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…

Crash avoidance kit

Eyedrive Systems says its Mobileye Advance Warning System predicts crashes before they happen, alerts the driver to the danger and can cut crashes by 50% or more.  The system uses computer vision technology to scan and check road and traffic data in real time and can copy warnings to fleet managers for driver monitoring.  Eyedrive aims to sell its systems to van, truck, bus and coach operators where it says the system will deliver big safety benefits and help firms meet corporate obligations.  Developed in the Netherlands over ten years by Mobileye NV, the kit uses easily installed computer-vision systems to predict frontal collisions, unintended lane departures and tailgating.  “It is a proven statistic that 80% of all road crashes are preceded by about three seconds of inattention, during which time Mobileye can bring the driver’s attention back to road,” says Mike Macro, at Eyedrive Sytems, the UK importer.  In June, the system won the Brake Fleet Safety Forum “Fleet Safety Product of 2009″ award.  BMW, GM and Volvo have adopted Mobileye.

More from Mike Macro on +44 (0)1 625 820 711 or mike.macro@eyedrivesystems.com

Click below for the rest…

European van, truck and bus numbers slide

European commercial vehicle registrations are down 37.2% to 883,301 in the first half of this year says Acea, the European vehicle maker’s association.  It says registrations have now dropped for 14 straight months, with a low of 152,832 or 34.8% down in June compared to the same month last year..  New, eastern EU states had some of the biggest percentage falls, with all but Slovenia down by over 50% and Latvia down over 86%.  By comparison, the generally larger, western European states saw smaller percentage but bigger volume drops.  For example, the UK lost 14,211 or 40.8% while France lost 10,434 or 20.2% and Germany 10,000 or 33% in June alone.  Overall, trucks over 16 tonnes fared worst, down 52.4%, while buses did best, down a mere 4.8%.

More from www.acea.be

Schmitz spreads the load

Schmitz Cargobull says it has a new system to cut the weight on a tractor unit drive-axle and reduce the risk of illegal overloads.  The Load Spread Program monitors and adjusts the trailer’s air suspension settings, according to the axle weights.  By cutting the air pressure in the trailer’s third-axle springs, the system takes weight off the front of the trailer and thus the tractor unit’s rear axle to avoid overloading.  This also cuts the trailer’s effective wheelbase, making the complete vehicle more manoeuvrable and cutting trailer tyre wear.  Schmitz says the system will retrofit to all air-sprung three-axle semi-trailers.  It recommends the Load Spread Program for operators who have trouble with rear axle overloading, particularly fridge operators whose trailers are often partially unloaded from the rear at successive deliveries.

More from Lloyd Arkil on +44 (0)1 923 777 897 or lloyd@am-pr.net

Stagecoach spends £71m on buses

Stagecoach just gave details of its a £71m spending spree on greener, smarter buses.  The firm said earlier this year that it would buy lots more buses for its provincial routes.  It now says it ordered 434 buses to work on routes in England, Scotland and Wales.  Bus makers Alexander Dennis, MAN, Optare, Plaxton, Scania and Volvo will supply a total of 115 single-deckers, 200 double-deckers, 43 midi-buses, 45 coaches and 1 mini-bus.  Alexander Dennis get the lion’s share of the bodywork business with 348 midi, single and double-deckers, Plaxton get 45 Volvo-based coaches, Van Hool get 26 and Optare get ten midi buses and one minibus.  There are four coaches for the firm’s “megabus” service too.  All will have engines to Euro 5 emissions regulations.  Stagecoach runs over 7,000 buses in the UK, carrying some two million passengers a day.

More from Steve Stewart on +44 (0)7 764 774 680 or steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup..com

New London aftermarket boss for Volvo

Nigel Base is the new aftermarket director at the Volvo Truck and Bus Centre, London.  He replaces acting director Jim Murray and has spent his career in the commercial vehicle business.

More from Nigel Hanwell on +44 (0)1 926 414 210 or nigel.hanwell@volvo.com

EcoDaily at the G8

Iveco says one of its new, electric EcoDaily light trucks went to work for the Italian Civil Protection department at the recent G8 Summit in L’Aquila, Italy.  The vehicle joined a 90-strong Iveco and Irisbus fleet, including two electric buses at the event.

More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 086 474 467 or jk@garnett-keeler.com

Servicing complaints drop

Motor Codes says it and garages are successfully raising customer service levels.  Data released this week by government-funded advice service Consumer Direct show the number of worries about workshops is dropping, down 4..16% for January to June this year compared to the same period last year.  “These figures show better performance from independent garages over the past few months,” said Chris Mason, Motor Codes director.  “The more businesses that subscribe, the easier it is for consumers to find the good guys.  There can be no better way for good garages to show that they want to be part of this success story.”

More from John Procter on +44 (0)2 073 449 263 or jprocter@motorcodes.co.uk

Another Cheetah for Coatham

Coatham Coaches of North Yorkshire just got a second Mercedes Vario-based Plaxton Cheetah coach.  The new 29-seater follows a 33-seat model the firm took last year.  All 29 Kiel seats have three-point seat belts and the new coach, to Plaxton’s Elegance specification, has air conditioning.  “We opted for the new Cheetah last year, and have been impressed by the customer feedback, so we decided to go for a higher specification model,” said the firm’s Mark Hodgson.  The new coach joins a 16-strong fleet, all doing tours, private hire and school contract work.  Plaxton Coach Sales at Anston won the business.

More from Andrew Warrender on +44(0)1 909 551 166 or andrew.warrender@transbusint.com

New truck and bus tyre boss at Michelin

Michelin says Bill Schafer is its new commercial director for truck and bus operations in the UK and Ireland.  For the past five years, he was vice president of its agricultural division in North America.

More from James Keeler on +44 (0)2 086 474 467 or jk@garnett-keeler.com

Volvo wins first UK Type Approval certificate

Volvo says it is the first truck maker to have a truck approved in the UK to the new European Whole Vehicle Type Approval rules.  The firm got certificate number 001 from the Vehicle Certification Agency, the UK’s Type Approval Authority on 29 April this year, the earliest date possible.  The truck involved was an FH 4×2 tractor unit.  The firm says the certificate means this model can be run anywhere in the EU without the need for additional certification.

More from Nigel Hanwell on +44 (0)1 926 414 210 or nigel.hanwell@volvo.com

More Solos go to work in Derbyshire

Arriva has put ten Euro 5 Optare Solo SR SlimLine buses to work on a network of high-frequency routes between residential areas to the south and east of Derby.  The firm says its drivers like the agility of the new, compact buses, which makes them easier to handle in city centre traffic and on housing estate roads where parked cars can cause problems.  “With 28 seats and space for up to 21 standees, the Solo SR has ample capacity at peak times and is also economical to operate at quieter times,” says Keith Myatt, communications manager for Arriva.

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

Krone wins Mega RH order

Krone says it has won a 50-vehicle order from the RH Group.  The German trailer maker will supply 50 new Krone Mega double-deck Dry Liners that the RH Group will put to work on existing contracts.

More from Judith Ball on +44 (0)1 326 560 400 or jude@m1marketing.co.uk

Recovery truck from Nissan

Nissan says its new, alloy-bodied 4.5 tonne Cabstar recovery truck has a 2.336 tonne payload.  The body gives a 4.950×1.950m deck area and the truck is plated for an 8.0 tonne gross train weight to give a trailer and payload capacity of 5.6t.  Prices start at £26,900 and options include rear-axle air suspension, a 7.5 tonne electric winch, a 150hp diesel rather than the standard 130hp unit and a five-seat crew cab.  There is an automated six-speed manual transmission option with the more powerful engine.

More from Gloria Maydew on +44 (0)1 923 899 937 or gloria.maydew@nissan.co.uk

Fiorino van gets more grip

Fiat says its Fiorino van now has an optional electronic differential lock as part of a package deal.  For £750 the Traction+ package on the 1.3 MultiJet diesel Fiorino van and Combi models also brings 15 inch steel wheels, suspension raised by 30mm, a sump guard, all-weather tyres and a chrome-finish front bumper.  The firm says the package improves performance on poor surfaces with no effect on running costs.  The diff lock applies brake force to the driven wheel with the lowest grip and transfers more torque to the other wheel, so giving more grip in slippery conditions.  “Traction+ will prove an extremely useful system for Fiorino customers where a 4×4 vehicle would be too much and two-wheel drive is not enough,” says Gerry Clarke, director, Fiat Professional.

More from Peter Newton on +44 (0)1 753 690 647 or peter.newton@fiat.com

And finally

“Who needs eyes anyway?” asks New Scientist reader David Smith, who sent the magazine’s Feedback team a photo of a packet of Jean Pierre Cosmetics “Eye & Make-up Remover” cleansing towelettes.

More from www.newscientist.com