Draft van CO2 report issued
The European Parliament's Environment Committee 17 page draft report on van CO2 has been issued by its author (or rapporteur, in Eurobabble) Martin Callanan MEP. He suggests no changes to the Commission's short-term target of 175g/km CO2, phased in from 2014 to 2016. The Commission's longer term 2020 target rises from 135g/km to 150g/km while the penalty for van makers who exceed the targets drops from €120 to €95 a vehicle. Callanan also wants 120kph speed limiters in vans from 2015. The Environment Committee will debate the draft report at its 3 May meeting in Brussels. The deadline for changes is 19 May, with the Committee to vote at its 28 September meeting.
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jhawkings@smmt.co.ukIveco and Haynes Trucks win fleet deal
Iveco and its Kent-based dealer, Haynes Trucks, have won a big conquest deal with steel stockholders John Parker & Sons. The firm will replace its 32-strong fleet of 18 tonne rigids with new Stralis Active Day multi-drop distribution trucks. The Stralis trucks have bespoke drop-side bodies to cope with the demands of making multi-drop steel deliveries. The new rigids are the first in the fleet to have automated gearboxes, standard on all Stralis vehicles. They all also have Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle engines and their specification includes of on-board tracking systems, hands-free telephones and mobile data terminals allowing drivers to record deliveries electronically.
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jk@garnett-keeler.comEC outlines low carbon vehicles strategy
The European Commission has published its outline strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles. This aims encourage research and development of low-carbon automotive technology, stimulate demand and strengthen EU competitiveness with a series of medium-term measures to be implemented by the Commission. The plans include for guidelines for low carbon vehicle incentives, a re-launch for its Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st century and a specific focus on electric vehicles. The latter will look at safety standards for all new low carbon vehicles promote common standards so that all electric vehicles may to be charged across the EU.
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jhawkings@smmt.co.ukSideloader success for Truckrax
Trukrax Vehicle Racking systems, one of the leading UK's leading van racking makers said it was impressed with the recent CV Operator show. "With a higher emphasis on operator health and safety we found that our Sideloader and Toploader ladder loading systems both attracted lots of interest," said Scott Finding, UK sales and marketing manager for Truckrax. "Although the footfall was less than the 2008 show, the quality of visitors was much higher." This meant Finding and his people were able to spend more time with visitors. "We collected lots of good leads to follow up after the show."
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scott.finding@trukrax.co.ukIndustry and transport committees discuss van CO2
The European Parliament's industry and transport committees have discussed draft laws to cut van CO2. In the Industry, Research and Energy Committee, Werner Langen MEP, said that the 135g/km CO2 target was unreasonable and that the use of speed limiters was not the right approach. He and the Committee's socialist shadow Mario Pirillo MEP agree that penalties should drop to €95 a vehicle for van makers that miss the target. Pirillo also wants an impact study before a long-term target is set. UK Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall thinks that a long term target should be feasible and welcomed the inclusion of "super-credits" for low emission vehicles. Olrich Vlasak MEP, draftsman in the Transport Committee says that the short-term target should be delayed by three-years, while the long-term 2020 target should drop to 162g/km CO2.
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jhawkings@smmt.co.ukDriver Choice Awards return
The Iveco-sponsored Truck & Driver Driver Choice Awards are back, giving you the chance to tell us what's good about this industry. "It's a chance for Truck & Driver magazine to hand out some well-earned pats on the back to the companies and individuals that deserve them," says T&D editor Will Shiers. "And, as a thank-you for giving us your nominations, we'll enter you into a prize draw to win a fantastic trip to Maranello, Italy, home of Ferrari, courtesy of Iveco." There are 10 categories, each with five options at
www.roadtransport.com/driverchoiceawards. "It only takes a minute to enter online or you can pick up a copy of the latest Truck & Driver magazine and use the entry form in the magazine. "You could be picked at random for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy. This is the kind of experience that money just cannot buy."
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will.shiers@rbi.co.ukWorking time rules for self-employed drivers
MEPs in the European Parliament's Employment Committee have voted to reject plans to exclude self-employed drivers from rules on working time, the Working Time Directive. The existing law on drivers' hours aimed to include self-employed truck and bus drivers from 23 March 2009, unless the Commission came up with a different idea first. It did. In October 2008 it said there was no need to include self-employed drivers. Then socialist, green and leftist groups persuaded Parliament to include those self-employed drivers and now centre-right Edit Bauer MEP says there is no precedent for regulating the working hours of self-employed people. MEPs will vote on the text in the next plenary.
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jhawkings@smmt.co.ukIRU wants WTD to exclude self-employed drivers
The European Parliament Employment and Social Affairs Committee has rejected a draft report supporting an EC plan to exclude self-employed drivers from the Working Time Directive. The Geneva-based IRU wants MEPs to reverse this decision when they vote on it this June. The IRU says the committee's decision, using road safety as a "fallacious argument", risks creating "massive unemployment" among self-employed drivers. "The rationale of working time legislation is to ensure that salaried workers are not forced to work more than they wish to," said Alexander Sakkers, president of the IRU's EU Goods Transport Liaison Committee.
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juliette.ebele@iru.orgSapphire jubilee Transit
Ford says a special edition Transit 'Sapphire' just rolled off its production line at Southampton. The firm will build 1,150 of the models to mark 45 years of sales leadership in the UK and a global six million milestone. UK sales have topped 2.1m since the model was launched in 1965. The new models, in 'Ink Blue' metallic paint go on sale in May, with a silver grille, mirror caps and rear light guards make them stand out. Prices start at £14,995. There are short, medium and long wheelbase models available, with some choice of front or rear wheel drive and roof height combinations. All have air conditioning, front fog lights and a generous range of other goodies. Safety features include a full-width steel bulkhead, DIN-compliant cargo tie-down eyes, ABS, ESP and driver airbag.
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achatter@ford.com'Bring your own fuel' policy costs the UK £215m
The Freight Transport Association says the UK treasury missed £215 million in 2009. This hole in its accounts is shown in data just published by the Department of Transport. Simon Chapman, FTA's chief economist said: "Instead of squabbling over who would make the deepest cuts, politicians should be looking at where they can recoup relatively easy money," said Simon Chapman, chief economist for the FTA. "A system to limit the amount of fuel able to be brought in from across the channel would bring in almost enough cash to build a brand new hospital every year, yet none of the political parties seems to have the appetite to tackle this issue."
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jtanner@fta.co.ukLombard wins 150 strong van deal
Lombard has won a tender for the contract to provide and manage the 150 strong Citroën van fleet for Nationwide Maintenance. Lombard will supply these with racking and signage and will trial vehicle tracking and provide 40 long-term rental vehicles to add flexibility. "The service level Lombard provided during the tender exercise was excellent," said Paul Witter, regional operations manager for Nationwide. "But what really made the difference was that they had a long-term approach and a partnership ethos. In addition they were able to be the most competitive on price, so it became a simple decision for us."
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mark.carbery@longshoreconsultancy.comMAN does it for B&Q
Do-it-yourself chain B&Q just got 19 new MAN ten tonne rigids, the first MANs in the firm's fleet. The new trucks make a change from its usual home delivery option of light vans or 18 tonnes. The firm says it needed a more flexible approach to distribution. "The smaller 10 tonne chassis still provides us with an excellent payload. However, it's a much smaller, more manoeuvrable, less obtrusive truck, and that's good news for other road users and for neighbourhoods where large 18 tonners are cumbersome and undesirable, " said James Prest, home delivery regional contract manager for B&Q. The new trucks run in a black livery to match the firm's new staff uniform.
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paul@hallspr.comOldbury's new website
In reporting Oldbury UK's new website in the last Issue, I got the website address wrong. It is
www.oldburyuk.co.uk. I'm glad to hear that despite my mistake, the Wolverhampton, West Midlands-based specialist trailer, mobility and engineering solutions provider reports an increasing, number of visits to the new site. Naturally I apologise for the error. The firm works for defence, security, aerospace, construction, extraction, wastes management, heavy transport and utility sectors. It has recently expanded its general engineering and ancillary equipment activities, including winning the UK distributorship for Warn military and industrial winch and hoist products. It is also the importer for ARB step frames and low loaders.
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a.graves@oldburyuk.co.ukNew low-speed electric utility truck on show in Scotland
Leading low speed electric vehicle company ePower Trucks will show its new battery-powered utility truck in Scotland next week. The ATX200E is capable of 30km/h, has a 1.8m long flat bed and 600kg capacity. The 17.5kW electric motor means it can also tow up to 2,000kg. It is one of four electric vehicles that ePower Trucks is taking to Scotland, for the Association for Public Service Excellence Scottish Fleet, Waste & Grounds Seminar 2010 at the Hilton Coylumbridge, Aviemore, from 4 to 7 May.
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brightsparkspr@yahoo.co.ukRHA attacks defence firm
The Road Haulage Association has attacked defence technology supplier QinetiQ for its unilateral decision to double the time it would take to pay its bills. The RHA says the firm gave little more than one-week's notice of the news terms. "QinetiQ is spreading bad business practice and is breaking both the spirit and letter of the Prompt Payment Code. To make matters worse, QinetiQ is a major supplier to the Ministry of Defence, which has a policy of prompt and reliable payment," said Geoff Dunning, RHA chief executive. "I am writing to the business secretary, Lord Mandelson, to urge him to apply pressure to QinetiQ to reverse this decision."
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kate.gibbs@rha.uk.netPall-ex promotes TankSafe
UK palletised distribution network is promoting Tiss TankSafe Fuel Security and Safety devices to its 100-strong haulier network. The firm says fuel bills are the biggest costs its members face and so recommends the TankSafe range. "The TankSafe 'Impregnable' device is proven to reduce fuel bills by up to 10%," according to Daniel Hampton, group procurement executive for Pall-Ex. He says the device can also prevent diesel spills, protecting the environment and improving road safety.
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silvia.vitale@tissltd.comAnd finally
New Scientist's Feedback page reports that reader Allen Lutins was provoked by its report on the "less fat" claims of Fry's Turkish Delight on 6 March into sending a scan of a U-Turn energy bar packet featuring the claim: "125% less fat than the leading chocolate candy brands". How do they work that one out?
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