Fleets to save following BVRLA's success in Red Tape Challenge

• V5C on demand and tax disc abolition to save £6.5million per year

• Online service to notify changes of address, keeper and vehicle details
• Further clarity needed on withdrawal of the driving licence counterpart

The BVRLA has welcomed the news that its recommendations under the government's Red Tape Challenge are now being delivered.

Deliveries of the all-new Ford Transit Connect van have begun to Mears Group - a major care services provider - which is receiving its first 100 new Fords this month.

Mears Group asset manager, Jo Hammonds, said: "The new Ford Transit Connect's fresh styling, greater load space, better economy, emissions and whole-life costs are the factors which make it a very attractive prospect for us."

Mears' vans are used by the company's 16,000-strong workforce to provide response and planned maintenance services to local authorities and registered social landlords, delivering 6,000 repairs a day to a portfolio of nearly one million properties.

The BVRLA has welcomed the launch of a new campaign to raise awareness of ultra-low emission vehicles and their potential.

Commenting on the launch of the government's Go Ultra Low initiative, BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said: "It's encouraging to see the government joining forces with the motor industry to showcase a range of attractive ultra-low emission vehicles."

Fleet management software industry leader Jaama has launched a new and improved website featuring a brand new look and feel and a raft of additional features.

The corporate website - accessible at www.jaama.co.uk - has been launched at the start of Jaama’s 10th anniversary year.

Easy to navigate and including a software finder to help fleet decision-makers discover critical information on Jaama’s award-winning web-based Key2 system, the site details comprehensive information on the company’s suite of products, training seminars and industry information as well as giving users the ability to quickly book a demonstration of the system.

BT Fleet has secured a five year sole supplier agreement with the Post Office to manage its 470-strong fleet of cash delivery vehicles and mobile post offices.

The vehicles operate in remote parts of the UK and are designed for high security deliveries. BT Fleet won the contract to manage the fleet after an 18-month tender process, because the Post Office Ltd considered them experienced in managing similar secure vehicle fleets and best able to ensure vehicle availability at reduced cost.

Choosing the right tyre is key to the success of any transport operation, after all, tyres are the only part of a van, truck or trailer in constant contact with the road surface.

It therefore follows that because of the critical role tyres play in a fleet’s safety and performance, they should be managed by experts. That doesn’t just mean the supplier; the company tyre policy is equally important. Choosing a tyre based on price may not necessarily be the same as making a choice based on value. A company tyre policy should deliver the best possible value for money, but that will rarely mean buying the cheapest tyre on the market.

An illegal or defective commercial vehicle tyre could mean a roadside prohibition, a court appearance and a hefty fine. A driver caught behind the wheel of a vehicle with illegal tyres faces three penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500 per tyre – regardless of whether they own the vehicle or not.

Businesses are already savings thousands of pounds on contract hire rates following the launch of a new dedicated fleet vehicle comparison service.

Fleet, procurement and e-commerce expertise has been brought together by the founders of CompareMyFleet.com to provide businesses with a free online service that seeks out the lowest available lease rate on any car or light commercial vehicle.

More than 140 fleet decision-makers have to-date booked places to attend next month’s electric vehicle seminar hosted by ACFO.

The fleet-decision-makers’ organisation is joining forces with BMW and a wide range of other electric vehicle experts, including the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), to provide managers with the very latest information.

The seminar is being held on Tuesday, 18th February, 2014 at BMW Oxford - the home of the Mini - from 10am-4pm and the expert speaker line-up has now been finalised.

The UK’s first entirely electric pay-per-use car club, E-Car Club, have launched a service at the University of Hertfordshire, using several Renault electric vehicles, in partnership with Source East and University of Hertfordshire.

One of the first schemes of its kind, it aims to improve mobility on a local level, whilst simultaneously reducing 
both the cost and environmental impact of each journey taken. E-Car will provide staff, students and members of the community with the convenience and flexibility of full-sized electric cars without the cost of owning one.

In the first instance, there will be three 100 per cent electric Renaults, two ZOE superminis and a Fluence Z.E. saloon, available for hire by the hour. Each vehicle has its own specially designated parking space and electric charging point at the de Havilland and College Lane Campus provided by Source East. The range of the Renault ZOE when fully charged is officially 130 miles, in the real world around 64 to 92 miles, which makes it perfect for regional journeys.

The Road Haulage Association is disappointed at the news that today sees the opening of the first ‘motorway pub’ at the Beaconsfield service area at junction 2 of the M40.

“As far as the RHA is concerned, drinking and driving is a bad mix, regardless of the size of vehicle being driven”, said RHA Spokesperson, Kate Gibbs.

The Freight Transport Association has welcomed the announcement today by the Mayor of London that the London boroughs are to be awarded £17 million of funding for cycling improvements. 

FTA’s Head of Urban Logistics, Christopher Snelling, commented:

“As cycling grows in popularity it becomes increasingly important that all road users are aware of how to behave safely around each other.  Therefore we particularly welcome the inclusion of funding for training of both cyclists and HGV drivers as part of some of the packages announced today. 

“FTA recommends to all its members operating in areas such as London that they include instruction about vulnerable road users in their driver training.  Similarly we encourage all cyclists in London to take up the training on offer so they can learn how best to stay safe around large vehicles such as HGVs.”

Snelling concluded:

“Our roads have to perform many functions if we are to keep our city running.  This funding should have a part to play in helping us all share those roads safely.”

Lexus is making the most comprehensive package of improvements yet to the CT 200h range, with styling, handling and equipment changes that will make the market’s only full hybrid luxury hatchback an even more appealing proposition. The upgrades are matched by a strengthening of the CT 200h’s impressive value, with significant reductions in prices and attractive finance options that open up the prospect of Lexus ownership to many more customers.

It’s 20 years since Toyota RAV4 created a whole new motoring market with the launch of RAV4, the original compact recreational SUV. While other manufacturers have been keen to follow Toyota’s lead, RAV4 continues to develop and deliver performance, specification and choice that keep pace with changing customer demand.

That’s the inspiration for the 2014 RAV4 which hits the road this week, building on the model’s inherent strengths with a new powertrain and even higher equipment specifications.

FIAT is celebrating 30 years and 500,000 sales of its iconic all-wheel drive city car with the special edition FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica. Designed to stand out from the crowd, the Antarctica is only available in white with a black roof, orange detailing, diamond-finish 15-inch alloy wheels and special badges.

Inside, the FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica features grey and orange upholstery with numerous additional standard features such as dark-tinted rear privacy glass, a height adjustable driver’s seat and three-passenger rear seat with 60:40 split/folding backrests. As with all examples of the FIAT Panda 4X4 sold in the UK, the Antarctica edition also features air conditioning, ESC stability control, an electronic locking differential (ELD), specially tuned suspension, mud-and-snow tyres and rugged bodywork protection all as standard.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) wants to shine a light on individuals who have gone “above and beyond” to improve the safety of others, for a new awards scheme.

The safety charity’s Guardian Angel Awards, being held for the first time this year, will honour those whose initiative, diligence, enthusiasm and commitment have made a real difference to safety in the organisation where they work or the wider community. It is the first time that RoSPA, a charity with a history stretching back 97 years, has run an awards scheme for individuals.

Driver First Assist (DFA) has recently completed a day of unique road safety training in conjunction with Devon County Council. With over five lives lost every day on UK roads, Devon County Council was keen to bolster its road safety strategy with help from DFA, an initiative which trains professional drivers to deal with road traffic collisions (RTCs) in a bid to save lives. 

DFA course participants learn a variety of information, from how to manage the scene of an RTC prior to the emergency services arriving, to learning basic first aid which gives drivers the skills they need to carry out life-saving first-at-scene treatment.

By using the online driving licence transactions on GOV.UK you can be sure that you are dealing directly with DVLA and you will not be charged any additional fees for your driving licence. Your application will be completed online without the need for a postal application in the majority of cases.

You can find the online driving licence services in the driving licences section of GOV.UK.

The RHA FTA Fuel Card has drawn 5 million litres of fuel in a month, saving members a combined £150,000 against national average pump prices in December 2013.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association (FTA), jointly launched the RHA FTA Fuel Card on 1 March 2013, which has grown in popularity with the freight and logistics industry.  Free to new subscribers for the first 12 months of use,  it offers both RHA and FTA members exclusive access to discounted fuel with savings of *£125 a month per HGV on pump prices, and can be used at over 1,800 sites nationwide. 

weather and flooding has caused a significant amount of damage to housing, businesses, agriculture and transport infrastructure across the country. This recovery funding will assist with such repairs.