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18th March 2004
18th March 2004
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Page 1, 18th March 2004
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Page 6

Zero defence for drivers, says court

European justice says drivers are responsible for any contraband found in their trucks. Keith Nuthall and Jennifer Ball report...

MAN looks to take on van sales

MAN IS ON THE verge of agreeing a deal which could see its European dealer network selling and servicing vans alongside...

Page 7

TNT calls for delivery ban

TNT EXPRESS has called on operators to join its fight against a daytime delivery ban on London's Tottenham Court Road. It says...

Hanson subbies return to work

UP - 10 50 I Janson subcontractors in south Wales have returned to work after the aggregates company agreed to review the...

Toome bypass cuts journey times

NORTHERN IRELAND Office Regional Development Minister John Spellar officially opens the £18m Toome bypass, from the 99m Toome...

Page 10

One fatality is one too many

Brian Weatherley welcomes the falling number of fatalities each year on Britain's roads. But how can we reduce the numbers even...

EU can't make a smart move

The EU refuses to revise the starting date for smart-card tachos, leaving us with just a "gentlemen's agreement". Dominic Perry...

Page 11

Linq consortium wins first contract

HAULIER CONSORTIUM Ling Alliance looks likely to unveil its first contract within the next few weeks, according to chief...

Residential detou

A BEDFORDSHIRE haulier at the centre of a row over nighttime deliveries claims he is being victimised by more than 100...

Page 12

EU influx sees penalty void

The DfT has no plans to deal with drivers from the 10 new EU states. Chris Tindall reports. THE DEPARTMENT for Transport...

Tragedy as driver is crushed by HGVs

A TRUCK DRIVER has been crushed to death between two vehicles at a haulage yard in Lancashire. Jeffery Davies, 56, from...

BAA welcomes tax talk

TIIE BRITISH AGGREGATES Association (BAA) has welcomed a government report which questions how well the aggregates levy is...

Page 14

Trucks lose out on green funds

Capping green grants is a mistake, says the EIC. Jennifer Ball reports. THE ENVIRONMENTAL Industries Commission (EIC) has...

Armed gang to appeal

A GANG OF MEN who kidnapped a truck driver at gunpoint and stole his load of computer equipment worth more than £170,000 have...

IN THE NEWS

Stuart Thomas gives us his regular round-up of the way the newspapers have covered the world of transport this week. This is...

Page 16

Trainers voice anger over cancelled tests

Driving examiners' work to rule causes havoc for HGV driver training centres. Jennifer Ball reports. A BEDFORDSHIRE HGV...

Deadline looms for Motor Transport awards

ARE YOU A TOP truck dealer? Then prove it by entering the Dealer of the Year category of the Motor Transport Awards — but...

Page 17

German government extends toll deadline

TOLL COLLECT will continue building the LKW-Maut truck toll scheme on Germany's motorways. having agreed to have the...

Subbie applies fc bankruptcy order

A YORKSHIRE subbie is trying to get a bankruptcy order against a local haulier which she claims owes her £4.000 for work dating...

Page 18

Animal route under threat

A battle is on to close the Rosslare-Cherbourg route to live animals for slaughter. But where will that leave Irish farmers?...

Fifty jobs lost after takeover

NEARLY 50 DRIVERS are losing their jobs in a shake-up of catalogue shopping group Shop Direct. The company, whose brands...

Uncertainty over Dutch operator

THERE WAS uncertainty this week over the fate of Dutch operator Stok Continental Services — with sonic reports suggesting it...

Page 20

Dealers call for brake 111 testing investigation

Ministry brake testing is unreliable, says the Retail Motor Industry Federation. Guy Sheppard reports. TRUCK DEALERS are...

V EL denies plans to cut V6 lorry toll

M6 TOLL OPERATOR Midland Expressway (MEL) has denied recent press reports that it plans to slash the £10 toll for trucks to...

Irish drivers boycott M1 toil

IRISH TRUCK DRIVERS say they will continue to boycott a toll station on the northbound M1 motorway at Drogheda despite pressure...

Page 22

Inventors' corner

CM has been checking out two new products which have the potential to save life, limb — and money. A new invention from South...

Not quite as life-threatening as being crushed by a trailer,

uninvited visitors to a trailer, whether thieves, stowaways or worse, are still a major nuisance. Ulster engineer Martin...

Page 24

February Sales

The SMMT says sales of light vans (up to 1.8 tonnes GVW) were up 6,9% in February, continuing an upward trend despite a fall in...

Output down

The Off ice of National Statistics reports that in the past three months mining and quarrying output fell by 1.9% compared with...

Page 26

Golden opportunity

Christopher Macgowan, boss of the Society of Votor Manufacturers and Traders, claims to have his dream job. Jennifer Ball...

Page 30

We can't pick and choose

WHILE DRIVERS CONTINUE to flout laws we don't agree with we are effectively hiding the absurdities of those laws by ignoring...

Social law, not safety law

IN LAST WEEK'S Commercial Motor (11 March).Barry Proctor challenged the road safety credentials of the Freight Transport...

Disgracefully lenient

I'M WRITING in response to the disgracefully lenient penalty levied on an Italian truck driver following a crash on the M11....

Page 32

Enigma variations

Iveco's new CEO, Jose Maria Alapont, joined the Italian truck builder with a formidable reputation — Andy Salter assesses his...

Page 33

The early indications are good. Alapont claims to have returned

the compE to decent levels of profitl the final quarter of 2003 E has a clear plan for growl 2004. Registrations seen be on the...

Page 35

Bell rings licence changes for firms hit by 9/11 attack

A new haulier has been granted an interim licence to carry on the work of two companies that have closed down. Mike Jewell...

FREE LEGAL CLINIC!

CM'S legal section welcomes your questions which will be answered in prir by top transport lawyers. Contact: Patric Cunnane,...

Page 36

Wheel-loss operator loses 0-licence for three weeks

A CARDIFF COMPANY has had its licence suspended for three weeks after one of its vehicles was involved in a wheel-loss...

No tax and unlicensed driver cost UN

USING A VEHICLE without an excise licence and allowing it to be driven by an unqualified driver cost a London company £700 in...

Page 38

Magistrates grant conditional discharge for overloading

BUCKINGHAM-BASED Gates & Co escaped with a conditional discharge for 12 months and an order to pay £50 costs after it pleaded...

TC adjourns case pending depot checks

CONSIDERATION OF disciplinary action against the North-Western Area 0-licence held by Pilkington UK has been adjourned...

Page 40

Danger man

Operators who handle hazardous goods are legally required to appoint Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers. But what do they do? Pat...

Page 41

Safety adviser's duties • Advise the employer on all aspects

dangerous goods transport • Monitor how the firm complies with legal requirements • Compile an annual report on the company's...

Page 43

Free legal advice at CV shol

CM is launching a free legal clinic at the forthcoming CV Show in Birmingham. Patric Cunnane explains how operators can claim...

Page 44

Are my hours limited?

1 drive a Mercedes Sprinter which is lighter than 3.5 tonnes.Are there any limit to the hours !can drive at present —and how...

Do I need liability insurance?

I hire myself out as an HGV driver and have set myself up as a driver agency, of which I am the only employee. Do! need public...

Do I have to pay?

Do I have to pay a workshop bill which I feel is excessive? I was charged £32.50 for an emergency half-hour welding job in a...

Do racers need 0-Ikences?

Does a limited company whose business activity is running a racing car team need an 0-licence for its trailers used to...

Page 47

Ask drivers to name ti favourite flagship tractors Volvo will

inevitably come n the top of the list We tak closer look at the humble W ith the acquisition of Renault Vel Industriels and...

Page 48

BROOKE WILLIAMS TRANSPORT

Brooke Williams says his key to success over the past 18 years has been taking on all the lobs the big boys don't want. His...

Page 49

THE RED BOOK

— ercial edition Barry Travis, editor of the Heavy Commercial edition of The Red Book, says: The cab has become dated and its...

Page 52

1.11k VIM; operations director Rocor is one of nout 600

packaging companies that supply various industries throughout the UK. Based at St Ives near Cambndge it operates a fleet of...

Page 54

Marlin Wells, transport manager for Rotherham-based Speedframe, says: "We operate

a fleet of 24 trucks including a couple of Actros 38-tonne adios to deliver 7,000 plastic doors and windows to the trade each...

Page 55

Chris Wright is MD of Commercial Vehicle Auctions. CVA holds

sales at Doncaster on two Wednesdays each month with a throughput of some 300 CVs and 140 trailers. It also stages an auction...

Iasi year the 7.51/12-tome market accounted for 1,108 vehicles; the

sector from 12-15 tonnes accounted for a further 1,883. The three big players here are Oaf, Mercedes and lveco. Will sales of...

Page 57

RETAIL THERAPY!

If you're looking to update your fleet with anything from a premium tractor to a fresh seat cover you'll find what you need at...

Page 60

Around the show

Alcoa will present the first forged aluminium wide-base 17.00x22.51n wheel with a 67mm inset for 495/45 R 22.5 tyres (see...

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Around the show

Partek Cargotec will be launching a unique telemetry-based system of monitoring the weight of containers as they're mounted on...

Page 78

SAFETY FIRST..

AND LAST Deaths, injuries, fines, lost productivity and iost 0-licences are among the potential consequences of workshop...

Page 80

DEFENDANT: SPARKS COMMERCIAL SERVICES, SOUTHAMPTON Offence date: 14 January 1999

ncident: A mechanic was burned when using an o'-acetylene torch to cut brackets holding the exterior pipework of a road tanker...

DEFENDANT: KANE HAULAGE, ST ALBANS Hearing: 28 November 2000 Incident

An employee was injured when he fell into a vehicle inspection pit at an HGV workshop. Part of the pit was not covered at the...

DEFENDANT: TRUCKRAFT (DONCASTER) Offence date: 7 March2000 Incident: An 18-year-old

apprentice HGV mechanic was killed when an HGV slipped off its supporting jack. He was working under the direct supervision of...

Page 81

Getting it right: case studies

RISK ASSESSMENT AT INTEROUTE TRANSPORT Fleet size: 400 vehicles and 700 trailers Sites: 25 in the UK Jeff Nicholson is fleet...

RISK ASSESSMENT AT DAVID FOX TRANSPORT Fleet size: 31 tractors/130

trailers Sites: 2 Middlesbrough-based David Fox Transport runs 31 trucks and 130 trailers operating from two depots. In general...

Page 85

PROTECT YOUI ASSETS

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is often the last resort in safeguarding mechanics. But simply giving them gloves, overalls...

Page 86

Although barrier creams and latex gloves are not directly mentioned

in the legislation involving PPE they could well be recommended under risk assessment processes where skin meets oils and other...

Kitting yourseif out

What exactly is classified as Personal Protective Equipment'? Aprons. clothing for adverse weather conditions, gloves...

Page 88

BAY WATCH

Do you run a busy CV workshop? Robin Meczes takes a look at a software system that's designed to make sure the whole operation...

Page 89

VMS: facts and figures

Costs • Distinctive Systems VMS ranges from a base cost for a single user system of £2,000 (for up to 20 vehicles) in...

Page 90

Software does what it says

Although it's been marketed at the HGV sector for over a year, all VMS's users to date are in the PSV sector Michael Wooten,...

Page 94

IT PAYS TO SPECIALISE

RD Anderson Haulage fields a conventional fleet of truck-mounted cranes. But as Tim Maughan learned, it distinguisnes itself...

Page 98

From profit to problems

Brian Lee's haulage firm was doing really well then his three biggest customers' problems suddenly became his problems 0 n23...

Page 99

Ain fair in Wear and Tear

Men a contract deal comes to an end there's the risk of a dispute over the vehicle's condition — unless you use the new BVRLA...

Page 100

The precious, the rare and the lesser spotted

Our Glass's Guide editor talks us through the vehicles which are holding their own — and some which are doing far better than...

Page 101

Disposal prices Contrary to popular belief, not every vehicle returning

to the used market has survived in mint condition, so to help the trade Glass's Guide is publishing 'disposal' prices next to...

Page 102

Before they pass away...

MANI's F2000 tractor has been a faithful servant but its time is almost over. It's being exported en masse and the incumbent...

Page 103

CM'S VERDICT MAN Diesel has slimmed down its growing used

vehicle parc by offloading four and five-year-old F2000s to eastern Europe via its European dealerships, allowing the TGA to...