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25th August 2005
25th August 2005
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Page 1, 25th August 2005
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Amtrak Express buys Nightspeed

Nightspeed Services has been taken over by Amtrak, saving 900 jobs. Sally Nash reports on the latest acquisition in the...

Digital tacho start date 'doesn't really matter'

TACHOGRAPH MANUFAC TURERS say it doesn't really matter if the deadline for fitting digital tachographs is 31 December this year...

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VOSA consults over TAO plan

VOSA IS TO consult on its decision to close all its regional Traffic Area Offices from March 2006 and introduce a single...

RI IA warns time for a rebate is running out

THE ROAD HAULAGE Association has warned that time is "running out" for the haulage industry unless the Treasury introduces a...

Top franchise

Wilson Gibb Management Services has been named Driver Hire's 'Franchise of the Year'. The firm, run by Darrin Gibb and Fiona...

Peter Lanier

In the article that appeared in CM 18 August on page 6, we incorrectly attributed a quote to Peter Lamer of Suckling Transport.

Evidence wanted

The Burns Freight Taxes Inquiry wants evidence about the effects of foreign competition on UK operators. Contact: 0870 0113331

Closing in

Tailgaters are the scariest drivers on the motorway, according to an RAC poll.

Lift off

Leyman Litt Gates will launch its Hide-A-Way tail lifts into the UK market in September. The f irm has formed Leyman Lift (UK)...

Mail split

Royal Mail could be split up into two divisions: mail centres and deliveries; and the Post Office network. Regulator Postcomm...

Driver jailed

Belgium truck driver John Peeters has been jailed for 12 months for trying to smuggle £100,000 worth of tobacco through Dover...

THE REMARKABLE turnaround in the financial performance of MAN trucks

continues, with its second-quarter results revealing a dramatic rise in operating profit in the first half of this year...

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Lawyers say the Senior It's guidelines are a step too far

A Direction from the Senior TC that was designed to streamline 0-iicence paperwork has stirred up a hornet's nest. Chris...

THE LATEST Euro-4 version of the Daf XF95 flagship tractor

will debut at the Amsterdam truck show in October. In a bid to woo buyers away from Volvo and Scania it's had a facelift. But...

Morrisons stike ballot

THE T&G/GMB strike ballot of 8,000 Morrisons distribution workers will end on 14 September. OMB national officer Jude Brimble...

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Truck parked at home

AN OPERATOR has appeared before an Edinburgh disciplinary inquiry after allowing a driver to illegally park overnight near his...

Dairy adion warning

ROBERT WISEMAN Dairies is warning Scottish dairy farmers that it will not tolerate "direct action". Last week eight milk...

SAFETY AND RED TAPE

Brian Lee of Allan Morris Transport A takes safety very seriously indeed — but that doesn't mean he appreciates all the red...

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watch

IN THE NEWS Stuart Thomas gives us his regular round-up of the way the newspapers have covered the transport industry this...

Hauhem firm waits to hear TC's decision

A haulier has appeared at a public inquiry for the second time in two years. Mike Jewell reports. FIAZCHEM HAULIER Alan Lodge...

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Looking for an Ansa BNaorpdeoancreoiwn

Workers at Ansa Logistics have suspended strike action while they study a new pay deal. Sally Nash reports. A NEW DEAL has...

THE LATEST meeting between the RMT union and Bardon Aggregates

has failed to resolve a furious dispute at the company's West Drayton depot (CM 14July). Bardon now maintains it is not in...

DHL denies dispute with GM B

DHL EXPRESS continues to play down suggestions of possible strike action by GMB members, citing a meeting between the two...

T&G pleased with picket

THE TRANSPORT and General Workers Union is heralding the day of action at DaimlerChrysler's Milton Keynes logistics centre as...

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That was the year...

CM was launched in 1905; for our centenary year we're bringing you stories from years gone by. This week we're back in 1937 and...

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Dublin tunnel OK for Hazchem

HGVs carrying hazardous goods will be welcome to use the Dublin Port Tunnel when it opens next year. Robert Izzard reports....

WV auto box option for Caddy Irish agency aims to cut road toll

VOLKSWAGEN'S unique Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) automated transmission is set to make its first appearance in a light...

ITIE IRISH Republic is setting up a Road Safety Authority whose role will include improving safety in road haulage.

The Irish Department ofTransport said last week that the new organisation would oversee vehicle standards, driver education,...

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We're better than ever

Latest figures released by the DfT reveal an increasingly efficient road haulage industry. David Craik reports THE ROAD...

Truck growth outstrips cars

TRAFFIC LEVELS on UK roads rose 1% between the second quarter of 2004 and the second quarter of 2005; but goods vehicle traffic...

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Truckers' websites team up with courtesy card scheme

Next time you play Knight of the Road, you might care to hand out a card to promote good will from car drivers. David Craik...

LPG firm offers R&D discount

VAN A AKEN. the Bracknellbased electronic tuning specialist, has developed an LPG diesel substitution system for truck engines...

Rural row over HGV damage

GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council aims to move trucks off rural roads and back onto motorways. This follows the "Great...

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Breakin

the bank Driver WEST MIDLANDS police arc hunting robbers who stole a truck before driving it through the wall of a casino in...

A VAN DRIVER was subjected to a torrent of racial

abuse during a road rage attack, which took place in Northamptonshire. At about 2pm on 12 August there was a minor road rage...

Look out for a missing MAN

POLICE ARE looking for two thieves who stole a blue MAN tipper (reg BF52 GYE) from a haulage yard in Navigation Way,...

Scania is targeted

POLICE ARL appealing for information following the theft of a 40foot Target Express truck from the Campsie Industrial Estate in...

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A price myth

paying. Congestion? Bad thing. Congestion charge? Not a good thing either... David Harris looks at the confiding arguments on...

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THE ANALYST Chris Morgan, Automotive & Logistics Datamonitor TDG, the

European contract logistics group, has released its interim results for the first half of 2005. The group stated that in a...

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HARD SHOULDER HAZARDS

An average of 250 people are killed each year on motorway hard shoulders, but many incidents could be avoided if basic rules...

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ROLE OF THE HIGHWAYS TRAFFIC OFFICERS

If you're unfortunate enough to have an accident on the motorway, assistance would traditionally come via the traffic police...

HIGHWAYS TRAFFIC OFFICERS WILL ATTEND THE FOLLOWING SCENES:

• Road traffic collisions • Arranging removal of damaged and abandoned vehicles • Clearing debris on carriageways • Undertaking...

Where to get helpful advice

The Health & Safety Executive have issued a number of reports on safe operation around tyres. A recent example is guidance on...

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Looking for adventure

When the vertical playing field has hit your Continental trade, what do you do for excitement? Dominic Perry meets the new...

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Include tacho evidence

AN ISSUE HAS arisen that causes our group great concern and that is, should tachograph evidence be considered in proving an HGV...

Let the members decide

DESPITE THE PREDICTABLE bluster from Roger King (pictured, below). of the Road Haulage Association in his letter to Commercial...

Sleeping tigers awake to the LRUC threat

WHAT AN INTERESTING edition of Commercial Motor (CM 11 August 2005). Are the sleeping tigers at the trade associations finally...

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Relationship at breaking point

Guidance notes from the Senior IC are designed to make life easier for all concerned but it doesn't always work out that way....

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Trucks suspended while their drivers are properly trained

Company which delayed implementing driver training programme has vehicles suspended so it will have plenty of time for half-day...

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'Phoenix' licence application refused by West Midlands TC

ATRAFFIC Commissioner has refused a licence lor what he called a "phoenix application" designed to get around his decision at...

Undisciplined drivers lead to suspension and fleet cut

A FIRM that had difficulty in maintaining discipline among its long-serving drivers has had its licence cut from 17 to 13...

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Sheffield firm with 'stupid drivers' escapes with warning at third inquiry

A SHEFFIELD operator facing its third public inquiry escaped with a warning after the Traffic Commissioner accepted that it had...

Fined €548 for using unspecified vehicle

EDINBURG H-BASED Clockwork Transportation was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £548 for using a vehicle that was not...

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Preparing for the worst

In the wake of last month's suicide at - tacKs on London, what responsibilities do employers have to ensure their employees...

Crisis management action plan

The Business Continuity Institute has a five-point plan for dealing with crises: • Identify the key functions of the business...

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Red 1 orries

After its famous post-war election victory Labour didn't just set up the welfare state — it nationalised the transport...

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Law p us

Up and coming law with the FA FUTURE LEGISLATION DV LA fee proposals: The DVLA is considering revising fee structures to...

ACT NOW

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 CIF 10 August 2005 These regulations increase certain test...

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STI LL GOING

STRONG It may be King of the Road in the showroom, but how does Scania's V8 stack up as a used buy after a years hard labour?...

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FEE Fl FO RIM

Deep in the countryside between Bedford and Cambridge lives a giant... Colin Barnett dropped in to investigate. D espite its...

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GH AND GH

Watkinson Lifting and Transportation's mighty Cormach 8800-E ASC crane is the first of its type to appear in the UK. Bryan...

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DOUBLE

BARRELLED SAFETY The world's best-handling truck and trailer combination is said to have arisen from Performance Based...

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PBS COULD IT WORK HERE? CMGIVES ITS VERDICT

It wouldn't take much to transfer the Australian Performance Based Standards principle to the UK. The proposed Denby B-Double...

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POST LESS PROTECTION

Damaged sideposts in trailers are a hazard to drivers. To make curtainsiders safer many firms are choosing unsupported roofs....

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Following the Continental route

Trailer operators are a fairly traditional bunch; most of them prefer detachable, adjustable or sliding side posts, especially...

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Half-time score

Our regular survey of van sales shows signs of definite nudging and shoving, as some models drop a gear to zoom into the lead....

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BANGING THE DRUM

Trailer drum brakes are back in fashion. Sharon Clancy examines why disc brakes have often failed to live up to expectations....

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THE INTERNET IGH WAY

Hull-based Careers in Transport is an internet-based recruitment advertising firm — not to be confused with a recruitment...

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We're all waiting for something to turn up

As diesel prices continue to rise and profit margins continue to fall Ray Dickson wonders when the industry will lift its...

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Toys for the boys

At auction it's the added extras that draw top money for 4x4s. George Alexander, chief CV editor of Glass's Guide, gives us...

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Steady as she goes

Following improved performances in the used truck market during 2004 this year is all about consolidation. Commercial Vehicle...

THREE'S OKAY, BUT TWO IS BEITER

With so many lots going through on sale days Charlie Wright has been keen to reduce the number of times vehicles go through...

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FULL SALE AHEAD

The last sale in July provided further evidence of CVA's consolidation. Volume has held steady at 450-500 lots with conversion...

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Style and substance

Two years ago CM tested the Navara Outlaw, the brooding behemoth that is top of the Nissan pickup range. How does this...

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Picking up in value

Is depreciation costing you dear? Want to save money? Then buy a Navara — it's at the top of the future residual chart. T he...