Hot News
05/03/10 • THIS month Renault Trucks’ Delivery range sees a new addition with the latest Renault Master complete with new design, new cab and new engine versions, as well as rear-wheel drive models. Renault Trucks will roll out the following 2.8t to 4.5t GVW versions throughout 2010: panel van, chassis cab, chassis double cab, chassis cowl, platform cab, platform cowl.
05/03/10 • THE INFLATION busting increases being foisted on heavy goods vehicle operators who use the M6 toll road is bad for business, other motorists and the environment, says the Freight Transport Association. Despite a pronounced drop in traffic volume along the chronically under-used toll road, Midland Expressway increased the toll price for HGVs by 6.4%, almost double the rate of inflation. The trade body fears that even more lorries will avoid the £700m+ bypass, adding to congestion on the already over-burdened M6, a strategic gateway for commercial goods vehicle deliveries.
05/03/10 • IVECO has been named ‘Official Sponsor’ of the Fiat Yamaha MotoGP Team, after two seasons as a premium supplier to the world championship winning squad. The new season kicks off this month in Qatar (11 April) with nine times world champion, Valentino Rossi (ITA), and his partner Jorge Lorenzo (SPA), looking to secure another strong season for the team. This sponsorship agreement with Fiat Yamaha will run for two years. It includes the supply of a further four Iveco Stralis Active Space heavy trucks, in addition to the two already in use during the past two seasons, plus the supply of the latest EcoDaily light commercial. The new fleet will be used by the team to transfer race bikes and pit equipment to rounds of the forthcoming MotoGP World Championships.
05/03/10 • HAULIERS have been hit by a nationwide crime wave of thieves stealing batteries, warns the Road Haulage Association. ‘Everyone working in the transport industry should be extra vigilant,’ said RHA security manager Chrys Rampley. And she urges operators across the industry to report any theft or attempted theft. ‘Thieves are cutting through the security fences at transport depots to steal batteries, which I am told have a current market value of around £350 a tonne and there have been reports of thefts from around the country. We are working with the police, both individual forces and the national co-ordinating body Truckpol, to combat the problem.
05/03/10 • ADBLUE supplier GreenChem is anticipating a significant growth in sales in 2010. Founding chairman Teun de Bruijn is forecasting a 30% uplift in demand reflecting both a growth in truck usage and sales from the depressed levels of 2009 and the enhanced supply network GreenChem is putting in place. The increase follows an extremely tough year for all AdBlue suppliers in 2009. It seems that trucks with SCR technology use significantly less AdBlue than originally forecast by truck and engine makers and, although the number of trucks using AdBlue grew sharply during the year, overall truck usage fell due to the difficult economic conditions.
05/03/10 • TRAILER MAKER Dennison has launched a parts ordering website which it believes marks a first for the trailer industry. This unique site, www.trailerfastparts.com, allows operators to access a large range of components and equipment for Dennison trailers as well as for other makes. By means of accurate descriptions, images and exploded diagrams, visitors to the site can quickly identify the parts they need and reserve them online, say Dennison. For example, typing in ‘axles’ brings up a list of all the axle suppliers used by Dennison and the user can then identify the specific axle in question.
05/03/10 • US TRUCK maker Paccar, owner of the DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt brands has completed 71 straight years of net profit. The firm also reported better fourth quarter revenues and net income compared to the third quarter of 2009. It is one of the few firms in the sector to deliver net income every year in the last decade.
05/03/10 • FREIGHT Best Practice has recently published a free guide designed to help Waste Collection Authorities (WCAs) improve the operational efficiency of their operation through best practice advice. The guide outlines through the use of real life case studies, how technologies such as Computer Vehicle Routing and Scheduling (CVRS) can improve the efficiency of collection rounds, therefore saving WCAs fuel and money. The guide also highlights the importance of measuring, monitoring and managing Key Performance Indicators and aims to help promote the potential savings that can be achieved by WCAs working more closely with neighbouring authorities. Additionally, the guide sets out an action plan for redesigning rounds and contains an impartial comprehensive list of computer applications suitable for remodelling waste collections. Call Freight Best Practice Hotline on 0845 877 0 877.
05/03/10 • VOLVO Trucks say they have seen positive signs of increased demand from its customers, albeit from a low level, but now thanks to a reduction in new truck inventory, the production of new vehicles will now be increased. The increased production means fewer lay-off days at the Gent assembly plant in Belgium and for the Swedish factories in Umeå and Tuve; it means more work on Fridays.