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24th March 1988
24th March 1988
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Page 1, 24th March 1988
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OF FERRIES AND TAXES

• International road haulage is now one of Britain's principal lifelines. Over 90% of our ferry-borne imports and exports...

LAST CHANCE TO BE AT FMC '88

• Bookings for this year's Commercial Motor Fleet Management Conference are breaking all records. With almost a month to go...

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IN BRIEF

• The strike by up to 6,000 Land Rover workers at Solihull in the West Midlands appears to be over after a back-to-work deal...

Ferry designs 'place lives at risk'

• Only weeks after the first anniversary of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster, Britain's RO-RO ferries have been slammed as...

Wife wins damages

• A woman whose husband was killed in a road accident with an articulated truck has won £250,000 damages in the High Court....

Operators on report

• Four PSV operators' licences were suspended, 40 curtailed and 13 revoked during 1986-1987, according to the Annual Report of...

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• National Express, which carries nearly 15 million passengers a

year on its inter-city network, has been sold to its managers in a move led by managing director Clive Myers. Last week's sale...

Road decline is halted

• Britain's roads are in a worse condition than they were 10 years ago — but their deterioration has now stopped, says the...

Asleep-at-wheel drivers scandal

ili More than 16% of lorry drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel and 7% have crashed as a result, claims a survey by the...

• Arsonists have destroyed 25 buses in an attack which

caused over 21 million worth of damage to the Bee Line bus company depot in Newbury, Berkshire. The blaze, which started at...

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• The Japanese are set to make further inroads into

Europe's van market, warns a study by the Economist magazine's Intelligence Unit. By 1991 Japanese manufacturers will have a...

Europe—land of RHA slams HGV

the rising van licence plans • The Road Haulage Association has hammered Department of Transport plans to reduce the HGV...

Municipals' buying power

• Local authorities account for 4% of the UK truck market — but they have been slow to recognise their coherence as a sector,...

Driver awarded £14,000

• A tanker driver who was hurt when another truck ran into the back of his vehicle has won .274,000 damages in the High Court....

• Police hunting thieves who hijacked two lorries in separate

attacks at a motorway service area have issued a new warning to drivers parking their vehicles: always keep passenger doors...

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Lawson's Budget blows sink in

• Did the Chancellor rob Peter to pay Paul last week? Or did he rob Peter again, just for the sake of it? Peter, in this case...

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Renault drops two from G-range

11 Renault Truck Industries has rationalised its G-range of tractive units, withdrawing two models from its UK heavy truck...

Transit gets sliding door

• Specialist light vehicle convertor MP Terberg is now offering a sliding door conversion for all high-roof Ford transit vans....

Self-steer low-loader

• Andover Trailers has developed a 46-tonne gross weight air-suspended tri-axle low-loader trailer with a selftracking rear...

MI In our recent sleeper cab group test (CM 18-24

February) we listed in-cab noise figures for the Leyland Daf 95-380 which we have since discovered to be incorrect. Retesting...

111 NFC Contract Distribution has developed a prototype reefer semi-trailer

which can be set for different temperatures in up to three separate compartments. The 12.2m tandem-axle trailer has Gray-Adams...

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Gardner raises power stakes

with new 6LXDT • Gardner's long-awaited 213kW (310hp) 6LDXT engine should become available to UK operators at the end of the...

Boalloy tough with Euroline

• Boalloy has launched Euroliner, a specially-adapted version of the Tautliner curtain-sided trailer, designed to appeal to...

• The first Leyland Daf 6 x 2 lift-axle FTS

95.380 to go into service is now working for Steve Crow Haulage of Wakefield, transporting building materials around South...

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GM Buses fights back

• Greater Manchester Buses, the UK's biggest operator outside London, has become the first deregulated company to publish...

Lots more minis make it cheaper

• Local bus travel in the UK (outside London) rose by 4% between the financial years 1985/86 and 1986/87, thereby reversing...

Carelink opts for Optare

• London Buses has launched its new service for mobility handicapped people travelling between London's main line railway...

Bedwas bodies on the buses

• Bedwas Bodyworks is now offering its new Transit-based PV400 MKII body for welfare, mini-bus or PSV conversions. In its...

• The National Bus Company will cease to exist at

the end of this month. "We are proud of the group's achievement in selling 72 separate subsidiaries some nine months ahead of...

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Javelin bus breaks out

• Dennis Specialist Vehicles of Guildford has completed its first Javelin single-deck bus chassis, which will be bodied by...

Local authorities Express Freeways

• Five of Britain's !ages al authorities have placed orders for almost £1 mink worth of Coventry-built T Express Freeway...

North Western Road Car flies National Bus Company nest

• National Bus Company has confirmed the sale of North Western Road Car of Bootle, Merseyside to Drawlane, the Salisbury-based...

• Cambus has invested in 17 new Optare CityPacers and

three double-deckers based on the Leyland Olympian chase with Optare bodywork. The double-deckers are powered b 10.45-litre,...

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Dll launches 1992 drive

• The Government has launched'a publicity drive to alert hauliers and other businessmen to the changes that will follow the...

Star acquires BCT in Dover

Star chairman John Jaws • Dover transport firm BCT has been bought from the Bowater Corporation by Star Cargo Group. The...

Irish axle boost

• Irish rescue vehicle manufacturer Timmoney Group says it is on the brink of a major export deal with the Teledyne Corporation...

Caird buys into Leigh Interests

• Waste disposal contractor A Caird and Sons is buying £1.06 million of shares in Leigh Interests, the skip hire and waste...

• E & J Meeks has bought 10 Leyland Daf

FT 95.310s with Wilcox Seadyke tipping trailers for a contract to move coal from South Wales to Didcot Pow er Station in...

IN BRIEF

• Six of Britain's biggest independent bakers have formed a marketing consortium with a combined distribution fleet of 1,000...

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Tiphook Kassbohrer

• Tiphook, Europe's largest traler rental group, has bought Kassbohrer FahrzeugMietservice, one of West Germany's biggest...

News revolution rolls on

• Two more of Britain's leading publishers, Mirror Group and IPC, are to radically overhaul their distribution by reducing...

IN BRIEF

• Renault's truck manufacturing subsidiary, the stateowned Renault Vehicules IndustrieIs, has returned to the black, a year...

New hub for Intedink

• Interlink Express, the parcels and distribution company, reports £3.08 million pre-tax profits for the last six months of...

• Storage and Haulage, the Birmingham-based subsidiary of the Transport

Development Group, has changed its name to S&H Distribution and has unveiled a new livery for its vehicles. The compay offers...

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• A public inquiry to decide on a haulier's bid

for an international licence had to be adjourned after the company's representative walked out and failed to return. Quarry...

No redundancy for 15-year 'temp'

• A lorry driver who worked seven months a year for the same company for 15 years did not have sufficient continuous employment...

Youth mini-bus driver is fined

• An under-age driver who crashed a mini-bus full of Youth Training Scheme workers has been fined £75 for careless driving, but...

• No action has been taken against the licence of

Boltons Haulage of Rishton by North Western Licensing Authority Martin Albu, despite convictions recorded against three of the...

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Terry Shaw is closed down

• A northern coach operator has been put out of business until it can prove itself capable of maintaining its vehicles properly...

Depot row in Hull

• Operators will no longer be allowed to specify only part of their premises as operating centres, following a ruling in...

II A bid by Kentish haulier View Transport for an

additional operating centre and three additional vehicles has been turned down by South Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority...

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BUSINESS MOVES

ELAN EXPANDS • Elan International is opening a branch in Switzerland as part of its new service to that country. The depot, at...

TACHODISC TAKEOVER • Tachodisc, the tachograph and accessories supplier, has

taken over Transtac Analysis of Warrington. Tachodisc, also of Warrington, has appointed Anne McDougall as general manager of...

SILVER ROADWAY TO BROMLEY • Silver Roadways has moved its

head office from Croydon, Surrey to Bromley in Kent. The company can be contacted at Enterprise House, 45 Homesdale Road,...

INTERNATIONAL

OFF TO FRANCE • Ferrymasters Groupage Division has expanded its groupage services to Eastern France with a new twice-weekly...

TRIMOCO GETS LONGER IN DUNSTABLE • Trimoco Truck and Van

Rental in Dunstable has extended its weekday opening hours to 07:30-18:30hrs, and its weekend opening hours to 07:30-12:00hrs....

NEW IRISH SEA SEALINK ROUTE • Sealink British Ferries is

introducing a new ferry service from Liverpool to Dun Laoghaire following the successful conclusion of manning negotiations...

SECURITY

NEW ALARMS SOUNDS OFF IN THE CAB • National Windscreens has launched an alarm system which is triggered by an ultrasonic sensor...

NORWICH UPS ITS COVER ON COVERS • Norwich Union is

uprating its Haulage Contractor Goods in Transit policy by removing the specific limits for tarpaulins, ropes, skips, and...

EVENTS

DEMING DEBATE • The Deming Association, founded in Britain in 1987 to communicate the Japanesestyle management philosophy of Dr...

COMPUTERS

INTERLEASING'S DISASTER DEAL • Computer group HewlettPackard has signed a deal with Interleasing (UK) to provide a mobile...

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COMPUTER ROUTE WRH AUTOROUTE • Autoroute, the first software package

from NextBase, is claimed to be able to plot the best road route to any destination in the UK. It is designed to bring...

ROAD NEWS

STAMFORD DELAYS PREDICTED ON Al • Drivers have been warned to expect delays on the Al near Stamford while repairs are carried...

RESCUE AND REPAIR AREA ON THE Ml • Woodall Service

Area on the M1 in South Yorkshire has been chosen as the latest site in a chain of motorway rescue and repair centres operated...

ROADWORKS

• London and the South East Mu l Essex: Contraflow between junctions Sand 10 (Bishops Stortford/Dwdord). M25 Surrey: Overnight...

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ARE ME DTp GOING MAD?

• So the DTp is finally going to launch a "blitz" on foreign hauliers after Easter (CM 1016 March), but it doesn't want to...

THE BINIFIVI OF PROTECTION

• I was horrified to read that motorway bandits have been hijacking trucks, along with their drivers (CM 17-23 March). I have...

LOCATIONS BEFORE PHONE NUMBERS • Further to Michael Dalrymple's letter

(CM 18-24 February) I think many readers would find it more helpful if advertisers would state the place where their goods may...

WHO HUSHES WHO?

• I am intrigued as to the basic facts the London Boroughs Transport Committee say we have ignored in our criticism of its hush...

GOT IT TETPED

• Re Teyps: (Bird's Eye View, CM 25 Feb-2 March) here's my guess — for "teyps" read "tapes" — magnetic, cassette recorders for...

KIND WORDS • I found the FL4 roadtest (CM 3-9

March) interesting, informative and unusually pleasant to read due to the humour that Andrew English incorporates in his...

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• The Hawk has long held the belief that when

it comes to keeping the customer satisfied, it is the independent companies, rather than manufacturers and their dealers, who...

• The RHA's Eastern District has donated .25,600 to the

Peterborough-based Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. The service will now be able to buy a Comitool — a piece of...

• Commercial Motor can be thoroughly relied on for accuracy

in all its reports. My colleagues pride themselves in their knowledge of commercial vehicles. These vehicles come in various...

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EWARD FOR VALOUR?

At least 200 people died in the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster. If it were not for owner-driver Larry O'Brien, the death...

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COMMON COMPONENT

The D2840L engine is one of the series of large-displacement diesel engines which are produced on a components-sharing basis...

VISUAL CLUE

Inside the cab the story is much ti same. The cab is the normal wide (2,440nmi) sleeper version of the 1 and the only obvious...

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SMOOTH SOPHISTICATION

Pulling away from rest in town does nothing to detract from this air of smooth sophistication. The servo-assisted clutch (with...

SEVERE GRADIENTS

On the gentle inclines of the Autobahns, the 19.462 was often happier cruising along in 8 low, keeping engine speed at around...

NOTICEABLE WIND NOISE

This vehicle, with an air-suspended drive axle and pulling a Kassbohrer triaxle trailer with air equalisation on steel...

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REIGNING SUPREME (AT THE MOMENT)

II That the 7.5-tonne truck is important to road transport is beyond doubt. It accounts for over 25% of all heavy commercial...

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WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Six out of the ten heavy goods vehicle manufacturers selling trucks in the UK produce a non-I-IGY model at 7.5 tonnes GVW. In...

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WHAT DOES THE TEAM THINK?

OPERATORS CHECK OUT THE CONTENDERS Manufacturers make plenty of promises about their vehicles — but how do working operators...

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WANTED: RUGGED RELIABILITY

SLD uses a computer to keep an eye on its fleet of 7.5-tonners which have to operate in some of the worst conditions...

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THE FRENCH ARE COMING?

Are thousands of French hauliers poised to roar through the chunnel after harmonisation in 1992 — or are they more worried...

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THE SHAPE OF

THINGS TO COME How do operators in Europe view the frontier-free future which lies beyond 1992? We have been talking to...

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FR M BLUE MP TO BLUE CHIP

• For many hauliers Aston Clinton Haulage must seem to run an ideal operation. The Aylesbury-based company specialises in the...

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AMERICAN VARIATIONS

Having offered its one-tonne pickup since 1986, Nissan has now fitted a diesel option. These 4 ,< 4s have sold well in the...

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• LAIDLAW TRUCKS ROSS Laidlaw Trucks of Bellshill, one of

the largest Iveco Ford truck dealerships in Scotland, has appointed Mister Ross as bodyshop manager. He will be responsible for...

• PNN FLINDERS/KAYE

Glyn Flinders is joining PHH as sales executive of its new contract hire operation. He previously worked for American Express....

• UNIIID CARIUIRS DODD

Express parcel delivery company United Carriers has appointed Ian Dodd as sales and marketing director. He joins the...

• INTERNATIONAL • XPRESS CLARKE Bob Clarke is the new

managing director of freight forwarder International Express. He holds a master's degree in transportation. Clarke was...

• LAIDIAW TRUCKS WINNING A new truck service manager has

been appointed by Laidlaw Trucks of Bellshill. John Winning, who is also Chairman of the Scottish Committee of the Institute of...

• WESSIDE BURT Coach operator Wessex of Bristol has appointed

Alan Burt as general manager of one of its recently-acquired travel agencies, Brackenbury Educational Travel. He was previously...

• CENTRAL MOTOR AUCTIONS AGATE/PILKINGTON Alan Agate has been appointed

regional manager of Central Motor Auction's southern area, responsible for offices at Mitcham and Dursley. Mike Pilkington...

• MILLBAY COCKBURN Bob Cockburn has been appointed general manager at Millbay Vehicle Sales, the

north-eastern MAN-VW truck dealer. He has worked in the industry for over 30 years and is a fellow of the Institute of the...

• CARLYLE GROUP BRIDGE Carlyle Group has appointed Mike Bridge

as director and general manager of its engineering services and Van Hool operations. He was previously divisional manager of...

• TANIUMEIONT PENFOLD Tankfix, the CV engineering and servicing division

of NFC road tanker operator Tankfreight, has appointed Ken Penfold as national sales and marketing manager. He had held a...

• NM OLLIVER

Dennis 011iver has divisional director of National Freight Con new home services c The companies in the which will report to (...

• KELTRUCK CARSON Geoff Carson is the managing director of

the West Bromwich : truck distributor. He ed in the diesel engin tion business for 18 3

• LEX LOGISTIC( SHEPHERD Ian Shepherd has hi appointed managing

d Lex Logisticon, the si warehouse manageme company within Lex 1 Services Group. Shepherd has been manager and then ope...

• OBTIVARY HAINS

Ted Haim, chairman East Anglian section o Chartered Institute of port, and a former dirt P&O European Servio died, aged 68. He...