Hot News
09/07/10 • IVECO has launched the first custom built anti-siphon device for its Daily and EcoDaily light commercials in conjunction with long term partner TISS Security Systems. The new product, TankSafe Daily, is based on TISS’ TankSafe Standard product for trucks. Independent tests conducted by Mi Technology, a major truck testing organisation, indicate that TankSafe Standard is capable of offering 75% more anti-siphoning protection than the nearest competing model. TankSafe Daily features the same level of protection but has been re-engineered specifically for the Iveco light commercial vehicle range. This follows requests from owners, who have been targeted by fuel thieves with increasing frequency.
09/07/10 • A £10 MILLION 12 month contract to strengthen the M8 White Cart Viaduct at Glasgow Airport will include strengthening, maintenance and refurbishment works on the current bridge. The work is set to start this summer to strengthen girders, replace the eastbound carriageway expansion joints, install new lighting and improve drainage, and will mainly take place inside and underneath the bridge. When finished, the 40mph speed limit, which was established with the narrow lanes in 2007 to reduce the effects of extra weight on the bridge, will also be lifted and the original lane markings reinstated over the viaduct.
09/07/10 • A £10 MILLION 12 month contract to strengthen the M8 White Cart Viaduct at Glasgow Airport will include strengthening, maintenance and refurbishment works on the current bridge. The work is set to start this summer to strengthen girders, replace the eastbound carriageway expansion joints, install new lighting and improve drainage, and will mainly take place inside and underneath the bridge. When finished, the 40mph speed limit, which was established with the narrow lanes in 2007 to reduce the effects of extra weight on the bridge, will also be lifted and the original lane markings reinstated over the viaduct.
09/07/10 • THE IRTE is holding a conference on 14 September in Warwickshire, providing an opportunity to learn more about biofuels and discover how they will affect CV operations. The IRTE Biofuels Conference offers a platform for the profession to learn from industry experts and discuss the wide ranging issues surrounding alternative fuels. Key speakers from international organisations, including DAF and MAN, will provide presentations from storage and vehicle warranties, maintenance to real industry examples.
09/07/10 • THE IMPACT of severe winter weather on the supply chain could be reduced in the light of lessons learned during the last winter spell, according to the FTA. In giving evidence to the government’s winter resilience review, the trade body highlighted the need for an overhaul of drivers’ hours concession arrangements and a need for better salt supply management.
09/07/10 • FUEL CARD reseller The Fuelcard Company has launched an innovative online fuel card search function which allows fleet businesses to identify a fuel management solution in 60 seconds. The upgraded Businessfuelcards.co.uk website gives potential customers the chance to select the most suitable fuel card for their business in six clicks of the mouse making it the fastest and most concise fuel card search in the UK, claims the company.
09/07/10 • RAPIDLY rising fuel costs is apparently seeing truck operators take a greater interest in aluminium wheels. Motor Wheel Service which recently launched the xlite range of forged aluminium commercial vehicle wheels, says that the high rate of increase in fuel costs makes the financial arguments for adopting lighter wheels increasingly convincing.
09/07/10 • THIS NOVEMBER, the great and good of the transport industry will abandon their company cars for a set of pedals, as they set off to cycle 420km of Indian Ocean coastline. They will be supporting international development charity Transaid in its nine day sponsored event, Cycle Tanzania, which will raise funds to save and improve lives in Africa and the developing world. Chris Saunders, CEO of Transaid, says he has high hopes of raising even more with November’s expedition than last year’s Cycle Zambia, which generated over £100,000.
09/07/10 • A SERIES of pilot projects aimed at cutting a third off carbon emissions of road works and cutting the time taken to carry them out has been welcomed by the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA). The pilots will be carried out by the Carbon Trust and will examine how to reduce the heat needed to mix asphalt, currently 170°C is required. Cooler asphalt will significantly reduce the energy needed to produce it and, as it will harden faster, could cut the time taken for road works by up to 12 hours.
09/07/10 • WITH overloading by far the most common offence found among light goods vehicles, the Freight Transport Association has published its best practice guide for transport managers on the safe securing of loads and equipment in vans. The guide provides realistic and practical advice, clarifying compliance standards for operators and helping them to improve their drivers’ safety. Worryingly, the LGV overloading prohibition rate found by traffic enforcers increased from 55.1% in 2007 to 66.9% in 2009 (VOSA).
09/07/10 • GLOBALLY, deliveries of Volvo Trucks in May were 88% higher than in the corresponding month last year and when compared to April this year, Volvo Trucks’ deliveries increased by 15 %. The deliveries in Europe increased by 67% in May compared to the corresponding period last year and in Asia the increase was 268%. Volvo Trucks is gradually increasing production from a low level to respond to the increased demand in these regions. In May, deliveries in South America increased by 80% compared to the same month last year and demand in North America is gradually improving from a low level, say Volvo.
09/07/10 • CITY LINK, the express delivery company, is bench testing a unique security solution for its new fleet of curtainsider trailers. The bespoke system incorporates GPS satellite tracking and automatically alerts a central control room if a trailer stops outside designated areas. Additionally it sends an alert if anyone tries to tamper with the electronically sealed bonding cord that secures the curtainsiders en route, which will also notify the control room of the trailer’s exact location. Furthermore, if a driver accidentally leaves a City Link depot or hub without fitting the bonding cord into the electronic seal, an alert will also be sent immediately.
09/07/10 • THE RHA has urged the government to establish a working group with leading trade associations to consider the best way forward on HGV road user charging. This follows a meeting between the RHA and Justine Greening, Economic Secretary to the Treasury. RHA director of policy Jack Semple says: ‘A range of options exist for HGV road user charging, including a low cost and low impact daily charge. A key issue with an ambitious charging system would be how to make foreign hauliers pay their way while not significantly increasing the taxation or regulatory burden on hauliers fuelling in the UK.’ ‘We have proposed a working group with at least four parties, ourselves, the Freight Transport Association, the Treasury and the Department for Transport. This would help to establish the purpose, practicality and likely impact of any scheme.’
09/07/10 • DEPARTMENT for Transport (DfT) proposals to make eco-driving training a mandatory part of Driver CPC training have been roundly rejected by the Freight Transport Association who suggest that although greater uptake of eco-driver training must be encouraged, the mandatory route proposed is unnecessary and could even become counter intuitive. James Firth, FTA’s head of road freight and enforcement policy, said; ‘Eco-driver training can yield results, yes, but its effects diminish steeply unless undertaken alongside proper fleet and driver management. Indeed, most FTA members already invest in eco-driver training, but only in this context. ‘Making it mandatory could easily reduce it to a box ticking exercise, replacing the far more effective way it is currently employed as an integral part of ongoing fleet fuel management. The failure of the Low Emission Zone proves that high levels of compliance don’t necessarily translate into success.’