All Motor Transport articles in 2017 – Page 17
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Eddie Stobart grows but return to stock market puts temporary brake on profit
Eddie Stobart saw turnover and earnings grow in the first six months of its financial year, but the cost of refinancing, its stock market listing and the end of an Irish retail contract resulted in a pre-tax loss.Having completed an initial public offering (IPO) on the Alternative Investment Market in ...
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Domestic freight set to grow despite ongoing driver shortage, says FTA
The HGV driver shortage is still rife, the FTA has warned, after its latest quarterly industry survey found almost a third of operators are facing long-term recruitment delays. The Quarterly Transport Activity Survey, sponsored by Santander, also found that members were keen for clarification on what the situation will be ...
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Menzies Distribution buys all-electric operator Gnewt Cargo
Menzies Distribution has bought what is thought to be the UK's largest all-electric fleet, with its purchase of final mile delivery firm Gnewt Cargo.London-based Gnewt Cargo runs a fleet of around 100 electric vehicles in the city, and Menzies said the acquisition will give the operator a "stronger, cleaner presence ...
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Welch's Transport sees profit fall due to staffing shortfall
Welch’s Transport saw profit fall in a year with an “uncomfortably high” turnover in operational staff, according to the firm’s latest annual results.The Cambridgeshire haulier’s newly published accounts for the year to 31 December 2016 reveal that whilst turnover rose by 6.3% to £13.4m (2015: £12.6m), pre-tax profit was 4.5% ...
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DAF refreshes LF with new 'urban friendly' engine and safety options
New DAF LFDAF has refreshed its LF range with a new ‘city friendly’ engine, exterior design and optional lowered passenger window to enhance safety.The DAF LF, operating in the 7.5- to 18-tonne range, can now be specified with a 3.8-litre PACCAR engine, the PX-4.This has two power ratings: 156hp and ...
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Attempts by migrants to illegally enter the UK fell in 2016 but remained historically high
Wall in Calais aimed at preventing migrants boarding lorries bound for Britain.Attempts by migrants to enter the UK illegally from French ports fell by almost a third last year.However the number of foiled attempts in 2016 remains the second highest in seven years, Home Office figures have revealed.Border Force prevented ...
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John Raymond Transport ready to bounce back after restructuring
Bridgend-based John Raymond Transport has endured a tough period but parent company Nolan Transport believes the required changes have now been made to return the haulier to health.Nolan Transport purchased John Raymond Transport in September 2016, with John Raymond stepping down from the board at that time to be replaced ...
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RT Keedwell buys urban Montracon trailers
RT Keedwell has put into service its first urban delivery vehicles, with two new 9.7m length Montracon trailers.Replacing a 17- and 26-tonne rigid vehicle, the operator said it chose the urban trailers "as we feel they are more maneuverable and more versatile" than their predecessors.The trailers will predominantly distribute pallets ...
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DHL Supply Chain to self-insure during platooning truck trial
DHL Supply Chain will insure itself while running autonomous trucks in the Transport Research Laboratory's (TRL) £8.1m trial of platooning trucks in the UK.TRL will run the trial, which could see platooning HGVs on major UK roads by the end of next year, in conjunction with DHL and DAF Trucks.DHL ...
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Border bother: what will Brexit mean for operators in Northern Ireland?
Traffic crossing the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the village of Bridgend, Co Donegal. Image PA NewsThere is widespread agreement among UK and Irish parties that there should be no return to what has been labelled a ‘hard border’ separating Northern Ireland and ...
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Majority of subbies must now have FORS to tender for contracts
Clients are increasingly mandating Fors accreditation from their subcontractors, with approaching half now demanding the silver level.A survey of 167 members of FORS found almost three-quarters had been asked to obtain FORS accreditation to gain access to contracts.The survey also found: 128 separate companies identified that specify FORS ...
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Platooning HGVs to be trialled on major UK roads
Platooning HGVs will be on major UK roads by the end of 2018, after the government committed £8.1m to trials of the autonomous vehicles.The trials, which will be funded by DfT and Highways England and conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory, will see up to three HGVs travelling in convoy ...
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We like to move it... but who will be doing exactly that after Brexit?
Industry leaders have called for logisitcs to be given dispensation after Brexit due to its reliance on EU workers. MT examines the issue.Road transport should be given special dispensation post-Brexit to avoid a skills crunch because of its reliance on EU workers, according to industry leaders.The call comes following home ...
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XPO Logistics renews contract with Maxxium UK
XPO Logistics has renewed its contract with spirits company Maxxium UK. XPO has been working with the business, which owns brands including Famous Grouse scotch and Courvoisier cognac, since 1999.The operator will continue to manage storage of Maxxium UK's products at its 125,000ft2 site in Mossend, Scotland.It is also responsible ...
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Road transport has vital role to play in fight against terrorism
All of us can, and must, play a part in the fight against terrorism. Even before last year’s devastating attacks in Nice and Berlin, police had been working with the commercial vehicle sector to issue advice on how to reduce the risk of terrorists and organised crime gangs using vehicles ...
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UK road transport industry in numbers
M1 near Milton KeynesIn 2016 the UK road transport industry moved more freight by both weight and distance than it has ever done since modern records beganAccording to newly published figures the UK road transport industry (excluding Northern Ireland) lifted freight amounting to 1.89 billion tonnes in 2016; a 15% ...
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Royal Mail begins electric truck trial in London
Royal Mail has started a trial of nine autonomous-ready, fully-electric trucks in London.The nine vehicles, a combination of 3.5-, 6- and 7.5-tonnes are the first to be built by automotive technology firm Arrival in partnership with Royal Mail.The trucks will be operating out of Royal Mail's Mount Pleasant depot in ...
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Warwick University develops electric vehicle concept based on Renault Twizy
An electric vehicle concept for the urban delivery market has been developed by design company Astheimer and WMG, Warwick University’s R&D department.Named the Deliver-E, the vehicle is based on a Renault Twizy platform, is fitted with a 48V 6.5kWh battery system with a peak power of 36kW, and has an ...
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Gregory Distribution sees challenges and opportunities as clients ramp-up tendering activity
A rise in firms tendering contracts more frequently and the loss of a large and "challenging" customer is presenting Gregory Distribution (Holdings) with both difficulties and opportunities.Reporting its results to 1 October 2016, the company, which has 32 depots across the UK, said the trend was presenting the firm with ...
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ULEMCo develops zero-emission fuel cell for Nissan van
Hydrogen engine retrofit company ULEMCo has developed a zero-emission fuel cell unit, which can be fitted to Nissan’s standard electric e-NV200 van to provide additional power.ULEMCo is set to launch a fuel cell-based unit that will extend vehicle range to more than 150 miles when fully laden.Using a 12kW fuel ...