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A news digest of road transport reports from all sectors
Page 116
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• When the Channel tunnel comes on stream, will we still be servicing as many trucks to roll-on/off to Dunkirk (ro-ro freight traffic up 40% including train ferry up 30% in the first four months of this year)?
The port's officials at a London press conference appeared to believe "yes". The game is only just beginning, they told Workshop. Dunkirk is benefiting from an improving communications infrastructure; has the Customs-free Ghyvelde "corridor" to Belgium: the Dartford link to London possibly to be followed by one to Immingham and plans to attract North Sea trade; and has deep-sea facilities exclusive to that part of France and Kent.
• Forty-tonne lorries will be allowed on Britain's road from 1999 — two years after the date proposed by the European Community Commission.
• Since April 1989 any firm can apply to the Department of Transport for registration as an approved tachograph repairer if it is certificated by the British Standards Institute under BS 5750 Part 2.
• Caterpillar has geared up its assault on the UK truck engine market by supplying its air-to-air after-cooled 14.6-litre 3406B diesel to Foden 400-Series.
• Ford's new Fiesta van, now on sale, has 11% more load space than the previous model.
• Forty-three per cent of the international hauliers surveyed by Commercial Motor have already established business links with Continental operators as part of the run-up to 1992.
• Distribution group Rockwood Holdings has set up a new company — Rockwood Fleet Services — to provide commercial vehicle and car fleet maintenance and contract hire services.
• The Department of Transport's review of operator licences goes to public consultation this summer. • The Freight Transport Association is set to launch an experimental out-ofhours delivery scheme in London aimed at alleviating road congestion.
• Draft proposals to create a British Standard test certificate for recovery vehicles have been drawn up by the 15 member-companies of the Recovery Equipment Manufacturers and Suppliers Association.
• Swiss pressure groups aim to ban long-distance lorry traffic from Switzerland.
• Heavy haulage specialist Econofreight has moved a record load of three 690tonne reactors for the Esso refinery near Southampton.
• Dutch shipping and transport group Nedlloyd is to open warehouse and distribution centres, aimed mainly at electrical equipment manufacturers, throughout Britain.
• British Coal sales director Michael Cruttendon told the Road Haulage Association's Tipeon meeting: "Our policy is to get shot of our own vehicles as quickly as possible." In the run up to privatisation, some 500 vehicles are ripe for takeover.
• Shadow transport minister John Prescott said a Labour Government would spend an extra .22 billion a year on the UK's road and rail network.
• Uprated Renault Midliner M-range trucks will become available in the UK next year.
• The Government has rejected the Office of Fair Trading — led Used Car Working Party's proposals for the combating of mileage clocking, describing them as "not worth the cost and bureaucracy involved".
• "You cannot allow people to eat spaghetti laced with lead, or expose themselves to the risk of cancer while they are having an aperitif," said Signor Graziano, head of Florence city council's traffic committee, banning pavement tables at bars and restaurants.