A new guide from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership for fleet operators shows how renewable fuels can immediately cut greenhouse gas emissions in road transport, particularly from commercial vehicles for which few low emission solutions are currently available. While the focus has been mainly on vehicle electrification for meeting the UK’s net zero target as it applies to road transport, … [Read more...]
Fuel research saves 1,400tonnes in tests
Britain’s first research project to assess the viability of biomethane in heavy goods vehicles has saved over 1,400 tonnes of well-to-wheel CO2e emissions compared to diesel in a two-year trial. The Dedicated to Gas project deployed 20 Euro VI vehicles running on biomethane to the three fleet operators, in a combination of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquified natural gas (LNG). It was … [Read more...]
Clearing the air over Clean Air Zones
Plans are under way for cities across the UK to implement Clean Air Zones or similar air quality improvement schemes, which could involve prohibitively high charges on those using older HGVs and vans. London has proposals that could see, at the same time, many HGVs banned from the capital for having insufficient direct vision. As FTA, the organisation which represents the logistics industry … [Read more...]
Driver shortages hitting logistics and supplies
Driver shortages continue to present one of the most significant challenges when it comes to the delivery of logistics operations. Customer demand is greater than ever, with expectations for the provision of faster and more frequent deliveries sitting high on the agenda. Logistics businesses need to rethink the way they attract, engage and retain the right talent in order to keep up. The … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 July
The airfreight and distribution industry is being targetted alongside technology and manufacturing companies to take space at the former St Athan airfield. Now renamed Bro Tathan Business Park, it will have runways controlled from the adjacent Cardiff Wales Airport and will benefit from upgraded local roads. Wales is the worst place in the UK for motorists, says a survey for Crusader … [Read more...]
Role of HGVs is given light thought by Government
The primary role of the lorry in urban freight has been ignored once again in a major policy publication, says FTA, the organisation which speaks for the logistics sector, following publication of the Department for Transport’s 'Future of mobility: urban strategy' paper. According to Christopher Snelling, FTA’s Head of UK Policy, the document fails to make a single substantive mention of HGVs, … [Read more...]
Tradelines 6 March
A proposed ban on commercial vehicles using tyres over ten years old has attracted qualified support from the Freight Tansport Association. It says many member fleets would need tyres replacing inside a decade but some very low mileage vehicles should be exempt from the ban. About 79M cars were sold worldwide in 2018, say the manufacturers. There was a noticeable drop in Chinese … [Read more...]
Trucks are next target of EC emissions laws
Europe’s CO2 emission reduction targets have been a long time in negotiation and having regulated cars and vans, the European Commission is turning to trucks. Heavy Goods Vehicle manufacturers will need to cut new vehicle CO2 emissions by 15% by 2025 and 30% by 2030. In addition, by 2025, 2% of new trucks must be zero or low-emission – however, just now it is not clear how this can be achieved … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 February
The along awaited Audi e-tron electric models will go into showrooms in April. There will be two versions from £71,490 after the ev plug in allowance and it will be a their version of the VW Golf sized I D Neo hatchback. The next generation Vauxhall Corsa range will include a plug-in battery-electric model. It will also have the intelligent LED headlights first seen on Insignia and … [Read more...]
MoT test widens to more vehicles from 20 May
More agricultural, delivery, recovery and construction vehicles are now liable to the annual safety test. The DVSA is introducing annual testing for some when their current tax is renewable but others must have a test done by 20 May 2019. Vehicles now needing a test certificate include: mobile cranes breakdown vehicles (not breakdown vans) tower wagons some mobile engineering … [Read more...]