Swiss consumer protection organisation SKS has filed a claim on behalf of 6,000 car owners for damages from Volkswagen and Swiss car dealer AMAG over the “Dieselgate” emissions scandal. “The cars sold as environmentally friendly were overpriced from the beginning. Due to the manipulation of the exhaust system, they then lost even more of their value on the secondary market,” Stiftung fuer … [Read more...]
Severn Tolls to be cut next week
This January will mark an event which drivers in Wales, the South West and West Midlands have long been waiting for – a price slash for the Severn Crossing tolls – which will save commuters who use the bridge on weekdays almost £300 on average. After years of inflated prices, the Severn Bridge Crossings will cost £5.60 for cars to travel between England and Wales from 8 January. Until now, … [Read more...]
HGV hours clampdown is unjust, says FTA
The DVSA is planning to clamp-down on HGV drivers who sleep in their cabs. But the get-tough policy and its £300 fine for each offence has been criticised by the Freight Transport Association. It says there is a shortage of designated and secure rest areas for HGV drivers and vehicles and some lorry cabs are more comfortable than the overnight accommodation. The FTA is calling for … [Read more...]
Driver safety interlock debut
Alcohol safety and training specialist AlcoDigital has agreed a contract with Renault Trucks to showcase and offer alcohol safety devices for their latest range of LCV Master business fleet vehicles, which will be displayed at the Freight in the City exhibition on 7 November 2017. Called the Draeger Interlock 7000, the safety devices, which can be included as an upgraded extra at the customer’s … [Read more...]
Newslines 22 September
A near 50-model range of the new Volvo XC40 will begin arriving in the UK early next year. Their latest SUV will have a wide choice of petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains in two-wheel and 4WD, and pioneer the company’s all-inclusive Care by Volvo rental package within the M25. Chemical company Ineos and its British founder Jim Ratcliffe says he wants to build a modern heavy-duty off-roader … [Read more...]
Driver shortage in logistics sector
The freight and logistics sector is still suffering a shortage of skilled drivers. That’s according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA)’s July Quarterly Transport Activity Survey (QTAS), sponsored by Santander Corporate Banking. The survey, which asked the opinions of 6,000 freight and logistics businesses in the FTA’s membership, showed that almost a third of respondents were … [Read more...]
Convoys carry safety concerns, says IAM RoadSmart
Self-driving lorry convoys of close running HGVs need very careful planning, said road safety body IAM RoadSmart. Britain’s biggest independent road safety charity is advising there must be more reassurances on issues such as cyber attacks as well as basic road safety needs such as telling other drivers which trucks are in the platoon. The trial announced by the Department of Transport is … [Read more...]
Tradelines 16 August
The Honda Jazz will raise the tempo in the UK next year. It gets a new 130ps petrol engine and sporting looks together with a sharper automatic box for those who want it. Heavy truck sales are up 6.3% in Q2 this year with three-axle artics soaring nearly 12%, reports the SMMT. After a year of growth, double-deck bus sales fell nearly 37% and mini-buses declined nearly 19% while … [Read more...]
Bio-diesel & dual fuel lorries on trial across UK
The Centre of Excellence for low carbon technologies says logistics provider Kuehne + Nagel Ltd will trial the effectiveness of low-emissions heavy-goods vehicles as part of large fleets with demanding-duty cycles. The project managed by Cenex is part funded by Innovate UK’s Low-Emission Freight and Logistics Project. The operation will measure the effectiveness of dedicated petrol and … [Read more...]
HGV operators are cutting emissions
With emissions standards front and centre of the air quality debate, the Freight Transport Association has shared the huge strides of its Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme since 2010. The FTA Logistics Carbon Review 2017, sponsored by Bridgestone Tyres, reveals that operators within the scheme have achieved an impressive 7% reduction in their business’ emissions since 2010, significantly … [Read more...]