FTA and Iveco helping to relieve industry’s headaches

The transport industry is facing fundamental changes to the way vehicle testing is delivered and how transport legislation is enforced at the roadside. A series of 12 seminars by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) will arm transport managers with information helping them to deal with these changes, enlisting speakers from the enforcement authorities and regulators, as well as industry and legal experts.

The series of seminars is being sponsored by leading European commercial vehicle manufacturer Iveco and will take place at locations spanning the length and breadth of the UK between September and December 2009. The programme reflects many of the cost and compliance challenges currently facing transport managers.
The seminars will feature:

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) setting out its vision for testing transformation and enforcement targeted at the least compliant;

Legal experts Backhouse Jones reviewing the changing role of the transport manager in ensuring safe operating practices;

Health and Safety Executive discussing developments in duty of care responsibilities, and;

A Police representative discussing effective drink and drugs policies within the workplace.

The seminars will also focus on smart ways for transport operators to manage costs, including presentations from the senior management team at Iveco, which manufactures vehicles from 3.2 to 44 tonnes. These will focus on how the latest developments in commercial vehicle design and technology can be used to improve safety and cut operating costs.

Simon Chapman, FTA’s Chief Economist, said: “The industry is under intense pressure from cost unpredictability, falling levels of activity as a result of the recession and a constant stream of new legislation and compliance practices. Transport Manager 2009 is intended to alleviate these headaches by ensuring that operators are well equipped to make business decisions about 2010 and that they do not take their eye off the ball when it comes to operating safely and within the law.

“Iveco’s contribution is particularly important as the choice of vehicle has significant implications on many of the key costs of goods vehicle operation. Even relatively small incremental savings through making the right vehicle choice can quickly add up and ultimately help the operator’s bottom line.”