... A Glasgow haulier is off the road for a week after a public inquiry heard the company had broken the hours rules and used an unauthorised operating centre. Laurelbank Transport is authorised to run five vehicles. Traffic examiner Evelyn Hill...

Old Orr's New Year Almanac.(Calendar)
January 8, 2004... Peter Orr makes his predictions for 2004 and sees a bright future for the industry - in the unlikely fields of reality TV and restaurants Take my word for it, you really don't want to know what I've been getting up to over the past month;...

All shapes and sizes.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... After a slow start, it turned out to be a good year for Manheim Auctions, but the company is not about to become complacent. It's certainly been a good year for Manheim Auctions. With no less than 4,000 heavy commercial vehicles going under...

Problem spots.
January 8, 2004... Manufacturer recalls can be a vital part of buying a used truck; here's the latest round-up. Truck manufacturers and recalls (all recall numbers (RN) begin R/2003/): Daf Trucks Vehicle: XF95 Date: 08.05.2003; build start/end,...

Used vehicle review - Cargo.
January 8, 2004... CM tests more vehicles than anyone else; now we're using our extensive database to highlight popular vehicles in the used sector. This week it's the Iveco Cargo 7.5-tonner - the backbone of Iveco's used truck programme. UK launch date:...

Parking plan for Ashford.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... Ashford Council has outlined plans to combat problems with truck drivers parking illegally in Orbital Park following complaints from locals about noise, rubbish and damage to property. Last April the Kent and Ashford Transport Board banned...

Time for the leftovers.
January 8, 2004... It's all over... even the hangover has faded. But there are still some 'goodies' left at the bottom of Santa's sack... So we return to work, all tetchy and unpleasant thanks to those ghastly detox headaches and an absence of the 30kg-a-day...

Subbies just cost too much.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... Guy Sheppard is told it's cheaper to buy your own fleet than use subbies. A WELSH chemicals manufacturer is investing [pounds sterling]700,000 on setting up its own fleet after becoming disillusioned with the service provided by haulage...

Charging zone story 'untrue'.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... Mayor Ken denies congestion charge scare stories - Jennifer Ball reports. London Mayor Ken Livingstone has played down recent press reports that he plans to extend the congestion zone to cover the entire area within the M25. His rebuttal...

Cop slams sentence cut.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... A detective has hit out over the high court judge's decision to cut the sentence of a haulier convicted in a "sickening" case of racial harassment. Damian Gaunt, the MD of Sheffield-based Bruce Transport Services, was originally sentenced to 18...

FTA: Don't enforce the law.(The Freight Transport Association)(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... The Freight Transport Association is calling on the Department for Transport (DfT) to break EU law by not enforcing digital smartcard tachograph legislation until the equipment is available. The trade association is concerned by reports that...

Month's reprieve for German toll.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... The German government has given Toll Collect, the operator of the LKW-Maut truck toll scheme, a one-month reprieve before cancelling its contract following emergency talks. Last month German transport minister Manfred Stolpe threatened to...

Peanuts and monkeys.
January 8, 2004... Mr X despairs at the short sighted measures hauliers are forced to adopt in order to keep trucks moving despite low rates and driver shortages. I wonder how many other employers are facing the New Year with trepidation, living in the...

PSA makes an ohm run.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... PSA Peugeot Citron has launched its contribution to the burgeoning hybrid vehicle market. The [pounds sterling]3m Efficient-C project is being undertaken in conjunction with the British companies Ricardo UK and QinetiQ. The first stage of the...

Large vans and chassis-cabs.(Citron)
January 8, 2004... The largest group of vehicles we tested last year was vans over 2,500kg GVW. The first on the list, in both chronological and alphabetical order, was the Citron Relay 1800 2.2HDI. Following the Sevel range's facelift, the new Relay adds greatly...

Traffic zooms along the M6 thanks to Toll.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... TRAFFIC SPEEDS along the M6 through Birmingham increased by 30% following the opening of the M6 Toll motorway last month (December). Research by traffic information specialist Itis shows that typical speeds between Junctions 4 and 12 were 52mph...

CM goes off-road.
January 8, 2004... Mid-May might seem a long way off, but get planning for SED 2004, because CM will be there with trucks and vans aplenty! Here we preview this major UK event. If you're into construction you should be into this! Commercial Motor has joined...

Cowboy clampdown.(Irish Road Haulage Association )
January 8, 2004... The Republic of Ireland is at last cracking down on illegal hauliers by revoking their licences and levying steep roadside fines. Brendan Nolan reports. Ireland's junior transport minister Jim McDaid is personally signing letters to...

Four-week cut for maintenance failure hat trick.(Ochilmount Transport)(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... Ochilmount Transport's third appearance at a public inquiry in three years has led to its O-licence authorisation being cut from 12 vehicles and eight trailers to eight vehicles and four trailers for four weeks. Scottish Traffic Commissioner...

Give people a chance; to help themselves.
January 8, 2004... I WRITE REGARDING the article headlined 'In the dole-drums' (CM 13 November). As a former HGV driver myself, and with substantial experience of both temporary and agency work, I can sympathise and empathise with Scott McMenemy and his plight in...

On site safety.
January 8, 2004... Construction sites and quarries are dangerous places where driver training and a safety culture are as important as the right equipment. Sharon Clancy reports. Year-on-year, the construction industry records an unenviable number of...

PASS THE PARCEL.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... CM decided to measure the performance of the parcels industry, so we set them a simple test: move two lightbulbs from Holland to England. What could possibly go wrong? As Robbie Burns discovered long ago, however well a plan is prepared,...

Saving lives.
January 8, 2004... Nearly half of the cyclists killed or seriously injured in London last year collided with a truck. Colin Barnett visits a firm taking steps to prevent accidents by alerting its drivers to cyclists. One of the greatest nightmares facing...

Six speeding drivers face suspension of licences.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... The licenCes of six drivers are hanging in the balance after they failed to convince a TC that their excessive speeds were due to driving old trucks that did not require speed limiters. The drivers, who work for Shrewsbury haulier Mervyn...

TC slams 'sham' licensing deal.
January 8, 2004... A second bid for the return of a truck operated under a 'flag of convenience' has been turned down by a traffic commissioner. A disqualified operator has failed to win the return of a truck operating on another haulier's licence - an...

The numbers game.(National Roads Authority)(Irish Road Haulage Association )
January 8, 2004... Ireland's penalty points are saving lives - but with new offences being introduced have the lawmakers gone too far? Ann Marie Foley reports. It is just over one year since the introduction of penalty points in Ireland. Statistics show that...

The times they are a-changing.
January 8, 2004... Instead of simply demanding more money in their pay packets, workers are increasingly asking for extra time off. How should employers react to requests for flexible working? Patric Cunnane reports. With the new year under way many of your...

The facts and figures that matter to your business. This week we look at freight movement statistics.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... Transport trends The Department for Transport's report Transport Trends 2003 shows that the total amount of freight moved rose 45% between 1980 and 2002, from 175 to 254bn tonne-kilometres. The majority of this increase was accounted for by...

Unions poised for final salary coup.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... Tanker drivers' representatives are expecting a breakthrough in the fight for final-salary pensions - Guy Sheppard reports. UNION LEADERS are set to score their first success in a campaign to win better pensions for tanker drivers in the...

Pickups and 4x4s.
January 8, 2004... This year we tested eight pickups and 4x4s. At entry level in the pickup market, the Proton Jumbuck was the only petrol vehicle we tested, and it managed a respectable 31.6mpg fully laden. But it wasn't an experience our tester really relished,...

Euro-4 revamp for Premium.
January 8, 2004... The Premium is to be overhauled for Euro-4. Brian Weatherley reports. Renault's Premium tractor will receive a major makeover to coincide with Euro-4 emissions regs in October 2005. According to Laurent Friederich, cab strategy manager...

Rigid and distribution vehicles.
January 8, 2004... Volvo's FM9.380 eight-legger is pitched as a lightweight alternative to its FH12 8x4 at 32 tonnes. It probably didn't help that our test truck came with a high-ground-clearance muckaway spec and a steel body - its 12,140kg kerwbeight didn't...

Used vehicles.(trucks)
January 8, 2004... With the used market still showing signs of growth, Commercial Motor's Used Truck Tests have taken on even greater significance; last year brought us a steady mix of new and established trucks. The most recent addition to the used market is...

Wardens win power - not friends.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... TRAFFIC WARDENS will be given powers to fine motorists for driving offences in the government's latest bid to ease congestion. Cameras will be used to photograph number plates of vehicles and offenders will be hit with [pounds sterling]100...

Fined for dumping waste in the North.(Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... One of the largest waste contractors in Waterford, Ireland has been convicted for one of the worst-ever cases of illegal dumping in Northern Ireland. Waterford Utility Services was convicted in Waterford District Court of illegally exporting...

Watson waits for first hearing in Arras.(Brief Article)
January 8, 2004... PAUL WATSON, the truck driver jailed in France for allegedly smuggling [pounds sterling]500,000 worth of cannabis, will have his first hearing later this month. Watson (right), owner of Leeds-based Principal Logistics, had flown to Spain to...

Devil's in the detail.
January 8, 2004... It's not exactly the Ferrari of the 3.5-tonne sector, but an Iveco Daily tipper can tackle jobs that would make some lesser CVs wince. However, only time will tell how many tradesmen are yearning for a high-priced gaffer's motor... Anyone...

Forth bridge closures.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... I WAS INTERESTED to see that there are plans to close both the Forth road and rail bridges next summer, for resurfacing and painting respectively. The road bridge carries a vast amount of traffic but the rail bridge is little used. Surely the...

JANUARY 2004.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... The facts and figures that matter to your business. This week we look at fleets of car transporters. EU harmonisation The maximum dimensions of unloaded car transporters are harmonised throughout the EU, but loaded vehicles are still...

Green and pleasant land.
January 15, 2004... Transport 2000 campaigns for more investment in public transport and greater use of rail freight. But it also recognises the role of HGVs. Tim Maughan spoke to its main man. Despite the fact the we've now reached 2004, Stephen Joseph, boss...

Winners ; and losers.
January 15, 2004... UK commercial vehicle sales above 3.5 tonnes hit near record levels in 2003. Here we review the best and worst performers - and ask why the market refused to decline as the pundits expected. Cast your minds back 12 months and industry...

Licence request thrown out.(O-licence)
January 15, 2004... A tangle of misleading information fails to protect an operator without an O-licence, and its request for one is denied. A SKIP-HIRE FIRM which ran illegally for years because it claimed it could not afford an O-licence has been declared...

Reps' rights.(Employment Relations Act)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... In practical terms, what must employers do to accommodate union reps in the workplace? Patric Cunnane reports. In a famous scene at the beginning of the Peter Sellers' comedy I'm All Right Jack a hapless fork-lift operator shifts some...

How to attract and keep the best staff.
January 15, 2004... Need staff? Ruth Pott, head of employment at the Road Haulage Association, lists the 10 key points that you must consider. 1. Legal requirements When recruiting staff it is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of race, sex, sexual...

Law plus; Up and coming law with the FTA.(Freight Transportation Association)
January 15, 2004... Future legislation Driver and vehicle licence fees: Legislation is now in force to allow the Secretary of State to pool the fees for driver and vehicle licensing, with the intention of introducing new fees. The fee changes will include an...

Little things sent to try us.
January 15, 2004... Brian Lee asks why our industry is so full of elements designed to deter rather than encourage membership of the elite haulage club. Another year is upon us and the cloud on the horizon continues to grow in size: the Working Time...

Service provider.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Operators of older vehicles often rely on independent workshops for maintenance - now Volvo has plans to attract them back into the fold. Volvo has launched a "pre-emptive" maintenance programme targeting operators of older vehicles. The...

In search of greener grass...
January 15, 2004... The UK second-hand truck market may be enjoying a boom at the moment but what about the rest of Europe? CM visited Renault Trucks in France to see if it's all roses for dealerships over the Channel. While the European Union is known for its...

Plum, but not duff.
January 15, 2004... Every week, CM will be dropping in on a dealer somewhere in the UK to see what's on offer, and to take a close look at one of the vehicles on the forecourt. This week's Taking Stock subject represents one of the UK's best sellers, the...

Burned-out bakery has drivers relocate.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Drivers based at bakers Warburton's Wednesbury depot are delivering out of temporary premises after a suspected arson attack gutted the premises. Police have launched an investigation after the fire tore through the despatch and production...

Death knell for mail monopoly.
January 15, 2004... Business Post is set to break Royal Mail's postal monopoly. Guy Sheppard reports. Parcel delivery company Business Post is finally on course to break Royal Mail's postal monopoly from April after settling a long-running dispute over...

Mini-Sevel van spruced up again.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... The mini-Sevel van, jointly developed by Peugeot, Citron and Fiat, has been given yet another makeover. Originally introduced in 1995 it's now on its fourth update. The latest changes include a revised exterior with a new bonnet, grille,...

Coales in the ashes.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Aylesbury-based Coales Distribution has gone into voluntary liquidation with debts of [pounds sterling]750,000, leading to the loss of about 100 jobs. The national distribution company, with offices in Bradford, Ealing and Aston Clinton in...

Parcels firm starts the week by closing.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Jennifer Ball reports on the collapse of parcels firm Hellmann Overnight Logistics. Parcel firm Hellmann Overnight Logistics (HOL) has gone into administration, blaming its collapse on increased competition. The firm's parent company,...

More trucks, fewer vans for Irish Republic.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Registrations of light CVs in the Irish Republic fell during 2003, but HGV registrations were up. Van registrations at 30,409 were down 11.9% on 2002's figure of 34,499. However, at 4,102 HGV registrations were up 7.5% on 2002's 3,816,...

Iveco gets greedy for 2004 market.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Iveco is launching a major campaign to increase its market share during 2004, according to UK managing director Giuseppe Franchi. Following a disappointing performance in 2003 the company aims to take its share of the 2.8-6.5-tonne van market...

Timesheets win their day in court.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... The High Court has ruled that drivers' timesheets are admissible evidence in cases involving alleged hours and tachograph offences. It upheld an appeal by VOSA against a decision of District Judge Morgan in the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court...

Jailed Brit haulier pleads his case from French hellhole.
January 15, 2004... A Yorkshire haulier jailed in France for allegedly smuggling [pounds sterling]500,000 worth of cannabis has written to CM protesting his innocence. The drug was found in Paul Watson's load of pottery when he was stopped by French Customs in...

Few HGVs opt for the M6 toll.(Heavy Goods Vehicle)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... It seems only 0.3% of trucks are using the M6 Toll. Guy Sheppard reports. A snap survey of HGV traffic shows that only a tiny proportion of operators are opting to use the new M6 Toll motorway around Birmingham. During a two-hour period...

IN THE NEWS.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Stuart Thomas gives us his regular round-up of the way the newspapers have covered the transport industry this week. Shaun Brady is not having an easy time. As general secretary for rail union Aslef he has quickly acquired a reputation as a...

Canada's coolest feeling for snow.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Having just spent a week in eastern Canada during the first bad snow fall of the winter (3 to 4 feet over an area twice the size of the UK), I can only conclude that the UK has a lot to learn about snow clearance. The snow storm was on a Sunday...

Financing your fleet.
January 15, 2004... With bank rates so low, there's no time like the present to expand your fleet... but how? Steve Banner covers the options. Hire purchase Hire purchase isn't just for buying expensive consumer goodies. It's a sensible way of acquiring a...

For once, ignorance is an excuse.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... WEST MIDLANDS Traffic Commissioner David Dixon has accepted a restricted licence holder's ignorance of the law as an excuse for lending an O-licence disc to an unlicensed operator. But while the TC took no action against the two-vehicle licence...

Go ahead and expand - but watch your trailers' condition.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... AN OPERATOR has been allowed to expand his fleet, on the condition that he pays more attention to the condition of hired trailers. Sunderland-based Malcolm Graham appeared before the north-eastern traffic commissioner Tom Macartney seeking to...

Hello John, got a used motor?(Rothdean, Truck industry)
January 15, 2004... Wondering how easy it might be to buy a recent Daf 95XF, we thought we'd call on a well-known truck dealer north of Bristol. Well, we found one all right, but it had just been sold. So we got to talking... 'Clean, three to four-year-old Daf...

Ken backs [pounds sterling]450m Thames toll link.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... A proposed [pounds sterling]450m six-lane toll bridge across the Thames in east London will be jointly funded by the government and the Transport for London agency, according to London's Mayor. Ken Livingstone announced the deal on Friday (9...

Leasing firm at fault in ; repeating illegal custom.(Finance and Leasing (London))(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... A LEASING COMPANY has failed in its bid to have an impounded vehicle returned after south eastern & metropolitan traffic commissioner Christopher Heaps concluded it was guilty of a "high degree of fault" in the truck's illegal operation. The...

MOVING STORY.
January 15, 2004... There may be brass in hauling muck but you need the right kit to reap the rewards and the learning curve for UK operators and equipment providers alike has been a steep one. Brian Weatherley reports. When the first moving-floor trailers...

No bonanza this Xmas.(Letter to the Editor)
January 15, 2004... I HAVE been a loyal and avid reader of your magazine since the early 1970s. I have always found the magazine interesting and informative and have especially looked forward to the Xmas bonanza, which used to include a giant crossword, a picture...

One-grand fine for multiple offences.(Barclay Scaffolding & Cradle)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... A SCAFFOLDING FIRM has totted up fines and costs of [pounds sterling]1,050 for a string of licensing and insurance offences. When Barclay Scaffolding & Cradle of Westcliffe-on-Sea appeared before Barking magistrates it was fined [pounds...

RHA chart analysis.(Road Haulage Association)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... IT IS DISTRESSING that a company of the standing of Knowles Transport should find itself in the circumstances highlighted in your article (CM 18 December 2003). It is also disappointing that it should seek to blame others for its current...

Respect privacy.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... I AM WRITING to you to express my dismay and concern that your magazine published a story entitled "Manager's child pic shame" (18 December 2003). As a regular reader of the magazine, and the owner of a large transport company, I believe the...

the flagship.(Renault Magnum truck assessed)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 15, 2004... The Renault Magnum took the market by storm, setting a standard of driver comfort that has yet to be surpassed. It may be an acquired taste - but once acquired it seems it's never lost. We tend to associate big cabs with big powerful...

Size matters for car transport.(European Car Transport Group )(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... According to the European Car Transport Group of Interest (ECG) Survey on Vehicle Logistics 2003-2004, there are 19,943 fleets of car transporters in the EU. Germany has the greatest number of car transport operators, followed by Ireland and...

THE price of purity.
January 15, 2004... From October 2006 all new trucks will have to meet the Euro-4 exhaust limits. So how will this affect you? Andy Salter investigates. Nobody needs to tell road transport professionals about the weight of legislation this industry faces, with...

Nightowl flies on while buyer is sought.(Ark International)(Road Haulage Association )(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Truckstop operator Nightowl will continue to operate normally while a buyer is sought for the group, according to the business's administrator. Kenneth Touhey from Hove-based administrators Chantrey Vellacott says: "We will continue to trade...

We all make mistakes...(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Villagers in the tranquil village of Burton Pidsea, East Yorkshire, were faced with this mountain of mouldering rubbish after a binman inadvertently pressed the wrong button on his dustcart last week. Instead of compacting the rubbish the cart...

WTD-proof agency?(Working Time Directive)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Drivers made redundant by the closure of TDG's Paisley depot are forming their own recruitment agency which they believe will cope with problems caused by the Working Time Directive (WTD). One of the drivers, David Pattison, believes the...

Man quizzed over haulier's death.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... Detectives probing the murder of a West Midlands haulage contractor who was gunned down outside his yard in an apparent contract killing plan to interrogate a man who has been arrested for firearms offences. Officers swooped on a house in...

EU gives 16-month reprieve on tachos.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2004... The EU has finally accepted that digital smart-card tachos have missed their August launch date. Peter Shakespeare reports. The UNCERTAINTY over the launch of digital smart-card tachographs finally seems to have been resolved after frantic...