Lombard wins van fleet deal for Calico Lombard says its van unit has won a sole supplier deal with North-West housing firm Calico Housing. Lombard will supply a Vauxhall-based contract hire fleet under its Van Plus+ in-house van build management service. It will deliver liveried vans complete with racking and roof systems and will provide accident management and fuel card services too. Julia Brown, facilities manager for Calico says Lombard were the “clear winners” from a “rigorous” tender process. Lombard says it has a growing number of housing association customers, with sole supplier deals for Wakefield Housing and Whitefriars Housing in Coventry done this year. More from Mark Carbery on +44 (0)1 832 272 197 or mark.carbery@btinternet.com New mini tracker Tramigo (UK) Ltd says its “highly advanced” T22 tracker measures 96x60x20mm and has a range of advanced GPS-based tracking capabilities and other features. There are no rental costs for the operator; so once fitted it will track a vehicle for the price of a text message. The cost of the unit is £249 including VAT, which could be the only cost for an operator on a no-rental SIM deal. The unit has an in-built list of 10,000 landmarks and operators can add up to 500 more of their own, so that the unit will reply to the operator’s phone with a text message to say where it is. More from Jane Hunt on +44 (0)1 253 595 558 or jane@catapultpr.co.uk EC launches green driving campaign The SMMT’s Week in Brussels bulletin reports that the European Commission wants to promote energy-efficient driving. Aimed mainly at car drivers, the joint campaign with Europia, the European Petroleum Industry Association will highlight the importance of correct tyre pressures and of closing windows at high speeds to cut drag. Both could help cut fuel use, carbon emissions and cash. Both are also relevant to commercial vehicles, though the EC might not have thought of that yet. More from www.smmt.co.uk Transport News Brief Week 23, Tuesday 3 June 2008 DfT consults on whole vehicle approval The Department for Transport just started consulting on whole vehicle type approval. From next year van, truck, minibus, bus, coach, trailer, motorhome and other special-purpose vehicle makers will have to meet new rules, the EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval Directive, which already applies to cars. This should make it easier to sell a bodied vehicle anywhere in the European Community. Between 2009 and 2014, vehicles must meet approved standards before they can be registered, sold and used. Low-volume vehicles sold only in the UK won’t have to meet the full EC standards but will need to meet simpler National Small Series or Individual Vehicle Approvals as a condition of registration. The consultation documents are on the DfT website and you’ve until 22 August to comment. More from www.dft.gov.uk DfT aims lift trade barriers Speaking about his department’s consultation on whole vehicle type approval, Jim Fitzpatrick, transport minister said, “These new requirements are designed to harmonise construction standards throughout Europe – removing trade barriers for manufacturers and ensuring common safety and environmental requirements for operators and consumers.” Presently regulations differ across Europe, meaning that vehicle makers must get a separate approval from each country into which it plans to sell a trailer or bodied vehicle. This means 27 different approvals and miles of red tape in as many as 23 languages to sell a vehicle range across Europe. That will change over the five years it takes for the new rules to work through. The consultation documents are on the DfT website and you’ve until 22 August to comment. More from www.dft.gov.uk No approval, no registration, no sale Under European and the less strict UK type approval schemes the Department for Transport just announced, a vehicle maker must ensure that its vehicles meet rules covering things like brakes, lighting, crash performance and environmental standards. Critically, the firm’s production processes will be checked to see that each vehicle coming off the production line meets the same standards. Each one will need a Conformity of Production certificate before it can be registered and go to work, whatever its approval level. As the DfT emphatically says, this can be a show stopper: “No approval, no registration, no sale.” The consultation documents are on the DfT website and you’ve until 22 August to comment. More from www.dft.gov.uk Trailer registration, of a sort Effectively, the only way to enforce whole vehicle approval and ensure the unscrupulous don’t dodge and distort the market against the people who do the job properly is to make approval a condition of registration. As the UK has consistently failed to register trailers, the DfT had to create a new system to stop trailers going to work unless they have valid whole vehicle approvals. For small trailers and caravans, retailers will keep the records. For trailers running at over 3.5 tonnes, Vosa will run a form of registration scheme. The consultation documents are on the DfT website and you’ve until 22 August to comment. More from www.dft.gov.uk MEP calls for tougher Euro 6 limits and earlier deadlines The SMMT’s Week in Brussels bulletin reports that German MEP Matthias Groote wants earlier and tighter limits on Euro 6 emissions from trucks and buses. He told the European Parliament’s Environment committee last week that new EU limits on Euro 6 emissions from trucks and buses should be tightened and brought forward by 18 months to April 2013. EU environment ministers will debate this in the next few days. More from www.smmt.co.uk No mega trucks here Ruth Kelly, transport secretary today rejected proposals to run “significantly longer and heavier” truck on British roads. Her decision follows the publication of an independent report, highlighting a number of issues making their use in the UK impractical, either on a permanent or trial basis. “This study shows that super-lorries are not compatible with British roads,” said Kelly. “Not only are there clear environmental drawbacks, but such vehicles would be unsuitable for many roads and junctions, while providing the infrastructure to accommodate them would require substantial investment.” The report, at www.trl.co.uk does say that there may be “worthwhile benefits” from a small length increase for artics. The DfT says it think about this one. More from www.dft.gov.uk G8 ministers support 2050 emissions target The SMMT’s Week in Brussels bulletin reports that G8 environment ministers said recently that they support a long-term target of halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But they don’t want to set mid-term targets. More from www.dft.gov.uk RHA to run truckers protest rally Following the truckers recent fuel price protest in London, the Road Haulage Association is organising a mass rally and lobby of Parliament in early July. It has the full support of the RHA Board of Directors and will coincide with a Scottish National Party amendment to the Finance Bill, calling for a Fuel Duty Regulator to stabilise fuel prices. “Protesters certainly captured the media’s attention for what is an absolutely just cause, but handing yet another letter to No. 10 does not move us any further forward,” said Roger King RHA chief executive. “To have an impact we need to get directly involved with a parliamentary process that will confront government face-to-face so that they have to answer publicly as to what they propose to do. Fortunately this amendment promises to do just that”. Last November the RHA issued a statement on its opposition to “pointless, potentially counter-productive and potentially illegal fuel protests.” How things, mostly fuel prices, have changed. More from Kate Gibbs on +44 (0)1 932 838 917 or kate.gibbs@rha.net Nissan and Ashok to build 100,000 light trucks for Rs 23bn (€3.5bn) Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. say they will spend Rs 23bn (€3.5m) on three linked JV firms to develop and sell 100,000 trucks up to 7.5 tonnes a year in India. This follows a deal between the two in October 2007. The firms will start work on three ranges from 2010/11, including a new Nissan Atlas F24 light-duty truck and new Euro 3 and Euro 4 diesels for light trucks. John Armitage, UK national sales manager of Ashok subsidiary Avia Trucks UK said, “This will not immediately affect the UK product line up of Avia Trucks UK, the future brand implications are extremely positive and far-reaching.” Ashok Leyland has a turnover of more than €1.3bn with a capacity of 84,000 vehicles a year and 100,000 more by 2010. It exports to over 20 countries. Nissan Motor Company’s turnover is some €66bn and sells in all major auto markets worldwide. More from John Armitage on +44 (0)1 642 806 008 or johnarmitage@aviatrucks.co.uk StepProtect cuts accident damage for Sainsburys Reversing Made Easy says it has won an order for another 300 StepProtect nearside front proximity sensor systems from Sainsburys. This batch will be fitted to the firm’s 2008 truck fleet. “The 300 systems we fitted last year greatly reduced our nearside front step damage,” said Paul Stephens, national fleet engineer for Sainsburys, who says the kit tackles pedestrian safety issues too. “Fitting StepProtect to the new fleet was a straightforward decision. The kit now forms part of the new vehicle spec.” A simple traffic light system and buzzer alerts the driver to any hazards at the nearside front corner of the truck. Steve Ransom, director at Reversing Made Easy says he’s delighted with the repeat order and adds that more and more large fleets are using StepProtect to cut damage and increase safety. More from Steve Ransom on +44 (0)7 766 600 500 or steve@reversingmadeeasy.com Over weight, over time and over here – Vosa targets high risk traffic The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency says many trucks on international work run overloaded, often with their drivers over their driving hours and some not even entitled to drive in the UK. Maintenance is often poor too. Vosa plans to use extra cash from the Department for Transport to recruit around 150 front line enforcement examiners as part of a plan to tackle the problem. They will work on roads and at ports targeting primarily international transport and those GB operators that it knows pose a risk. Dell Evans, Vosa high risk traffic project manager says he expects this will have big effect and “contribute to a fairer business environment for the GB haulage industry.” More from www.vosa.gov.uk New standard for LPG equipment published The British standards institute has published a new version of BS EN 12252:2005+A1:2008 which deals with LPG equipment and accessories. “This new standard details LPG equipment for road tankers to meet ADR rules from 1 January 2011 and is required reading for LPG tank makers,” said Allan McKenzie, senior manager, vehicle legislation at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “You can buy it online at the BSI website, www.bsigroup.com and it supersedes BS EN 12252:2005.” More from Allan McKenzie on +44 (0)2 073 449 202 or amckenzie@smmt.co.uk Cone-free crossings soon The Forth Estuary Transport Authority says Forth Road Bridge traffic can now cross virtually without road works for the first time since tolls were abolished in February this year. There is now a bus lane and a dual carriageway standard slip-road onto the A90 to cut traffic delays. Some traffic cones will remain on the A90 approach until new signs are working but there are no more major road works planned this year. Feta hopes people will now start to feel the long-term benefits of these improvements. More from Chris Waite on +44 (0)1 313 191 699 or chris.waite@feta.gov.uk AdBlue price hike Air1, Yara’s AdBlue brand just announced a Europe-wide price increase, effective from 1 June. The firm says the move follows the “exceptional rise” in energy and raw material prices over the last few months. These have forced other suppliers to make similar moves. The effect in the UK is an extra two pence a litre for Air1 customers. More from Paul Norman on +44 (0)7 785 570 181 or paul.norman@air1.co.uk £1.25m investment in telematics firm Telematics software firm Lysanda says venture capital outfit Logispring will invest £1.25m, helping it put its first product into production this year. Called Eco-Log, this records fuel and emissions performance within a 3% tolerance and at a very high frequency, without the need for any additional sensors. This data then drives real-time in-cab displays or network-based fleet management systems, aiming to help cut fuel consumption, emissions and cash. More from Alex Willard on +44 (0)1 621 890 240 or awillard@lysanda.com 500m lambda sensors from Bosch Bosch is celebrating making its 500 millionth lambda sensor. For 32 years these have been used to sense engine exhaust gas oxygen levels. That data goes to the fuel injection system where it is used to control of the air/fuel mixture. Since 2002, lambda sensors have also been used in diesel engines, providing similar data to help cut pollutant emissions. Bosch makes some 5,000 lambda sensors an hour. More from Marco Ferrari on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or mferrari@automotivepr.com RHA Board elects new chairman The Board of Directors of the Road Haulage Association has elected Andy Boyle of Herefordshire-based ABE (Ledbury) Limited as its new chairman. He succeeds Willie Oliver from Northern Ireland. Johnathan Bulmer of Bulmers Logistics was elected senior vice chairman and Tony Jones of Courtenham Warehousing and Distribution is the new junior vice chairman. More from Kate Gibbs on +44 (0)1 932 838 917 or kate.gibbs@rha.net Bus firm fined £60K over workshop accident The Health and Safety Executive says garage owners must ensure people are safe when working in or near vehicle inspection pits, following its successful prosecution of the London Central Bus Company Limited. This followed an incident in which an employee fell into a pit and suffered spinal injuries, just over a year after another died in similar circumstances. The London Central Bus Company Limited was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,347 at The Central Criminal Courts (the Old Bailey), after the company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and missed what the judge in the case described as “blindingly obvious risks.” More from Matthew Hall on +44 (0)2 072 618 343 or matthew.hall@coi.gsi.gov.uk EU carbon emissions up 0.68% The SMMT’s Week in Brussels bulletin reports that recent figures from the European Commission show the carbon output from European firms in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) up 0.68% in 2007 compared with 2006. This is despite the project’s aim to cut greenhouse gases. The Commission said the slight increase “underlines the need for the tighter emission caps that have been set for the 2008-2012 trading period”. 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