Fleet news round-up: February 2, 2010
Scania wins £50m UK truck order
Scania (Great Britain) Limited has won its largest ever order, a 1,000 truck deal for the Stobart Group and AW Jenkinson Forest Products. The trucks are probably worth some £50m at "showroom" prices. The two firms run a joint buying deal that includes trucks and have ordered 1,000 trucks, mostly Scania R-Series but including "significant" numbers of Scania G-Series. All are tractor units and deliveries start in March 2010. The order splits 80:20 in Stobart’s favour, with the firm taking additional and replacement trucks. "The Scania product is well-known and appreciated by both our companies," said William Stobart, Stobart Group’s chief operating officer.
New Master from Renault
Renault Trucks has launched a new version of its Master van and light truck range, with a weight range from 2.8 to 4.5 tonnes. The van payload range is from 994 to 2,254kg and up to 17m3. There are new engine versions, new rear-wheel drive models and a new cab design. Panel van, chassis cab, chassis double cab, chassis cowl, platform cab and platform cowl models will appear through 2010. These will come with front or rear-wheel drive and with single or twin rear wheels, depending on model. The firm quotes fuel figures of less than 8/100km and says it will support the new range with its Fast & Pro van sales and service centres, Start & Drive repair and maintenance contracts and Expandys warranty extension contracts.
February van deals from Citroën
Citroën is offering van operators a month-long, nationwide opportunity to do deals across its Berlingo, Dispatch or Relay panel van range. The firm says it has a "unique combination" of additional safety benefits and low contract hire rates available in its first ever ‘Commercial Vehicle Month. This runs across the UK’s Citroën dealer network in February. Any of these new vans ordered between 1 and 28 February and registered by 31 March will get a three year ‘Safe Speed’ safety camera alert package, worth over £300. This is on top of the Trafficmaster Smartnav system, fitted as standard to these vans. Finally, all the Citroën dealers involved will offer contract hire deals, from £174 a month for a Nemo to £279 a month for a Berlingo.
RFA reports on RTFO failures
The Renewable Fuels Agency’s report on biofuel supplied in the first year of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation says several fossil fuel suppliers failed to deliver sustainable biofuels.
Equalize truck and car speed limits
The Freight Transport Association says more cash spent on roads and a "more intelligent approach" could improve road safety. This follows the Road Safety Foundation’s report on trunk road safety. The RSF used a Europe-wide to assess English roads and gave but two stars to the over 65% of single carriageway trunk roads where only paint prevents head-on collisions. Malcolm Bingham, head of FTA road traffic management policy called for equalized speed limits between cars and trucks on "these dangerous, single carriageway roads where reckless overtaking is a proven killer."
Tachomaster analyses on show
Transport software firm Road Tech will use stand 5758 at the CV Operator show this spring to demonstrate Tachomaster, its revolutionary and "market leading" tachograph analysis system. "From a standing start just four years ago, our data shows that we’ve already got 61% of the market," says Derek Beevor, MD. "Tachomaster, at www.tachomaster.co.uk, analyses digital, analogue and Working Time Directive data instantly on your PC for £1 a driver a week." The system includes a huge range of reports including Driver and Vehicle Use, Agency Self Billing, Drivers Daily Vehicle Check, Missing Mileage and much more. "Come and see us at the Show, see a demo and collect a 28-day free trial disc too."
EC to charge trucks for pollution
A new report from the European Commission’s in-house Joint Research Centre says that the advantages of charging trucks for pollution justify the higher prices this will men for consumers. The report supports the EC plan to revise the Eurovignette Directive on truck tolls to allow national governments to cover pollution costs. It also suggests that the price rises would be "negligible" and that the plan would cut road freight CO2 emissions by 8%. It says that truckers can absorb 20% to 30% of cost rises by using greater efficiency.
New truck-specific satnav
Clarion has launched a "revolutionary" portable satnav for vans and trucks, able to find routes based on a vehicle’s size and weight. The MAP690TRK uses three different vehicle profiles, taking data on height, width, length, actual and maximum gross weight, axle weights and trailer data. Route calculations use bridge heights, weight limits, tunnel heights and width and hazchem transport restrictions. Other tools allow for load and waiting times at pre-determined stops while a travel time monitor checks driving and rest times. The system displays foreground buildings as see-through to avoid obscuring the view of the next junction. It also shows terrain in 3D to give better guidance on roads in 44 counties across Europe. It has a ‘car’ mode too, has 38 languages and costs £399.00.
First firms sign up to ATF contract
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency just published the Authorised Testing Facilities contract and said that three firms; Wincanton, TruckEast and Scania (Great Britain) Limited have already signed up to run ATFs. Vosa is changing truck, bus and trailer testing by setting up an ATF network. Its people will do testing at ATFs, which will be at operators and dealers’ sites. The aim is to move testing closer to customers’ and vehicle maintenance sites, give more choice of test site, more flexibility and so less downtime.
SMMT wants action on digital radio
Vehicle makers, broadcasters and governments must work together to meet plans to fit digital radios into all new vehicles on European the roads by 2013 and for every other vehicle to be "digitally enabled" by 2015. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has told the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications that there is too little action, coordinated research and development between the parties. Its members broadly back the government’s digital radio aims but worry that many of the UK’s 31m strong vehicle fleet won’t be adapted in those two years and will need converters and trained technicians to fit them. Paul Everitt, SMMT boss says "it is essential" that there is a "thorough cost/benefit study" before the government agrees a date.
GFS delivers for Transaid
Global Freight Solutions, a leading UK parcel carrier says that Transaid will be its nominated charity. Transaid, which works to improve the way transport is run and managed in developing countries. It has launched an emergency transport scheme for pregnant women in northern Nigeria, so they can get to health facilities when they are most in need. GFS will support this initiative.
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