Commercial Motor articles from July 2007

Commercial Motor archives from July 2007

Used Trucks.
July 12, 2007... 67 SUPPLY AND DEMAND Values are expected to fall this summer as trade winds down for the holiday season and supply catches up with demand. 68 MARKET TRENDS: COMPROMISE Older and less powerful stock is in vogue as operators...

This Week.
July 12, 2007... Healthy deal for M-B The Welsh Ambulance Service (WAS) has taken delivery of 119 Mercedes-Benz ambulances. The WAS ordered the 5.0-tonne Sprinter 515CDIs after winning a [pounds sterling]16m grant from the Welsh Assembly to update its...

This Week.(highway accident)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... On the Tour de Mereworth A Slovenian driver who was directed off the M20 when it was closed for the Tour de France on Sunday 8 July got his LGV wedged in the village of Mereworth, near Maidstone in Kent. The driver, who had never...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... FTA launches rail-freight plan The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is working on a five-point rail-freight programme. The FTA's rail-freight council has agreed on the programme to promote the needs of rail freight. FTA...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Sainsbury's goes with flow Sainsbury's will be switching some of its London deliveries to the Thames after successful trials earlier this year. The supermarket giant claims this could save 350,000 vehicle kilometres, making a major...

This Week.
July 12, 2007... Deadline set for crane sideguards Vosa has decided that vehicles with front-mounted cranes do need sideguards - but not until April 2008. Oliver Dixon reports. Vosa has u-turned over the need for sideguards on trucks equipped with...

This Week.(Bristol Fruit Sales)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Scanias bear fruit Fresh produce distributor Bristol Fruit Sales has acquired two Scania rigids and two twin-steer tractor units from Scania's Avonmouth branch. The two rigids are a two-axle Scania P230 DB4x2 MNA and a three-axle...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... The Highways Agency (HA) has teamed up with Kent Police, Kent Country Council and other organisations in the region to tackle truck safety. Under the banner of Operation Lexicon the three organisations, together with Kent Fire and Rescue...

This Week.(preparation for low emission zones)
July 12, 2007... Operators don't have enough time to prepare for LEZ TfL has finally told operators what they need to do to be allowed into London's LEZ - the RHA says it's too late. Chris Tindall reports. The Road Haulage Association is angry that...

This Week.(Managed Service Company )(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... MSC legislation predicted to hit casual drivers UK Driver Hire, which supplies permanent and temporary transport workers, predicts that the Managed Service Company (MSC) legislation will create a more level playing field, though some...

This Week.(Perry Removals Ltd. chooses CMS Global Technologies )(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... On track with SupaTrak Perry Removals has chosen CMS Global Technologies' SupaTrak technology to streamline its operation. Based near Stansted Airport with four depots in East Anglia, Perry Removals' fleet handles a variety of...

This Week.
July 12, 2007... Real offers for synthetic lubes Total lubricants has launched an incentive scheme for dealers that switch to fully synthetic oil. They are being offered [pounds sterling]500 worth of high-street vouchers or two 208-litre barrels of...

This Week.(Transport and General Workers' Union protest employee exploitation by Ford )(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... T&G ballots drivers over Ford plans to outsource contracts T&G ballots Ford delivery drivers over outsourcing - Ford has contingency plans ready in case of industrial action. Chris Tindall reports. Seven hundred drivers who deliver...

This Week.(graduated fixed penalties for traffic violations by foreign operators)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Vosa says spot fines will not work The proposed levels of on-the-spot fines for the Graduated Fixed Penalties and Deposit Scheme will not be high enough to deter foreign operators that break the law in the UK, according to senior management...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Wincanton wins three-year deal with Dr Oetker European supply chain company Wincanton has secured a three-year contract to manage food manufacturer Dr Oetker's chilled national distribution and warehousing. More than 12 million cases...

This Week.(McBurney Transport)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Big McBurney deal for G&A Gray & Adams(Ireland) has won an order to build 42 reefer trailers for McBurney Transport. McBurney has also taken a further 20 Gray & Adams trailers on contract hire from Grays Rentals - it is the largest...

This Week.(financial report of RH Group Inc.)(Financial report)
July 12, 2007... Turnover up: profits down UK European freight company The RH Group has recorded a drop in pre-tax profit despite a record turnover for the year to 31 December 2006. Turnover rose by 32% in 2006, from [pounds sterling]90.6m to [pounds...

This Week.(Nick Taylor renounces investment shares in Taygroup)
July 12, 2007... Taygroup chairman leaves in smooth and planned' MBO The sales and operations directors have taken control of the Bedfordshire firm following the [pounds sterling]9m MBO. Chris Tindall reports. Bedfordshire-based logistics firm Taygroup...

Operations.(preventing rollover accidents of fright trucks)(Report)
July 12, 2007... The consequences of a truck rolling over can be disastrous for the driver and anybody else in the vicinity. While many drivers walk away from such incidents - albeit badly shaken - serious injuries and even fatalities are not unknown, and the...

Operations.(high performance trucks)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... With the exception of the Kerax, and to a certain degree the Trakker's robust chassis design, these trucks were pretty much all in the same bracket. Power ranged from 310 to 330hp, five had manual transmissions, two had extended cabs, and all...

Operations.(DAF Trucks introduces CF75 three-axle tipper )
July 12, 2007... The CF75 follows Daf's philosophy of providing models to suit almost any possible application, with variants from 18-tonners to tractors. This 6x4 tipper falls in the middle of the range and offers an alternative to its CF85 stablemate. ...

Operations.(Iveco S.p.A. introduces Iveco Trakker )
July 12, 2007... The current Iveco Trakker - a facelifted version is imminent - has much to commend it at 26 tonnes GVW, even if the intended application of our test vehicle, with what appeared to be an aggregate body on a muckaway chassis, wasn't immediately...

Operations.(Product/service evaluation)
July 12, 2007... The TGM is MAN's offering for the 26-tonne utility and lightweight tipper sector. The 6.9-litre D08 EGR engine is available at 280hp and, as in our example, at 330hp driving via an MANTronic box with overdrive to compensate the low rear-axle...

Operations.
July 12, 2007... The truck with the most unique design in the group has to be Renault's Kerax 370. Heavy duty big, powerful engine over-specced... this one has it all. To be fair, the French have been busy realigning their construction and multi-axle line-up...

Operations.(information about Volvo FE)
July 12, 2007... Sitting slightly lower than some of the opposition with a two-step entry to the cab, the Volvo FE looks and feels solidly engineered. With a Renault Midlum-based cabin and Deutz D7 straight-six, the FE fills a gap between the lighter FLs and...

Some advice for a new broom.(This Week)(advice to Prime Minister Gordon Brown for development of transportation)
July 12, 2007... As a former Chancellor, Prime Minister Gordon Brown can hardly be unaware of the importance of road transport to the success of UK plc. CM has talked to experts across the industry about the steps he should take to keep the country's lifeblood...

This Week.(political issues in transportation industry)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... [STANDFIRST] With major changes in government CM takes the opportunity to bring across the view of the industry and what it expects in the near future. With the introduction of a new Prime Minister, new Chancellor and new Minister for...

This Week.
July 12, 2007... Asphalt Works buys Euro-4 Fuso Canter Clitheroe, Lancs-based The Asphalt Works has bought a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter. The company bought its first Canter three years ago for its second it has returned to Blackburn Mercedes-Benz dealer Ciceley...

This Week.(appointment of Claes Nilsson at AB Volvo)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... New man at helm in Volvo Euro division Volvo has appointed Claes Nilsson as head of its Europe division, following the departure of Roar Isaksen to Plastal Group. Nilsson is currently in charge of Volvo's international division. The...

This Week.
July 12, 2007... The vast majority of hauliers like to keep it in the family Family ties continue to dominate the UK haulage industry - but it seems relatives are not always ideal employees. David Harris reports. Family ties underpin the UK haulage...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... We start off this week's round-up with a visit to the Euro Driving forum. Although European work is much less commonplace for British drivers than even half a decade ago, the occasional trip still arises for the willing driver. One member...

This Week.(Teward Bros.)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Blocked move puts tipper firm's future in doubt A County Durham tipper and plant-hire firm says it is in discussion with the local council about reversing a decision to refuse it permission to expand into new premises. Teward Bros in...

Wincanton wins M&S shopfitting deal.(This Week)(contracts of Wincanton Logistics Ltd. and Marks and Spencer PLC)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Wincanton has increased the amount of work it will undertake for Marks & Spencer (M&S) by winning a contract to carry the fittings for new shops from the manufacturer to the shopfitters. The haulier already has a contract with M&S to...

Weight limits push trucks into villages.(This Week)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Suffolk County Council is stepping up its campaign to persuade truck drivers to stay off minor roads. Last week the councillor with special responsibility for roads and transport, Guy McGregor, visited drivers at the Risby truckstop to...

Dismissal hearing adjourned.(This Week)(truck driver Anthony Perry sacked by JM Transport Services after reporting inaccuracies in timesheet)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... The two days allocated to the claim for unfair dismissal were not enough for the Transport Tribunal. Peter Swingler reports. A Tamworth, Staffs, truck driver is claiming compensation for unfair dismissal from his former haulage firm...

This Week.
July 12, 2007... Langdons opts for Euro-4 and Euro-5 Renault Premiums temperature-controlled logistics specialist Langdon Industries has added 12 Euro-4 Renault Premium 6x4 450.25 tractor units to its fleet. It also has a further 19 Euro-5 models on order...

This Week.
July 12, 2007... Dublin truck ban boosts toll road traffic The ban on five-axle trucks in Dublin city centre has nearly doubled the number of vehicles using the city's main ring road in its first five months. The number of trucks going through the...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Sainsburye_SSRqs trucks will help power its depot The supermarket plans to use the environmentally friendly Dragon Power System. Chris Tindall reports. Sainsbury's is to evaluate groundbreaking technology that captures energy created...

Luxury cabs for NFTe_SSRqs Volvo FM440s.(This Week )(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Chilled food distribution company NFT has taken delivery of 15 Volvo FM440s. The I-Shift-equipped tractor units - 14 4x2s and a 6x2 - are equipped with the Globetrotter cab in air-conditioned Comfort trim. "We chose Volvo because of its...

Tribunal backs revocation of operator who ignored letters.(This Week)(Transport Tibunal revokes licensing of Saleem Haulage)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... The North-Eastern TC's decision to revoke the O-licence of Saleem Haulage is upheld by the Transport Tribunal. Mike Jewell reports. The revocation of the licence held by Rukhsana Bibi and Mohammed Saleem, trading as Saleem Haulage, has been...

FTA will work with TRL on van load retention.(This Week)(Freight Transport Association (United Kingdom))(TRL Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... The safety of vans and the safe securing of loads and equipment will be the subject of a Freight Transport Association (FTA) research project. Consultant TRL will work with the FTA to establish best practice for load retention. The...

This Week.(sustainability in supply chain industries )(Report)
July 12, 2007... Sustainable distribution To reduce the effects of the supply chain on the environment, is a radical change of direction needed? Louise Cole finds out. Operators may "think the unthinkable" in their quest for sustainable distribution -...

This Week.(Driving Standards Agency)(large goods vehicle training )
July 12, 2007... [QUESTION OF THE WEEK] The Driving Standards Agency suggests the following: [Q2] When I first obtained my LGV licence my eyesight was perfect - but now it is going downhill. Will I still be able to drive? That depends on how...

The bigger picture.(This Week)
July 12, 2007... The FTA's deputy chief executive is on a mission: to promote the industry's strategic importance as well as finding solutions to the problems of the day. Louise Cole reports. We catch up with James Hookham as he is on his way to the...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... WE NEED A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING The wish list we have compiled for Gordon Brown on page 30 is pretty comprehensive but we need something more from the new Prime Minister: a commitment to the road freight industry. Before he tries to...

Back from the brink.(This Week)(Iveco S.p.A. eyes global market)
July 12, 2007... Iveco has been transformed from basket case to successful global competitor - Oliver Dixon talks to Stefano Sterpone about its prospects on the global market. Not many years ago, Fiat was experiencing restructuring and financial...

Firm 'of insufficient repute' has licence appeal rejected.(Legal)
July 12, 2007... The Transport Tribunal confirms a TC's rejection of a licence application from a family firm that ran without authorisation. Mike Jewell reports. When Walsall-based DC Haulage & Storage (DC H&S) applied to the then West Midland Traffic...

'Naive' failed director is granted licence.(Legal)(Gerard McCue of Task Scaffolding Corp. gets license )
July 12, 2007... Scottish Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken has granted an O-licence to Troon-based Gerard McCue, but for two vehicles rather than the three applied for. In his application McCue, who trades as Task Structures, disclosed that he had given a...

Phoenix company will not fly.(Legal)(licensing of trailers and trucks of Phoenix Company withdrawn)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... A bid for a new international licence for six vehicles and six trailers by Manchester-based W Kelly & B Cassidy was turned down after North-Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Mark Hinchliffe concluded it was a phoenix company. The...

Licence bid adjourned for nine months.(Legal)(Graystone Companies Inc. O-licence application withheld)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... A Humberside abattoir company, whose previous O-licence application had been refused, has been granted an interim licence after its bid for a fresh licence was adjourned for nine months. Hull-based Graystone had sought a new restricted...

Legal.(O-licensing of Gerard McCue witmng )
July 12, 2007... [CASE1] Though granting an O-licence to Troon based Gerard McCue, the Scottish Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken was only prepared to authorise the use of two vehicles and not the three applied for. In his application McCue, who trades...

Is it safe?(Legal)
July 12, 2007... If your firm handles hazardous goods, you are required to use a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser. Pat Hagan explains what the role entails - but should you employ a DGSA full-time or only call in a specialist when you need one? Anyone who...

Turkish delight.(Operations)
July 12, 2007... Mercedes' new Axor Powershift immediately earned its keep by allowing us to concentrate on the unfamiliar roads and the even less familiar driving standardse_SDRq When it was launched, the Mercedes-Benz Axor followed a simple formula,...

Operations.(Interview)
July 12, 2007... What got you started in transport? I kind of fell into it via the Co-operative Wholesale Society's graduate intake. I was posted to the distribution division and have been in logistics ever since. What do you love/hate about it? ...

Operations.
July 12, 2007... At a recent conference on fuel, emissions and diesel engine technology, many major players were promoting their use and/or sale of AdBlue. While the majority of presentations focused on the cost, availability and quality of the urea...

Used Trucks.(prices of trucks)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... A holiday for high prices Commercial vehicle values are expected to fall significantly this month, marking the traditional summer slowdown as people jet off on holiday and prices come under pressure to reach sustainable levels after being...

Open to offers.(Used Trucks)
July 12, 2007... Operators looking for desirable second-hand trucks are willing to compromise on specification to avoid paying too much. Steve Banner reports. A n acute shortage of the most desirable trucks means some customers are prepared to compromise....

Used Trucks.(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Riders on the storm As storms and floods hit much of Yorkshire, the truck trade has made the best of a difficult situation. Kevin Swallow and Steve Banner report. Heavy rain in June burst river banks in Yorkshire, flooding rural...

old trailers never die.(Operations)
July 12, 2007... Not all ageing trailers end up as advertising boards in fields it seems to Kevin Swallow that even the most decrepit trailer can fetch something. Export destinations include Russia, for fridges and skeletals and Africa, which regularly...

Operations.(Premium Lander truck tractors from Regie Nationale des Usines Renault)
July 12, 2007... For the past three years, Renault's Premium Lander appears to have been a well kept secret. We knew it was something to do with construction vehicles and we also knew it was supposed to be a lightweight, but apart from that we weren't sure how...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... The logistics industry may have to share growing pressure to find land for logistics centres could result in operators working together to make the best use of space. If operations continue to expand at the current rate, competition for...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Vosa will be the 'victim' in LEZ confusion A former Vosa station manager has warned Commercial Motor that Vosa will face an "avalanche of enquiries" about compliance with the London low-emission zone (LEZ), which it may not be able to...

This Week.(Ramage Distribution)
July 19, 2007... Jobs go as Ramage buys United Freight One United Freight Distribution depot shuts with 65 job losses Ramage Distribution buys the rest of the firm. Roanna Avison reports. The Hemel Hempstead depot of United Freight Distribution (UFD)...

This Week.(Southern Counties Fuel)(GreenChem)
July 19, 2007... SCF supplies an AdBlue answer Southern Counties Fuel (SCF) is supplying AdBlue for Dutch producer GreenChem as well as storage and dispensing equipment. Options include static bulk storage and filling equipment including the GreenStar Smart...

This Week.
July 19, 2007... Goodyear tyres give Max performance Goodyear has launched a range of truck tyres under its new Max Technology banner. The tyres have been shown to set performance standards in independent testing. The technology incorporates high...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Asda fits tracking system Supermarket giant Asda is to implement Isotrak's transport management system with the aims of significantly reducing its carbon footprint, improving service quality between distribution centres and stores, and...

This Week.(Binotto)(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Binotto ups cylinder rate Italian tipper hydraulics company Binotto has built a plant in Padova, Italy, in an attempt to keep up with growing market demand. The 20,000m2 plant has a production capacity of more than 30,000 cylinders per...

This Week.(2007 Capital Arrive 'N' Drive)(Transport for London)(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... London event promotes green driving The 2007 Capital Arrive 'N' Drive, sponsored by Transport for London, is being held to encourage fuel-efficient driving by providing green driving tips and showcasing a range of low and zero-emission...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Driver kidnapped and truck burned Police are looking for witnesses after a truck was hijacked from a lay-by on the A34 near Didcot, Oxfordshire, in the early hours of Thursday 12 July. The Polish driver of the Norbert Dentressangle...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Dover traffic More trucks passed through the port of Dover in the first six months of 2007 than 2006. Dover Harbour Board figures showed that 1.1 million trucks passed through the harbour, up 1,000 on last year. M6 widening The...

This Week.(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Study finds driver behaviour the main cause of accidents LGVs turning left can be a huge danger to cyclists. Dylan Gray looks at a German study that says the mirrors aren't to blame. A German study looking into the main causes of...

Private equity firm acquires Clearstone driver agency.(RCapital)(Clearstone)(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... RCapital has bought Clearstone from administrators - but the agency's creditors are concerned they will lose out. Chris Tindall reports. LGV recruitment and training agency Clearstone has been acquired by a private equity firm after going...

Trailer demand results in axle shortage.(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Growth in the trailer market in Eastern Europe has resulted in a shortage of axles in the West, according to UK consulting group CLEAR. Across Europe, transport firms are buying huge numbers of new trailers - resulting in suppliers running...

This Week.
July 19, 2007... Derailed freight wagons are proving hard to remove The clean-up operation after a train derailment in Cambridgeshire creates a "huge, tricky" challenge. Chris Tindall reports. Engineers for Network Rail are facing a massive challenge to...

This Week.(Montracon)(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Montracon noses ahead Montracon has launched a 'drop nose', wind-cheating, double-deck curtainsider. The first two to roll from the company's production lines have already entered service within the Fortec Pallet Distribution Network....

This Week.(Palletline)(Professional Handling Withcare )(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... New Palletline member Uttoxeter-based Professional Handling Withcare has joined Palletline. The company provides general haulage services but specialises in retail support. It will cover the DE and ST14 postcode areas, which...

Morrisons closure results in DHL job losses.(DHL Holdings (UK) Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... The closure of a Morrisons distribution centre in Tamworth, Staffs, next month will see 582 workers either being made redundant or moving to another site, says the union representing the bulk of the workforce. The distribution centre,...

Empty running remains an issue for food deliveries.
July 19, 2007... DfT figures show that customer and local authority constraints on deliveries into town centres hurt efficiency and productivity in the food and drinks market. Roanna Avison reports. Research into the transport issues surrounding the...

This Week.
July 19, 2007... While drivers often complain of slow tips, a thread dedicated to 'the quickest tip' has been opened. From RDCs to local builders' merchants it seems there are a few places that try to get the wagons tipped as soon as possible. If long waits are...

TruckPol vehicle will highlight crime hot spots.(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Truckpol has bought a vehicle which will be made available to police forces around the country to highlight areas that are known hot spots for truck thefts. Under the banner Operation Indicate, the West Midlands Police Forces had a crime...

Hutchinson plans return to Volvo fold.(Hutchinson Engineering Services)(AB Volvo)(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... Quarry equipment special-ist Hutchinson Engineering Ser-vices is planning to replace most of its fleet with Volvos, with its first purchases being two Volvo FH16-660 trucks with 8x4 tractor units. The vehicles will be used to transport a...

Internet shopping boosts CO2.(This Week)
July 19, 2007... The rise in CVs delivering to homes as a result of internet shopping is having a big impact on CO2 emissions. Chris Tindall reports. The boom in internet shopping and the subsequent increase in commercial vehicles delivering to home...

This Week.
July 19, 2007... LDV builds first ambulances at Birmingham factory Central London-based M&L Ambulance Service has ordered 50 LDV Maxus ambulances from Ashford, Kent, dealer Channel Commer-cials. The vehicles are the first ambulances to be factory-built...

P&O goes RO-RO onTilbury-Zeebrugge.(P&O Ferries Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 19, 2007... P&O Ferries has commenced a roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) service between the Port of Tilbury and Zeebrugge in Belgium. The 1,300 lane-metre ship began service on 16 July and is undertaking two round trips per day. With the planned introduction...