Legal Brief
Transport News Brief Week 10
Document Actions
The latest news roundup from the SMMT.
VW buys Scania
The Financial Times report that in a complex deal, Porsche plans to increase its stake in Volkswagen and VW will increase its stake in Scania to a majority shareholding of 69%. The firm also holds a 29.9 % stake in MAN, which in turn has a 17% stake in Scania. The FT says 'the outcome to what VW wants at Scania and MAN is difficult to predict.'
More from www.ft.com
Take security seriously and says the RHA
The Road Haulage Association says that theft still costs the transport industry over £1 billion a year. To help operators cut the cost the RHA will run its annual Security Seminar, at Towcester racecourse in Northamptonshire on Tuesday March 11th. The RHA says there are still some places left for this important event, which will be chaired by John Stalker, the former deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester Police. Tickets cost £149 plus VAT with RHA members getting a £100 discount on each. The deal includes entrance to the exhibition, refreshments and lunch.
More from Jan Mills on +44 (0)1 932 841 515 or jan.mills@rha.net
Whole vehicle Type Approval consultation soon
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has learned that the UK Department for Transport will launch its formal consultation on Whole Vehicle Type Approval this spring, probably in April. "This is good news, as people need to know the score as soon as possible," said Robin Dickeson, manager, commercial vehicle affairs at the SMMT. "And importantly, people need to make the most of the opportunity to have their say. This change to the way we do commercial vehicles is supposed to level the playing field across Europe and will have far reaching effects across every aspect of the business. So it is important that dealers, vehicle makers and bodybuilder don't miss the opportunity to tell the DfT what they think."
More from Robin Dickeson on +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
New oil price record at $103.95
The BBC web site reports that oil prices hit a new record high on Monday March 3rd, driven by the falling dollar and fading hopes of more supplies US light, sweet crude made $103.95 a barrel, before dropping back to trade at $102.45. London Brent also hit a record $102. Analysts blamed the falling dollar, which makes oil an attractive investment to speculators and warn that it looks unlikely that oil exporters' cartel Opec will raise production to help ease prices.
More from www.bbc.co.uk
New look ContiNetwork
Continental Tyre Group just re-launched ContiNetwork, the association of independent tyre dealers the firm first launched in 2001. The new ContiNetwork has 55 outlets across the UK, to give better and more local service to customers, particularly the growing number of fleets using Continental's tyre management contracts. The firm says this will 'significantly' cut downtime for operators. David Smith, managing director of Continental Tyre Group says he is confident that the move is good news for his customers and expects that more will go for tyre management deals. "It cuts downtime and hassle and gives peace of mind." The firm says over 30% of its UK truck tyre sales are on tyre management contracts.
More from Belle Wilson on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or bmoss@automotivepr.com
First solos for Newport
Newport Bus has put six Solo low-floor minibuses to work, with two running on an Ebbw Valley Railway link. The other four join the firm's 86 strong bus fleet, doing local service work in the Newport area. Newport Bus says the decision to take Solos followed wide-ranging trials of other vehicles on the market.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Citroën Relay glass vans for Cornwall Glass
One of the West Country's largest specialist glass and glazing products stockists, Cornwall Glass & Glazing Ltd, just got nine Citroën Relay Ready to Run glass carrying vans, with specialist conversions by Supertrucks. Citroën says this is the largest single order for glass carrying vans gained to date from its award-winning Ready to Run one-stop specialist body range.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Cape's £500,000 sludge gulpers
Cape says it has spent over £500,000 on two Daf eight-wheel trucks fitted with Cox and vacuum tank kit. The firm says the new trucks and a further two similar vehicles, to follow shortly, will join its 15-strong fleet of high-capacity vacuum tankers. The new trucks can deal with both wet and dry waste, including hazardous materials. Each has a 15,000 litre stainless steel tank and can recover material from up to 200 metres horizontally or from up to 60 metres vertically.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
New Swedish coach for England's cricket team
The England cricket team and their visiting opposition from New Zealand and South Africa will travel to test matches around the country this summer with a new Swedish coach. The Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus tri-axle coach will run in England Cricket Board livery, operated by coach firm Go Goodwins. Volvo says the new coach is the safest it has ever built; its specification includes an electronic braking system, electronic stability program, front under-run protection, front impact protection and knee impact protection.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
New tyres from Continental at CV Show
Following its 'hugely successful' return to the CV Show last year, Continental says it will be back in 2008 with a new range of products and services for commercial vehicle operators. The firm will use the show to launch a new trailer tyre for regional work, the 385/65R22.5. There will also be new steering and drive axle tyres for construction work and additions to the re-tread tyre range. Continental will also show its tyre pressure management system and its ContiEuroService tyre management service.
More from Belle Wilson on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or bmoss@automotivepr.com
Rail freight too expensive says FTA
The Freight Transport Association says it has written to Network Rail saying it needs to cut infrastructure access costs for freight. This is against a background of comments from the Rail Regulation Office which says that Network Rail has scope to improve its efficiency by at least 30%. The FTA says cost-cuts are vital to the future of rail freight.
More from Chris McRae on +44 (0)1 892 552 355 or c.mcrae@fta.co.uk
LEZ 'honeymoon' over
The Road Haulage Association says Monday March 3rd saw the end of the initial 28-day 'honeymoon' period for the London Low Emission Zone and the start of problems for operators that face delays in fitting particulate traps. The RHA says it has a list of member firms that ordered the kit to bring older trucks up to the LEZ particulate matter standard before the scheme started, but are waiting for fitting. Transport for London says that charges may be refunded once operators trucks are up to scratch but won't guarantee that it will return the cash. It has offered to look at applications on a 'case-by-case' basis from firms that ordered the kit before February 4th 2008. The RHA wants TfL to think again.
More from Kate Gibbs on +44 (0)1 932 838 917 or kate.gibbs@rha.net
More automatic choice from Allison
Allison Transmission will use its stand 6-280 at the CV Show in April to announce more distribution applications for its commercial vehicle transmissions. The firm aims to expand into different sectors, including distribution and construction as well as increasing the number of its hybrid bus powertrain sales in Europe.
More from Nick Bailey on +44 (0)1 295 277 050 or nick.bailey@m-eng.com
Tri-axle Volvo for Lochs and Glens
Scottish coach operator Lochs and Glens has ordered seven more tri-axle Volvo B12B coaches for delivery in April. All will have 14m Jonckheere HV14 bodies and will carry holidaymakers from around the UK to one of the firm's luxury Scottish lochside hotels. The deal is part fleet renewal and part expansion, as Lochs and Glens will open a new hotel in Fort William this year.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
Go Plant go for Dennis Eagle
GPL Hire & Service - part of the GPL (Go Plant Limited) Group is changing its spot hire fleet of refuse collection and specialist recycling trucks with help from Dennis Eagle, which just delivered four dust carts.. These join the firm's 110 strong dust cart fleet.
More from Roberta Manca on +44 (0)1 926 316 000 or roberta.manca@dennis-eagle.co.uk
Volvo wins £6m bus order for Trentbarton
Volvo says it has won a £6m order for 41 single deck buses to Nottinghamshire based Trentbarton. All the 45 seat Wrightbus-bodied B7RLE buses will meet Euro 5 emissions and be delivered through 2008 and 2009. They will join the firm's 270 strong fleet, to work on scheduled services in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. These will be Trentbarton's first Volvos for 13 years. All will have leather seats and air conditioning, as well as CCTV and StarTrak real time information systems.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
Managing drivers
The Freight Transport Association says coping with the responsibilities of managing truck drivers is increasingly complex and demanding, so it has organised 14 regional briefing events across the UK. Places are free to FTA members and the seminars will look at driver licence checks, vehicle defect checks, drivers' hours and the growing range of related issues, including the important process of managing driver competence.
More from Geoff Dossetter on +44 (0)1 892 552 255 or gdossetter@fta.co.uk
Advanced EEV trucks from Daf at CV Show
Daf Trucks says it will use its stand 510-20 at the CV Show to reinforce its position as leader in all the market segments in which it competes. The firm will show five environmentally friendly trucks from 7.5 to 44 tonnes, all are to Euro 5 emission standards and have AS-Tronic automated transmissions. Two of these trucks have enhanced environmentally friendly vehicle or EEV engine technology to make them even greener still. "We're consolidating our sustained market leadership with an array of advanced vehicles," said Tony Pain, Daf Trucks' marketing director. "At the same time we're investing heavily in the production and assembly facilities needed to make even more of them."
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
Broadband for Welsh bus passengers
Moovera Networks says that First Group has chosen its technology to provide broadband internet and GPS based vehicle tracking on bus routes in Wales. First Cymru has fitted vehicles on the hour-long shuttle 100 service that runs along the M4 motorway between Swansea and Cardiff, giving passengers mobile and broadband access from Vodafone.
More from Dave Palmer on 44 (0)8 704 460 461 or palmer@moovera.com
Automated vehicle access control
Derwent CCTV says its Sentry system is its first automatic number plate recognition-based access control system. The firm says the new kit can be installed either as a stand-alone or integrated system or with existing access control equipment. The system can hold up to 10,000 vehicle registration numbers and also includes a full continental number plate recognition library. Derwent says it can be used to control any vehicle access barrier including those guarding the car parks, gated communities factories, warehouses, offices schools and colleges.
More from Penny Haywood on +44 (0)1 931 669 519 or penny@phpr.co.uk
Cullimore move to ATS
Gloucester-based sand and gravel merchant Moreton C Cullimore has done a deal with ATS Euromaster that will see the firm fitting new and re-mixed Tyres across its 42 strong truck fleet. The deal also includes arrangements for a mobile ATS Euromaster technician to do daily fleet checks to monitor tyre condition. All this is part of a plan to help the company to discharge its duty of care responsibilities and help protect its operator's licence.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
Top Technician 2008
Organisers of the annual competition say they now have a 20 strong shortlist of people who will be invited to compete in the live finals on the Top Technician stand, 9-431 in the Workshop area of the CV Show in April. The winner will be announced at a special awards ceremony on June 9th at the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire. He or she will get a tax-free prize of £2,500 and a wide range of other goodies.
More from Nicola St Clair on+44 (0)1 634 261 262 or nicola@crystalcommunications.co.uk
Zoeller and Faun share a stand at the CV Show
The two brands will share stand 040-19 in the municipal zone at this year's CV Show. Zoeller says it will show its Rotary Alpha fitted to a Faun Variopress machine and a Faun Viajet sweeper will make its CV Show debut.
More from Heidi Evans on +44 (0)1 248 725 305 or heidi.evans@zoeller.co.uk
First '08' plate registration for North East Truck & Van
North East Truck & Van, which says it is the UK's largest independent commercial vehicle distributor, has delivered a new Iveco Stralis Active Space Super³ tractor unit to international pallet manufacturer TWP Packaging Ltd. It is first from the dealer on the new '08' registration plate, introduced on March 1st. The new truck will do some 150,000 km a year and takes TWP's fleet to six. It is on a three year contract hire deal handled by North East Truck & Van's northernmost dealership in Blaydon.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports that reader Barbara Karayi thought Beechams All-in-One tablets sounded the perfect solution for her cold - except that the instructions told her to take two at a time.
More from www.newscientist.com
The Financial Times report that in a complex deal, Porsche plans to increase its stake in Volkswagen and VW will increase its stake in Scania to a majority shareholding of 69%. The firm also holds a 29.9 % stake in MAN, which in turn has a 17% stake in Scania. The FT says 'the outcome to what VW wants at Scania and MAN is difficult to predict.'
More from www.ft.com
Take security seriously and says the RHA
The Road Haulage Association says that theft still costs the transport industry over £1 billion a year. To help operators cut the cost the RHA will run its annual Security Seminar, at Towcester racecourse in Northamptonshire on Tuesday March 11th. The RHA says there are still some places left for this important event, which will be chaired by John Stalker, the former deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester Police. Tickets cost £149 plus VAT with RHA members getting a £100 discount on each. The deal includes entrance to the exhibition, refreshments and lunch.
More from Jan Mills on +44 (0)1 932 841 515 or jan.mills@rha.net
Whole vehicle Type Approval consultation soon
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has learned that the UK Department for Transport will launch its formal consultation on Whole Vehicle Type Approval this spring, probably in April. "This is good news, as people need to know the score as soon as possible," said Robin Dickeson, manager, commercial vehicle affairs at the SMMT. "And importantly, people need to make the most of the opportunity to have their say. This change to the way we do commercial vehicles is supposed to level the playing field across Europe and will have far reaching effects across every aspect of the business. So it is important that dealers, vehicle makers and bodybuilder don't miss the opportunity to tell the DfT what they think."
More from Robin Dickeson on +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
New oil price record at $103.95
The BBC web site reports that oil prices hit a new record high on Monday March 3rd, driven by the falling dollar and fading hopes of more supplies US light, sweet crude made $103.95 a barrel, before dropping back to trade at $102.45. London Brent also hit a record $102. Analysts blamed the falling dollar, which makes oil an attractive investment to speculators and warn that it looks unlikely that oil exporters' cartel Opec will raise production to help ease prices.
More from www.bbc.co.uk
New look ContiNetwork
Continental Tyre Group just re-launched ContiNetwork, the association of independent tyre dealers the firm first launched in 2001. The new ContiNetwork has 55 outlets across the UK, to give better and more local service to customers, particularly the growing number of fleets using Continental's tyre management contracts. The firm says this will 'significantly' cut downtime for operators. David Smith, managing director of Continental Tyre Group says he is confident that the move is good news for his customers and expects that more will go for tyre management deals. "It cuts downtime and hassle and gives peace of mind." The firm says over 30% of its UK truck tyre sales are on tyre management contracts.
More from Belle Wilson on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or bmoss@automotivepr.com
First solos for Newport
Newport Bus has put six Solo low-floor minibuses to work, with two running on an Ebbw Valley Railway link. The other four join the firm's 86 strong bus fleet, doing local service work in the Newport area. Newport Bus says the decision to take Solos followed wide-ranging trials of other vehicles on the market.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
Citroën Relay glass vans for Cornwall Glass
One of the West Country's largest specialist glass and glazing products stockists, Cornwall Glass & Glazing Ltd, just got nine Citroën Relay Ready to Run glass carrying vans, with specialist conversions by Supertrucks. Citroën says this is the largest single order for glass carrying vans gained to date from its award-winning Ready to Run one-stop specialist body range.
More from Phil Reed on +44 (0)2 086 684 048 or leadingpr@aol.com
Cape's £500,000 sludge gulpers
Cape says it has spent over £500,000 on two Daf eight-wheel trucks fitted with Cox and vacuum tank kit. The firm says the new trucks and a further two similar vehicles, to follow shortly, will join its 15-strong fleet of high-capacity vacuum tankers. The new trucks can deal with both wet and dry waste, including hazardous materials. Each has a 15,000 litre stainless steel tank and can recover material from up to 200 metres horizontally or from up to 60 metres vertically.
More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com
New Swedish coach for England's cricket team
The England cricket team and their visiting opposition from New Zealand and South Africa will travel to test matches around the country this summer with a new Swedish coach. The Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus tri-axle coach will run in England Cricket Board livery, operated by coach firm Go Goodwins. Volvo says the new coach is the safest it has ever built; its specification includes an electronic braking system, electronic stability program, front under-run protection, front impact protection and knee impact protection.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
New tyres from Continental at CV Show
Following its 'hugely successful' return to the CV Show last year, Continental says it will be back in 2008 with a new range of products and services for commercial vehicle operators. The firm will use the show to launch a new trailer tyre for regional work, the 385/65R22.5. There will also be new steering and drive axle tyres for construction work and additions to the re-tread tyre range. Continental will also show its tyre pressure management system and its ContiEuroService tyre management service.
More from Belle Wilson on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or bmoss@automotivepr.com
Rail freight too expensive says FTA
The Freight Transport Association says it has written to Network Rail saying it needs to cut infrastructure access costs for freight. This is against a background of comments from the Rail Regulation Office which says that Network Rail has scope to improve its efficiency by at least 30%. The FTA says cost-cuts are vital to the future of rail freight.
More from Chris McRae on +44 (0)1 892 552 355 or c.mcrae@fta.co.uk
LEZ 'honeymoon' over
The Road Haulage Association says Monday March 3rd saw the end of the initial 28-day 'honeymoon' period for the London Low Emission Zone and the start of problems for operators that face delays in fitting particulate traps. The RHA says it has a list of member firms that ordered the kit to bring older trucks up to the LEZ particulate matter standard before the scheme started, but are waiting for fitting. Transport for London says that charges may be refunded once operators trucks are up to scratch but won't guarantee that it will return the cash. It has offered to look at applications on a 'case-by-case' basis from firms that ordered the kit before February 4th 2008. The RHA wants TfL to think again.
More from Kate Gibbs on +44 (0)1 932 838 917 or kate.gibbs@rha.net
More automatic choice from Allison
Allison Transmission will use its stand 6-280 at the CV Show in April to announce more distribution applications for its commercial vehicle transmissions. The firm aims to expand into different sectors, including distribution and construction as well as increasing the number of its hybrid bus powertrain sales in Europe.
More from Nick Bailey on +44 (0)1 295 277 050 or nick.bailey@m-eng.com
Tri-axle Volvo for Lochs and Glens
Scottish coach operator Lochs and Glens has ordered seven more tri-axle Volvo B12B coaches for delivery in April. All will have 14m Jonckheere HV14 bodies and will carry holidaymakers from around the UK to one of the firm's luxury Scottish lochside hotels. The deal is part fleet renewal and part expansion, as Lochs and Glens will open a new hotel in Fort William this year.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
Go Plant go for Dennis Eagle
GPL Hire & Service - part of the GPL (Go Plant Limited) Group is changing its spot hire fleet of refuse collection and specialist recycling trucks with help from Dennis Eagle, which just delivered four dust carts.. These join the firm's 110 strong dust cart fleet.
More from Roberta Manca on +44 (0)1 926 316 000 or roberta.manca@dennis-eagle.co.uk
Volvo wins £6m bus order for Trentbarton
Volvo says it has won a £6m order for 41 single deck buses to Nottinghamshire based Trentbarton. All the 45 seat Wrightbus-bodied B7RLE buses will meet Euro 5 emissions and be delivered through 2008 and 2009. They will join the firm's 270 strong fleet, to work on scheduled services in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. These will be Trentbarton's first Volvos for 13 years. All will have leather seats and air conditioning, as well as CCTV and StarTrak real time information systems.
More from Don Johnston on +44 (0)1 926 414 553 or don.johnston@volvo.com
Managing drivers
The Freight Transport Association says coping with the responsibilities of managing truck drivers is increasingly complex and demanding, so it has organised 14 regional briefing events across the UK. Places are free to FTA members and the seminars will look at driver licence checks, vehicle defect checks, drivers' hours and the growing range of related issues, including the important process of managing driver competence.
More from Geoff Dossetter on +44 (0)1 892 552 255 or gdossetter@fta.co.uk
Advanced EEV trucks from Daf at CV Show
Daf Trucks says it will use its stand 510-20 at the CV Show to reinforce its position as leader in all the market segments in which it competes. The firm will show five environmentally friendly trucks from 7.5 to 44 tonnes, all are to Euro 5 emission standards and have AS-Tronic automated transmissions. Two of these trucks have enhanced environmentally friendly vehicle or EEV engine technology to make them even greener still. "We're consolidating our sustained market leadership with an array of advanced vehicles," said Tony Pain, Daf Trucks' marketing director. "At the same time we're investing heavily in the production and assembly facilities needed to make even more of them."
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com
Broadband for Welsh bus passengers
Moovera Networks says that First Group has chosen its technology to provide broadband internet and GPS based vehicle tracking on bus routes in Wales. First Cymru has fitted vehicles on the hour-long shuttle 100 service that runs along the M4 motorway between Swansea and Cardiff, giving passengers mobile and broadband access from Vodafone.
More from Dave Palmer on 44 (0)8 704 460 461 or palmer@moovera.com
Automated vehicle access control
Derwent CCTV says its Sentry system is its first automatic number plate recognition-based access control system. The firm says the new kit can be installed either as a stand-alone or integrated system or with existing access control equipment. The system can hold up to 10,000 vehicle registration numbers and also includes a full continental number plate recognition library. Derwent says it can be used to control any vehicle access barrier including those guarding the car parks, gated communities factories, warehouses, offices schools and colleges.
More from Penny Haywood on +44 (0)1 931 669 519 or penny@phpr.co.uk
Cullimore move to ATS
Gloucester-based sand and gravel merchant Moreton C Cullimore has done a deal with ATS Euromaster that will see the firm fitting new and re-mixed Tyres across its 42 strong truck fleet. The deal also includes arrangements for a mobile ATS Euromaster technician to do daily fleet checks to monitor tyre condition. All this is part of a plan to help the company to discharge its duty of care responsibilities and help protect its operator's licence.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
Top Technician 2008
Organisers of the annual competition say they now have a 20 strong shortlist of people who will be invited to compete in the live finals on the Top Technician stand, 9-431 in the Workshop area of the CV Show in April. The winner will be announced at a special awards ceremony on June 9th at the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire. He or she will get a tax-free prize of £2,500 and a wide range of other goodies.
More from Nicola St Clair on+44 (0)1 634 261 262 or nicola@crystalcommunications.co.uk
Zoeller and Faun share a stand at the CV Show
The two brands will share stand 040-19 in the municipal zone at this year's CV Show. Zoeller says it will show its Rotary Alpha fitted to a Faun Variopress machine and a Faun Viajet sweeper will make its CV Show debut.
More from Heidi Evans on +44 (0)1 248 725 305 or heidi.evans@zoeller.co.uk
First '08' plate registration for North East Truck & Van
North East Truck & Van, which says it is the UK's largest independent commercial vehicle distributor, has delivered a new Iveco Stralis Active Space Super³ tractor unit to international pallet manufacturer TWP Packaging Ltd. It is first from the dealer on the new '08' registration plate, introduced on March 1st. The new truck will do some 150,000 km a year and takes TWP's fleet to six. It is on a three year contract hire deal handled by North East Truck & Van's northernmost dealership in Blaydon.
More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 083 991 184 or jk@garnett-keeler.com
And finally
New Scientist's Feedback column reports that reader Barbara Karayi thought Beechams All-in-One tablets sounded the perfect solution for her cold - except that the instructions told her to take two at a time.
More from www.newscientist.com
About TNN News Feed
