Commercial Motor articles from January 2006

Commercial Motor archives from January 2006

DISTRIBUTION.(Iveco Eurocargo)
January 5, 2006... Iveco Eurocargo Iveco's popular Eurocargo is a range of predominantly rigid trucks between six and 26 tonnes with eight wheelbase options. A Bertone-styled cab is available with either two or three steps, depending on model, and in day,...

LIGHT VANS.(French alternatives )
January 5, 2006... Fiat Doblo Cargo The Doblo provides a quirky alternative to the established big boys. There's now a 1.3-litre multijet unit to complement the established 1.9-litre and it has to be said they're both beauties, providing seamless torque and...

HEAVY VANS.(Ford Transit )
January 5, 2006... Iveco Daily The heavier and tougher the application, the more attractive Iveco's van package becomes, thanks to uncompromising design and strong build quality. The Daily is powered by a 3.0-litre motor with a top rating of 164hp, from...

PICK -UPS.(Toyota)(Mitsubishi)(Ford)
January 5, 2006... Times are changing in the pickup world and the latest generation has really set a new standard for the rest to follow. Not so long ago you could be sure of one thing when driving a pickup on-road: it was going to be a handful, especially...

TIPPERS.
January 5, 2006... Horses for courses could be the epitaph of the tipper market as manufacturers fight for business in a relatively small market. Here power, payload and versatility are the keys. As an island we might eventually run out of space to build, but...

TRACTORS.
January 5, 2006... Whatever model you're after, our new two-part tractor section will make it easier to find what you're looking for. This year, we've made it easier for readers to zoom in on a particular model by splitting the tractor section into two...

LIGHT TRUCKS.
January 5, 2006... Many of this year's entries have had engine and cab updates in the past year and with several due to introduce Euro-4 compliant engines this year the general standard in this sector should continue to rise. Every time we turn our attention...

be informed - be successful.(Commercial Motor Truck & Van Buyers' Guide 2006)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2006... Welcome to the Commercial Motor Truck & Van Buyers' Guide 2006, our comprehensive review of the commercial vehicles on offer in all sectors. Whether it's a new van, pickup or truck you're in the market for, over the coming pages you'll find a...

Mitsubishi hots up the pickup war.
January 12, 2006... The battle for the increasingly competitive pickup market is set to intensify with the launch of Mitsubishi's revamped L200. The major criticisms of the outgoing model - an elderly engine with a matching appetite for maintenance - will be...

EVENTS.
January 12, 2006... RHA courses Operator compliance 17 January Oldham 24 January Aberdeen Drivers' hours 16 January Exeter 19 January Southampton 25 January Bury St Edmunds Manual handling 8 February Heathrow Health and safety 26 January...

A matter of costs.
January 12, 2006... What can operators do to cut costs? To find out, Continental Tyres brought together key people from various sectors of the industry. The issue of rising costs is of particular concern in road transport, with ever-tighter margins forcing...

A tale of two Dailys.
January 12, 2006... During 2003 we tested two Daily vans with the latest 2.3-litre Unijet HPI engine, which is effectively the same as Fiat's JTD engine. This replaced the 84hp and 105hp versions of Iveco's 2.8-litre direct-injection charge-cooled engine, the...

All things being equal.
January 12, 2006... The hot topic in the Mermaid Tavern is equal rights legislation, as Peter Larner finds out. It was hardly a night that knew no equal at the Mermaid Tavern last Friday. Bill Heath had been swotting up on several pieces of new...

Burns inquiry has had results.(Letter to the Editor)
January 12, 2006... How upsetting to read Brian Weatherley's piece on the Burns report (CM 15 December). He suggests it will be pigeonholed and thus forgotten by government despite its laudable contents, and that it did not contain anything we did not already know...

Cash rolls in for German tolls.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... The first annual results for the satellite-based truck-tolling operation in Germany reveals an income of E2.85bn in the first 12 months. The country's Transport Minister, Wolfgang Tiefensee, says that in November alone, toll...

Co-op cuts final salary pensions.
January 12, 2006... More than 1,500 Co-op drivers will lose their final salary pension scheme in April. The move, which applies to all Co-op staff, including those in retail and banking, has infuriated union leaders who warn it might trigger industrial...

Craib makes 1% profit - MD is optimistic.(Arr Craib Transport)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... The managing director of Aberdeen-based ARR Craib Transport is confident that it will boost its margins by 500% in 2006 after a difficult year involving six-figure bad debts and diesel price hikes of 20%. The firm reported a [pounds...

DSV snaps up Frans Maas.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... Danish-based company DSV is to create a European transport giant by taking over Dutch-based Frans Maas. The move is being described as a merger but DSV is buying Maas and will delist the company from the Amsterdam stock exchange. DSV, which...

DTC demands 'full story' of family insolvency breaches.
January 12, 2006... A public inquiry into a Liverpool firm has been adjourned while the DTC investigates its directors' complex dealings. Mike Jewell reports. North-Western DTC Mark Hinchliffe has ordered a probe into the business affairs of a Liverpool...

Democracy is paramount in union elections.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... Your news item headed "Higginbottom challenges Monks to lead URTU" (CM 15 December 2005) incorrectly reported that "URTU was expelled from the TUC" during my tenure as general secretary. This is not the case. URTU resigned from the TUC with...

Dominant Daf leads pack.
January 12, 2006... Despite concerns over a slowdown in economic activity, the UK truck market has hit its highest level since 1989. So who were the big winners and losers in 2005? Andy Salter reports. Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers...

Doubts over identification.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... A truck driver accused of working for another firm while off sick has been awarded [pounds sterling]5,509 for unfair dismissal following doubts over whether a private investigator had identified the right man. Angel Springs Holdings of ...

End-of-year reports.
January 12, 2006... Despite challenging economic conditions, three companies have posted increased pre-tax profits and show a willingness to invest. Palletforce Pallet network Palletforce has boosted its turnover by 25% to become one of the top four UK...

Fuel duty action is best remedy, say operators.
January 12, 2006... But the latest CM/Michelin survey also shows many in the industry are not familiar with the Burns report or its recommendations. Almost a third of respondents in CM and Michelin's latest Business Monitor survey say that the government...

Gearing up for export.
January 12, 2006... CM's Mystery Shopper has been scanning the classified ads in our Christmas issue in search of vehicles and trailers that are suitable for export. Export has become the lifeline of the UK used truck sector. Shipping out the stock no one...

HMRC 'on target' after first year of operation.(Hm Revenue and Customs)
January 12, 2006... Judging by its first annual report, HM Revenue and Customs is bad news for fuel launderers and smugglers alike. Chris Tindall reports. As HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) first year of operation draws to a close, it claims its focus on...

Hanbury Davies is playing it cool.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... Hanbury Davies, of Felixstowe, Suffolk, is to open a major depot in the Midlands. The firm has recently won a contract to run from a new depot in Stafford; it plans to base about 100 drivers at the site. The company's website is ...

IRHA plans toll protest.(Irish Road Haulage Association )(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... Irish operators will refuse to pay tolls on the new M4 motorway because they say that they are too expensive. The Irish Road Haulage Association has organised a "no-pay day" on 16 January. Members plan to drive up to the toll booths at 7am...

In good company.
January 12, 2006... New company law aims to cut red tape for small private companies. John Davies reports. Many road transport operators opt to become private limited companies to take advantage of the protection afforded by that status. The directors of...

Inquiry into Humber toll hike.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... The Humber Bridge, which is [pounds sterling]350m in debt, faces a public inquiry next month over planned toll increases. The one-way toll for a top-weight truck is scheduled to rise from [pounds sterling]16.70 to [pounds sterling]17.30....

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP INTO EURO-3.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... If you're in the market for new trucks - and judging by the size of last year's new truck market there's a good few of you who are - you face a dilemma. In October this year the Euro-4 emissions legislation comes into force, demanding even...

Law on the move.
January 12, 2006... As our legal news pages show, TCs do not accept ignorance as a defence. We asked RHA national training instructor Bob Auchterlonie to set up some scenarios to test your knowledge of the rules on hours and O-licensing. Have a go, check out...

Loan of O-licence disc costs guilty duo more than [pounds sterling]1,500.
January 12, 2006... A retired operator professes to having done a 'silly thing' by lending his O-licence disc to his successor as magistrates fine both men. A retired haulier has narrowly escaped jail for lending an O-licence disc to the operator taking...

MD 'reads the riot act' over maintenance problems.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... The introduction of computerised maintenance systems have spared a high-profile operator from disciplinary action. Mike Jewell reports. A large North Yorkshire operator has escaped from a public inquiry with a warning over maintenance after...

Maximum fine imposed for faulty brakes.(Leicester firm)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... A Leicester firm was fined the maximum allowed for running a vehicle with defective brakes after it pleaded guilty before the Chester magistrates. Fining the company [pounds sterling]5,000 with [pounds sterling]148 costs, the ...

Model developments.
January 12, 2006... Renault Truck's senior vice president, Olivier Vidal de la Blache, tells Steve Banner why he isn't afraid of the truck manufacturer losing its identity. Anybody waiting for Renault's latest Premium tractor unit to get a power boost to...

More work, less profit.
January 12, 2006... Trailer and bodybuilder Lawrence David Group has boosted turnover from [pounds sterling]32.8m to [pounds sterling]39.9m in the year ending 31 May 2005. This was despite a difficult marketplace that saw financial problems at several rivals....

Morrisons axes 700 drivers.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... NEARLY 700 drivers will find themselves out of work this month after being axed by supermarket group Morrisons. They are among 2,500 Morrisons workers being made redundant as the chain closes depots in Bristol, Cheshire and Kent. The...

National takes surveys seriously.
January 12, 2006... I am writing in response to your article headed "Hitting The Hire Spot" (CM 22 December). At National Car Rental we welcome surveys of this sort. On the whole, your investigation demonstrated the value and ease of renting vans and how the large...

New year's revelation.
January 12, 2006... Take a stroll with us through the little sideroads of haulage: the diversions and detours, the quirky, the quixotic and the downright strange... On the Margin has vowed to be a good little column this year and do good things for the whole...

PDAs boost profits for software provider.
January 12, 2006... Database Business Systems, the Livingston-based software provider, is predicting strong growth for its new mobile solutions division during 2006. According to MD Colin Ferguson, operators are keen to take advantage of all the latest...

Plant moves on eight legs in Inverness.(Hicks Logistics)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... Caldicot-based Hicks Logistics has added a Scania eight-legger to its plant-delivery fleet. The P-Series Scania, with its 380hp engine and 14-speed box, will be based in Inverness. Proprietor Terry Hicks says: "I'm confident the use of...

Police and VOSA tighten up on belts.
January 12, 2006... Failure to wear and maintain seat-belts could lead to a spate of fines for drivers and operators. Surrey police are to clamp down on truck drivers who fail to use their seat-belts; and for the first time, seat-belt condition will be...

Police come under fire.
January 12, 2006... Transport companies have criticised the police response to the Buncefield oil depot disaster, claiming it lacked leadership. Operators say that during the three days that police secured the area around the depot at Hemel Hempstead, Herts,...

Prohibitions and low average pass rate lead to 25% cut in HGV fleet.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... An Essex firm which received 13 prohibitions in two years is facing a cutback in its licence authority from 12 to nine HGVs. The company's PSV licence has been cut from 18 to 14 vehicles. Rainham, Essex-based Swallow Coach Co appeared...

Safe vehicles save threatened licence.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... A Midlands haulier which claimed to be unaware it had no transport manager for five months has had its licence suspended for 48 hours. But it can choose on which days in January to lay up its fleet. The ruling on the six-vehicle licence...

Scania injury case falls at the first legal hurdle.
January 12, 2006... Claims by drivers that getting behind the wheel of certain Scania trucks caused them injuries have failed to stand up in court. Sally Nash reports. The group litigation over Scania 4-Series trucks has been dropped by its claimant drivers...

Spaniards jump the gun.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... Spain has been quick off the mark with digital tacho legislation - which may come as a surprise to the rest of the EU. Guy Sheppard reports. International hauliers face fines of up to E6,000 when operating in Spain if new trucks are not...

Stand and deliver.
January 12, 2006... Truck crime costs more than [pounds sterling]100m a year with hijackers increasingly resorting to guns and knives. Guy Sheppard reports on whether a co-ordinated approach could beat the villains. Precautions: 10 tips for drivers on...

Strong figures for Nissan.
January 12, 2006... Nissan, the latest player in the used van sector, is on course to match the residuals enjoyed by market favourites Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. When Nissan launched rebadged Renaults and Vauxhalls in the UK three years ago, some pundits...

TC apologises to tipperman for VOSA's 'inadequacy'.
January 12, 2006... Mistakes by VOSA meant that a Lancashire tipperman continued to operate, unaware his licence had been revoked, because notification of revocation was sent to the wrong address. The operator, Zebbair Sattar, has now succeeded in a bid...

TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
January 12, 2006... The days of using worn-out, ex-fleet hacks for HGV training are fast disappearing. Brian Weatherley samples a modern-day mobile classroom that's 'licensed to teach'. In September, Commercial Motor reported on the launch of a City & Guilds...

Targeting the cowboys.
January 12, 2006... Better regulation of the road transport industry remains a key government target, according to VOSA chief executive Stephen Tetlow. His comments come in the agency's annual report, which also highlights VOSA's improved financial...

The big freeze.
January 12, 2006... The big freeze After several unusually mild years we're facing a tough time on the roads this winter so it's time to prepare for the worst. Julian Milnes reports. Like a game of Chinese Whispers, the rumours surrounding predictions of...

Truck crime from around the UK.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... Perfume, champagne and a Mercedes truck have been stolen in a pre-Christmas burglary netting over [pounds sterling]60,000 worth of property. The raid in Braintree, Essex happened on Saturday 17 December. Thieves loaded 2,000 bottles of perfume...

Turnover up for established haulier.(Brief Article)
January 12, 2006... A 50-year-old [pounds sterling]400 investment continues to pay rich dividends for Norfolk-based haulier Jack Richards & Son. The Fakenham-based company's turnover rose 4% to [pounds sterling]15.1m last year with shareholders receiving...

cruising in comfort.
January 12, 2006... The finest test teams from the Netherlands, Germany and the UK were all over the seven contenders like a rash, measuring, assessing and scoring each vehicle. Each tester gave scores in the respective categories, which were totalled and averaged...

your Policy decision.
January 12, 2006... Insurance policies account for a large chunk of running costs, but how do you find good cover and reduce premiums? Guy Sheppard explains how insurance auditing can help. Glance through any insurance document and most people's eyes...

Beware Eastern promises.
January 19, 2006... Eastern European drivers may be an answer to the current driver shortage, but how can we be sure of their ability and experience? Barry Proctor calls for compulsory testing. Just how many drivers are we short of? 10,000? 100,000? 500,000?...

EVENTS.
January 19, 2006... RHA courses Operator compliance 24 January Salisbury 24 January Aberdeen Drivers' hours 25 January Bury St Edmunds 25 January Darlington Manual handling 8 February Heathrow Health and safety 26 January Darlington ...

2006 off to a flying start.
January 19, 2006... The used truck market is much livelier than expected at this traditionally quiet time of year. Dealers around the country are reporting a strong beginning to 2006 as far as used vehicles are concerned, with more enquiries than anticipated....

Bargain hunting.
January 19, 2006... As an operator you owe it to yourself and your bank balance to find the best deals in every aspect of the business. Trailers are no exception, and the used trade has a lot to offer in this sector. Kevin Swallow reports. The nature of...

Breathe easy.
January 19, 2006... With operators still gearing up for Euro-4, legislators are already looking forward to Euro-6 and beyond. Alan Bunting reports. European legislators in Brussels are looking at HGV driving techniques with a view to cutting emissions of...

Clampdown on trucks parking in Felixstowe.
January 19, 2006... Operators parking trucks in roads near Felixstowe port in Suffolk risk fines of more than [pounds sterling]100 after local businesses complained about HGV traffic. Parker Avenue in Felixstowe is used by truck drivers when the dock...

Court case over unpaid bill for truck's recovery.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... Recovery SPECIALIST the Mansfield Group is gearing up for a courtroom showdown with distribution giant NYK Logistics after NYK refused to pay for recovery of a truck that had been involved in an accident. The Mansfield Group has a contract...

Crown Cold Stores.(Correction Notice)
January 19, 2006... With reference to the news story in last week's issue, we have been asked to point out that the only director of Crown Cold Stores & Distribution is Karen Thorburn Jones and that other members of the family, including Wallace Thorburn, are not...

Dealer calls for buy-back shake-up.
January 19, 2006... Truck manufacturers and dealers should take another look at the way buy-back agreements are written, says outspoken Renault dealer Dave Watts of Stoke-on-Trent-based Staffordshire CV. "As an industry we should seriously consider offering...

Derby weight limit 'unenforceable'.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... Local councillors have been left red-faced after they ignored the results of their own research and slapped weight limits on two roads in Derby. Both bans have now been branded as unenforceable. Chief Inspector Paul Berry, Derbyshire's...

Difficult trading year for ACS&T.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... Frozen food storage and distribution company ACS&T is still struggling to return a profit, according to latest figures. Although annual turnover rose by nearly [pounds sterling]1.7m to [pounds sterling]32m last year, the company made an...

Don-Bur boosts its pre-tax profits by 21%.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... Trailer firm Don-Bur has revealed a year of "solid progress" in its accounts for the year ending 30 September 2005. The Stoke-on-Trent manufacturer boosted turnover by 16% to [pounds sterling]35.8m. Pre-tax profits rose by 21% to [pounds...

EC prepares to crack down on WTD.(european commission)(working time directive)(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... EU countries that fail to implement the Working Time Directive (WTD) for truck drivers could find themselves in court as the European Commission cracks down on offenders. The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has drawn up a list of...

Equal under the law.
January 19, 2006... Workplace benefits packages must comply with the new law on same-sex civil partnerships. Michelle Chamberlain reports. Following a change in the law last month, same-sex couples can win legal recognition of their relationship by...

ACT NOW.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... The Motor Vehicles (Driver Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2005, CIF 1 November 2005 Extend the provisional supervision rules, change elements with relation to tests and remove the ratio requirement from pre-1997 C1+E entitlements....

Ford Transit gains a new heart and a new body.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... The next version of the Transit will be unveiled at the NEC CV Show in April - and we've had a sneak preview. Colin Barnett reports. The Transit's latest incarnation is no mere facelift - almost everything forward of the B-pillar is...

Glass's Guide reports high demand for all kinds of rigids.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... Demand for clean, used rigids remains healthy with all body types in demand, says George Alexander, chief commercial vehicle editor at Glass's Guide. "Supplies of the best ready-to-retail used stock remain limited, and this has helped to keep...

Government to publish night delivery guide.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... Bans on late-night deliveries to big shops such as supermarkets may become harder for local authorities to justify following the publication of government guidelines later this year. The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that...

HA warns M6 congestion solution 'a decade away'.
January 19, 2006... Truck operators hoping for relief from the ongoing congestion problems on the M6 will be sorely disappointed. Guy Sheppard reports. Hauliers will have to wait more than a decade before they can expect any relief from delays on the section...

HSE denies cab as a workplace.(Letter to the Editor)
January 19, 2006... I've just read the article on the smoking ban and the problems it could cause for operators (CM 22 December 2005). It would be up to the HSE to enforce these rules but have you ever contacted the HSE regarding the issue? I have, and was...

Hauliers dubious about used automatics.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... Hauliers buying used tractor units are thinking twice before they opt for automatic boxes, says Lee Smith of independent dealership Hanbury Riverside. They fear that these boxes will become unreliable as they age, and will cost a fortune to...

High demand - low price.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... The new year has got off to a flyer according to Rod Pybus, who runs trailer stockist SDC Northern. Steve Banner reports. New and used sales at Scotch Corner, North Yorks-based trailer dealership SDC Northern are off to a flying start,...

High-tech cameras join fight against crime.
January 19, 2006... POLICE SAY A [pounds sterling]2m investment in automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras across Midlands motorways will play a key role in fighting truck crime. The investment means that patrolling police officers will be alerted...

Hours rules to remain relaxed for Buncefield tanker drivers.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... Fuel delivery drivers working out of the Buncefield site have been given greater flexibility by the DfT. David Harris reports. The relaxation of the drivers' hours and working time rules in the aftermath of the Buncefield fuel depot...

IN THE NEWS.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2006... Stuart Thomas bring you his regular round-up of the way our local and national press has covered the wonderful world of road transport this week. British road signs were widely praised for their easy-to-understand design when they were...

In defence of agency drivers.
January 19, 2006... I agree that there is a requirement for some form of code of practice for agency drivers, as highlighted numerous times in recent editions of CM. However, there is another side to the story. I am currently (by choice) 'between' jobs as a...