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26th August 1999
26th August 1999
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Page 1, 26th August 1999
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TRANSPORT TAROEF

The Conservatives are to make John Prescott the main focus of their autumn fight-back after polls suggested that voters see...

FUIPMEI

A Walsall Council refuse collector who received a final warning after his lorry rolled away into a school has kept his job. A...

MN APPOINTED

The Road Haulage Association has appointed Steve Ellis as area manager for its Southern & Eastern region.

ON THE NET

Ericsson and Scania are to cooperate on the development of wireless Internet communications for road transport.

NO 1013111FICATION

Police have failed to identify one of two men who were killed in a head-on collision between an A-reg Vauxhall Nova and a lorry...

111113100111111

Securicor Omega Express has launched an on-line booking service for its Sameday courier services. It is at www.securicorcom.

1ED REDIRMON

Mercedes-Benz Atego 1823 has gained its Reduced Pollution Certificate, making it eligible for a VED reduction from £1.600 to...

STRANDED PIGEONS

Rush-hour traffic was brought to a halt in Cheltenham. Glos, last week as firemen climbed 80ft up a building to rescue stranded...

Norris quits job after losing the power struggle at BHA

by Miles Brignall Steven Norris has quit his job as director general of the Road Haulage Association after losing a power...

• It is well known that Bridge and Norris did

not see eye to eye and it's clear both had different views on how the organisation should develop and how best to fight against...

First beef load is bound for Brussels meal

• A truck carrying British beef finally left UK shores this week following the EU's decision to lift its 29-month ban. The...

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MAN considers merger option

MAN has told the Financial Times that it would consider a merger with another truck company. Chairman Rudolf Rupprecht said...

Fuel campaign: FTA is in for 11.5m—more needed

II by Miles Brignall The Freight Irarisport Association is launching what tt hopes will be a ilm advertising cam paign to...

• Reports claiming that the Government is to introduce up

to 10 new "priority lanes' on roads across the country have been dismissed by the Highways Agency. The speculation has centred...

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Help raise a stink!

Busy, busy, busy. The industry's two trade associations have certainly been busy. The Freight Transport Association's planned...

Delay for new Volvos drives used market

• by Sally Nash Long waiting times for new Volvo trucks are forcing operators to turn to the nearly new left-hand drive market,...

Dutch flag attracts UK police attention

• Dover-based international operator Mike Beer has asked CM to point out that it is the UK police and not the Dutch which are...

Drivers fined

NI A further eight drivers employed by Okehampton-based Bryan Haulage have pleaded guilty to drivers' hours offences at...

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UK operators turn to Belgian diesel outlet

• Operators avoiding crippling UK diesel prices are fuelling expansion of a Belgian haulier that is extending its...

Prescott defends DOT

• Deputy Prime Minister and senior Transport Minister John Prescott has condemned criticisms of his department published in the...

More diesel price hikes

• by Sally Nash Hauliers should brace themselves for more diesel price hikes as the cost of crude oil continues to soar, warns...

Haulier loses extra site

The winner of the Haulier of the Year award, Stan Robinson, has had an application to expand his Stafford premises turned down...

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UK PALLETS Pall-Ex (South Wales), part of the Pall-Ex UK

pallet delivery network, has been awarded a contract to deliver all NuAire's pallets throughout the UK.

REAL ALE Ryder has gained a three-year full service contract hire agreement with cask ale supplier Batemans Brewery of Lincolnshire.

IRISH COVERAGE The industrial division of logistics company Christian Salvesen

has won a contract with the Unipart Group of Companies to service its operations in Northern Ireland.

FNE HMI NM In a further contract. Salvesen will provide

a dedicated delivery service for jointventure Unipart Yukata Systems, running five daily deliveries between Unipart's Cowley...

EMU RIB Securicor Omega Logistics has been awarded a three-year

contract with Adidas to provide a dedicated fleet and in-house management service to the sportswear manufacturer's national...

PALLET TRIO Palletways (UK). the overnight delivery network specialising in

palletised freight, has added three new members to its network—Carrolls Transport covering postcodes KT, SW and TW, 1st Choice...

SEM FASTENERS Swedish company Bulten is to become the sole

supplier of fasteners to Volvo Trucks' European production units in a contract estimated to be worth SEK1.2bn (£92.4m) in total...

French blitz on immigrants

• by Melanie Hammond French authorities are stepping up the hunt for the ringleaders responsible for trafficking illegal...

Court threat for services parking

• Somerset-based DF George is following in the footsteps of Ralph Davies International by contesting the right of Granada...

Driver kidnapped

• An liGV driver was trapped in the boot of a car for six hours last Saturday after being forced from his vehicle at gunpoint...

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Ms to be re-routed off Newbury bypass

About 2,300 lorries face being re-routed through Newbury following the revelation that the A34 bypass needs resurfacingjust 10...

Computer glitches and illness delay Kent tests

• by Melanie Hammond Computer problems and staff illness have combined to play havoc with annual test bookings in Kent. At...

Walon continues growth

• Autologic Holdings boosted pre-tax profit by almost 9% to $6.3m for the first half of the year, despite the UK car market...

Health fears for UK driver in Belgian jail

The health of a British truck driver held in a Belgian prison for a crime for which he was initially cleared in 1997 is rapidly...

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Tempted by 6xls? Take care

• This year's vehicle taxation changes have made 6x2 tractors a tempting proposition—the extra up-front cost is offset by...

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DAEWOO CHANGES The troubled Daewoo group has been stripped of

all but its automotive operations to satisfy creditors, as General Motors continues talks on a shared future. Meanwhile, LDV...

EASY FOUR

Mitsubishi 1.200 Double Cab pickups are now supplied with "Easy Select 4WD", which allows twoor four-wheel drive to be selected...

HOOKED UP

Loading equipment maker Paffinger has extended its scope with the purchase of the French Guima brand. Guima is the world's...

SW BOOM

Next year's combined CV Show at the NEC has already attracted 365 exhibitors, up nearly 50% on this year's event. Stand space...

COOL WARRANTY All fridge units ordered from Marshall Thermo King

after September 1 will come with two years' warranty, with an optional extension to five years.

ROO MIR

CMsends its best wishes to Rod Collett, Volvo's demonstration vehicle guru, who is recovering from a heart attack.

Scania chiefs steady ship

• by Colin Barnett The barely disguised anger at Scania after Volvo launched its bid to take over its fiercest rival has...

Mercedes takes aim at armed forces

• Mercedes-Benz is targeting the British armed forces market with a new company, Mercedes-Benz (UK) Defence. The move follows...

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FERGUSON CONDITIONS Though allowing Ferguson Transport ISpean Bridge) to base

four vehicles and 10 trailers at a new operating centre at Span Bridge in the Highlands, the Scottish TO Michael Betts has...

STILLMAN MAIMED Though taking no action against the licence held

by Strathearn fodder, Scottish IC Michael Betts has warned the company, based at Crieff, Tayside, about its future operations....

BRAKE PIPE LEAKED

Using a vehicle with defective brakes has cost lorry driver Peter Pierce, of Conway, north Wales, INS in fines and costs....

ONE VEHICLE NT

The licence held by John Golding (Heavy Haulage), of Wootton Under Edge, was cut by one vehicle after Western IC Christopher...

Flintstone traps four more

Four more men have been fined as a result of Operation flintstone, the Vehicle Inspectorate's investigation into tachograph...

Stricken haulier given extra time

Consideration of disciplinary action against a Manchester haulier was adjourned until he is fit to give evidence, but only if...

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Partners' blow

The Transport Tribunal has upheld a decision to refuse a new international licence to Mark and Robert Coalter, trading as HMC...

Operator's bitter-sweet ruling

A plant hire operator who had been using an artic without authority has had a trailer authorised on his licence after...

By advertising in Commercial Motor you are ensuring that you

are appearing in the magazine that is best read by the UK's road transport sector. By supporting your advertisement with an...

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Perrot outlets

• Roadlink International has been appointed as the UK's national distributor for Perrot brake components. Perrot, now part of...

• Recent figures collected for Gales replacement truck brake calipers

suggest the savings for whole life vehicle costs are greater than previously thought. One major UK fleet, which has been using...

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Extra flexible coils

• New from Allen Industrial is Flexilec, a highly flexible small diameter seven-core electrical coil. It also has a...

Starter motor list extended

Magneti MareIli Aftermarket has extended its XM Xchange rotating electrics programme, following the introduction of 174 new...

Colour range for CVs

• More than 70 colours are now available in the SmartTone Bumper Coater aerosol range from Ashford Automotive Systems...

Japanese lines from Spaldings

• Spaldings has introduced a range of 110 volt Ryobi power tools. The range includes 4.5, 5 and 9in angle grinders with motor...

Fork access platform has room for two

Specialist fork truck accessory manufacturer Contact Attachments now offers a twoperson version of its access platform called...

Impact without cables

II Snap-on Tools offers a new cordless impact wrench, the CTU350. It is suitable for removing wheelnuts and for general...

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Do you want to comment on any stories in Commercial

Motor? Does someone In the Industry deserve a pat on the back, or a dressing down? Drop us a line at Commercial Motor, Room...

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KEEPING LIP THE GOOD WORK

TLS area sales manager Wendy Lancaster does not look like the kinda gal who usually lets herself be pushed around, but for...

WINNING A FORKFUL!

Pictured here is Roger Lambert (left) of Roger Lambert Transport, based in Derbyshire, taking receipt of the keys to a Wilson...

OUT ON THE PULL

When The Hawk wants to work up a thirst, he grabs Foclen the dog and they set off at a brisk pace for a local hostelry. The...

HUNK MOBILE

You wouldn't have thought it was possible for something so mechanical to look so smug. Well this Nissan Pickup King Cab has...

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ou might ask how a small truck builder like Seddon

Atkinson can exist in today's tough commercial environment, but above all else, this Oldhambased company is a survivor. Since...

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"The Strait() was at the right price at the right time."

Owner-driver Colin Taylor runs out of Hailsham Industrial Estate in the north of Lincolnshire with his Seddon Atkinson Strato...

OPERATOR FEEDBACK

MARK JASINSKI "Good, sensibly priced workhorses." Mark Jasinski has run his tipper and low loader haulage operation from...

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"I'm looking for reliability not performance."

• Rob Cantrill and Sons, Phil and Ben, base their operation at Retford. For the last ii years dad has been running to Russia...

"Any that do come in are snapped up very quickly."

Mike Panne! of Panne! Commercials, Seddon Atkinson's main dealer located at Launceston, Cornwall, carries 20 used Seddon...

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"Not that popular with the big fleets."

Chris Wright is the managing director of Commercial Vehicle Auctions. He has traded in Doncaster since 1989 and holds...

OF THE TRADE

VERDICT Not a truck for imageconscious operators, but traditional British engineering combining major proprietary components...

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0 f all the months of the year in which

to ask the managing director of a removals firm for half an hour of their time, August has to be the worst. The weather is fine...

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DON'T PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT!

• Health and safety is a major concern to removals operators. One of the more obvious risks is that, more than any other sector...

SERVING A VOLATILE MARKET

• There can be few sectors of the road haulage industry as cyclical as the removals business. Not only does the property...

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IVIOVE

Space rather than mileage is the priority for the high-cube vehicles used in the removals sector. Sharon Clancy reports on the...

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LIGHT VEHICLES

• Luton bodies are usually either grp or aluminium. Tim Maxted, of Essex-based Chelmar Bodies, says using aluminium can save...

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TAKEAWAYS

A prohibition order can keep a dangerous HGV off the roadbut a cowboy haulier could still use the vehicle. Impounding would...

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ON THE

If your fleet has switched to synthetic lubricants and you fail to manage their use effectively, operating costs will rocket....

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USED EQUIPMENT

ONE carefu l OWNER Hauliers need to cut costs as much as they can. Used workshop equipment is one way to trim spending, hut...

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Brian Wiltshire is joint managing director of Mercedes Oxford dealership,

Mudie-Bond. A fraught week is rescued by an invitation to a golf tournament. • if you would like to feature in Working Week...

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Buyers want power

• Buyers of used tractors now want at least 385hp and sometimes as much as 475hp on tap. What they do not want is 35ohp or...

A future for low hp 4x2s

• Independent dealer Euro Wise of Aylesham in Kent has found out what to do with used 4x2 day-cab 3zohp ex-contract tractors....

UKASTA tag sells

• There is a widening gap between the prices realised by used alloybodied tipper trailers signed off as UKASTAfriendly (United...

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Curtainsiders fall off the rails

• Prices for new curtainsider trailers are spiralling ever-downwards, according to industry insiders; and that is bad news for...

VOLVO IN ESSEX

Volvo dealership MC Truck & Bus is opening a big new site in September at West Thurrock in Essex funded jointly with the...

Paperless purchase by e-mail

• Leyland Daf and LDV dealer Lex Commercials of Wrexham has used e-mail to sell an LDV Convoy van to an American firm, It was...