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Transport News Brief Week 2
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The latest news roundup from the SMMT.
Record van and excellent truck registrations for 2007
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders this week show van registrations in 2007 up 3.2% to a record 337,741 units. By contrast, truck figures were well down in the first half but recovered to near normal levels to close the year at 50,747 or 8.7% down. "December's registrations completed another excellent year for the UK's van and truck sectors," said Paul Everitt, the SMMT's new chief executive. "Registrations for the year were up 1.5% and for the month, up 6.6%. We saw a record 337,741 van registrations and trucks again made strong gains, as expected. Demand for vans remains very strong, focused on heavy models. Overall, strong order books suggest buoyant commercial vehicle registration figures for many months to come, from what proves a solidly reliable business and economic indicator."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Bus and coach registrations stable
Data from the SMMT show big bus registrations down 17.5% to 2,397 for the year, but now stable. Big coach figures were up 12.7% to 1,041 - an eight year high. Heavy minibuses were up 73% and midibuses gained 21% on last year. "The lighter end of the bus sector saw the most vigorous growth as the heaviest mini and midi buses continued a four year growth trend," said Paul Everitt, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' new chief executive. "Big bus numbers stabilised after a dip while big coach figures hit that eight year high. Overall we expect stability in 2008."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Register for the show
Register for the CV Show on the show website, www.cvshow.com and you'll get a copy of the CV Show guide some three weeks before the event in April. The 200 page booklet will give you lists of exhibitors as well as their stand numbers details of exhibits and plans for the entire CV Show. All this will help you organise your visit to the biggest trade show of its type in Europe. "Advance copies of the show guide proved enormously popular," said David Crawford, sales manager for the CV Show. "The demand for guides at the show will be very high, so the best way to guarantee a copy is to register on-line and then let us mail one to you, free." The CV Show opens at the NEC near Birmingham on Tuesday 15 April and closes on Thursday 17.
More from David Crawford on +44 (0)1 634 261 262 or sales@cvshow.com
Daf takes market leadership title - again
Daf Trucks says figures recently released by the SMMT show that it leads the UK truck market in all the sectors in which it competes, for the third straight year. "We're delighted," said Tony Pain, marketing director. "This sort of success is the result of years of planning and teamwork but - as is well known - our trucks are enjoying such popularity at present that it is building enough whilst ensuring the highest quality, which will be our biggest challenge in the year ahead. This takes absolute priority for us as it always has - it's far more important than market share victories."
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
RHA responds to TfL Freight Plan
The Road Haulage Association says it supports Transport for London's objectives of safe and reliable goods services. But Roger King, RHA chief executive says he has told TfL about his fundamental reservations over the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme. King also says he disagrees with TfL about the lack of effort to tackle the freight agenda over the past 30 years. He says truckers and vehicle makers have made big cuts in noise and air pollution and improved efficiency within UK national and EU regulation. "To take one example, trucks today are 18 times less polluting than those sold 15 years ago."
More from Kate Gibbs on +44 (0)1 932 838 917 or kate.gibbs@rha.net
Another quality award for Leyland Trucks
Leyland Trucks has won one of the top quality standards in the global automotive industry, helping, it says, to consolidate its position as a world-class truck manufacturer. The firm says 18 months of careful preparation lie behind the award of ISO/TS16949 status. The standard is unique to the automotive sector and Leyland got its certification earlier this month, following a comprehensive audit by Lloyds Register, the internationally-renowned independent quality systems assessors. "Certification to ISO/TS16949 is clear evidence that we have in place quality systems and processes that are right up there with the best in the motor industry worldwide," says Leyland Trucks' managing director, Jim Sumner.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Tattersal is national sales manager for Michelin
Michelin Tyre Plc says Helen Tattersall is its new national sales manager - truck. She replaces Peter Philpott who is retiring after more than 30 years and she now runs a 63-strong team of sales account managers across the UK and Ireland. Michelin says this is the largest specialist truck tyre sales force in the industry.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
Slieve Bloom takes two more Volvos
County Laois-based Slieve Bloom, has taken two new Volvos; a B12B coach and a B7RLE single deck bus. The B12B Jonckheere Mistral is doing touring work all over Ireland while the B7RLE with Wrightbus Eclipse Urban bodywork is on a scheduled Town Link service between Portlaoise, Mountmellick and Tullamore. The deal means the firm, which runs a fleet of 28 coaches from its base in Mountmellick, Co Laois has taken three new Volvos since buying a Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus in June 2006.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
Renault vans for Cliniserve
Cliniserve, which says it is one of the UK's leading clinical waste management firms, has taken 27 new Renault Master 120.35 vans. These will carry clinical waste from doctor and dentist surgeries nationwide and will join a number of Renault trucks already on the fleet, replacing the company's earlier vans. The deal means that by the end of the year the firm will have a 70 strong, all Renault fleet. All are bodied to an exacting specification to comply with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Health and Safety regulations. Renault Trucks dealer MV Trucks did the business, on payload, reliability and after sales service advantages.
More from Penny Randall on +44 (0)1 582 479 619 or penny.randall@renault-trucks.com
New student service uses Volvo buses
Wessex Connect, a division of Flights Hallmark has taken five new, Wrightbus-bodied B7RLE buses for a new service, called Ulink, introduced by the University of the West of England in Bristol. The service is for both students and the university staff. The new buses will run daily on three routes, linking each campus across the city to give a reliable, regular and cost-effective service and encourage people in the UWE community to leave their cars at home.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
Stadco wins Ingimex deal
Stadco Ltd, the leading supplier of body-in-white services and facilities for the global automotive industry says it has won a new contract with Shropshire-based Ingimex, specialist designers and volume manufacturers of light truck bodies, body components and kit construction units. The deal follows big investment at Stadco's unique paint shop facility in Coventry earlier in 2007. The firm says it is now able to offer customers the latest coating technology to all components going through the facility. The long-term deal will see Stadco apply black ecoat paint to a variety of bodies supplied by Ingimex to the Coventy site. Ingimex provides specialist services to many of Europe's leading manufacturers including Ford, Iveco, Renault, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Reynolds goes to Paragon for routing and scheduling
Reynolds Catering Supplies has selected Paragon's routing, scheduling and transport software to streamline distribution planning for its fast growing business, delivering fresh and chilled foods to high street names such as Prêt A Manger and Wagamama. "We had a number of top high street customers who requested we use Paragon software as part of their contracts with us," said Richard Calder, strategic development manager. "This, together with similar recommendations from other companies within the industry made the decision to select Paragon an easy one." The firm is using the software to ensure that routes are as efficient as possible and to help it handle its growing number of new customers.
More from Jane Geary on +44 (0)1 306 732 600 or j.geary@paragonrouting.com
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports that several of its readers have commented about signs on motorways around the UK that tell drivers: "Please use existing road signs." It says Matt Kelland probably speaks for all of them when he observes: "I tried using the other kind, but couldn't find any."
More from www.newscientist.com
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders this week show van registrations in 2007 up 3.2% to a record 337,741 units. By contrast, truck figures were well down in the first half but recovered to near normal levels to close the year at 50,747 or 8.7% down. "December's registrations completed another excellent year for the UK's van and truck sectors," said Paul Everitt, the SMMT's new chief executive. "Registrations for the year were up 1.5% and for the month, up 6.6%. We saw a record 337,741 van registrations and trucks again made strong gains, as expected. Demand for vans remains very strong, focused on heavy models. Overall, strong order books suggest buoyant commercial vehicle registration figures for many months to come, from what proves a solidly reliable business and economic indicator."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Bus and coach registrations stable
Data from the SMMT show big bus registrations down 17.5% to 2,397 for the year, but now stable. Big coach figures were up 12.7% to 1,041 - an eight year high. Heavy minibuses were up 73% and midibuses gained 21% on last year. "The lighter end of the bus sector saw the most vigorous growth as the heaviest mini and midi buses continued a four year growth trend," said Paul Everitt, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' new chief executive. "Big bus numbers stabilised after a dip while big coach figures hit that eight year high. Overall we expect stability in 2008."
More from Robin Dickeson +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
Register for the show
Register for the CV Show on the show website, www.cvshow.com and you'll get a copy of the CV Show guide some three weeks before the event in April. The 200 page booklet will give you lists of exhibitors as well as their stand numbers details of exhibits and plans for the entire CV Show. All this will help you organise your visit to the biggest trade show of its type in Europe. "Advance copies of the show guide proved enormously popular," said David Crawford, sales manager for the CV Show. "The demand for guides at the show will be very high, so the best way to guarantee a copy is to register on-line and then let us mail one to you, free." The CV Show opens at the NEC near Birmingham on Tuesday 15 April and closes on Thursday 17.
More from David Crawford on +44 (0)1 634 261 262 or sales@cvshow.com
Daf takes market leadership title - again
Daf Trucks says figures recently released by the SMMT show that it leads the UK truck market in all the sectors in which it competes, for the third straight year. "We're delighted," said Tony Pain, marketing director. "This sort of success is the result of years of planning and teamwork but - as is well known - our trucks are enjoying such popularity at present that it is building enough whilst ensuring the highest quality, which will be our biggest challenge in the year ahead. This takes absolute priority for us as it always has - it's far more important than market share victories."
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
RHA responds to TfL Freight Plan
The Road Haulage Association says it supports Transport for London's objectives of safe and reliable goods services. But Roger King, RHA chief executive says he has told TfL about his fundamental reservations over the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme. King also says he disagrees with TfL about the lack of effort to tackle the freight agenda over the past 30 years. He says truckers and vehicle makers have made big cuts in noise and air pollution and improved efficiency within UK national and EU regulation. "To take one example, trucks today are 18 times less polluting than those sold 15 years ago."
More from Kate Gibbs on +44 (0)1 932 838 917 or kate.gibbs@rha.net
Another quality award for Leyland Trucks
Leyland Trucks has won one of the top quality standards in the global automotive industry, helping, it says, to consolidate its position as a world-class truck manufacturer. The firm says 18 months of careful preparation lie behind the award of ISO/TS16949 status. The standard is unique to the automotive sector and Leyland got its certification earlier this month, following a comprehensive audit by Lloyds Register, the internationally-renowned independent quality systems assessors. "Certification to ISO/TS16949 is clear evidence that we have in place quality systems and processes that are right up there with the best in the motor industry worldwide," says Leyland Trucks' managing director, Jim Sumner.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Tattersal is national sales manager for Michelin
Michelin Tyre Plc says Helen Tattersall is its new national sales manager - truck. She replaces Peter Philpott who is retiring after more than 30 years and she now runs a 63-strong team of sales account managers across the UK and Ireland. Michelin says this is the largest specialist truck tyre sales force in the industry.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
Slieve Bloom takes two more Volvos
County Laois-based Slieve Bloom, has taken two new Volvos; a B12B coach and a B7RLE single deck bus. The B12B Jonckheere Mistral is doing touring work all over Ireland while the B7RLE with Wrightbus Eclipse Urban bodywork is on a scheduled Town Link service between Portlaoise, Mountmellick and Tullamore. The deal means the firm, which runs a fleet of 28 coaches from its base in Mountmellick, Co Laois has taken three new Volvos since buying a Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus in June 2006.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
Renault vans for Cliniserve
Cliniserve, which says it is one of the UK's leading clinical waste management firms, has taken 27 new Renault Master 120.35 vans. These will carry clinical waste from doctor and dentist surgeries nationwide and will join a number of Renault trucks already on the fleet, replacing the company's earlier vans. The deal means that by the end of the year the firm will have a 70 strong, all Renault fleet. All are bodied to an exacting specification to comply with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Health and Safety regulations. Renault Trucks dealer MV Trucks did the business, on payload, reliability and after sales service advantages.
More from Penny Randall on +44 (0)1 582 479 619 or penny.randall@renault-trucks.com
New student service uses Volvo buses
Wessex Connect, a division of Flights Hallmark has taken five new, Wrightbus-bodied B7RLE buses for a new service, called Ulink, introduced by the University of the West of England in Bristol. The service is for both students and the university staff. The new buses will run daily on three routes, linking each campus across the city to give a reliable, regular and cost-effective service and encourage people in the UWE community to leave their cars at home.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
Stadco wins Ingimex deal
Stadco Ltd, the leading supplier of body-in-white services and facilities for the global automotive industry says it has won a new contract with Shropshire-based Ingimex, specialist designers and volume manufacturers of light truck bodies, body components and kit construction units. The deal follows big investment at Stadco's unique paint shop facility in Coventry earlier in 2007. The firm says it is now able to offer customers the latest coating technology to all components going through the facility. The long-term deal will see Stadco apply black ecoat paint to a variety of bodies supplied by Ingimex to the Coventy site. Ingimex provides specialist services to many of Europe's leading manufacturers including Ford, Iveco, Renault, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Reynolds goes to Paragon for routing and scheduling
Reynolds Catering Supplies has selected Paragon's routing, scheduling and transport software to streamline distribution planning for its fast growing business, delivering fresh and chilled foods to high street names such as Prêt A Manger and Wagamama. "We had a number of top high street customers who requested we use Paragon software as part of their contracts with us," said Richard Calder, strategic development manager. "This, together with similar recommendations from other companies within the industry made the decision to select Paragon an easy one." The firm is using the software to ensure that routes are as efficient as possible and to help it handle its growing number of new customers.
More from Jane Geary on +44 (0)1 306 732 600 or j.geary@paragonrouting.com
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports that several of its readers have commented about signs on motorways around the UK that tell drivers: "Please use existing road signs." It says Matt Kelland probably speaks for all of them when he observes: "I tried using the other kind, but couldn't find any."
More from www.newscientist.com
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