Stobart goes green with dual-fuel Volvos
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By Chris Druce
EDDIE STOBART is to expand its fleet of dual-fuel Volvo trucks after successfully bidding for a chunk of the government’s Low Carbon Truck Demonstration Scheme funding.
Stobart has been testing five dual-fuel FMs, which have been running on liquid natural gas (LNG), in association with partner BOC Group. It will benefit from the expansion of the scheme alongside a field of other operators and suppliers, including Brit European and Howard Tenens.
The funding will allow the logistics firm to put at least another 15 LNG Volvo FMs on the road, as well as paying for BOC to install an LNG refuelling station at one of Stobart’s regional DCs. Once installed, the refuelling station will be accessible to other operators running with the fuel type. Kate Willard, Stobart Group corporate affairs director, says: “The grant support, matched by our own investment, will be invaluable in helping drive forward our commitment to sustainable distribution, against a backdrop of rising fuel prices. The dual-fuel technology will help deliver cost control and reduced emissions for the group and our customers.” With the five Volvos being tested, LNG replaces up to 90% of the diesel fuel used to drive each engine. The standard truck engines are mated with a specialist dual-fuel management system, which means that in the event that all of the LNG is consumed, the units automatically switch to full diesel mode.
• Unite members at Tesco’s former Doncaster DC, which was taken over by Stobart Group this month, were set to be balloted for industrial action as CM went to press. Unite attacked Stobart earlier this month for refusing to “declare its hand” regarding the future of about 200 drivers who transferred to the haulier. The ballot was set to include industrial action up to a strike. West Yorkshire Police has reminded LGV drivers to respect the 50mph speed limit on the M62 between junctions 25 to 30. The speed limit has been put in place as the Highways Agency transforms the section into a “managed motorway”, which will see hard shoulder running and variable signage introduced.
The future of the police force’s vehicle crime intelligence service, AVCIS, has been safeguarded for now. A spokeswoman for the Association of Chief Police Officers says: “A decision has been made that AVCIS should continue to operate in its existing format.”
In CM 23 August, Ian Phillips was described as a director of T&R Phillips, which appointed liquidators Begbies Traynor on 8 August. Phillips is not a director – the sole director of the firm is Sharon Phillips.
West Yorkshire haulier Bedfords Transport has halved the number of tyre-related breakdowns in its fleet after it switched to Pirelli. After seven months, Bedfords recorded an average of 3.4 roadside tyre failures a month.