Tachoblog

Thanks to the good folk at the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Tachoblog can bring you a roundup of the UK’s Commercial Vehicle news for this week…

CV Operator Show sparks enquiries

Last week’s announcement about the CV Operator Show has sparked a wave of enquiries.  “We’ve had a constant stream of phone calls and emails,” said David Crawford, sales manager for the event, planned for next Spring.  “Clearly there is pent-up demand from a very wide range of potential exhibitors keen to sell to transport operators.”  The CV Operator Show will run from 13 to 15 April next year, at the NEC, near Birmingham in the UK.  Crawford says the event will enable exhibitors to show the widest possible range of products and services used by operators of all sizes and types.  “With clear signs that the recession is lifting, the timing is just right and already we expect a busy show.”

More from David Crawford on +44 (0)1 634 261 262 or sales@cvoperatorshow.com

Oversize auto ambulances

Essen fire brigade has put two oversize ambulances to work to help move big patients or intensive care cases.  The special Mercedes-Benz Varios are 30cm wider than normal and have heavy-duty stretchers plated for 750kg, hydraulic tail lifts, 230v generators and 2.3 kVA inverters and Allison automatic transmissions to give smooth shifts and avoid jolting patients, carers or equipment.  The brigade’s main ambulances can carry patients weighing up to 170kg, but with more people now weighing 250kg or more, it wanted new vehicles to help it cope.  The new Varios also carry intensive care patients between hospitals; these people often need special kit like respirators, syringe pumps and heart-lung-machines.  Interchangeable loading gear means the ambulances can switch between intensive care and big patient mode in just 15 minutes, so avoiding the need for two more vehicles.

More from Claire Dumbreck on +44 (0)1 295 277 050 claire.dumbreck@m-eng.com

RHA welcomes better CO2 data

The Road Haulage Association welcomed work by Professor Alan McKinnon and Maja Peick, his research associate at Heriot-Watt University.  This should change the way we see the carbon performance of the road haulage industry.  The research shows that the carbon intensity of freight moved by trucks in the UK has fallen by 6% between 1990 and 2005 rather than rising by 11%, as official figures have suggested.  “Their research notes that estimates of growth in CO2 emissions from trucks between 1990 and 2005 have been cut by a factor of three, to just 10%,” says Jack Semple, policy director.

More from Kate Gibbs on +44 (0)1 932 838 917 or kate.gibbs@rha.net

New small Volvo for Travis Perkins

Search Impex says it just delivered a customised three-axle Volvo FH dropside rigid truck with crane to Travis Perkins.  “It is the first new Volvo rigid we’ve produced in the new Travis Perkins livery,” said Jim Newsome, managing director.  “It has a multitude of ‘play’ features including a working crane, opening dropsides and pull down hydraulic ram stabilisers at the rear.  It comes complete with four pallets and a pallet fork attachment for the crane.”  The new 1:25 scale model was built exclusively for Search Impex, one of the UK’s best-known customised promotional model vehicle specialists by Finnish firm Emek, known for producing larger scale models for younger enthusiasts.

More from Jim Newsome on + 44 (0)1 332 873 555 or info@search-impex.co.uk

Transaid Week 2009

From 29 June to 3 July, Transaid aims to raise cash and awareness for its development projects in Africa.  “Any support firms or people can give will be really welcome,” said April McGhee for the charity.  “Some firms will run dress down days or quiz nights; there are lots of things you can do to make a difference and any cash you raise really will help.  There are lots of ideas on our website at www.transaid.org.”  This year’s cash will go towards Transaid’s driver training project in Zambia and will also help increase access to healthcare for mothers and newborn children in Nigeria. “Last year we raised over £10,000 and this year we want to hit £20,000.”

More from April McGhee on +44 (0)2 073 878 136 or april@transaid.org

Cybit wins Kwik Fit deal

Cybit has won a deal to give Kwik Fit Mobile’s 200 tyre-fitting vans web-based fleet tracking.  This will help Kwik Fit manage its mobile workers and meet its duty of care obligations, in particular occupational road risk management.  The firm will also use the data from Cybit’s Fleetstar Telematics system to improve its corporate customer service.

More from Duncan Burford on +44 (0)1 780 721 433 or dburford@iba-europe.com

Brake test roller renovator

FTW says that its Regrit brake test roller renovation kit allows vehicle workshops to renovate worn brake test rollers at a fraction of the cost of replacement and without the hassle of dismantling the rollers.  “With companies looking to keep costs in check this is an ideal solution,” said Peter Treglown, for TGW.  “Regrit comprises a simple two-part formula that is quickly and easily applied to the rollers, cures in around 12 hours and is designed to last for years in normal use.  It also works with any make of brake tester.”

More from Peter Treglown on +44 (0)1 603 620 755 or peter@formulasthatwork.com

New customer services director for Optare

Optare says it has just moved Mark Wallis to a new job as customer service director.  Reporting directly to Jim Sumner, Optare’s chief executive, Wallis will handle all aspects of the service side of Optare’s product support, including the three regional service centres, the field-based service engineers and diagnostic technicians and the customer service team.  At the same time, Glenn Saint, the firm’s commercial director, takes control of its parts operation.

More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com

Trade credit insurance advice

After the government said that it will extend its help for firms that have had trade credit insurance cut, the SMMT has updated the funding and support area of its website.  “Firms can now get six months’ cover and, in some circumstances, up to 28 days’ retrospective cover,” said Jamie Harris, for the member services team.  “The guides on the website will help companies find and get cash and support services and our funding and business support helpline on +44 (0)2 073 449 224 is now very busy too.”  They also have information on European, national and regional schemes and on other sources of support like the European Investment Bank, Department for Business Innovation and Skills, Regional Development Agencies and Business Link.

More from Jamie Harris on +44 (0)2 073 441 661 or jharris@smmt.co.uk

Global truck market shrinks by 2.9% in 2008

Trailer and Bodybuilders in the US reports the global medium and heavy truck market shrank by 2.9% in 2008 to reach a value of $295.4bn.  This is according to Research and Markets’ new report, “Medium & Heavy Trucks: Global Industry Almanac.”  In 2013, the global medium and heavy trucks market should have a value of $456.1bn, an increase of 54.4% since 2008.

More from www.trailer-bodybuilders.com

New regional director for Scania

Scania says it just gave Neal Walker the job of regional executive director for the UK’s South East.  He will also work as aftersales director for the region.  Walker succeeds Martin Hay, recently promoted to new truck sales director for Scania in the UK.

More from Phil Sampson on +44 (0)7 885 152 132 or phil.sampson@scania.com

Low carbon opportunities

On 26 June in Birmingham, the SMMT, Advantage West Midlands and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce will tell firms about the opportunities and help for them to go to Auto Expo Delhi in early 2010.  The SMMT-led UK group going to the show will focus on low carbon technologies.

More from Les Parfitt on + 44 (0)2 073 449 233 or lparfitt@smmt.co.uk

Navistar reports $12m profit Q2

Trailer and Bodybuilders in the US reports that Navistar International Corporation made second-quarter profits of $12m, on $2.8bn in net sales and revenues.  Although the industry outlook remains tough, Navistar aims to deliver another year of expected net income on the back of cost cutting.

More from www.trailer-bodybuilders.com

Premium for Wilcox

Bilston-based textile reclaimer and processor, JMP Wilcox just got a three-axle Euro 5 Renault Premium Lander 450.26 drawbar rigid with hook loader.  The new truck joins a 40-strong mixed fleet delivering and collecting textile containers, mainly in London and along the South East Coast, from the firm’s Midlands head office.  “We find that the service we get from Renault Trucks Midlands is fantastic,” said Dan Wilcox, transport manager.  “We are due to replace three of our crane tippers and will more than likely take with the Renault Premium Lander 280 as we would like more in our fleet.”

More from Penny Randall on +44 (0)1 582 479 619 or penny.randall@renault-trucks.com

Better sat nav for trucks

The Freight Transport Association and the not so snappily named Location and Timing Knowledge Transfer Network plan a free workshop on improving satellite navigation for trucks.  The event will be in Teddington, Middlesex on Thursday 2 July.  The FTA says though sat nav is widely available, many operators don’t trust it.  The workshop will include a broad range of presenters and delegates and aims to “arrive at workable conclusions and, hopefully, a plan of action.”  It will cover updating maps, collecting truck data and presenting useful information in common formats.  It will also tackle the problem of involving local authorities, producing practical truck routes and gaining credibility for an inherently useful tool.

More from Karen Barlow on +44 (0)2 089 438 711 or karen.barlow@npl.co.uk

Brilliant lighting pays back in 18 months

Chalmor says its Brilliance lighting will save Lotus Cars over £3,500 a year at its warehouse and storage areas in Hethel, Norfolk.  As well as improving the lighting quality and cutting costs, the Brilliance fittings will give a payback on investment in less than 18 months.  The warehouse replaced 450W high-pressure sodium fittings with Brilliance fittings using fluorescent light sources. This more than halved the electrical load and cut consumption by 48,000 kWh a year.  The new fittings last more than twice as long as the old so that replacement cycles have extended from two to five years, saving more cash.

More from Paul Haddlesey on +44 (0)1 707 665 088 or paul@market-force.co.uk

GM pulls plug on medium-duty trucks

Trailer and Bodybuilders in the US reports that General Motors, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection, has said that it would cease production of Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC Topkick medium-duty trucks by 31 July after attempts to sell the operation failed.  The firm sold about 20,000 of the trucks last year, down from some 30,000 in 2007.

More from www.trailer-bodybuilders.com

VW names new pickup

The new Volkswagen pickup, first shown last year and due for launch in Europe in 2010, is to be called the Amarok.  The name means “wolf” in the language of the Inuit, an Eskimo tribe in northern Canada and Greenland.  VW says it also translates into “he loves stones” in the languages spoken in South America.  The Amarok will be launched as a 4×4 double-cab pickup with a single-cab version to follow later.  Both will be made at the VW plant at Pacheco near Buenos Aires, Argentina.

More from John Rawlings on +44(0)1 908 601 478 or john.rawlings@vwcv.co.uk

New boss for Webasto UK

Phil Hankin is the new managing director of Webasto Product UK Ltd.  The move follows Roger Edwards’ retirement in April.  Hankin says he aims to broaden the firm’s sales to include air conditioning in addition to its well-known independent heating systems.  “These can offer significant fuel cost savings and emissions reductions when applied to vehicles where engine idling has been used to provide these features,” he says.  “The systems can be scaled to give similar benefits to bus and even train operators.”

More from Tony Cooper on +44 (0)1 422 844 145 or anthonylcooper@tiscali.co.uk

New scanning kit from Palletline

Palletline says its new combined scanning and image capture equipment is an industry first.  Installed at its three hubs and across its network of member companies, the new kit is a £500,000 investment to improve efficiency and contribute towards automation.

More from Nikki Dawson on +44 (0)1 217 676 870 or nikkid@palletline.com

Strong interest in axle weighing

Axle weighing systems maker Axtec of Runcorn says it had strong interest in its products at the CIWM sponsored Futuresource show held recently at London’s ExCel.  “Despite the tube strike and the credit crunch we received a lot of very good enquiries,” says sales director Derek Hack.  “Visitors also wanted to know about our On-Board Axle Load Indicator and were keen to hear about new developments that include the ability to provide overload alerts back to the traffic office via a vehicle’s tracking device.”

More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com

Peter Taylor gets a gong

Peter Taylor, the Tyre Recovery Association’s secretary general and long time director of the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.  It is the first time that tyre industry has had a royal honour for many years and recognises Taylor’s pioneering work in developing a ground breaking tyre recovery and recycling programme.

More from Chris Wakley on +44 (0) 2 074 948 050 or cwakley@automotivepr.com

More automotive networking training

Warwick Control says it will run another of its popular automotive networking technology training courses, on Friday 10 July.  The firm added this new date to its calendar as past sessions sold out, leaving customers looking for new opportunities.  “This session is well booked already, but there are a few spaces available, said Richard McLaughlin, marketing director.  “After this, the next course will be sometime in the Autumn.”  This course aims at automotive engineers and technicians who want to get a good basic understanding of in-vehicle networking technology and how it affects the industry now and in the future.

The cost for the intensive one and a half day course in Warwickshire is £199.

More from Richard T McLaughlin on +44 (0)7 788 722 039 or richard@warwickcontrol.com

100th truck comes gift-wrapped

National drinks distributor Waverley TBS is using vinyl wrapping as part of a new fleet livery design.  The first truck to get the treatment is a Daf LF55.  This also the 100th truck into the firm as part of a renewal programme for its 230 strong truck fleet.  Fleet Manager Chris Davies says that the system involves completely wrapping the truck cab in pre-printed vinyl film.  “It is a fast and cost-effective way of applying a livery and protects the original paintwork from chips and scratches.  It can be easily removed to restore the vehicle to its original paint condition, leading to higher residual values.”

David Rowlands on +44 ( 0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com

New gully boom control unit

Whale Tankers has developed a new anti-vibration gully boom control unit.  The firm developed the unit to tackle occupational health worries about hand-arm vibration.  “Despite the fact that our existing unit fell within the accepted daily exposure limits, we share the view that exposure to vibration and high impact shocks should be cut further if possible,” said Andy Ellis, senior engineering manager at Whale.

More from Paul Watson on +44 (0)1 619 736 763 or paul@wentworthcomms.co.uk

New test kit for Parkinsons

Lincoln-based fuel injection specialist Parkinsons just got a second Bosch EPS815 test bench and Cam 847 Bosch tester..  The firm will use the new kit to expand is unit injector and unit pump testing and calibration service.  This includes the ability to test and calibrate Bosch Common Rail pumps for cars, vans, trucks buses and coaches.  Parkinsons says its investment is already paying off as its new capacity and UK-wide delivery service wins it more big deals.

More from Neville Otter on +44 (0)1 522 530 176 or n.otter@parkinsons.co.uk

And finally

New Scientist’s Feedback column says reader Roman Iwanczuk’s packet of Florida Crystals sugar says it is “Now certified carbon free”.  Roman is finding it hard to get his head around the concept of a carbohydrate with no carbon.

More from www.newscientist.com