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9th May 1991
9th May 1991
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Page 1, 9th May 1991
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ENGAGE BRAIN...

• The Freight Transport Association's recent claim that moving up to 44 tonnes would reduce the number of top weight HGVs on...

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Fewer trucks • The number of licensed goods vehicles in

the UK fell from 505,000 in 1989 to 482,000 in 1990, according to Department of Transport figures. Public transport vehicles...

Hazard help • Everyone involved in the carriage of hazardous

goods needs to co-operate and communicate, according to a seminar run last week by the RHA and Suffolk police.

Spanish flier • The wife of Spanish haulage strike victim

Mike Blunt has had to fly to Madrid this week to personally "validate" her husband's claim for compensation because the Spanish...

Truckers' exams NI The new Road Haulage Industry Training Standards

Council wants an industry-wide system of national vocational qualifications in place by the middle of next year.

Chunnel study • A study into the social and economic

effects of the Channel Tunnel on transport is being conducted on behalf of the European Commission.

Chope's message • Roads and Traffic Minister Christopher Chope is

addressing the ERIE conference in Telford today (9 May) on the subject of Vehicles on the Move — Safety and the Environment.

Tool theft • Bodybuilder McDonald Kane of Nottingham lost its

entire stock of tools worth £20,000 when burglars raided its factory at the weekend. Contact the firm on (0602) 603204.

Tanker wreck clears three villages

• Emergency authorities were this week trying to find out how two road tank trailers containing poisonous gas were washed...

April sales fall by 27%

• The recession in the truck industry may be bottoming out, but it shows few signs of recovery, judging by the latest SMMT...

Norman trial adjourned

• Panic Link chairman Eric Norman has denied causing death by reckless driving at Leicester Crown Court. The case has been...

Pickering recruits at Peterborough

• Unit '91, the owner-drivers association founded by haulier Mike Pickering, received a boost at last weekend's Commercial...

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Sulphur cut

• The European Commission has given the go-ahead to proposals to cut the sulphur content of dery to 0.2% by October 1994 and...

Trade jump • Trade between Community countries is set to

rise by 40% by the year 2000 — "an enormous increase when one considers the current saturation on our roads", according to...

Making tracks

• Standardisation of road-rail equipment throughout Europe has been called for in a report to Transport Commissioner Karel van...

Bus operators make millions

• Owners of newly privatised bus companies have made millions of pounds by selling off bus stations and garages for shopping...

Police tackle artic accident

• Police are investigating a truck crash that left 10 people hurt in the centre of a busy market town last week. Police say...

Academics call for higher truck tax

• Hauliers should pay up to 55% more on vehicle excise duty to cover the damage their trucks cause to the environment, say...

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Cab phones rescue risk

/ Truck drivers who break down on motorways and use a cab phone to call a recovery firm direct without informing the police are...

FTA's bosses speak out on retro limiters

/ The Freight Transport Association's policy makers have again spelled out their opposition to the retrofitting of top speed...

Licence renewals to rise in February

• Truck drivers will have to pay £11 more to renew their HGV licences from next February. The cost of a first provisional HGV...

CV dealers probe

• Trading standards officers are considering a probe into the standard of used commercial vehicles being sold by dealers. It...

Norfolk routes sold

• lledingham & District Omnibuses of Halstead, Essex, has acquired the four routes, 12 vehicles and contracts of W Norfolk and...

Dip demands TIR survey help

• UK international operators are to be forced to take part in Department of Transport surveys into overseas haulage. The DTp...

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Truckin' treats on show at Truckfest

Commercial Motor Truckfest lived up to its name over the Bank Holiday weekend with another mind-boggling array of working...

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COMMERCIAL MOTOR BEST KEPT WORKING TRUCK

Owner-driver Barry Jackson won top honours at Commercial Motor Truckfest for the third year running — and immediately announced...

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Ending the year on a high note

• Barcelona is the last major West European show of the year and since Spain's provisional entry into the EC in 1987 its...

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Biffa first with FL7 6x2

• Volvo Trucks (GB) has launched an FL7 6x2 rigid dustcart chassis aimed at the trade waste sector. Biffa Waste Services, which...

Eagle landing • ERF will have a demonstration truck fitted

with the new 298kW (400hp) Perkins Tx400 Eagle engine ready by early autumn. It will be some months after that before hauliers...

Bonnets poised • Volvo says it will be some time

before it takes a decision on whether to produce its bonneted NL10 for the UK market. Commercial Motor exclusively published...

Awaiting date • Mercedes-Benz has not yet set a dale

for the introduction into the UK of its low-emission vee-six and vee-eight engines. The range was announced at the Hanover show...

Detroit woos the big boys

• Detroit Diesel is talking to big fleet operators in a bid to generate sales of its new Series 60 engine to British truck...

Army Roadrunner hits civvy street

• Leyland Daf is offering a civilian version of its 11.5-tonne 4x4 military-spec Roadrunner: it hopes to announce its first...

Armaguard goes for Leyland Daf security

• Security company Armaguard has placed an order for 21 Leyland Daf high-roof 400 Series vans. The vehicles will be converted...

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IFT ramps up residuals

• Following moves by Renault to boost its UK residual values, Iveco Ford Truck has drawn up a programme to improve the price...

Panic link's premium bond

• Next-day parcels carrier Panic Link has launched a £1m bond fund which it claims makes it the only UK operator to offer its...

Contract renewed

• TNT Contract Distribution has renewed its contract with baby food manufacturer Cow and Gate.

Bonus jeopardy

• Liverpool binmen, who are currently on an overtime ban, face losing up to £60 a week in bonus payments if they continue to...

Parcelforce faces a 'substantial loss'

• Parcelforce is expected to report a "substantial loss" when its first-year results are released in July, despite an...

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Chunnel's end • British Rail has chosen Kings Cross, in

favour of Stratford in East London, as the terminal site for its high-speed Channel Tunnel link. Transport Secretary Malcolm...

Jobs created • Exel Logistics has won a renewed contract

with Nurdin & Peacock to distribute its frozen food range. The operation, based at Perry Barry, Birmingham has created 35 new...

Strategy seminar • The Institute of Logistics and Distribution Management

is addressing European logistics and marketing strategy at a one-day seminar in London on 22 May.

Russian carrier • Federal Express was the carrier for the

majority of exhibits in the "Catherine the Great: Treasures of Imperial Russia" exhibition which is currently being held in...

Substantial sum boosts Vaile staff

• South-West coach builder Vaile is poised for expansion following a large cash injection which has enabled it to target...

York rescues customers

• Trailer builder York is setting up a pan-European breakdown recovery network for its customers. The service, launched today...

EMI forced to close Hayes hub

• As consumers switch from vinyl records to CDs and cassettes EMI has been forced to shut its 10,000m distribution hub at Hayes...

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ESOP's able at Cleveland

• Cleveland Transit has been bought by its management and workforce. Last week Langbaurgh, Middlesbrough and Stockton councils...

Red Admiral aims for a bigger fleet

• Red Admiral, Harry Blundred's Portsmouth-based rural network, expects to take an an extra 40 drivers after it moves out of...

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Businesses may back the buses

/ The Department of Transport is looking at a scheme which could empower local authorities to levy a tax on businesses to help...

DVLA cuts backlog

• The DVLA is helping to insulate PCV driver training schools from the effect of a backlog of 14,000 PCV and LGV licence...

Birmingham base for Carlyle Group

• Minibus specialist the Carlyle Group plans to move to modern premises on the outskirts of Birmingham by the end of the year....

Congestion coup • Transport Minister Roger Freeman has told local

authorities and operators to apply for Government Section 56 grants for congestionbusting projects put forward in a recent BCC...

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Malcolm's fine slashed

• Overloading fines of £1,600 unposed on Scots haulier WH Malcolm by Leyland nagistrates have been cut to £1,000 on appeal to...

Conditions for old folk

• Western Licensing Authority Major-General John Carpenter has granted a licence to Fastimport of Penzance, despite objections...

Fine quashed • A Z1,000 fine imposed on Prestonbased C

Mayor for overloading a 7.5-tormer has been quashed on appeal, but an appeal by driver David Cowley against his £200 fine was...

Warned over tacho charts

• Porthlevenbased Christopher Miners has been warned about permitting drivers' hours offences and failing to produce tachograph...

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Brooks brothers dressed down

• The operations of three brothers were entwined to make it impossible to distinguish them and so to confuse the enforcement...

• Commercial Motor has compiled a nationwide legal directory costing

27.50 (inc P&P). It includes names and contact numbers of top transport lawyers and legal experts. Send cheques or postal...

Tranquillity preserved

• The tranquillity of Tranquil Place, Bodmin has been preserved by the refusal of Western LA MajorGeneral John Carpenter to...

Lucky to get a licence

• The wife of an operator who went bankrupt in 1988 has been told that she was lucky to get a licence after being convicted of...

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BUSINESS MOVES Chilly move

• A new distribution centre in the port of Rotterdam has been set up by Wincanton Group's European division, Wincanton Europe...

PRICES Citroen up

• The price of the Citroen C25 panel van range has been increased by an average of 3.7%. Prices of the C15 light van range,...

FERRIES Summer sail

II To offer extra summer freight capacity Truckline has added the 2,000-tonne Skarvoy to its PortsmouthCaen route. The ship...

Swell quality

• BSI approval for quality assurance is being sought by the freight division of

P&04t\

European Ferries P&O European Ferries (Portsmouth) for its cross-Channel services. P&O claims to be the first ferry company...

EVENTS Good signs

• Sign UK '91, claimed to be the main event in the British sign industry calendar, is being held at the NEC, Birmingham on...

Automotive show

• The Automotive Trade Show will be held at the NEC, Birmingham on 22-25 September. Admission to trade visitors will be free....

ENFORCEMENT Dodgers beware

• An intensive drive against owners of HGVs and other vehicles who evade road tax has been announced by Strathclyde Police and...

TRAINING Learn in Leyland

• An HGV driving school has been set up by Leyland-based Ben Transport Services. Contact (0772) 436626

SERVICES Polyglot software

• A multilingual version of the Roadrunner fleet management system has been developed by Road Tech computer Systems for...

PRODUCTS PC guard

• Armagard computer protection system is claimed to protect in-cab computers from shock, vibration, dust, low voltage, fluids...

intek

electronics Two versions are available. One is for upgrading existing equipment; the other is a complete system, based on PCs...

Deflating display

• Tire-Mate deflating truck tyre alarms cost from £65 to £359. The system incorporates valve caps with a pressure sensor,...

ROAD NEWS M4 works

• The crash barriers are being repaired on the M4 between junctions 34 and 37 (Miskin to Pyle) until 13 May. The outside lanes...

Weekend ban

• Vehicles of more than three tonnes will be banned between junctions 23 and 24 on the M5 near Bridgwater, Somerset over the...

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Royal walkabout

N nod to hear Prince Charles advocating better public transport and a move away from City "car culture" which he castigated as...

Vast heaving

ob Mason, of the Grosvenor Youth Club in Cheltenham, is organising a sponsored truck pull on 21 September. Sponsors please...

Red rover

ill and Rover gets another chance to prove its doughty metal when 37 of its 4x4s compete in the first Paris Moscow-Beijing...

lenty of room on top ... whatever happened to those cheery London clippies?

The wittiest caption to this picture of a bus which was knocked over on Vauxhall Bridge will win a £5 gift voucher and a...

Ranunculus Ophioglossifolius lives!

H ave Ranunculus Ophioglossifolius is not a rallying cry that springs easily to the lips — but nature lovers will be delighted...

Dark star

N loomy predictions from Dark Skies, a pro-darkness lobby which claims that the Department of Transport's plan to illuminate...

Sterling effort

c - 1 potted in the latest Wavelength, P&O's in-house journal: "New plan to fight crime by Sterling". What have they been up to?

Dead fast

H windon motorist Cyril Price has been fined £32 for speeding in his company car. Nothing unusual about that you may say —...

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Von Hool's Akron integral coach will offer an interesting alternative

to users of its bodies on other chassis. It has much to commend it to operators and passengers alike. • Van Hool is unusual in...

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Minibus entitlement

I am an HGV licence holder but I also drive minibuses at the weekends for a charity — the vehicles vary from eight to...

Exempted trailers

We operate several pickup trucks plated for 3.5 tonnes which are sometimes used to draw a trailer carrying construction...

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Mystery sign

• As a former owner-driver now involved in the enforcement of the bridge restrictions within Surrey, I find it disconcerting to...

TV fiasco

• I was watching the BBC's Look East programme a few weeks ago when the subject of HGVs came up. The Department of Transport...

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Double standard

11 Jonathan Lawton demonstrates an interesting double-standard in his article "Telephone bookings" (CM 14-20 Feb). On the one...

Recovery heroes

• The heavy recovery specialist is considered as a necessary evil and it could be that hauliers and coach operators envy us...

• Commercial Motor welcomes readers letters, which can be phoned

in on 081-661 3689 (24-hour service). Letters may be edited for length and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor.

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NATIONAL CAR AUCTIONS MACDIARMID

• Alastair MacDiarmid has become UK commercial sales manager at National Car Auctions. He is now responsible for truck and van...

CITROEN UK FITCH

Roy Fitch has filled the newly created position of commercial vehicle operations manager at Citroen UK's sales division in...

• CM wants to hear more news of appointments at

small and medium-sized transport companies. If you have taken on a transport manager/engineer, sales person or depot manager,...

RENAULT TRUCK INDUSTRIES RAGOBERT/MAURY

C atherine Ragobert takes over as finance and administration director of Renault Truck Industries this month and joins the...

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SHOP TALK

a Th Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness has finally been published. It may not hold too many surprises, but should at last...

Multi-marque service future

• Multi-franchise service dealers could be on the way, according to Garet Rhys, professor of motor industry economics at...

Denby's stayers

• Six months after Shell Care advised Denby Transport not to replace the engines in three D - registered tractive units — even...

Goodbye to looms

• Bosch's research director, Dr Otto Holzinger, has told Workshop in an exclusive interview that multiplexing will appear on...

Brake fluid fire risk

• The recent spate of motorway accidents has prompted BBC Television's Top Gear programme to highlight the fire risk associated...

Open all hours

• Leyland Daf has discovered that its dealers' workshops and parts departments are open nearly 20 hours longer than its...

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Shock arrival

• In the autumn Monroe is to launch a range of shock absorbers for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. The traditional oil-filled shocks...

Race winners

• Lucas is offering VIP tickets to the British Grand Prix as competition prizes. Everyone who buys sets of brake pads and shoes...

Terry's top

• lveco Ford's Service Technician of the Year is Terry Lee, who works for Quicics Trucks in Manchester. Lee scored over 80% of...

Tracks of your tyres

• Bandag has set up a computerised tyre casing tracking system called FleetPlan. The service is available to national fleets...

RO-R's schooldays

• Rubery Owen-Rockwell has extended its training programme to include one and two-day courses on the TE 9000 axle. Fees are £35...

Keep fit guide from the DTp

• The Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness has finally been published by the Department of Transport. It covers many aspects of...

Safe brakes

• Mintex Don has introduced a range of six asbestos-free brake linings for trucks, trailers, buses and coaches. Each of these...

Truckline's cost watcher

• Truck and trailer spares distributor Tnicldine is launching a computerised system to monitor the cost-per-mile of vehicle...

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Fitters have to buy their spanners on reputation, hearsay and

price. To find out how the various brands shape up Workshop put A...1 them to the test. A. . II fitters have favourite...

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L eyland Oafs 80 Series was first seen at the Birmingham

Motor Show last September. Born out of the Leyland Oaf merger, it comprises the Leyland T45 Roadtrain cab and chassis with the...

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GETTIN tir

E POWER Re-engining a truck is an uncommon event, but it can give a useful extension to its working life. T hanks to the...

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W hen Cummins wanted a highmileage B-series engine to section for

exhibition purposes it found the ideal candidate powering an ERF 16-tonner operated by Plumb Center's Worcester depot. The...

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Five-year coats from Autocolour

• ICI Autocolour is replacing its market-leading Turbo brand twopack paint with Turbo Plus. The new paint is claimed to last up...

Strong reflections

• Sparfax has launched a shatterproof mirror designed for maximum-weight I ICVs. The TM100's lens measures 380 x 180mm and fits...

Adding pressure

• Wilcomatic's new Monarch Combi is a traditional three-roller vehicle wash with an additional high-pressure washing arch, When...

Heating double

• A combined coolant and cab heater is now available from AVP. Diesel or petrol fired versions of the 9kW unit pre-heat the...

Brake for more oil

• An electronic timer which controls automatic lubrication on trailers is being marketed by Denco. The timer is powered through...

Pointers to loose nuts

• Checkpoint makes loosewheel studs easy to detect, says its manufacturer, Business Lines. Bright yellow pointers are fitted...

Clearing the cracks

• Glass Medic is a new windscreen repair service offered by Autoglass and Bridgewater Windscreens. It uses a polymer resin...