MiX Telematics United Kingdom

Duty of care shown by Chancellor

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 07:09:51 +0000

It is rare for a Chancellor of the Exchequer to win applause from the transport industry for a Budget. But George Osborne can bask in its approbation.

Not only has he postponed the planned 1p-a-litre-above-inflation rise in fuel duty due to come into force in April until next January. He has immediately cut duty by 1p a litre into the bargain.

The duty reduction will save the transport industry £125m this year according to Simon Chapman, chief economist at the Freight Transport Association. “Furthermore, his plan to cancel the fuel duty escalator while the cost of oil is above $75 a barrel shows that he has heeded our call to stabilise the impact of volatile prices,” he says.

Chapman is delighted by the Chancellor’s decision to freeze Vehicle Excise Duty so far as all goods vehicles grossing above 3.5 tonnes are concerned and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association is equally pleased. But it is also critical.

“There is nothing fair about the government’s decision to maintain the 3 per cent diesel surcharge within the company car tax regime,” argues chief executive, John Lewis. “This discriminatory tax against diesel is totally out-of-date and needs to be abolished.”

He goes on to describe the, long-overdue, increase in approved mileage allowance payments from 40p to 45p as “a back-door pay increase for public sector and other grey fleet users that will appease unions worried about job cuts and salary freezes.

“If the price of fuel has such an impact on vehicle running costs, then why aren’t we seeing a bigger rise in advisory fuel rates,” he wonders.

Some car fleet operators wonder whether the Chancellor has been playing a game beloved of all politicians – that of smoke and mirrors – when it comes to his decision to freeze company car tax for all cars with CO2 emissions below 95g/km in 2013/14 and increase it by 1 per cent for all cars above. As things stand less than 1 per cent of cars on the market fall into the sub-95g/km category – something the Treasury must surely realise.

His fair fuel stabiliser, which will raise an extra £2bn by increasing the tax on North Sea oil production when oil prices are high, wins a good deal of applause however, though not, it has to be said, from the oil companies. “It is ingenious, shifting the burden of taxation upstream when crude oil prices increase,” says Lewis.

Also worth noting is the fact that the fuel benefit charge to calculate the tax on free fuel for company cars will increase by £800 to £18,800 from 6 April.

So is the Budget good news for fleets? No question about it – anything that reverses the seemingly-relentless rise in fuel duty rates has to be given the thumbs-up.

However it cannot mask the simple truth that, even with these cuts, fuel remains excessively taxed.

Daimler banishes Euro 6 fears

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:07:11 +0000

No matter how environmentally-friendly they may claim to be, many UK hauliers understandably dread the arrival of the mandatory Euro 6 exhaust emission standard for all new trucks in 2014. They fear that in order to meet it engines will end up being thirstier, heavier, and considerably more expensive than their predecessors, adding to their already-steep costs in what is likely to remain a ruinously-competitive market.

On most of these counts they need not worry according to Daimler.

Its Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle operation has just unveiled the first heavy truck engine to comply with Euro 6 – the 12.8-litre OM 471 – and Georg Weiberg, head of product engineering at Daimler Trucks, contends that it will be as frugal as its predecessors. That means its all-important CO2 output should be about the same too.

Nor has it piled on the kilos excessively. “Very approximately it will be 100kg heavier than the current V6 engine, but around 50kg lighter than the V8,” he states.

That’s the good news. Unfortunately all the technology employed – the newcomer uses both Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and AdBlue-dependent Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) as well as a particulate filter and a highly-sophisticated amplified common rail fuel injection system – means that it is likely to be several thousand euros more expensive than both.

In some European markets that is likely to be offset by tax concessions for operators who voluntarily adopt Euro 6 before it becomes a legal requirement. It is unlikely to be an approach adopted by the cash-strapped UK government however despite its eagerness for environmental credentials; Euro 6 spells further significant reductions in harmful particulates and nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gases.

The way in which OM 471 – likely to make its first vehicular appearance in the new Actros later this year – has been developed underlines the extent to which the motor industry has become a global village.

OM 471 has its roots in a platform used by Daimler-owned engine maker Detroit Diesel in the USA since 2007 and found in Freightliner trucks. The same platform is used by Fuso in Japan, also part of the Daimler family.

Like the version used by Fuso, OM 471 is built at Mercedes-Benz’s Mannheim plant. The German factory also makes key components for Detroit Diesel’s version.

Such global connections mean that events on the other side of the globe such as the earthquake and tsunami that have devastated Japan can have resonances much closer to home.

“Daimler has 13,000 employees in Japan, mostly working for Fuso,” says Daimler Trucks head of procurement, Stefan E Buchner. “Fortunately none of them has been hurt.”

Government bodies feeling put out

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:16:24 +0000

Public sector bodies left reeling by the scale and speed of government spending cutbacks are about to receive another hammer-blow. The innocuous-sounding ‘Open Public Services’ White Paper due to be published in the next few weeks could pave the way to both local authority fleets and those run by national government bodies being compelled by law to consider outsourcing everything from procurement to day-to-day management of their vehicles say industry experts.

It is an approach that David Cameron firmly endorses.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the Prime Minister says: “Public services should be open to a range of providers competing to offer a better service. (They)…. desperately need an injection of openness, creativity and innovation…the best way to raise quality and value for money is to allow different providers to offer services in an open and accountable way.”

Outsourcing in the public sector is of course nothing new.

Back in the 1980s the then Conservative government introduced compulsory competitive tendering with the aim of boosting efficiency in local government as well as in other areas of state activity.

Among other things it involved council direct labour departments engaged in, for example, domestic refuse collection being obliged to pitch for the work against private sector providers. The hope was that competition would result in a more efficient service at lower cost.

If those requirements were satisfied, the argument ran, then it wouldn’t much matter whether householders bins were emptied by council workers or workers employed by an independent contractor.

So far as more general fleet operations are concerned, private sector specialists have a lot to offer the public sector and the latter could undoubtedly benefit from the efficiencies that might be garnered by outsourcing some of its activities. Much will depend on how the outsourcing process is handled however.

The public sector – and certain major government departments in particular – has a long and at times inglorious history of signing contracts for the supply of goods and services that have turned out to be anything but advantageous to the tax payer. Close examination of any deals about to be inked and tight monitoring thereafter will be vital if outsourcing is to bring the benefits the Prime Minister seeks.

Driver tiredness on the rise ten years on from Selby rail crash

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:43:17 +0000

Ten years on from the tragic Selby rail crash, which killed 10 people, there is still widespread complacency and confusion amongst drivers about the effects of fatigue on driving. Brake, the road safety charity, believes that the lessons of Selby may have been forgotten.

A recent survey1, published in 2010, found that nearly three-quarters of drivers (74%) admit driving tired in the past 12 months – with almost one in 10 (9%) saying they did so at least once a week. This is a huge increase from six years ago, when 46% of drivers owned up to getting behind the wheel while tired2.

An estimated one in five fatal crashes on trunk roads are caused by tired drivers3 – although the real figure could be higher, because it can be difficult to prove when a crash was caused by a driver falling asleep.

Julie Townsend, Brake’s campaigns director, said: “The Selby rail crash was a horrifying example of why driving tired is a risk that no one should take. It is vital to act on these lessons. Unfortunately, 10 years after Selby, a large proportion of drivers are driving tired and the UK still lacks the basic infrastructure, such as adequate safety barriers and sufficient rest areas, to prevent another disaster like Selby happening again.”

Townsend suggests that employers ensure their drivers are issued with the following five point action plan.

Get plenty of sleep before a journey, plan your journey to include time for adequate rest and don’t set out if you are already tired.
Take rest breaks at least every two hours for a minimum of fifteen minutes.
If you feel tired when you are driving, listen to the warning signs and stop for a break somewhere safe as soon as you can.
If you start to feel sleepy while driving stop for a 15 minute break somewhere safe as soon as possible. If you still feel tired, or you still have a long way to go, you should stay put and try to find somewhere to get a good night’s sleep.
Remember if you consume a drink containing caffeine, the drug is only temporary and its effects do not last long. Sleep is the only long-term cure to tiredness.

References

Direct Line report on safe driving 2009 – 2011 PART TWO: Fit to drive?, Brake and Direct Line, 2010
Green Flag report on safe driving 2003 – 2004 PART ONE: Fit to drive? Brake and Green Flag, 2003
Fatigue and Road Safety: A Critical Analysis of Recent Evidence, Department for Transport, 2011

Hole lot of spending going on?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:50:33 +0000

Two cheers for Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond�s announcement that councils in England are to be given over �100m of extra funding to spend on repairing potholes.

There is no denying the cash is needed. As the Department for Transport has pointed out, many local roads are in a parlous state after a harsh winter, and the money comes in addition to the �831m already provided to councils for highway maintenance this year.

So far, so good. However all this largesse, and the �3bn the government has committed to local highway repairs over the next four years, is a drop in the ocean compared with the staggering amount of revenue the Treasury extracts from hard-pressed drivers � and their employers � annually.

According to the latest figures from the Road Users� Alliance, motoring taxes totalling a whopping �46.8bn were raised in 2009 alone. The levy was made up of �24.6bn in fuel duty, �7.5bn in VAT on fuel, �6.9bn in VAT on vehicle sales, �5.5bn in Vehicle Excise Duty and �2.3bn in company car tax.

Even when one takes into account the funding allocated to the Highways Agency � responsible for trunk roads � and the money spent on local roads in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, it is clear that there is a huge difference between the amount of cash raised from road users and the amount of cash spent on the roads they travel on.

Aside from a shortfall in the money allocated to roads, a further concern according to AA president, Edmund King, is the lack of a planned approach to looking after them �including regular re-surfacing � so that they are less vulnerable to disintegration when severe winter weather strikes. �A more coherent maintenance strategy and long-term increased funding are required to stop the rot,� he observes.

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So what should fleet operators do?

If it can be proved that damage has been caused by a pothole, then they should not hesitate to lodge a claim for compensation with the authority concerned. That is the advice of independent web site www.potholes.co.uk

Dedicated to raising awareness of the parlous state of Britain�s roads, it is a mine of information on potholes, the damage they do, and how redress can be obtained from those responsible. Given the amount of tax and duty they have to hand over, there is no reason why fleets should lose out.

White Van Man goes green

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:53:42 +0000

Light commercial operators are going to become even more environmentally-friendly whether they like it or not thanks to new rules adopted by the European Parliament.

Come 2017 almost all new vans sold in the EU will have to achieve a CO2 emission target of 175g/km under a programme to be phased in from 2014 onwards. By 2020 they will have to emit no more than 147g/km, although this more-challenging target will need to be confirmed in a review due in 2013.

While manufacturers complained loud and long about such CO2 limits citing cost and technical difficulties when they were first mooted, the reality is that they should not be all that hard to meet. In some cases they are being met already.

Peugeot�s 207 Van for example produces no more than 110g/km depending on which model you pick while the Econetic version of Ford�s Fiesta Van hits a praiseworthy 98g/km.

Moving up the size and weight scale, Vauxhall�s Vivaro ecoFLEX can achieve 185g/km � just 10g/km above the 2017 target with six more years of development to go � despite a payload capacity of up to 1,254kg.

The Society of Manufacturers and Traders would nonetheless like Whitehall to provide the efforts the motor industry is making to reduce CO2 with a bit more support.

�The UK is well-placed to capitalise on low carbon technologies and manufacturers now need government to demonstrate its support for sustained investment in skills, research and development and capital equipment,� says chief executive, Paul Everitt.

Cutting CO2 matters but not solely because it is environmentally-desirable. Low CO2 equates to low fuel usage, which means operators are spending less cash; and the less fuel you burn, the fewer particulates and other nasties are pumped into the atmosphere.

So three cheers for the European Parliament; not a sentiment that is often expressed on this side of the Channel it has to be said. By obliging us all to be good and worthy citizens, it is going to save us cash.

Fuel's gold

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:06:36 +0000

With turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East resulting in surging oil prices, it is scarcely surprising that the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and transport operators nationwide are energetically petitioning Prime Minister David Cameron to abandon the increase in fuel duty planned for April. The petitioners point out that this could result in a 5p a litre price hike � 23p a gallon � at a time when the country is barely emerging from recession and inflation is on the march again.

Even without turmoil in some of the key oil producing countries, the petitioners would have a point.

Ultra-high taxes mean that Britain has some of the most expensive fuel in Europe. The only country where diesel is pricier is Norway.

In Spain it is more than 30p a litre cheaper than it is in the UK according to figures produced by the AA. In Italy and Germany it is more than 20p less expensive while in France the price is 15p a litre lower.

High diesel prices eat into transport companies profit margins because it is not always possible for them to pass any increases onto their customers either in whole or in part. Ultimately that can make them unviable.

Prudent operators will of course build a fuel price escalator into their contracts, but that will not shield them from another problem; competition from transport fleets based in Continental Europe and running on cheap diesel purchased on the other side of the Channel.

A way of stopping this has been highlighted by Transfrigoroute, the trade association for the temperature-controlled section of the transport industry. It wonders why a text adopted by the European Parliament on 13 March 2008 aimed at ironing out significant differences in fuel duty between EU member states that distort competition between hauliers has still not been translated into an EC Directive three years later and why Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, has not been asking the same question.

As well as creating a more level playing field across Europe such a Directive would undoubtedly oblige a revenue-hungry government to cut UK fuel taxes; which may of course explain why Mr Hammond is not pursuing the idea.
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Transfrigoroute has a low opinion of the value of fuel petitions, but in expressing this view is forgetting that the current government is prone to u-turns � summarily scrapping its plans to sell off the forests for example � if sufficient people kick up a big enough fuss.

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So what should operators do?

Exactly that; kick up a fuss, lobby their MPs, remind them of how much money they already hand over to the Treasury, and how many people they employ say both the RHA and the FTA.

�High diesel prices are already driving up costs for everyone living in the UK and for every business,� says RHA director of policy, Jack Semple. �Against this background it seems inconceivable that Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne would go ahead with a duty increase in April that would not only be the eighth since November 2008 but would also be the highest single increase for more than a decade.�

�Political instability in other countries and the impact this has on the price of a barrel of oil is beyond the Chancellor�s control,� adds FTA chief economist, Simon Chapman. �However, the level of tax he then heaps on top of it certainly is not.�

Could your company ever be guilty of Corporate Manslaughter?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:08:53 +0000

The first conviction of a company under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act should concern directors and managers of all business: large and small.

The Act was brought in after a series of high-profile disasters, including the Kings Cross Underground fire, the Piper Alpha oil rig explosion and the capsize of the ferry Herald of Free Enterprise. In the case of the Herald disaster, although an inquest jury decided that 187 of the victims had been �unlawfully killed� all attempts at a manslaughter prosecution failed because the various acts of negligence that had taken place could not be attributed to any one individual working as a �controlling mind� at the ferry company.

In all of these cases and more it seemed that justice had not been done because although there was a company or organisation at fault, the size of the enterprises concerned was always so large that it was impossible to pin responsibility on any one individual.

�Fat cat� directors, in particular, were seen by the public as getting away with it because they had distanced themselves from operational responsibility while at the same time having not done enough to ensure that employees and public were sufficiently protected from foreseeable risk.

Directors and managers of smaller companies perhaps did not pay much attention to the new law, comforting themselves with the thought that it was aimed at large corporations and could never be used against a company like theirs.

Well it just has been. The first conviction under the 2007 Act is of a very small enterprise: Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings; a specialist company employing just four people. The company was prosecuted under the 2007 Act following the death of geologist Alexander Wright, who was killed when the test pit he was working in on a site near Stroud, Gloucestershire collapsed in September 2008.

No one from the company was actually in the dock at Winchester Crown Court in February. Sole director Peter Eaton had previously been judged unfit to stand trial on a manslaughter charge as he has cancer.

The court heard that the Wright had been working alone at the foot of an unsupported 3.8 metre deep pit. Eaton had been present earlier, but left the site before the incident. Great efforts had been made by the site owner, who was present at the time the pit collapsed, to make a rescue but a second fall had taken place and Wright had died of traumatic axphyxia.

Building industry codes of practice and Cotswold Geotechnical�s own health and safety document said that walls must be supported on any pit deeper than 1.2 metres, but Eaton maintained that the rule did not apply to geologists, who could use their own judgement as to whether or not a pit was safe.

In a written statement to the court, Eaton said the rule was that lone workers should not enter pits. He was astonished that Wright had gone back into the pit after he had left the site. However it took a jury just an hour and a half to decide in favour of the prosecution�s assertion that the company had failed to manage its affairs to comply with its legal duty to ensure that Alex Wright�s health was not put at risk as the company�s method of working trial pits was �wholly and unnecessarily dangerous.�

Cotswold Geotechnical faced an unlimited fine for the offence, but in setting the tariff at �385,000 payable in ten equal instalments over ten years Judge Justice Field said he had been mindful not only of the gravity of the offence and the need for a deterrence effect on other companies, but also of the impact that it would have on Cotswold Geotechnical with the jobs of others being put at risk.

As it was, he said: �The fine in terms of its payment may put this company into liquidation. If that is the case it�s unfortunate but unavoidable.�
Legal opinion following the case is that the real test of the 2007 Act will come when it is used against a much larger company. Management lines at Cotswold Geotechnical were very short, with the sole director having been present on the site earlier in the day of the incident. Had the director been in better health, it is likely that he would have been prosecuted rather than the company. It remains to be seen how far up the management line at a large company a prosecution under the Act could be taken and still secure a conviction.

For road transport, there are some clear lessons, particularly regarding the loading/unloading of vehicles and working at height. Where tasks are intrinsically hazardous, work needs to be organised to reduce the hazard to a minimum, and adequate training, equipment and supervision must always be in place. The only defence to a charge of Corporate Manslaughter would be to demonstrate that everything that could be done to keep employees safe had been done.

The Act does not replace existing provisions such as the common law offence of gross negligence manslaughter. However, while a prosecution under the older legislation requires a �controlling mind� (a manager or director who could be said to embody the company) to be guilty of the offence, the 2007 Act means a company can be convicted if there is a gross breach of the duty of care by �senior management� rather than a named individual.

So the old defence of an incident being no-one�s fault because it was no-one�s specific responsibility will not withstand a prosecution under the 2007 Act.

Readers are advised to regularly check that systems within their own organisations are robust enough to provide a defence under the 2007 Act. If they are, then it provides a considerable �fireproofing� against such an incident occurring in the first place. Remember that under the 2007 Act, it is the company that is prosecuted for the failings of senior management. Under the earlier legislation, which is still in force, a specific individual must be identified.

* A statement for the defence said that appeals were being considered against conviction and sentence.

Grey area for public sector fleets

Mon, 09 May 2011 08:09:19 +0000

Public bodies may soon be waving bye-bye to leased cars and saying hello to the grey fleet option for virtually everybody on the payroll instead. It is a move that is fraught with pitfalls however.

In future any public sector chief executive who starts lecturing private businesses on the need to be clean, green and environmentally-friendly may be enjoined to take a look in his or her own backyard.

Leading lease companies such as Leaseplan say that in a bid to save cash some taxpayer-funded organisations are seriously contemplating terminating lease contracts and telling employees to use their own cars on departmental business instead on a pence-per-mile basis. Unfortunately those privately-owned vehicles are likely to be a lot older than two- to three year old leased cars and pump out significantly more CO2 and other harmful emissions.

Then there is the question of maintenance.

Public sector employees who haven’t seen a pay rise since goodness-knows-when may be tempted to skip the odd service or postpone getting the brakes looked at until they get paid at the end of the month.

If they subsequently have an accident while rushing to a work-related appointment then all sorts of duty-of-care issues could arise.

And will going grey save cash anyway? If that’s the policy adopted then employers may subsequently find that some, though by no means all, employees using their own cars are tempted to increase their business miles in a bid to boost their income.

If that means they are making less use of public transport then that cannot be classed as environmentally-friendly.

But what is the alternative? How about running existing fleet operations more efficiently and in particular leveraging the still-huge economies of scale that the public sector enjoys?

That’s the direction public bodies should be heading in argues Business Car editor, Paul Barker. “There are still plenty of places where their fleets can save money without resorting to spectacular and drastic action that could rewrite the book on the laws of unintended consequences,” he observed in a recent issue.

Initiatives such as the one currently underway in Nottinghamshire could point the way.

The local authorities in Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe have joined forces under the auspices of the Nottingham Vehicle Consortium in a bid to cut fleet administration costs. Members will be able to compare and contrast the performance of their fleets and use best-practice to drive down expenditure.

Now that has to make far more sense than a knee-jerk slash-and-burn approach to public sector fleet operation.

Paying to be clean and green

Mon, 09 May 2011 11:39:42 +0000

Can hybrids and battery-powered vehicles make a major breakthrough without more dollops of government cash? Only if prices fall.

Amid all the brouhaha surrounding Boris Johnson�s energetic support for van scrappage schemes launched by manufacturers eager to help operators comply with tougher London Low Emission Zone requirements due to come into force next January, a small but significant u-turn by the London mayor has been largely ignored. Johnson and Transport for London have quietly abandoned their requirement that from 2012 onwards, all new London buses must be environmentally-friendly hybrids.

The reason is the eye-watering front-end price. A hybrid bus costs around two to three times more than its diesel counterpart, with a bill for nearly �30,000 on its way in a few years� time when the battery pack has to be replaced.

While lower fuel expenditure offsets much of this capital outflow, public subsidy is needed to make the figures really stack up. And while some state aid has been available through the Green Bus Fund, which has been used to good effect, and support looks set to be on offer in Scotland through the new Future Transport Fund, neither the national government nor the devolved administrations are awash with cash.

As a consequence, there is no guarantee that state support will continue � hence London�s u-turn.

An absence of government funding is muting the appeal of electric light commercials too which � surprisingly � do not qualify for the �5,000 subsidy available to people who want to buy an electric car.

While the battery-powered Transit Connect developed by Ford in conjunction with Azure Dynamics is undoubtedly an impressive, easy-to-drive and solidly-constructed vehicle � a ten-year life is predicted for its batteries � it costs almost �40,000. Fuel-frugal low-CO2 diesel-powered vans of equivalent or greater carrying capacity are on sale at less than half that price.

As a consequence motor industry executives are lobbying government to make the grant available to van customers too. �Electric vans can undoubtedly have a positive impact on the environment and we�d like to see more incentives put behind them,� says Azure�s managing director, European operations, Ricardo Espinosa.

Wrecking the planet? Not guilty.

Tue, 17 May 2011 08:29:31 +0000

Truck operators get a bad press. Regularly described as running smoky juggernauts that breed congestion, they are the whipping boys for every tabloid hack in search of a cheap headline.

The reality of course is completely different.

Truck makers have poured millions of pounds into producing ultra-clean low-emission engines while any haulier foolish enough to allow a vehicle to belch out black smoke on the public highway will soon incur the wrath of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. The explosion in car ownership in the UK over the past 50 years would suggest to anybody but the most blinkered observer that it is cars rather than trucks that create traffic jams, and critics should never forget that the food they eat, the chairs they sit on and the keyboards they pound all have one thing in common; they were all transported in a lorry.

The effort operators are making to clean up their act even further are highlighted in the first annual report of the Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme report which is managed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

Scheme members are collectively committed to cutting their carbon emissions by 8 per cent by 2015 compared to 2010’s output through a mixture of laudable measures. They include reducing fuel consumption, making more use of low-CO2 alternative fuels, cutting the percentage of empty running, increasing the amount of weight carried on each trip and moving more freight by rail or water.

Businesses that have joined the programme submit fuel and activity data to the FTA which is then converted into a carbon dioxide footprint.

To see where you are going you have got to know where you have been. With this in mind, participants have been busy tracking historic trends in their emissions, going back to 2005 where data is available.

As a consequence they can be sure that the baseline figures they are starting from reflect a true picture of their activities.

So far almost 50 organisations running around 40,000 commercial vehicles between them have committed to the programme, and the list reads like a who’s who of the transport industry. As well as Eddie Stobart and DHL the line-up includes Bibby Distribution and the John Lewis Partnership as well as local authorities such as South Tyneside Council.

The breadth of participants is in fact quite encouraging and goes beyond the usual suspects, with smaller and less-well-known businesses engaged too.

The scheme has received the endorsement of transport minister, Mike Penning, who has freight and logistics as part of his portfolio. A government minister who actually seems to understand the problems that beset the road transport industry – which makes him a rarity – he says that the programme “should deliver real progress towards the UK’s carbon reduction targets.”

Cutting CO2 is of course good business. It means you are burning less fuel, which in turn means that you are being kinder to your bottom line.

It also gives you a positive story to tell about the steps you are taking to improve the environment; and the opportunity once and for all to dispel the myth that those trucks rolling steadily up and down the M1 and keeping the economy moving are part of a conspiracy to wreck the planet.

Order out of Confusion

Tue, 24 May 2011 13:36:23 +0000

If a horrific motorway accident occurs that involves fatalities then it is quite right that the road should be shut for several hours while the casualties are rushed to hospital, the wreckage cleared away and an investigation is carried out into what caused the incident. Yet sometimes it seems as though the authorities treat every minor bump as an excuse to close the M1, M4, M6, M25 etc etc for the best part of a day.

An astonishing 18,000-plus full or partial motorway closures were ordered last year lasting a total of over 20,000 hours according to the Department for Transport; hours during which goods remained un-delivered as they sat in stationary trailers. It is difficult to believe all those shut-downs were truly justified, but easy to believe another remarkable statistic quoted by the DfT; the fact that wholesale closures of motorways cost the UK economy �1bn a year.

Fortunately the government appears to have recognised the problem at last and is doing something about it. Transport minister Mike Penning has unveiled a new strategy to bring order out of chaos which involves his own department, the Highways Agency, the Home Office and police, fire and ambulance chiefs committing to a ten-point action plan to help ensure that closures take place only when absolutely necessary and for the minimum amount of time.

A key ingredient of the programme is a �3m DfT fund for police forces to buy laser scanning technology to survey accident scenes. �Recent trials by the police and the Highways Agency have demonstrated that this can make a real difference when it comes to speeding up investigations,� says Penning.

Most of the plan should be implemented this year, with the remainder in place by the end of 2012. Let�s hope it works, and let�s hope too that the government will at the same time turn its attention to another long-standing problem that besets our road network; the shockingly-poor standard of maintenance.

Automatic for the people.

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:39:44 +0000

All the talk about Euro 5 and Euro 6 has tended to obscure one of the most significant changes to heavy truck design to have occurred over the past few years. That is the steady shift away from manual to two-pedal automated transmissions – now standard on many models – in a bid to cut fuel bills and make the driver’s life a whole lot easier.

Could the same be about to happen in the light commercial market? The answer is yes if recent moves by Tesco are anything to go by.

This year it will be acquiring some 800 Iveco Dailies equipped with AGile automated boxes to add to a similar number it put into service on home delivery work last year. Made by ZF, the six-speed AGile automated manual box can be used as a manual or an automatic, and according to Iveco can improve average fleet fuel consumption by between 2 and 4 per cent.

That is because the way in which it is designed obliges even the least-frugal of drivers to drive more economically. Clutch life is extended because there is less scope for the driver to abuse the transmission than there is with a manual box, and because you do not have to depress a clutch when you change gear, whoever is behind the wheel is less tired at the end of their shift.

Such gearboxes have their drawbacks. They cost several hundred pounds more than standard manual boxes, the change is not always as smooth as it should be, and vans fitted with one may be looked at rather askance by buyers of second-hand vehicles.

As a consequence many light commercial fleets remain wary of them and it would be a brave manufacturer who made them standard. “Such a change is a long way off, although we could perhaps see a move towards standardisation at the heavier end of the van sector in maybe five to ten years time,” says Bernd Stockmann, senior vice president, truck driveline technology, at ZF.

The underlying upward trend in diesel prices means however that any technology that cuts fuel consumption and CO2 emissions into the bargain cannot be ignored for long.

A 2.0 to 4.0 per cent reduction may not seem like much on paper but will become more and more valuable as fuel costs escalate. Perhaps Tesco is on to something after all.

Money's too tight to mention

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:14:02 +0000

Drivers and warehouse workers at Carlsberg UK who have just given a comprehensive thumbs-down to a 2.75 per cent pay rise should consider themselves fortunate that they have received such a good offer say transport industry executives. Employees at two of Carlsberg�s competitors have already settled for 2.0 per cent, and many road transport drivers may not see a pay rise at all this year.

That is scarcely surprising. With the pages of the commercial vehicle press littered every week with the names of haulage companies that have collapsed, there is at present no shortage of truck drivers looking for work.

Almost two-thirds of respondents to the Freight Transport Association�s recent Quarterly Transport Activity Survey covering the first quarter of this year reported no problems in recruiting hgv drivers.� Nearly 90 per cent reported no difficulties in recruiting warehouse staff.

What is more, 26 per cent of respondents stated that they made employees redundant in Q1.

Yet while distribution businesses can hold pay in check for the present, wage bills look set to rise in the medium- to long-term.

Some of this will be the consequence of vacancies increasing as the economy picks up. �Only 14 per cent of respondents to the survey stated that they were considering redundancies in Q2, suggesting that as the outlook improves the need to downsize will decrease,� says the FTA.

Another factor is the advent of an EU Directive set to come into force in October that will give agency drivers many of the same rights as full-time employees. They will include entitlements to overtime pay and to be paid a premium for working unsociable hours, although there will be a 12-week qualifying period before such entitlements come into force.

A third factor is the introduction of the Driver�s Certificate of Professional Competence which requires truck drivers to undergo 35 hours of approved training between now and 10 September 2014. Aware that they will no longer be permitted to drive after that date if they fail to do so, and loath to return to the classroom after so many years behind the wheel, many of them may elect to hand in their licences instead.

That could create a significant shortage � and much fatter wage packets for those who remain and find themselves in demand.

Young driver insurance in the spotlight

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:56:01 +0000

Young drivers are greatly overrepresented in road crashes. In Great Britain young people are more likely to die on the roads than to die from any other cause� , and this trend is repeated internationally. That�s why researchers across the globe are examining what�s most effective in reducing the risks facing young drivers, including a team at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands. Their research looks at the impact of �pay-how-you-drive� insurance schemes, which reward safer driving behaviour through lower premiums.

The telematics technology that enables these schemes has been in development for a number of years and in the UK insurance companies are starting to offer such schemes to young drivers. But until now the question of whether these schemes work, and to what extent, has not been subject to academic scrutiny.

The researchers worked with five large insurance companies in the Netherlands, where young driver crash rates are comparable to the UK. They conducted rigorous statistical analysis on the insurers� various pay-how-you-drive schemes to derive an overall figure for effectiveness in reducing dangerous behaviours among young drivers.

They found that as a tool for reducing speed, pay-how-you-drive is very effective, reducing volitional speeding by 14% compared to non-users. Given that a reduction of speeding by 5% may lead to as much as a 20% decrease in fatal road crashes� , the benefits for safety are clear. Another advantage of the technology is that because premiums are directly tied to logged vehicle speeds, policy holders face a continuous financial incentive to keep the speed limit, whether or not there is a speed camera in the vicinity. Click here to go to the report.

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Death registrations in England and Wales, ONS, 2010
Speed Management, OECD/ECMT joint report, 2006

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Office work and driver tiredness

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:06:22 +0000

In the past, research into tiredness among at-work drivers has focused on the time drivers spend behind the wheel, without considering other duties they must perform as part of their role. As a result, safety conscious fleet managers lay down strict policies and procedures to ensure drivers stick to maximum hours behind the wheel and take regular rest breaks. But increasingly researchers are realising that effective management of the risk of driver tiredness may be more complicated than this.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute recently published research into the effects of non-driving tasks on commercial drivers� fatigue levels. They assessed data from 97 commercial drivers and 735,000 vehicle miles. They analysed the relationship between shift hours, driving time, resting, non-driving work and occurrences of safety-critical driving events.

They found that commercial drivers spent 66% of their time driving, 11% resting and 23% in non-driving work activities. The length of time spent driving had a predictable relationship to risk: increased time behind the wheel increased the risk of safety-critical events. Additionally, in-line with past research, resting was found to be beneficial in reducing risk in the hour after a break.

However, they also discovered that time working on non-driving tasks had an impact on driver tiredness. They concluded that driver tiredness can also result from the inter-relation between time spent driving and time spent working on non-driving tasks immediately before driving. For example, if a driver begins the working day in the office before undertaking a long journey, his or her risk will increase.

This research has clear implications for fleet managers: they should consider and manage the amount of time spent on non-driving related work, alongside time spent at the wheel, to keep employees and the public safe.

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Click here to go to the report.

Cutting the tape

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:41:47 +0000

A rule that one person views as burdensome red tape can be someone else�s vitally-important piece of legislation that must be defended at all costs. That is one conclusion that can be drawn from the government�s Red Tape Challenge web site which is there to elicit the views of business and the general public on which of the UK�s 21,000-plus regulations should be kept, and which should be simplified or scrapped.

Take for example the MoT test for cars, mandatory three years after the date of first registration, and annually thereafter.

There is an argument that the requirement should be relaxed with an eye to saving car owners cash. Proposals to switch it to four years after the date of first registration, then every other year thereafter, have however been greeted on the web site with howls of protest from people who believe it would be harmful to road safety.

Relaxing or completely scrapping certain other regulations � there are no less than 60 that govern the operation of buses, coaches, and taxis for example, and road transport was a key topic being addressed on the site at the time of writing � may prove rather more popular.

�Is it right that we tell car owners that they must have a bit of paper to prove they have insured their car?� wonders roads minister, Mike Penning. Given that the presence of cover � or lack thereof � can be monitored electronically, it does seem a bit pointless.

What the government does not say however is that there are limits to its ability to scrap regulations because so many of them have been brought about by EU Directives. The Certificate of Professional Competence that will soon be required by all truck, bus and coach drivers is a case in point.

What there often is however is some flexibility in the way in which the rules that accompany the introduction of these Directives are interpreted and enforced by the national governments of EU member states.

Scrapping those rules may often be impossible. Light-touch enforcement may be feasible however; and in some, though not all, cases, highly desirable.

Tackling drink driving with technology

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:44:31 +0000

US research has found that alcohol interlocks can reduce drink drive recidivism by an average of 64% among drivers who have been caught drink driving one or more times. An alcohol interlock is a breath testing device that attached to the vehicle starter or on-board computer. It prevents a vehicle from starting if the breath test reveals a breath alcohol content above a pre-set limit. Many devices also possess a range of technology to prevent drivers from cheating the system.

The research looked at the case of Illinois in the US. In 2007, Illinois introduced legislation to extend the use of alcolocks to first time offenders. First time offenders were given the option to retain their driving licence if they agreed to pay for the installation of an alcohol interlock. Initially, take up of the system was slow. However, driver acceptance and take-up of interlocks was improved through: good communication about the programme through multiple media platforms including easily accessible online materials; strong leadership and support for the programme; strong operational support for users; adequate resources to support the programme; on-going input from vendors of alcohol interlocks; the training of staff; and on-going consultation with end users.

Fleet managers can draw lessons from this research; not only are alcohol interlocks very effective at reducing drink driving but end user acceptance of the technology can be improved through sensitive policy implementation. If your company is considering implementing a targeted or even blanket use of alcohol interlocks to target driver non-compliance with company alcohol policy, manage driver crash risk and reduce insurance costs then this article is certainly worth closer inspection.�

Click here to go to the report.

Driver tiredness is endemic

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:22:59 +0000

Drivers are being urged to wise up to the dangers of tired driving as research out by Brake and Direct Line shows the vast majority admit driving while tired, and drivers don't know the difference between fact and fiction on tackling sleepiness at the wheel. Brake and Direct Line's survey found that nearly three-quarters of drivers (74%) admit driving tired in the past 12 months – with almost one in ten (9%) saying they did so at least once a week.

The research also showed that drivers’ knowledge of what to do if they experience sleepiness at the wheel is worryingly behind the times. Advice on how to deal with tiredness is clear; pull over somewhere safe as soon as possible, drink caffeine, and then take a short power nap or find somewhere to stay overnight and get a good night's sleep. All other methods of staying awake and alert at the wheel are unproven. The study showed that 70% of drivers open a window while driving to starve off sleep and more than half (54%) listen to music to keep them awake.

Concerned fleet managers need to drive home some key educational messages to drivers to ensure that tired driving isn’t affecting company crash rates and costing the company dearly. Simple measures such as incorporating advice into staff newsletters, through the staff intranet or through depot posters can boost driver knowledge about how to prevent tiredness at the wheel and how to appropriately deal with it if it does occur. Measures like these also reassure the driver that the company prioritises safety over speed and wants them to stop if they feel tired.

Click here to go to the report.

NOx cuts on the cards

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:50:58 +0000

First it was particulates, now it is NOx. A growing number of city authorities could be on the verge of demanding that commercial vehicle owners retrofit expensive NOx (oxides of nitrogen) reduction systems if they want their trucks, buses and coaches to be allowed into key urban areas without being penalised.

It is not a new idea.

Three years ago Norwich set up a Low Emission Zone that required buses that spent most of their lives in the city centre to comply with Euro 3 in order to bring down NOx levels. Older buses that only met Euro 2 had to be fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology � which requires periodic doses of AdBlue �with financial support from Norfolk County Council to achieve the NOx figure stipulated.

More recently, Transport for London has announced that in a special trial, 18 buses will be fitted with NOx reduction equipment as part of a scheme to ensure all 8,500 buses in the capital will meet Euro 4 NOx levels by 2015. It estimates that 2,700 will not and will have to be appropriately altered or replaced.

In Spain, the regional government in Catalonia has decreed that all Euro 2 and Euro 3 buses must meet Euro 4 by 2014 with an eye to driving down both particulate and NOx emissions. In response, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona is fitting abatement equipment to over 360 of its buses.

While the damage that NOx can do to human health is not as easily grasped by the public as the damage that ultra-fine particulates can do � all those nasty little bits of soot going deep into your lungs and staying there � there is no doubt that it is harmful. It can inflame your lungs and make you more vulnerable to respiratory infections.

Bringing Euro 3 vehicles to Euro 4 or Euro 5 levels so far as NOx and particulates are concerned does not come cheap however. You need a particulate trap as well as SCR.

Price for the entire package? Budget for around �12,000 to �14,000 per vehicle � a significant sum to find given the pressures on profit margins faced by operators and the sometimes-limited subsidies available thanks to public spending cutbacks across Europe.

Yet while all responsible businesses want to curb pollution, many transport fleets may be forgiven for wondering if they are being asked to shoulder too much of the burden.

When a large part of the centre of one UK city was pedestrianised a few months ago, particulate levels in the atmosphere fell by a mere 8 per cent, despite the fact that all vehicles � including buses � had been banished.

How come the fall in particulates was so modest? The reason apparently was that while all the vehicles had gone, the fast-food outlets were still there and some of them were generating plenty of pollution of their own: something to ponder on the next time you are munching an overcooked and slightly-blackened burger.

The point is that while regulators and the politicians who back them seem quite happy to tighten the screws on the hapless vehicle operator, they appear to be failing to get to grips with other equally-serious though perhaps less-obvious sources of pollution, from burger bars to domestic heating systems.

Ancient oil-fired central heating boilers that have not been maintained since John Major was prime minister can belch out all sorts of damaging fumes as well as creating a huge carbon footprint for the homeowner concerned. So how about relaxing the pressure on vehicle fleets and taking a closer look at householders and burger-flippers instead?

Let's be fair on fuel

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:45:53 +0000

Robert Halfon looks set to become the toast of vehicle operators nationwide in the coming months.

Robert who? He�s the Conservative MP from Essex who has pledged to become FairFuelUK champion in the House of Commons and is clearly not afraid to discomfort fellow Tory MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne.

Backed by the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the FairFuelUK campaign is battling to get the fuel duty rise planned for next January scrapped. Halfon also wants an inquiry into why forecourt pump prices rise so rapidly when the cost of oil goes up, yet fall at a glacial pace when it drops again.

To show their support, Halfon, who represents Harlow, and some of his fellow MPs recently pushed a FairFuel UK branded car down Whitehall as a publicity stunt and in a bid to hammer the message home to government. He has already set up a FairFuel UK All-Party Parliamentary Group, and to date has 22 MPs signed up as members.

Doubtless the number will increase as the weeks leading up to the January 2012 deadline tick away.

There is no denying whatsoever that FairFuelUK has a point: and a strong one given that the proposed January rise could push up fuel bills by as much as 4p a litre.

Diesel prices in particular are way too high in the UK � significantly higher than they are in every other EU member state � mainly as a consequence of excessively-high levels of duty. The cost of diesel has been a key reason why so many well-known haulage businesses have shut up shop for good in recent months, and a further tax hike will undoubtedly drive more of them to the wall.

So the efforts of the FairFuelUK campaign and Mr Halfon should be supported. As the RHA points out, what is needed by the transport industry is fuel price stability: and that will not be provided by yet another tax increase.

Smoother vehicle shapes spell lower fuel bills

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:18:22 +0000

Forget all the talk about hybrids, battery power, fuel cells and so on for a moment. Make your truck more aerodynamic and you could cut your carbon footprint at a stroke without having to worry about all the complications inherent in expensive alternative propulsion technologies.

Georg Pachta-Reyhofen certainly believes that slippery profiles can bring major savings: and as CEO of MAN’s global commercial vehicle operation, he should know. “MAN’s Concept S study shows that a more aerodynamic shape could cut fuel consumption by up to 25 per cent,” he observes.

Exhibited at last year’s IAA Hanover Commercial Vehicle Show in Germany, the streamlined Concept S tractor unit has a drag co-efficient of around 0.3 – the sort of figure achieved by modern passenger cars. Cameras take the place of conventional rear view mirrors and the twin fuel tanks are integrated into the body’s design.

That is not to say that Pachta-Reyhofen dismisses the value of hybrids – far from it – although he is much less convinced about the advantages of electric trucks.

Speaking recently at the Commercial Vehicle Symposium of the VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry) in Berlin, he argued that an electric artic would need a 6 tonne battery that would cost around £300,000 at the very least and would take 26 hours to recharge after a ten-hour journey. The number of trucks on the highway would need to double in order to shift the same amount of goods.

If aerodynamics designs are to work to their full potential however, some regulatory changes will have to be made. “Policymakers at international level will have to give us the green light for new vehicle dimensions,” he states.

While adding aerodynamic mouldings to the front and rear of trucks may cut fuel usage, as things stand they may also result in limits on overall length being exceeded and render the operator liable to prosecution. Altering the rules so that they are excluded from length restrictions would make sound sense given the pressing need to cut CO2 output.

Cross-border motoring fines looking more likely

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:38:58 +0000

Speed in France or jump the lights in Belgium and there is at present nothing the law enforcement authorities in those countries can do about it unless they catch you on the spot. Once you are back in the UK you can forget all about it, even if the police in the country concerned have got your registration number and a couple of witnesses.

That could change soon thanks to a largely-un-remarked piece of legislation passed by the European Parliament which means that prosecution in one EU country for a motoring offence committed in another EU country could be a reality by 2013.

A number of offences are covered by the Cross Border Enforcement Directive, which will have to be approved by EU member states. They are speeding, going through a red light, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not wearing a crash helmet if you are a motorcyclist, using a handheld mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, driving in a bus lane or any other lane from which your vehicle is excluded and using a handheld mobile phone while driving.

On the face of it all this is laudable. After all, why should a Dutch driver who drives like a maniac in Germany be able to get away with it simply because he has managed to nip over the border into the safety of his own country?

Scratch the surface however and it becomes more problematic.

The difficulty with this sort of Directive is that it assumes that each of the EU�s 27 member states has exactly the same legal system, including the same standard of proof, the same attitude to sentencing and � frankly � the same standard of honesty among police, judges and court officials. Unfortunately they clearly do not, any more than all the members of the euro zone approach running their finances in precisely the same way.

As a consequence a hapless British company car driver could end up being prosecuted for an offence supposedly committed on the other side of the Channel on the basis of evidence so flimsy that no prosecutor would dream of bringing before the courts had the alleged offence been committed in the UK.

Perhaps that evidence will be thrown out and the driver will not be convicted. But even if this is the case, both he or she and their employer will have to spend time and money on defending a charge that even a first year law student would recognise had no prospect of success.

The Directive�s aims are without doubt laudable: but massive reform of the legal system EU-wide is required before they can be implemented fairly.

Petrol Power is on the march

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:44:13 +0000

Is petrol about to supplant diesel when it comes to cutting fuel costs? Probably not in heavy vehicles – but both Nissan and Fiat believe that petrol engines are capable of giving diesels a trouncing so far as small cars are concerned.

Nissan cites the new DIGS-S – Direct Injection Gasoline - Supercharged – version of the compact Micra hatchback as an example of what it means.

Power comes courtesy of a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine capable of a pocket-pleasing 68.9mpg on the official combined cycle: better than some equivalent-sized diesels reckons the manufacturer. CO2 emissions can fall as low as 95g/km depending on the equipment level you choose.

So how come petrol usage is so low? Along with direction injection, specially-shaped pistons and improved exhaust gas recirculation, the engine employs what is known as the Miller Cycle. Named after American engineer Robert Miller, it uses the combination of a high compression ratio and allowing the inlet valve to stay open a little longer to make the compression stroke more efficient.

More energy is saved by using an intelligent alternator to recharge the battery when engine power is not in demand: when the driver brakes for example. In addition a stop-start function automatically kills the engine when the car is idling at the lights or stuck in traffic, cutting petrol consumption and CO2 emissions.

Fiat uses a different approach to achieve the same end in the TwinAir version of its retro-chic 500.

It too features a stop-start system, but this time around it works in conjunction with an 875cc twin-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine offering the same combined mpg and CO2 figures as the Nissan when married to the standard five-speed manual gearbox. That falls to a remarkable 70.6mpg and an astonishingly-low 92g/km if you choose the optional Dualogic robotised gearbox instead.

One-tenth lighter than engines of comparable power, and making use of Fiat’s MultiAir technology, the low-friction-loss TwinAir features a new electro-hydraulic valve management system that controls the air flowing into the engine through the inlet valves rather than the throttle valve. Airflow is precisely-managed cylinder by cylinder, cycle by cycle, phase by phase according to the engine’s requirements, reducing pumping losses by around 10%.

Hit the ECO button on the dashboard when you are driving around a city centre and maximum torque is cut by 45Nm to 100Nm – all you need when you are chugging along in heavy urban traffic – bringing down fuel consumption.

It’s not all good news.

All this technology means that the supercharged Micra DIG-S will cost around £1,000 more than the equivalent, standard, un-supercharged petrol model when it goes on sale in September. The 500 TwinAir is about £1,200 more than its closest stable-mate.

That has to be balanced against the fact that in the UK diesel is approximately 4p a litre more expensive than petrol, that diesel engines are sold at a similar or greater price premium to ordinary petrol engines and that with 98hp on tap, DIG-S owners will not feel short-changed so far as performance is concerned. And while the 85hp generated by the TwinAir will not help you break any land speed records, you can still cruise at 70mph on the motorway: just so long as you are happy to drop down a gear every time you approach an incline.

Fleet drivers who may look askance at these little cars with their little engines may care to bear in mind that if they choose one then from April 2012 onwards they will be slotted comfortably into the lowest 10% benefit-in-kind banding for company car tax: a benefit worth having.

While one or two road tests have admittedly suggested that TwinAir is not quite as economical in practice as it is on paper, what all the foregoing shows is that petrol engine technology is still capable of further development, that diesel is not necessarily always the way to go and that expensive hybrid technology is not essential if you want to cut fuel bills and emissions.

As a senior Ford executive pointed out a while back, if his company can make every Focus sold just 1% more economical then that will save UK drivers a lot more fuel than all those pricy hybrids put together.

Low Emission Zones are coming your way

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:12:20 +0000

The problem with making environmental commitments is that sooner or later something has to be done about them. The steps that have to be taken may not always prove popular with the business community.

That could end up being the case with the UK�s continued commitment to meeting European Union air quality targets.

Many parts of the country did not meet the EU�s nitrogen dioxide limit by the initial compliance date of 2010 and the government is about to apply for an extension until 2015. Unfortunately certain urban areas may miss this target too unless extra measures are taken: and a nationwide roll-out of London-style Low Emission Zones (LEZs) is almost certain to be one of them.

So says Tom Henderson, senior associate at top London legal practice Bircham Dyson Bell LLP. �Local authorities would retain ultimate control over whether or not to establish zones and would be responsible for setting up and enforcing them,� he says.

The LEZs would be designed in line with a national framework, and while implementing them would in theory be voluntary, one suspects that government (including the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) would exert considerable pressure on councils to take action to avoid the embarrassment of the 2015 target being missed too.

Assuming that provincial LEZs are designed along the same lines as the London LEZ, it will be vans, trucks, buses and coaches that will have to comply: not cars, despite the pollution they too generate. As a consequence politicians will not have to face an irate electorate demanding a referendum before such a scheme is implemented: a referendum that could well scupper the proposal.

Instead, it will be fleet operators that will have to bear the burden of upgrading non-compliant vehicles so that they meet Euro 3 or Euro 4, or replacing them with vehicles that match the required standard. As LEZs proliferate, the residual value of anything that does not comply will sink like a stone and it will of course be fleets that will have to pay up if they inadvertently send something into a zone that breaches the regulations.

Provincial LEZs are in fact not new. Three years ago Norwich set up one that required buses that spent most of their lives in the city centre to comply with Euro 3 in order to cut NOx (oxides of nitrogen) levels.

However as part of its introduction Norfolk County Council made a financial contribution towards the cost of upgrading vehicles: something that councils today are unlikely to be in a position to do (and something Transport for London certainly has not done) given their depleted coffers.

The real nightmare for operators has to be the emergence of a patchwork quilt of LEZ rules, with some councils insisting that all vehicles caught in the net have to comply with Euro 4, some demanding Euro 4 compliance for vans but Euro 5 compliance for trucks, buses and coaches, and so on.

If government does nothing else, then it must insist that local authorities follow a uniform regime: the approach taken by London offers a suitable template. To do otherwise would be a recipe for chaos.

People Power could cut Fuel Costs

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:22:47 +0000

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With the economy growing at the pace of a snail, company and household budgets under pressure and inflation romping ahead at 5%, about the last thing anyone needs is a further increase in the price of petrol and diesel. Tough � because that is precisely what you are going to get if the Treasury has its way.

In fact you are going to get two, with a 4p-per-litre duty rise scheduled for next January and another 4p a litre due to be slapped on the following August.�

While there is no doubt that the Treasury is desperate to fill its depleted coffers, Robert Halfon MP strongly doubts that this is the way to do it. Now in effect the Parliamentary leader of the FairFuelUK campaign, he argues that jacking up the level of tax will be counter-productive from the government revenue viewpoint because fewer people will be able to afford to drive leading to a lower tax take.

So what�s to be done about it? Halfon and his FairFuelUK colleagues have decided to make use of a new online facility that enables citizens to petition government about their concerns. Get 100,000 signatures on your petition and the subject has to be debated in Parliament.

Halfon�s petition urges government to scrap the planned duty increases; create a price stabilisation mechanism that smoothes out fluctuations in the pump price; pressure big oil companies to pass on cuts in the price of oil to motorists; and set up a commission to look at market competitiveness and radical ways of cutting fuel taxes in the long term.�

The petition can be accessed and signed at http://bit.ly/FFUK-Gov�

Almost 54,000 people had attached their signatures to it at the time of writing. It should perhaps be stressed that this is a separate petition to the FairFuelUK petition at www.fairfueluk.com which has been signed by 200,000.

One of course might take the view that the government�s much-vaunted e-petition facility has been set up simply as a mechanism by which aggrieved citizens can blow off steam. Even if the topic of fuel prices is debated in Parliament, there is of course no guarantee that a cash-strapped administration will take action to reduce the tax burden.

Signing the petition will however push the whole topic of fuel prices that much further up the political agenda, and the whole drip-drip-drip effect of signature after signature could eventually bring about a change in policy. And it only takes a minute or two�

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Designing roads to influence driver behaviour

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:26:53 +0000

Driving on relatively empty rural roads can lead to overconfidence and driving too fast for conditions. This is a major cause of deaths and injury in the UK and globally. Engineers are keen to come up with innovative ways to influence driver behaviour in these types of hazardous environments.

Researchers from Italy have been investigating driver reactions to perceptual cues in a bid to reduce speed on approach to rural junctions. �Using a driver simulator they tested speed, deceleration and lateral positioning on approach to junctions in ten differently engineered situations. They discovered that �dragons teeth� markings, based on the principle of optical road narrowing, was one of the most effective engineering solutions to inappropriately high speed on approaching rural junctions. Creating a raised island to physically narrow the road and different road colouring on the junction were also found to have positive effects.

Drivers responded to the real or perceived narrowing of the road by slowing down. These solutions led to speed reduction of between 13 � 23 km/h from 250m before the junction as well as increased deceleration from greater distances.

Given the positive impact these solutions have on altering driver behaviour to reduce risk in hazardous situations, the researcher recommend widespread adoption. Read the full report here.

Red light cameras receive widespread support

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:14:53 +0000

Camera technology has the potential to save many lives and this has been demonstrated by a recent analysis of camera schemes in Winnipeg, USA. While enforcement of traffic laws by police officers will be at best sporadic and costly, automated enforcement can provide a cost-effective and efficient method of reducing risk taking behaviour by drivers.�

Cameras were installed at junctions in Winnipeg to provide a deterrent to red light running. The number of offences was analysed over time and compared to crash data for the same period at the site. The researchers concluded that these cameras reduced right angle crashes at junctions by 46% and they therefore had a clear protective effect on traffic safety.�

Driver support for cameras was found to be high. While some 71% of residents believe that the scheme helps to improve road safety, 81% of people supported the camera scheme and its continuation.�

The researchers from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation recommended that camera use is continued alongside driver education and media campaigns to highlight the enforcement cameras in use. Read more about the scheme here

Hybrid buses introduced in Sunderland

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:54:54 +0000

Sunderland's bus fleet is getting a green overhaul with the introduction of new hybrid vehicles on a major public transport route.

Operator Nexus hopes the move will help it reduce its bus fleet carbon footprint and give passengers more choice when travelling locally.

The Optare Solo SR hybrid buses will be serving the Sunderland Connect 700 route, which links the city centre with the main university campuses and a number of key leisure and tourism sites.

Since opening last month, almost 6,000 passengers a week have been using the circular route, including students, visitors and local residents.

Hybrid buses will now operate every 30 minutes as standard from Park Lane Interchange via Sunderland University, St Peter's Metro Station and the Stadium of Light, keeping bus emissions down and cutting fuel costs for Nexus.

"The benefits of using hybrid vehicles as opposed to conventional diesel include a lower fuel consumption, which makes the bus a cleaner service and minimises carbon dioxide and particle emissions," said local councillor James Blackburn.

Bernard Garner, director general of Nexus, added: "Sunderland Connect has proved popular from the word go and is already well-established as the best way to get across and around the city centre.

"With the launch of new hybrid vehicles passengers can also be reassured they are making a greener journey, as well as a quick and convenient one."

The announcement follows previous environmental improvements to bus fleets in the north-east of England.

In July Stagecoach North East launched a £7.2 million fleet of 26 hybrid electric buses in Newcastle, using £2.2 million from the government's Green Bus Fund.

The vehicles are operating on local routes serving Wallsend, Walker, Byker, Chapel House and the city centre

John Conroy, managing director of the bus operator, said he expected carbon emissions on the routes in question to be reduced by 30 per cent.

TfL launches mobile bus information service

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:20:29 +0000

Passengers using buses in the capital will be able to access live transport information via their mobile phones.

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A new service allowing passengers to view live bus arrival times on their mobile handsets has been launched by Transport for London (TfL). The capital's public transport body is offering the service, which is described as the most advanced of its kind in the UK, across all of its 19,500 bus stops.

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Using vehicle tracking systems, the programme will allow passengers to use mobile internet or text messages to find out when their bus is due. They can simply search for their nearest bus stop using their smartphones, entering the bus route number and the street name or postcode. Alternatively, they can use an ordinary mobile phone to text the bus stop code to a special number, receiving detailed bus information for a small charge.

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TfL plans to make all the data freely available to developers later this year so they can design their own smartphone applications. Kulveer Ranger, director of Digital London, said the new technology will "revolutionise" the way that people in London use buses.

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"More than six million bus journeys are made every day in London," he noted. "This fantastic application of bus data will now enable people, wherever they are, whatever they are doing, to know exactly when their bus will reach any one of the capital's bus stops they want to use, at any time of day or night."

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TfL will also be replacing 2,000 digital bus countdown screens displaying journey information at London's bus stops and installing an extra 500. The aim of the improvements is to boost visibility for visually impaired people.

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Meanwhile, it has been announced that Boris Johnson's plans to swap bendy buses for new vehicles are progressing well, with more than two-thirds replaced so far. TfL is expecting to see a substantial reduction in fare evasion as a result of the move, saving an estimated �7 million a year. A total of 500 greener buses will enter the capital's fleet in place of the bendy buses, some 50 of which will be hybrid double-deckers.

London bus journeys up 1.4%

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:31:16 +0000

The capital now accounts for almost half of all bus passenger journeys in England.

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Bus journeys in London increased last year by 1.4 per cent, according to statistics from the Department for Transport. Almost 2.27 billion journeys were made by bus in the capital in 2010-11 compared to just under 2.24 billion in 2009-10.

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The increase helped to offset declines in passenger journeys elsewhere in the country, with figures down in other regions. London now accounts for almost half of all bus passenger journeys in England.

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Overall, the country saw a 0.1 per cent rise in the 2009-10 numbers to 4.61 billion, with bus vehicle miles also rising 0.1 per cent. Outside of London, almost a quarter of these miles were on local authority supported bus services. Within London, buses are privately operated, but are regulated by Transport for London.

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The figures also show that in 2010-11 there were 84,500 public service vehicles in use in the country, of which 55 per cent were buses. The remainder were minibuses and coaches. This means overall public service vehicle numbers have declined by 1,300 and bus numbers by 600 in the last 12 months.

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Some 69 per cent of buses were fitted with CCTV to ensure passenger and driver safety last year, while 63 per cent had automatic vehicle location or GPS devices for fleet management purposes. An estimated 33 per cent had live ITSO smart-card readers and 60 per cent were issued with an accessibility certificate. A further 25 per cent have low floor access.

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Staff numbers working on the country's local and non-local public service vehicles remained broadly flat at around 171,000. The Department of Transport's data was derived from its annual public service vehicle survey of 1,600 bus and coach operators.�

1 in 5 council bus services facing cuts

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:41:42 +0000

A fifth of supported bus services in England are being reduced, according to new figures.

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Council spending cuts have led to reductions in a fifth of England's supported bus services, according to figures obtained by the Campaign for Better Transport. The charity found that �36 million has been taken from bus budgets in the last year, which has resulted in 1,114 service cuts outside of London. And it warns that there may be further reductions to come, since 77 per cent of local transport authorities have said they cannot rule out bus cuts in the future.

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Councils are coming under pressure from the government's public spending squeeze as well as higher bulk fuel prices. However, Sophie Allain, bus campaigner at the Campaign for Better Transport, insisted that buses are "cheap" and "essential to the economy" since they take people to work and to "places where they spend money".

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"Our figures reveal a pretty bleak picture," she remarked. "But what's more worrying is it's set to get a lot worse. Unless something is done we run the very real risk of doing to buses what Dr Beeching did to the local rail network. Short-term decisions to make scrappy savings this year look set to cause real damage to the country's local bus network � harming communities and local economies � and will come back to haunt this government."

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Ms Allain noted that cuts to bus services could have a knock on effect on commercial services, as passengers could find it more difficult to get home with fewer buses running on fewer routes. It may also undermine the government's recent policy announcements, with ministers suggesting that benefit claimants be encouraged to take jobs within a 90-minute commute from their homes.

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The Campaign for Better Transport has launched a drive called Save our Buses that maps out cuts to local bus services and enables members of the public to voice their opinions. It warns that some rural communities risk losing 50 per cent or even 100 per cent of their council-funded bus services because of government spending cuts.

Stagecoach launches country's first budget sleeper service

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:51:17 +0000

Passengers will be able to travel between Glasgow and London on the new coach service, which features beds, free Wi-Fi, toilets and onboard refreshments.

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Stagecoach is responding to passenger demand for budget coach travel with the launch of the UK's first low-cost sleeper service between Glasgow and London. The megabus.com service features private berths with curtains, blankets, pillows and reading lights, as well as standard seats, toilets, onboard refreshments and free Wi-Fi internet, with fares ranging from �1 to �40.

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The operator is using specially converted 60-foot articulated coaches, which will be on the road seven nights a week, departing before midnight and arriving the following morning. Each coach is fitted with 24 berths and 24 seats, with each passenger allocated a berth and a seat for the duration of their journey.

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Stagecoach has worked to ensure road safety among its sleeper fleet, fitting the vehicles with CCTV and emergency assistance buttons, and ensuring they are certified by VOSA. The sleeper coaches also meet the Low Emissions Zone requirements that will be introduced by Transport for London in January.

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Sir Brian Souter, chief executive of Stagecoach Group, said there has been "huge interest" in the budget sleeper service so far. "Feedback from the trials we have carried out over the past two months has been very positive about the extra comfort, facilities, and the great value prices," he remarked.

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"We have seen particularly strong growth in demand for budget travel over the past two years with the combined effect of the tough economy, stretched household budgets and rocketing fuel prices. The sleeper coach is a great way to travel and make your money go further."

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The launch of the service comes after Stagecoach introduced a new twice daily megabus.com link between Birmingham and Edinburgh. The service calls at Manchester and Glasgow, which means there will now be ten journeys per day each way between Birmingham and Manchester.

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Stagecoach launched megabus.com in 2003 and almost three million UK passengers now use the service every year. It was also introduced in North America in 2006, with more than ten million passengers making use of it.

Pininfarina launches hybrid bus

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:01:36 +0000

The vehicle could help operators reduce their fleet carbon footprint.

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A leading tuning firm has announced the launch of a new hybrid-model bus, the Hybus, which could trigger a new move towards a range of green fleets. Pininfarina, which established its reputation by working on big-name sports vehicles such as the Ferrari F40 and the Maserati GranTurismo, has unveiled the vehicle at a Milanese transport exhibition.

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It worked alongside transport group GTT and battery maker FAAM on engineering the new vehicle, which was designed in response to the pollution and air quality issues facing Turin. The basis of the design was a 17-year-old Iveco bus that the team adapted by fitting a 1.3 litre multi-jet diesel power unit. This was then attached to an electric generator that powered the vehicle's primary lithium-ion battery pack, which drive its Magnet Marelli electric motors and collector-reduction gearbox.

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Autocar, commenting on the design, added that the original rear axle and drive-line have remained in place and are driven by the electric motors. It added that the battery pack and management system use a combination of powerplant and ancillaries management, which have been integrated with the initial design and could lower fleet carbon footprints. "Under braking, Hybus recovers kinetic energy to recharge the batteries," the magazine noted.

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Upgrading existing vehicles to the design, which was developed by Pininfarina's Design and Engineering Centre, is predicted to be approximately 60 per cent cheaper than buying a new hybrid vehicle. The recently-unveiled vehicle is the first example from the company's new focus on developments in hybrid and electric mobility and its dedication to this new direction has been confirmed by its decision to give up the car body building part of its business.

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Earlier this month, Nexus announced the introduction of new hybrid vehicles to Sunderland's bus fleet, with the Optare Solo SR hybrid serving along the Connect 700 route.

Volvo Buses 'sees 37% rise in deliveries'

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:07:38 +0000

South American and Asian markets drove the increase, while deliveries in North America and Europe declined.

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Volvo Buses has announced that it has experienced a substantial increase in the number of deliveries it made in the third quarter compared with the same period 12 months earlier. The company has announced that it has seen deliveries rise 37 per cent to 2,854 buses worldwide.

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Both North America and Europe bucked trends by experiencing negative growth, which is not expected to turn positive during the remainder of this year. Among the key drivers implicated in this trend is the tough competition affecting the regions' bus markets, while budget restrictions are also affecting the purchase of these vehicles in city areas.

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"There are indications of some increase in the coach market but at a lower rate than anticipated," Volvo's Per-Martin Johansson announced. New York City was one of the areas which experienced a serious rise in significant orders, with an additional 90 buses being bought for consumer traffic.

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In contrast, the South American and Asian markets have undergone rapid expansion although in certain states such as Mexico this growth comes from a low starting point. This has also given rise to orders for a number of hybrid buses, which could see businesses attempting to invest in green fleets.

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During the third quarter, net sales rose by 12 per cent to SEK 5,157 million (�493 million), although accounting for currency fluctuations this is actually an increase of 21 per cent. Changes in currency ratings also negatively affected operating income, which fell to SEK 46 million, while the operating margin was at 3.6 per cent.

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Within the UK, recent figures have confirmed that the number of people using bus services is on the rise. New Department for Transport data has shown that bus journeys in London rose by 1.4 per cent last year, with almost 2.27 billion trips being made in the capital.�

Fuel trends: Price of petrol and diesel 'at seasonal high'

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:32:39 +0000

The cost of diesel now averages 139.65p per litre, AA figures show.

Current fuel trends mean that the prices of petrol and diesel at the pump are at their highest ever for this time of year, which could concern bus and coach operators, since bulk fuel prices tend to follow similar patterns. According to AA's latest Fuel Price Report, autumn and winter prices have spiked despite the fact that summer prices were close to those experienced in 2010.

From prices taken in mid-October, UK petrol prices are averaging 134.51p a litre, compared with 135.61p at the same time last month. Diesel now averages 139.65p a litre, up from 139.62p, and has remained soundly within the 139.5-140p range since the start of September.

The fuel trends report found that during the summer motoring season – which it defines as stretching between April and mid-October – the price of petrol has stood at an average of 135.5p a litre, with diesel at 139.98p. Among the key factors driving the changes in fuel prices have been the way that the international markets have responded to the eurozone crisis and the devaluation of the pound.

Surprisingly, the report also highlighted that the resumption of oil production in Libya has had little affect on the price of fuel, as these other factors have overshadowed its impact. AA also highlighted high levels of inflation - with the retail price index standing at 5.6 per cent - as "casting an even darker shadow" over future fuel trends. It stated that the rising cost of living, in addition to a 3.03p-a-litre rise in fuel duty that has been scheduled for the New Year, could see prices driven up substantially for bus and coach drivers.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said that Brent crude is still over-priced and called on the government to tackle high oil prices. He said: "The squeeze from relentlessly high pump prices is due to get worse as driving in the dark and winter weather adds greater fuel consumption to motorists' misery."

Earlier this month, the Freight Transport Association announced that industry pressure has resulted in the government agreeing to a hold a debate on fuel duty that could see costs fall for all drivers, including those with buses and coaches.

Go-Ahead Group passenger satisfaction at 91%

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:04:06 +0000

All nine of the bus network's companies achieved a minimum of 90 per cent satisfaction among passengers.

The Go-Ahead network has announced that it has managed to keep customer satisfaction high across all of its companies.

New independent research has found that the bus network managed to achieve an average 91 per cent passenger satisfaction rate. All nine of its companies were assessed as part of the exercise and the opinions of a total of 6,250 people were sought in order to determine the figure.

Its east of England-based Konectbus and South Hampshire-based Bluestar companies achieved the highest satisfaction levels across all of the services, achieving a 97 per cent and 94 per cent rating respectively. Every company in the group achieved at least a minimum of 90 per cent in the study, the Passenger Focus report concluded.

David Sidebottom, director of the research, said that these are a set of results to be proud of and pointed to the consistency of performance as a real achievement.

He said: "Areas for improvement have been identified which need to be taken seriously and addressed. However, these findings will be a boost for the company and their passengers."

Mr Sidebottom added that the fleet management industry as a whole must recognise the value of working to measure customer satisfaction levels.

David Brown, the chief executive of the Go-Ahead Group, said that the firm is pleased by the results but that they are not grounds for complacency.

He re-emphasised the company's commitment to continuous improvement and to the rolling out of new technologies designed to appeal to customers.

Mr Brown added: "The research makes it very clear, too, that once people make the decision to use the bus, the experience they have is a positive one."

Earlier this month, Go-Ahead announced its Interim Management Statement and confirmed that its expectations for the full-year remained unchanged.

New green bus fleet set for launch in Preston

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:11:49 +0000

Six new eco-friendly buses will soon be serving passengers in Preston, it has been announced.

A cutting-edge fleet of six new hybrid buses is set to hit the streets of Preston in the next few weeks, it has been announced.

Keen to reduce the size of its fleet carbon footprint, Preston Bus has put in a £1.5 million order for the state-of-the-art vehicles, with delivery expected before the end of the year.

The move will help cement the Lancashire town's reputation as one of the most environmentally progressive places in the whole of the north of England when it comes to eco-friendly public transport.

Additionally, it is hoped that the new hybrid vehicles will also make the town centre a more pleasant place for both passengers and pedestrians, cutting back of dirty emissions and noise levels.

Announcing the news, Preston Bus operations manager John Asquith told the Lancashire Evening Post that, while the new buses will look much different to the current fleet of vehicles, passengers will not see any changes in levels of service, with the frequency of park and ride services, for instance, set to stay the same.

"We have not made any big changes to the service," he told the newspaper.

"The buses are now being built, and we expect to take delivery at the back end of December," he added.

This announcement comes just days after Nexus launched new fleet of hybrid buses onto the streets of Sunderland.

Since the services were first rolled out in September, thousands of passengers have been able to enjoy smooth, quiet and eco-friendly trips between some of Sunderland's main points, including the University, the Stadium of Light and the bus and railway stations.

At the same time, locals are also enjoying a drop in bus emissions in the city centre, while the operator is set to benefit from substantial long-term fuel savings.

Car rental giant launches hybrid bus service

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:16:40 +0000

Hertz is to launch a new hybrid bus service at LAX Airport, it has been announced.

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Public transportation managers looking to boost the size of their green fleets are no doubt keeping a close watch on happenings across the Atlantic now that Hertz has announced plans to make use of a cutting-edge green bus.

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The global car hire giant has confirmed it is to take delivery of a BYD eBus-12 within the next few days, with the eco-friendly vehicle to be put into service at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where it will be used to shuttle customers to and from the terminal buildings.

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Notably, the state-of-the-art vehicle will enable Hertz to reduce the size of its fleet carbon footprint considerably.

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Specifically, by switching to the eBUS-12, it is anticipated that the firm will be able to save $76 a day on the cost of fuel while also cutting its daily carbon emissions by 320kg.

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Announcing the news, BYD president for America Stella Li noted that Hertz is "a leader in electric vehicles and other innovations" and welcomed the opportunity to work with the company.

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She added: "Not only is this eBUS a third less expensive to operate, but the total life-time costs are much less expensive than any other comparable 40-foot bus."

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Hertz, meanwhile, has also announced that it plans to launch even more eco-friendly transport solutions elsewhere in the US over the coming months, with the company particularly keen to work with local authorities and businesses to bring green motoring to both corporate and leisure travellers.

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Meanwhile, at East Midlands Airport in the UK, a new bus service offering passengers the chance to enjoy some theatre while on the move has been launched, the BBC has reported.

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Called Skybus, the initiative will see passengers riding the bus linking the airport to the centre of Derby treated to a comedy play in which four characters explore "the universal idea of going away and coming home".�

Local residents question bus driver safety standards

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:28:50 +0000

Residents of a Lancashire town have warned lives are being placed at risk by reckless bus drivers.

Bus driver safety standards in the Lytham St Anne's area of Lancashire still leave a lot to be desired, it is being claimed.

Despite assurances from operator Stagecoach that road safety is, and will always be, its number one priority, local residents are nevertheless up in arms over what they see as a drop in driving standards.

Indeed, according to a new report from the Lytham St Anne's Express, lives are being placed at risk by an ongoing catalogue of drive errors, not least the frequency with which double-decker buses mount kerbs in the town.

Speaking to the newspaper, university lecturer Dr David MacGregor noted that the mounting of kerbs is now a "regular occurrence", sometimes happening five times a day on his street alone.

"We have recently had a dog killed by a Stagecoach bus - the driver did not even stop," he said. "What would have happened were it a child that had run out?"

Taking the comments on board, local county councillor Tim Ashton assured residents that all complaints will be taken seriously and that the authorities will be working with the operator to ensure bus driver safety standards are kept high at all times.

He added, however, that buses have been running through the town's back streets for almost 50 years and that they provide a vital service to the community, connecting people with local libraries, shops and schools.

At the same time, residents living in the High Woods area of Colchester have hit out at plans to introduce a new bus service that will run down a number of quiet streets.

Local operator Network Colchester, however, will be pushing forward with the plans, the Gazette News has reported, arguing that it wasn't getting enough interest in the service through sticking to the old route.

Bus and coach drivers 'welcome safety reminders'

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:36:28 +0000

Even experienced bus and coach drivers can benefit from road safety reminders, it has been claimed.

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Even professionals with many years behind the wheel still need reminding of the importance of driver safety, experts have stated.

Just recently, the NEC in Birmingham played host to Coach & Bus Live, with the 2011 event seeing thousands of industry professionals join amateur enthusiasts to learn more about the latest developments in the field, including recent breakthroughs in fleet management solutions.

The event also saw hundreds of bus and coach drivers given on-the-spot breath tests in a bid to raise awareness of the perils of getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.

Notably, rather than taking offence at the initiative, according to the driver education provider the TTC Group, most welcomed it, with even experienced professionals able to learn something new.

"Bus and coach drivers welcomed the breath tests," the company's Evita Hussey told the Shropshire Live website.

"They were very co-operative and extremely interested in hearing information about the morning after and how long alcohol stays in the system."

She added that none of the drivers attending the NEC show failed the test, illustrating just how much importance professionals attach to driver safety.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament recently moved to make 'alcolocks' mandatory in not just truck cabs but also in buses and coaches too.

Should the legislation go forward it would mean that drivers would be required to use a breathalyser linked to their vehicle's engine every time they get behind the wheel - with the engine being immobilised if a driver is found to be over the legal limit.

Other plans for boosting road safety across the European Union include imposing 30mph speed limits in all residential areas, with the European Commission now expected to push forward with these latest proposals over the next few months.�

Buses replace diesel with cooking oil

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:25:42 +0000

A Welsh authority is to trial the use of cooking oil as a fuel for buses.

Bus operators that are looking to reduce their fleet carbon footprint might want to cast an eye over a trial that is set to commence in north Wales.

According to Gwynedd Council, people living in the region tend to pour used cooking oil down the drain or dispose of it with the general rubbish, BBC News reports. The authority believes this is "especially bad for the environment" and has therefore been looking at ways in which the liquid could be put to good use.

Ten thousand local residents are to be asked to collect any used cooking oil they end up with in special canisters. Gwynedd Council's recycling officers will then collect it and use it as a fuel for buses operating in the area, as part of a three-month trial due to start in the new year.

Steff Jones, senior waste manager at the authority, said he hopes this will complement other similar efforts that are ongoing across the country.

"We aren't competing with any of the businesses which are already working in this field," he noted.
The trial, which is being supported by a £25,000 grant from the Welsh Assembly Government, could attract the attention of transport operators in other parts of the UK that are looking to reduce their bus emissions.

Last month, the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK insisted that Britain's bus industry is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the sector. Simon Posner, chief executive of the body, said both manufacturers and suppliers are supporting efforts to make using public transport the "environmentally-friendly way to travel".

The government has already opened up the Green Bus Fund to councils and bus operators around the country. This is a pot of money worth £47 million that can help them cover the cost of switching to greener vehicles.

Traditional bus features updated for the 21st century

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:07:04 +0000

A prototype for a new London bus features some new and traditional design elements.

Bus operators that are looking to reduce their�fleet emissions�have been advised of a new prototype that will soon be rolled out across London. Wrightbus in Northern Ireland has been working to develop a vehicle that could address a number of issues with the capital's public transport network in time for the Olympic Games.

The bus makes use of modern features such as hybrid technology, which could enable Transport for London to reduce its�fleet carbon footprint�and cut the amount of money it spends on diesel. However, the prototype also includes some design elements more commonly associated with older vehicles, such as the Routemaster, including an open platform at the back. This complements a double staircase and three additional entrances, thereby ensuring passengers can board in the shortest possible time.

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, recently visited the Wrightbus factory in Ballymena to meet with the engineers working on the project and see the prototype firsthand. He described it as a "fantastic machine" that is full of the latest technological innovations.

"London buses will be world leaders once again when the first eight buses take to our roads early next year," Mr Johnson commented.

He described the new vehicle as a major improvement on the city's existing stock of double-deckers, partly because it has been designed specifically with London and its people in mind.

"It showcases the very best of British manufacturing and design and simply oozes with quality," Mr Johnson said.

The mayor added that the initial batch of buses will serve as an "advance party" that will herald the arrival of a "legion" of similar vehicles. Mr Johnson's visit to Northern Ireland came shortly after a new real-time bus information system was rolled out across London, which allows people standing at bus stops or using the internet to access the latest travel information.

FirstGroup aiming to tackle economic challenges

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:57:04 +0000

One of the UK's major bus operators has said tackling the issues currently facing the sector is one of its main priorities. FirstGroup this week revealed that its financial performance across all its various divisions throughout the first half of this financial year was in line with what it had expected.

Indeed, year-on-year revenues went up by 3.2 per cent to �3.1 billion, while operating profit rose by nearly a quarter to �216.3 million.

However, FirstGroup acknowledged that various challenges are affecting its bus operations in the UK, such as weakening confidence in the economy. Tim O'Toole, chief executive of the organisation, noted that a cut in funding for the bus industry is also proving to be an issue at the moment.

Nevertheless, he insisted that managing these problems is a key priority, as is taking the "necessary forward looking decisions to equip the business to deliver increased growth". This could include taking steps to reduce its�fleet carbon footprint�by cutting�bus emissions.

Mr O'Toole commented: "With market leading positions and operations that are fundamentally strong, together with our clear focus on creating a stronger business for the future, the group has good prospects to deliver long-term value for shareholders in a sector which is a key enabler of economic growth."

He added that he was pleased FirstGroup's performance during the six months to the end of September 2011 was consistent with its expectations.

This comes shortly after First confirmed it is working with the Freight Transport Association and the Institute of the Motor Industry to improve the knowledge and skills of its vehicle examiners and engineers around the country. The bus operator said that while its employees are already extremely experienced and talented, the courses can enable their capabilities to be externally recognised, while any gaps in their knowledge can be identified and addressed.

Fuel-dyeing scheme could cut losses

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:02:38 +0000

BANISHING DIESEL THEFT BLUES

Thanks to steep duty and tax rates, UK diesel is like liquid gold: and businesses with bulk tanks should be aware that the fuel they contain represents a tempting target for thieves, particularly in the current economic climate.

Unfortunately even the toughest anti-theft measures can be stymied by resourceful villains.

One gang recently managed to attach a 200m pipe to a bulk tank owned by a well-known operator and transfer thousands of litres into a waiting tanker before anybody realised what was happening. Other gangs have simply gone into unprotected yards at dead of night, bashed a hole in the side of the tank, scooped up as much of the torrent of diesel as possible then vanished into the darkness leaving the subsequent fuel flood to soak into the ground.

The environmental damage caused can be readily imagined.

So maybe the time has come to start thinking out of the box. How about dyeing diesel held in bulk tanks to make it easier to trace should it go walkabout, and as a consequence deter criminals from pinching it.

A daft idea? Derby Dales District Council doesn�t think so.

Under the Operation Dynamo banner it has got together with Derbyshire Police to arrange for four businesses to be supplied with a quantity of diesel that has been dyed blue as an experiment. As part of the initiative the companies involved have been issued with warning stickers and signs further to deter the light-fingered.

The council should be applauded for its innovative thinking, and one cannot but hope that the scheme will eventually be rolled out nationwide. The move has already been highlighted and endorsed by well-known weekly magazine Commercial Motor, which suggests that it could be accompanied by a further initiative.

�Perhaps it could come hand-in-hand with an essential user tax rebate (for hauliers)?� it muses in an editorial. �We can only dream��

European Commission is determined to limit trailers to 4m

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:21:26 +0000

THE HEIGHT OF INSANITY

A few weeks back over 80 Conservative MPs defied Prime Minister David Cameron and called for a referendum on Britain�s relationship with the European Union: the biggest Conservative rebellion over Europe in 18 years. The rebels were unsuccessful, but their demand is yet another indication of a growing mood of Euro scepticism in the UK.

Partly that mood is fuelled by the problems besetting the euro. Partly however it is driven by the determination of the European Commission to impose unreasonable rules on the UK in areas of activity that are much better governed by local regulations.

Take for example the Commission�s avowed intention to impose a Europe-wide 4m height limit on new single-deck trailers from 2014 onwards.

Up until now the only height restriction on trailers used solely in Britain has been an informal one � the height of the country�s motorway bridges � which means that operators have been able to make full use of tall trailers constructed by innovative British trailer builders to carry bulky, lightweight cargo.

Net result?

Fewer trailers have been required to move goods leading to fewer vehicle movements, less traffic congestion, fewer harmful exhaust emissions and greater operational efficiency. Nor is there any evidence that the use of high trailers has resulted in more accidents.

Admittedly the Commission is apparently now willing to concede that double-deck trailers should be allowed to run at 4.95m but � with no discernible logic to its decision-making � is continuing to insist on a 4m cap on single-deckers. This is despite the considerable problems that this will cause Britain�s hauliers given that 80 per cent of UK trailers are at least 4.25m high and most of them are single-deckers.

The 4m proposal is being resisted by the Department for Transport, the Freight Transport Association, and operators nationwide. If Brussels digs its heels in however, and insists on harmonisation, then its unreasonable will is going to prevail: and there will be nothing anybody can do about it.

Voters have long memories however, and all the hauliers who will be seriously affected by a 4m limit have votes. One cannot help but wonder if those votes will be exercised in the EU�s favour should a referendum ever be held.

Bus and coach drivers learn about effects of alcohol

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:26:54 +0000

Drivers of buses and coaches have been educated on how they can be affected by alcohol.

Bus and coach operators that are looking to improve�driver safety�might benefit from teaching their staff more about the effects of alcohol. Attendees at the recent Coach and Bus Live 2011 show at the NEC in Birmingham were given the chance to find out more about what alcoholic beverages can do to the human body.

TTC Automotive spoke to bus and coach drivers on a wide variety of issues, such as how drinking could impair their ability to handle a vehicle. Professionals attending the event were also put through their paces with a hazard awareness test, so they could gauge their skills and ability to spot potential dangers on the road.

Drivers responded positively to the talks, TTC Automotive noted, so companies that run public transport on the roads might therefore find it a good idea to make sure their staff know more about the issue. This could form part of a wider effort to reduce their�accident rate�and improve�road safety.

"They were very cooperative and extremely interested in hearing information about the morning after and how long alcohol stays in the system," said Evita Hussey, spokeswoman for TTC Automotive.

She revealed that bus and coach drivers were also willing to undergo breath tests, which all of them passed. Indeed, Ms Hussey noted that the bus and coach drivers "welcomed" the tests.

The government is currently working to tackle the problem of people taking to the roads while intoxicated by revising its Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Scheme. Mike Penning, the road safety minister, said this could potentially help those who have been caught committing the crime from reoffending.

He added that while the majority of road users are safe and responsible, there is a "reckless minority who put lives in danger by drink driving and those drivers need to be tackled effectively".

National Express reports increase in UK revenue

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:19:34 +0000

Revenue at National Express's bus and coach divisions in Britain have gone up in the last year.

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National Express has hailed its financial performance in the UK over the last year. According to an interim management statement, revenue in its British bus division went up by two per cent during the nine months to the end of September 2011.

The company acknowledged that fare rebalancing actions carried out a year earlier did have an effect on growth rates in some parts of the country throughout this period. For instance, the rate of commercial revenue growth in the West Midlands area slowed to five per cent in the first three quarters of this year.

However, National Express insisted it is continuing to "explore opportunities" to increase margins and get more passengers using the services it provides. This could include stepping up its focus on�occupational road risk�in order to improve�road safety.

Nevertheless, the firm said it is not expecting to see "significant changes" made to its operations following the Competition Commission's recent report into Britain's bus sector.

National Express also noted that revenue went up by six per cent at its UK coach division during the first nine months of 2011. Figures showed that the company performed particularly well during the summer months, which it attributed partly to its �9 travel offer. This was significant as the period is typically the busiest time of the year for the coach industry.

Dean Finch, group chief executive at National Express, commented: "We have continued the strong performance reported at the half year in the third quarter.

"We have delivered good revenue growth and further improvements in efficiency and we have clear plans to continue to improve revenue and profitability in the future."

The company is now gearing up for the busy Christmas period, in which it will put on several hundred additional vehicles nationwide due to high demand. Christmas Eve is tipped to be particularly busy this year.

Battery-Powered Kangoo is ideal urban workhorse

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:29:46 +0000

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Cleverly packaging a vehicle that runs on an environmentally-friendly alternative fuel so that it appeals to the wallets of customers as well their consciences is just as important as extolling its technical attributes. That is certainly something Renault has cottoned onto with the launch of its electric Kangoo Z.E van.

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Rival products will set you back a wince-inducing �40,000 � a hefty price for a light commercial of Kangoo�s size, and one that is bound to prompt a high percentage of prospective customers to cross the vehicles concerned off their shopping list. By contrast, Kangoo Z.E � the initials stand for Zero Emission � front-end prices start at an, admirably-low, �16,990 plus VAT.

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Pay your �40,000, and the batteries are included. With the Renault, they aren�t � one reason why the price is so much lower.

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Instead, you lease them separately through Renault subsidiary RCI Financial Services.

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Starting at a modest �60 however, monthly leasing charges are by no means steep. What is more, the lease includes a guarantee that the battery will have a charging capacity that will always be over 75 per cent of what it was when it was first installed and will always be in good operating order.

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If these conditions are not met then the battery is simply swapped.

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It is an approach that deals adroitly with one of the key concerns of light commercial fleets contemplating going electric: how durable is the battery likely to be, and how much is it going to cost me if it suddenly and dramatically deteriorates? In this case, it will not cost you anything.

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Addressing another concern that operators and their drivers may have, Renault is providing a roadside rescue package that swings into action if the batteries run out of charge leaving the driver stranded.

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Critics who suggest that Renault cannot possibly be making any money out of Kangoo Z.E have been silenced by the huge orders placed for the vehicle by French fleet operators, including La Poste, the French post office. The French tend to back home-grown products, and the little Kangoo is clearly benefiting from the economies of scale those orders have created and the impact they are having on the cost of production.

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And the van itself? Quiet, quick and easy to drive, it�s an ideal tool for any fleet that needs to deliver packages and parcels around city centres or send service engineers out to urban office blocks to fix photocopiers.

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Top payload capacity is a, perfectly respectable, 650kg while cargo volume goes from 2.4cu m to 4.6cu m depending on the model chosen.

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Sitting beneath the floor, the battery, which should last for around eight years, offers a range of up to 100 miles between recharges. It can be replenished fully in from six to eight hours from an ordinary domestic power supply at a cost of a few pennies per mile.

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Other cost savings � which Kangoo Z.E admittedly shares with pricier rival products � include zero liability for Vehicle Excise Duty, low maintenance bills, and exemption from the London congestion charge.

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Many operators will of course find the 100-mile range limit a drawback, and that is a limit that is alas unlikely to rise any time soon. Renault predicts that it will be five to ten years before an electric vehicle with a 200 mile range becomes available.

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If you can live with its current range limitations however, then you might just find that the highly-viable Kangoo Z.E turns out to be a winner.

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Engineering works to disrupt Christmas rail services

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:16:27 +0000

Many rail services look set to be affected by engineering works this Christmas.

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Bus and coach operators might benefit from stepping up their focus on�road safety�over the coming weeks, as demand for their services could be set to spike throughout the winter season.

Network Rail has confirmed that engineering works are to be carried out in many parts of the UK throughout the festive season. This includes locations such as Birmingham, Stockport, Edinburgh and Reading, the Daily Mail reports.

As a result, consumers who are travelling in order to go on holiday or spend time with relatives at Christmas might find their plans disrupted, which could prompt many to travel by bus instead. With the possibility of extreme weather gripping the UK once again this winter, public transport operators will therefore need to be prepared for harsh conditions in order to guarantee passenger and�driver safety.

A spokesman for Network Rail said the engineering works are "essential" and could lead to timetables being amended in many cases. He also confirmed that replacement bus services are likely to be put on to cover some of the train routes that are affected.

"With many businesses closed for the holidays, passenger numbers on commuter routes may be reduced," the spokesman continued

"Train operators will reduce the number of trains they run - it may be Saturday or Sunday level of service instead of the normal weekday service."

Road users have already been urged by the government, the Met Office and the Highways Agency to ensure they are adequately prepared for severe weather conditions.

Bus and coach operators will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last December, which was the coldest December in 90 years. The Met Office revealed that only five months in the previous century had been colder, as the weather during this particular month of 2010 was "exceptionally cold and snowy".

Government under pressure to scrap fuel duty hike

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:43:54 +0000

MPs and business groups are calling on the government not to raise fuel duty next year.

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Bus and coach operators that are struggling to absorb high�diesel fuel prices�could benefit from growing pressure on the government not to proceed with a fuel duty hike.

Over 100 MPs have already backed a motion calling on the coalition to reconsider its decision to increase petrol and diesel prices by 3p per litre in January next year, while the issue is being discussed in parliament today.

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is also calling for the proposed duty hike to be cancelled, as it believes it could derail Britain's economic recovery.

Phil Orford, chief executive of the group, commented: "An additional fuel duty increase in the current climate can't be justified.

"Not only would significant tax hikes damage small firms further, it's highly likely growth would be affected."

Mr Orford called on the government to look again at plans to introduce a fuel duty stabiliser, before arguing that the inflation linked rise in January would represent the "worst start possible" to the new year.

He warned that pushing up the cost of taking to the road is unacceptable and would hinder the government's plans for an economic recovery at a time when growth is already "stalling".

Mr Orford added that transport costs have gone up for 92 per cent of small to medium-sized businesses in the last year.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has also warned that a fuel duty hike in January would be counterproductive, as it would threaten the UK's competitiveness. The group said this is because fuel duty in Britain is already higher than in any other member of the European Union.

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the RHA, added that since a second increase is scheduled for August 2012, this would mean prices go up by 11 per cent in just eight months.

London's public transport network to come under pressure next summer

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:30:07 +0000

The Olympic Games could place a considerable burden on the city's bus operators, according to an official.

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Bus operators in London might benefit from stepping up their focus on�road safety�and�fleet risk�in the run-up to next year's Olympic Games.

According to Hugh Sumner, transport director at the Olympic Delivery Authority, London will be a "vibrant city" when the flagship sporting event is underway during the summer, the Press Association reports.

However, he conceded during a meeting of the transport committee at the London Assembly that this will place considerable pressure on the city's public transport network. Mr Sumner said this is because spectators will be flocking to London to watch events at various locations at times when people will be doing their usual commute to work.

Nevertheless, the Olympic Games are likely to represent a considerable business opportunity for organisations that are based in the capital, such as public transport operators. The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged firms in the area to take advantage of the fact that visitor numbers are set to go up by a large amount next summer.

Speaking to BBC News, policy director at the group Dr Helen Hill said: "The Games should be an open goal for London, providing us with the chance to cement our reputation as the best city in the world."

Transport for London (TfL) is already taking steps to revamp its infrastructure and facilities to ensure it is ready to deal with the increased number of people using its buses.

For instance, Stratford bus station, which TfL believes will be a particularly important connection throughout the Olympic Games, is being upgraded and should be ready by spring next year. This station is expected to be crucial when the event is up and running because it stands close to the Olympic Park and is in easy reach of regular rail services, the Docklands Light Railway and the London Underground.

Council aims to get unemployed on the buses

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:41:30 +0000

Southampton City Council is aiming to help unemployed people cut their carbon footprint.

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Bus and coach operators that place a strong emphasis on cutting their�fleet carbon footprint�could be able to help consumers become more eco-friendly as well.

Southampton City Council is considering giving people who are out of work a season ticket for public transport free of charge, reports the Daily Echo. Frank Baxter, travel and transport manager at the authority, said this could help them attend interviews and embrace more sustainable means of getting around.

He believes people need to be tempted out of their cars because the number of jobs in the Southampton area is rising, which means congestion in the city could go up as well if everybody drives to work.

Mr Baxter revealed the council is expecting to see a 50 per cent increase in "trips into and out of the city centre over the next few years".

"We have got to get into the hearts and minds of people to understand why they make trips by car," he commented.

Local authorities in other parts of the UK might therefore benefit from keeping an eye on developments in Southampton to see if the scheme is put in place and proves a success.

Mr Baxter added that free access to public transport may also be offered to those who have succeeded in finding work for the first month of their employment, as they will still be waiting to receive their initial pay packet during this period.

Southampton City Council is already working with transport charity Sustrans to encourage people to consider using more environmentally-friendly methods of travelling, as well as with the NHS.

This comes shortly after the authority assured bus operators in the region that it is prepared to act if extreme weather hits during the winter, as it now has more than 600 tonnes of salt stockpiled and access to Balfour Beatty's supply if necessary.

CBT: Britain must move away from oil dependence

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:50:28 +0000

The UK is too reliant on oil as a fuel for travel, according to the Campaign for Better Transport.

Bus and coach operators that are struggling with high�diesel fuel prices�have been advised Britain needs to look at embracing new types of energy.

According to the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT), the UK is too dependent on oil for fuelling vehicles. The organisation believes this is a concern because rising demand is driving up the price of the commodity.

This means that fleet operators, such as public transport companies, are having to devote more resources to obtaining fuel in order to stay up and running, with some making ends meet by passing costs on to the customer.

Richard Hebditch, campaigns director at the CBT, has therefore urged policymakers to look at alternatives, particularly as fuel duty is set to go up by 3p per litre in January 2012, with a further hike being implemented in August.

"The government needs to demonstrate how it is using income from fuel duty to invest in modernising our transport system and giving people real options as to how they get around," he commented.

Mr Hebditch noted that public transport in particular needs to be made more convenient and affordable for members of the public. He said this is partly because purchasing a car has become less costly in real terms over the last few years, while the price of filling up a typical petrol tank and repairing a vehicle is also not yet too prohibitive for private drivers.

This, he stated, marks a contrast with trends in the public transport sector, where costs have "massively increased" in recent times. Mr Hebditch insisted this issue needs to be addressed as some of the poorest people in the UK do not have access to a car.

"The cost and availability of public transport has a major impact on their ability to find work or get to shops or services," he said.

Groups such as the Forum of Private Business have already called on the government to cancel next year's planned hike in fuel duty.

Young pedestrians 'easily distracted by gadgets'

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:58:26 +0000

Bus drivers have been advised that children could pose a particular hazard on the road.

Children could pose a threat to�road safety�if they are using gadgets while out and about, experts have warned.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), youngsters can be "easily distracted" by items such as iPods and mobile phones. As a result, they may fail to examine all the hazards that are around when they are crossing the road.

Bus drivers may therefore need to be mindful of this particular danger, especially if they are working at the times when children are either going to or leaving school.

RoSPA noted that while youngsters currently learn lots about road safety in school, adults must make sure they set a positive example in order to reduce the likelihood of an accident taking place.

For instance, the organisation noted that they could make sure they use designated crossings, only cross the road in well-lit areas and familiarise children with the Green Cross Code.

Michelle Harrington, spokeswoman for RoSPA, also encouraged parents to make sure their children wear reflective items, such as those given away on cereal boxes or in magazines, as they are likely to be travelling in darkness at this time of the year.

She said this could also be considered when the time comes for a mother and father to invest in a new winter coat for their child.

"We are concerned about obesity in this country and we really don't want to discourage children from getting regular exercise - we just want them to be better prepared," she commented.

Ms Harrington added that road safety and visibility items are "very easily available" from charities, who regularly hand out freebies in places such as supermarkets.

Authorities work to offer quality guarantees to bus passengers

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:17:23 +0000

A Quality Partnership Scheme is being launched in Greater Manchester to guarantee minimum standards to passengers.

Bus operators that use�vehicle tracking systems�to improve the effectiveness of their operations might want to keep an eye on a new initiative in north-west England.

The Transport for Greater Manchester Committee (TfGMC) has been working with Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and Manchester City Council on the Quality Partnership Scheme.

According to TfGMC, this serves as a guarantee of the standard of service passengers can expect to receive on one of the region's most frequently used bus routes - the 192 between Hazel Grove, Stockport and Manchester.

This will relate to the punctuality of buses operating on the route, service reliability, security and the standard of the vehicles that are running.

Stockport Council has welcomed the Quality Partnership Scheme and said it is looking forward to collaborating with other bodies about improving accessibility in the region.

Councillor Iain Roberts, the authority's executive member for transportation, commented: "The 192 service along the A6 is the county's single most frequent bus service and the new Quality Bus Partnership - the first in Greater Manchester - will set higher standards and further improve bus services to support sustainable economic growth."

TfGMC chairman Andrew Fender added that the connection between Hazel Grove and Manchester is also one of the entire country's busiest bus routes, which means it is important to many people.

He said that as well as providing guarantees of the quality of service passengers can expect to receive, the initiative should also help to boost the image of Greater Manchester's bus services.

Mr Fender stated that this will in turn make travelling by bus a "more attractive" option to a larger number of people and increase passenger satisfaction.

This comes shortly after TfGMC outlined its desire to see smartcard ticketing used more widely across the Greater Manchester area in order to create a "better ticketing service" for public transport users.

Government stresses commitment to transport investment

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:21:53 +0000

The government has pledged to treat investing in transport as a priority.

Public transport operators that are looking to reduce�occupational road risk�have been advised the government remains committed to investing in Britain's transport network.

Mike Penning, the roads minister, said the issue was outlined as a priority for the coalition in last year's Comprehensive Spending Review. Furthermore, he said �4 billion has already been allocated towards major road projects, upgrades and maintenance across the country.

Mr Penning also noted that the Highways Agency is currently the subject of an independent review, which could ultimately help it to become more effective and efficient.

"We know that keeping traffic moving is vital to securing the UK's prosperity, which is why we have set out a long-term strategy to tackle congestion and make better use of the road network," he commented.

The minister added that the government is placing a strong focus on increasing the capacity of the UK's transport infrastructure, as well as improving�road safety�by working closely with local authorities and the police.

Mr Penning was speaking in response to a report from the RAC Foundation which said the number of cars on Britain's roads could increase by four million between now and 2036.

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the group, warned that this means conditions on the road network are likely to be "awful" in the future unless action to address the problem is taken.

He warned that figures from the Department of Transport suggest delays will go up by more than half over the next 24 years, while the volume of traffic will increase by a similar proportion throughout this period.

Government statistics also indicate that during 2010-11, the number of bus passenger journeys in England rose by 0.1 per cent to 4.6 billion.

A particularly pronounced increase was observed in London, where almost half of all the country's bus passenger journeys are undertaken.

Bus crime in London reaches seven-year low

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:26:58 +0000

The level of crime on buses in London has fallen again in the last year, according to new figures.

�Bus operators in London that are working to improve�driver safety�have been advised that the crime rate on public transport is dropping.

According to Transport for London (TfL), there were 9.3 crimes for every one million bus passenger journeys in the city between April and September 2011.

This is 9.4 per cent down on the amount recorded in the same period of 2010 and the lowest figure in over seven years. TfL has welcomed the findings but insisted it will not become complacent on the issue.

Steve Burton, director of community safety, enforcement and policing at the group, said it is working closely with the police to achieve further improvements to safety and security.

"We are continuing to drive down crime on the network, with the number of offences at their lowest level for many years," he commented.

Figures from TfL revealed that between April and September this year, the number of violence against the person offences dropped by more than 14 per cent year-on-year to 477.

Meanwhile, there was an 11.7 per cent fall in the number of thefts committed against bus passengers in London, while instances of criminal damage declined by 14.4 per cent.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has also hailed the statistics, as he has made the issue of crime on public transport a "major priority" since he came into office.

"I am pleased the measures we have put in place over the last three years seem to be paying off," he commented.

Mr Johnson added that being able to travel around the city safely is "vital" for its economic prosperity and for the quality of life of Londoners.

Much of the local transport infrastructure is being upgraded in the run-up to next year's Olympic Games. Earlier this month, the first phase of the upgrades to Stratford bus station was completed. TfL believes this facility will be particularly important when the sporting event is underway because it is located very close to the Olympic Park.

AA issues pothole warning

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:54:53 +0000

Potholes are a continuing problem across many parts of the UK, according to the AA.

Bus and coach operators that are placing a strong focus on�vehicle finance�could see running costs driven up by the prevalence of potholes across the country.

According to research by the AA, the average number of potholes in each neighbourhood of the UK has risen from 12.5 to 14.9 in the last year.

Figures showed that they are proving to be a particular problem in north-east England, where there are 19.0 on average. The number of potholes was also found to be higher than the national norm in Scotland at 20.1.

Edmund King, president of the AA, commented: "The UK has a pothole plague which has not gone away, despite extra repairs this year.

"Highways authorities need to get to grips with the pothole problem, as compensation claims will soar when cold weather strikes and roads start breaking up."

Mr King warned that this would place additional pressure on budgets that are already under strain.

The AA acknowledged that it has sympathy with local authorities that are struggling to deal with budget cuts at the moment. However, it said they seem to have been "overwhelmed" by the task of repairing surfaces that have crumbled because of "inadequate funding of structural repairs" over the years.

Councils were advised that it is their responsibility to put the failings of previous administrations right by ensuring the road network is adequately maintained.

South-west England was flagged up as an example of a place where efforts to tackle the problem have proved successful. Indeed, the AA said the number of potholes repaired in the region outweighs the number of new ones that have formed.

"The evidence from the south-west suggests the problem can be turned around," the group added.

This comes after Shona Johnston, a member of the transport board at the Local Government Association, told the Daily Express councils are aware of the strength of public feeling regarding potholes and are repairing roads at a record rate.

George Osborne unveils extra spending for UK roads

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:58:30 +0000

The chancellor has revealed plans to boost the road network for bus and coach operators by providing funding for more than 500 infrastructure projects.

Bus and coach operators could see parts of the UK's roads infrastructure improve under government plans to allocate billions of pounds to projects.

Under the plans, announced by chancellor George Osborne, highways across the country will benefit from the funding, which will go to a total of over 500 schemes that have been identified and could assist with future fleet management.

In his Autumn Statement, he revealed: "The government has negotiated an agreement with two groups of British pension funds, to unlock an additional £20 billion of private investment in modern infrastructure."

Mr Osborne also explained that an extra £5 billion will come from public purse over a three year period and 35 road and rail projects have been given the go ahead today.

"This all amounts to a huge commitment to overhauling the physical transport infrastructure of our nation," he added.

The investment plan is intended to give the economy a much-needed boost, with schemes given the green light including halving the tolls on the Humber Bridge, enhancements to a series of roads in the Midlands and the Bristol link road in the south-west of England.

Bus and coach operators will also benefit from lower diesel fuel prices after an announcement by the chancellor that a planned duty increase due to come into force in January 2012 will be scrapped.

The autumn statement comes after comments made by roads minister Mike Penning that may be of interest to those seeking to reduce occupational road risk, in which he said the government is committed to the national transport network.

Mr Penning stated ministers are exploring ways of enhancing the country's infrastructure to keep traffic moving and combat congestion, in addition to improving road safety by working alongside police forces and local authorities.

Banishing Diesel Theft Blues

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:29:43 +0000

Unfortunately even the toughest anti-theft measures can be stymied by resourceful villains.

The environmental damage caused can be readily imagined.

A daft idea? Derby Dales District Council doesn�t think so.

�Perhaps it could come hand-in-hand with an essential user tax rebate (for hauliers)?� it muses in an editorial. �We can only dream��

Transport minister Norman Baker unveils extra £25 million for greener buses

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:24:47 +0000

An extra �25 million is being provided in a second round of the Green Bus Fund.

Bus operators in England are advised the transport minister has announced a further �25 million in funding is being allocated to greener vehicles to reduce fleet emissions.

Norman Baker unveiled the cash during an industry event on November 29^th, stating that it will form another round of the Green Bus Fund.

He explained the move is a response to requests from bus operators and manufacturers "up and down the country" and is further to the �47 million that has resulted in 540 new low carbon buses now being on the road.

"Britain is fast becoming a world leader in clean, green bus manufacturing," Mr Baker added. "This new money will help the industry create even more skilled jobs and get our economy growing."

The Green Bus Fund is intended to help those seeking to reduce their fleet carbon footprint by assisting local authorities and operators to purchase such vehicles. A first round of funding was provided in 2009 and the scheme has helped to put hundreds of low-carbon buses on the road.

In further news that will benefit bus and coach operators, a planned increase in fuel duty of three pence per litre was axed by the chancellor in his 2011 Autumn Statement yesterday (November 29^th).

George Osborne used part of his speech to the House of Commons to reveal that diesel fuel prices will not be hit by a further tax increase next January.

He told MPs: "Despite all the constraints that are upon us, we are able to cancel the duty increase planned for January and for fuel duty from August to be only three pence higher than it is now."

The chancellor added that as a result of action by the government in the Budget in March this year and the Autumn Statement, petrol taxes will be ten pence below what they would otherwise have been.

Thamesdown Transport comes top at national awards

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:05:00 +0000

A series of "unsung heroes" of the UK's bus and coach industry have been honoured at a national award ceremony.

Thamesdown Transport has been named as the leading fleet management specialist in the UK industry at a ceremony.

The company was selected for as best operator overall at the 2011 UK Bus Awards, the 16th incarnation of the event.

It also won the prize for top shire operator for the outstanding customer satisfaction and mystery traveller scores it achieved during judging, narrowly beating Scotland's Lothian Buses, which took the title of top city operator for 2011.

Furthermore, her "dedication and commitment" at the firm's Heckmondwike depot led to Rita Kendrick of Arriva Yorkshire being named as the sector's Unsung Hero for 2011.

Hosted by BBC News presenter Jane Hill, awards at the event were presented by Bus Users UK chair Gillian Merron and included Commendations for Outstanding Service for veterans Malcolm Morgan of First Hampshire & Dorset, Rick Halsall of Arriva North West and Arthur Pearson of the Oxford Bus Company.

"In these difficult and uncertain times, we've been both surprised and delighted by the number and quality of entries for the 2011 UK Bus Awards," stated chairman of the UK Bus Awards John Owen.

He added the industry is facing challenges from public spending cuts and rising diesel fuel prices, but operators, local authorities and their partners are delivering a "commitment to quality and innovation".

The lunchtime ceremony at the Hilton at Park Lane was attended by transport minister Norman Baker, who announced in his address that the government is extending the Green Bus Fund.

Delivering the keynote address, the parliamentary under-secretary of state told the 650 industry representatives present that a further £25 million in funding is being provided for the purchase of low-carbon vehicles as part of the latest round of the scheme.

He stated the decision has been taken following requests from bus operators and manufacturers for more action to reduce fleet emissions.

Airport launches plans to enhance bus and coach network

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:05:08 +0000

A five-year strategy for Stansted Airport includes plans to extend its bus and coach network.

New plans that include enhancements of its bus and coach network have been unveiled by Stansted Airport.

The facility in the south-east of England intends to operate as a transport hub for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games and has released a new five-year plan for its operations that could result in greater demand for vehicle finance.

It is working alongside former world-record holder Steve Cram to realise the updated Surface Access Strategy, which includes the extension of the coach and bus network, along with measures to reduce fleet emissions and the environmental impact of the site.

Stansted managing director Nick Barton explained: "We continue to lead the field in encouraging more passengers to use public transport to get to and from the airport."

The proposals were presented to 120 industry leaders and stakeholders by the airport at an annual meeting of its Transport Forum, at which Steve Cram pointed to the proximity to the Olympic Village of Stansted and its potential for serving the international contest next year.

Elsewhere, plans for a new transport depot and ancillary support building for bus and coach operators in the North East have been put before the local council.

UK Land Estates has submitted the application for the development at Metro Riverside in Gateshead, which would see more than �7.7 million invested in the project.

The ancillary accommodation would enable Go North East to relocate two existing sites in Winlaton and Sunderland Road into a single purpose-built centre, potentially increasing efficiency and fleet management.

Commenting on the plans, UK Land Estates managing director Michael Spriggs said: "We are pleased to be working hand in hand with Go North East to secure a major new investment into the public transport services for the area and to promote a modern state-of-the-art facility."

Camden Council aims to drive down bus emissions

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:11:40 +0000

A system of fines for bus and coach engines left idling is being introduced by Camden Council in a bid to reduce fleet emissions and pollution in the area.

Efforts are being made by Camden Council to reduce levels of pollution caused by bus emissions in the area.

According to the London local authority, it is targeting drivers of buses and coaches who leave their vehicles idling rather than switching their engines off.

The move is intended to improve air quality in the capital and will see companies fined if their vehicles are found with motors running for more than four minutes.

A penalty of up to �80 has been set by the council, which claims engine idling is responsible for increased levels of nitrogen dioxide and fine particles, two major causes of air pollution in the city.

Signage requesting that bus and coach drivers switch off engines when not in use did not result in a big enough change in fleet management and the new measure is aimed at improving quality of life within the borough by reducing noise and vibration rates, as well as fleet emissions.

"Air quality at some locations in Camden is in breach of European Commission standards and national objectives, which are there to protect the health of our residents, visitors and working population," explained cabinet member for sustainability and transport Cllr Sean Birch.

He added that enforcement action was a "last resort" to combat the problem and could benefit the thousands of people each day who pass through the area.

As part of the government's commitment to creating more green fleets within the bus and coach sector, transport minister Norman Baker recently announced the extension of the Green Bus Fund.

Under a new round of the popular scheme, the coalition will provide �25 million in funding for the purchase of greener vehicles.

He unveiled the plans during the 2011 UK Bus Awards on November 29^th and stated the additional funding is in response to requests from manufacturers and operators across the country to extend the initiative, which has already helped to put 540 low-carbon buses on the road.

Firm hopes to benefit from £25m Green Bus Fund extension

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:16:07 +0000

A company in Yorkshire that makes low-carbon buses has welcomed the �25 million extension to the Green Bus Fund and hopes to generate more sales.

A company that specialises in vehicles with low bus emissions levels is hoping to receive a boost from the recent announcement that the Green Bus Fund will provide another round of grants.

Located in Sherburn-in-Elmet in Yorkshire, Optare produces advanced low-carbon models, including its zero emission Solo EV.

According to the York Press, the �25 million round of funding unveiled by transport minister Norman Baker could lead to fleet management specialists opting for its vehicles.

Mr Baker recently visited the firm's plant to witness first-hand how the buses are made and chief executive Jim Sumner has welcomed the news that he has pledged to increase the Green Bus Fund.

Under the scheme, which is designed to lower fleet emissions and make public transport greener, the company has made almost 150 sales to transport operators and has welcomed the government's response to industry calls for more money to be made available.

Mr Sumner told the news source: "This initiative has raised the level of demand from UK bus operators for low carbon buses and enabled companies like ours to accelerate the development of this technology."

He added that the firm has also entered international markets on the back of its successful sales and rising demand in the UK, providing an export boost to the country's economy.

In its comments on the third round of the fund, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) stated that it will result in even cleaner buses and environmental improvements.

The announcement by Mr Baker was made during the UK Bus Awards and he stated: "Great British buses have always been attractive ways to get around and Britain is fast becoming a world leader in clean, green bus manufacturing."

Under the Green Bus Fund, around 540 low-carbon vehicles are now on the road in the UK, with �47 million allocated to date to help businesses and local authorities reduce their fleet carbon footprint.

Bus and coach operators 'keen to upgrade products'

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:20:42 +0000

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Companies in the bus and coach sector are still looking to upgrade their fleets, according to SMMT.

Many bus and coach operators that are looking to offset rising�diesel fuel prices�and cut vehicle emissions are aiming to improve their fleets.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), companies have been "keen to upgrade products" in the last year, despite growing "uncertainty in the sector".

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the organisation, acknowledged that ensuring this upturn continues throughout 2012 will be a challenge, but said the Green Bus Fund initiative from the government should be helpful.

"[This] will provide a much-needed stimulus to the market, rewarding the low carbon innovations manufacturers are making across the sector," he commented.

Figures from SMMT showed that during November 2011, the number of purpose-built bus and coach registrations went up by nearly two-thirds. Statistics also revealed that this has increased by more than six per cent throughout the first 11 months of the year.

Furthermore, SMMT data indicated that while bus registrations throughout the year to date are 14.5 per cent down on the same period of 2010, they did rise by 43.5 per cent in November 2011.

"Single-deck buses grew strongly in the month - up 42 per cent against the full-year decline of 25 per cent," Mr Everitt commented.

However, he acknowledged that coaches have not performed as well during 2011. Indeed, SMMT's figures showed that coach volumes throughout the year to date have slumped by 9.1 per cent and fell by 17.2 per cent in November.

The government confirmed that an extra �25 million would be put into the Green Bus Fund during last month's Autumn Statement.

Mr Everitt said this would help to drive up sales of low carbon buses, create more high value jobs across the country and position Britain as a leading user of eco-friendly transport.

He added that the Green Bus Fund has so far proved "extremely effective" in improving the environment.

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Government launches Better Bus Areas fund

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:33:03 +0000

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Millions of pounds are to be invested by the government in improving the UK's bus services.

Bus operators that use�vehicle tracking systems�to improve�fleet management�look set to benefit from a new government initiative.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that it is setting up the Better Bus Areas fund in order to get more people to use this form of public transport. Local authorities and companies working in the sector will be allowed to bid for a share of a pot of money worth �50 million.

According to the DfT, there are many measures they can take to ensure their bid is successful, such as demonstrating what steps forward they are taking to boost passenger numbers and tempt people away from their cars.

Applications could also be looked upon favourably if new ways of giving information to passengers are presented, along with efforts to tackle congestion in urban areas and boost the quality of bus stations.

Bidding will open in February 2012, while funding would start to be distributed before the end of March.

Norman Baker, the transport minister, commented: "This huge injection of �50 million for our Better Bus Areas will encourage partnership working between good local authorities and good bus companies, which will benefit bus passengers."

This scheme will be complemented by a �10 million contribution towards the rollout of Community Transport across the country, as well as the latest round of funding for the Green Bus Fund.

In addition, �10 million is to be spent on making sure buses in London are fitted with technology that can help reduce their carbon output, thereby cutting�fleet emissions.

Mr Baker said these various initiatives will benefit the environment and the economy, since they will create "better links to work, shops and schools".

This comes after the chancellor George Osborne, speaking in his recent Autumn Statement, said the government has a "huge commitment to overhauling the physical transport infrastructure of our nation".

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FTA: Diesel fuel prices driving up costs for hauliers

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:38:43 +0000

Haulage firms are facing growing financial pressures due to rising diesel fuel prices, according to the FTA.

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Rising�diesel fuel prices�are placing additional financial strain on haulage companies in the UK, an industry group has warned.

According to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), the cost of diesel has gone up by nearly 14 per cent in the 12 months to October 1st 2011. This means fuel prices have increased by a greater amount than tyre costs and overheads throughout this period.

Bruce Goodhart, research analyst for the FTA, commented: "Commercial vehicle operators are under intense pressure from their customers to suppress haulage rates at a time when the cost of running a truck has risen inexorably and fuel prices are nearing record levels."

He warned that the balance sheets of companies in the transport and logistics industry have been left in a fragile state as a result.

Mr Goodhart said this means firms are becoming vulnerable at a time when the economy is not growing at a fast pace. Many may therefore start considering using�vehicle tracking systems�to encourage employees to drive in a more fuel-efficient manner.

Figures from the FTA showed that during the year to October 1st 2011, the cost of operating drawbar, articulated and rigid vehicles went up by more than six per cent.

The organisation said this means running costs are now at the highest level ever recorded. The FTA added that diesel fuel prices are currently the "biggest cause for concern" among haulage companies in the UK.

George Osborne, the chancellor of the Exchequer, recently confirmed the government is not going ahead with plans to increase fuel duty by 3.02 pence per litre in January 2012.

The move was welcomed by Theo de Pencier, chief executive of the FTA, who warned that the hike would have cost the haulage industry approximately �25 million.

However, he said the chancellor should also have scrapped plans to implement another fuel duty hike in August next year.

Council hails smartcard ticket system

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:51:22 +0000

The advantages of using a smartcard ticketing system have been flagged up by a council.

Bus operators that use�vehicle tracking systems�could also benefit from deploying an electronic form of ticketing on their vehicles

Somerset County Council has thrown its weight behind smartcards, as it believes installing ticket reading machines could make services much more efficient and convenient for passengers.

Councillor Harvey Siggs, the cabinet member responsible for highways, said the system could also give the authority and bus companies in the region the ability to gather accurate statistics regarding the journeys consumers are undertaking.

Somerset County Council recently bid to secure funding to ensure that small and medium-sized bus operators in the region are able to convert to smartcard technology.

The authority was awarded �184,000 for the project, while it put in �80,000 and remaining costs were met by local public transport providers.

As a result, they will be able to follow the lead of larger bus operators that have already started making use of electronic ticket reading machines on services in the region.

"The introduction of smartcard technology is a development that I'm very happy to see on Somerset buses," Councillor Siggs commented.

He added that the reduced amount of time it takes to board a vehicle is the "greatest benefit" of the technology to passengers.

Another authority in the West Country - Bristol City Council - has also been focusing on increasing the use of smartcards on buses during the last few years.

Following a successful trial in 2010, Councillor Gary Hopkins told BBC News that the technology could save passengers "huge amounts of time" and have a profound effect on fares.

He said making sure the cards become widely used by local people will be "a vital factor in improving transport across the city".

Smartcard technology is already being used on buses in a number of British cities, including Manchester and London.

Government launches Better Bus Areas fund

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:48:18 +0000

Millions of pounds are to be invested by the government in improving the UK's bus services.
Bus operators that use�vehicle tracking systems�to improve�fleet management�look set to benefit from a new government initiative.

Bidding will open in February 2012, while funding would start to be distributed before the end of March.

This scheme will be complemented by a �10 million contribution towards the rollout of Community Transport across the country, as well as the latest round of funding for the Green Bus Fund.

In addition, �10 million is to be spent on making sure buses in London are fitted with technology that can help reduce their carbon output, thereby cutting�fleet emissions.

Mr Baker said these various initiatives will benefit the environment and the economy, since they will create "better links to work, shops and schools".

Online Christmas shopping putting pressure on freight companies

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:53:31 +0000

Companies that deliver goods to consumers are facing pressure as a result of more people buying Christmas presents online.

Freight companies that use�vehicle tracking systems�have been advised internet shopping sites are becoming increasingly popular with consumers this Christmas.

According to a study by Mintel, nearly one in four Britons plan to log on to e-commerce sites in order to buy this year's Christmas presents.

The organisation put this down to the fact that buying online is relatively stress-free when compared with going to physical stores.

However, this greater convenience for consumers is placing more pressure on companies that are required to deliver these items, due to the high volume of orders.

Global Freight Solutions noted that the level of demand has been so high that some companies are putting a limit on how many items they are able to deliver throughout the Christmas period.�

Simon Veale, director of the courier business, said it has also seen firms face problems since the "sheer volume" of additional online purchases has taken place "without consequent changes in their infrastructure".

Furthermore, the closure of some stores by major high street brands over the last 12 months was said to have driven consumers to the internet in greater numbers.

Mr Veale has therefore expressed his hope that the current "pressure on carriers' capacity" will not be exacerbated by a bout of severe weather.

"It is fair to say that carriers are crossing their fingers that the skies and roads remain clear, allowing them to meet what is a tremendous challenge in the weeks to come and avoid a repeat of last year," he commented.

The Met Office has already urged organisations to keep a close eye on weather forecasts during the winter months, as snow and ice are likely to prove hazardous at some point.

John Harrison, the body's road and rail business manager, said it is "vital" they draw up plans to respond to any severe weather warnings that may be issued.

Excessive delivery restrictions 'holding back growth'

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:08:38 +0000

The FTA has called for restrictions on deliveries to be eased.

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Delivery companies that use�vehicle tracking systems�on their trucks could be set to benefit if calls to relax restrictions on operating hours are heeded.

According to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), high streets across the UK are dependent on lorries and vans in order to get supplies of new stock.

However, the organisation believes limits on the times they are allowed to deliver goods to stores are proving to be counterproductive and are holding back growth.

The FTA is therefore lobbying for the government to permit fleet drivers to operate outside normal hours. Gordon Telling, head of urban policy at the group, said this could have various advantages both for the freight distribution industry and the public at large.

"By allowing van and truck operators to deliver out of hours, we will see improvements in congestion levels and air quality, less wasted fuel and more reliability built into our supply chains," he commented.

Mr Telling also stated that the resulting drop in peak-time traffic would help to make high streets across the country flourish and become more attractive places for shoppers to visit.

The idea has been put forward by retail specialist Mary Portas in her government-commissioned review on what steps could be taken to boost Britain's high streets.�

Prime minister David Cameron and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg asked Ms Portas to lead the review in May this year after official figures revealed that commercial property vacancy rates in town centres have doubled since 2009.

Mr Cameron said he is "delighted" that she has "produced such a clear vision" on how to make town centres more "vibrant and diverse".

He confirmed that the recommendations will be looked at by the government over the next few months and that a response will be published in spring 2012.

Mr Cameron added it is "vital" that the coalition does everything it can to ensure high streets across the UK are able to thrive.

Government announces investment in transport infrastructure

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:51:19 +0000

Millions of pounds are to go towards transport infrastructure upgrades around the UK, the government has confirmed.

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Transport and logistics firms that use�fleet management solutions�could be set to benefit from additional investment in the UK's road network.

The government has confirmed that �854 million will go towards improving roads in places such as Leeds, Norwich, Sunderland, Nottingham and Bristol. According to transport secretary Justine Greening, this will help to make it simpler to move goods around the UK.

In addition, she said the cash injection towards 21 local transport schemes would reduce congestion in many major towns and cities and provide "better access to jobs and services".

"Almost all journeys begin and end on local authority networks, which provide the crucial links that allow people and businesses to prosper," Ms Greening commented.

She added that transport infrastructure is a "central" contributor to economic growth in the UK.

This latest announcement from the government follows confirmation from the chancellor of the Exchequer that money will go towards 20 other schemes around the country. Speaking in his Autumn Statement in November, George Osborne confirmed that �574 million will be allocated to these local transport projects.

"Along with the schemes announced last month, we've supported investment of over �1.4 billion that will strengthen local economies and improve local transport links for communities across the country," Ms Greening said.

This coincides with concerns from the Automotive Council that congestion remains a "growing problem" on roads around the world.

Richard Parry-Jones, chairman of the organisation, said this is despite the fact that many in-vehicle functions are digitally controlled and that road sensors are now routinely deployed in places.

Nevertheless, he stated there is an opportunity to transform how roads operate by using the data gathered on board vehicles to understand its direction, position and speed in a given area.

Mr Parry-Jones said this would help to ensure Britain's road capacity is used more efficiently, which in turn may tackle congestion, cut the�accident rate�and encourage more investment in the country.

DfT 'should consider how motoring red tape reforms will affect road safety'

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:56:25 +0000

The government has been asked to think about how changes to motoring red tape will impact on road safety.

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The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has called on the government to look at how relaxing red tape for drivers could affect�road safety�in the UK.

This week, the Department for Transport (DfT) outlined plans to abolish those aspects of regulation that it believes are "unnecessary, burdensome and overcomplicated".

For instance, it has decided that by 2015, drivers will no longer need to possess a paper counterpart to their driving licence. In addition, the terms surrounding Certificates of Professional Competence (CPC) could be eased so that some people such as farmers who drive as part of their job no longer need the accreditation.

The government intends to look at other countries where a less stringent system is in place before deciding how these practices could be applied in the UK. However, the IAM believes the possible impact on road safety needs to be carefully considered before any changes are put in place.

Simon Best, chief executive of the group, said this is particularly important if the government intends to allow drivers who work in some sectors to operate without a CPC.

"We suggest that the department clarifies which drivers still require the driver CPC at the earliest opportunity and encourage those drivers who do need to do periodic training to get started," he commented.

Justine Greening, the transport secretary, believes that cutting the number of rules and regulations for motorists could help to increase individual freedoms and aid growth in the economy.

"There's so much sitting on our statute books that at the very least needs a good spring clean or can be scrapped entirely," she commented

The announcement was made by the government in the wake of its Red Tape Challenge, a public consultation launched earlier this year to give businesses and individuals the chance to say which bits of regulation they would like to see abolished or amended.

Driver safety could be compromised by rising diesel prices

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:53:59 +0000

Increases in the price of diesel are stopping some haulage firms investing in driver training, according to an industry group.

Financial pressures on haulage companies in the UK could potentially affect driver safety, experts have suggested.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has warned that many businesses in the sector are struggling to absorb increases in the price of diesel, reports the Express and Star.

This, it said, has led to some firms diverting resources away from "important areas" such as driver training. As a result, many employees could be receiving less guidance on issues including occupational road risk and transport health and safety.

Gordon Telling, the FTA's head of policy in the Midlands, commented: "Every time fuel duty goes up, that is money taken out of hauliers' pockets - it is coming off companies' bottom lines."

He said businesses cannot keep meeting the difference by passing their costs on to customers, before warning the situation is negatively affecting the economy in the West Midlands.
Mr Telling said this is because the region relies heavily on the haulage industry and the transportation of goods and materials.

George Osborne, the chancellor of the Exchequer, recently confirmed the government is not going ahead with plans to increase fuel duty by 3.02 pence per litre in January 2012. However, he has not scrapped plans to implement another fuel duty hike in August next year.

The Road Haulage Association recently warned that the outlook for the haulage industry in the UK is "extremely poor" due to the existing tax situation. Indeed, the group said many British businesses currently believe they are "operating at a considerable financial disadvantage" compared to road freight operators based overseas.

However, it acknowledged that Mr Osborne's announcement that January's fuel duty hike will not go ahead will offer "some respite" for companies in the sector.

According to figures from the FTA, the cost of diesel went up by nearly 14 per cent in the 12 months to October 1st 2011. This means fuel prices increased by a greater amount than tyre costs and overheads throughout this period.

Eco-friendly bus unveiled in London

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:58:24 +0000

The first of a new fleet of eco-friendly buses has arrived in London.

An eco-friendly bus designed to cut�fleet emissions�in London is being showcased in the city for the first time.

The New Bus for London is to be rolled out across the capital next year in time for the Olympic Games. Designed with a strong emphasis on the environment, it offers greater fuel efficiency and a lower carbon output than existing vehicles.

Although it will not be put on general service for several months, the first model in the new range has just arrived in London. Boris Johnson, mayor of the city, has already taken a ride on the bus and was full of enthusiasm.

"It is the latest, greatest masterpiece of British engineering and design and I am certain it will become a much-loved and iconic vehicle," he commented.
Mr Johnson noted that much of the new bus's design features were inspired by the classic Routemaster, as it boasts an open platform at the back to make it more accessible.

The Mayor described the vehicle as "revolutionary" and predicted that its "gleaming" red livery and "sinuous curves" would "brighten the day of all who see it" on the streets of London.

This new vehicle contains hybrid technology as part of an effort to make it more environmentally friendly than traditional buses. Other design features include two staircases and three doors, so that passengers will find it quicker to board and reach the top deck.

Designers have also used lots of glass in order to "highlight key features and produce a light and airy feel" on the interior.

This comes shortly after the Campaign for Better Transport argued that the UK is too dependent on oil for fuelling vehicles. The organisation believes this is a concern because rising demand is driving up the price of the commodity.

�As a result, more bus operators might start considering switching to vehicles that use hybrid technology.

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RSTA: Councils falling short on road maintenance

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:06:04 +0000

Councils are not doing enough to look after roads, according to the Road Surface Treatments Association.

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Driver safety�could be at risk after experts warned that many local authorities are failing to adequately maintain the UK's road network.

According to the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), lots of councils across Britain are struggling to cope with a lack of funding.

This, it stated, means that not enough money is being put towards improving and maintaining the UK's public highways.

However, the RSTA stressed that this is not the only problem, because too many councils are going for short-term fixes rather than seeking long-term solutions.

Howard Robinson, chief executive of the group, commented: "Many of them fail to seal their road surfaces despite proof that this greatly improves a road's lifetime performance.

"They react to repair potholes rather than prevent them from occurring in the first place and they tend to avoid and be suspicious of new innovative solutions."

The RSTA said the extent of the problem has been highlighted by a recent study from the RAC, which showed nearly nine in ten drivers believe underinvestment in repairing roads has contributed to their existing condition.

In addition, it flagged up a study by the AA that revealed potholes are a problem in many regions of Britain even before adverse winter weather causes damage to surfaces.

Mr Robinson has therefore called for authorities around the UK to develop a "planned programme of road maintenance", as well as be receptive to new ways of addressing the issue.

He added that councils across Britain could "get the most out of limited highway budgets" by exchanging best practice ideas with each other.

This comes after a government-commissioned report insisted that ensuring the road network is well-maintained is vital to the UK economy.

However, it said the advantages need to be determined in a systematic way to show local authorities why investing in road maintenance makes financial sense.

Councils given more freedom to warn HGV drivers

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:09:48 +0000

Councils will now be allowed to advise HGV drivers if roads are unsuitable for lorries without getting government approval.

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Haulage firms that are looking to improve�fleet management�processes could benefit from regulatory changes that have been put in place by the government.

Local authorities will now be allowed to independently erect signs in their area that alert drivers of heavy goods vehicles if a road is unsuitable for their use.

Councils had previously been required to ask for permission from the government before taking such a step, but this will no longer be necessary under the new procedures.

Some authorities have been keen to put up signs that alert HGV drivers to a road's suitability following incidents in which they have been led down excessively narrow routes by their satellite navigation device.

However, the government said the fact councils have had to seek its permission in order to improve road management in this way was "ludicrous".

Norman Baker, the transport secretary, commented: "By adding these signs to the list of those which councils can use without needing Whitehall approval, we will be reducing costs and bureaucracy.
He added that the changes would also help to make sure the "needs of 21^st�century drivers are met".

The issue of lorries being instructed to use inappropriate routes by sat nav devices was recently in the headlines when an HGV driver caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to buildings on a street in Colchester.

Daniel Gyongyosi, a Hungarian driver, was delivering goods to a supermarket in the area when he mistakenly went down a narrow road and damaged a number of historic properties in the process, while his vehicle ended up as a complete write-off.

Evelyn Hicks, his defence lawyer, said the incident could lead to him losing his job, as his performance fell "well below the standard of what is expected of a competent and careful driver".

Olympics to impact on London's roads

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:14:03 +0000

Transport and logistics companies have been advised to consider how the Olympic Games could affect their operations.

Haulage companies in London that use vehicle tracking systems to monitor their fleet are being encouraged to prepare for next year's Olympic Games.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) believes that nearly one-third of the traffic in the capital will be affected to some degree by the sporting event, which takes place in the city next summer.

As a result, firms in the transport and logistics industry could find their operations are disrupted unless they plan for this eventuality in advance.

"Many parts of London will be busy during the Games, as events take place all over the capital," the RHA commented.

"The level of impact on roads varies by day, time and location. Some events and Olympic infrastructure will cause some roads to operate differently either throughout, or at different times of, the Games."

Olympics minister Hugh Robertson recently stressed that the transport network in London has benefited from "significant investment" to guarantee it has the capacity to cope with the influx of visitors next summer.

However, he urged businesses to be creative with their own travel plans in order to keep everything operating smoothly when the competition is underway.

For instance, Mr Robertson said "adjusting travel patterns" could help people be certain of reaching their intended destination.

Transport minister Norman Baker has already encouraged commuters in the city to look at ways of easing the burden, such as by using video conferencing equipment to work remotely or by travelling on foot or on bike to get to work.

The opening ceremony for the Olympic Games will be one highlight that is sure to attract lots of extra visitors to London.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that approximately 20,000 people will be taking part in the showpiece spectacle.

Up to four billion television viewers across the world are expected to tune in to watch the ceremony.

Bus operators 'need incentives to innovate'

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:17:52 +0000

Many companies in the bus industry are stagnating due to a shortage of competition, according to experts.

Bus operators that use�vehicle tracking systems�to improve�fleet management�could benefit if they faced tougher competition from other companies.

According to the Competition Commission, lots of major companies in the bus industry face "little in the way of serious challenge" from rival businesses.

This, it said, means they often have no incentive to adopt more innovative practices, or to offer lower fares and more frequent services to passengers.

Jeremy Peat, chairman of the group that led a recent investigation into the sector, stated that competition has "stagnated" in the last few years, while any incidences of rivalry in a certain location tend to be short-lived.

In addition, he noted that in some parts of the country, bus operators are deliberately trying to avoid going up against another company so they can "protect their own territories".

"Competition and potential competition can drive standards up for passengers - that was the intention behind deregulation," Mr Peat commented.

He acknowledged that the bus industry is "complicated and varied" and that a one-size-fits-all solution would not be effective in this case.

However, Mr Peat said the bus industry needs to be opened up to "sustained competition" so both large and small companies will be prompted to "up their game".

According to figures from the Competition Commission, approximately 1,245 bus operators are active in England, Wales and Scotland at the moment.

Nearly three-quarters of the 2.9 billion people who take the bus each year were said to use services provided by the biggest companies in the sector.

Mr Peat added that boosting the level of competition in the industry is the "key" to enhancing services and giving a better "end product" to the passenger.

This comes after the Department for Transport confirmed that it is setting up the Better Bus Areas fund in order to get more people to use this form of public transport. Local authorities and companies working in the sector will be allowed to bid for a share of a pot of money worth �50 million.

TfL: Olympics pose a big logistical challenge

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:21:29 +0000

Transport for London has admitted that the Olympic Games are causing many logistical challenges.

Bus operators in London could benefit from investing in�vehicle tracking systems�ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

According to Transport for London (TfL), the staging of the flagship sporting event in the city next summer is presenting a "huge logistical challenge".

However, head of network development for London buses John Barry insisted it is "working hard" to ensure public transport continues to operate and meet people's requirements.

"Events will be taking place right across London - and central London will be particularly busy as it effectively becomes a major sporting and cultural venue," he commented.
"Our aim is to help the Games run smoothly and to keep London moving."

TfL has confirmed that of the 700 bus routes that run in the city, just 85 will undergo slight amendments while the event is underway.

The organisation noted that passengers will be given detailed information on the changes ahead of the Olympic Games so they are able to plan ahead.

Consumers were advised that the alterations are intended to reduce the amount of disruption members of the public experience during the summer and will be in effect for the shortest possible time.

Extra buses will be put on some routes so they operate more frequently, while double-decker vehicles will be deployed on a number of services that are usually operated by single-decker buses.

This will increase capacity at a time when the amount of people looking to travel around the city by bus will be higher than normal.

London's public transport infrastructure has benefited from significant investment in the run-up to the Olympic Games to ensure it is fit for purpose.
TfL recently confirmed that a new real-time information service for passengers has proved particularly successful.

Passengers are able to access up-to-the-minute details on bus movements via SMS messages, their smartphone or on the internet so they can know exactly when the one they are waiting for will arrive.

Many companies 'replace fleets to meet LEZ restrictions'

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:30:35 +0000

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Companies could consider replacing rather than retrofitting older vehicles in order to meet new LEZ regulations, an expert predicts.

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Adding further restrictions to the bus and coach operators that can run services in the capital without facing penalties could lead to "serious consideration" about replacing vehicles, an expert has suggested.

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According to the head of policy for London at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), many logistics businesses have already replaced ageing models with more modern and compliant versions to create green fleets ahead of the change in legislation next month.

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Transport for London is increasing the restrictions placed on vehicles entering the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in the city, including buses, coaches and lorries.

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However, Natalie Chapman stated that some operators have not yet ensured that their fleets are compliant with the rules and these may think about renewing vehicles in order to avoid heavy fines and cut their fleet carbon footprint rather than investing in retrofitting existing models.

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From January 3rd, new legislation regarding the LEZ comes into force that will require buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles to meet Euro IV standards for particulate matter, while larger vans and minibuses must comply with Euro III.

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The LEZ came into force in 2008 and covers most of the greater London area, with vehicles using it required to meet certain levels of exhaust emissions in order to avoid paying a daily charge, with the rules becoming more stringent in 2012 and including more vehicles.

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Bus emissions may also be reduced in some parts of the capital as a result of a new trial aimed at cutting harmful pollution in five boroughs.

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Trials are being held of dust suppressant technology that sticks particles of harmful pollutant PM10 to the ground in order to prevent them from becoming airborne, in conjunction with deep road cleaning to provide cleaner air on roads around industrial and construction sites.

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Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "We are working to permanently reduce transport emissions from vans, lorries, taxis, buses and cars to ensure a cleaner city and a higher quality of life for Londoners."

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LEZ regulations extended in London

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:50:36 +0000

Authorities in London have implemented new regulations designed to cut pollution in the city.
Commercial fleet operators could need to switch to vehicles with engines that meet the Euro IV standard after tougher green policies were put in place in London.

Authorities in the capital have extended the scope of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) to include minibuses and larger vans as of today (January 3rd). Buses, coaches and lorries will also be required to abide by more stringent restrictions on their carbon output.

Businesses could therefore avoid being hit with charges and fines in London by upgrading their vehicles, which could help to support their wider efforts to cut their fleet emissions.

This forms part of a wider strategy by local authorities to help improve air quality in the city, which it is hoped will help to tackle public health problems such as asthma.

Nick Fairholme, director of congestion charging and traffic enforcement at Transport for London (TfL), commented: "The existing Low Emission Zone is delivering significant improvements in air quality to the benefit of Londoners' health.

"The new standards introduced in January are vital to our continued efforts to tackle pollution."

Mr Fairholme noted that while most businesses have put measures in place to prepare for the changes, TfL is ready to give "practical advice" to those who are concerned about how the new restrictions will affect them.
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, added that making the city's air cleaner is a key aspect of his ambition to improve quality of life for local people.

"From January, we are ushering in even higher environmental standards to curb pollution and ensure fresher, healthier air for all," he said.

The Freight Transport Association recently noted that the majority of large HGV fleet operators already use vehicles that comply with the new LEZ regulations.

However, the industry group warned that many sole traders and small businesses may not be ready to adapt to the new requirements, since many use vehicles that are more than a decade old.

HGV operators urged to step up driver training

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:55:03 +0000

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Haulage companies have been advised to offer more training to drivers to improve road safety.

Firms in the haulage industry could help to improve�road safety�by offering more training to employees, experts have suggested.

According to the London Cycling Campaign, cyclists who are travelling around the city face a greater risk of being seriously injured in a collision with an HGV, the Telegraph reports.

As a result, the organisation has called on lorry operators to ensure all their drivers receive specialised awareness training.

Tom Bogdanowicz, campaigns manager at the London Cycling Campaign, noted that this can be obtained through the Freight Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS) run by Transport for London (TfL).

However, he said about one in three authorities in the city have yet to sign up to the initiative, a state of affairs he described as "unacceptable", since this is the "quality standard for lorry operators".

Mike Cavenett, another representative of the London Cycling Campaign, added that London should seek to emulate Sweden, which has a "zero-fatality policy" in place.

He called on authorities in the city to draw up new road safety measures that are designed with cyclists in mind and help to reduce the�accident rate�among this group.

Figures from TfL revealed that vehicles such as large lorries and HGVs were involved in eight of the 12 incidents in which a cyclist was killed between August 2010 and July last year.

"When you ask people to share space with fast-moving vehicles this is what happens," Mr Cavenett said.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been keen to encourage members of the public to travel around the city by bike as part of an effort to reduce carbon emissions and ease congestion on the roads.

This is being supported by the rollout of new infrastructure and facilities for cyclists, such as special routes and parking facilities, as well as schemes designed to offer better training to bike riders.

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Scottish Conservatives call for more Talking Buses

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:22:37 +0000

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The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has said more Talking Buses need to be rolled out across the country.

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Bus operators in Scotland that use�vehicle tracking systems�could soon be making greater use of information technology for passengers.

Guide Dogs, a charity that works with blind people, is keen to see more Talking Buses deployed across the whole of Britain. This would ensure that bus passengers are told about where the vehicle is heading, its current location and what the next stop is, in the same way train passengers are at the moment.

The organisation believes that by using audio equipment on buses, services will become far more useful to people who are visually impaired and cannot see for themselves where they need to get off.

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, has concurred with this view and is lobbying for the technology to be distributed more widely.

"Even if they were only introduced on new vehicles or as the older ones are refitted, it would be a great start," she commented.

"Buses play a vital role in enabling disabled people, including those who are blind or partially-sighted, to live more independent lives.
However, she noted that since many are unsure as to when their stop is coming up, or even if they are on the correct service, they can be deterred from travelling by bus.

Ms Davidson noted that issuing announcements on a regular basis to train passengers on their location and destination is of "enormous help" to them, especially those who have visual impairments.

She added that rolling out the technology to buses would enable it to help "even more people"

This comes after the Welsh Conservatives called for the system to be used more widely on buses in Wales. Shadow transport minister Byron Davies noted that the take-up of audio-visual messaging technology on Welsh public transport has been limited so far, despite the benefits it can offer.

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Average diesel fuel prices 'to hit record levels'

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:34:51 +0000

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The average price of a litre of diesel has been tipped to reach a record amount this year.

�Haulage firms in the UK that are struggling to absorb high�diesel fuel prices�have been advised that they could go up to a record high this year.

Damien Cox, lead energy analyst at EnergyQuote, told Auto Express that by October 2012, diesel could cost 145.89p per litre. This, he stated, would represent the first time the price of a litre of diesel has gone up above the 145p threshold.

"Prices will go up, especially after the duty increase in August," Mr Cox commented.

"On average, oil prices will likely be marginally higher in 2012 than in 2011."

Mr Cox warned that these developments could also lead to people who use petrol cars being put under greater financial pressure over the next few months. Indeed, he estimated that the average price of a litre of petrol will reach 139.26p by August this year.

This comes after the Freight Transport Association (FTA) revealed that during the 12 months to October 1^st 2011, the cost of diesel went up by nearly 14 per cent. The organisation has argued that this is placing commercial vehicle operators under "intense pressure", which means they are being put at risk at a time when the UK's economic growth rate remains subdued.

An increase in fuel duty had been scheduled to be implemented in January 2012, but in last November's autumn statement, chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne confirmed that this would be cancelled.

Although Mr Osborne's announcement was welcomed by the FTA as a sign that the government has listened to the concerns of the haulage industry, it has called on policymakers to go a step further by scrapping August's planned fuel duty hike as well.

The organisation recently named fuel costs as the overriding concern among businesses in the haulage sector, many of whom were said to be in a vulnerable state.

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Confidence growing among commercial fleet operators

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:44:36 +0000

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Growing confidence among commercial fleet operators has led to many investing in new vehicles, according to experts.

Commercial vehicle operators are becoming increasingly positive about their prospects, despite ongoing issues such as rising�diesel fuel prices.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), companies that run fleets of vans and trucks enjoyed a spell of "renewed confidence" last year.

This, it stated, led to many choosing to upgrade to new vehicles.

Indeed, figures showed that the number of truck registrations rose to 42,944 during 2011 � an increase of 24.6 per cent on the previous year.

Meanwhile, SMMT reported that a 16.7 per cent increase in van registrations occurred throughout the same period.

This means that collectively, van and truck registrations went up by 17.8 per cent last year.

The increase in truck registrations was particularly significant in December, when the number rose by 45 per cent. While artic and multi-axle vehicles remained a popular option, there was a notable surge in demand for two-axle rigids above six feet.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of SMMT, noted that increased confidence among commercial fleet operators was just one of the reasons behind this trend.

"Innovative developments in vehicle design and technology provided solid business reasons for companies to upgrade their vehicles in 2011," he commented.

Absorbing high diesel fuel prices has been one priority among businesses in the last few months, especially as fuel duty is set to go up in August 2012.

As a result, companies could benefit from switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce their overall expenditure.

Mr Everitt added that while the improvement in sentiment is a welcome development, there can be "no room for complacency" over the next year.

"Government must deliver its growth strategy and help strengthen business and consumer confidence," he commented.

This comes after the Freight Transport Association noted that high diesel costs remain a major worry among haulage firms in the UK.

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SMMT optimistic about bus and coach market

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:53:57 +0000

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Encouraging bus and coach operators to adopt fuel-efficient technology should help to boost the market, according to the SMMT.

Bus and coach operators who are struggling to deal with rising�diesel fuel prices�could benefit from the rollout of new green innovations, experts have suggested.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the bus and coach market is likely to endure a "testing year" during 2012.

However, the organisation believes it could enjoy a "much-needed stimulus" over the coming 12 months if the government offers more incentives to switch to fuel-efficient technology.

This could help to reduce the amount of money businesses spend on diesel and cut their�fleet carbon footprint�at the same time.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the SMMT, noted that many bus and coach operators are already keen to make use of the latest innovations to help them use fuel more efficiently.

He was speaking after figures from the organisation revealed that the number of new bus registrations in 2011 was 13.6 per cent down on the previous year. Statistics also showed that there was a 7.1 per cent reduction in coach registrations throughout the same period.

The SMMT described 2011 as a "challenging year" for Britain's bus and coach industry, but figures did indicate that there was a slight upturn in December.
Indeed, the group's data showed bus registrations went up by 0.5 per cent last month, while coach registrations increased by more than 88 per cent at the same time.

This means that while the overall amount of bus and coach registrations slumped by 12.8 per cent throughout 2011, the market grew by 4.3 per cent in December.

The release of the figures comes shortly after a new eco-friendly bus was showcased in London for the first time. Authorities want the New Bus for London, which offers greater fuel efficiency and a lower carbon output than existing vehicles, to be in service in time for this summer's Olympic Games.

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Hauliers encouraged to reduce engine idling

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:55:59 +0000

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Lorry drivers have been advised not to leave their engine on if their vehicle is stationary.

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Commercial drivers have been urged to turn their engine off if their vehicle is not moving, as it could help to cut�fleet emissions.

According to Transport for London, HGVs, buses and coaches are among the biggest generators of exhaust fumes in the capital, along with cars, LGVs and taxis.

As a result, it has called on anyone who is driving one of these vehicles to switch off their engine if they are going to be stationary for more than 60 seconds.

TfL believes this could have a number of advantages, such as reducing the amount of air pollution in the city and the number of health problems associated with poor air quality.

In addition, it noted that engine idling can lead to greater wear and tear in vehicles, which means turning it off when it is not needed can help minimise the chances of it breaking down.

The initiative has been backed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), which said turning engines off "even for short periods" can help businesses cut their�fleet carbon footprint, as well as spend less on filling up their tanks.

As a result, this approach could be useful for those commercial fleet operators who have struggled to absorb increases in diesel fuel prices�over the last few months.

"Many of our members already employ best practice to reduce excessive idling," said Natalie Chapman, head of policy for London at the FTA.

"We are happy to support a campaign which will help to raise awareness across even more commercial vehicle operators in and around London."

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, added that switching off a vehicle's engine when it is stationary for over a minute would be a "small individual step" that can "collectively make a massive difference and help improve our great city".

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HGVs 'pose threat to cyclists'

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:02:35 +0000

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Many cyclists in London are being injured or killed in accidents involving lorries, according to a newspaper investigation.

Commercial fleet operators that are looking to improve�road safety�have been advised their vehicles can often prove particularly hazardous to cyclists.

The Evening Standard carried out an investigation to find out how many cyclists have been involved in accidents in London and discovered 4,000 have suffered serious injuries in the last ten years.

While this could be partly down to an increase in the number of people travelling by bicycle throughout this period, the figures show the fatality rate has risen to its highest level since 2006.

Indeed, statistics revealed that 16 cyclists were killed in London during 2011, nine of whom died in incidents involving lorries. The overall number of deaths throughout the whole decade came to 156.

Two healthcare professionals have therefore called for more to be done to reduce the�accident rate�on London's roads and ensure cyclists are not vulnerable to the movement of HGVs.

Dr Mark Wilson from St Mary's Hospital and Dr Thomas Konig of King's College Hospital commented: "There are inherent dangers when cyclists and heavy goods vehicles share road space.

"There are also dangers when cyclists are encouraged to use green feeder lanes that place them between a vehicle turning left and a metal barrier."
The two doctors described injuries to cyclists as a major public health issue that needs to be addressed permanently.
Dr Wilson and Dr Konig added that both cyclists and drivers could benefit from greater education in order to reduce the likelihood of accidents, along with government officials and road designers.

This comes shortly after Mike Cavenett of the London Cycling Campaign was quoted by the Telegraph as saying that London should seek to emulate Sweden, as it has a "zero-fatality" policy in place. He urged authorities in the capital to draw up new road safety measures that are designed with cyclists in mind and help to reduce the�accident rate�among this group.

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'Savvy' fleet operators investing in green technology

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:40:51 +0000

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The FTA has said lots of commercial vehicle operators are currently aiming to cut their carbon emissions.

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Many commercial vehicle operators across the country are working to reduce their�fleet carbon footprint, an industry group has noted.

According to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), lots of "savvy" businesses have been investing in new technology to help minimise the environmental impact of their operations.

This, it said, has put them in good stead to accommodate changes such as the establishment of a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in London.

However, the FTA warned that many businesses have still to take action to reduce their carbon footprint, which means they would have to pay a charge if they wish to travel in the area.

Natalie Chapman, head of policy for London at the group, has therefore urged commercial vehicle operators to take action, as the LEZ is not "going to disappear".
Furthermore, she suggested that other British cities are looking into putting similar schemes in place in order to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality outside the capital.

Ms Chapman acknowledged that many businesses have found it difficult to get their vehicles ready to meet the LEZ guidelines. Nevertheless, she suggested that investing in eco-friendly upgrades could ultimately pay off.

"Transport businesses faced with rising fuel costs would do well to avoid the �200 daily charge of driving vehicles that are not yet compliant with Euro standards in the LEZ zone," she commented.

Ms Chapman noted that the Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been aiming to encourage vehicle manufacturers to "incentivise potential purchasers of LEZ-compliant vans with attractive discounts and deals".
She added that Transport for London has also offered firms exemptions from penalty charge notices if they can show retrofit systems for their vehicles have already been ordered.

Mr Johnson recently said the implementation of the LEZ forms parts of an effort to enable people in London to experience a "cleaner, greener city before, during and after" this summer's Olympic Games.

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TfL to support haulage companies ahead of London Olympics

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:17:45 +0000

Transport for London is to stage a series of workshops for haulage operators in the run-up to the Olympic Games.

Haulage companies that want to ensure fleet management processes go smoothly throughout the Olympics are to be offered assistance from Transport for London (TfL).

With the Games set to be staged in the city this summer, many consumers, commuters and businesses are bracing themselves for a period of extensive disruption on the roads.

Since this could prove highly costly to transport and logistics operators in particular, as well as the companies they supply, TfL has been developing what it has described as a "widespread support package" for these firms.

This will include the staging of more than 200 workshops in places such as London, Manchester, Southampton, Cardiff and Birmingham, all of which will be free to attend.
Haulage companies that operate in London will receive guidance and the information they need to ensure they can keep operating effectively throughout the Olympic Games.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has welcomed TfL's efforts and said it will urge its members to attend the seminars.

"An effective, cost-effective and efficient transport network is crucial to the success of the Games," said Kate Gibbs, spokeswoman for the group.

"This initiative will ensure that operators are fully prepared."
The Freight Transport Association was equally enthusiastic, as it believes making sure the supply chain is ready for the "massive challenges it faces" this summer is "critical".

Natalie Chapman, the body's head of policy for the capital, commented: "These free workshops will supplement existing guidance to arm operators with the advice and information they need to deliver a successful Games for London."

According to figures from the RHA, the flagship sporting event will not affect nearly three-quarters of the city's traffic.

However, this still means that many of London's roads will be "directly impacted by the Games", particularly those that are located on the Olympic Route Network, on road event routes and close to venues where competitions are being staged.

Motorcyclists to be allowed to use London's bus lanes

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:34:36 +0000

Motorcyclists will soon be permitted to travel on bus lanes in London.

Bus operators in London could benefit from stepping up their focus on road safety in the next few days, as motorcyclists will soon be able to use the city's bus lanes.

According to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), bus drivers will need to be particularly vigilant when the changes are implemented on January 23^rd.

The group said this is because they will have "get used to sharing the space with motorcyclists" when they are transporting passengers to their destinations.

It is hoped the move will help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced in London, as well as cut congestion on the city's roads. However, the changes could lead to a number of accidents if road users are not adequately prepared.

"The decision doesn't just affect Londoners," said Simon Best, chief executive of the IAM.

"With thousands more people visiting London for the Olympics this summer, everybody needs to be aware of the risks."

Mr Best added that the move could potentially encourage more people in the city to switch to motorcycles and mopeds, which he said would help to improve traffic flow.

As a result, bus operators could find it easier to stick to their timetables and reduce engine idling.

London is not the first city in the UK to adopt a policy along these lines, as motorcyclists are already permitted to use bus lanes in Bristol and Birmingham.

The IAM has issued safety advice to motorcyclists to help them reduce their chances of being involved in an accident while travelling in a bus lane.

This comes after Transport for London said trials have demonstrated that this approach delivers "strong benefits" for bikers and can help to improve the "efficiency of the road network".

Ben Plowden, director of better routes and places at the body, stated that the enforcement measures that are in place have delivered benefits for "all road users in London".

RHA aims to get more people into haulage sector

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:20:45 +0000

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The RHA has said it is keen to encourage more people to become lorry drivers.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) is planning to step up efforts to encourage people to seek jobs in the industry.

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the group, has told Commercial Motor he intends to look at the driver population in Britain throughout the coming year and work out how it is likely to change in the future.

This, he stated, will help the sector establish how many replacement drivers will eventually be required. Mr Dunning said this is necessary because the average age of drivers is generally regarded to be fairly high.

As a result, he believes the haulage industry needs to prepare for when the current crop starts to retire and ensure an adequate number of experienced employees are still in place. This could therefore help companies maintain?driver safety standards for the long-term and position them for future growth. Mr Dunning added that he is particularly encouraged by the level of interest the government has been showing in the logistics sector recently. Indeed, he said policymakers finally seem to have recognised that the industry can be a big part of their efforts to stimulate growth in the economy.

Employment minister Chris Grayling was said to be especially interested in logistics, along with representatives of the Treasury, the Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. "It is clear that the word is now in the government's vocabulary," he commented.

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This comes after the Office for National Statistics revealed the number of unemployed people in Britain rose from 2.638 million to 2.685 million between September and November 2011.

Mr Grayling described the figures as a reflection of the "current challenging economic climate" in the UK, but acknowledged the level of unemployment across the country is a "major concern" for the coalition.

"Despite the exceptionally difficult economic circumstances, finding work for the unemployed will remain top of the government's agenda," he commented.

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European Commission faces pressure to investigate diesel prices

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:41:38 +0000

The AA is to call on the European Commission to investigate precisely why diesel fuel prices are going up.

The European Commission is to be urged to find out what factors are inflating diesel fuel prices across the continent.

According to the AA, an investigation needs to be carried out in order to determine why drivers are paying as much as they are to fill up their vehicles, the Guardian reports.

The motoring group said this is necessary because it is difficult to determine exactly who is to blame for the situation at the moment. For instance, it stated that some may believe the problem has arisen because of financial speculators such as investment banks, while others may deem oil companies chiefly responsible.

A spokesman for the AA commented: "There is a lack of transparency in the fuel market, which is of major concern to all of us.

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"We are anxious to understand how the price of European petrol can be $1,200 per metric tonne in 2008 and again in 2011 and yet oil prices are ten per cent to 15 per cent cheaper."

The official noted that many other places in the world are far more transparent when it comes to fuel, with south-east Asia, Australia and the US all publishing information that lifts the lid on exactly what is taking place in the sector.

He warned that if the existing state of affairs prevails in Europe, it will be impossible to prove who is "doing the damage" and the extent of the influence "middlemen" have on the market.

Representatives of the AA are planning to meet with officials from other European motoring organisations in February to discuss the issue and talk about what steps can be taken to mitigate the impact of high prices on drivers.

This comes after the Freight Transport Association warned that rising diesel prices are placing commercial vehicle operators under "intense" pressure, although businesses did recently receive a boost when the government opted not to go ahead with this month's fuel duty hike.

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Fuel thefts affect haulage industry

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:55:12 +0000

High diesel fuel prices are not just a drain on the finances of haulage firms. They are making the commodity increasingly attractive to thieves, which means many commercial vehicles are being targeted by criminals.

Since this only adds to the financial pressures hauliers are facing at the moment, police forces across the UK are taking the issue very seriously.

Lothian and Borders Police believe fuel theft is proving to be particularly big problem in their area of responsibility. Speaking to the Southern Reporter, a spokesman for the force said they have seen a "marked increase" in the number of incidents occurring in places such as Lauder and Kelso in the last few weeks.

"We would urge HGV owners to note their fuel levels and ensure their vehicles are properly secured when left unattended," he commented.

Businesses have been advised to be particularly vigilant in areas such as industrial estates, while officers have asked members of the public to report any suspicious activity they see.

Even forces in places where fuel theft has not been a big problem are taking steps to curb the crime. Derbyshire Constabulary, for instance, has just launched Operation Dynamo in order to thwart prospective criminals in the region.

Businesses that sign up will be given a special dye to pour into their diesel tanks, so if any stolen fuel is tracked down or sold on, it will be easy to identify.

Sergeant Phil Hollington commented: "Fuel theft is currently low in the Dales, but we are conscious that high prices might attract interest in lorry fuel tanks."

Lewis Rose, leader of Derbyshire Dales District Council, added that while the authority is proud of the region's status as a low-crime area, it will not be complacent.

"Initiatives such as this deter thieves and help us to maintain that record," he said.

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RHA reports extra interest in Commercial Vehicle Show

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:31:22 +0000

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Companies are particularly keen to exhibit at this year's Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, one of the event's organisers has revealed.

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According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), 260 exhibitors have so far arranged to showcase their products and services at the trade show, which takes place at the city's National Exhibition Centre on April 24th to 26th. This, it said, is 48 per cent higher than the amount of bookings it had secured 12 months ago for the 2011 event.

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the RHA, said the level of interest in the trade show has exceeded his expectations. However, he stressed that the organisation will not be attending it for "fun".

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Indeed, Mr Dunning said it has a responsibility to be present, as it can provide guidance to haulage companies on areas such as driver safety, training and absorbing high diesel prices, as well as technical, financial and employment issues.

"2012 is going to be a big year for UK hauliers," he commented.

"You will be the ones who, quite literally, will be delivering the 2012 Olympics, not just to the nation's capital, but to all the other venues around the country which will be hosting events."However, he stressed that the work carried out by companies that are not involved in the Games will also be crucial over the coming months.

Mr Dunning described the road haulage sector as a "very accurate" barometer of the UK economy, as it has to engage with industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, construction and retail. As a result, the performance of hauliers can be indicative of much wider economic trends.

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, gross domestic product in the UK fell by 0.2 per cent between October and December 2011. This means the UK will officially be in a recession if a further contraction occurs in the first quarter of 2012.

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Government to introduce fee for foreign hauliers

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:38:28 +0000

The government has unveiled plans to charge hauliers from other countries for using British roads.

Haulage firms from overseas could soon be charged for using roads in the UK, the government has stated. According to figures from the Department for Transport, trucks that are registered in other countries undertake about 1.5 million trips to Britain each year, but do not have to pay to use its roads. This is despite the fact charges are in place in most other members of the European Union, which means that if a British haulier is operating abroad, they are likely to be required to pay a fee.

The government has therefore unveiled plans to bring the system in Britain more in line with those in Europe, so there is greater parity between domestic hauliers and companies from overseas.

Mike Penning, the roads minister, said introducing a charge to use British roads will help to "level the playing field" for UK-based hauliers and potentially encourage growth."The proposals I have set out today will ensure that all hauliers who use our roads are contributing to their cost, regardless of where they are from," he commented.

British firms would not be required to pay anything extra, as the government is considering options such as cutting Vehicle Excise Duty on trucks registered in the UK to offset the charge. Therefore, companies that are using fleet management systems to monitor their finances will not lose out. The Road Haulage Association has commended the move, describing it as "good news" for transport operators that are based in Britain.

Kate Gibbs, head of communications at the group, noted that charging foreign hauliers to drive in the UK should also be popular with private motorists, as many have "complained" they "pay nothing for using our roads". "We are urging ministers to press forward with this project as a priority," she added.

A government consultation on the proposed changes will conclude on April 18th 2012.

UK hauliers 'losing out to foreign companies'

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:52:13 +0000

The FTA has said many foreign hauliers are adversely impacting on British businesses. Haulage firms that are based overseas are putting British companies at a "massive commercial disadvantage", an industry group has stated.

According to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), foreign trucks fill their diesel tanks before they arrive in the UK in places that have much lower fuel duty. Since British companies therefore have to pay considerably higher diesel fuel prices, the organisation believes many are losing out to their overseas competitors.

Furthermore, it said by not purchasing fuel in Britain, they are not contributing to the country's economy by spending money at its pumps.

The FTA stated that an inequity is also being created by the fact hauliers from the UK have to pay thousands of pounds to drive on roads in Europe each year, whereas foreign trucks do not have to pay similar charges in the UK.

Earlier this week, the government announced plans to correct this imbalance and charge trucks for using British roads. Since exempting vehicles registered in the UK from this fee would be illegal, the coalition is considering steps such as allowing them to pay reduced Vehicle Excise Duty in order to offset the charge. The FTA has commended the proposals, which are currently the subject of a consultation, but insisted any scheme that is put in place should not be "administratively burdensome" for domestic businesses. Simon Chapman, chief economist at the FTA, commented: "Clearly, ensuring that foreign lorries pay to use our roads is the right thing to do.

"Foreign lorries don't contribute a penny to Treasury coffers, leaving the taxpayer to foot the bill for the external costs they cause." Mike Penning, the roads minister, this week said he wants to ensure hauliers in the UK "get a fairer deal" in order to help "maintain the competitiveness of the logistics industry". Government figures show that lorries registered outside the UK undertake about 1.5 million trips to the country every year.

Bus operators urged to cater for blind passengers

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:05:16 +0000

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A charity has called on bus companies to do more to look after visually impaired passengers. Bus companies have been encouraged to provide a better service to blind passengers.

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According to charity group Guide Dogs, installing audio-visual equipment on vehicles could be one step in the right direction, as it would help to relay critical information to visually impaired people.

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Rail operators already routinely use technology that advises passengers where the train is headed and when their stop is coming up. As a result, Guide Dogs believes that bus companies should follow suit and make use of similar systems. This could complement other technological innovations that are now being widely used by bus operators, such as telematics systems designed to improve fleet management.

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David Cowdrey, campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, commented: "We believe it should be easy for everyone to know where they are along a bus route." A poll by the group has found that nearly nine in ten visually impaired people have missed their stop on a bus journey because they could not tell where they were located. This is despite the fact that in many cases, they had already asked the driver of the vehicle to notify them when they arrived at their intended destination.

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While many drivers apparently forgot to alert blind passengers, the survey showed that some had refused to tell them when they reached a certain stop. "People are ending up lost or left in potentially dangerous situations because they can't get the information they need about their bus journeys," Mr Cowdrey said. Indeed, he noted that one of the respondents to the survey revealed that she nearly ended up being "locked in a bus in a depot for the night because the driver forgot she was there". This comes shortly after Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, warned that the difficulty of getting information is deterring many blind people from travelling by bus.

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Compressed natural gas power 'is the future for buses'

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:10:01 +0000

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Trials of an alternative fuel could herald its rollout on a much wider scale, according to a commercial vehicle provider.

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A new eco-friendly power source for engines could eventually be widely used by buses, a commercial vehicle provider has said. According to MAN Truck & Bus UK, the company's EcoCity system, which makes use of compressed natural gas rather than conventional fuel, is starting to attract attention among European fleet operators, the Oxford Mail reports. Now that the technology is being trialled by Thames Travel, a bus operator in Oxfordshire, MAN is optimistic that interest will soon go up in the UK as well. This, it suggested, could lead to it becoming much more widely adopted by bus operators, thereby supporting their efforts to reduce their?fleet carbon footprint. Tony Griffiths, MAN's general manager of bus operations, commented: "We are delighted to see a UK operator investigating what it can offer them in terms of the environment and passenger comfort.

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"I have no doubt that the future of passenger transport lies with these clean, quiet gas-powered vehicles."

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Max McCarthy, general manager of Thames Travel, confirmed that the trial of a 41-seater bus equipped with EcoCity will continue until the end of next month. The cost-effectiveness of running the vehicle will be among the issues being considered, while drivers and passengers will also get the chance to offer their views on the technology. Mr McCarthy said this should put it in a good position to decide whether it wants to switch to the EcoCity system more widely when it orders its next batch of buses. He added that the vehicle that is taking part in the trial looks just like a normal bus, although a tank containing the compressed gas is fitted to the roof.

The technology could be particularly advantageous for bus operators in London following the establishment of a Low Emission Zone in the city. Mayor of London Boris Johnson said this should help to deliver cleaner air in the region, which should in turn contribute to improving the quality of life for residents.

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CILT calls for taxation reforms for logistics industry

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:28:00 +0000

The government has been urged to reform the tax regime to make it fairer for logistics companies.

Many companies are feeling the squeeze as a result of the current economic slump and the general consensus is that a noticeable improvement is not in immediate sight. As a result, industry organisations and campaign groups have been putting pressure on the government to make changes that can support and encourage growth in their sector at a time when businesses are struggling. The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is among those lobbying for reforms, in particular changes to the tax regime for commercial vehicle operators. Steve Agg, chief executive of the body, identified Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) as one major bone of contention, along with fuel duty, as the current system does not reflect the circumstances of companies in the logistics sector.

"Commercial vehicles and private cars are taxed in the same way, despite the fact they are used for widely different purposes," he commented. However, Mr Agg welcomed news that the government is consulting on plans to charge lorries that are registered overseas for driving on roads in the UK. Under EU law, British vehicles must be subject to the same charge, but the coalition is looking at various ways of offsetting it, such as adjusting their VED liability. Mr Agg argued that this "revenue neutral" approach for UK-based hauliers could represent the first step towards building a "fairer system of taxation" for the logistics sector. This, he said, could have positive long-term benefits for consumers and businesses across the country. He added that lorry operators in the UK currently have to deal with "higher rates of operating tax than apply elsewhere", as there are "substantial" differences between the amounts foreign hauliers pay in VED and fuel duty and the sums paid by firms in Britain on these taxes. The Department for Transport's consultation on charging foreign lorries for using roads in the UK concludes on April 18th 2012.

Government plans to devolve public transport powers

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:31:56 +0000

Government plans to devolve public transport powers

People around Britain could be given more of a say over public transport provision in their area.

The government has outlined plans to devolve some of its responsibilities on public transport to the local level.

Under plans that are currently up for consultation, local transport bodies containing representatives of councils and community groups would get to have a say over the provision of services such as buses in their area.

According to transport secretary Justine Greening, this would give communities far more power and boost accountability.

"This is a key plank to our localism agenda, freeing local authorities from central government control, so I look forward to responses from across the country," she commented.

Ms Greening noted that since people across Britain rely on public transport a great deal, it "makes good sense" to give them more of a say on the issue.

"We want a system that is much more responsive to local needs," she said.

Whitehall is currently required to give permission to any transport schemes that will cost more than £5 million. But under the new plans, local transport bodies will not be required to seek approval from central government from 2015 onwards.

This could aid their efforts to invest in new public transport schemes, as well as related facilities such as new and improved roads, bus stations and pedestrian routes.

The government consultation on the proposal will conclude on April 2nd 2012. Councils, community groups and Local Enterprise Partnerships are being encouraged to participate, so they can express their views on the specifics of the scheme.

Policymakers are particularly keen to garner opinions on how stakeholders believe local transport bodies can show they are fully accountable both to people in their communities and to the government. Other issues they have been encouraged to consider include how the success of the policy could possibly be tested and evaluated to demonstrate it offers good value for money.

Haulage industry groups aim to save TruckPol

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:37:18 +0000

Two haulage sector bodies are collaborating in an effort to keep TruckPol up and running.

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Two haulage industry groups are working together in order to safeguard a specialist national police intelligence unit

TruckPol was set up to tackle truck and freight crime across the UK, as it puts drivers in danger and costs the economy about �250 million a year.

However, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) are concerned about the future of the group after the government pulled the plug on funding in 2011.

Figures from both organisations show that running TruckPol for a year costs �120,000 and while private sector bodies have managed to meet most of these costs, there is still a �30,000 shortfall.

The FTA and the RHA have therefore launched the Fight Freight Crime, Save TruckPol campaign in order to encourage more groups in the sector to contribute.

Theo de Pencier, chief executive of the FTA, commented: "Without government funding, TruckPol is once again facing closure and it is up to industry to save it at the 11th hour."

He said the fact the sector has helped to keep it up and running over the last year is a sign of the esteem in which it is held
"TruckPol plays a key role in the fight against criminal gangs which target a sector that is both vulnerable and attractive to thieves," Mr de Pencier stated.

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the RHA, added that TruckPol is the only police resource that is entirely dedicated to collecting information on truck crime in the UK.

He warned that if the unit folds, it would be a "catastrophe" that sets the haulage industry back ten years.
"To manage a problem, one must have the ability to first measure its true scale," Mr Dunning said.

The FTA and the RHA are particularly keen to raise the necessary funds as they believe the threat of organised truck crime is growing in Britain at the moment.

FTA criticises RET changes

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:46:15 +0000

Changes to the Road Equivalent Tariff in Scotland discriminate against hauliers, the FTA has claimed.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has weighed into the debate surrounding the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) after the Scottish government decided to extend its fare reduction programme.

Scotland's RET applies to all vehicles that are moved between the Scottish mainland and the Western Isles and, while the government has decided to offer rate reductions to more vehicles following the changes, lorries will still have to pay in full.

The decision to extend RET price reductions - but not to hauliers with vehicles measuring six metres or over - will add to the pressure rising�diesel fuel prices�are putting on freight companies' bottom lines. The reduced tariff now applies to any commercial vehicle that is less than six metres in length.

However, the FTA's head of policy in Scotland Christopher MacRae claimed that while the move is to be welcomed, ministers should go further and not discriminate against hauliers.

Mr MacRae said: "By extending the limit by one metre, Scottish government are effectively saying we don't want to penalise road freight operators of large vans who keep our island communities thriving. So what have they got against lorries?"

RETs are calculated based on the cost of shifting a vehicle along an equivalent stretch of road and the scheme was introduced in 2008. However, from April of this year, lorries will not be covered by the RET.

Mr MacRae believes that failing to provide for hauliers could result in some firms abandoning lorries and increasing the size of their fleets with smaller vehicles.

He asked: "Where is the economic, environmental or commercial sense in that?"

Lorries will not disappear from Scotland's roads, Mr MacRae concluded, but the tariffs imposed on hauliers will certainly put pressure on their profit margins.

British hauliers are already feeling the pressure of rising fuel costs and campaigners are still having to lobby government over the amount it plans to charge in fuel duty.

Met Office reminds hauliers to be vigilant

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:17:35 +0000

Haulage firms need to take extra care amid the current cold snap in the UK.

Snow and ice have been wreaking havoc across the country, jeopardising�driver safety�as roads became impassable and people spent cold nights in their cars with nothing more than the radio to keep them company.

A warm breeze from the Atlantic over the past few days has stopped the mercury plummeting further and more traditional wet weather has returned to some parts.

Unfortunately for hauliers, this 'warm' spell may not last and the snow and ice from the north and east could be set to return - causing untold disruption and, almost certainly, a spike in road traffic accidents.

Transport and logistics professionals have been reminded that they need to keep an eye out for weather warnings and take action to ensure their employees are not put at risk.

According to the Met Office, the recent mix of sleet, rain and snow that hit the British Isles has caused many parts of northern Britain to ice over.

Martin Young, chief forecaster at the body, said: "This is a developing situation and we would advise everyone to keep up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings so they are not caught out by the weather."

The Midlands and south-east were also taken by surprise by the inclement weather, highlighting the importance of taking to the road prepared - i.e. with some warm clothing, a means of contacting people and plenty of de-icer.

Commenting on Britain's preparedness for the recent bad weather, Theo de Pencier, the Freight Transport Association's chief executive, said that haulage firms wanted the responsibility of road worthiness to be held by local authorities after last year's Snowmageddon debacle and this call had been heeded.

He claimed: "Recommendations on winter resilience planning following last year's travel chaos have clearly been acted on, with local councils apparently well-stocked with road salt and accurate and timely weather alerts."

Mr de Pencier concluded that the can-do attitude of local authorities has benefitted both haulage firms and the businesses and local communities that rely on them.

Renewable technology 'is the future for Scottish buses'

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:04:14 +0000

Renewable technology represents the future of buses in Scotland, an MSP has said.Bus operators in Scotland could soon be making much more extensive use of renewable technology, an MSP has predicted. According to Kevin Stewart, who represents Aberdeen Central at Holyrood, eco-friendly systems will be the "future" for public transport providers, STV reports.

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He noted that the European Union is already supporting Aberdeen's efforts to roll out 12 vehicles that make use of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the city, which can help local bus operators cut their fleet emissions. A hydrogen refuelling facility would also be created as part of the initiative. However, Mr Stewart believes this project needs to be supported with funding from domestic organisations such as Scottish Enterprise, which has so far refused to back it. He has therefore contacted the body and called on it to think again about offering financial support.

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Mr Stewart said hydrogen buses could help position Aberdeen as a leader in renewable green transport and be the "driving force" of a more eco-friendly transport system."Domestic funding would allow for a better, bigger project and develop a green bus system that can revolutionise the way we do transport," he commented.

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Aberdeen City Council is already backing the delivery of the vehicles, along with the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group. The Scottish Government has made reducing the country's carbon footprint a key part of its agenda in the last few years, as a series of ambitious targets has been put in place. First minister Alex Salmond recently argued that the issue of climate change should be placed at the centre of all future decisions on energy, social development and the economy. He insisted this is "vitally important" at a time when the world is moving towards a recovery in the global economy. This comes shortly after the prototype of a new eco-friendly bus, which has a lower carbon output than conventional vehicles, was unveiled in London.

Economic concerns growing among transport and logistics chief executives

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:43:41 +0000

Chief executives in the transport and logistics sector are becoming increasingly concerned about the UK's economic outlook.

Concerns about the economic outlook for Britain are becoming more and more prevalent in the transport and logistics sector, a new poll has revealed. According to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), only 13 per cent of chief executives in the industry believe the economy will expand during 2012.

As a result, fewer leaders in the sector are confident they will see revenue growth throughout the year. Only 36 per cent are hopeful of an increase in the coming months, down from 60 per cent in 2011. This is prompting many to consider implementing cost-cutting strategies across their business.

The PwC study also showed that some firms are taking steps to ensure they are able to withstand problems in other countries that could impact on their operations. For example, a number of chief executives were found to be putting contingency plans in place in case a natural disaster occurs overseas. Klaus-Dieter Ruske, global T&L leader at PwC, commented: "The industry is particularly exposed to external risks. [Chief executives] need to prepare for the consequences of natural disasters and other risks which threaten the supply chains they manage." PwC added that many officials in the sector are worried about their ability to take on and retain young employees. The survey showed this is prompting nearly three-quarters of transport and logistics firms to revise their talent management strategy in order to keep hold of the best members of staff.

Mr Ruske suggested businesses make sure their recruiting practices are "cutting edge" and that they are seen to offer "attractive career and development opportunities" to young people. He warned that unless a "more strategic view" of talent management is adopted by chief executives in the transport and logistics sector, they will be unable to "achieve their long-term goals for growth and expansion or their innovation objectives". "Companies need to improve their brand as an employer," Mr Ruske stated.

Number of accidents involving foreign lorries in Britain 'on the up'

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:29:30 +0000

An increase in the number of accidents involving foreign lorries in Britain has been seen in the last year, according to new figures.

Trucks that are registered outside the UK are proving to be a growing hazard to British road users, experts have revealed. According to figures from Accident Exchange, the number of accidents involving foreign lorries on British motorways went up by nearly one-third during 2011. Many of these incidents were said to have occurred because hauliers who were operating left-hand drive HGVs could not see other motorists in their blind spot. Known as side-swiping, this type of collision accounted for nearly half of all recorded incidents last year.

Steve Evans, chief executive of the group, described the increase in the accident rate during this period as disappointing. "Foreign registered HGVs remain one of the most difficult 'at-fault' parties to recover costs from," he commented. "Issues motorists face include invalid insurance policies, untraceable owners, drivers leaving false details or just failing to pull over at all."

Accident Exchange believes the overall cost of the problem is about £57 million a year. This, it said, means the money generated by charging foreign lorries for using roads in the UK will not cover this bill. Indeed, estimates from the group suggest that by 2016, the proposed £10 charge for hauliers will only produce £23 million per annum. Mr Evans acknowledged that this money will go some way towards minimising the financial impact of accidents involving trucks from overseas. However, he said it will "not solve the root problem of left-hand HGV drivers just not being aware of vehicles around them".

Accident Exchange added that this is proving to be a particular problem on the M25, as well as on the M1 and the M6. The government is consulting on plans to charge foreign hauliers for travelling in Britain until April 18th. Roads minister Mike Penning believes this approach will help to "level the playing field" for companies in Britain and encourage growth.

Hauliers face further diesel price hikes

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:44:25 +0000

Diesel prices have soared to near-record levels, an AA report has suggested.

Diesel fuel prices�are close to record highs ahead of chancellor George Osborne's scheduled 3p fuel duty hike in August of this year, the AA has warned.

The body revealed that the average price of diesel at the pumps has soared to 142.9p a litre, edging dangerously close to the record high of 143.04p set in May 2011.

Motorists in Northern Ireland are faced with the steepest bill, at 143.5p a litre, while northern England and Humberside get off relatively lightly with prices of 142.3p.

This news will be a blow for hauliers trying to cut down on their fuel bills, after successful lobbying by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and its partners in the FairFuel UK campaign convinced the chancellor not to go ahead with an increase in fuel duty in January - a move which would have presented the haulage industry with an extra cost of �325 million.

AA president Edmund King said the slight fall in inflation will be "cold comfort" for people struggling to pay their bills at the pump, with petrol costing 23p more than it did at this time last year and diesel 29p more.

The FTA has carried out a concerted campaign demanding action on spiralling fuel prices, which can have a significant effect on the operating costs of fleet operators.

Theo de Pencier, the FTA's chief executive officer, claimed after securing the chancellor's decision not to hike fuel tax that more had yet to be done to secure the long-term health of the sector, a statement which appears to be borne out by the AA's latest figures.

"While we are relieved that the chancellor has steered us out of immediate danger, it is obvious that getting the UK back on the road to recovery requires a long term fuel duty strategy, and one which doesn't make tough times that much tougher for businesses in an already uncertain economy," said Mr de Pencier at the time.

If Mr Osborne goes ahead with his plan to increase fuel duty in August, it is possible the FTA chief could be proven right once again.

Government 'can encourage logistics companies to go green'

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:48:20 +0000

The FTA has called on the government to place a fixed level on road fuel for the next five years to encourage more green measures in the industry.

The Freight Transport Organisation (FTA) has called on the government to offer further incentives to logistics operators attempting to cut down on their�fleet emissions�and switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles through fixing the tax levels on road fuel relative to diesel rates for at least five years.

This would prevent operators from being forced to return to lower-cost, higher-carbon solutions and help the industry take further strides in decarbonising the economy.

James Hookham, FTA's managing director of policy and communications, said the industry organisation's Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme, which many operators have joined voluntarily, is helping cut down on emissions and is on track to meet its projected eight per cent reduction in greenhouse gas by 2015.

However, further government support for schemes such as these across the logistics industry could increase the positive impact they are having on UK pollution, according to Mr Hookham.

"For example, biomethane from landfill sites could be a real option for articulated truck operators, but uncertainty over duty rates on natural gas and biomethane is a bar to investment in this sort of technology," claimed the managing director.

Pledging to keep the rates the same for the next five years would cut down on this insecurity and encourage more innovative solutions, concluded Mr Hookham.

His statement came as the FTA urged the coalition government to scrap the increase on fuel rates planned for August, which it argues could prove a crippling blow to the freight and transport sector in the current economic climate.

Furthermore, the FTA claimed that cutting fuel rates could save consumers and businesses �3.6 billion.

"The billions that industry and consumers will save over a year would be invested elsewhere in the economy, giving the impetus to growth that is so badly needed," predicted Mr Hookham.

He added that, while the industry appreciated the chancellor's decision to postpone a rate hike planned for January, the economic situation means this logic must be extended further for the sake of business growth.

Oxford may soon have Low Emissions Zone

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:08:22 +0000

A Low Emissions Zone looks set to be implemented in Oxford.

Oxford is to follow London's lead by introducing a Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) ? a move that could have profound implications for bus operators in the area.

According to Rodney Rose, cabinet member for transport at Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford is a "beautiful" city. This, he said, means the authority is keen for it to be as attractive as it possibly can be for residents and visitors.

It is therefore working with Oxford City Council on plans to create an LEZ in the region. As part of the proposal, bus operators will be required to reduce their fleet emissions by complying with Euro V standards if they travel in the zone.

Vehicles will have to undergo refits or be replaced entirely in order to meet the new emissions guidelines, which will come into force at the beginning of 2014. Meanwhile, bus drivers will be required to turn off their engines if they are stationary at a bus stop for more than 60 seconds.

"Huge steps have already been taken to improve the air quality but there is still more that can be done," Mr Rose commented.

Bus operators that have already taken steps to reduce their environmental impact by using Euro IV standard engines will be exempted until the end of 2015. The county and city councils believe this a sensible move as these vehicles already boast strong green credentials, but both authorities have stressed Euro V buses must be on the road by the start of 2016.

Councillor John Tanner, Oxford City Council's board member for cleaner, greener Oxford, said he is "thrilled" the two authorities are working together on making buses more eco-friendly.

"This is another step in the campaign to push pollution levels in Oxford well below the safe minimum set by Europe," he stated.

Mr Tanner added that the regulations will enable visitors and local people to "breathe safely" in the city.

RHA: Learner drivers should not be allowed to travel on motorways

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:13:35 +0000

The RHA has warned against allowing learner drivers to travel on motorways.

The driving test for motorists has been toughened up considerably in the last few years as part of a wider effort to improve?road safety?and stop young drivers in particular getting involved in accidents, many of which are fatal.

However, some argue that the testing process still does not do enough to prepare people for life behind the wheel once they have their licence. For instance, the law currently restricts learners from taking to the motorway.

The government is currently considering changing the rules so new drivers are not intimidated by these important transport conduits as soon as they have passed their test.

But the idea has drawn criticism from some who rely on them day after day, such as the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the body, has instead suggested that people undergo formal training in how to use motorways by a qualified instructor after they have passed their test. He suggested this should be a requirement for new drivers before they "venture out unsupervised".

Mr Dunning suggested that the government's proposal, in its current form, "raises many concerns".

"However, safety for the learner driver and for other road users has to be of paramount importance," he commented.

Mike Penning, the roads minister, believes allowing learner drivers to use the motorway could be advantageous as it may help stop them paying higher than average car insurance premiums.�Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, he said: "If we can show insurers someone has got skills of their own accord, I would expect them to drop their premiums proportionately."

The RHA added that P-Plates for newly qualified drivers should be mandatory, with rules regarding their use outlined in the New Drivers Act. Mr Dunning said this would alert other road users to the presence of an inexperienced motorist and ensure they are given "due consideration".

Government urged to increase funding for rural buses

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:13:58 +0000

The government is under renewed pressure to step up funding for rural bus services.

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The government has been urged to provide additional funding for bus services in rural parts of the UK.�Norfolk County Council believes the amount it has received from the Concessionary Travel scheme is insufficient, as it has been required to make up the shortfall itself.

The authority has therefore delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street, which was started in September, calling on the government to allocate more resources to this nationally funded initiative.

Brandon Lewis, the MP for Great Yarmouth, has backed the council's campaign and discussed its concerns face-to-face with transport minister Norman Baker.

"This is a national issue and in a sense we will be battling for buses across the nation," he commented."Norfolk and other rural councils are not asking for anything excessive - they simply want to be treated fairly, so that our bus networks can be made sustainable in the long term."

Mr Lewis noted that thousands of people rely on public transport to help them live "full and independent" lives.

Graham Plant, cabinet member for planning and transportation at Norfolk County Council, added that people living in this part of East Anglia "strongly" support concessionary travel.

However, he said locals do not believe it is fair that the authority is required to meet a shortfall of �4.5 million when the scheme is meant to be nationally funded.

Mr Plant warned that by overcoming this deficit, money is being drawn away from other essential services. Indeed, he said that an extra �3 million will need to be added to close the funding gap that will appear in 2013.�He stated that this issue is not going to go away, which means it will be "better for everyone" if it is resolved sooner rather than later.�The Campaign for Better Transport has also thrown its weight behind the lobbying effort, along with Devon County Council.

Cutting fuel duty 'can be a stimulus to the economy'

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:17:33 +0000

The government has been urged to boost the economy by cutting fuel duty.

The current economic climate and factors such as rising diesel fuel prices have been putting the transport and logistics sector under pressure for some considerable time.�But with the chancellor's Budget speech set to take place next month, industry groups and businesses are eagerly waiting to see what steps will be announced to ease the burden.

Some are taking the opportunity to lobby George Osborne on what measures they would like to see introduced. The Freight Transport Association (FTA), for instance, has just published its list of recommendations for the chancellor, which includes cutting fuel duty.�According to the organisation, this could help to stimulate the UK economy at a time when it is in a very "precarious" position. The FTA has suggested the planned increase in August this year be cancelled and that the charge be cut by five per cent per litre.

This, it said, would help to put more money in consumers' pockets and boost the books of businesses across the country. As a result, the cash freed up by the move could be reinvested elsewhere, which would therefore "reignite" growth in the economy.

Fuel duty had been due to increase in January this year, but in 2011's Autumn Statement, the chancellor confirmed that this would be cancelled. However, plans for August's fuel duty hike remain in place.

"Given the continuing fragility of the economy, we urge that this increase is cancelled altogether, resulting in a saving to consumers and businesses of �1.4 billion," the FTA said.

The organisation added that bringing about stability in fuel prices is its "ultimate goal", but it said the government's proposals such as the introduction of a Fair Fuel Stabiliser do not go far enough in helping it achieve this aim.

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Johnson hails new London bus

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:21:33 +0000

Boris Johnson has praised the new eco-friendly London bus.

A new eco-friendly bus that should help London's transport authorities cut their fleet carbon footprint has been hailed by the city's mayor.

Speaking to BBC News, Boris Johnson rejected suggestions the hybrid model will not make a positive difference to the region.

Indeed, he argued that its diesel-electric hybrid engine is about twice as fuel-efficient as a standard diesel bus. This, he said, makes it the most environmentally friendly vehicle of its kind. "It's not just a pretty face," Mr Johnson commented. "When ordered in greater numbers, it will make a significant economic contribution to the manufacturing industries, while also helping deliver a cleaner, greener and more pleasant city."

Consumers in London are being given their first opportunity to travel on the buses today, as the first batch has now started operating on the 38 route. David Hampson-Ghani of Transport for London is optimistic people will like what they see, as tests involving members of the public and transport groups have yielded favourable results.

He told the Evening Standard that the response from consumers has so far been "overwhelmingly positive". Mr Hampson-Ghani acknowledged that while some people have had occasional criticisms or suggestions, nobody has yet said they do not rate the vehicle. "It's the most environmentally friendly bus in the UK, if not the world," he continued.

Mr Hampson-Ghani noted that the vehicle makes use of some particularly innovative materials, including a substance commonly included in the latest Formula One cars and racing yachts. However, he refused to shed any light on exactly what this material is, as details are currently embargoed. While the eco-friendly bus makes extensive use of modern green technology, it also ties in with London's past by borrowing design features from the iconic Routemaster. For instance, the rear of the vehicle boasts a hop-on, hop-off platform, which should help to speed up passenger boarding and alighting times.

RHA: Industry can do nothing about high diesel prices

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:31:10 +0000

The RHA has warned there is nothing the haulage industry can do about the high price of diesel.

The haulage sector is powerless to do anything to tackle high diesel fuel prices, an industry group has warned.

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According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), diesel in the UK has never cost as much as it does at the moment. The organisation is concerned because it believes the industry can do nothing to address the problem.

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Jack Semple, director of policy at the RHA, commented: "This is bad news for customers because haulage rates simply have to keep pace with rising costs."

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He warned that if the cost of transport goes up, other prices will "inevitably" rise as a result. Indeed, Mr Semple said "everything we buy" will become more expensive if diesel prices continue to surge, including clothing and food.

"There is a clear message for companies buying transport - you must pay a sustainable haulage rate," he stated.

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Mr Semple noted that diesel accounts for more than one-third of a typical articulated lorry's operating costs. He has therefore called on chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to address the problem at the upcoming Budget by cutting fuel duty in Britain, which he said is currently the highest in Europe.�Semple added that going ahead with the planned fuel duty hike in August would be "inconceivable" in the current environment.

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Although Mr Osborne did opt to scrap last month's planned fuel duty increase, indications are that the tax will go up during the summer.

Speaking this week, the Chancellor said fuel duty is currently 6p lower than it would have been if he had not taken action on the issue in the two most recent fiscal statements.

This, he stated, demonstrates that he has "absolutely shown willingness" to tackle tax rises and increases in global fuel costs.

Figures from the RHA show that the average price of diesel in the UK now stands at 116.33p per litre before VAT, which means it typically costs 139.60p when this tax is added on.

TfL calls on freight operators to plan for Olympics

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:33:41 +0000

Freight operators have been encouraged to put plans in place so they are not disrupted by the Olympics.

Many important routes in London will be closed or at least disrupted by the Olympics Games this summer.

Indeed, estimates from the Road Haulage Association suggest nearly one-third of the city's roads will be affected to some extent by the flagship sporting event.

This could be particularly problematic for any freight companies that are operating in the region this summer, which means they need to be fully prepared.

Therefore, Transport for London (TfL) has launched a marketing campaign to remind businesses of the need to put firm plans in place well in advance.

Peter Hendy, transport commissioner in London, commented: "Although it's called the London 2012 Games, businesses operating in the venue towns and cities across the country may be affected.

"That means if you're delivering to or based in locations such as Cardiff, Eton Dorney, Manchester or Weymouth and Portland, as well as in London, you will also need to plan ahead."

Mr Hendy said making preparations for the Olympic Games is "critical" for both freight companies and their customers in order to ensure they are able to run "smoothly and profitably" during the summer.

Businesses will be advised to make sure they are familiar with the Olympic Road Network and to plan when they make or receive deliveries around road restrictions that will be in force.

TfL is also encouraging freight operators to allow extra travel time for journeys and to consider making deliveries outside normal hours.

The body's awareness campaign will encompass a variety of media, including trade publications, radio stations and advertisements at major ports, motorway service stations and fuel pump nozzles at petrol stations.

A set of giant Olympic Rings were showcased on the River Thames yesterday (February 28^th) to mark the fact the Games would be commencing in 150 days time.

The start of the countdown could serve to remind freight operators of the need to act on the advice given in TfL's campaign as soon as possible.

Hauliers' operating costs 'at an all-time high'

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:45:17 +0000

Operating costs for haulage companies are now at record levels, according to the FTA.

Haulage firms in the UK are being put under considerable pressure by rising operating costs, an industry group has warned.

According to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), operating costs are now at the highest level on record.�

However, the group warned that companies in the sector are starting to feel the pinch because customers do not want them to increase their haulage rates.

As a result, hauliers are having to bear the costs themselves, which means balance sheets are "fragile" across the industry.

Bruce Goodhart, research analyst at the FTA, said this also means companies are vulnerable at a time when economic activity remains weak.

Rising�diesel fuel prices�were flagged up as one key contributor to this problem and a growing concern for haulage firms.

"Fuel now represents around 40 per cent of annual operating costs compared to around a third just three years ago," Mr Goodhart commented.

"The high price of diesel is the number one concern keeping hauliers awake at night."

Figures from the FTA showed that during the 12 months to January 1st 2012, haulage rates in the UK went up by 3.1 per cent.

However, statistics also revealed that operating costs for hauliers increased by 3.7 per cent throughout the same period. The FTA said this surge was driven partly by a 6.3 per cent surge in diesel fuel prices during the year.

Increasing tyre costs also helped to push up operating costs, as they went up by 9.2 per cent.

The FTA is already putting pressure on the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to cut fuel duty in the run-up to his Budget announcement, which comes on March 21st.

It has argued that a reduction would represent a "win-win" scenario for businesses and the government, as it would ease the pressure on hauliers, boost the economy and encourage job creation.

National FairFuel Day was a huge success

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:47:47 +0000

National FairFuel Day was a huge success, according to motoring expert Quentin Willson.

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The writer has kept people up-to-date on the latest fuel duty wranglings throughout the campaign, which culminated in a major public demonstration last week - on March 7th - outside and inside the House of Commons.

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Supporters managed to bring traffic in Westminster to a standstill while a ground-breaking report was delivered to the door of Number 10 Downing Street.

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Mr Willson noted high fuel duty has become a divisive political issue that has received plenty of grassroots support.

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"How can a government possibly defend a taxation regime that forces its citizens to pay �80 in tax for fuel that actually costs just �24?" he said.

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He went on to claim that the UK has the second-highest fuel duty in the world and that every motorist in the country needed to be made aware of this startling fact.

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The campaign also received the backing of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), with many hauliers turning out to lend their support to the day of protest.

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Commenting on the political action, RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning said the key goal was to make MPs aware of the latest Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) report, which opens up fuel duty figures to wider scrutiny.

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Mr Dunning said: "I think I can quite safely say that we achieved that aim. Of course there is still more to do, but we can go forward with real confidence."

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CEBR believes that slashing fuel duty would help bolster the UK's economic recovery and reduce the pressure on haulage firms, which have also been hit by rising�diesel fuel prices.

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Mr Dunning concluded that a reduction in fuel duty will help increase "productivity, sales and of course, transport movements - all of which will need increased levels of manpower".

Road maintenance is still a hot topic

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:54:43 +0000

Road maintenance spending cuts are short-termist and counterproductive, according to the PAC.

When the last cold snap hit Britain, the state of the country's roads deteriorated rapidly.

As well as making road travel more risky in the short term, plummeting temperatures exacerbated the problems posed by potholes, which inevitably increased in size and became more dangerous.

Concerns were raised then that a lack of investment in infrastructure would cause�road safety�problems further down the line - and little seems to have changed.

Despite the fact that Britain avoided a severe winter at the end of 2011 and the start of 2012, the poor state of the country's roads and the reduced amount of investment the government is now ring-fencing for routine maintenance is a growing cause for concern.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) believes that a failure to invest in the country's transport infrastructure now will have huge long-term implications that will inevitably be costly for motorists.

Commenting on the situation, Edmund King, president of the AA, said British motorists were being taken for a ride.

He noted that drivers pay billions of pounds in the form of motoring taxes and they expect Britain's roads to be in a decent state as a result.

Mr King echoed the PAC's concerns that failing to invest could lead to a sharp rise in motoring compensation claims.

"The last thing we want is a vicious circle where the declining state of roads leads to more claims for compensation due to damage and injury, which in turn means less spending on roads," Mr King concluded.

Margaret Hodge, who chairs the PAC, said the government simply does not understand the implications of reducing spending on road maintenance and accused the coalition of counterproductive short-termism.

The Labour MP also lambasted the government for not pushing ahead with an overhaul of Network Rail, which she said is largely unaccountable.

Government to promote low carbon vehicles

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:58:58 +0000

A new programme is being launched to boost the uptake of eco-friendly vehicles in the fleet and haulage sectors.

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The government is launching a new multi-million pound programme aimed at reducing fleet emissions in the UK.

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Ministers have backed a �9.5 million demonstration programme aimed at haulage companies that will champion low-carbon commercial vehicles and their continued adoption in the UK.

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Run and managed by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), the self-professed leader in national innovation, the initiative also has the support of the Department for Transport (DfT).

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The core aim of the programme is to get hauliers to adopt dual-fuel heavy goods vehicles and electric and hybrid light commercial vehicles by part-funding the capital cost associated with an upgrade.

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As well as vehicle funding, the TSB will support firms financially so that they are able to install charging points at their depots at a reduced cost.

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"Cutting carbon emissions and supporting the low carbon vehicles market is a key priority for this government," transport minister Mike Penning said.

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"The trial will be crucial to enabling heavy goods vehicle operators to access the necessary refuelling infrastructure to support low carbon vehicles."

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He went on to say that the initiative will ultimately save businesses money and help the UK meet stringent European climate change targets.

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The TSB will monitor low carbon fleets for two years as part of the programme, gathering usage data and passing any findings on to the DfT.

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Iain Gray, chief executive of the TSB, said the programme had been devised with proactive input from the haulage industry itself.

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Paul Everitt, chief executive officer of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, stated that with the UK at the forefront of green motoring research, it makes perfect sense for the government to promote the adoption of eco-friendly technology - particularly in the fleet and haulage sectors.

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He added that as well as improving uptake, the project would boost the wider understanding of green motoring solutions and the huge financial benefits they can offer businesses.

Businesses will be affected by road maintenance cuts

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:02:10 +0000

Road maintenance budget cuts could jeopardise driver safety and lead to a long-term increase in costs.

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Businesses are going to be hit hard if councils are forced to reduce their road maintenance budgets, which could put driver safety in jeopardy.

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This is unsurprising considering businesses rely on an efficient transport system.

Not long ago ministers were proposing boosting the national speed limit to 80mph in order to boost efficiency and cut the cost of transport on Britain's roads.

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But with the state of the country's road network becoming a major public and political concern, it seems that measures like increasing the speed limit on motorways are untenable. Potholes are bad enough as it is, but at high speeds they can cause considerable damage - so fleet operators and hauliers are right to be concerned.

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Recently, MP Margaret Hodge claimed the Department for Transport does not fully understand the implications of slashing road maintenance budgets - claiming that a number of key transport network questions remain unanswered.

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And with just a week before Chancellor George Osborne unveils his latest Budget, these issues need addressing quickly.

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According to Jonathan Willett, director of Henderson Insurance Brokers, the fact that local authorities have been ordered to slash �223 million from their road budgets by mandarins in Whitehall should set alarm bells ringing.

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Speaking to Business Daily, Mr Willett claimed that failing to invest in infrastructure now will be hugely costly in the long term.

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He said: "Potholes are already a major problem on our roads and telling councils to cut what amounts to 40 per cent of the total road maintenance spending will only make the problem worse.

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"Haulage companies and businesses that provide cars to key employees face disruption to their operations when vehicles suffer damage caused by hitting potholes."

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Mr Willett noted that the average cost of a pothole-related insurance claim is �750 and suggested that many hauliers will simply pay for the repairs out of their own back pockets rather than face higher insurance premiums for their entire fleets.

Bus journeys up in the UK

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:04:43 +0000

The government has reported an upturn in the number of people travelling by bus.

Bus operators benefited from an increase in passenger numbers in the run-up to Christmas.

According to new figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT), average bus passenger journeys in England climbed by two per cent in the last three months of the year when compared to 2010 figures for the same period - reducing the per-traveller bus emissions of the industry as a whole.

In London, the increase was more marked, however, standing at 2.4 per cent, while rural journeys leapt by three per cent.

A similar trend was apparent in Scotland, which saw passenger numbers climb by two per cent, while in Wales the figure rose by 6.6 per cent.

The DfT believes the relatively mild winter weather will have helped bus operators to boost their performance - especially as there was far less disruption on Britain's roads in 2011 when compared to 2010.

Quarterly growth was less apparent, but bus operators still benefited from passenger number increases when compared to figures from July through September, rising, as they did, by 0.9 per cent across England, 1.5 per cent in the capital and 0.4 per cent in metropolitan areas.

The strong performance of the sector is a further boost to the sector following the publication of figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which showed that the bus and coach industry continued to perform well in February.

Registrations in February climbed by 73.6 per cent, while demand for purpose-built coaches and buses rose by 121.7 per cent.

Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive officer, said the strength of the industry is to be welcomed - especially in the face of the tough economic climate Britain is facing - but urged the government to help maintain the sector's growth by bolstering investment.

"To maintain this momentum, it is vital that the chancellor uses this month's Budget to shore-up business confidence by encouraging private sector investment," he claimed.

Parking fines won't be hiked during the Olympics

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:07:07 +0000

The FTA has welcomed the decision not to raise parking fines during the Olympics, which could stem the rise in haulier PCN costs.

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Parking fines in central London will not be hiked during the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. The decision to hold parking fines at their current level has been welcomed by companies in the haulage industry, many of whom are already being put under pressure by high diesel fuel prices.

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Plans were afoot to increase the cost of parking transgressions to �200 during the Games. However, London Mayor Boris Johnson has confirmed that the levy will not rise during the two-week event.

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The Freight Transport Association (FTA) believes that the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by traffic wardens is almost guaranteed to rise as hauliers and delivery specialists vie to meet the demand for goods while combating major road closures and traffic disruption.

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Natalie Chapman, the FTA's head of policy for London, said that the Olympics are set to pose huge problems for the logistics sector and that some flexibility from borough councils affected by the Games was needed.

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However, she also noted that hauliers and delivery firms need to ensure that their drivers are adequately trained and understand the various parking restrictions in place in the city. Failure to do this is already costing haulage specialists hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum.�

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Ms Chapman noted: "There is a need for commercial vehicle operators to improve their understanding of how certain 'parking' restrictions apply.�

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"As well as training drivers and identifying PCN 'hotspots', a well-targeted and intelligent approach to appealing unfair PCNs could save some companies hundreds of thousands of pounds a year."�

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The organisation found in a recent survey, which looked at the number of PCNs issued to 26 FTA members between Q1 2009 and Q2 2011, that the total cost of parking infringements stood at �3.86 million - with more than 80,000 individual transgressions recorded. Average PCN costs rose by 30 per cent during this period.

Road tolls 'should replace fuel duty'

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:09:09 +0000

Business leaders have mixed views about the overhaul of Britain's roads with the help of private investment.

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The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed prime minister David Cameron's move to boost private investment in Britain's ailing infrastructure.

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Speaking at the Institution of Civil Engineers yesterday, Mr Cameron claimed that handing over the responsibility for the transport network to private companies would help the UK regain its entrepreneurial spirit and reverse the fortunes of Britain's slowly-decaying infrastructure.

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He said that widening lanes and building new roads to boost capacity would prevent traffic jams and improve efficiency in the freight and fleet sectors.

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Mr Cameron claimed an innovative package of private sector investment and road tolling could be used to transform Britain's road network.

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The FTA agrees that the country's highways need work, stating that congestion is blighting the economy and having a hugely detrimental effect on the environment - as traffic jams boost fleet emissions.

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However, the FTA believes that any new costs should be offset against existing road taxes, which are already having a crippling impact on hauliers and other firms that rely on the transport network.

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Theo de Pencier, FTA's chief executive, said: "In the current tight fiscal conditions, we understand the need to look at new ways of funding infrastructure."

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He added: "The freight industry will want to look at how these plans relate to existing transport taxes such as fuel duty and vehicle excise duty."

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The Road Haulage Association, on the other hand, has described the proposed road tolling policy as "unthinkable".

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The organisation's chief executive officer Geoff Dunning claimed that Britain's economy is already struggling to recover from years of hardship and additional charging for the use of new roads would simply take more money from cash-strapped motorists.

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He noted that during 2010-11, more than �48 billion was "collected from road users", with �26 billion worth of fuel duty accounting for over 50 per cent of this amount.

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However, Mr Dunning said only �10 billion ended up going towards improving and maintaining the existing network.

Fleet management body welcomes 100th member

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:12:27 +0000

The FTA's Van Excellence scheme has welcomed its 100th member.

Fleet management body Van Excellence has welcomed its 100th member - with the scheme now covering 100,000 commercial vehicles.

The organisation was created in 2010 as a means of raising standards among fleet operators.

Van Excellence encourages best practice by defining an industry-wide code of conduct and accrediting operators.

The scheme has been lauded by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), with the organisation's head of van and light commercial vehicles Mark Cartwright stating that the double landmark of welcoming 100 firms and exceeding 100,000 covered vehicles shows how supportive industry is of this voluntary scheme.

To become accredited, fleet operators request a Van Excellence Code and then open themselves up to an external audit. There are currently 24 accredited fleets, 33 undergoing an audit and 43 that have shown an interest in joining the best practice scheme.

Mr Cartwright said: "The Van Excellence marque is becoming a more frequent sight on accredited fleet vehicles as successful operators advertise their achievement.

"But with an average fleet size of 1,000, our goal now is to extend the scheme's reach to smaller fleets."

The FTA is working with manufacturers of light commercial vehicles to ensure that more organisations are aware of the benefits of accreditation.

Once accredited, fleet operators need to be re-audited every year to ensure they have maintained their high standards.

The Van Excellence Code's voluntary requirements exceed those set down in law and cover vehicle road worthiness, driver entitlement, load security and overall vehicle safety.

Fleet operators who have already attained Van Excellence Accreditation include Balfour Beatty Plant and Fleet Services, British Gas, Network Rail and South Central Ambulance Trust. Organisations being audited for accreditation include South Devon Healthcare, DHL and Tesco.

The repeated checks that are needed to maintain accreditation ensure that fleet operators who do not want to lose the prestige of the FTA's Van Excellence marque need to hold on to best practice even in the toughest of economic times.

Fuel duty rise condemned by freight experts

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:15:30 +0000

George Osborne's fuel duty hike has been condemned by the RHA and the FTA.

On March 21st chancellor George Osborne announced that the coalition government will hike fuel duty by three pence per litre this summer. Despite a huge campaign mounted by FairFuelUK - supported by respected motoring journalist Quentin Willson - that culminated in a protest which saw hundreds of people descend on the House of Commons to force the government's hand, campaigners' concerns fell on deaf ears.

Commenting on the decision to ignore popular support for a freeze - or even a reduction - of fuel duty, the Road Haulage Association's (RHA) chief executive officer Geoff Dunning claimed that the government's approach to taxing motorists more at a time when diesel fuel prices were already at record highs was unfathomable.

He claimed: "The chancellor's decision to go ahead with this rise is not only disappointing, the reason behind it is hard to understand.

"In the last Budget, the chancellor seemingly understood the need to stop driving up fuel taxes and he actually cut duty. This time, he seems to have done a complete U-turn."

Mr Dunning noted that the cost of filling a large truck in the UK would go up by some �1,200 thanks to higher diesel fuel prices and he was not alone in condemning the surprising change in tack.

The Freight Transport Association's (FTA) chief economist Simon Chapman claimed the chancellor had "squandered" a real opportunity to support British businesses - and in particular hauliers - by cutting fuel duty costs.

Mr Chapman argued that independent research has proved a 2.5p per litre cut in fuel duty could create hundreds of thousands of jobs in Britain without leading to the Exchequer losing money.

Even the Federation of Small Businesses, which largely welcomed the measures outlined in the budget, claimed that a reduction in fuel duty would have been hugely beneficial to the transport sector and the wider economy.

Freight Operator Recognition Scheme 'to expand'

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:19:09 +0000

The Freight Operator Recognition Scheme is set to change its name and expand its remit.

The Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) has been raising standards in the freight sector for many years.

It currently provides London hauliers with driver licence checks, driver profiling and fuel advice - the latter being particularly useful in light of the high?diesel fuel prices?and rising fuel duty - and has done so since 2008.

According to the FORS, the organisation rewards excellence and offers education to freight operators to ensure they follow best practice rather than simply comply with the law by abiding by minimum standards.

The success of the organisation has led it to announce the expansion of its remit. Its advice and accreditation will no longer be the preserve of haulage specialists in the capital. FORS will soon allow car fleets and commercial vehicle operators to become members and in the process will change its name to the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: "We noticed that because of the name, some companies, particularly smaller ones that didn't see themselves as freight operators, were being missed.

"The change reflects well our aim to cut collisions, congestion, costs and emissions."

FORS has received funding from Transport for London, which has allowed it to send members on free driver training courses that were developed in collaboration with various London borough councils. The seminars?cover safety issues that arise during the course of a working day for lorry and coach drivers.

Other topics covered by recent FORS seminars include collision analysis and investigation, and benchmarking as a means of boosting operational efficiency.

FORS also offers innovative online training for members. Currently, fleet drivers and management staff can access fuel efficiency and work-related road safety modules through the organisation's web portal. However, the firm is set to add Penalty Charge Notice training in the near future as well.

Government aims to cut bus emissions

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:38:23 +0000

Millions of pounds are to be invested by the government in cutting the fleet emissions of bus operators in England.

The Department for Transport has confirmed that �31 million will go towards rolling out more than 400 low carbon vehicles across the country over the next year.

Money will be allocated to five local authorities and 26 bus operators as part of an initiative the government believes will help to cut the annual carbon dioxide emissions of buses by more than 9,000 tonnes.

Boosting the take-up of electric, gas and hybrid buses should enable more public transport companies in England to claim the Bus Service Operators Grant in order to help meet their operational costs.

The government has also allocated �70 million to its Better Bus Area fund in order to get more people travelling by bus and to encourage service providers across the country to work together more closely.

Local authorities will be able to bid for a share of the money to put towards upgrades such as improved traffic management, enhancing facilities such as bus shelters and moving towards providing smarter multi-operator tickets. Councils will also be required to offer more real-time information to members of the public in order to access the cash.

Norman Baker, the local transport minister, commented: "This funding means a better deal for passengers.

"It updates and improves services and infrastructure, reduces congestion, gives quieter journeys and with the introduction of new carbon friendly buses, reduces fuel costs and CO2 emissions, creating a greener network."

The move has been hailed by Passenger Focus, which said it is good news for both the bus industry and consumers.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the group, commented: "Investment in new vehicles, infrastructure and better congestion control will help tackle the things that matter most to bus passengers."

Government steps up investment in smart ticketing

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:41:48 +0000

The government is spending �15 million to boost the usage of smart ticketing technology on buses.

Millions of pounds are to go towards rolling out smart ticketing technology on buses across the country.

The government has confirmed that local bus companies that do not currently use the system will receive an additional �15 million to help them make the changeover. This is part of an effort to ensure smartcards can be used on the majority of buses in Britain within the next two years.

Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed the Department for Transport will give extra support to local authorities so they are better able to meet transport needs in their area. Subsidy payments will be awarded to councils instead of bus companies, so they can determine how the money is used.

Norman Baker, the local transport minister, believes this is preferable to adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, as it enables authorities to "tackle local issues on the ground and develop practical solutions to community problems".

The government will also aim to encourage greater competition between bus operators, with new rules introduced to clamp down on what it believes are "anti-competitive practices" by some firms.

"My vision is for a bus service that is reliable, flexible, offers competitive prices, smarter ticketing and provides passengers with a service they want to use time and again," Mr Baker commented.

He added that in the next few months, the government will work to ensure local partners operate in an "efficient, innovative and creative" way to meet the transport requirements of communities across the country.

The latest announcement is a further demonstration of the coalition's commitment to improving the UK's public transport network. Earlier this week, it revealed �31 million is to go towards rolling out more than 400 low carbon buses across England over the next year � a move that should help bus operators cut their fleet emissions considerably.

Government defends fuel duty hike

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:44:27 +0000

The government is facing criticism over its decision to proceed with a fuel duty increase in August.

The government has been forced to defend its decision not to scrap an upcoming fuel duty hike at a time when many motorists and hauliers are struggling with rising costs.

According to a Treasury spokesperson, the coalition has taken a number of steps to keep the cost of petrol and diesel down. Speaking to BBC News, the official highlighted the abolition of the fuel duty escalator as an example, as a litre of fuel would now be ten per cent more expensive on average if it had not made this move.

Furthermore, the spokesperson stressed that fuel duty had been frozen in the Autumn Statement, while a planned increase at the beginning of this year was cancelled completely.

"We have always been clear that decisions on the public finances must support the government's priority of reducing the deficit in a sustainable way," the Treasury representative commented.

Groups such as the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association have already spoken out against the chancellor's decision to go ahead with the increase in duty in August, as many firms in the sector are already struggling with high?diesel fuel prices. However, George Osborne is also coming under pressure to take action from his political opponents, including the Scottish National Party (SNP).

Stewart Hosie, Treasury spokesman for the SNP, has said a cut in fuel duty is needed as a matter of urgency, while a fuel duty regulator should be put in place to "permanently bring prices under control".

"With the bulk of the pump price made up of tax, the Treasury must stop this highway robbery because soaring fuel prices are hindering economic recovery," he stated.

Mr Hosie added that the government is currently receiving record amounts of revenue from North Sea gas and oil. He said some of this money could be used to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel, while a fuel duty regulator could help to ensure prices remain stable.

Fuel shortages 'would hit haulage sector hard'

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:47:02 +0000

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The haulage industry would be badly hit by any shortages in fuel supplies, the RHA has stated.

Fuel shortages across the UK would have a serious effect on the haulage sector, an industry group has warned.

According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), hauliers are generally only able to store the amount of fuel they require from day to day. Therefore, the organisation believes many firms will find it difficult to cope if industrial action leads to diesel being in short supply.

Fears of industrial action by fuel tanker drivers last week led to widespread panic buying by consumers, to such an extent that many petrol stations ended up running dry. While the Unite union has confirmed that a strike will not be staged throughout the Easter break, the issue has not yet been resolved and discussions are still ongoing.

As a result, industrial action could still potentially be staged at some point in the near future if the talks break down and therefore trigger a fuel shortage across Britain. While the RHA is concerned about the impact this would have on the haulage industry in particular, it also believes a fuel crisis could harm other sectors as well.

"Incalculable damage would be inflicted on an economy that is trying to recover from recession, with supply chains disrupted, people unable to go about their normal legitimate daily business and companies placed under great financial strain," it commented.

The organisation stated that this could potentially lead to some businesses collapsing, thereby putting the jobs of Unite members who earn far lower salaries than fuel tanker drivers at risk.

Diana Holland, assistant general secretary of Unite, has insisted the union's demands are reasonable, as other sectors such as the offshore oil industry have minimum standards in place relating to areas such as training and health and safety.

However, Geoff Dunning, the RHA's chief executive, said he is "concerned" with the suggestion that safety standards in the fuel distribution sector are low at the moment. Indeed, he stressed that existing standards in the industry are "far above the legal minimum, with highly professional, well-trained and properly rewarded drivers delivering the UK's fuel".

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New road safety measures to come into force

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:38:48 +0000

Measures to improve safety standards on Britain's roads are to be introduced next year.

Bus and lorry drivers in the UK will have to comply with new road safety standards from early next year.

When operators of these vehicles reach the age of 45, they are required to renew their driving licences every five years. However, the Department for Transport has confirmed that all new or renewed licences can be renewed every five years from January 19th 2013.

Drivers aged 45 or above must also pass a medical in order to prove they are fit enough to get behind the wheel, but those under this age limit will not have to get a full medical report to drive. Nevertheless, under-45s will need to continue replacing the photograph on their licence every ten years.

Simon Tse, chief executive of the?Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, believes the amendments will "provide a useful additional reminder" for lorry and bus drivers.

"They will help to ensure that drivers of these vehicles will continue to operate to high levels of levels of safety by ensuring that they are fit to drive," he commented.

Other changes that will be put in place from early next year include tougher restrictions on who will be allowed to take to the road on the most powerful motorbikes, as well as increased training and quality checks for driving examiners.

Rosemary Thew, chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency, believes that while the UK already boasts some of the world's safest roads, the reforms will "build on our existing standards and recognise the importance of our examiners' professionalism".

She added that the changes will mean those who have qualified to travel on a motorcycle must develop the necessary skills and experience before progressing to bigger bikes.

The measures have been designed to ensure Britain meets European road safety standards and were drawn up following a public consultation.

Buses 'will be critical during the Olympics'

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:42:03 +0000

London Buses has said public transport will be very important when the Olympic Games are underway.

Buses look set to be especially important when the Olympic Games get underway later this year, an official has stated.

According to John Barry, head of network development at London Buses, the vehicles will be an "essential part" of keeping the city moving throughout the summer.

This, he said, is why test events to see how bus services can cope with diversions and temporary changes to routes are needed in the run-up to the games.

One such trial is to be staged between April 16th and May 7th, with routes in the Woolwich area being altered ahead of events being staged at the Royal Artillery Barracks in the summer.

Mr Barry said this test event "will help us make sure we have the right changes in place for that event and we will be monitoring their effectiveness".

"Engagement with the community has been invaluable in helping us understand their needs," he commented.

Shooting and archery competitions will take place at the Royal Artillery Barracks as part of both the Olympics and the Paralympic Games, which means several surrounding roads will need to be closed and buses diverted elsewhere.

The test event is part of an extensive effort to ensure that London is ready to cope with the flagship sporting event, which gets underway on July 27th. The city has already been given the seal of approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its final check ahead of the Games.

Indeed, chairman of the body Denis Oswald said London is "ready to welcome the world this summer" and is "well on track to deliver an outstanding event". He stated that excitement is building in the run-up to the Olympics, which he predicted will be extremely memorable for all involved.

Mr Oswald acknowledged that the world's expectations are very high, but insisted the IOC is confident the city is ready, adding "we know you'll deliver".

Council considers offering cheaper fuel to foreign hauliers

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:09:21 +0000

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The RHA has questioned plans by one authority to offer discounts on fuel to foreign truck drivers.

A council's plans to offer discounts on diesel to truck drivers from outside the UK have been questioned by an industry group.

Kent County Council is concerned that drivers tend to fill up their tanks in France rather than in Britain, so it is considering creating a duty free zone in the Dover area, Kent Online reports. This, it believes, could put more than �400 million in the Treasury's coffers.

However, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has questioned whether this approach can deliver results.

"We saw the impact of panic buying last week," the group stated.

"If you are a garage selling at a cheaper rate, how are you going to keep stocked up? You would need deliveries three or four times a day."

A spokesperson for the RHA also suggested that the move could attract the attention of Customs and Excise Officials, saying it is something they would "want to take a look at".

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Kent County Council's idea has also been called into question by the Association of British Drivers, which believes cutting fuel duty is a much better alternative.

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Brian MacDowall, secretary of the group's Kent branch, acknowledged that the authority's proposals would provide some relief to hauliers, but argued that a fuel duty reduction would have much wider benefits.

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He described reducing the tax as an "obvious" way to stimulate economic growth in the UK, as many drivers are currently being "priced off" the country's roads.

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Mr MacDowall added that petrol and diesel fuel prices are "exorbitant" and "criminally high" at the moment, which is putting pressure on lots of people across Britain.

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Haulage industry groups including the RHA have already been putting pressure on the government to reduce duty, but Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne confirmed in last month's Budget that August's planned increase will be implemented as planned.

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Scottish Government invests in eco-friendly buses

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:15:46 +0000

More eco-friendly buses are to be rolled out across Scotland thanks to government funding.

The Scottish Government has reaffirmed its support for rolling out environmentally-friendly buses across the country.

According to Keith Brown, the Scottish transport minister, the Holyrood administration is "absolutely committed" to public transport and achieving a 42 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2020.

This, he said, is clearly indicated by its continued backing for low carbon buses, which should help bus operators north of the border reduce their fleet emissions.

Companies across the country were recently invited to bid to access the Scottish Government's £1.8 million Green Bus Fund and the successful applicants have now been confirmed. The money will go towards adding another 26 eco-friendly vehicles to bus fleets in areas such as Airdrie, Banff, Dumfries, Dundee and Edinburgh.

"I am delighted to announce this latest round of Scottish Green Bus funding, coming as it does at a time when we are facing real terms Westminster cuts to Scotland's budget," Mr Brown commented.

The transport minister said the buses rolled out as part of the initial round of funding are already yielding positive results, as they have helped to cut harmful emissions and enable public transport operators to save "substantial" amounts of fuel.

"This round of investment will build on these successes and commits further funding to help our bus industry invest in the latest emission-reducing technology," Mr Brown stated.

Millions of pounds are already being invested in rolling out more than 400 low carbon vehicles in England over the next year. The Department for Transport is allocating £31 million to five local authorities and 26 bus operators as part of an initiative that the government believes will help to cut the annual carbon dioxide emissions of buses by more than 9,000 tonnes.

Boosting the take-up of electric, gas and hybrid buses should enable more public transport companies in England to claim the Bus Service Operators Grant in order to help meet their operational costs.

Bus and coach sector 'performing solidly'

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:31:03 +0000

SMMT has praised the performance of the bus and coach sector throughout the first quarter of the year.

Britain's bus and coach industry performed well during the first three months of 2012, experts have revealed.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the number of bus and coach registrations went up by more than half during the first quarter of the year. Paul Everitt, chief executive of the organisation, said this shows the sector enjoyed a "solid" three months.

Figures from SMMT indicated that between January and March, there were 2,343 bus and coach registrations - an increase of 56.5 per cent on the previous quarter. Demand for purpose-built buses also went up by a particularly high rate during this period, with the number of registrations rising by more than 87 per cent. Similarly, an upturn in coach and converted bus registrations was recorded in the first three months of the year.

"On the back of a challenging 2011, all sectors saw a welcome lift in performance," SMMT observed.

Mr Everitt noted that much of the activity is coming from bus operators who are keen to reduce their fleet emissions. Indeed, he said many companies are currently looking to make use of the most "reliable and fuel-efficient technologies".

"Since 2009, more than 550 diesel hybrid buses have been registered, a figure that will grow as the third round of the Green Bus Fund in England takes effect," Mr Everitt commented.

The government confirmed last month that it is to invest £31 million in rolling out 439 low carbon buses across the country throughout the next year.

Norman Baker, the local transport minister, believes this will help bus operators reduce their carbon emissions and therefore run a "greener network". Furthermore, he is confident that switching to eco-friendly vehicles will help companies reduce their outlay on fuel, which could be valuable ahead of an increase in fuel duty later this year.

Hauliers urged to be vigilant for fuel thieves

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:40:05 +0000

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Fuel theft is proving to be a growing problem for firms in the haulage sector.

Concerns among haulage firms and industry groups about rising diesel fuel prices have been well-documented in recent months, with many arguing it is placing a huge financial burden on companies around the UK.

And with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne recently confirming in his Budget announcement that August's planned fuel duty hike will be implemented, the sector is not expecting any respite soon.

While the growing cost of fuel is making running a commercial fleet more and more expensive, it is also creating a number of other problems too. For instance, it is becoming an increasingly valuable commodity and can therefore be highly sought-after by thieves. As a result, many domestic fuel tanks and lorries across the country are being targeted.

This is proving to be a particular problem in the West Country, where Avon and Somerset Constabulary have urged hauliers to keep an eye out for thieves.

"We would urge local people and businesses to be vigilant, to keep their vehicles secure and report any suspicious activity to the police," said Sgt Justin French.

In one incident during March, fuel thieves targeted a number of lorries that were parked overnight at a yard in Chilcompton. Avon and Somerset Constabulary said the criminals got away with "several hundred pounds worth of diesel" from the site, which has been struck twice recently. Fuel has also been siphoned from trucks in Evercreech and Gurney Slade in the last few weeks, which has prompted the warning from the police about this growing threat.

With companies already being put under pressure by high diesel prices, they can ill afford to be forced to replace large quantities of fuel that have been stolen. Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, recently noted that diesel is now "the most expensive it has ever been".

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RHA: No justification for excessive diesel charges

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:49:36 +0000

Diesel vendors have been urged not to put excessive charges in place.

Fuel vendors who are deemed to be taking advantage of the possibility of a fuel strike have been warned they may be referred to Britain's trading watchdog.

According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), some retailers around the UK have been hiking up their diesel fuel prices as talks over averting industrial action by tanker drivers continue.�

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the body, believes there is "no justification" for fuel retailers putting "excessive charges" in place. He has therefore warned that the RHA is considering referring the matter to the Office of Fair Trading.

"We have no doubt that diesel prices at the forecourt have rocketed as a result of the uncertainty caused by the threat of a tanker drivers' strike," he commented.

"Retailers have doubled their profit margin on diesel over the past month."

Mr Dunning described the pricing strategy adopted by many as "predatory" and said it is having a negative effect on the economy.

He warned that smaller haulage firms in particular are losing out as a result, because these companies "make payments linked to forecourt prices", rather than stockpile their own bulk fuel supplies.

Mr Dunning added that road users are being hit with higher prices despite the fact that the wholesale price of diesel has fallen recently.

While optimism is growing that a deal on avoiding industrial action may soon be reached, the government is continuing to put a strategy in place to minimise the impact of a possible strike.

Speaking to BBC News, a Department for Energy and Climate Change spokesman said it is taking "sensible measures" to plan for such an eventuality and will keep doing so "until a final agreement" is arrived at.

Fears of industrial action by fuel tanker drivers recently led to widespread panic buying by consumers, to such an extent that many petrol stations ended up running dry.

SNP's fuel duty calls backed by business groups

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:57:44 +0000

Leading business groups have supported the SNP's calls for the government to introduce a fuel duty regulator and scrap August's tax hike.

The Scottish National Party's (SNP's) efforts to persuade the government to scrap August's fuel duty hike and put a fuel duty regulator in place have been supported by several high-profile business groups.

According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the SNP is right to lobby for the introduction of a regulator mechanism, as this will help to bring stability to an "extremely volatile" market.

Phil Flanders, director for Scotland at the RHA, said the move would be good for motorists, businesses and hauliers ? many of whom are already struggling to cope with high?diesel fuel prices.

"There has been a significant increase in the price of fuel since this concept was first debated under the previous government and it is now a cost that is being felt by everyone," he commented.

Mr Flanders argued that the existing situation is becoming untenable, but suggested that setting up a fuel duty regulator would be an "effective" and "workable" solution to this problem.

The Forum of Private Business has also argued that a fairer system needs to be put in place, as consumers and companies cannot afford to "keep paying out more and more for their fuel".

Phil Orford, chief executive of the body, warned that unless the government takes swift action on the issue, it could choke economic recovery in the UK.

Stewart Hosie, Treasury spokesman for the SNP, has already accused the coalition of being "negligent" by failing to address increasing fuel costs in last month's Budget.

He warned that the problem is harming a wide variety of businesses, from hauliers and taxi drivers to grocers and farmers, as well as households across the country.

Mr Hosie added that Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne needs to "go back to the drawing board" in order to produce a strategy that may help to "get the economy moving again".

London visitors told to use public transport during Jubilee celebrations

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:53:21 +0000

People who are visiting central London throughout the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations have been encouraged to travel on public transport.

Public transport is set to be in extremely high demand in London throughout the upcoming Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Transport for London (TfL) has warned that the heart of the capital will be very busy during the first weekend of June, when the monarch's 60 years on the throne will be commemorated.

The organisation has therefore urged car owners to leave their vehicles at home if they wish to head to central London and travel on public transport instead. As a result, bus operators in the capital will need to ensure their fleets are running effectively throughout this critical period.

Many parts of the city will be packed with visitors and royal well-wishers for a string of major events early next month, while roads and bridges will be closed to accommodate them.

This includes a river pageant along the Thames on June 3rd, in which a flotilla of 1,000 vessels will put on a spectacle that is tipped to attract thousands of people.

Another highlight of the Jubilee weekend that could disrupt travel in London is a special concert that will be staged outside Buckingham Palace. Organised by the BBC and Take That's Gary Barlow, the show features an array of big names including Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Cliff Richard and Shirley Bassey.

Peter Hendy, transport commissioner for London, commented: "The events planned to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee are set to be both a fantastic and fitting spectacle.

"Our staff and those of our contractors will be working hard to ensure that Londoners can get around the city."

Consumers were urged to plan their journeys in advance so they are aware of public transport times, road closures and possible diversions to routes throughout the Jubilee weekend.

Mr Hendy added that this should ensure people "get where they need to be and have a great time celebrating the Diamond Jubilee".