• SPAIN LIGHT TRUCKS
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Negotiations are proceeding for the assembly of MAN-Volkswagen light trucks by ENASA/Pegaso, which is under Spanish Government control. They will be sold via Pegaso dealers — the present Pegaso light trucks are not selling well — and production is estimated to increase from an initial 5,000 trucks a year to 15,000 — two thirds for export.
• SWEDEN EXPORTS Scalia expects to deliver around 700 trucks and 200 buses to operators in Spain this year through its subsidiary, Scania Vehiculos, SA, which has 27 dealers, and has just opened a new import facility in Madrid.
The first Scania trucks were delivered to Spain in 1949, with sales increasing sharply in the late 1970's, and the first 100-vehicle sales year in 1981. By 1985, annual sales were at 300 trucks.
Scania bus sales are also increasing in Spain. From the sale of only one bus in 1980, to this year's volume of 200 buses, they include line and tourist coaches and sales to municipalities.
• FRANCE CALBERSON MOVES
The French road transport giant, Calberson, is trying to obtain control of the German transport company Ludwig.
Calberson is currently holding discussions with the German company and is aiming to buy the majority of its shares. Ludwig is well developed in its native Germany and is also present in South East Asia and North America.
CM correspondent
• FRANCE TERMINAL
The Garromanche project, an integrated rail/road terminal opened close to Boulogne, offers computerised services, freight forwarders and a Customs clearance office. There is a facility for small meetings and conferences, showers for drivers and bureau.de change. Boulogne Chamber of Commerce says it is a unique development on the French and Belgian coasts. Finance came from Syndival, an association of operators, and Boulogne Council.
A new service centre costing 22 million French francs will open shortly near the A10 motorway, on the route out of Orleans. It will have parking space for 100 HGVs, a restaurant, and a customs office.
L'Official des Transporteurs, November 20.
• FRANCE ELECTRIC VANS
Ten Renault Master electric vehicles, equipped with Lucas Chloride drive systems, have been handed over to the municipality of Chatellerault, 250km south west of Paris, and are being evaluated against diesel and petrol-engined counterparts. A grant has been obtained from the EEC to help with the cost of the exercise. Alan Cartwright, LCEVS commercial manager, says: "Renault plan to build more Electric Masters and also some electric versions of the smaller Renault Express, provided the trials prove satisfactory."
Lucas Reflections, November/December
• ITALY DOCUMENTATION Drivers crossing into Italy should make sure they have the original or copy of the vehicle registration document and "the original copy of the Transport Authorisation Document issued by the Italian Transport Ministry," says the Routiers Drivers Club.
French Routiers has also pointed out to the British branch that the details relating to the vehicle appearing in the driving permit must be identical to those shown on the Transport Authorisation Document. Routiers Driver, No 21
• BELGIUM NEW TRAILERS NV Transport Coulier — one of the biggest European tank transport firms has signed a BFr65 million contract with the NV Van Hool for new trailers. In the corning year, Coulier will also spend BFr175 million on new trucks.
Since the take-over of the Transport Coulier Group by the NV Frank Lemo International at the end of December, 1984, some BFr156,303, 244 were invested in 1985. In 1986 this amount was increased to BFr209,500,000.
In light of the constant expansion and innovation within the ill Group, it is likely that this investment will continue to grow, and that the total amount for 1987 will be considerably greater than for the previous year
CM correspondent
• YUGOSLAVIA CLEARING A new customs post, open day and night for clearing commercial vehicles, on the Yugoslav-Greek border has started operating at Dojran (Yu). It is located 30km to the east of the currently overburdened Gevgelija-ThessalonikiSerres trunk, and shortens the journey to Serres via Rodopolis and Petritsion by 80km
International Road Transport Union (IR U).
• SWITZERLAND 2.5 METRES Switzerland is shortly to allow general use of full-width 2.5m vehicles, but, confident that there will stilt be a demand for vehicles on the narrow-gauge 2.3m dimension, Volvo is introducing new models for this market.
While earlier Volvo specials for the Swiss were built in Irvine, Scotland, the new FS lOs come from Sweden as a logical extension to the FL range. The driveline includes the TD 101 FD engine and the SR 1400 12-speed gearbox, but the cab has been adapted from the FL 6 chassis.
Modifications provide clearance for the 10-litre engine. The range includes rigid and tractive units in 4x2, 6x2 and 6x4 versions.
• USA DRUGS
"The results of a recent trucking survery are pretty scary," reports the American monthly Traffic Management, "even though it is true that perceptions don't always match reality."
The survey, conducted for ATA's Regular Common Carrier Conference by Dr Richard Beilock of the University of Florida, reports on the perceptions of more than 1,300 truck drivers from forhire and private fleets as well as private operators, "The drivers, surveyed in Florida, perceived that 37% of the truck drivers on the road today use drugs, 18% use alcohol, and 63% violate hours-of-ser vice rules.
Another surprise finding shows that majority of drivers favour a law requiring speed-control governors on trucks." Traffic Management, a Cahners publication, December
• NEW ZEALAND DEREG Since the deregulation of the New Zealand road transport industry in 1984, freight rates between Whangarei and Auckland have fallen from around $48 a tonne to a current $19NZ, complains Northland RTA president Ian Ward. This rate is clearly uneconomic without a return load, he says, and Northland carriers, not big enough to guarantee this, are consequently unable to compete for this work.
Transport News, December