All Article articles – Page 700

  • Article

    Top 100 in a better place

    2013-11-18T20:50:00Z

    The MT Top 100 largest operators in the UK run on an average margin of just 2.6%, and this comes after the industry became more profitable in 2012.In 2011, average return on sales was just 0.86% as operators struggled in a weak economy, but 2012 saw a major rebound.This has ...

  • Article

    Funds from HGV road levy should be ringfenced

    2013-11-18T15:58:00Z

    The Unite union has called on the government to ringfence money raised from foreign truck operators by the HGV Road User Levy for investment in the UK’s transport infrastructure.In a transport strategy document published last week, the union suggested any funds raised by the levy, which is due to come ...

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    Article

    FTA fears Birmingham's road transport strategy

    2013-11-18T14:38:00Z

    The FTA has warned that a proposed low emission zone for Birmingham, along with a road user charging scheme, lorry restrictions and greater implementation of consolidation centres put forward by the city council, could have a damaging effect on freight deliveries in and around the city.The plans, contained in a ...

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    Article

    If tankers are your trade - Tank-ex 14 is the show for you

    2013-11-18T14:24:00Z

    The tanker industry has a new show dedicated to it: Tank-ex 14. The show will run alongside Tip-ex 14 at Harrogate International Centre on 29-30 May.Exhibitors confirmed include: Crossland Tankers; Feldbinder (UK); Fort Vale; Gardner Denver; Integrated Tanker Services; Jost UK/Edbro; Maine Group/Parcisa; MAN; PFS Fueltech; TCL Tanker Rental; TIP ...

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    Article

    Engaging with the cycling debate

    2013-11-15T14:17:00Z

    A chat this week with Miniclipper MD Peter Masters about the business inevitably lead to discussion about the cycle safety debate, which was reignited this week.Masters' views were in tune with much of what we hear from Motor Transport readers. He pointed out that not all cyclists are aware of ...

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    Article

    Will the Christmas peak be later this year?

    2013-11-15T14:06:00Z

    The Christmas peak could be even later this year, as early indications suggest slower growth in parcel volumes than in previous years.As parcel carriers are gearing up for the busiest time of the year, MetaPack claims parcel volumes since the beginning of September have risen just 8% this year, compared ...

  • Article

    Creditors of South West Delivery Services facing bleak outcome

    2013-11-15T12:29:00Z

    A short update on the fate of South West Delivery Services, which it was revealed owed more than £1m to creditors when in was placed into liquidation in June.Liquidator Simon Lowes of Ashtons JWD told The Hub that a successful acquisition of some of the defunct operator's vehicles had now ...

  • Article

    Hermes wins Cadenzza contract and reveals expansion plans

    2013-11-15T11:51:00Z

    Hermes chief executive Carole Woodhead has revealed some of its expansion plans for 2014, as it wins a new contract with jewellery retailer Cadenzza.Woodhead told Motortransport.co.uk that it hopes to increase the coverage of its Parcel Shop network, while its Warrington hub is on track to be open in the ...

  • Article

    Freight needs greater share of low emission funding, says FTA

    2013-11-15T10:53:00Z

    More of the £500m being set aside for encouraging the take-up of ultra low emission vehicles should be allocated to freight vehicles, the FTA has suggested.So far, the majority of the funding to increase uptake of such vehicles between 2015 and 2020 has been limited to cars and vans, it ...

  • Article

    Morrisons: longer semi-trailer trial has helped cut 130,000 road km a week

    2013-11-15T10:21:00Z

    The boss of one of the largest own-account fleets in the country, Morrisons, has launched a robust defence of the longer semi-trailer trial claiming it has helped it deliver a 6.5% productivity saving since the trial began.Speaking at the IGD Supply Chain conference in London last week Malcolm Basey, supply ...

  • Article

    ATF programme is saving Vosa a small fortune

    2013-11-15T10:13:00Z

    Operators of authorised testing facilities (AFTs) will be delighted to hear that Vosa has made savings of nearly £29m on refurbishing its own vehicle testing stations since the testing transformation process began."Through the success of the testing transformation programme Vosa has been able to cease testing in over 20 sites ...

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    Article

    FTA's Christopher Snelling on the cycle safety debate

    2013-11-14T17:04:00Z

    Given the tragic death of another cyclist today, we spoke to Christopher Snelling, head of urban logistics policy at the FTA, to get his view on the road safety debate.Q. Should the transport industry be doing more?A. The logistics industry has spent a lot of money [on the problem] and ...

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    Article

    Road transport can not cut cycling deaths on its own

    2013-11-14T17:01:00Z

    Given yet another cyclist’s death on London’s roads, currently generating fierce debate over the best way to avoid further lives being lost, The Hub thought it would be useful to take a step back and look at road casualties as a whole.Today’s death is attention grabbing for all the wrong ...

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    Article

    Hermes and DPD triumph - but where was Phil?

    2013-11-14T13:59:00Z

    Readers with long-ish memories may recall the 'Vote for Phil' campaign launched by DHL Express in an effort to get its CEO Phil Couchman voted Leader of the Year in the National Business Awards. Sadly at the awards bash on Tuesday Couchman was beaten to the title by Harriet Green, ...

  • Article

    Industry working to avoid more cycling deaths

    2013-11-14T13:57:00Z

    There must be greater separation of cyclists from other traffic, more education of the risk large vehicles pose, and continuing efforts by LGV operators to enhance vehicle safety if more cycling deaths are to be avoided.Speaking after the death of the fifth cyclist on a London road in the last ...

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    Article

    DHL Express UK CEO reveals service centre upgrade plan progress

    2013-11-14T12:57:00Z

    DHL Express has upgraded and expanded all but 10 of its 38 UK service centres, with the most recent site opening in Park Royal, north west London, last week.UK CEO, Phil Couchman, told MT that the company plans to complete its infrastructure upgrade by early 2016.This includes the development of ...

  • Article

    John Lewis trials in-house parcel deliveries

    2013-11-14T12:46:00Z

    John Lewis has begun a trial investigating the pros and cons of bringing its parcel deliveries in-house.However, the retailer confirmed that it will continue to use third party carriers for its parcel deliveries for the time being, despite trialling its own deliveries.Although it is currently making small parcel deliveries using ...

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    Article

    DBL predicts record turnover as its growth story continues

    2013-11-14T12:20:00Z

    Sheffield-based DBL Logistics has predicted a record £3.5m turnover in its next financial year, following its expansion into a brand-new 33,500ft² Tinsley Park site.Speaking to Motortranport.co.uk, the United Pallet Network (UPN) member revealed the business has been performing robustly in the past five years, with turnover up 38% cumulatively in ...

  • Article

    Significant progress made in Royal Mail union dispute

    2013-11-13T16:25:00Z

    Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union have made "significant progress" in avoiding stike action at the recently privatised business.In a joint statement, both parties said progress had been made in talks over legal protections, pay and industrial stability for workers.To allow discussions to continue, the legal validity of the ...

  • Article

    Natural gas - a viable road transport fuel or just hot air?

    2013-11-13T13:49:00Z

    DHL Supply Chain’s Consumer division has become the latest – and among the biggest – investor in gas-powered trucks with the replacement of most of the 70-strong fleet based at its multi-user DC at Bawtry near Doncaster, south Yorkshire, with Volvo FM MethaneDiesel dual fuel 6x2 tractor units.The large scale ...