Industry news – Page 192

  • Article

    Great Bear signs new contract with Cott Beverages

    2014-08-21T08:42:00Z

    Great Bear Distribution, based in Chester, has announced a new contract with soft drinks producer Cott Beverages for warehousing services in the Midlands.The new contract, which extends a longstanding relationship between the two, will see existing operations for Cott Beverages transferred from a Great Bear facility in Derbyshire to one ...

  • Boris_bike_REX
    Article

    Industry 'puzzled' by Johnson's tacho-'gaffe'

    2014-08-15T15:23:00Z

    In a speech earlier this month London Mayor Boris Johnson singled out the drivers’ hours rules as the type of European legislation that he would like to see removed if the United Kingdom left the EU.Johnson described the weight of employment regulation as “back-breaking”, citing regulations ranging from the Collective ...

  • houses of parliament
    Article

    Pressure mounts on politicians to address the cost of fuel

    2014-08-14T11:26:00Z

    The RAC has called on all major political parties to say in the run-up to the next general election what they intend to do about four key transport concerns – the high cost of fuel, the poor state of the UK’s roads, the need for better enforcement of driving behaviour, ...

  • MAN Simon Elliott
    Article

    Elliott named MAN Truck & Bus UK MD

    2014-08-13T09:10:00Z

    MAN Truck & Bus UK has appointed Simon Elliott MD following the departure of Des Evans due to ill health. Elliott has been MD of Volkswagen Group Ireland for the past three years, responsible for cars and CVs. He was previously MD of VW Commercial Vehicles in the UK, and ...

  • Jimmy Beam Down Light
    Article

    Jimmy Beam Down Light system can be fitted to new build trailers

    2014-08-12T20:20:00Z

    Two governmental bodies have dispelled operators’ fears by confirming that the Jimmy Beam Down Light (JBDL) system can be fitted to new-build trailers under current legislation and does not require type approval. Since 29 October 2012, trailer manufacturers have been required to produce trailers that adhere to whole vehicle type ...

  • Armed-Forces-trio
    Article

    Logistics management course launched to train junior armed forces personnel

    2014-08-11T12:12:00Z

    Logistics Learning Alliance (LLA) has launched an Institute of Supply Chain Management (IoSCM) Level 4 Certificate in managing logistics operations, aimed at developing the skills of junior armed forces personnel.Designed as a stepping-stone to a Foundation Degree in Logistics at the University of Lincoln for members of the Royal Navy, ...

  • Burnt-Tree
    Article

    Enterprise buys Burnt Tree

    2014-08-11T11:49:00Z

    Commercial vehicle contract hire and rental specialist Burnt Tree has been bought by car and van rental firm Enterprise Rent-A-Car.  The purchase is "intended to increases the breadth of vehicles and services that Enterprise can provide to its customers under its flexible commercial vehicle hire division, Flex-E-Rent", the company said.The ...

  • Article

    Transport Exchange reveals improvements to booking chain functionality

    2014-08-07T14:35:00Z

    Transport Exchange Group has upgraded the booking chain functionality for its Haulage Exchange and Courier Exchange platforms.The company said it would allow member businesses with an improved means of managing and updating the status of loads when they carry out work on each other’s behalf.As a result,those using the exhanges ...

  • Article

    TfL considers refusing congestion charge payments from unofficial sites

    2014-08-07T09:40:00Z

    Transport for London (TfL) has proposed refusing to accept congestion charge payments from unauthorised third parties in an attempt to clamp down on ‘bogus’ services which often look like its official payment site but can charge vehicle owners excessively in order to pay for the charge.Unofficial websites can charge unsuspecting ...

  • Article

    Scania offers free telematics for 10 years

    2014-08-06T13:01:00Z

    Scania is offering free activation and a ten-year subscription to its OnBoard Monitor telematics package for all operators of its trucks manufactured in 2011 onwards.Existing users will automatically have their subscriptions extended to 10 years and operators running used Scania trucks can have their subscriptions transferred to their account, provided ...

  • BullwellTrailerSolutions
    Article

    Ryder buys Bullwell Trailer Solutions

    2014-08-04T16:03:00Z

    Ryder Europe has completed the purchase of trailer repair and maintenance company Bullwell Trailer Solutions.Bullwell provides nationwide mobile trailer repair and maintenance services from a central location in Lichfield, Staffordshire.It will continue to operate as it has been prior to the deal, complementing Ryder’s own trailer service.David Hunt, vice-president and ...

  • Article

    Tachograph and driving licence fees set to fall

    2014-08-01T09:17:00Z

    Operators could see a reduction in the fees paid for digital tachograph cards later this year, as DVLA looks to return a £25m surplus.Under the proposals a raft of fees would change. A first GB driving licence would fall from £50 to £43 for a paper application and to ...

  • Article

    Argos: week-long warehouse strike 'had no impact'

    2014-07-31T13:49:00Z

    Retailer Argos has said a week-long strike by warehouse staff at five of its DCs had no impact on its service to customers.The strike, organised by union Unite at the retailer’s Basildon, Bridgwater, Castleford, Magna Park and Heywood DCs, came to an end on 26 July - the date that ...

  • HA Colin Matthews lr
    Article

    New chairman set to oversee Highways Agency transformation

    2014-07-31T11:08:00Z

    Former Heathrow Airport Holdings chief executive Colin Matthews is to take over as chairman of the Highways Agency from September.Matthews will take up his new role as the agency is transformed into a government-owned company in a controversial move intended to save £2.6bn over the next 10 years.A former group ...

  • Article

    FTA: Safer Lorries Scheme has made progress, but a blanket ban is not the solution

    2014-07-30T09:29:00Z

    The FTA has welcomed amendments to the design of the London Safer Lorries Scheme (SLS), revealed yesterday (29 July) by TfL, however it believes a one-size-fits-all regulation for commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes is not the best way to improve cyclist safety.In a consultation document, TfL and London Councils are ...

  • exhaust
    Article

    FTA signs up 100th member to Low Carbon Reduction Scheme

    2014-07-28T10:56:00Z

    The FTA’s Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS) has welcomed its 100th member, with construction plant hire firm Rawley Plant joins up to the initiative.With more than 74,000 commercial vehicles now included within the free-of-charge scheme, the FTA said it demonstrated a real commitment by the logistics sector to reduce its ...

  • Claire Perry MP
    Article

    Claire Perry takes on freight and logistics at DfT

    2014-07-28T10:53:00Z

    Claire Perry MPFormer assistant whip Claire Perry MP has taken over responsibility for freight and logistics at the DfT.She was appointed to the role in the recent ministerial reshuffle, which also saw John Hayes replace Stephen Hammond as the minister responsible for roads.Hammond was responsible for freight and logistics before ...

  • Article

    DfT urges Highways Agency to act on network resilience

    2014-07-25T16:08:00Z

    The DfT has called on the Highways Agency to take some specific steps to boost the resilience of the strategic road network (SRN) to extreme weather.Published on 22 July, the DfT’s Transport Resilience Review outlined a number of actions it would like the HA to take, including: completing its drainage ...

  • Great Britain sign in French
    Article

    France outlines plans for reintroduction of HGV tolling

    2014-07-25T14:06:00Z

    The French government has confirmed plans to introduce a revised tolling scheme for heavy goods vehicles from the beginning of next year.The toll, known as the Heavy Vehicle Transit Tax, will apply to HGVs over 3.5 tonnes GVW on 4,000km of national (non-motorway) roads used frequently by HGVs and on ...

  • Article

    FTA: hauliers unhappy over fines should drop the work

    2014-07-25T10:00:00Z

    FTA MD of membership and policy James Hookham has said he is not surprised third party logistics companies (3PLs) have proved unwilling to discuss their role in the application of penalty charges for non-compliant deliveries at retailers’ distribution centres, and advised hauliers unhappy about having to pay the fines to ...