Motor Transport 19 June 2017

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19.6.17

the NEXT GENERATION SCANIA

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NEWS INSIDE Bums on seats

Chris Grayling stays, Rob Flello out after election p3

Wrapping up deals Casting an eye over the latest contract wins

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X-WAY FACTOR: Iveco has previewed its Stralis X-Way, a variant it describes as “perfect for on-road applications requiring light off-road mobility”. The manufacturer showed off the vehicle at its Madrid plant. In its Super Loader configuration on an 8x4 chassis, it has a claimed kerb weight of 9 tonnes.

Nine, 11- and 13-litre engines are available, as well as day and sleeper cabs. Iveco brand president Pierre Lahutte said: “Designed for on-road applications and light off-road mobility, our new X-Way combines the legendary Trakker chassis strength with the fuel-saving and safety features of the New Stralis.” The truck will be available through Iveco dealers across Europe from September 2017.

Middleweight champ?

Scania reveals its new G-series and engines p10

Book your place at MT Awards There are still a few spaces left for the event of the year – the Motor Transport Awards 2017 – so if you want to entertain staff, clients or just meet and greet the best and brightest in road transport, book your table now. More than 1,500 people will be in attendance at the Oscars of haulage and logistics at the Grosvenor House hotel on 5 July, with a Champagne reception, three-course dinner and 20 awards to be won.

■ To book a table, go to mtawards.co.uk.

It’s black and white: operators breaching scheme’s rules will be punished immediately

Fors warns of termination

By Chris Tindall

Member companies that breach Fors regulations will be punished with immediate termination from the scheme, Aecom, the company that runs it, has warned.

Aecom said it had investigated hundreds of potential breaches of the scheme last year and any company bringing it into disrepute would be dealt with appropriately.

Its robust stance came as Fors silver member Global Transport had its licence revoked at a public inquiry presided over by traffic commissioner Sarah Bell. She found the company, with premises in West Drayton, could not demonstrate the necessary financial standing for one HGV on a three-month average balance, despite having a licence authorising

the use of 14 trucks.

John Hix, Aecom regional director, said it could not comment on individual cases, but added: “According to our compliance process, if a licence is revoked by a traffic commissioner you will be terminated from Fors. It’s black and white.

“There are shades of grey on other transgressions: if a transport manager loses his repute, we have a set of criteria on that; and if a licence is curtailed, we have a set of criteria for that. There is a series of steps that will depend on the transgression and will lead to a company potentially being suspended from the scheme for a period of time. At the end of that it must undergo an enhanced audit, which it will have to pass to be readmitted.

“For very serious offences,

we terminate operators from Fors, which means they can’t rejoin for six months. If they want to [after that] there is an enhanced audit and they start again, as it were.”

Hix said so far this year the Fors compliance team had investigated 207 possible noncompliance matters and suspended two companies. It is investigating a further four matters that could result in suspension or termination.

In 2016, the team investigated 650 possible breaches of Fors membership requirements and most were resolved with “minor corrective action”.

Two companies were suspended last year, but no company’s membership was terminated.

MT has previously questioned the scheme’s rigour around compliance and safety

after discovering in 2015/16 dozens of instances in which members were formally warned or penalised by traffic commissioners for a range of shortcomings, but Fors did not take any action.

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Show report p14 Brexit p17 Focus: Warehousing p18 Highwayman p19 Viewpoint p20 Emissions p22 Marketplace p36 MT awards shortlists p42

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14/06/2017 15:18:49 09/06/2017 09:40

News

motortransport.co.uk

ExxonMobil helps to calculate TCO

Grayling keeps seat in cabinet reshuffle

By Carol Millett

Chris Grayling has retained his position as transport secretary after a cabinet reshuffle following the general election.

Michael Gove has returned to the cabinet (pictured during its first session) as environment secretary. One of Gove’s first challenges will be to implement Defra’s muchdelayed air quality plan proposals, set to be revealed by 31 July.

Andy McDonald remains Labour’s shadow transport secretary, but industry supporters Rob Flello and Jane Ellison both lost their seats.

Flello, who was chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freight Transport and a member of the Transport Committee, lost to

Conservative Jack Brereton.

RHA national policy director Jack Semple said: “The industry has lost a good friend and supporter at Westminster.

We would like to pay tribute to Rob for his efforts as an MP on behalf of the road haulage sector on a range of issues.”

Semple said the loss of Treasury financial secretary Ellison – her Battersea seat was won by Labour’s Marsha De Cordova – was also of concern because “we are at a critical period in discussing the shambles of the overnight allowance with the Treasury”.

Louise Ellman, Labour MP and chairwoman of the Transport Committee, retained her Liverpool Riverside seat.

Image: PA

While the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a truck is often discussed, calculating the true TCO of different vehicles can be complicated.

To ease the task, ExxonMobil has produced a guide to TCO, from how to calculate and measure it to the steps operators can take to reduce it, including the use of highperformance lubricants.

The guide will be available as a free download, and to launch this invaluable aid to keeping a lid on costs, ExxonMobil – in association with Motor Transport – is hosting a webinar on the subject of TCO at 10am on 12 July.

Pre-registered listeners will be able to submit questions to the panel, which will include James Hookham, deputy chief executive of the FTA, who has contributed to the guide, and ExxonMobil CVL marketing advisor Guillaume Malandain.

More details on how to register for this webinar will be available on motortransport. co.uk shortly.

Industry supporters Rob Flello and Jane Ellison lose cabinet positions in election

Cartel compensation could cost £6,000 a truck The RHA said that compensation in its legal case against the truck manufacturers involved in the price-fixing scandal could yield approximately £6,000 per truck.

The association is co-ordinating a group claim on behalf of members and nonmembers alike after the European Commission (EC) fined MAN, Volvo Group (which includes Volvo Trucks and Renault Truck), Mercedes-

Benz parent company Daimler, Iveco and Daf close to €3bn (£2.6bn) for pricefixing and other cartel activities between 1997 and 2011. Scania is contesting the issue with the EC but the RHA said it would bring the manufacturer into the action regardless.

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “UK truck owners affected by the truck cartel have potentially paid too much for their trucks

over a 14-year period and we’re determined to get a fair deal for them. This is a chance to get their compensation with no risk to their business or finances. As the representative body with sole responsibility for UK freight operators, we are duty-bound to act on behalf of our members’ wishes.”

The RHA believes that during the period the cartel operated, approximately 650,000 new trucks were sold.

Police investigating DX Group’s Exchange BOOST: Ketra Logistics has acquired fellow Palletways member IEFS to expand its coverage in London. Ketra MD Martyn Young took over the Barking-based business from Derek Best, who has retired after more than 20 years at the helm. Young said the two companies will continue to operate independently. According to accounts filed at Companies House for the year to 31 May 2016, Ketra Logistics had an annual turnover of £5.4m and made a pre-tax profit of £175,398. Ketra Logistics is the bigger of the two firms by O-licence, being authorised for up to 28 trucks and 28 trailers, while IEFS has O-licences for 16 trucks and 11 trailers.

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DX Group is being investigated by City of London Police, after an unspecified allegation was made against its Exchange business on 7 June.

In a statement, DX Group confirmed the City of London Police Economic Crime Directorate had notified the company of the allegation and that a preliminary investigation had commenced.

A spokeswoman for City of

London Police told MT: “The City of London Police’s Economic Crime Directorate is scoping information it has received and is liaising closely with DX (Group).”

Earlier this month, DX Group announced it had resolved a conflict with its largest shareholder, Gatemore Capital Management, over a proposed deal to acquire the distribution arm of John

Menzies. Under the revised offer, DX Group will acquire Menzies Distribution on a debt-free basis for £40m, down from £60m previously proposed. It will also issue new DX shares representing 65% – rather than 75% – of the enlarged group’s share capital to Menzies’ shareholders.

The cash consideration will be satisfied by new borrowings by the enlarged group.

MotorTransport 3 15/06/2017 15:30:14

YOU

SCANIA HAVE THE BEST

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“Our business has a lot of parallels with Scania. We offer a real quality product – we’re not competing on price – and I believe quality breeds quality. Scania offer a premium product that reflects our own, and that’s obvious to our customers and our customers’ customers. It’s a good fit.”

Gary Billington Managing Director Eco-Readymix

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15/06/2017 08:44:49

Contract round-up

motortransport.co.uk

Almost before the ink is dry Motor Transport casts an eye over the latest distribution deals to be signed

Sign on the bottom line Bulk goods Suttons Group (above ) has renewed its contract with BP Acetyls, Europe’s largest single producer of acetic acid and anhydride. The deal sees Suttons confirmed as the exclusive distributor of bulk hazardous liquids in the UK for BP Acetyls. Suttons will also invest in a new fleet based at the BP Acetyls site in Saltend, East Yorkshire.

Suttons Tankers MD Michael Cundy said: “We are delighted BP Acetyls renewed this business with Suttons and we look forward to a continued successful partnership. Our record of providing a flexible, reliable, and safe service was a key factor in their decision and we will continue to focus on delivering a first-class service.”

Suttons did not place a value on the contract, nor a duration for it to run.

Andrew Williamson, commercial director at BP Acetyls Europe, said Suttons had proved itself as a safe and reliable partner that delivered a high standard of service. “Our relationship with Suttons means we have a solid understanding of how our teams can work together to ensure continued success and a quality product is delivered.”

Abbey Logistics Group has won a deal with Tata Chemicals and its sister company British Salt (below) to manage bulk transport and logistics for the two firms’products. The Liverpool-based firm, which specialises in the transportation of bulk food products in liquid and powder tankers, has worked for several years as a third-party transport supplier to Tata Chemicals Europe and British Salt. Under the deal, the firm will provide transport for all products in bulk powder road tankers and oversee transport planning and on-site logistics services. Abbey will also work in partnership with both companies to develop and improve their distribution systems to better meet cyclical volume demands of individual products.

Pauline Sumner, Tata Chemicals head of procurement, said: “Through working with Abbey for a number of years we have seen first hand the dedication and commitment it gives to its customers. The partnership has improved the service we can provide as we are able to deliver a safe, flexible and scaleable transport solution, which is vital in the markets we serve.”

Consumer goods Expect Distribution (above) has signed a three-year warehousing and distribution contract with Lansinoh Laboratories, a supplier of breastfeeding products. Expect will take delivery of shipments, store them in its recently expanded (by 20,000ft²) warehouse facility at Premier Point, Bradford, pick and distribute them. Expect will warehouse up to 1,000 pallets of Lansinoh products at any one time.

Expect Distribution MD Neil Rushworth said: “We pride ourselves on building good relationships with customers and we have done this with Lansinoh. Our expertise in dealing with medical product gives Lansinoh peace of mind that it has the right partner.”

Temperature-controlled NFT has won what it described as a “significant contract” to provide UK-wide temperature-controlled distribution to Southern Salads.

Given the seasonal supply demands associated with salad products, Southern Salads will move away from its own transport fleet and use not just NFT’s, but also NFT’s wider network of hauliers.

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Jason Boakes, operations director at Southern Salads, said: “NFT’s offering has delivered for our business on all fronts. It has allowed us to focus on our core objectives of expanding the business because of NFT’s heritage in retailer relationships. NFT’s approach has been first-class; both in collaboration on vehicle legacy issues, and a highly professional seamless implementation.”

Clothing Clipper Logistics has signed a pan-European contract with fancy dress supplier Smiffys to handle inbound stock management, storage, fulfilment and returns.

Tony Mannix, chief executive of Clipper, said the business had been running a “highly successful” operation for Smiffys in Kempen [Germany] for some time.

Smiffys head of operations Ross Johnson said:“We have been working with Clipper to meet the needs of our expanding customer base in Europe.

By holding stock locally this project will enable us to improve delivery times and stock availability. We are delighted to add this facility to our operations in Sydney and Dallas as well as to our existing UK footprint.”

19.6.17 15/06/2017 11:36:08

Lane Keeping Assist and Attention Assist as standard + Active Brake Assist 4* + Proximity Control Assist* Safety is the sum of the details. * Active Brake Assist 4 and Proximity Control Assist are available as an option at an additional cost.

Find out more from your local Mercedes-Benz Dealer or online at mercedes-benz.com/roadefficiency

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14/06/2017 15:25:03

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15/06/2017 08:53:36

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15/06/2017 08:53:57

News

motortransport.co.uk

As part of plans to upgrade its truck range, Scania has revealed its G-series, as well as several new engines

Middleweight champion?

The Miller cycle

By Colin Barnett

Scania’s plan to replace its truck line-up has taken a major step forward with the launch of the middleweight G-series range.

Along with the new cab, a revised range of engines – mostly SCR-only – has been introduced. This includes units for the G-series and major changes to the V8 family.

G-series

Following on from the large R-series and S-series cabs, the G-series continues the same modular approach. Available as low-, normal- and high-roof sleeper cabs, they feature the same ‘designed around the driving seat’ approach – the seat is both lower and further forward than before. The cab interior, accessed by three steps, has increased headroom by 100mm more in the normal height and 160mm in the Highline. This means front and rear lockers are available within a number of different cab configurations.

The dashboard is available with the standard width or with an extension towards the centre of the cab if a significant number of extra switches and controls are required. The cab features improved storage, including an integrated rubbish bin. Gadget fans will appreciate an instrument panel tablet holder, which can be used in portrait and landscape modes, while auxiliary power comes from up to two 12V/24V outlets and four USB sockets in various locations.

A larger sunroof comes with manual or power opening, while intruders can be deterred by the mechanical Scania Night Lock bar.

New engines

To accompany the new cabs, Scania has introduced a significant number of changes to its engine portfolio, all promising significant fuel consumption improvements.

Most relevant are three new diesel-powered versions of the DC09 9.3-litre in-line 5-cylinder engine. These come with ratings of 280hp, 320hp and 360hp.

Along with an increase in compression ratio from 18.0:1 to 19.0:1, they have improved combustion chambers, new fixed geometry turbochargers, engine management software changes and a thermostatically controlled oil cooler. With the exception of the V8 730, the entire Scania engine range is now SCR-only.

The DC09 280 has been further changed to minimise its stationary DPF regeneration needs. The 320hp and 360hp ratings are also available in versions compatible with 100% biodiesel.

An innovative new addition

to the 12.7-litre DC13 range is the 370 (above). While the full range of 410hp, 450hp and 500hp ratings have received extensive internal changes to match the DC09, the new 370 features technology not previously seen on heavy-duty truck engines – the Miller cycle.

The effect of this is to prevent the causes of diesel particulate filter (DPF) soot build-up at source, removing the need for fuel-wasting regeneration.

The large gap in the middle of Scania’s iconic V8 engine range, currently available with 520hp, 580hp and 730hp ratings, has been filled with a new 650hp/3,300Nm rating.

On all versions, detailed finetuning of injection and combustion processes, as well as improved thermal management, is intended to reduce fuel consumption, and while the 730 still includes EGR, the rest of line-up is SCR-only.

There’s still no news on the much-rumoured engine with even more power, though.

This is a variation on the familiar Otto cycle four-stroke engine as fitted to almost every modern internal combustion road vehicle on the planet. Not a new idea, it was patented by US engineer Ralph Miller in 1957.

Although the principle has been applied to marine, rail and stationary generator engines, its use on road vehicles was limited to a small number of car engines. The new Scania DC13 370 is believed to be the first application in a heavy-duty diesel engine.

To understand the principle, you need to know that on the second stroke of a four-stroke engine, petrol or diesel, the piston travels upwards to compress the charge of freshly inducted air. To achieve the compression necessary for combustion, the inlet and exhaust valves of a conventional engine remain closed throughout this stroke. On the Miller cycle, a modified profile on the camshaft ensures that the inlet valve remains open until the piston reaches about one third of its upward travel.

This has the effect of pushing

some of the inducted charge back into the inlet tract.

To compensate for what is effectively a reduced swept volume, the compression ratio needs to be raised, in the case of the new Scania 370, from 19:1 to 21:1. This has the effect of raising the combustion temperature to a level that overcomes potential problems of the SCR after-treatment system not functioning efficiently, with soot build-up in the DPF – a major issue, especially on larger-capacity engines producing relatively low outputs.

The usual solution is to introduce a regeneration process to periodically burn off the build-up by injecting and burning fuel directly within the DPF. Obviously, this regeneration wastes fuel that could be used more effectively. As a result of preventing the problem at source, this unwelcome process is eliminated.

LESS SOOT: the new 370 features the Miller cycle, which has not been seen before on heavy-duty truck engines

ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS Model Configuration Displacement Valves/cylinder Bore x stroke Camshaft Compression ratio Fuel system Max power Max torque Engine brake power 10 MotorTransport MTR_190617_010.indd 10

DC09 130 280 5-cylinder in-line 9.3 litres 4 130 x 154 mm Normal 19:1 276hp at 1,900rpm 1,400Nm at1,000-1,350rpm 190kW at 2,400rpm

DC09 126 320 DC09 127 360 5-cylinder in-line 5-cylinder in-line 9.3 litres 9.3 litres 4 4 130 x 154 mm 130 x 154 mm Normal Normal 19:1 19:1 Scania XPI (with SCR-only emissions to Euro-6c) 315hp at 1,900rpm 355hp at 1,900rpm 1,600Nm at 1,050-1,350rpm 1,700Nm at 1,050-1,350rpm 190kW at 2,400rpm 190kW at 2,400rpm

DC13 149 370 6-cylinder in-line 12.7 litres 4 130 x 154 mm Miller 21:1 365hp at 1,900rpm 1,900Nm at 1,000-1,300rpm 256kW at 2,400rpm 19.6.17 15/06/2017 08:43:27

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15/06/2017 11:32:17

Show report: Tip-ex/Tank-ex

motortransport.co.uk

We take a turn around some eye-catching tankers and tippers on display at the Tip-ex/Tank-ex show

Tipped for success Maisonneuve

Images: Sirastudio

French tanker manufacturer Maisonneuve, represented in the UK by Integrated Tanker Services (ITS) of Walsall, showed three stainless steel road tanker trailers, designed to carry AdBlue, fertiliser and waste.

MD Steve Hardwick said that while aluminium was lighter than stainless steel, it was not suitable for all products and would not last as long.

“Aluminium is mainly used for petroleum tankers because they need to carry the maximum weight,” he said, “but you have to be careful what you put in them so stainless steel is most popular for waste vacuum tanks.

“Operators buy Maisonneuve because the quality of construction stands out,” he added.

The 28,000-litre AdBlue tanker was built for Lincolnshire haulier P&S Simpson and is liveried in the Yara brand. It features a command steer rear axle from Dutch firm Esve to enable the vehicle to get into tight spaces when delivering bulk AdBlue to power and petrol filling stations, and other sites such as farms.

The vacuum waste tanker

MULTI-TANKING: Maisonneuve’s stainless steel road tankers are designed to carry AdBlue, fertiliser and waste

was built by ITS around a barrel supplied by Maisonneuve for a West Country operator that had already bought two vehicles.

It uses hydraulic power taken from the truck engine to drive its pumps, but some buyers – especially rental companies – still prefer a donkey engine on the trailer so it can be used independently of a tractor unit.

The 25,000-litre fertiliser tanker was built for P&S

Simpson by Maisonneuve in France. Designed to deliver liquid fertiliser to farms, its pumps are powered by two small Honda petrol engines.

ITS carries more than 25 rigid and artic tankers in stock, but Hardwick said many trailers are so specific to the operator’s application they have to be custom-built. “There are so many permutations that we can’t carry them all in stock,” he said. “We do carry stocks

of more general-purpose vehicles and milk tanks however.”

TIP Tanker Services

TIP Tanker Services and Williams Tanker Services (WTS) used the show to highlight its full range of tankers, including fuel and gas tanks, for rent and contract hire.

This year’s Tank-ex was the first since TIP acquired Morley, Leeds-based WTS in August 2016. WTS will remain

as an independent business for the foreseeable future and will continue to be the UK distributor for Belgian tanker builder LAG which, like TIP, is now Chinese-owned.

TIP business development manager Peter Hughes said the acquisition had made TIP a “one-stop shop for operators wanting to buy or rent any type of tanker”.

“We never touched fuel or gas tankers before we bought Williams,” he said. “TIP wanted to move into the market and that is why we went for a successful, wellknown business. It has been a game-changer for us.”

TIP’s stand featured an LAG aluminium tipping powder tanker. It has a rental fleet of 100 fuel tankers, as well as building and selling LAG tankers to customers’ exact requirements. The rental tankers will also be for sale, avoiding the six months lead time to get one built to order.

Since TIP was acquired from GE Capital by Chinese automotive group HNA in 2013 it has been aggressively expanding, buying the fuel tanker rental business Haartz METER READING: Feldbinder’s AdBlue tankers (left) have been fitted with an accurate metering system

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19.6.17 15/06/2017 09:00:06

SHOWING OFF: Scania showed off an impressive display of tippers in a variety of configurations on the Majestic Hotel’s lawn area

Tankers in April last year, which added 150 tankers to the rental fleet, and buying another 500 new tanks of all types including food and chemicals.

Feldbinder

German tanker manufacturer Feldbinder is “future proofing” its AdBlue tankers by fitting an accurate metering system, even though these are not yet required in the UK. Shaun Hurst, sales manager at Feldbinder UK said unlike fuel tankers, which must accurately meter volumes delivered to each customer so the right amount of duty can be paid, there is no such requirement for AdBlue.

Metering is required in Germany and some other EU countries and Hurst said there has been some interest in the metering system, developed in-house, among UK customers.

“It exceeds anything required by Trading Standards,” Hurst said. “But it future proofs our AdBlue tankers.”

The metering system can also be retrofitted if necessary.

There was a lot of interest in Feldbinder’s 56m³ aluminium ash tanker, designed to carry low-density ash from

waste energy plants. More of these are being built in the UK to reduce the waste being sent to landfill, and there is an increasing demand for highvolume tankers of up to 70m³ to take ash from the power station to manufacturing plants.

Aecom/Clocs

A tool to show HGV operators the ground conditions they will encounter at construction and waste sites has been developed for Clocs by consultancy Aecom.

Announced at the show, the new website tool grades all sites with a five-star rating to show which vehicles will be able to access them.

The aim is to help operators confidently order low-entry cab models and N3 (onroad) trucks as opposed to traditionally picking N3G specification HGVs for operations that never face the true

off-road conditions they are designed for.

The site assessment is based on four ground-condition categories: approach angle; materials; rutting and bumps; and water. These four categories have been identified as the most important factors in determining which vehicle types can operate on sites safely.

Weather can considerably affect site conditions and alter the outcome of the rating, so assessment takes this into consideration.

In the first stage of the pilot, all sites across the South East – as the project has been funded by TfL – have received a provisional rating based on satellite imagery.

Thompsons

Thompsons launched its aftersales and specialist engineering offering ServiceTech at the show. The service covers

bodywork fitting for skiploaders, hook-loaders and cranes; installation of cranes and tractor kits; bodywork repairs to rigid tippers and trailers; and general maintenance, refurbishment, paint and shotblasting.

Among the 32 bodies at the show was a heavy-duty tipper body that it will be supplied to Hamilton-based Yuill & Dodds. It has been built with a sandwich floor, which comprises a 5mm Hardox bottom plate; a 25mm hardwood section; and an 8mm Hardox upper layer. The tipper will deliver 10-tonne rocks to be used as sea defences on the Aberdeenshire coast.

Volvo

Volvo showed its latest 8x4 FM. Full air suspension means it can be lowered far enough for the head of an adult standing directly in front of the grille to be visible from the driving seat,

while at the press of a button, it can be raised 245mm to enable site operation.

Combined with sideguard monitors and strategically mounted cameras, the concept offers a viable alternative to a low-mounted cab for city work.

It is also the first MT has encountered in the UK with Volvo’s tandem axle lift, which simultaneously lifts and disengages drive to the fourth axle.

Scania

Scania had a heavy presence at the show, with an impressive display of tippers in a variety of configurations dominating the Majestic Hotel’s lawn area.

Although the timing of the new G-series launch, revealed in distribution form a few days after the show ended, was inopportune, there’s certainly no lack of demand for the current construction models.

The most recent registration figures show Scania to be the current market leader in the 8x4 construction sector.

Operators of artic tippers can already buy Next Generation models, and there were at least three S-series tractors on display with various operators.

Mercedes-Benz

The Econic skip-loader on the Mercedes-Benz stand was the first example to be fitted with the in-house PowerShift 3 automated manual transmission in place of the traditional Allison.

Pricing depends on exact specification but is expected to be similar to the Allison.

The show truck featured improved driver access, with a wider opening full-height door. It also came with the promise that it would be available with Blind Spot Assist by the end of the year.

OPEN WIDE: Mercedes-Benz’s Econic skip-loader featured improved driver access, with a wider opening full-height door 19.6.17 MTR_190617_014-015.indd 15

MotorTransport 15 15/06/2017 09:01:55

Entry Deadline: 30 June

ON

Y R O T S EN NG I S O L C

2 WEEKS TO GO The Commercial Motor Awards are rewarding the best of the best in the industry, are you one of them?

Celebrate your company’s achivements with some of the biggest names in road haulage by entering our presitigious awards. Entering is free, and in the lead up to the event, your company will receive editorial coverage in Commercial Motor if shortlisted, plus all the coverage you’ll get if you win!

Not forgetting the opportunity to win a coveted Commercial Motor Award and be acknowledged by the industry as outstanding in your field. Entry is open now! Entry deadline: 30 June

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26 MARKETPLACE DEALER AWARDS

Main contenders CM profiles the shortlists for the Franchised Dealer of the Year and Technician Team of the Year awards

By Christopher Walton

Franchised Dealer of the Year shortlist

Technician Team of the Year shortlist

NEWS

COMMERCIAL MOTOR DEALER AWARDS 13

RESULTS

And the winners are...

Checkedsafe

Franchised Dealer of the Year Winner:

Aftersales, Workshop and Maintenance Provider of the Year

Road Trucks (Scania) Sponsored by IRTE

Every shortlisted entry gets profiled in Commercial Motor magazine and on Commercialmotor.com – giving your business exceptional exposure to buyers.

Road Trucks (Scania, Northern Ireland) came first in Scania GB’s annual dealer development m competition in 2015 with a 100% score – only the second time this has been achieved. It had the highest MoT pass rate of any Scania dealer in 2015 with more than 98% of vehicles passing first time. In its entry it described itself as having a culture of ‘the customer always comes first’ – shown by Road Trucks recording more 100% scores in the network’s annual Mystery Shop Aftersales surveys in 2016 than any other dealer year to date.

COMMERCIAL MOTOR 27/10/16

Ford & Slater was responsible for 19.1% of Daf’s total UK registrations in 2015 and with a customer base that includes Ryder, Travis Perkins and DHL, it maintains the highest standards of service and professionalism.

Across 10 sites in central and eastern England – all Daf A status dealers – Ford & Slater offers seven ATFs, genuine Daf parts and TRP all-make parts with £5m of parts stockholding, an accident repair centre and 20 vans for DafAid breakdown response. Nine of its 10 sites are open 24 hours a day and it employs 175 HGV technicians.

Thomas Hardie won the Volvo Truck Dealer of the Year Award 2015, capping 30 years in business, with Volvo singling out the business for “achieving outstanding performance in key business areas”. It achieved an average MoT first-time pass rate for its customers of 97.9%.

All five of its sites were rated by Volvo in its annual retail excellence survey as the top dealer network performer for outstanding customer service. The introduction of Roadcrew Truck and Trailer Parts as a service to its customers means it can offer a range of parts across all makes and won a genuine Volvo parts sales success achievement award in 2015. The firm takes on 10 apprentices a year as part of its apprentice programme.

Imperial Commercials Nottingham (ICN) runs a workshop with a team of 12 technicians, three apprentices and four administrators. It recently recruited three more apprentices to replace its technicians who signed up to its internal mentoring programme. ICN has conducted 480 hours of technician training this year, with technicians running at 92% productivity, and year-on-year labour sales up 6.6%.

The firm regularly achieves a top three ranking in the DafAid league table. ICN prides itself on MoT preparation and presentation; it averages 51 tests a month with a 99% pass rate.

Waldron Commercials has sought to provide an exceptional customer service experience over the past 12 months.

During that time the South Wales firm has introduced training techniques for its staff alongside customer service provision, which its team has embraced positively while working in a difficult environment.

Waldron singled out two customers in its entry for the delivery of exceptional customer service – one local authority that experienced a snow plough breakdown on Christmas Day and one operator suffering from piston failure that saved thousands against the cost of a new engine.

For the best online deals, visit commercialmotor.com

ROAD TRUCKS (Scania) has excelled in offering exceptional customer service and product knowledge, and a mystery shopper was impressed with the quality of its facilities. MD John Marks, pictured second left, who received the award along with Colin Sparks, second right, from PM Commercials director Paul May, left, said: “All aspects of the business are doing well and we have a strong management team.” Pictured right is Road Transport Media MD Andy Salter.

Winner: SPARKS HAS a loyal and Sparks Commercial Services knowledgeable workforce who demonstrate a passion and a positive attitude that sets its aftersales apart, with high MoT pass rates for customers. Director Mike Spark, pictured second left, receiving the trophy with Matt Spark, second right, from Shell Lubricants B2B marketing manager Andrew Gibson, left, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement and the result of a lot of hard work.”

Technician Team of the Year Winner:

Imperial Commercials

Finance Provider of the Year Winner:

Close Brothers Asset Finance

CHECKEDSAFE’S INNOVATION has simplified and streamlined the paperwork behind the walk-around check and helped prioritise defects for the workshop. Director Darran Harris, pictured second left, who received the award from CM editor Will Shiers, left, along with Gary Hawthorn, second right, said: “It’s a massive deal for our company, we are pleased as punch.”

COMMERCIAL MOTOR 1/12/16

NOTTINGHAM-BASED IMPERIAL Commercials’ training standards are well above the industry average and its technicians have incredibly high rates of productivity. Service manager Derek Gaunt, pictured second left, who collected the trophy from IRTE Professional Sector Council chairman John Eastman, left, along with Matt Lawrenson said: “It’s great to pick up the award, which is a reward for the hard work and commitment of the team.”

For today’s news, visit commercialmotor.com

Winner:

THE THOMAS Thomas Hardie Commercials Hardie used sales team goes above and beyond when it comes to meeting the needs of its customers both online and on social media. Used truck business development manager Jonathan Bownes, second left, who collected the trophy from Vision Track partner manager Adam Wild, left, along with sales executive Carl Boase, centre, and used vehicle sales director Chris Schofield, second right, said: “We are over the moon at winning.”

Apprentice of the Year Winner:

Auction House of the Year JUDGES SINGLED Winner: Protruck Auctions out Protruck’s auctions at Truckfest and Tip-ex as great ways to develop relationships with buyers. Sales director Mike Gray, pictured second left, who received the trophy along with Karen Summers, centre, and Andy Ward, second right, from Road Transport Media group sales manager Julie McInally, left, said: “We have a great team dedicated to raising standards of professionalism.”

Tom Christie, Northside Truck and Van

Every winner is in a double-page spread in Commercial Motor, highlighting why you were exceptional enough to win the award.

Service to Industry

JUDGES SINGLED out the exceptional apprenticeship programme at Close Brothers and the long-term support it has shown a diverse customer base. John Fawcett, CEO of transport at Close Brothers, pictured centre, collected the trophy from Daf Trucks MD Ray Ashworth, left, and said: “The commercial vehicle industry is a massive part of our business and we want to support it as much as we can.”

Sales Team of the Year

Winner:

CM presents the winners from last week’s inaugural Commercial Motor Dealer Awards, held at a glittering event at the beautiful Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire

Sponsored by PM Commercials

HRVS is an MAN flagbearer that was established in 1997. The dealership said it had “MAN products at its core” across its six UK sites (Ripley, Sheffield, Scunthorpe, Sleaford, Stoke-on-Trent and Leicester). It employs 204 people, of which 128 are technicians – 18 of whom are MAN Master Technicians. Across the group it offers three twin-lane ATFs, full bodyshop and paint facilities, full tachograph and speed limiter centres and access to more than £2m-worth of parts stock. ReMANparts stock runs in harmony with MANTopUsed as it looks to be classleading in its market.

Workshop Innovation of the Year

Winner: THE WINNER of Chris Kelly snr the 2016 Service to Industry award, Keltruck founder Chris Kelly senior, was a unanimous choice by the judging panel.

Judges described Kelly as a pioneer in his field and one of the founding fathers of truck sales in the UK. Kelly, who was unable to attend the ceremony, was earlier presented with his award by Road Transport Media MD Andy Salter.

NORTHSIDE APPRENTICE Tom Christie has spent part of this year on a job swap with a high-profile customer, and judges were impressed by his enthusiasm for the job. After receiving the trophy from managing editor at Road Transport Media Christopher Walton, Christie said: “I’m really pleased to have won – working at Northside is interesting and enjoyable.”

Independent Dealer of the Year Winner:

PM Commercials

JUDGES PRAISED PM Commercials for its enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment to go above and beyond the call of duty as well as the quality of its used stock. PM Commercials director Paul May, pictured second left, who received the award along with Jo May, middle, and Chris Wheldon, second right, from Close Brothers CEO of transport John Fawcett, left, said: “We have an excellent team and this award is for all of them and the professionalism they have shown.”

For today’s news, visit commercialmotor.com

1/12/16 COMMERCIAL MOTOR

Go to: commercialmotor.com/awards to enter!

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

CM Awards 2 Weeks to go AD_190617__P16.indd 16MT Size.indd 1

31/05/2017 15:34:47 11:14:40 14/06/2017

Brexit

motortransport.co.uk

FTA deputy chief executive James Hookham urges a change in Brexit strategy

It’s time for a rethink

Does the surprise General Election result mean the government should rethink its Brexit strategy? The FTA believes it does. Not because of any closet remain tendencies, but on a simple assessment of the chances of getting the outcome the government promised on keeping trade with the EU flowing smoothly.

In her speech on 17 January Theresa May surprised many, including the FTA, when she skewered the debate about what kind of future trading relationship the UK would have with the EU. While we were debating whether the UK would become the next Norway, Switzerland or even Turkey, the prime minister answered the question by announcing it would be none of the above.

The government planned to make a ‘clean’ Brexit, which meant leaving not just the

Single Market but quitting the European Customs Union too.

Suddenly Brexit got practical for the freight industry. Being outside the Customs Union meant measurable differences in the way goods crossed borders. Gone was the speculation, here was a scenario we might not welcome. But at least we could work it with and begin to understand how it could be implemented.

And work we would have to, because the government was effectively turning the clock back some 25 years.

Customs declarations and border checks would in theory be necessary prior to embarkation and on arrival at ro-ro ports that were not designed for the purpose. Were we really going to re-introduce the

controls abolished in 1992?

But the government anticipated that question too.

In the same speech the prime minister promised the government would negotiate a new free trade deal with the EU that would maintain the ‘frictionless trade’ arrangements we enjoy.

It remains an appealing outcome – leaving the Customs Union gives the UK maximum freedom to negotiate new trade deals with other countries; frictionless trade with the EU keeps the £240 billion worth of traffic between the UK and EU flowing. We could have our cake and eat it!

Or could we? It was always going to be tough. Think of it this way... one of your stroppiest employees walks into your office and says they don't

want to work for you anymore but be free to work for anyone else they choose, including your competitors. And they want to retain all the employee benefits they currently enjoy, such as pension contributions, freedom to come and go from your premises and use of the canteen facilities. Would you agree to those terms? I expect for most MT readers it would be a short conversation!

The only thing that might make you pause would be if

the employee concerned was sufficiently popular with their colleagues and carried such weight in the outside world that you believed it was in your interest to keep them on side.

Sadly, that no longer applies to the UK government.

The stated aim of the election was to secure a bigger parliamentary majority that would help make a ‘clean’ Brexit more likely. That has not happened and the fragility of the new parliamentary arrangements plus the loss of the prime minister’s reputation must make the ability to deliver frictionless trade less certain. In calling for a rethink of the decision to leave the Customs Union, the FTA is reminding the government that they should not persist in a course of action when they know they cannot deliver promised outcomes for the trade and logistics sector.

Calais crisis hits Brian Yeardley pre-tax profit

By Emma Shone

Pre-tax profit at Brian Yeardley fell by nearly 50% in 2016 after being hit by migrant problems in Calais, unstable currency exchange rates and fleet investment.

Pre-tax profit for the year ending 31 December 2016 was £368,000; down 48% on 2015’s £544,000. MD Kevin Hopper attributed more than £300,000 of extra costs to rerouteing trucks away from Calais during the migrant crisis.

Hopper said: “We made the decision to ship through Zeebrugge and Europort in Rotterdam rather than Calais and Dunkirk because they had become no-go areas for trucks.

Our drivers’ safety comes first.

This incurred massive rerouting costs until October, when they closed the so-called jungle.”

The business returned to profit after the camp had been dismantled, but Hopper said migrant activity has been picking up again in recent weeks and another year like 2016 19.6.17 MTR_190617_017.indd 17

could be disastrous for the business. “Last year was the worst in [road haulage] I’ve ever had,” he added.

Another difficulty for Brian Yeardley, which buys 95% of its fuel on the continent, was a weaker pound against the euro. This, said Hopper, was aggravated by rising fuel prices across the channel.

Brian Yeardley managed to partially offset the inflated cost of buying the currency by asking overseas customers that had traditionally paid in sterling to pay in euros instead.

“When [the Brexit referendum result] was announced the value of the pound dropped, and we saw the effect it had on our bottom line. We

had to start thinking quickly and thinking smart about how we could rectify that,” said Hopper.

But despite the setbacks, Hopper said the operator had performed well in 2016.

Turnover increased by 9.6% to £14.3m (2015: £13m).

“We knew where we’d finish last year, and we budgeted for

worse than the result we actually produced. Trading’s very good, we gained a couple of new contracts last year and we made good profit and increased turnover. We have also had a record first quarter this year.”

A strong performance by the operator’s expanding events business TruckingBy (pictured) to add 30 new box trailers to its fleet, as well as seven new tractor units.

Hopper said it is a good time to be expanding a fleet in the UK as changes to overnight rules and minimum wages on the continent could lead to a shortfall of trucks working in the country.

He said: “We’re going to see fewer eastern European hauliers coming into the UK and that’s going to mean that there will be a shortage of trucks in the UK, and we want to get ahead of that.

“We have another seven trailers on order and an additional seven tractors,” he added.

MotorTransport 17 15/06/2017 08:48:25

Focus: Warehousing

motortransport.co.uk

Sales struggle in some areas as others boom

RENTS There are huge variations being seen in the level of rent rises around the UK. In certain areas demand for warehousing combined with a shortage of supply is causing sharp increases. But in others rents are flat.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Industrial Market Snapshot for Q1 said Leeds saw an increase in rents to £6.75/ft2, Newcastle a rise to £5.25/ft2 and Manchester to £7/ft2. By contrast, rents were static in Heathrow, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The report predicted market conditions will put pressure on rents. “Given expectations of a decline there is still potential for rental growth,” it concluded.

Location

Rent per ft2

Annual % growth

London (Heathrow)

14.00

0

London (Croydon)

11.25

2.3

Manchester

7.00

16.7

Birmingham

6.50

0

Bristol

8.00

0

Leeds

6.75

22.7

market became a patchy once the election was called and Brexit is still an unknown quantity.”

Much of the letting activity has focused on the iPort development in Doncaster. Here, Lidl is due to start construction of a 628,000ft2 DC this year and will join office supplier Fellowes, Amazon and Ceva together have taken facilities totalling 1.6 million ft2. In addition, a 195,000ft2 speculative unit was completed at the start of June. In April Verdion announced a second phase of the development which will accommodate 3 million ft2.

Other developers have ambitious plans for the region. These include Harworth Group, which has gained planning consent for a 1.45 million ft2 development at the former

AMAZON WAREHOUSE TAKE UP Amazon is continuing to drive forward with its warehouse expansion programme, which is accounting for a significant amount of the UK’s overall take-up.

According to figures from Savills, the retailer has been responsible for 19% of the UK warehousing market in units above 100,000ft2 so far this year – around 1.1 million ft2 in three units in Bolton, Coventry and Rugby. This proportion is only slightly down from 2016, when it accounted for 22%, taking 18 warehouses totalling 7.9 million ft2. This included three large fulfilment centres in Warrington, Daventry and Tilbury which will become operational this autumn and 1.3 million ft2 at iPort in Doncaster which became operational this year.

Amazon has a comprehensive programme of opening urban logistics facilities close to major towns and cities and is thought to be looking for further properties of all sizes. Kevin Mofid head of logistics research at Savills said: “We believe they are still in acquisition mode and will need more space.”

Mofid said Amazon’s activities are stimulating the market. “Developers are quite reactive. The Amazon effect is adding to demand, which means they will be developing,” he said.

Mark Webster, a partner of Dowley Turner Real Estate, also said the company’s impact is likely to continue. As well as its general merchandise Amazon is developing its Amazon Fresh food offering and is rumoured to be looking at creating its own clothing lines.

“They account for a massive chunk of take-up and we are also aware of a number of other requirements,” he said.

Webster added the overall effect on the market is positive, although Amazon’s size means they are able to negotiate good terms. “Agents’ ears prick up when they hear Amazon is interested in a major site but hard discussions are likely to follow,” he said.

25

9 million 8 million

20

7 million 6 million

15

5 million 4 million

10

3 million

Newcastle

5.25

16.7

Cardiff

5.75

4.5

Edinburgh

7.50

0

0

Glasgow

6.50

0

Source: Savills

18 MotorTransport MTR_190617_018.indd 18

Kellingley Colliery in North Yorkshire, and Peel Logistics, which has acquired a site capable of taking 800,000ft 2 in Sheffield.

Agents say a lack of development activity in recent years has created pent-up demand for smaller scale speculative development, something that is being addressed.

Evans Property Group and Harworth are jointly developing two warehouses of 100,000ft2 and 50,000ft2 at Gateway 45 in Leeds while Wilton Developments has completed two buildings of 60,000ft2 and 23,000ft2 at its Kinetic 45 development in Leeds.

2 million

%

Yorkshire’s big shed market experienced a large take-up last year with some of the momentum carrying on into 2017. However, demand was slightly dampened in the run-up to the general election.

There was 2.5 million ft2 of logistics space taken in the region last year in high quality buildings over 100,000ft2, compared to a 10-year average of 2.2 million ft2, according to CBRE. Mike Baugh, a director in CBRE’s Leeds office said: “There was a large amount of activity at the end of last year, but this year has been fairly steady so far.”

Andrew Gent, a director at regional agency Gent Visick, said: “The discounters and online retailers are still continuing to thrive but the

ft2

Yorkshire

5

1 million 2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Amazon take-up

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

0

Proportion of market 19.6.17 15/06/2017 15:31:59

Highwayman

motortransport.co.uk

Jordan has some front If you have a story for Highwayman, send it to highwaymanMT@ gmail.com

Felixstowe-based freight forwarder Jordon Freight has changed its name! To what we here you cry? Jordon. Yup. That’s right, they just dropped the Freight bit…

Jon Swallow, director of Jordon, said of the change: “We have increased the number of services we offer our clients and we needed a fresh identity that aligns with

where the company has come from, and more importantly, our future direction.”

To be fair, dropping the second half of your full name is a sort-of strategy adopted by many a firm in the sector.

We all refer to the likes of Abbey or Suttons or Downton or Gregory. And if this trend continues, next we’ll just be calling them Eddie.

ONE OF US: Many of you in the industry will be familiar with the former Stoke-on-Trent South MP Rob Flello. When he was out campaigning, a wonderful picture of the former chairman of APPG for freight transport and former member of the Transport Committee appeared on social media with comedian Eddie Izzard. Izzard, a staunch Labourite, had decided to campaign in the Potteries – which voted 69.4% to leave the EU – and was in full drag with red lipstick, looking thoroughly liberal, metropolitan and metrosexual, exactly like everyone else in Stoke!

Winners of Highwayman competition revealed In MT 22 May edition we ran an ‘Identify the XPO Truck’ competition (based on the image of a clearly North American truck sent out with a UK fleet acquisition press release). Much to Highwayman’s surprise, it was a fairly popular competition!

206x138 TCS&D Motor Transport Magazine.indd 1

19.6.17

MTR_190617_019.indd 19

“Hi there,” (writes Tom Morris), “I saw your article in the MT 22 May edition and the truck in the picture is a Freightliner. I believe it is a Cascadia.”

“The truck shown is FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA 2017 (caps writer’s own)

model,” writes Mike Wall.

And finally…. “That truck looks like a Freightliner or a Kenworth,” writes scaniaman.

Is there a prize ?? A Motor Transport lanyard maybe ??

“I haven’t got a lanyard,” writes Highwayman, “but I have got a Motor Transport-

branded pen. That even has a flashing light on the end.”

Sadly scaniaman, the consensus was that it was a Freightliner Cascadia – and some deep Googling seems to confirm the very same hypothesis. Tom and Mike, pens will be winging their way to you!

MotorTransport 19 18/04/2017 11:28

15/06/2017 11:49:19

Viewpoint

motortransport.co.uk

Work together to reduce fatalities H Des Ponsonby MD Corporate Solutions Logistics

aving been involved in our wonderful transport industry since leaving school in the late 1960s, I’ve always been concerned about road safety. From my days as a removal van driver at DJ Ponsonby to the present day as MD of Corporate Solutions Logistics, I’m always looking for ways to minimise the risks for our HGV fleet in terms of pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Although HGVs only account for 4% of traffic in London (artics only 1%), sadly 70% of cycling fatalities are caused by collisions with trucks; in the year to the end of September 2016 there were 182,000 road traffic casualties in the UK. We must all work together as road users to drastically reduce that figure.

With this in mind I was therefore pleasantly surprised that the mayor of London Sadiq Khan and TfL are promoting the Direct Vision Standard for HGVs in the capital.

The scheme establishes a star rating for HGVs from zero (lowest) to five (highest), based on how much an HGV driver can see directly from their

cab without the use of mirrors or cameras.

When I was younger, I drove a removal van with fantastic all-round vision. It had a dropped windscreen, similar to modern buses, and I could see anyone in front of the vehicle above the height of a toddler.

Also around at that time was an Austin or Morris Commercial that had glass panels on the nearside that allowed drivers to see anyone or anything in the blind spot.

Extra mirrors, cameras and sensors are all well and good (and our trucks are fitted with a combination of all of them), but I think nothing beats a direct view from the driving seat. I know from experience that sensors and alarms can be distracting when negotiating tight spaces as it is our visual skills that our brain is focusing on.

We as users should be encouraging manufacturers to incorporate these features into new vehicles, as safety – especially of the most vulnerable, be they pedestrians or cyclists – must be a priority for the industry.

the NEXT GENERATION SCANIA

PREMIUM REDEFINED

The newspaper for transport operators

To contact us: Tel: 020 8912 +4 digits or email: name.surname@roadtransport.com Editor Steve Hobson 2161 Group managing editor Christopher Walton 2163 Group news editor Chris Druce 2158 Group technical editor Colin Barnett 2141 Aftermarket editor Roger Brown 2168 Vans editor George Barrow 2156 Urban editor Hayley Pink 2165 Editorial team Ashleigh Wight 2167 Emma Shone 2164 Group production editor Clare Goldie 2174 Chief sub-editor Rufus Thompson 2173 Layout sub-editor Grace Wood 2174 Key account managers Andrew Smith 07771 885874 Richard Bennett 07889 823060 Display telesales Barnaby Goodman-Smith 2128 Group sales manager Julie McInally 2122 rtmclassified@roadtransport.com Sales director Vic Bunby 2121 Head of marketing Jane Casling 2133 Head of events/MT Awards Kelly Farley 2135 Head of product Andrew Chilvers 2138 Managing director Andy Salter 2171 Editorial office Road Transport Media, Sixth Floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1JB 020 8912 2170 Free copies MT is available free to specified licensed operators under the publisher’s terms of control.

For details, email mtsccqueries@ roadtransport.com, or call 01772 426705.

Time to be responsible for risk assessments W

Subscriptions Tel 0330 333 9544 Quadrant Subscription Services, Rockwood House, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3DH

Steve Hobson Editor Motor Transport

Published by DVV Media International Ltd © 2017 DVV Media International Ltd

atching the TV news over the past couple of months has been a grim experience, with the terrible fire in a west London tower block coming hard on the heels of two terrorist attacks.

Whatever the cause of the fire turns out to be, one phrase has come up time and again – building owners are now responsible for doing their own fire risk assessments, rather than the fire brigade carrying out regular inspections and issuing fire safety certificates.

Sound familiar? In the Bath tipper crash, the operator was jailed because he had clearly failed to ensure the vehicle was properly maintained – in other words, his risk assessment procedures were non-existent. Unlike buildings, at least trucks have to undergo an annual test – but trucks can clock up thousands of miles between tests. That is why operators are supposed to carry out periodic maintenance inspections of vehicles at appropriate intervals to ensure vehicles remain up to test standards at all times, not just once a year.

But who is making sure PMIs are in fact carried

20 MotorTransport MTR_190617_020.indd 20

out? Between them, the DVSA, police and traffic commissioners are responsible for enforcing the O-licence regime that is supposed to keep the public safe from badly maintained trucks. But unless an operator commits a blatant offence that brings it to the attention of the authorities it is quite possible to run illegally under the radar.

Until something goes badly wrong.

With more than 350,000 HGVs listed on 75,000 O-licences, the regulatory regime has to be largely passive and rely on the majority of operators complying with the rules – it would require an army of inspectors to go out and actively enforce the conditions of the O-licence. It is a regime that usually works well, just as it does for risk assessments for tower block fire safety, but the price is that there inevitably will be the occasional tragedy.

Rates UK £125/year. Europe £160 (€235)/year. RoW £160 ($329)/year.

Cheques made payable to Motor Transport.

Apply online at mtssubs.com Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper

ISSN 0027-206 X

Got something to say?

If you would like to contribute to MT’s Viewpoint, email steve.hobson@roadtransport.com 19.6.17 15/06/2017 11:08:05

AD_190617__P21.indd 21

14/06/2017 15:36:31

Emissions

motortransport.co.uk

Don’t hold your breath Freight will once again pick up the tab for cleaner transport – but what will low-carbon sustainable vehicles look like post Euro-6? Louise Cole reports

I

Shutterstock

n the run-up to the general election few people were haranguing Theresa May about her government’s weak air quality proposals but they possibly should have been.

Despite repeated defeats in the courts, the government returned a limp document in April that failed to put a consistent, national plan in place to tackle the numerous areas of medically dangerous urban air. Instead it has not only left it to local government – which inevitably means a movable feast of local rules for hauliers to abide by as they move from city to city – but it has insisted that local authorities exhaust all other methods of air-quality control before putting diesel cars on the charge list. Nor has it introduced a diesel scrappage scheme.

In short, the government hasn’t said where or how clean air zones must happen. In all likelihood therefore the brunt of our move to cleaner city air will be borne, once again, by the freight industry.

The elephant in the room, however, is that, post-Euro-6, no one really knows how to make freight more environmentally friendly. Post Euro-6 the two environmental agendas of cleaner air and lower greenhouse gas emissions coincide, because in order to clean up our air we will have to fulfil a low-carbon strategy of moving away from diesel entirely.

The question is, how? London mayor Sadiq Khan has at least addressed the issue of motorists having to pay if they run a pre-2006 (pre-Euro-4) vehicle with his £10 toxicity charge (T-Charge) on top of the congestion charge. The mayor’s office thinks this will deter 10,000 of the most-polluting vehicles. But 10,000 is very little in terms of the 2.6 million vehicles registered to Londoners.

And there is not yet much traction towards moving motorists on to greener vehicles – there are currently 800 charging points, which is one to every six electric cars in the capital. New car registrations nationally show plug-in or hybrid cars account for roughly 10% of the market.

22 MotorTransport MTR_190617_022-024.indd 22

Steve Carroll, head of transport at Cenex, still thinks the T-Charge sends an important message, saying: “It all helps, another £10 a day saving in the congestion zone makes a difference to the cost model for running low-emission vehicles. It also starts to change the public’s perception about their next vehicle choices.”

Khan has also committed £300m to phasing out London’s pure diesel buses and to purchasing only hybrid or zero-emission buses from 2018.

After the LCTT

The Low Carbon Truck Trial from 2012 to 2016 highlighted lots of unresolved issues, primarily with the business case for lowcarbon commercial vehicles.

Dual-fuel retrofits fared best in terms of return on investment, but fleets needed to have a lot of flexibility to pull this off. The report says: “In 2015 Howard Tenens moved all of its Londonbased vehicles to Swindon in order to achieve better mpg, increased mileage and higher substitution ratios. All John Lewis Bracknell fleet vehicles were moved to Leyland [for] the new refuelling site opening in December 2015. This ensured the dual-fuel vehicles retained an economic advantage over diesel.”

Carroll says the LCTT was a useful programme in terms of “stress testing technologies and getting real operational data into the hands of government decision- and policy-makers”.

He believes its recommendations will be useful but the next big trial will be more so. “The Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial (LEFLT) is a key follow-on activity that has been given a much larger budget and spans a broader range of technologies – which shows the growth of product offerings since the first trial.”

So what does the LEFLT include? Twenty projects were selected from 40 applicants and share £20m of funding. Air Liquide Group pulled the longest straw, taking £2.57 million for its project trialling biogas in 86 HGVs ranging from 26

➜ 24 19.617 14/06/2017 14:51:10

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21:05 21.05… Many of our technicians are still hard at work right across our UK and Ireland network. It’s dedicated people like Chris Armstrong here, with a passion for getting the job done that keeps your trucks moving, whatever the time – every time.

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55677

55677 Motor Transport 24 HOUR_TECHNICIAN_HP_206x138.indd 1 AD_190617__P23.indd 23

25/05/2017 12:29 14/06/2017 15:40:04

Emissions tonnes to 44 tonnes. In addition, five refrigeration units will use a prototype liquid nitrogen system.

Other projects in the trial include:

■ hydrogen dual-fuel vehicles; ■ direct injection liquid methane dual-fuel trucks, run by Kuehne + Nagel; ■ a battery extender and universal battery cassette; ■ UPS’s smart charging and energy storage scheme to increase the number of electric vehicles it can charge at a depot; ■ plug-in hybrids running at 18 tonnes; ■ a fleet of dedicated gas trucks (run by CNG Fuels); ■ lightweight Lawrence David double-deck trailers; and ■ an energy recovery system being trialled by Howdens Joinery on rigids and artics.

CNG Fuels CEO Philip Fjeld says we need to leave the LCTT behind. “The technology has moved on considerably, even since the last trial finished a year or two ago,” he says.

He cites CNG’s project with the John Lewis Group that will run more than 40 supermarket distribution trucks, typically 4x2s, on both motorway and urban delivery work. A Waitrose gas truck can now run from Leyland to Scotland and back on a on a single tank. The carbon-fibre tanks save 500kg, have a 500-mile range and a faster fill time.

Fjeld says both Iveco and Scania promise mid-400hp gas trucks within nine months. He says drivers and shop managers prefer them because they are much quieter, smoother to drive and cleaner to fill.

The CNG trial will run 100% gaseous biomethane from food waste, and the company has sourced enough to run hundreds of trucks from its seven refuelling stations.

Currently these are grouped in the centre of England, but Fjeld says the UK will have a national network within five years. John Lewis will pay the same price for the biomethane as it would for natural gas.

Cenex’s Carroll says: “The case for biomethane in heavy transport seems strong due to the limited options for decarbonising the fleet.”

This may require government support. Currently there’s no commercial market for biomethane as a transport fuel because of limited infrastructure and demand. As ever, it is a question of sequencing and timing in the market.

Fjeld says as a rule of thumb, a supermarket distribution truck doing 100,000km a year would save 110 to 130 tonnes of carbon a year.

Iveco says its New Stralis NP is 25% more expensive than an equivalent diesel model for the CNG version, or 30% more for the LNG version. The cost of CNG/LNG is around one-third less than diesel. For a vehicle doing 100,000 miles a year, Iveco says operators will see a payback at approximately the two-year mark for the LNG model, and less for CNG. However, the CNG model has a shorter range and fleets with the biggest annual mileages would most likely choose the LNG model.

In April, the New Stralis NP, running on LNG, completed the John O’Groats to Lands End run of 837 miles on a single tank of fuel. These gas models benefit in terms of cost and hassle from managing after-treatment with no need for additives or filters.

Imported LNG boosts the ‘well to wheel’ (WTW) carbon footprint of the fuel and even CNG produces similar WTW emissions to diesel, according to Cenex. “Ultimately the answer is to use a biofuel, such as biomethane, to gain the CO2 reductions we would like to see,” says Carroll.

Whether or not Euro-6 is sufficient for air-quality purposes in trucks remains to be seen. Recent Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) tests of methane vehicles have shown, on average, 40% NOx reductions, but that’s 40% of a low baseline (and individual trucks varied substantially).

24 MotorTransport MTR_190617_022-024.indd 23

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Other options

A clear alternative is the used cooking oil (UCO) experiment.

When UCO is turned into HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), it can run seamlessly in diesel engines at high blend levels with no maintenance or warranty issues and no expensive conversions. This is feasible wherever there is a waste source – such as restaurants, food manufacturing and hospitality sites.

Assuming that when the UK withdraws from the EU it sticks to its Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), Cenex expects legislative drivers for HVO to come into play. “HVO and other drop-in fuels are considered (by groups such as the Automotive Council and LowCVP) as the key technology to de-carbonise diesel,” says Carroll. “HVO has recently been tested at Millbrook which showed savings in particulate matter and NO2 in refuse vehicles belonging to Hackney Borough Council, and interest is growing.”

Electric vehicles

Electric vehicles are feasible at 3.5 tonnes and above for operations with limited payload and range. Carroll says: “As OEMs move into the 3.5-tonne electric vehicle market in 2017-18, we should also see costs drop and more widespread fleet interest.

The proposed derogation on payload for low-emission vehicles will help, and the much-needed economic support of emission charging zones (potentially the Clean Air Zones, and the Ultra Low Emission Zones) will also greatly help.”

The electric charging network has become more developed, particularly for consumers who might charge opportunistically. However there is still little uptake among the more than four million in the LCV sector, with 96% of vans still diesel, according to SMMT figures. This is probably because van usage, unlike trucks, is highly fragmented with the majority belonging to small business.

In the long term

Adam Purshall, head of fleet and procurement at Bibby Distribution, says it is almost impossible for the more responsible operator to determine a long-term lowcarbon strategy. “We’ve done everything we can in terms of efficiency, and we’ve tried to instil a culture of carbon reduction within the business and we’ve been quite successful,” he says.

“We have lots of trial data for low-carbon vehicles and we’ve collected as much information as we can, but the problem remains – there’s no clear definition of what a low-carbon fleet looks like. Creating a long-term strategy is hard because no one knows what that might be.”

Purshall feels there is a distinct lack of governmental guidance. “We invested heavily in Euro-6 – currently 76% of our 700 vehicles — because we knew that was coming. But you can’t have that certainty with low-carbon vehicles.”

Bibby has tried retrofitting trucks for dualfuel LNG and LPG. Dual fuel gave it the operational flexibility it needed. Bibby aimed for cost neutrality within three years, rather than saving money, so its business case wasn’t particularly affected by the drop in diesel prices.

Dual fuel comes with its own problems though, as the vehicles cannot be bought from the OEM and therefore the retrofit can negate mainstream warranties. Bibby has just taken on a dedicated LNG demonstrator, but operationally Purshall feels there are still restrictions on fuel capacity and horsepower.

“Electric vehicles seem like the logical choice eventually, particularly alongside moves to decarbonise electricity production, but we have no heavy electric solution,” he says. “And we need to be careful that we don’t end up using many small vehicles in place of one truck.” ■ For more on developments in sustainable urban deliveries go to our sister website freightinthecity.com.

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14/06/2017 15:41:41

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Emissions

Come what may Diesel – are rumours of its death greatly exaggerated? Tony Pain of the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight looks for signs of life and gauges the current mood

T

he debate on climate change is over. Scientists and politicians (with the odd notable exception) agree this planet of ours is getting warmer. They also believe many large cities are suffocating from high levels of NOx and particulates and that economic growth must be shifted to a low-carbon trajectory.

What, then, is the future for diesel in the face of technical progress to create competitive alternatives to fossil fuels?

There is no easy answer, but oil will probably lose its preeminence in the energy landscape. But will its offshoot, diesel, at the foundation of modern road freight, go the same way?

Today the world consumes more than 90 million barrels a day of oil. The transport sector, which covers motor vehicles, airlines and shipping, absorbs almost 60% of this. The balance is consumed by industry (25%), residential homes and commercial properties (10%) and electricity (6%).

In the short- to medium-term future – let’s say five years – oil will continue to dominate energy usage, along with coal and natural gas. It will remain the mainstay of the global energy system.

Over this period, we are unlikely to see the emer-

26 MotorTransport MTR_190617_026-028.indd 26

gence of scalable or competitive alternatives to liquid fuels for transport.

For sure, alternatives – such as natural gas through CNG and LNG – will make inroads. Similarly, bio-diesel and bioethanol will remain partial substitutes. But neither of these alternatives will make a substantial dent in oil’s dominance within this time frame. Vehicle manufacturers would have to modify engines to use natural gas and retailers will have to create an adequate network of outlets. This will not be quick or easy – it took more than 50 years to convert factories from 1880s steam power to 20th century electric power.

Bio-fuels would also have to overcome similar hurdles as they will face competition from agriculture. While anaerobic digesters are environmentally efficient at turning waste food products into bio-methane for use as road-going fuels, there simply isn’t enough biodegradable waste to go round.

But looking beyond a five-year time frame, a different picture emerges. Oil is likely to travel into uncharted territory. The longer-term future of fossil fuels will be influenced by global warming, noxious emissions and the continuing advance of technology.

19.6.17 14/06/2017 14:43:24

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There is a common international urgency to move economic growth towards a low-carbon future, even in countries with massive economic growth ambitions. China is planning a carbon intensity reduction of 65% by 2030 and India intends to produce 40% of its energy from non-fossil fuels.

Here in the UK, the government’s long-term emission targets have been set at an 80% reduction of CO2 emissions due to road transport by 2050. Organisations such as the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight, a collaboration between Cambridge and Heriot Watt universities and the freight transport industry, are performing research into low-carbon road freight that can be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

Even though HGVs account for only 6% of all UK CO2 emissions, the pressure to find more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to diesel has been increasing for several decades. For years, the issue has been debated by academics, politicians, vehicle manufacturers and transport operators. And that was before ‘diesel-gate’.

Before the Volkswagen emissions-testing scandal, the political environment almost favoured diesel. Despite much of the public viewing trucks as the cause of noise, traffic congestion

19.6.17 MTR_190617_026-028.indd 27

and exhaust fumes, diesel cars were the opposite – a good alternative to petrol and tax-beneficial. But now there appears to be a view is that all diesel-powered transport should be dead and buried.

Unless a properly considered, national air-quality plan for the UK is developed rapidly, there is a risk that all diesels, not just the older, more-polluting vehicles, could be banned from cities at various times of the day.

The fact is that today’s Euro-6 trucks are exceptionally clean, almost acting as vacuum cleaners for particulates in many cities due to the screening effect of their diesel particulate filters. It is the exhaust emissions from older trucks, vans, cars and buses that should be the real target.

Demonising diesel

Diesel-gate hasn’t done anyone any favours. It has demonised and politicised a high-energy density fuel that is easy to use, easy to store, transport and distribute – and generates considerable tax revenues for the government. However, the pressure to find a sustainable alternative has grown to an unsustainable level, especially for city and urban transport.

It needs to be kept in perspective. Modern trucks are arguably cleaner than diesel cars. A recent report from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) showed that modern diesel cars produce up to 10 times more toxic air pollution than heavy trucks. Comparing trucks and buses with cars in realistic driving conditions, it found that current Euro-6 heavy-duty vehicles emitted about 210mg/km NOx, less than half the 500mg/km pumped out by modern Euro-6 standard diesel cars. Trucks and buses have larger engines too, so burn more diesel per kilometre, meaning that cars produce 10 times more NOx per litre of fuel.

The dramatic reduction in NOx emissions from heavy vehicles is a result of homologation testing that reflects real-world

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MotorTransport 27 14/06/2017 14:43:44

Emissions

operation. In contrast to Euro-6 cars, Euro-6 trucks do not emit significantly more NOx in everyday operation than the level they are certified to.

Older cars, taxis and buses should be a primary target for tackling urban exhaust pollution – and yet we often send children to school on some of the oldest, dirtiest buses and coaches in existence.

It all makes the case for modern, clean and efficient public transport – get more cars off the road altogether, by making public transport more attractive.

Smart urban logistics

Diesel still has its place and will do for many years to come, if the legislators allow.

For long-distance heavy vehicle freight transport, diesel is an excellent fuel. Euro-6 engine and driveline technology has already proven that 44-tonne trucks can be highly productive, efficient and environmentally friendly.

For medium- to long-distance, back-to-base transport operations – such as many supermarkets – CNG and LNG already offer good alternatives to diesel. It can be sustainable too if the gas is generated from renewables such as biomass.

Final-mile delivery companies are paving the way to a greener future with small electric vans from Nissan, Peugeot and Citroën.

The environmental benefits will soon be applied to more of the van market up to 3.5 tonnes GVW, with Iveco, Ford, VW, LDV and others entering the plug-in electric sector in the next few years.

The development of online shopping, home delivery and smaller convenience stores will require ‘smart’ delivery vans and light trucks with zero tailpipe emissions, reinforcing the demand for plug-in battery electric. ‘Smart urban logistics’ will require some collaboration between parcel and food delivery companies to consolidate home deliveries, reducing wasted and part-load journeys.

The use of battery electric vehicles makes a lot of sense in cities, operating over relatively short distances and returning to base regularly. Similarly, many of the environmental and operational benefits from plug-in electric technology can be achieved with terminal tractors in ports and refuse collection vehicles.

Recently, we had our first glimpse of what might be Tesla’s long-distance heavy truck (below). It looks futuristic, but it also looks like a high-roof trunking vehicle – exactly the wrong application for a full electric drivetrain. The weight and cost of

28 MotorTransport MTR_190617_026-028.indd 28

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the batteries to provide a range of 500 miles or more is simply too high to make such a truck economically viable. Perhaps it is more to stir up interest in the investor community than a way to rid the world of diesel trucks.

Electric power is good for its zero tailpipe emissions qualities, although it is important that the ‘well to wheel’ analysis includes the source of energy supply. If electric is generated from solar, wind, geothermal or wave power, an electric vehicle with regenerative braking can convert around 70% of that renewable energy source into useful motive power.

Contrast that with an energy-efficiency ratio of about 25% for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The hydrogen is an energy carrier, which is converted into electrical power and is extremely clean locally with only water emissions. However, its generation on a ‘well to wheel’ basis from the original energy source to the vehicle, is very inefficient. Hydrogen production can only make sense in the era of excess renewable energy, and that is not likely on a commercial scale for decades.

Battery electric power is not new. Electric cars and wagons were introduced in the early 1900s. They were clean and quiet compared with their steam and petrol counterparts, and perfect for short trips around the city. Poor road conditions meant they couldn’t venture further anyway.

It was the likes of the mass-produced Ford Model T that dealt a blow to the electric car, at only one-third the price of an electric equivalent. Better road systems and relatively cheap oil saw most electric vehicles disappear by about 1935.

From the 1930s to the 1950s, it was diesel power that began to displace steam power for road freight vehicles. Since then, diesel has been almost universal in powering commercial road transport.

Plenty of options

In the next few years we will see viable alternatives to diesel, especially for low-volume, short-distance transport. Hybrids with range-extended electric drivelines, or shortly after, full plug-in battery electric for urban delivery cycles. Vans first and then light trucks operating in cities. Subsidised operation initially, then neutral, followed by taxed electricity supply as the government loses its fossil fuel tax income.

In the next five to 10 years bio-diesel, bio-gas and di-methyl ether (DME) from waste products will all make an impact in medium-distance transport. The natural gas infrastructure will finally mature to be more environmentally friendly for fixed or regular, medium-distance journeys. Hybrid or full gas vehicles fit rigid vehicles best, where truck chassis gas tank capacity can be compatible with the necessary vehicle range.

Most deliveries around towns and cities are unlikely to arrive courtesy of a diesel engine by 2035.

However, diesel will remain the lifeblood of long-distance, large-volume, high-payload freight transport for a considerable time. It may be supported by smaller battery-powered hybrid drives for delivering consolidated loads into cities for the last few miles.

It took more than 20 years for trucks to go from Euro-1 to Euro-6 exhaust emissions. The trunking vehicle of 20 years’ time will probably have to comply with Euro-7 or 8 emissions – but it’s still most likely that the fuel tank will be filled with diesel.

Ideally its high-efficiency engine will be powering a 25 metrelong combination, operating at up to 60 tonnes for greater productivity too…. but that’s another story. ■ 19.6.17 14/06/2017 14:44:10

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The Axtec weighbridge, based at its Leicester site, has saved £19,000 in the past year

Ford and Slater saves cash with weighbridge

By Roger Brown

Daf dealer Ford and Slater has installed an Axtec weighbridge at its main branch in Leicester, saving £19,000 in the past year.

The company bought a dynamic weighbridge to save money and time spent weighing off-site. It can check all six axles of a tractor-trailer combination, plus GVWs, in 40 seconds and provides accurate readings to within plus or minus 0.25%.

Ford and Slater account manager Mark Chater said:

“We knew Leyland Trucks [UK assembly plant for Daf] had installed its own Axtec dynamic weighbridge, so we were comfortable that the

equipment had the right credentials. It appeared on paper to be a safe investment for us. And so it has proved, with £19,000 annual savings,

and, just as importantly for our customers, a reduction in downtime.”

Axtec sales manager Derek Hack said the cost benefits of installing on-site dynamic weighbridges compared with using public weighbridges can be significant. “Traditional plate-type weighbridges provide accurate GVWs, but increasingly hauliers need to check individual axle weights as well,” he said.

“Our dynamic weighbridge solution does that, quickly and accurately.”

Crossroads Truck and Bus provides Volvo tanker to Wordsworth

Dealer drop-in: Scania Warrington

Crossroads Truck and Bus has supplied Barnsley-based Wordsworth Excavations with

tanker will support both the on- and off-highway fleets operated by Wordsworth as the firm expands its service collecting spoil from excavations and demolition, as well as concrete for recycling and delivering aggregates.

Wordsworth MD Thomas Wordsworth said: “Because we’re fuelling our trucks and

equipment all over the country we need a tanker that performs, is robust, can take 90,000km a year in its stride, is reliable and looks great. The Volvo FM meets all our expectations.”

Wordsworth has also opted for a five-year gold repair and maintenance contract with Crossroads, which is based at Birstall, West Yorkshire.

Scania has appointed Nigel Jones, pictured, regional executive director – South West, with responsibility for the overall performance of Scania’s 12 branches and vehicle maintenance units within the region.

Jones has been with Scania for 20 years, first with the West Midlands Scania dealer Keltruck, where he spent 11 years in the sales team, and then nine years as regional sales manager for the South West.

Scania (GB) MD Claes Jacobsson said: “As an established member of our team in the South West, Nigel is already well known to customers and staff throughout the area. As such his position is a natural progression in tune with our policy to promote from within wherever possible.”

rear-lift axle (below). This 62-plate truck includes a 3-pedal Opticruise gearbox, air conditioning and full Scania service history.

The dedicated used site is less than 500m from junction 21 of the M6 and opening hours are: Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm; Saturday 9am to 3pm; and by appointment on Sunday.

Every vehicle receives a full sales service before being delivered.

Earlier this year Scania opened Europe’s first indoor used truck sales centre in Warrington. It is designed to make the buying process easier and more comfortable.

On the forecourt, this 2014 R450 LA 6x2 MNA truck (below) with Highline cab, rear-lift axle, 2-pedal Opticruise gearbox and moving floor hydraulics, caught our eye. The 14-plate tractor has 323,000km on the clock and comes with a new MoT.

32 MotorTransport MTR_190617_032-034.indd 32

a Volvo FM 6x2 rear-steer fuel tanker.

The four-compartment

Scania appoints Jones regional executive director

Also available was a 2016 P250 DB 4x2 MNA sleeper cab curtainsider with barn doors, tuckaway tail-lift, air conditioning and fridge (above). The 65-plate has 71,000km on the clock and comes with an R&M package until January 2019.

There was also a 2012 R500 LA 6x2 MNA tractor unit with Highline cab and 19.6.17 15/06/2017 11:21:06

MTR_190617_D01B48C copy 14/06/2017 14:56 Page 1

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4 FH LD HP O R B 2 Y 460

Volvo 2014-15 (64) FH4 6x2, 460 bhp, Euro 6, Globetrotter, I-Shift, full Volvo history, 236,000-276,000 kms, Comfort trim, 2 years Volvo warranty, walking floor equipped, 3.9m w/b, beautiful trucks, choice.

L DE MO O 6 W R NE EU

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Volvo 2015 (15) FH4 6×2, 460 bhp, Euro 6, Globetrotter, I-Shift, fridge fitted, leather, 311,000 kms, full Volvo history, double bunk, very clean truck.

O LV VO TY R AN EA R R 2 Y WA

Volvo 2015 (15) FH4 6x2, 460 bhp, Euro 6, Globetrotter, I-Shift, Bluetooth radio, full Volvo history, 238,000 kms, full Volvo leather trim, two year Volvo warranty, fridge, double bunk, top lockers, stunning truck.

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Volvo 2014 (64) FH4 6×2, 460 bhp, Euro 6, Globetrotter, I-Shift, tipping gear fitted, full Volvo history, two year Volvo warranty, 272,000 kms, luxury trim with armrests, Prestige paintwork, beautiful looking truck.

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Volvo 2014 (64) FH4 6x2, 460 bhp, Euro 6, Globetrotter, I-Shift, full Volvo history, 240,000 kms, 3.9m wheelbase, two years Volvo warranty, full leather trim, fridge fitted, lovely clean truck.

O LV VO TY R AN EA RR 1 Y WA

Volvo 2014 (64) FH4 6×2, 460 bhp, Euro 6, Globetrotter, I-Shift, full Volvo leather trim, 276,000 kms, full Volvo history, double bunk, 2 year Volvo warranty, fridge fitted, beautiful truck.

2Y WA EAR RR VO AN LV TY O

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E RE G RA RID F FL

Volvo 2012 (12) FL 4×2, 290 bhp, Euro 5, sleeper cab, fridge, full Volvo history, 1.5 ton column taillift, one year Volvo warranty, G & A dual compartment fridge body, 206,000 kms, manual, Frigoblock fridge unit.

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Volvo 2011 (61) FM11 6×2, 330 bhp ,Euro 5, sleeper cab, rigid box body, choice of 2, full Volvo history, I-Shift, Euro 5, 31 x 9ft box body, 363,000426,000 kms, rear air suspension, lovely clean rigid.

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Volvo 2012 (12) FE 6×2, 300 bhp, Euro 5, sleeper cab, curtainsider, 27ft x 9ft curtain body, manual, 6.1m wheelbase, full Volvo service history, 345,000 kms, rear barn doors, tuckaway taillift.

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Dealer snapshot: Thomas Hardie Used Trucks Who are you, and where can I find you?

Thomas Hardie Used Trucks, Road Beta, Brooks Lane Industrial Estate, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 0QF. What is the history of the company?

We are the main Volvo dealership for north Wales and the North West of England, with five main sites. Used trucks are based at our Middlewich site.

What do you sell?

The complete range of Volvo trucks, new and used, with service and parts support.

Currently on offer is this 2014 FH4 6x2 460hp Globetrotter cab (right) with I-Shift gearbox, full Volvo history, two-year warranty, and 272,000km on the clock.

We also have a dedicated engineering and body repair shop based in Chorley, Lancashire.

When are you open?

Seven days a week – each depot has different opening times depending on demand.

What facilities do you have?

As a main agent we have customer toilets, steam cleaning and valet bays and offer Wi-Fi, tea, coffee and soft drinks.

What can I expect when I buy a truck?

The support of the UK Volvo dealer network with market-leading warranties, aftersales, R&M contracts, finance packages and part exchange deals.

Commercial Motor Awards entries open for 2017

By Roger Brown

The Commercial Motor Awards 2017 (hosted by sister title Commercial Motor) are open for entry, following on from the overwhelming response to last year’s Commercial Motor Dealer Awards.

On 14 November, at a gala dinner at the Vox Conference

Centre, Birmingham, we will hand out awards across 12 categories – expanding from last year’s 10 with the addition of Bodybuilder of the Year and the Rental, Leasing and Contract Hire Provider of the Year.

Categories include: Franchised Dealer of the Year; Independent Dealer of the

Year; Aftersales, Workshop and Maintenance Provider of the Year; Auction House of t h e Ye a r ; Wo r k s h o p Innovation of the Year; Apprentice of the Year; Technician Team of the Year; Sales Team of the Year; and Finance Provider of the Year.

Businesses shortlisted in

60-second interview: Shaun Sangha, sales executive, Guest Truck and Van West Midlands My favourite holiday destination is…

Florida, because it’s great for the kids.

I drive a…

Fiat Fullback.

My hobbies are…

Spending time with the family and travelling. My younger brother is a professional footballer for Walsall FC so I like to follow his progress.

I got into the industry because…

My father runs a transport business and I’ve always been interested in the industry. Through his contacts I heard about a trainee sales job when I was leaving college, I applied and I’ve been selling trucks ever since.

34 MotorTransport MTR_190617_032-034.indd 33

It’s exciting to see the changes in the industry.

The quality of servicing is improving, and the variety of new trucks makes the job more interesting. I love building and maintaining relationships and creating my own client portfolio.

Because Guest has such a good reputation it’s great to be so many people’s first port of call.

To encourage more young people into the industry we should…

Tell them if you’re good with people, you can be good in sales. I trained as a plumber, but I’m enjoying this career more, even though I’d have made a good plumber!

Over the next 12 months our sector will see…

A shift in the number of clients from buying vehicles outright towards leasing, which makes higher-quality vehicles more affordable. Although customers are talking about Brexit and the uncertainty it’s causing, it doesn’t seem to be preventing them placing orders.

the different categories, and the eventual winners, will receive coverage in sister title Commercial Motor and online on commercialmotor.com If being recognised as one of the best commercial vehicle sellers or servicers in the UK wasn’t enough, the winner of Apprentice of the Year will get the chance to work on truck

engines alongside the UK’s most famous truck fitter– Guy Martin.

Businesses shortlisted in the different categories, and the eventual winners, will receive extensive coverage in Commercial Motor and online on commercialmotor.com ● Enter now at commercialmotor.com/awards.

Orwell opens £1m Mercedes showroom Orwell Truck & Van has opened a £1m Mercedes-Benz vans showroom in Ipswich.

Orwell MD Neil Jacob said: “The substantial investment we have made in this outstanding facility underlines our determination to provide LCV operators with the finest customer service.”

In addition to selling new vans the showroom sells a range of used vehicles and provides full aftercare services.

Mercedes-Benz has made a good start to 2017, with an 18% increase in vehicle registrations – 8,813 vans – in the first quarter, according to the SMMT.

19.6.17 15/06/2017 11:21:40

STOCKPORT TRUCK CENTRE LTD The largest independent repairer in the North West

SALES MANAGER Dave Irving: 07966 589297

DVSA ATF FACILITY 24HR TRUCK AND TRAILER MAINTENANCE NATIONAL FLEET MANAGEMENT CONTRACT MAINTENANCE PACKAGES ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE BRAKE TESTING DIGITAL TACHOGRAPH CENTRE DIAGNOSTIC REPAIRS TAIL LIFT 24HR NATIONAL BREAKDOWN & RECOVERY TRAILER SALES TRAILER REFURBISHMENT USED TRAILER SALES MANAGER Sam Guest: 07795 647824

Bredbury Depot & Head Office Tel: 0161 494 9200 Contact: Neil Hitchen 07920 265270

Hyde Depot Tel: 0161 366 9400 Contact: Ian Shepherd 07795 647826

Haydock Depot Tel: 01942 408849 Contact: Mark Owens 07584 504833

Birkenhead Depot Tel: 0151 644 6374 Contact: Paul Meredith 07584 504785

Atherton Bodyshop Tel: 01942 878 961 Contact: Stephen Bennett 07771 638002

www.stockporttruckcentre.co.uk

MTR_19.06.17_01B347.indd 1

14/06/2017 09:11

Williams Tanker Services 17 BAY SPECIALIST TANKER WORKSHOP From our Morley, Leeds, depot we have a state-of-the-art workshop specialising in fuel & gas tanker repairs. Including: • Tanker remounting & refurbishment • Accident damage repairs • Mechanical maintenance & repairs • MOT & ADR preparation • Tank testing & repairs

PAY AS YOU GO & CONTRACT MAINTENANCE AVAILABLE

FOR MORE DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT ROB OR PETER ON 0113 289 7990 AD_190617__P35.indd 35

14/06/2017 15:56:36

Marketplace

MAN alive The new boss of MAN ‘s used truck programme talks about recent changes to the manufacturer’s TopUsed scheme.

Roger Brown reports

M

AN has refreshed its approved TopUsed programme, which was introduced several years ago to sell its best and usually newest pre-owned trucks.

The scheme now offers a choice of one-, two- and three-star vehicles under its Checked, Certified and Trusted (CCT) programme using criteria such as age, mileage, length of warranty and MoT, standards of preparation, tyre tread depth and cleanliness.

Simplify buying

MAN has also introduced a smartphone app to encourage customers to search for its stock of approved used vehicles this way. Matthew Squires, MAN TopUsed sales director, says the new system will simplify the buying process.

“The app is easy to use and quickly identifies

MAN TopUsed vehicles suitable for the customer’s requirements in and around their area,” he says. “This is the first time MAN TopUsed vehicles have been marketed in this way and I am sure that as well as expanding the MAN TopUsed market to more customers, it will streamline the whole search process.

“Customers are being given simple choices from the outset and it helps them narrow down their options before contacting the sales team.”

Squires took over as head of MAN’s used trucks division from Rael Winetroube in December 2016. He was already a key member of the manufacturer’s senior team as head of own retail, overseeing MAN-owned workshops and its rental fleet in the UK. “We sold 750 used trucks in the first three months of the year, a big increase on the equivalent period last year,” he says. “In February we

sold 303 used trucks, a figure with which we are very pleased.”

Sales network

As part of the strategy to boost its used sales, MAN has increased the number of people in its direct used truck sales network from 12 in 2016 to 18 this year. It has also cut the number of used vehicles in stock from 1,200 18 months ago to 800 today.

“The guys who sell new MANs still sell used, but the new additions to the team are giving used sales a significant boost,” says Squires.

“Our used truck sales are on the increase and this is due in part to the investment in the sales team.”

MAN plans to expand its second-hand rental trucks offering over the coming months. “We think there is an opportunity to develop this

REACH FOR THE STARS MAN’s three-star vehicles are no more than four years old, and have covered up to 400,000km for TGX/TGS tractors, up to 300,000km for TGS/TGM rigids and up to 250,000km for TGLs. The vehicles have at least a 7mm tyre tread, 12 months’ comprehensive warranty and nine months’ MoT. They also come with premium preparation, little, if any, wear and tear and a driver pack.

Two-star vehicles are a maximum of six years old, and have mileage of up to 600,000km for TGX/TGS tractors; up to 450,000km for TGS/TGM rigids and up to 350,000km for TGLs. The vehicles have a tread depth of at least 6mm, at least 12 months’ comprehensive warranty and six months’ MoT. The package includes extended preparation and MAN says there is some age-related wear and tear on these trucks.

One-star vehicles have at least six months’ MoT and a minimum three-month driveline warranty. They are classified as being in a roadworthy condition and given a general clean.

36 MotorTransport MTR_190617_036-037.indd 36

19.6.17 14/06/2017 14:13:03

Finance motortransport.co.uk

FAST AND SIMPLE MAN’s smartphone app is designed to make it faster and simpler for potential customers to track down a TopUsed vehicle that meets their criteria.

People using the app can refine their search selection according to model and body type, and choose the quality of vehicle they are searching for using the CCT star rating.

“Once they have found a vehicle of interest they can then tap either the telephone or the email icon and be put in direct contact with a member of the sales team responsible for the vehicle,” says Squires.

The app also gives customers the choice of repair and maintenance contracts. It is free to download and use via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

area, offering reliable trucks with a full MAN service history a second life in the rental market,” says Squires. “Having a thriving rental product is great for keeping our workshops busy and customers also like the flexibility.”

Investment programme

MAN has embarked on a major investment programme this year at its dealerships across Europe, particularly in the UK, France, Italy and Spain.

The Manchester branch in Trafford Park recently acquired 43,000ft2 of space so 30 extra used commercial vehicles, including the

19.6.17 MTR_190617_036-037.indd 37

new TGE van, can be displayed on an expanded forecourt.

“Every MAN dealership will retail the new TGE van, as well as an all-makes selection of used vans,” Squires says.

“A lot of workshops in the network are used to working on light commercials, so the introduction of the TGE is going to be a smooth process.” ■

TOP PACKAGE Last October Birstall, West Yorkshirebased Bedfords Transport took delivery of 14 MAN TGX 6x2 tractors from the manufacturer’s used trucks programme.

The vehicles, which have XLX cabs and TipMatic transmissions, are on the TopUsed £249 a week contract hire package and replaced other marques in the haulier’s 61-strong fleet.

Each one had received a stringent inspection, is on a full R&M package and is maintained by Pelican Engineering in Leeds.

Earlier this year warehousing and distribution firm HPH Group bought 10 TopUsed MAN TGX 26.440s with XLX cabs.

The trucks are maintained at the firm’s workshop in Preston, Lancashire, three miles from the local MAN dealer.

HPH Group’s fleet of 97 is mainly a mix of pre-owned, TopUsed and rental MANs from 7.5 tonners to 44 tonners.

“More operators are becoming interested in MAN TopUsed as well as our second life rental offering because of the excellent value for money and quality they represent,” says Squires.

MotorTransport 37 14/06/2017 14:13:37

A range of warranty packages

Rigorous checks & preparation to restore to top condition

Highly trained, dedicated MAN TopUsed sales professionals

)LQG \RXU SHUIHFW 0$1 ZLWK RXU QHZ &HUWL᥵HG &KHFNHG 7UXVWHG VHDO RI TXDOLW\ (DFK SURGXFW LV SUHSDUHG WR GLᥴHUHQW OHYHOV JLYLQJ \RX SHDFH RI PLQG ZKDWHYHU \RXU QHHGV

Vehicle age up to 4 years Up to 400,000km 7\UH SUR᥵OH PP Comprehensive 12-month warranty Minimum 9 months MOT

Vehicle age up to 6 years Up to 600,000km 7\UH SUR᥵OH PP Comprehensive 12-month warranty Minimum 6 months MOT

Minimum 3 months MOT 3-month driveline warranty Roadworthy condition

MAN – Bristol: Keith Philpott 07714 392119

Nationwide support & advice 24/7 from our MANdedicated dealers 2015/64 TGX 26.440 XLX Sleeper Tractor, Euro 6, Auto, 26t, 6x2, Air Con, Air kit, Radio CD, 5th Wheel slider, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 289,404kms

2015/15 TGX 26.480 XLX Sleeper Tractor, Euro 6, Auto, 26t, 6x2, Air Con, Air kit, Radio CD, 5th Wheel slider, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 177,827kms

Variety of tailored ÀQDQFH SDFNDJHV available

Flexible servicing and repair & maintenance contracts

2016/16 TGS 26.360 LX Sleeper Curtain, Euro 6, Auto, 26t, 6x2, Air Con, Air kit, Radio CD, Tail lift, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 46,139kms

2016/16 TGX 26.440 XLX Sleeper Tractor, Euro 6, Auto, 26t, 6x2, Air Con, Air kit, Radio CD, 5th Wheel slider, Fridge, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 15,159kms

2016/16 TGL 7.180 C Day Curtain, Euro 6, Auto, 7.5t, 4x2, Air kit, Radio CD, Air Con, Tail lift, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 999kms

To access the full TopUsed range visit:

www.man-topused.co.uk AD_190617__P38.indd 38

14/06/2017 15:59:23

MAN – Broxburn: Callum Brotherton 07740 922750

2015/15 TGX 26.480 XLX Sleeper Tractor, Euro 6, Auto, 44t, 6x2, Air kit, Radio CD, 5th Wheel slider, Air Con, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 183,339kms

2016/16

2016/16 TGS 35.400 M Day Tipper, Euro 6, Auto, 32t, 8x4, Tipping Gear, Radio CD, Air Con, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 31,856kms

TGL 7.180 C Day Box, Euro 6, Auto, 7.5t, 4x2, Air kit, Radio CD, Tail lift, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 1,027kms

2014/64 TGX 26.440 XLX Sleeper Tractor, Euro 6, Auto, 44t, 6x2, Air kit, Radio CD, 5th Wheel slider, Air Con, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 254,786kms

2016/66 TGX 26.440 XLX Sleeper Tractor, Euro 6, Auto, 44t, 6x2, Air kit, Radio CD, Air Con, 5th Wheel slider, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 10,422kms

MAN – Manchester: Matt Neal 07740 922675

2013/13 TGL 7.180 C Day Box, Euro 5, Auto, 7.5t, 4x2, Air kit, Radio CD, Tail lift, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 314,716kms

2016/16 TGS 32.400 M Day Tipper, Euro 6, Auto, 32t, 8x4, Tipping Gear, Radio CD, LEZ compliant, ABBA Predator body and On Board Weighing System, Mileage: 364kms

AD_190617__P38.indd 39

2016/16 TGL 7.180 C Day Curtain, Euro 6, Auto, 7.5t, 4x2, Air kit, Radio CD, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 427kms

2015/15 TGX 26.480 XLX Sleeper Tractor, Euro 6, Auto, 44t, 4x2, Air kit, Radio CD, 5th Wheel slider, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 198,007kms

2016/16 TGM 18.250 LX Sleeper Curtain, Euro 6, Auto, 18t 4x2, Air kit, Radio CD, Tail lift, LEZ compliant, Mileage: 21,504kms

14/06/2017 15:59:48

MTR_190617_D01B48D_PhilB 14/06/2017 13:18 Page 2

www.truckandplantassets.com 01792 448080 / 0844 441 0081 admin@truckandplantassets.com Buy with confidence – Truck And Plant Asset Management Why Sell with Truck And Plant Asset Management?

Stock added daily – BID NOW! DIRECT - VIEWING AVAILABLE - 2007 IVECO EUROCARGO ML180E25S GULLY SUCKER, YEAR: 14-11-2007, MANUAL, DIESEL, TYRES GOOD, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS, V5, MOT, VEHICLE HISTORY, SPARE KEYS CHOICE SELECTION - DIRECT - 2011 DAF LF45.160, EURO 5 FRIDGE BODY, 12 TONNER, AUTOMATIC, DAYCAB, THERMO KING V5000 FRIDGE, 15FT BODY, ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR, SIDE LOADING DOOR, COLUMN TAIL LIFT, TYRES GOOD, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

CHOICE SELECTION - DIRECT - VIEWING AVAILABLE - 2013 PETREG MAN TGS 24.440 6X2/2 BLS M TRACTOR UNIT, YEAR: 17/11/2013 , AUTOMATIC, DIESEL, TYRES GOOD, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

CHOICE SELECTION - DIRECT - 2010 MERCEDES ECONIC 2628 REFUSE DISPOSAL, AUTOMATIC, DIESEL, YEAR: 01-04-2010, BLUE TEC 5

CHOICE SELECTION - DIRECT - VIEWING AVAILABLE - 2013 MAN TGX 26.440 6X2 BLS - AUTOMATIC, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

DIRECT FROM COUNCIL - CHOICE SELECTION - 2007 (57 PLATE) DENNIS ELITE REFUSE DISPOSAL

DIRECT - VIEWING AVAILABLE - 2013 (63 PLATE) MAN TGX 26.440 6X2, DOUBLE SLEEPER CAB, DOUBLE SLEEPER CAB, TRANSMISSION - AUTOMATIC, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

CHOICE OF 2 - DIRECT - 2007 LIEBHERR 964 C 360 EXCAVATOR, HOURS: 7399, LIEBHERR QUICK HITCH FOR SWAPPING BUCKET TO RIPPER, NEW CHAINS, NEW HYDRAULIC PUMP, BUCKET & RIPPER COMES WITH MACHINE, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

2007 LIEBHERR 764 BULLDOZER, HOURS: 8007, YOR: 2007, NEW TRACKS CHAINS & PAD, NEW SPROCKETS, NEW IDLER N/S, NEW HOIST RAM ROD, RIPPER FITTED, NEW BLADE CORNERS, CUTTING EDGE RECENTLY TURNED, CLEAN MACHINE, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

DIRECT - CHOICE SELECTION - 2012 MERCEDES ATEGO FAUN MINI SELECTPRESS, CW , ZOELLER 4X2 DISPOSAL VEHICLE, EURO 5, SPLIT RCV, FAUN SELECTOR PRESS, SEMI AUTOMATIC, DIGITAL TACHOGRAPH, REVERSE CAMERA SYSTEM, 15,000KG

DIRECT - 2010 RENAULT TRUCKS PREMIUM ROUTE 460.25 6X2 LD TML, AUTOMATIC, SLEEPER CAB, NO MECHANICAL FAULTS, NO LIGHTS SHOWING, TYRES GOOD

DIRECT FROM COUNCIL - CHOICE SELECTION, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TRAILER TT96, FULLY REFURBISHED IN EXCELLENT ORDER, SEALEY 2200W GENERATOR, COMES WITH TRAILER HITCH LOCK

DIRECT - 2008 HINO 700 EURO 4 8X4 GRAB 32TONNE, MANUAL, PALFINGER EPSILON PLUS, TYRES RUNNERS, REVERSING CAMERA, DIESEL, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

DIRECT - 2007 (57 PLATE) PEUGEOT PARTNER PANEL VAN, SIDE LOADING DOOR, MANUAL GEARBOX, PLY - LINED

DIRECT - 2010 SCANIA P440 6X2 TRACTOR UNIT, DIESEL, AUTO 3 PEDALS, SLEEPER CAB, TYRES GOOD, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

DIRECT - 2014 JCB WASTEMASTER 550/80 LOADALL WITH A TOP CLAMP BUCKET, 8386 HOURS DIESELMAX 97KW (130HP) ENGINE, 3 YEARS OLD, LIFT CAPACITY OF 5 TONNES AT 8M (FULL HEIGHT)

We are an online auction specialising in commercial vehicles, trailers and plant/machinery!! We also run a vehicle movement service at competitive prices.

Keep the vehicles at your premises until you receive cleared funds, as there is no need to transport vehicles off your premises unless you need the space. If this is the case then we will be more than happy to store them for you (also free) at one of our secure storage locations.

Check out our testimonial page which includes councils, major companies. http://www.truckandplantassets.co.uk/Client_Testimonials 100% free to sellers, there is no commission fee for selling your assets, and no hidden charges. We offer buyers & sellers the most cost efficient, reliable and hassle free service.

AD_190617__P40.indd 40

14/06/2017 16:03:14

www.truckandplantassets.com 01792 448080 / 0844 441 0081 admin@truckandplantassets.com Buy with confidence – Truck And Plant Asset Management Why Sell with Truck And Plant Asset Management?

Stock added daily – BID NOW!

DIRECT - 2008 (58 PLATE) MAN / ERF 26.280, THOMPSON STEEL TIPPER BODY, EPSILON E100L, CRANE GRAB, DAY CAB

DIRECT - 2007 SCANIA P310 TANKER, DOR: 05/11/2007, DIESEL, MANUAL, DAYCAB, 20,000 LTR TANK, 5 POT, TYRES GOOD, COMPLETE UNIT, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

DIRECT - 2007 RENAULT PREMIUM D, 20,000 LTR TANKER, YOR: 13/11/2007, MANUAL, DAYCAB, DIESEL, 20,000 LTR TANK, 5 POT, TYRES GOOD, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

2005 DAF CF 55.220, 18T SKIP LORRY / HYVALIFT EQUIPMENT, REVERSING CAMERA, DAY CAB, MANUAL GEARBOX

DIRECT - VIEWING AVAILABLE - 2013 VOLKSWAGEN CADDY, C20 TDI75, PANEL VAN, SIDE LOADING DOOR, 5 SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX, BHP - 74, CD PLAYER, PLYLINED, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS, TYRES GOOD

DIRECT - 2011 VOLVO FH 460, 6X2 TRACTOR UNIT, SINGLE SLEEPER CAB, AUTOMATIC GEARBOX, SUNROOF, FITTED COOLBOX (X2), AUX / USB PORTS,MOT - JUNE 2018

DIRECT - 2012 MAN TG-M 26.340 6X2-4 BLC, CURTAIN SIDE, AUTOMATIC, DIESEL, TYRES GOOD, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

DIRECT - 2011 MAN TG-M 18.250 4X2 BL C CURTAIN SIDE, YEAR: 11-11-2011, AUTOMATIC, DIESEL, TYRES GOOD, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

DIRECT - 2010 MERCEDES ATEGO 1224 LNR FRIDGE, MANUAL, DIESEL, FRIGOBLOCK EK13 FREEZER, YOR: 15-102010, MANUAL, DIESEL, TYRES GOOD, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

DIRECT - 2010 (60 PLATE) RENAULT 460 DXI, 6X2 TRACTOR UNIT, SLEEPER CAB, AUTOMATIC GEARBOX, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

2008 RENAULT PREMIUM 240 DXI, INSULATED VAN, TRANSMISSION - MANUAL GEARBOX, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS, TYRES GOOD, NO LIGHTS SHOWING, SLEEPER CAB

2005 DAF LF45.150, CURTAIN SIDE TUCKAWAY TAIL LIFT

DIRECT - 2012 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 313CDI, REFRIGERATED/FROZEN PANEL VAN, LONG WHEEL BASE, COOLERTECH DUEL COMPARTMENT BODY CONVERSION WITH MOVEABLE/REMOVEABLE BULKHEAD, SLIDING SIDE DOOR & DOUBLE REAR DOORS, HUBBARD 460AEL FRIDGE UNIT WITH STANDBY

LANCER BOSS MH40 FORKLIFT MH50/4B2, NEW BATTERY, MAY NEED NEW SPEEDO DIAL, 4 TON DIESEL, GOOD BRAKES, ALL HYDRAULICS WORKING

DIRECT - 2007 CARTWRIGHT TRI AXLE CURTAINSIDE TRAILER, DOR: 01/08/07, ROR RUNNING GEAR, AIR SUSPENSION, DRUM BRAKES, BARN DOORS, GOOD FLOOR, GOOD RAILS, GOOD CURTAINS, GOOD TYRES, NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

2014 BROADCROWN VOLVO PENTA ENGINE 55KVA, GENERATING SET, ONLY DONE 6 HOURS, BATTERIES BEEN REMOVED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, STARTS AND RUNS - NO KNOWN MECHANICAL FAULTS

2009 (59 PLATE) TERBERG YT182 SHUNTER, 4X2 TRACTOR UNIT, HOURS : 33147

DIRECT - DICOM STATIC WASTE COMPACTOR 3000 XHD

DIRECT - 1999 HAYTER TM739 GANG MOWERS X 4 JOB LOT, TWO RUNNERS, TWO NON RUNNERS HAVE HAD VARIOUS PARTS TAKEN OFF BUT WILL BE USEFUL DONORS FOR THE TWO RUNNERS

2008 (58 PLATE) IVECO 50C18 PRISON VAN, MANUAL GEARBOX, YOR: 31/12/2008, 6 CELL CUSTODIAL VEHICLE IDEAL FOR CONVERSION FISH & CHIP VAN /BURGER VAN/HORSE-BOX. DIRECT OUT OF SERVICE

Thinking of disposing of your fleet or perhaps you are downgrading or even have a vehicle that is surplus to requirements?

Then why not let us take all the stress of selling your assets. We will market your assets here in the UK and overseas. We sell for many top plc companies and others and our success rate is second to none. One of our nationwide inspectors will visit your premises by appointment only to view and take photographs of the assets for sale and then do an inspection report. (This is a completely free process for you as the seller!)

We then load them onto our worldwide online auction which runs weekly. If you are interested in what we have to offer you then don’t hesitate to give us a call - our staff will be happy to deal with any queries you may have.

There is no fee whatsoever to sell with us!

AD_190617__P40.indd 41

14/06/2017 16:03:39

MT Awards 2017 shortlists

motortransport.co.uk

Best Use of Technology Sponsored by

MT profiles the shortlists for this year’s awards Travis Perkins

Travis Perkins needed to collect data from its fleet to produce meaningful reporting – including data on passes, fails, speeding, fuel consumption and how long drivers spend on the road. However, its previous system had a number of shortfalls, so the business set about overhauling the existing reporting system. It opted for BigQuery, Google’s enterprise data warehouse of analytics. As it is a cloud-based, and serverless, storage system Travis Perkins benefited because traditional on-site backup of data became redundant, cutting costs. But that was just the start. As a business comprising 3,600 commercial vehicles, 6,000 drivers and 1,700 sites (not to mention four divisions), Travis Perkins consolidated reporting of a high volume of data – and allowed managers to focus on monitoring vehicle utilisation and minimising costs. BigQuery also enabled Travis Perkins to report MPG, allowing the business to focus on improvements to driver behaviour – which led to a 5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in its plumbing and heating division.

There is also the ability to better manage and identify driver risks: a daily

agencies were notified of driver requirements by telephone; hours were recorded with pen and paper. This led to sloppy timekeeping and increased costs. Saint Gobain selected Driver Exchange’s vendor management software in 2015 to fix the problems and deliver significant cost savings, and rolled it out in 2016 in just three months. It allowed Saint Gobain to centralise bookings across 1,100 branches and more than 400 drivers daily. It also allowed for the automated matching of driver requirements; by region; by hours or by specific terms and conditions. Those drivers are notified via a text message that takes the planning team just one click of a button. Timesheets are recorded electronically, giving managers an easily visible audit trail, trackable from site to site. Saint Gobain saved more than £100,000 by automating driver bookings by text; reduced pay-no-use hours by £210,000 and reduced over-buying of agency drivers by £175,000. Closer timesheet controls returned savings of £92,000.

The judges praised its cost savings and said that in a time when driver resources were increasingly scarce, a solution that allowed for the better use of their skills and resources was critical to the success of the industry as a whole.

McGee

speeding report allows divisional fleet managers to brief drivers on speeding incidents and change driver behaviour. This led to a 48% reduction in speeding events per 100,000 miles over the past year for its 3.5-tonne van fleet.

The judges praised the use of technology that allowed Travis Perkins to have an insight into its business that it had not had before.

Saint Gobain and Driver Exchange

Supporting more than 1,100 UK branches is a challenge for Saint Gobain, and it wanted to fix the problems such an operation can bring. Because Saint Gobain lacked a national view of agency driver requirements, it was wasting thousands of pounds paying for expensive ad hoc drivers at one site, while another would DX Workforce have drivers standing idle. It lacked Helping Saint Gobain get the best out of its teams control as there was not a sufficiently responsive authorisation process to allow management oversight on over-ordering agency drivers. Getting the right driver to the right site was complex, adding significant costs. And

42 MotorTransport MTR_190617_042 BEST TECH.indd 42

McGee was appointed by Edwardian Hotels London in January 2015 to build a £300m, 350-room hotel (with leisure facilities, cinema and restaurant) in Leicester Square. Following the demolition of the existing building, McGee was required to handle a 180,000 bulk excavation on the site – one of the most congested and hard-toaccess excavation sites in the capital. It employed a multi-technology approach: a bespoke mobile vehicle inspection app where drivers scan their mobile device against the vehicle’s NFC tags, ensuring a full physical inspection of the vehicle is carried out before it leaves the yard; all vehicles are fitted with vulnerable road user safety technology, such as audible left-turn alarms; four-way recordable camera systems; side under-run bars and side scan sensors; it used GPS-based Locatu Manager and worked in conjunction with Westminster City Council to reduce HGV movements around Leicester Square during the morning rush hour. This minimised waiting times and ensured McGee worked on a right place, right time basis; Tele Eye cameras were installed to provide live feeds of the roads around Leicester Square, which meant any problems could immediately be reported to the tipper driver, and they could divert if necessary; it used traffic-light weight-loading indications to ensure full compliance at all times, while a mobile project dashboard app improved communication between the site and the transport office. The result was 75,000m3 of earth removal in 8,333 lorry movements – creating London’s deepest hotel basement 30m below ground.

The judges praised the multi-technology approach, and the focus on the safety of vulnerable road users throughout the project.

19.6.17 15/06/2017 15:30:11

OVER £200,000 OF TRUCK, TRAILER AND LOAD, ALL RIDING ON A SMALL CONTACT PATCH ...ALONG WITH YOUR REPUTATION.

WITH BRIDGESTONE, IT’S ALL YOU NEED.

Bridgestone UK For your nearest Bridgestone Authorised Dealer visit our website AD_190617__P43.indd 43

@BridgestoneCV www.bridgestone.co.uk 14/06/2017 16:25:25

MT Awards 2017 shortlists

motortransport.co.uk

Customer Care Award Sponsored by DPD

DPD has a passion for customer care that has produced levels of sustainable profit growth unprecedented in the parcels sector. The company believes it has redefined the delivery experience for home shoppers, from online checkout through to the doorstep experience. Over recent years DPD has increased first-time deliveries through a combination of three technology-led customerdriven initiatives. These include: the DPD app, in which customers can create their own profile, set delivery preferences and track deliveries; its Precise product allows customers to choose their own, exact one-hour delivery slot on the day of their choosing; and DPD Pickup, where customers can choose, at the point of sale, to have their order delivered to the nearest DPD pick-up point.

Since 2008, DPD’s calling card rate for failed deliveries has dropped from 12% to 2.8% and since 2011 it has captured 59% of all new revenue available in its market. At the same time, the firm has won new home delivery business from a series of high-profile retailers.

Judges said the company has experienced amazing growth while keeping great customer care service levels. They described its entry as “excellent”.

Expect Distribution

Expect Distribution’s customer care team, comprising 11 operatives and one supervisor, is led by a customer relationship manager who ensures high levels of performance. There are monthly or quarterly review meetings involving the customer relationship manager or strategic account manager to review KPIs and look at service improvements. All relevant information is fed back to the company’s traffic office teams. Expect also produces a monthly customer care board report as well as standard customer KPI reporting and bespoke customer KPI reporting for larger clients providing only information useful to or requested by the client. It also carries out customer satisfaction surveys, customer spend reports, and produces a new client welcome pack. The company also has monthly meetings with each member of the customer care team to ensure they are adequately supported.

Judges said Expect had provided great customer testimonials, demonstrated excellent customer retention and taken customer service seriously. They liked the fact that customer/relationship managers were in place to review KPIs.

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Pladis/KP Snacks

In an annual service survey conducted independently by the Advantage Survey Group in 2013, Pladis UK and KP Snacks ranked 18th and 19th respectively out of UK ambient suppliers. The two businesses subsequently formed a partnership to service a common customer base from a customer service centre of excellence. A joint KP and Pladis customer champion team of 16, based in Ashby de la Zouch, was set up, complemented by a six-strong collaboration manager team based at retailer head offices including major supermarket chains. The team was given a mandate to radically change the way it engaged with customers at all levels, and fundamentally change customer perceptions. Both businesses adopted service as a total business KPI and delivered a much improved Advantage grocery survey result, with Pladis UK and KP Snacks number one for customer service in the latest report. Sharing of customer scoreboards, supplier league tables and inventory levels has been a great motivational tool.

Judges said that Pladis has made a clear and significant improvement in customer care, there is clear benchmarking against competitors and it has great customer service monitoring processes in place.

Panther Warehousing

Panther Warehousing, the two-man next-day delivery specialist, has a first-time delivery success rate of 99.4%, well above industry standards. At the start of every contract, Panther works with clients to set individual KPIs bespoke to their operation while at the same time identifying previous areas of concern and working with them to provide the best possible customer experience. A team of at least seven agents ensures – on a client-by-client basis – that KPIs are met. A dedicated team of 40 customer care specialists are also employed at the firm’s customer service centre in Northampton – rising to 65 to 70 during peak periods. A further 15 customer care staff operate across Panther’s eight depots. There are also individual teams with specific areas of responsibility covering outgoing and incoming calls and reporting. A dedicated account handling team deals with clients to understand their priorities, and a service recovery team deals with exceptional issues such as motorway closures, congestion or an end-user unexpectedly being out.

Judges praised Panther for its good performance statistics, 97.7% client retention and business growth, saying its operation is run with “military precision”.

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14/06/2017 16:08:27

MT Awards 2017 shortlists

motortransport.co.uk

Low Carbon Award Sponsored by

Brighthouse

Household goods rental firm Brighthouse created its E-Mission programme two years ago to reduce the carbon footprint of its daily movement of stock, spares and operations. The most significant carbon reduction has stemmed from three key actions: cube optimisation; localising waste and recycling; and fleet replacement. Cube optimisation saw the firm’s loading method redesigned to ensure little wastage, without the use of pallets. As a result, HGV miles were cut by 57.4% and £1.9m cost savings were achieved. Investment in localised waste and recycling facilities, including seven new compactors to improve baling efficiency, has also seen collection and deliveries reduced by 47.5%. Finally, a complete fleet review has been undertaken to reduce vehicle CO2 emissions – 206 large vans were replaced with smaller models, releasing 91g/km CO2 less per vehicle; a standardised box van specification for its 3.5-tonne Vauxhall Movano has been introduced; and there is a strategy to introduce hybrid and pure electric vehicles to the fleet following trials. Overall, Brighthouse reduced its carbon footprint by 17.7%.

The judges said the company demonstrated a strong, targeted approach, with a good reduction in vehicle mileage.

Fowler Welch

Fowler Welch developed a company-wide carbon-reduction initiative focusing on three core areas – transport, customers and facilities – with a dedicated, centralised team created to manage the process. Transport improvements have seen better use of telematics and driver training, which has led to a 12.5% increase in MPG to 9.43; investment in early adopter Euro-6 trucks; and the introduction of an auxiliary charging system trailer that uses kinetic energy to power the refrigerator unit. The trailer was designed in conjunction with Thermo King and emits 50% less CO2 than a standard refrigerated trailer. Working closely with customers has also helped Fowler Welch reduce CO2, introducing services such as jumbo trailers, automated pallet deliveries and surplus food collection. And a review of the company’s nine sites resulted in a number of energy-saving measures being adopted to drive a depot-wide cut in electricity use of almost 8%. Overall, Fowler-Welch has reduced its carbon footprint by 11.1% through MPG alone and saved 10,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.

One of the judges said: “The company has made a significant investment across the entire business to reduce its carbon footprint with a clear measurement of CO2 reduction.”

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Arla Foods

Arla Foods set itself a company-wide sustainability target to reduce CO2 emissions by 25% from 2005’s baseline by 2025, with the firm’s fleet responsible for delivering one-third of the reduction. Working with truck and trailer manufacturers, Arla has rolled out a number of unique vehicles to help reduce its carbon footprint and improve operational efficiency. These include the Eco Trailer, developed in 2016 with Crossland Tankers, which uses an electric-powered motor to collect milk from farms. This eliminates the need to keep a diesel engine running when loading the tank with milk. It has saved 1,040 litres of fuel a year, equating to approximately 3 tonnes of CO2 saving per trailer, as well as eliminating one route a week because of an increased tank capacity. Arla’s combination trailer has also been a big success story in reducing CO2. The units allow Arla to transport both raw milk and finished dairy products in a half-milk tanker/ half-refrigerated trailer combo, thus reducing empy mileage from previously empty return journeys. High-efficiency trailers have also been introduced to increase payload by 16% and reduce vehicle journeys; 13 are now in operation on the fleet with an annual carbon saving of 279 tonnes. In addition, a hybrid 26-tonne Volvo refrigerated rigid is being used in Leeds city centre, with a Scandinavian-influenced lightweight Milk Tanker of the Future also achieving greater payload and lower fuel consumption.

The judging panel was impressed with the company’s good innovation that it applied to tankers and trailers, with great examples of CO2 reduction both in place and projected.

John Lewis Partnership

John Lewis Partnership has been working with researchers and vehicle manufacturers to roll out Europe’s largest fleet of long-distance dedicated biomethane-fuelled trucks for its Waitrose operation. As part of a long-term plan to see the entire JLP tractor unit fleet fuelled by biomethane, development work was needed to enable them to carry out the same work as diesel trucks.

JLP bought 10 vehicles without fuel tanks and initiated an independent project to develop higher-capacity and higher-pressure 250bar tanks, which included certifying US-sourced tanks for use in Europe and sign-off from truckmaker Scania. Now fully operational, there are 10 trucks on the roads today, with a further 35 due to enter service this year and more than 100 planned for 2018 delivery. By 2025, the intention is to have renewed the entire 500-strong JLP HGV fleet with dedicated biomethane-fuelled models.

The judges praised the collaboration with universities to identify the best fuel for the fleet and with the National Grid to ensure biomethane supply would be maintained.

19.6.17 14/06/2017 13:53:19

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14/06/2017 16:10:07 24/03/2017 17:24

MT Awards 2017 shortlists

motortransport.co.uk

Fleet Van Operator of the Year Sponsored by Gnewt Cargo

It’s hard to believe that a common interest in electric scooters could lead Gnewt Cargo to the shortlist for Fleet Van Operator, but alternative power is the foundation of Gnewt’s co-founders Sam Clarke and Matthew Linnecar’s ambitions. In 2008, when the pair met, they decided to disrupt the way parcel delivery was done in London, using their knowledge of the electric scooter market to propose a zero-emission last-mile delivery solution using electric tricycles. Their mission was to reduce pollution, particulate emissions and congestion while delivering a better doorstep delivery service than competitors.

After gaining their first contract with Office Depot, the pair realised tricycles weren’t enough to meet demand, so the company expanded to incorporate fully electric vans, catching the eye of national delivery company Hermes. The company now operates a fleet of more than 100 electric vehicles and last year delivered more than 2.6 million parcels using its all-electric fleet. By working with Hermes, it has saved more than 292 tonnes of carbon and reduced NOX levels by 71%. Together it has also helped reduce Hermes’ road miles in the City of London by a third.

The judges were particularly impressed with the speed of growth, shifting business model and innovation. One judge commented that the firm’s “improvements in productivity show the big players that it [zero-emission last-mile delivery] can be done”.

minimum 97% first-time MoT pass rate. All of these help generate a minimum 95% fleet availability at all times. Year-on-year the relationship with Fraikin has grown, and now Sainsbury’s Online’s entire fleet is managed by it on a four-year contract. As a result, productivity has increased dramatically. In addition to intelligent fleet management, attention has been paid to the vehicles and their usage, resulting in the redesign of the vehicle’s rear steps to limit damage and lower operating costs.

The exercise led to a 40% reduction in damage rates that the judges identified as “an innovative approach to reducing in-life damage”. Supported by excellent customer testimonials, Sainsbury’s Online’s submission showed the panel that even though expectations are high, supermarkets still have the ability to surprise.

Speedy Services

Capably demonstrating a range of initiatives to improve the Speedy Services business as well as high levels of customer service impressed the judges.

Offering tool sales and hire, along with professional training and support services, Speedy demonstrated regular driver training and increased productivity while maintaining a firm grip on its health and safety obligations and environmental impact. With more than 200 depots in the UK and Ireland, Speedy reviewed its logistics network and redesigned the way it moved assets internally, changing routes to reduce annual mileage. Using local knowledge,

Sainsbury’s Online

The continued growth of the home delivery sector positions the supermarkets as the most obvious pioneers for fleet operations. Their large fleets travel large distances often on the most arduous of operations, yet their visibility and prominence as household names means their professionalism, customer satisfaction and health and safety records must remain second to none.

Sainsbury’s Online, in conjunction with Fraikin, set about maximising its fleet’s efficiency and minimising downtime through strict requirements and procedures that include a three-hour vehicle repair or replace programme, strict call answering within 20 seconds, 100% ontime servicing and MoT, and a

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experience and its IT systems, between January 2016 and January 2017 it reported vehicle utilisation up by 32%, ensuring the correct types of vehicles were used for specific location or load deliveries. Driver training has meant the introduction of in-cab feedback on driving styles, as well as training courses to improve professionalism among staff.

Renewing the fleet to meet Euro-6 standards has reduced the fleet’s emissions; however, it was the introduction of an upgraded telematics system with in-cab driver feedback that has had the greatest effect, reducing CO2 emissions by 12%. In addition, Speedy has also introduced three BMW i3 electric cars to the fleet and converted them for use as vans.

This innovation, along with sustained improvements in training and health and safety, led the judges to single out Speedy as a shining example of good fleet management and practice among van fleet operators.

19.6.17 14/06/2017 13:49:12

RENAULT TRUCKS MASTER… THE HEART OF EFFICIENCY

Ian Short, Managing Director, Morley Glass.

We’ve always chosen the Renault Trucks Master as we are guaranteed tailored, highly-efficient vehicles, backed up by the best quality service maintenance support 24/7.”

The Renault Trucks Master, a unique proposition, delivered by transport professionals who understand how your business ticks. Tailored solutions…only from Renault Trucks.

Proud sponsor of Fleet Van Operator of the Year at the Motor Transport Awards, 2017

TO FIND YOUR LOCAL RENAULT TRUCKS DEALER, VISIT RENAULT-TRUCKS.CO.UK OR CALL 0870 60 60 660 renault-trucks.co.uk

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