Legal Brief
Transport News Brief Week 40
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The latest news roundup from the SMMT.
2008 CV Show sell-out in sight
With more than six months to go before the CV Show opens next April, its organisers say they have sold 82% of space at what they believe will be the biggest road transport show of its type in Europe. "Demand for space is at a premium, we've record numbers of exhibitors taking bigger stands and a lot of companies booked to exhibit for the first time," said David Sedgley, CV Show chairman. "Next year's CV Show is going to be bigger and better than ever, with over 600 firms selling everything from accessories to wiper blades." New exhibitors include Shell UK's lubricants division, van fittings and accessories firm Edstrom, van and truck body-builder Trumac and municipal operator WCR Vehicle Hire. Freuhauf, Lakeland Tankers, Land Rover, LDV, Refrigerated Vehicles Limited and Smith Electric Vehicles are among those with bigger stands booked.
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Seminar successes
The Department for Transport's 12 recent seminars on whole vehicle type approval attracted over 350 people from across the United Kingdom and further afield. Bodybuilders made up the bulk of the audience, with suppliers, dealers, van, truck, trailer, bus and coach makers as well. The SMMT and Daf, Iveco, Optare, Citroën, Renault Trucks and Volvo Truck and Bus supported all the events, with presentations at each one. The aim was to help firms and the DfT understand the implications of the forthcoming whole vehicle type approval laws. Early indications are that there will be more seminars, perhaps early in the New Year, to look at specific details. In the meantime, the DfT wants your help: If you haven't already filled in one of the questionnaires about whole vehicle type approval, the DfT people would like you to do so. "The aim is to see how much help we need to give you and the rest of the industry," said Ian Yarnold, the senior DfT man behind the seminars.
More from Elaine Morrison on +44 (0)1 317 184 065 or elaine.morrison@geronimocommunications.com
Tractor sales take off for MAN
MAN says it UK tractor sales are up 36% to 2,761 over the last twelve months, putting the firm in second place in the UK tractor sales league. Des Evans, MAN chief executive in the UK says the firm has 2,700 trucks on order and due for delivery this year, with a similar number due in 2008. "Of those, some 1,500 are for the new TGS and TGX ranges." Evans was speaking to the press during the two-week UK launch event for the new models, at Millbrook. The top of the range TGX V8 is, he says, the most powerful production truck in Europe, offering 680 hp. Realistically, Evans doesn't expect to sell large numbers of these - they'll only be available in two axle, left hand control form initially. He expects the volume, around 3,000 sales in 2008, to come from the more modestly powered TGS models, aimed at fleet operators and with power outputs at 320 to 480 hp.
More from Paul O'Malley on +44 (0)1 263 715 900 or paul@hallspr.com
Type Approval By-pass will be busy
"If you register a vehicle and then work on it, you don't need to worry about whole vehicle type approval." This was one of the recurring comments from the 350 strong audience at the DfT and SMMT type approval seminars over the last two weeks. "Whilst not entirely true, the 'Type Approval By-pass' could very largely undermine the government's attempts to introduce the system," said Allan McKenzie, senior technical manager at the SMMT. "We've been warning about this for a very long time and so far see no sign that the DfT is paying more than lip-service to the issue." The SMMT believes it should be very easy to run a system to check a vehicle's specification at its first MoT test. If the specification is significantly different from its first registration, someone should ask why and want to see proof that the work was done properly. "Unless it introduces a system like this at the same time as Whole Vehicle Type Approval Law, the Type Approval By-pass could let unsafe vehicles through and distort the market against firms that do the job properly." And for the DfT it may also result in a loss of test fee income. "The DfT clearly didn't expect this to be a problem and had perhaps underestimated the scale of 'post-registration' conversions - we'd like to know if people think this is a common practice and if they think they may be adversely affected by it."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Bleak outlook for biofuels?
"Improving energy efficiency in transport has much greater potential and at lower cost than promoting biofuels for reducing energy supply vulnerability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions." This is one of the summary conclusions of the 29 page report 'Biofuels: Linking Support to Performance' for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Transport Forum.
More from Esther Martin-Ortega on +44 (0)2 073 449 264 or emartin-ortega@smmt.co.uk
Euro 6 emissions consultation results
The European Commission just published the comments to the consultation on the future Euro 6 emission levels for vans, trucks and buses over 3.5 tonnes. They are at www.ec.europa.eu
More from Esther Martin-Ortega on +44 (0)2 073 449 264 or emartin-ortega@smmt.co.uk
How to estimate Type Approval costs
Both the SMMT and Vosa have produced papers looking at the likely costs a firm may face when tackling the forthcoming Whole Vehicle Type Approval laws. The Vosa paper covers predicted test fees. These are likely to be higher then present. "But those Vosa fees, whatever they are, will be but the tip of an iceberg," said Robin Dickeson, manager commercial vehicle affairs for the SMMT, speaking at each of the recent type approval seminars. "The big costs will be in the changes to planning, production, and management needed to deliver the essential conformity of production standards. These are more difficult, as each firm may start from a different point, but all will to meet the same standards." These are covered in the SMMT paper. Written by Colin Wilde, the Society's authority on type approval engineering, the free document covers the wide-ranging issues that a firm will need to take into account and shows a number of ways to cut costs by careful planning.
More from Colin Wilde on +44 (0)2 073 449 239 or cwilde@smmt.co.uk
Employer's liability bites
A kitchen-fitting employer was recently held liable for the injuries caused when his van driver fell asleep at the wheel. "This was non-tacho driving, but the case reminds us that an employer must ensure his drivers are in a fit state to drive," says specialist motor industry lawyer Adrian Watts. "The driver in question was working and driving from 03:30 till 23:00, covering Bradford, Swindon, Sidmouth and back. He only stopped because he crashed the van. His employer's apparent 'you can sleep when you're dead' attitude may not have helped." Miles and hours covered by an employee in a van or car need to be monitored and kept reasonable if the firm is to keep within the law.
More from Adrian Watts on +44 (0)7 768 624 104 or adrian@wattslegal.co.uk
No such thing as a type approved body
This brought an almost audible sigh of relief from the 350-strong audience to the whole vehicle type approval seminars over the last two weeks. Mike Protheroe, from the Vehicle Certification Agency was quick to point out that buses are an exception, but for good vehicles, type approval only affects bodywork indirectly. "But that doesn't mean you can ignore it. If bodywork affects items like lights, side-guards, under-run protection, weights and dimensions, brakes, mirrors, electromagnetic compatibility or other approvals, then body-builders need to be clear about their obligations. Under those circumstances, the buck could stop with them." Getting it wrong will be expensive. "The key is to talk to chassis makers, dealers, and customers at every stage."
More from Allan McKenzie on +44 (0)2 073 449 202 or amckenzie@smmt.co.uk
Lloyds TSB does £24m deal with Corus
Lloyds TSB Autolease says Corus in the UK has extended its fleet management contract for another three years. The deal covers a fleet some 1,800 strong and will be worth up to £24m by the end of 2009. Corus takes around 600 new vehicles each year.
More from Lawrence Hamilton on +44 (0)1 614 477 251 or lawrence.hamilton@lloydstsbautolease.co.uk
Dealers may struggle with Type Approval
One of the unexpected conclusions from the recent whole vehicle type approval seminars was that van and truck dealers may face the biggest struggle with the whole vehicle type approval laws that start to bite from 2009. "Dealers do 99% of van and truck registrations and they are most likely to get caught out by the 'no approval, no registration, no sale' red line," said Robin Dickeson, manager commercial vehicle affairs for the SMMT. "They will need to ensure that body-builders talk to chassis makers and suppliers and that customers are kept in the loop too." The traditional route of delivering a chassis to a body-builder and then getting it back a few days or weeks later for PDI and registration without knowing more than the colour and weight of the body simply won't work. "All the parties will need to agree who will run the show and who will be responsible for the whole vehicle approval; otherwise no-one will get paid. In most cases, it looks like the dealer will need to take responsibility for this one."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Volvo truck deliveries drop slightly
Volvo Group says its four truck firms, Mack, Nissan, Renault and Volvo delivered 135,781 trucks in the first eight months of this year, 4% down on deliveries in the same period last year.
More from Claes Claeson on +46 31 663 908 or claes.claeson@volvo.com
Type Approval may arrive early
The first stage of the Whole Vehicle Type Approval laws will start to work in 2009, with voluntary whole vehicle approvals being available for all types of vehicle at that time. Mandatory Whole Vehicle Approval will follow over the next few years, starting with buses and coaches, with Whole Vehicle Approval for trailers bringing up the rear in 2014. "It all sounds reassuringly distant, but don't be complacent, said Robin Dickeson, manager commercial vehicle affairs for the SMMT, speaking at the recent type approval seminars. He echoed comments from van and truck maker speakers who all expect big buyers to include type approval in tenders as soon they can. "We think they may see this as a way of showing that they are taking every opportunity to keep ahead of the game, both to protect residual values and to protect themselves from possible liability issues. Smart firms may look to offer Whole Vehicle Approval before their competitors do. Those that don't may get left behind, expensively."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Zero waste from Leyland truck plant
Daf's Leyland truck plant this week moves to a zero waste regime. "This means 100% recycling or the re-use of all waste, with nothing sent to landfill sites," says Jim Sumner, production director. "We're determined to play a real role in cutting ours and our trucks' environmental impact and this is one very clear win for us and our customers." Daf says the plant is already acknowledged as one of most efficient truck plants in the world, with class-leading man-hours per truck figures.
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
Barnes to speak at Commercial Motor Environmental conference
Simon Barnes, manager environmental affairs for the SMMT, is to speak to Commercial Motor's Environmental Conference at the National Motor Cycle Museum on Friday 19 October. He will talk about environmental assessment. "I hope to help people sift facts from fiction in an area nearly overwhelmed by opinion, too little of which is backed by hard facts," he said. "I hope to help translate some of the frankly awful jargon so that people can understand the issues involved in assessing their or their firm's environmental impact." The conference starts with registration at 0800 and should end at 1600. Its chairman will be Andy Salter, editor at Commercial Motor. There will be another 10 expert speakers, talking about a wide range of related issues.
More from Andy Salter on +44 (0)2 086 523 612 or andy.salter@rbi.co.uk
Truckers protest at fuel duty hike
The Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association want the government to drop its planned two pence a litre fuel duty hike, planned for today. The two trade associations joined forces again to ask Alistair Darling, chancellor of the exchequer to freeze the planned fuel duty increase and introduce a fuel rebate scheme instead. The FTA and RHA say that today's increase will exacerbate the problems for domestic truckers trying to compete with foreign trucks running on cheaper continental fuel. At a time when the world price of oil is itself almost at a record $80 a barrel, from Monday duty on diesel in the UK will be 50.3 pence a litre compared with a European average of just 22.7 pence a litre.
More from Geoff Dossetter on +44 (0)1 892 552 255 or gdossetter@fta.co.uk
£1m Maxus order
LDV dealer Ford and Slater Peterborough says it just delivered 52 Maxus vans, worth nearly £1m at showroom prices, to East Mids Hire. The order included Maxus vans at 2.8 and 3.5 tonnes and 20 of the recently launched 17 seat minibus models. These have air-conditioning and tachographs. The new vehicles join a 400-strong fleet, available for public and commercial hire.
More from Steve Miller on +44 (0)1 213 223 089 or smiller@ldv.com.
Hassle-free minibus procurement
Kent-based Vehicle Procurement Services just teamed up with Bernard Mansell Commercials to make life easier for people buying minibuses and taxis. "We're very pleased to be working alongside the team at Bernard Mansell," said John Wadey, owner of VPS, which also runs van and car procurement website www.vanandcar.com "Mansell produces a great range of wheelchair-accessible 7 to 17 seat people carriers and minibuses. They are used very successfully by local authorities for school minibuses, hackney carriages and private hire work, so there is a great opportunity for us." Wadey says VPS gives a very successful one-stop-shop service that is increasingly valued by local authorities for its ability to take the hassle out of vehicle acquisition.
More from John Wadey on +44 (0)8 717 890 768 or j.wadey@vanandcar.com
Lloyds does 55 minibus deal for Shearings
Lloyds TSB autolease say it has delivered 55 minibuses based on Volkswagen Transporter Shuttles to holiday travel firm WA Shearings. They will be the basis of a new service to take passengers from their homes to directly to Shearing's depots.
More from Lawrence Hamilton on +44 (0)1 614 477 251 or lawrence.hamilton@lloydstsbautolease.co.uk
Sleeper cab tippers from Daf
Shepton Mallet-based Walton Civil Engineering and Surfacing Contractors Limited just took six new Daf LF55s two axle tippers fitted with sleeper cabs. The aim is to give drivers' space to stow the personal protective equipment, wet weather clothing and other kit the firm's business demands they carry. Walton does utility reinstatement across southern England. Its role is to finish the job once the utility companies have put in new water, gas or sewer pipes or underground cabling and similar. The jobs need to be finished quickly and to a high standard to cut disruption on busy roads. "The driver is a key part of the team. He doesn't simply drive the truck to the site, but when he gets there he is fully integrated into a three or four man team and is actively involved in the reinstatement work," says John Binding, Walton's Plant and Transport Manager.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
New Highway Code
The Department for Transport just published a new edition of the UK Highway Code. It has 29 more rules and changes to others to make them clearer.
More from www.dft.gov.uk
Seven does Vito deal for Pret A Manger
Sandwich firm Pret A Manger just took delivery of its first five new Mercedes Vito compacts from Seven Asset Management. The firm will use the new vans to support its continued growth in the high-quality sandwich delivery market. The Vitos have specialist fridge bodies by Paneltex and will do chilled food distribution. "Each has a GAH Lancer direct-drive fridge unit to ensure the Pret goods are carried at the optimum temperature," says Steve Cole, deputy-managing director at Seven. All have Seven's own satellite vehicle tracking system, 'Asset Track', and will be supported at each of the Pret retail shops by Seven's fridge vehicle fleet management package.
More from Steve Cole on +44 (0)1 473 261 777 or steve.cole@sevenasset.co.uk
Kögel in the black
German trailer maker Kögel says it has over 15,000 orders in hand, has hiked production to 90 units a day and will better €400m turnover by the year-end. For next year the firm plans to hike production capacity again, to over 30,000 a year, compared to its 20,000 a year level this year. The firm says order intake for the first six months of this year is up more than 165% on the same period last year, with exports doing well, particularly to the new EU states and Russia.
More from Andreas Lubitz on +49 (0)8 2858 8312 or andeas.lubitz@koegel.com
More Volvo cash for cab factory
Volvo says it will spend some Skr1.1bn (€119m or £83m) on new production equipment and efficiency measures as part of a plan to increase capacity at its truck cab factory in Umeå, northern Sweden. The plant had its production permit increased to 66,000 cabs a year this April.
More from Claes Claeson on +46 31 663 908 or claes.claeson@volvo.com
Hybrid truck for USAF
Mack Trucks says it has a diesel-electric hybrid-drive truck working with the US Air Force. The Granite model dump truck works for the Air Force's Advanced Power Technology Office at the Nellis Air Force base in Nevada. The truck has an integral starter, alternator and motor working alongside the normal 11 litre diesel to capture braking energy or deliver power to the wheels. Mack says its research shows that hybrid systems in heavy-duty trucks could save 35% of the fuel used by conventionally powered models.
More from John Walsh on +1 610 709 2560 or john.walsh@macktrucks.com
Kelly confirms debate on road pricing
Ruth Kelly MP, UK transport minister told last week's Labour Party conference that she wants a debate on road pricing. She'll give local councils more power over buses and says that our travel patterns must change if we're to cut carbon emissions. And she'll publish a new carbon cutting plan later this year.
More from Esther Martin-Ortega on +44 (0)2 073 449 264 or emartin-ortega@smmt.co.uk
Road casualties down
Figures from the Department for Transport show that the number of people killed or seriously injured on UK roads in 2006 was 33% below the 1994 - 1998 average
More from www.dft.gov.uk
Nissan adds hybrid and CNG models
TNN reports that Nissan Motor Co just said it has added diesel hybrid and compressed natural gas models to its Atlas H43 range of light trucks in Japan.
More from www.tnn.co.uk
And finally.
New Scientist Feedback page says that reader William Joseph was not sure if he was pleased to read the announcement on Tiscali's website: "Degradation of service has been restored by our network engineers."
More from www.newscientist.com
With more than six months to go before the CV Show opens next April, its organisers say they have sold 82% of space at what they believe will be the biggest road transport show of its type in Europe. "Demand for space is at a premium, we've record numbers of exhibitors taking bigger stands and a lot of companies booked to exhibit for the first time," said David Sedgley, CV Show chairman. "Next year's CV Show is going to be bigger and better than ever, with over 600 firms selling everything from accessories to wiper blades." New exhibitors include Shell UK's lubricants division, van fittings and accessories firm Edstrom, van and truck body-builder Trumac and municipal operator WCR Vehicle Hire. Freuhauf, Lakeland Tankers, Land Rover, LDV, Refrigerated Vehicles Limited and Smith Electric Vehicles are among those with bigger stands booked.
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Seminar successes
The Department for Transport's 12 recent seminars on whole vehicle type approval attracted over 350 people from across the United Kingdom and further afield. Bodybuilders made up the bulk of the audience, with suppliers, dealers, van, truck, trailer, bus and coach makers as well. The SMMT and Daf, Iveco, Optare, Citroën, Renault Trucks and Volvo Truck and Bus supported all the events, with presentations at each one. The aim was to help firms and the DfT understand the implications of the forthcoming whole vehicle type approval laws. Early indications are that there will be more seminars, perhaps early in the New Year, to look at specific details. In the meantime, the DfT wants your help: If you haven't already filled in one of the questionnaires about whole vehicle type approval, the DfT people would like you to do so. "The aim is to see how much help we need to give you and the rest of the industry," said Ian Yarnold, the senior DfT man behind the seminars.
More from Elaine Morrison on +44 (0)1 317 184 065 or elaine.morrison@geronimocommunications.com
Tractor sales take off for MAN
MAN says it UK tractor sales are up 36% to 2,761 over the last twelve months, putting the firm in second place in the UK tractor sales league. Des Evans, MAN chief executive in the UK says the firm has 2,700 trucks on order and due for delivery this year, with a similar number due in 2008. "Of those, some 1,500 are for the new TGS and TGX ranges." Evans was speaking to the press during the two-week UK launch event for the new models, at Millbrook. The top of the range TGX V8 is, he says, the most powerful production truck in Europe, offering 680 hp. Realistically, Evans doesn't expect to sell large numbers of these - they'll only be available in two axle, left hand control form initially. He expects the volume, around 3,000 sales in 2008, to come from the more modestly powered TGS models, aimed at fleet operators and with power outputs at 320 to 480 hp.
More from Paul O'Malley on +44 (0)1 263 715 900 or paul@hallspr.com
Type Approval By-pass will be busy
"If you register a vehicle and then work on it, you don't need to worry about whole vehicle type approval." This was one of the recurring comments from the 350 strong audience at the DfT and SMMT type approval seminars over the last two weeks. "Whilst not entirely true, the 'Type Approval By-pass' could very largely undermine the government's attempts to introduce the system," said Allan McKenzie, senior technical manager at the SMMT. "We've been warning about this for a very long time and so far see no sign that the DfT is paying more than lip-service to the issue." The SMMT believes it should be very easy to run a system to check a vehicle's specification at its first MoT test. If the specification is significantly different from its first registration, someone should ask why and want to see proof that the work was done properly. "Unless it introduces a system like this at the same time as Whole Vehicle Type Approval Law, the Type Approval By-pass could let unsafe vehicles through and distort the market against firms that do the job properly." And for the DfT it may also result in a loss of test fee income. "The DfT clearly didn't expect this to be a problem and had perhaps underestimated the scale of 'post-registration' conversions - we'd like to know if people think this is a common practice and if they think they may be adversely affected by it."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Bleak outlook for biofuels?
"Improving energy efficiency in transport has much greater potential and at lower cost than promoting biofuels for reducing energy supply vulnerability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions." This is one of the summary conclusions of the 29 page report 'Biofuels: Linking Support to Performance' for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Transport Forum.
More from Esther Martin-Ortega on +44 (0)2 073 449 264 or emartin-ortega@smmt.co.uk
Euro 6 emissions consultation results
The European Commission just published the comments to the consultation on the future Euro 6 emission levels for vans, trucks and buses over 3.5 tonnes. They are at www.ec.europa.eu
More from Esther Martin-Ortega on +44 (0)2 073 449 264 or emartin-ortega@smmt.co.uk
How to estimate Type Approval costs
Both the SMMT and Vosa have produced papers looking at the likely costs a firm may face when tackling the forthcoming Whole Vehicle Type Approval laws. The Vosa paper covers predicted test fees. These are likely to be higher then present. "But those Vosa fees, whatever they are, will be but the tip of an iceberg," said Robin Dickeson, manager commercial vehicle affairs for the SMMT, speaking at each of the recent type approval seminars. "The big costs will be in the changes to planning, production, and management needed to deliver the essential conformity of production standards. These are more difficult, as each firm may start from a different point, but all will to meet the same standards." These are covered in the SMMT paper. Written by Colin Wilde, the Society's authority on type approval engineering, the free document covers the wide-ranging issues that a firm will need to take into account and shows a number of ways to cut costs by careful planning.
More from Colin Wilde on +44 (0)2 073 449 239 or cwilde@smmt.co.uk
Employer's liability bites
A kitchen-fitting employer was recently held liable for the injuries caused when his van driver fell asleep at the wheel. "This was non-tacho driving, but the case reminds us that an employer must ensure his drivers are in a fit state to drive," says specialist motor industry lawyer Adrian Watts. "The driver in question was working and driving from 03:30 till 23:00, covering Bradford, Swindon, Sidmouth and back. He only stopped because he crashed the van. His employer's apparent 'you can sleep when you're dead' attitude may not have helped." Miles and hours covered by an employee in a van or car need to be monitored and kept reasonable if the firm is to keep within the law.
More from Adrian Watts on +44 (0)7 768 624 104 or adrian@wattslegal.co.uk
No such thing as a type approved body
This brought an almost audible sigh of relief from the 350-strong audience to the whole vehicle type approval seminars over the last two weeks. Mike Protheroe, from the Vehicle Certification Agency was quick to point out that buses are an exception, but for good vehicles, type approval only affects bodywork indirectly. "But that doesn't mean you can ignore it. If bodywork affects items like lights, side-guards, under-run protection, weights and dimensions, brakes, mirrors, electromagnetic compatibility or other approvals, then body-builders need to be clear about their obligations. Under those circumstances, the buck could stop with them." Getting it wrong will be expensive. "The key is to talk to chassis makers, dealers, and customers at every stage."
More from Allan McKenzie on +44 (0)2 073 449 202 or amckenzie@smmt.co.uk
Lloyds TSB does £24m deal with Corus
Lloyds TSB Autolease says Corus in the UK has extended its fleet management contract for another three years. The deal covers a fleet some 1,800 strong and will be worth up to £24m by the end of 2009. Corus takes around 600 new vehicles each year.
More from Lawrence Hamilton on +44 (0)1 614 477 251 or lawrence.hamilton@lloydstsbautolease.co.uk
Dealers may struggle with Type Approval
One of the unexpected conclusions from the recent whole vehicle type approval seminars was that van and truck dealers may face the biggest struggle with the whole vehicle type approval laws that start to bite from 2009. "Dealers do 99% of van and truck registrations and they are most likely to get caught out by the 'no approval, no registration, no sale' red line," said Robin Dickeson, manager commercial vehicle affairs for the SMMT. "They will need to ensure that body-builders talk to chassis makers and suppliers and that customers are kept in the loop too." The traditional route of delivering a chassis to a body-builder and then getting it back a few days or weeks later for PDI and registration without knowing more than the colour and weight of the body simply won't work. "All the parties will need to agree who will run the show and who will be responsible for the whole vehicle approval; otherwise no-one will get paid. In most cases, it looks like the dealer will need to take responsibility for this one."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Volvo truck deliveries drop slightly
Volvo Group says its four truck firms, Mack, Nissan, Renault and Volvo delivered 135,781 trucks in the first eight months of this year, 4% down on deliveries in the same period last year.
More from Claes Claeson on +46 31 663 908 or claes.claeson@volvo.com
Type Approval may arrive early
The first stage of the Whole Vehicle Type Approval laws will start to work in 2009, with voluntary whole vehicle approvals being available for all types of vehicle at that time. Mandatory Whole Vehicle Approval will follow over the next few years, starting with buses and coaches, with Whole Vehicle Approval for trailers bringing up the rear in 2014. "It all sounds reassuringly distant, but don't be complacent, said Robin Dickeson, manager commercial vehicle affairs for the SMMT, speaking at the recent type approval seminars. He echoed comments from van and truck maker speakers who all expect big buyers to include type approval in tenders as soon they can. "We think they may see this as a way of showing that they are taking every opportunity to keep ahead of the game, both to protect residual values and to protect themselves from possible liability issues. Smart firms may look to offer Whole Vehicle Approval before their competitors do. Those that don't may get left behind, expensively."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Zero waste from Leyland truck plant
Daf's Leyland truck plant this week moves to a zero waste regime. "This means 100% recycling or the re-use of all waste, with nothing sent to landfill sites," says Jim Sumner, production director. "We're determined to play a real role in cutting ours and our trucks' environmental impact and this is one very clear win for us and our customers." Daf says the plant is already acknowledged as one of most efficient truck plants in the world, with class-leading man-hours per truck figures.
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
Barnes to speak at Commercial Motor Environmental conference
Simon Barnes, manager environmental affairs for the SMMT, is to speak to Commercial Motor's Environmental Conference at the National Motor Cycle Museum on Friday 19 October. He will talk about environmental assessment. "I hope to help people sift facts from fiction in an area nearly overwhelmed by opinion, too little of which is backed by hard facts," he said. "I hope to help translate some of the frankly awful jargon so that people can understand the issues involved in assessing their or their firm's environmental impact." The conference starts with registration at 0800 and should end at 1600. Its chairman will be Andy Salter, editor at Commercial Motor. There will be another 10 expert speakers, talking about a wide range of related issues.
More from Andy Salter on +44 (0)2 086 523 612 or andy.salter@rbi.co.uk
Truckers protest at fuel duty hike
The Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association want the government to drop its planned two pence a litre fuel duty hike, planned for today. The two trade associations joined forces again to ask Alistair Darling, chancellor of the exchequer to freeze the planned fuel duty increase and introduce a fuel rebate scheme instead. The FTA and RHA say that today's increase will exacerbate the problems for domestic truckers trying to compete with foreign trucks running on cheaper continental fuel. At a time when the world price of oil is itself almost at a record $80 a barrel, from Monday duty on diesel in the UK will be 50.3 pence a litre compared with a European average of just 22.7 pence a litre.
More from Geoff Dossetter on +44 (0)1 892 552 255 or gdossetter@fta.co.uk
£1m Maxus order
LDV dealer Ford and Slater Peterborough says it just delivered 52 Maxus vans, worth nearly £1m at showroom prices, to East Mids Hire. The order included Maxus vans at 2.8 and 3.5 tonnes and 20 of the recently launched 17 seat minibus models. These have air-conditioning and tachographs. The new vehicles join a 400-strong fleet, available for public and commercial hire.
More from Steve Miller on +44 (0)1 213 223 089 or smiller@ldv.com.
Hassle-free minibus procurement
Kent-based Vehicle Procurement Services just teamed up with Bernard Mansell Commercials to make life easier for people buying minibuses and taxis. "We're very pleased to be working alongside the team at Bernard Mansell," said John Wadey, owner of VPS, which also runs van and car procurement website www.vanandcar.com "Mansell produces a great range of wheelchair-accessible 7 to 17 seat people carriers and minibuses. They are used very successfully by local authorities for school minibuses, hackney carriages and private hire work, so there is a great opportunity for us." Wadey says VPS gives a very successful one-stop-shop service that is increasingly valued by local authorities for its ability to take the hassle out of vehicle acquisition.
More from John Wadey on +44 (0)8 717 890 768 or j.wadey@vanandcar.com
Lloyds does 55 minibus deal for Shearings
Lloyds TSB autolease say it has delivered 55 minibuses based on Volkswagen Transporter Shuttles to holiday travel firm WA Shearings. They will be the basis of a new service to take passengers from their homes to directly to Shearing's depots.
More from Lawrence Hamilton on +44 (0)1 614 477 251 or lawrence.hamilton@lloydstsbautolease.co.uk
Sleeper cab tippers from Daf
Shepton Mallet-based Walton Civil Engineering and Surfacing Contractors Limited just took six new Daf LF55s two axle tippers fitted with sleeper cabs. The aim is to give drivers' space to stow the personal protective equipment, wet weather clothing and other kit the firm's business demands they carry. Walton does utility reinstatement across southern England. Its role is to finish the job once the utility companies have put in new water, gas or sewer pipes or underground cabling and similar. The jobs need to be finished quickly and to a high standard to cut disruption on busy roads. "The driver is a key part of the team. He doesn't simply drive the truck to the site, but when he gets there he is fully integrated into a three or four man team and is actively involved in the reinstatement work," says John Binding, Walton's Plant and Transport Manager.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
New Highway Code
The Department for Transport just published a new edition of the UK Highway Code. It has 29 more rules and changes to others to make them clearer.
More from www.dft.gov.uk
Seven does Vito deal for Pret A Manger
Sandwich firm Pret A Manger just took delivery of its first five new Mercedes Vito compacts from Seven Asset Management. The firm will use the new vans to support its continued growth in the high-quality sandwich delivery market. The Vitos have specialist fridge bodies by Paneltex and will do chilled food distribution. "Each has a GAH Lancer direct-drive fridge unit to ensure the Pret goods are carried at the optimum temperature," says Steve Cole, deputy-managing director at Seven. All have Seven's own satellite vehicle tracking system, 'Asset Track', and will be supported at each of the Pret retail shops by Seven's fridge vehicle fleet management package.
More from Steve Cole on +44 (0)1 473 261 777 or steve.cole@sevenasset.co.uk
Kögel in the black
German trailer maker Kögel says it has over 15,000 orders in hand, has hiked production to 90 units a day and will better €400m turnover by the year-end. For next year the firm plans to hike production capacity again, to over 30,000 a year, compared to its 20,000 a year level this year. The firm says order intake for the first six months of this year is up more than 165% on the same period last year, with exports doing well, particularly to the new EU states and Russia.
More from Andreas Lubitz on +49 (0)8 2858 8312 or andeas.lubitz@koegel.com
More Volvo cash for cab factory
Volvo says it will spend some Skr1.1bn (€119m or £83m) on new production equipment and efficiency measures as part of a plan to increase capacity at its truck cab factory in Umeå, northern Sweden. The plant had its production permit increased to 66,000 cabs a year this April.
More from Claes Claeson on +46 31 663 908 or claes.claeson@volvo.com
Hybrid truck for USAF
Mack Trucks says it has a diesel-electric hybrid-drive truck working with the US Air Force. The Granite model dump truck works for the Air Force's Advanced Power Technology Office at the Nellis Air Force base in Nevada. The truck has an integral starter, alternator and motor working alongside the normal 11 litre diesel to capture braking energy or deliver power to the wheels. Mack says its research shows that hybrid systems in heavy-duty trucks could save 35% of the fuel used by conventionally powered models.
More from John Walsh on +1 610 709 2560 or john.walsh@macktrucks.com
Kelly confirms debate on road pricing
Ruth Kelly MP, UK transport minister told last week's Labour Party conference that she wants a debate on road pricing. She'll give local councils more power over buses and says that our travel patterns must change if we're to cut carbon emissions. And she'll publish a new carbon cutting plan later this year.
More from Esther Martin-Ortega on +44 (0)2 073 449 264 or emartin-ortega@smmt.co.uk
Road casualties down
Figures from the Department for Transport show that the number of people killed or seriously injured on UK roads in 2006 was 33% below the 1994 - 1998 average
More from www.dft.gov.uk
Nissan adds hybrid and CNG models
TNN reports that Nissan Motor Co just said it has added diesel hybrid and compressed natural gas models to its Atlas H43 range of light trucks in Japan.
More from www.tnn.co.uk
And finally.
New Scientist Feedback page says that reader William Joseph was not sure if he was pleased to read the announcement on Tiscali's website: "Degradation of service has been restored by our network engineers."
More from www.newscientist.com
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