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QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS
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With digital tachograph and Euro-4 emissions legislation on the horizon, many visitors to the show will be looking for operational advice as well as product information. Here we point you to the specialists...
Digital tachographs
By the time of the CV Shovv, the legislation regarding the compulsory fitment and use of digital tachographs will be less than one week away. While anyone taking new vehicles immediately after that date is likely to be gearing up for the new regulations already, we suspect that many people still have a lot of q uestions.Th ankfully, there will be plenty of places at the NEC to gather all the information you need.
Tachodisc is one company that has devoted a lot of resources into this area and will have specialists on its stand in Hall 2 to answer your questions on digital tachographs.Tachodisc has a full range of products and services for the new technology, with everything from the new digital printer paper, through software to download the smart cards, to full training courses to take you through the regulations.
Stoneridge and Siemens V DO are the two predominant manufacturers of digital tachograph equipment in Europe and both products are available in truck chassis. As well as the hardware, both companies are supplying download software, training and advice. You'll find their stands in Hall 5.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Road Haulage Association (RHA) are, like Tachodisc, offering products and services to meet the new legislation— and both associations are renowned for giving straightforward advice and information. The teams on both stands will be able to help with a number of compliance issues.The RHA will be in Hall 4, while the ETA will have stands in Hall Sand Hall 2. Actia,Dashdotdash and the Road Haulage & Distribution Training Council (RHDTC) will also be worth visiting for specific digital tacho advice and information.
Euro-4
Although not quite as pressing as the digital tachograph legislation, the emissions standards for truck exhausts will come into force in October and will require those buying new trucks to make a technology choice between exhaust gas recirculation (E6R) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR). We won't go into the detail here, but in the EGR camp you'll find MAN and Scania, while Daf,Iveco, Mercedes, Renault and Volvo have elected to adopt SCR.
Every truck manufacturer will be keen to speak to you about the benefits of their chosen system and, no doubt, the failings of the rival approach. Those taking trucks with SCR will need to find a supplier for the AdBlue mixture, though plenty of firms at Birmingham will be eager to receive the business. Airl, Blue Cat AdBlue Solutions and GreenChem are just three of the AdBlue providers exhibiting at the CV Show.
0-licence compliance Protecting your 0-licence is essential if you are going to make a living in road transport — and while the two pieces of legislation listed above will occupy many thoughts, the daily grind of road transport throws up other issues. Once again, Commercial Motor will be running the Legal Clinic at the show (see box for details), although there are plenty of other exhibitors offering products and services to ensure you stay on the right side of the law.
Vosa may not be everyone's best friend in transport, hut if you're looking for information direct from the horse's mouth then its stand in Hall 2 should he on your itinerary.The FTA and RHA are well worth visiting if you're after advice and information on legal issues, not least as they have a lot of free guides and booklets on offer. If it's free advice you're after, Freight Rest Practice (FRP) should also be on your route map for the show. Located in Hall 5, FRP has loads of useful, free information on best practice operation— well worth a visit.
Elsewhere on compliance, the BRS stand is of note.The company will be launching a handheld FDA (personal digital assistant) device for carrying out daily checks on vehicles. Replacing the conventional daily check/defect book, the driver carries out his vehicle walk-round ticking off the checks on the PDA and capturing any defects. These are then beamed back to the operator via the BRS system for storing or action as required. With the audit process nearly as important as running a clean operation, this type of product will gain in prominence over the coming years. Crafter, targeted with seeing off the challenge from the new Transit. Both newcomers will present in strength on their respective stands.
The other major launch at the show will be the first viewing anywhere of a new model from Vauxhall. We're not allowed to give you any more details until the show opens, hut Vauxhall did mention that another exhibit will be an example of the "outgoing Astravan".
Vauxhall will be keen to push its Combo Crewvan in the light of its recent legal victory over the issue of VAT reclaim. Despite earlier preview appearances, the Vivaro high-deck dropside will be on the stand. and looks set to goon sale in the very near future
New Euro-3 models
While most manufacturers are preparing their Euro-4 offerings, Renault is taking advantage of increased demand for simpler Euro-3 models with longer service intervals. It is launching an entry-level Euro-3 Kangoo priced at 0,000 (ex-VAT),saving £600 on the Euro-4 version. Citroen is launching new models in its Relay Ready-to-Run conversion range, including a 'high-spec' Luton van and car transporter models.
The latest product to appear on the Iveco stand will be a carbon-bodied ambulance based on the 40C17 Daily chassis.
From the home team, LDV will he showing new versions of the Maxus. including passenger versions, and an upmarket line aimed at retail buyers to build on its recent progress in the fleet market.
Not positively confirmed for the show (but hoped for) is the upmarket Sportline version of the Volkswagen Transporter, based on the 172hp van. A long list of sporting and luxury kit aims it squarely at the owner-operator market.Another newcomer to the British market is the Caddy with the impressive DSG automated transmission.
BMC will once again have a selection of Megastar models on display, but this time is ready for UK sales to begin by the summer. A full range of vans and chassis-cabs will be available, with two ratings of the 2.8-litre VM drivetines.The pricing strategy will be announced at the show or soon after; expect it to be highly competitive.
The world of pickups has some newcomers as well. Although now appearing on British roads,the Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi L200 make their first UK show appearances; the next-generation Ford Ranger will be new to us all.Expect it to go on sale in September. •