Friday!  So it’s time for View From The Cab.  Join us as we take a look through the windscreens of the Tachoblog Tribe and see what they have.

This week’s View From The Cab starts with TruckerDesiree who wishes us a ‘Happy Friday from southern Utah’.

Now click below for more from TruckerDesiree and the rest of View From The Cab …

TruckerDesiree (and Karma) are ‘rolling thru the area of of Utah close to my favorite national park called Zion’ …

… Her final View From The Cab comes from the ‘East edge of the San Rafael on I-70. Nice drive’.

TruckingdogKarma sent is this from ‘wen I wuz at yewtah times fer my walkings’ …

… And this wun is wen my View From The Cab so gud we gits tew stop fer a piktur [oddly enough again from San Rafael].

Finally for this week we join Vic H in New Zealand for a trip down memory lane.  Vic asks, ‘Do you remember the folk song known as “The Three Bells” or “Little Jimmy Brown” which was a big hit for a few weeks in the dim distant past, but a couple of days ago a snippet of one of the lines kept running through my head as I was driving along the Kaikoura coast on the way home on a rather miserable day.

The line was “one rainy morning, dark and grey” which seemed very appropriate to the day so I thought a few photos were in order, firstly as I headed down from the hills to the coast’ …

… ‘Then along the coast road with a grey sea and a grey sky and drizzly rain’.

If you know the song Vic means and want to hear it again.  Or (like Tachoblog) have no idea what it sounds like … here it is

Tachoblog’s thanks to the Tachoblog Tribe for sending in their Views.  And that’s all from View From The Cab for this week.

Would you like to be part of that – or any other View From The Cab?  If you’re a driver then you’re welcome to join in.

All you have to do is is email your View(s) to vftc@tachoblog.com or send a tweet starting #vftc to @tachoblog, or post them on Tachoblog’s Facebook Wall.   Please remember include a line or two of text that says, if nothing else, where the picture was taken.

Tachoblog’s View From The Cab – 3.8.12 is a post from: Tachoblog

Andy Maclean the Editor of the V8 Telegraph has sent Tachoblog this shot of a fully restored and beautiful 1938 Ford E88T.

Andy said, “I thought I would send you this picture of one of our members newly restored 1938 Ford E88T and started life as a Huntley and Palmers biscuit van.

Click below for more …

“The Ford E88T has a 24 hp in line 4 with a four speed crash gearbox. As you can see from the sign writing it is celebrating 100 years of the family business.

“Hope you enjoy the picture [Tachoblog certainly does!] it was taken on this years London to Brighton and was taken by Colin Peck.

“It was fresh from a complete restoration to advertise 100 years of the family business and it belongs to John Mould of Reading.

“This is another of John’s trucks on the same London to Brighton Run 2012.”

Tachoblog says thanks for the pictures, Andy.  We really like the Ford E88T.  But what is the other truck?

Classic 1938 Ford E88T is a post from: Tachoblog

On Monday night eight footballers came out the back of a new bright orange Vauxhall Movano – painted in Luton Town colours – to a cheering crowd.

Luton Town Football Club wanted to blast everyone with their new away strip.

What better way to do this but at a special viewing at the recently-opened Ramada Encore Hotel, at Luton Airport.

Click below to find out more …

The Vauxhall Movano was lent by Vauxhall, reinforcing a link with the continued presence in the town of the UK’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer.

The players concealed themselves in the back of the Vauxhall Movano whilst sponsors, local business people, family & friends enjoyed refreshments served in the newly furbished contemporary Ramada Encore Hotel.

Guests were invited outside, the back doors of the Vauxhall Movano were opened and out strode the players modelling their new away strip.

“There was a real buzz from the crowd as the players stepped out and the bright orange backdrop showed off the smart navy kit very well,” Cherie Denton, Community Relations Co-ordinator for Vauxhall told Tachoblog.

David Hoskins, Commercial Manager for Luton Town Football Club, called out, “Well what do you think of it?” and a loud cheer came from the many people who have a long standing relationship with the club.

Luton Town’s Football Club Away Kit is now on sale.

Vauxhall Movano Is Football Club’s New Changing Room is a post from: Tachoblog

RFID-enabled Plastic Pallet Pooling has arrived in Europe thanks to PLS.  The company who specialise in plastic pallet rental and management services are now offering RFID plastic pallet pooling as standard.

The company, which is a subsidiary of Bibby Distribution, says that by adopting this advanced method of asset tracking, customers can achieve greater visibility of pallets as they move through the supply chain.

This results in increased productivity, better inventory management and, ultimately, reduced costs.

“It’s about making assets work harder,” Jon Graves, General Manager of PLS, told Tachoblog.

Now click below for more on RFID plastic pallet pooling …

“Whilst the technology has been around for many years, the cost characteristics have been prohibitive; however, these issues have now been addressed. Cost and performance are now at a level which makes the adoption of RFID tracking a logical development.

“RFID gives a greater level of control and visibility than more traditional systems used to track pallets. By listening to our customers, we have found that they are particularly keen to see a more comprehensive level of data by which to improve the performance of their supply chains.

“RFID is a more accessible technology and provides the ideal solution to the complex issues they face,” added Graves.

Each pallet is fitted with two Gen 2 Electronic Product Code (EPC) compliant passive RFID tags to ensure maximum readability. Traceability is also improved as each pallet is also sequentially numbered and bar coded.

The use of EPC compliant tags enables the PLS pallet to be integrated into the customer’s supply chain and RFID systems. This generates additional efficiencies, such as assisting in product tracking and automatic inventory updates within the customer’s supply chain, as well as when pallets reach the end customer.

PLS – which has been involved in a four-year development programme with the technology – says the move to plastic pallets, over the traditional wooden variation, is gathering pace as companies become increasingly aware of the hygienic, economic and environmental benefits.

Inefficiencies in identifying lost and misplaced pallets, which can often lead to erroneous customer billing and inaccurate records on usage rates, have also been areas of concern.

“There may have been reluctance by some customers to adopt the use of plastic pallets and other returnable systems due to the cost of lost equipment. However, for those faced with annual outlays in excess of £50,000 for lost pallets, this technology could quickly prove indispensable,” added Graves.

“The motivation to develop and introduce RFID tracking, which will now be offered as standard, comes back to transparency, and enabling our customers to become more efficient and precise in their operations.

“As we develop new pools of equipment in new markets, we will continue to base this around RFID and exploit the technology to realise further opportunities. There are many ways to use the data generated, over and above simply tracking assets, and we will be working with customers to build on this and respond to industry-specific challenges.”

For further information on PLS visit http://www.packaginglogistics.com

Plastic Pallet Pooling – With RFID As Standard Too is a post from: Tachoblog

In May last year, DAF Trucks Russia opened  its own marketing and sales office in Moscow with the main objective to enlarge its presence on the Russian market.

With the expansion of the DAF Trucks Russia network to thirteen Sales & Service Dealers, the start of a PACCAR Parts Distribution centre and the delivery of more than 3,000 trucks since May 2011, DAF Trucks Russia has made a successful start .

With the fast growing Russian truck market, the interest in West-European trucks is also strongly increasing. The expectation is that by 2015 more than 36,000 will be registered in the heavy truck segment compared with 26,000 in 2011.

Now click below for more on DAF Trucks Russia …

“With more than 1,500 trucks delivered, DAF has achieved a market share of 6.9% in 2011 among the European brands,” Arie Hendrikx, Managing Director DAF Trucks Russia, told Tachoblog.

“This year we are aiming for a 10% market share which corresponds to about 2,700 trucks.”

DAF Trucks supplies the Russian market with the XF105 Space Cab for long-haul transport:

“In Russia the XF is known as the truck that combines low fuel consumption with high driver comfort, efficiency and reliability,” says Hendrikx. “To build on our market position, we are currently investigating the possibility of also introducing the DAF LF and CF.”

At the beginning of 2011, the dealer network consisted of DAF Trucks Sales & Service Dealers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and DAF Service dealers in Ekaterinburg and Smolensk.

During the last twelve months DAF has established eleven new Sales & Service Dealers on the Russian market with the long-term aim of having more than twenty full dealerships at its disposal.

“We continuously work on expanding our network to provide our customers in the best service possible. We now have new DAF dealers in Moscow, South-Russia, the Urals and the Volga region in the centre of the country. Later this year we expect to add new dealer locations in East-Russia, South-Russia and Siberia to the network.”

To provide in maximum service, PACCAR Parts has established its own parts distribution centre (PDC) near Moscow. Hendrikx, “A customer requires maximum utilization of his trucks. The optimal availability of DAF parts in combination with short delivery times play an essential role here.”

DAF Trucks Russia – A Successful Start is a post from: Tachoblog

View From The Cab is chock full this week. So let’s get on with it and have a look through the Tachoblog Tribe’s windscreens.

With UK,American, Scottish, Irish, New Zealand and meteor craters (honest) coming up we have a lot for you to see.

This week’s View From The Cab begins in Sweden where we join Bergmanman, ‘going over the ‘high coastal bridge’. Hauling 37 ton concrete pillars to a railroad construction site.  The bridge is called Högakustenbron. It’s located between Örnsköldsvik and Härnösand in the northern parts of Sweden’ …

…  And here he is unloading.

Now click below for more from Bergmanman and the rest of View From The Cab …

… We continue our travels with Bergmanman on this, ‘exciting road’ …

… Here he is ‘feeling kind of over sized for the road. 60 tons, 4,5 m high and 24 m long.

Next up we join Billybigrig – the first of several drivers from ‘near’ to Tachoblog – as he’s in Immingham, England waiting to board the Clipper Point for a 23 hour rock n roll to Cuxhaven …

… ‘Just “Killing time” in Aberdeen port’ …

… ‘Looking up the Thames from halfway across a pier at Port of London, Gravesend’ …

… His last View From The Cab is taken at the end of the pier delivering this VIP “taxi” for the Olympics ’.  An apt View – says Tachoblog – as the opening ceremony of London 2012 is tonight (but you knew that).

To America now as we join TruckindogKarma (TruckerDesiree’s faithful companion) who says, ‘she takes me fer my walk at nites tewday so we culd go tew city early before tew much cars’.

Back to England now with this View from Birkenhead docks by Jayceebigrig.

Before we hop into America again where TruckerDesiree sent this ‘shot from Lake Village, Arkansas’ …

… ‘We were running ahead of schedule so we stopped someplace I’d never been before in Arizona’ …

… ‘Have you been to Meteor Crater in Arizona?’ …

… ‘Rather than have a sit down meal, I took a hike here & made a sandwich’ …

… Finally TruckerDesiree (and Karma) ‘are getting ready to roll out soon from into southern cal’.

View From The Cab goes to Ireland now.  And Bigrig480 is up at ’4am. Tuck in your elbows. It’s narrow!’ …

… ‘Perks of milk collection early in the day – dawn over North Cork’ …

… ‘Delivering cattle feed in my little FM420′ …

… ‘Out in the FM rigid in Millstreet Co Cork’ …

… ‘Another tight one for an artic’.

Our final Views come from Vic H in New Zealand who has had ‘one of those weeks …

‘Firstly heading south through Atiamuri, where they are building a new bridge over the Waikato river to replace the old one which is pretty dodgy and has had a 50km/h speed limit on it for some time, I was held up for a while to let a Terex motor scraper and a Volvo dump truck cross the main road’ …

… ‘Then I had to stop at the temporary traffic lights in the Waioeka Gorge at the site of a large landslip to let a Mack Qantum through. For the North American members of Tachoblog, a Mack Qantum (correct spelling) is a cabover Mack built in Australia which has a Renault cab, and is a very popular model in Australia and New Zealand’ …

… ‘Later on in the South Island I was held up for a short time by this train, the first time I have ever met a train on this particular level crossing’.

That’s all for View From The Cab this week.  See what we meant about it being chock full now!

Tachoblog’s thanks to the Tachoblog Tribe for sending in their Views.  Wonder if we can have an even better post next week?

Would you like to be part of that – or any other View From The Cab?  If you’re a driver then you’re welcome to join in.

All you have to do is is email your View(s) to vftc@tachoblog.com or send a tweet starting #vftc to @tachoblog, or post them on Tachoblog’s Facebook Wall.   Please remember include a line or two of text that says, if nothing else, where the picture was taken.

Tachoblog’s View From The Cab – 27.7.12 is a post from: Tachoblog

Even if you only occasionally read Tachoblog then please pay attention – this is VERY important.

You might have noticed some changes to Tachoblog in recent weeks.

The big one is how we’ll be emailing you from now on.

Every day we send you an email all about the posts we’ve made that day.

If you want to get this – or keep getting this – then you MUST signup and become a member of the Tachoblog Tribe.

It’s easy …

Just put your name and email address in the boxes on the right.

Job done.

Why not do it now, before you forget.

Changes to Tachoblog is a post from: Tachoblog

For as long as most of us can remember, fuel prices have continued to rise while the promise of cheaper and more ecologically-friendly vans and trucks has seemed almost impossible.

It’s always seemed like a great idea on paper, but is it really feasible in the real world of fleet management?

Well, increasingly it seems like it might just be so.

There are now plenty of ways operators have been able to cut their costs on all sorts of overheads, with mainstream price comparison sites like MoneySupermarket also keen to push their offers on things like van insurance (which you can find out more about by visiting this page).

But the emphasis on greener transport that continues to fill the news also has its own knock-on effect for the future of the industry.

Now click below to read more …

The Energy Saving Trust, for example, has been very active of late in helping to change the way the UK haulage industry is thinking about cheaper, zero-emission vehicles. Just this month, the group announced that it would be working closely with 20 organisations including Boots, Network Rail and WM Morrisons to help develop roadmaps based on the introduction of electrically-powered fleets and how these might lead to “powerful savings”.

Commenting on the development, Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “Electric vehicles are an essential part of the low-carbon revolution … the number of electric vehicles on the market is growing all the time and fleets are already leading the way with adoption of these new technologies. This scheme will make that easier by giving fleet managers the information they need to pick the right vehicle for their business.”

And it isn’t just Government-funded agencies like the Energy Savings Trust that are keen to push innovation in the field of environmentally and economically-friendly fleet solutions. Most manufacturers nowadays are doing everything they can to invest in new technologies that allow fleet operators to boast green credentials.

Renault, for example, now has their 100% electric ZE models that are designed specifically to help businesses lower their overheads and act in a more ecologically responsible manner. The number of publications and groups out there that are also adding specific green awards to their annual honours also seems to suggest that this is a trend which is likely to continue.

While it remains to be seen how the future of fleet management will change, it seems the industry is moving ever closer to being aligned with best practice ideals about low emissions and economy. While this is something that will no doubt trouble the oil industry, it is something many of us will welcome as a new age in transport.

Is The Era Of The More Economic Fleet Finally Upon Us? is a post from: Tachoblog

Fed up with Mercedes Sprinter vans always overtaking you?  You need the stunningly quick, fastest Mercedes Vito in the world then.

Of course the fastest Mercedes Viro is no ordinary van.

No, Andrew Bartlett’s Gasrite Plumbing Vito is powered by a nitrous assisted 632ci Chevrolet V8 engine.

And here is the fastest Mercedes Vito in the world at Heathcote Park Raceway in May this year.

It ran a best pass that day – 8.04 @ 175mph.  Now you can see why it’s the fastest Mercedes Vito!

World’s Fastest Mercedes Vito Van is a post from: Tachoblog

Now then all you classic truck fans.  Why is this Toyota G1 Truck so important today some 77 years since it was first built?

Well Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced that in June, its worldwide cumulative vehicle production surpassed 200 million units.

And it all began almost 77 years ago with the Toyota G1 Truck.

Now click below for more on the milestone and the Toyota G1 Truck …

The milestone actually took 76 years and 11 months to reach, and – as we’ve said – began with production of the Model G1 truck in August 1935 at Toyoda Automatic Loom Works Ltd.’s Automotive Department, which was spun off and later became TMC.

As of the end of June, cumulative production in Japan reached145.21 million vehicles while overseas production reached 55.12 million vehicles.

Cumulative vehicle production since 1992 at Toyota’s manufacturing facilities in Europe, including facilities in the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, France, Portugal, Russia and Turkey reached 7.44 million unit sat the end of 2011.

Marking the achievement, TMC President Akio Toyoda told Tachoblog, “I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to our customers the world over who made it possible for us to reach this milestone.

“I also have the most profound respect and gratitude for the efforts of all persons who were involved in developing, manufacturing, and marketing Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the years.

“We are determined to make our cars even better, to continue to give our customers the best possible product. This is the common goal of our 300,000 Toyota staff members worldwide.”

And here’s a Toyota fact for you:

The most-produced model among Toyota-brand vehicles isn’t the Toyota G1 Truck but the the Corolla.

77 Years On This Toyota G1 Truck Is Very Important is a post from: Tachoblog