“This is an issue we have been pushing to the top of the political agenda for a long time”, said RHA spokesperson Kate Gibbs. “Although the report focuses on the cost to the holidaymaker, they at least have the advantage of choosing a destination where the price of fuel may well be less than that paid here at home. As the report says, compared with the UK, they will be quids in wherever they drive in Europe”.

The UK haulier has no such luxury of choice. Today, the average pump price for diesel stands at £1.20 per litre – the pre-tax price is 45 pence per litre.

“UK hauliers are providing an essential service yet they are seemingly being penalised. And to add insult to this particular injury, we are seeing more and more foreign hauliers on UK roads, their trucks filled with tanks of diesel fuel bought on the continent for a price that is considerably lower than their UK counterparts.”

“How many more sectors of trade and industry will it take to become aware of this gross tax differential before our new Government sits up and takes notice?” she continued. “We have already heard that new transport chief Philip Hammond will be exploring ‘pay-as-you-drive’ charges for foreign HGVs. We need these ‘explorations’ to become a matter of extreme urgency and not just another issue to be put on the back burner”.

According to BP Gas Logistics Support Engineer Willie Anderson, improving fuel economy and optimising driver safety, are the main reasons for their introduction.

Dynafleet is being used as part of Volvo’s Total Transport Solution, which also includes driver development and training, to improve fuel consumption as well as vehicle and load security through tracking and journey trails. It is also linked to the digital tachograph to monitor driver’s hours and availability.

I-Sync was specified, says Willie Anderson, to help drivers concentrate on safe driving, being equally advantageous on crowded city streets as it is on deliveries to the Highlands.

The trucks were all supplied through the BP Gas Head Office at Cambuslang by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland from its Glasgow West dealership at Cardonald. The delivery of the new FL’s takes the number of Volvo’s in the fleet to 60 out of a total of 80 vehicles.

All the FL’s have been placed on Volvo five-year repair and maintenance contracts with the emphasis on maximising vehicle utilisation with inspections and scheduled work carried out overnight or at the end of shifts.

“We’ve operated Volvo’s since 1984,” says Willie, adding “Of all the manufacturers we approached in the purchasing round, they were the hungriest for the business and keenest to meet all our requirements. Not only have we had good operating experience of the products and the service support from their dealer network, Volvo also shares BP Gas’s core values of safety, quality and care for the environment.”

For the second year running the companies have been the sponsors of a fund-raising golf tournament, which has resulted in a total of nearly £40,000 going to the County Air Ambulance Trust.

The golf tournament was the idea of haulier and Volvo-user Steve Benson who has had personal experience of an air ambulance rescue. The money raised by the golf tournaments has been earmarked for the Trust’s HELP Appeal which has been set up to pay for the construction of new helipads to enable air ambulances to land at key A&E and orthopaedic hospitals. Very few hospitals currently have helipads and a number of those that do need upgrading to provide more efficient transfers and night operations.

As Steve says:  “As a transport operator, I already knew how vital the role of air ambulances are in responding to air traffic accidents, but my own situation really opened my eyes to the difference their fast response can make.  I wanted to do something to help support their work and when I explained what I was doing to Volvo Trucks, whose vehicles I use, they agreed to give their financial backing.”[/private]

Nominations for the EuroTra Safety and Innovation Award are sought from all over Europe. The winning proposal is chosen among entries that best meet all or several of the following criteria:

• Presents a clear link with road safety and encourages a continuous process in the area of road safety;
• Has a connection with the benefits of training and education;
• Helps to solve environmental issues in the road transport industry; and
• Is innovative in its nature.

The entries are examined by a selection committee consisting of the President of EuroTra Mr. Geert Machenil, Mr. Daniel Vandenberge from CIECA and Mr. Carl Johan Almqvist, Traffic and Product Safety Director, Volvo Truck Corporation.

“We are very happy to support this prestigious award”, says Carl Johan Almqvist. “Safety is a significant part of the Volvo brand and one of our three core values.  We continuously strive to minimize the risks and consequences of accidents and to improve safety for the driver as well as for people and the traffic environment at large. But the industry needs new input all the time, and by supporting this award we can hopefully stimulate even more people to work with safety issues”, says Carl Johan Almqvist.

Safety awareness efforts last year’s winner
Last year’s winner was the Royal Mail Network Distribution of Great Britain for their efforts to raise industry awareness of safety products available on truck and trailer units. A study showed that over half of all accidents leading to injury occur when people move around the vehicle or manoeuvre the load. The efforts resulted in a concept truck with no less than 55 safety features to be used for a year in Royal Mail Network’s daily operation for testing and evaluation.

Nominations close on 2nd August, 2010 at 12:00 CET.[/private]

[private] The scheme involves erecting a 110m-long concrete barrier along the A160 westbound between Manby Road roundabout and Eastfield Road. The barrier, which will be placed along the verge, will improve safety by protecting an oil pipeline that serves a nearby refinery.

During the works, one lane will be closed in both directions, with a 50mph speed restriction in place for the safety of road users. Work takes place 24 hours a day.

Slight delays are expected and drivers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys. The scheme is scheduled to be completed by the end of May.[/private]

Trucks ordered by government customers are being assembled locally, while an independent distributor is supplying the private sector market with imported vehicles. This distributor is also responsible for the reconstruction of Scania’s sales and service network in the country.

“If the situation in Iraq continues to stabilise, within a few years the country can regain its position as Scania’s most important market in the Middle East,” says Martin Lundstedt, Executive Vice President and responsible for the company’s sales and marketing.

In the early 1980s, Iraq was one of Scania’s largest markets. At the peak, sales totalled 3,900 trucks in one year (1981).

Late in 2009, Iraq’s State Company for Automotive Industry (SCAI) began production of the first of 500 trucks ordered under the terms of an agreement between Scania and Iraq’s Ministry of Industry & Minerals. Production is taking place at the government’s Iskandariyah industrial complex south of Baghdad.

“Creating jobs in the country’s industry has been an important aspect of the agreement between Scania and the Iraqi government,” Lundstedt says.

Today the SCAI facility in Iskandariyah employs about 300 people in its Scania operations, which not only includes final assembly of truck chassis but also bodywork for delivery of ready-to-drive trucks.

“We are extremely proud of this truck and can hardly wait to see it at work for our construction customers,” says Staffan Jufors, President and CEO, Volvo Trucks. “With the new Volvo FMX, we are truly breaking new ground for us and our customers’ operations.”

The most obvious change with the new, high-clearance Volvo FMX is its robust, modern exterior. With a new upper grill, aggressive lower front, three-part steel bumper with 3mm thick steel corners, rugged skid plate and protective bull bar, this is a tough construction truck.

For additional functionality, the Volvo FMX also features a powerful tow hook, headlamp mesh protection, new anti-slip steps – just to name a few examples.

“A quick glance at this truck and its powerful stance immediately reveals the close connection between Volvo Trucks and our sister-company, Volvo Construction Equipment – among the world leaders in dumpers, excavators and wheel-loaders,” says Staffan Jufors. “The new Volvo FMX literally breathes construction – reflecting its capabilities, inside and out.”

Supplied by Volvo Dealer Wales and West Truck and Bus in Avonmouth, the FH16-700 is employed primarily to work with end-tip or walking floor trailers and is often required to negotiate narrow, unmade farm tracks as well as A-Class roads and Motorways throughout the UK and Europe.

Driver Derek Curtis, a partner in the business of H. Curtis & Sons, reports that the new Volvo is “simply amazing” when referring to the power, comfort and road-holding of his FH16-700. “I have always driven the biggest and best truck models available,” he said. “So I am used to comfort and power. But the phenomenal torque of this new Volvo with the latest I-Shift automated gearbox and steered centre-axle has really surprised me. It handles perfectly whether it’s in a farmyard or on an auto-route. ‘Awesome’ is an over-used term for this type of truck, but it really is simply amazing !”

Plated for operation at 44-tonnes the Curtis FH16-700 features all the comforts of home. Included are a refrigerator, microwave oven, flat-screen TV and full leather cab interior. Meanwhile outside, the tractor unit boasts a metallic pearl paint finish, polished ‘Durabrite’ alloy wheels and supplementary lighting.

Specified for optimum fuel economy without any sacrifice in performance, the 6×2 tractor unit is geared so that at the legal maximum speed of 90 kph, engine speed is limited to a leisurely 1200rpm.

“The low engine speed and massive power makes for a quiet, relaxing drive even when fully loaded,” says Curtis.

From Actia Muller to Wood Auto, Hall 4 of the NEC promises to be like a garage trade supermarket, with special offers on many stands.  Under one roof you will find suppliers of everything from a test lane to a Jubilee clip.

Strongly supported by the Garage Equipment Association, Workshop is designed to save your time by bringing you face-to-face with technical experts eager to provide solutions to your every business problem.  Where else will you be able to see, touch and feel the quality of a Stertil lift and test drive the latest Toughbook from Panasonic?

The true strength of Workshop is in the wide range of products and services on show, making it easy for you to compare specifications and offers while all fresh in your mind.  And, with thousands of fellow visitors like you, there will be plenty to meet whose experiences you can plug into to secure the right solution.

For CV technicians and workshop managers, a visit to the IRTE stand in Hall 5 is a must.  The full range of member services will be on show with plenty of advice if you choose to ask.  If you are not already a member, now is the time to join, as it costs a lot less than you think.

Workshop takes place next door to the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show from 13-15 April, 8.30 to 5.30 daily at the NEC Birmingham.  Many CV Operator Show exhibitors may also interest you, and you can witness the launch of several new light commercials from a wide range of global manufacturers including BMC, Fiat, Isuzu, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault and Vauxhall.

Finally, if you fancy a glimpse into the future, visit the stands of Aixam Mega, Allied Electric, Goupil Industrie and Smith Electric Vehicles.  Already on the road, one day you could be maintaining their offspring!

Entry to Workshop and the CV Operator Show is absolutely free. To apply for your personal entry pass, please go to www.cvoperatorshow.com or www.workshopshow.co.uk.

The launch of the new Kangoo Van Maxi sees Renault become the market’s only manufacturer to cover the complete spectrum of business user needs by offering the same compact van in a choice of three different sizes. This new version is almost 40cm longer than Kangoo Van and boasts an additional cubic metre of load volume.

Improvements to New Trafic make it more comfortable than ever together with reductions in CO2 and fuel consumption.

Renault has been the number-one brand in the European light commercial vehicle market for the last 12 years, with a market share of 14.8 per cent in 2009.

Professional competence today is a prerequisite for ensuring a competitive advantage to companies active on local and international markets. The IRU Academy thus helps to build this competence by harmonising training standards, incorporating international best practices and verifying, in an independent capacity, that these standards are in full compliance with international legal instruments and EU directives and regulations governing road transport.

CIECA President, Sonja Sporstøl, stressed “the key to ensuring that performance criteria are met and to improving road safety records is the development of common high-quality standards for training and testing. At European level, Directive 2003/59 EC was designed both to enhance road safety and improve the competence of professional drivers, which also reflect the core aims of CIECA. Moreover, across European borders, the continuous exchange of information between CIECA members and other parties allows for learning from each other and contributes to the creation of solid best practice examples.”

This IRU Academy Seminar highlighted the significant progress made on professional driver training throughout the world. However, the current lack of harmonisation between training programmes prevents quality training to display its full potential since policies and support measures implemented by national authorities too often vary from one country to another, resulting in major differences in both the number and nature of training standards. This causes significant problems for the industry’s workforce as it often prevents mutual recognition of credentials and conflicts with the very nature of international road transport operations.

Participants concluded that the collaboration of all actors involved in road transport professional competence is key to harmonise training standards, maximise driver competence and obtain mutual recognition.

The FH-440 8×2 rigid, plated for operation at 32 tonnes GVW, is designed for optimum flexibility in terms of load, while support will come from long-standing partners M.C. Truck & Bus Ltd., who also supplied the vehicle to the West Sussex plant and general transport operator.

“Why Volvo?” says owner Shane Lucking, “Because they’re extremely reliable and they do everything we ask of them, since we can get them built to our exact specification. We need our vehicles to be able to handle anything from a mini-digger to a 26-tonne crane to a multi-modal container; our contacts at MC Truck and Bus know our business as well as their own, and are able to give excellent advice through the whole the spec and order process. Volvos are comfortable, too – this FH is very much a driver’s truck, pleasant to work in with plenty of cab space.”

As well as the spacious Globetrotter cab, Northchapel’s drivers enjoy Volvo’s I-Shift fully-automated transmission, while the 440hp D13C engine is fully Euro-5 compliant. Externally, the truck features factory paintwork and a versatile Andover body. A front-mounted Palfinger PK36 crane dominates the deck, which is also equipped with a fold-over beavertail and chain lockers for plant work, as well as twistlocks for securing shipping containers. As Shane says, “It’s built to do anything!”

The upgraded vehicle is now being released with new components and software to be tested by Veolia Environmental Services in central London.

“Up to 30 per cent lower fuel consumption, low emissions and a low noise level make this hybrid a very attractive choice. That’s why we’re keen to test and develop the technology in partnership with Volvo Trucks, with whom we have developed a very strong working relationship,” comments Rob Stubbs, fleet director at Veolia, London and the UK’s leading waste management provider. The company has ordered the new refuse truck.

The new truck is an upgraded version of the trucks field-tested in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden over the past eighteen months. Like these trucks, the new refuse truck is what is known as a parallel hybrid. This means it has two separate energy sources, one for diesel and one for electricity, which can be used either separately or together. The benefit of this is that each energy source can be used where it is most fuel-efficient: the electric motor at low revs and the diesel engine at high revs.

The white Volvo FH12, which was pulling a plain blue curtainsider trailer, was located on Thursday in Liverpool.

HGV UK.com has partnered with Trucker’s World, the online haulage community in to promote the group’s Truck Theft Text Alert system, where an alert is sent out to members in the event of a truck being stolen.

“This has happened in only two days and demonstrates why the speed of getting the alerts sent out is so important. The sooner I am informed the better. I can send out the alerts in minutes. If Companies do not use this service, we will not beat these criminals, Barrie of Trucker’s World commented.

For more information of the Trucker’s World Truck Theft Text Alert system log on to www.truckersworld.co.uk

The white Volvo FH12 has the registration number BHZ 4827.

The truck has “Richardson Traction” in red lettering on the door and is coupled to a plain blue curtainsider with the number 009.

The Trucker’s World community received a text alert at 7.20am this morning advising members of the theft.

If you see this truck or trailer, please contact the police immediately.