Trucks
Commercial vehicle sales hampered by uncertainty over emissions rules
Efforts to improve sales of heavy commercial vehicles in the UK are being hampered by continued confusion over the technologies that will be necessary to comply with emissions regulations, according to EurotaxGlass’s.
Legal training days from FTA
The Freight Transport Association has joined up with legal firm Hextalls to provide specialist legal advice for the transport industry in the areas of commercial operations and employment law. Both events will be held at the FTA Conference Centre, Wadhurst, East Sussex in June.
Digital tachographs - one year on
Today (1 May) marks the first anniversary of the introduction of the digital tachograph to all new commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes registered in the United Kingdom. Since 1 May 2006 some 40,000 new lorries have all been required to fit and use the new technology following almost 25 years of the analogue tachograph since its progressive introduction in the early 1980s.
Imperial Commercials invests £1.6m in new Frome dealership
Imperial Commercials, one of the country’s leading commercial vehicle dealer groups, is investing over £1.6 million in a new, purpose-built dealership at Frome in Somerset. Construction has already started on the two acre, freehold site with completion scheduled for August this year.
Similar traffic-safety risks from drowsiness and drinking
Everyone knows that alcohol and driving don’t mix. Alcohol impairs the body’s coordination ability, motor skills, response times, vision, attentiveness and even cognitive ability and attitude.
Volvo Trucks in co-operation with European Transport Safety Council
At a seminar in Brussels this week, Volvo Trucks has launched a co-operative venture with the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC). Over a period of three years, the partners will conduct a campaign in Europe that goes by the name of ‘Safe & Sober’.
Transdanubia chooses Dynafleet for its 350-truck fleet
International transport and haulage company Transdanubia has chosen the latest version of Dynafleet, Volvo’s transport information system, for its 350 trucks. Over the next three years the company will replace its existing system with the new Dynafleet ‘Operate’ package.
Euro 5 budget ‘incentive’ fails to deliver real saving for truck operators
An incentive announced by the Chancellor in last month’s budget billed as benefiting early adopters of Euro 5 trucks fails to take account of the costs of compliance for SCR-equipped vehicles.
Drivers are key to cutting vehicle defects
More effective daily safety checks by lorry drivers would help reduce roadside prohibitions and help vehicle operators comply with the roadworthiness undertakings relating to their O-licence.
Fuso adds a 4x4 to its Canter range for the UK
DaimlerChrysler, which markets 3.5 to 7.5 tonne Mitsubishi Fuso Canter chassis through its Mercedes-Benz truck dealers, has added a high-mobility 4x4 Canter 7.5-tonner to the model line-up.
Off-the-shelf 7.5 and 18 tonne box vans come into fashion
Largely in anticipation of EU whole vehicle type approval (WVTA) requirements, due to come into force progressively from 2009, truck manufacturers are looking to supply selected chassis models in ready-bodied form. Though light CV makers like Ford and LDV have, spasmodically, over the years, offered box-vans, dropsides and even tippers for immediate delivery from dealers, the principle is relatively new at higher weights.
MAN six-wheeler makes its debut
Making its first public appearance in the UK is MAN’s ‘cruiserweight’ TGM rigid six-wheeler. The 26 tonnes gvw 6x4 is the last model in the German company’s regeneration programme, which began with the heavy-duty TGA tractor and eight-wheeler chassis and continued with the launch at the NEC two years ago of the light/medium duty TGL, aimed principally at the 7.5 tonne segment.
Hino ready to stretch its muscles in the UK
Japanese truck maker Hino said at the NEC show that it would extend its range of chassis offered in Britain and Ireland, with its model 3815, a 7.5-tonner, likely to be among the first.
Avia moves up to 12 tonnes
At the NEC show in Birmingham, Avia Trucks showed for the first time a heavier-duty derivative of its established 7.5-tonner. The newcomer is plated at 12 tonnes gvw or in ‘mini artic’ tractor unit form approved for operation at combination weights as high as 22 tonnes.
Renault Trucks offers a three-way choice at 3.5 tonnes
Transport users in the market for a 3.5 tonnes gvw truck – now the heaviest that can be driven by new car driving licence holders – now have a choice of three utterly different models from their Renault Trucks dealer.