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The latest news from across the sector

Resource pack for employers on tackling drink and drug driving launched as law is tightened

2/27/2015

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Brake, the road safety charity, has produced a guidance report, driver advice sheet and high-impact poster aimed at tackling drink and drug driving at work. Produced in association with Dtec, Brake’s resources are being launched as a new law against drug driving comes into force (2 March 2015).

The law is being strongly welcomed by Brake, which has been campaigning for it alongside families bereaved by drug driving. The law will make it a criminal offence to drive with drugs in your body in England and Wales, removing the need to prove impairment and making it much easier to prosecute drug drivers.

The new law has specified zero-tolerance limits for a range of illegal drugs, and will be enforced with the aid of roadside screening devices. Those found guilty will face a maximum six month jail sentence, £5,000 fine, and automatic 12 month driving ban.


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NHS Highland Estates scales new heights with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

2/27/2015

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When it comes to getting urgent medical care to some of the remotest places in the British Isles, only a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle will do. That’s the conclusion NHS Highland Estates came to when it chose to add seven new Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to its fleet. 

NHS Highland Estates covers over 10,000 square miles of rugged mountain terrain and is responsible for maintaining healthcare facilities throughout remote Scottish regions. With the requirement to complete urgent journeys on some of the most challenging roads in the UK, the organisation places exceptionally high demands on its fleet of commercial vehicles.



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CLOCS showcases the future of construction industry road safety

2/27/2015

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CLOCS – Construction Logistics & Cycle Safety – demonstrated the successful results of the first two years of the industry-led initiative at its bi-annual progress event at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London yesterday and announced its plans to further increase the reach of the programme nationwide in the coming year.

The event incorporated three aspects: a display of safety-optimised vehicles developed in partnership with CLOCS, a seminar programme and an exhibition of safer driving aids from a selection of suppliers which can help operators meet the CLOCS Standard. The vehicle fleet display included the new low-entry high-vision Mercedes-Benz Econic tipper – a high-vision tipper designed for construction industry use – and vehicles from DAF Trucks, Scania, Volvo and MAN with higher-vision options, incorporating lower cabs and additional glass for improved driver vision.


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Body repair sector stands united

2/26/2015

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The National Association of Bodyshops (NAB) and the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association Limited (VBRA), will stand united to take on the challenges in the body repair sector.

The plan is to promote a single authoritative voice to take on the ever increasing challenges faced by the bodyshop sector, in the aftermath of the recent investigation into the Private Motor Insurance Market by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).


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Unique life-saver: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles creates one-off Amarok ambulance

2/26/2015

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Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles come to the rescue of companies and individuals on a daily basis. However, thanks to an incredible engineering project commissioned by East Midlands Ambulance Service, those who find themselves in need of medical help in areas that conventional vehicles can’t reach can expect to see a special Volkswagen Amarok ambulance coming to their aid.


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£43 million for infrastructure and research and development plug-in vehicle funding

2/26/2015

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A wave of chargepoints to support the fast-growing popularity of plug-in vehicles will be installed across the UK after the government set out £32 million of infrastructure support up to 2020.

Homes, hospitals, train stations and A-roads will be some of the locations for further chargepoints to maintain Britain’s position as a global leader in this cutting-edge technology.

The support compliments the fast-growing popularity of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) with grant claims rising 4 fold in 2014 compared to the previous year as take-up of plug-in car grants continues to rise.


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Econic - it's clearer to see, it's built for the city

2/26/2015

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While other manufacturers scrabble to bring to market trucks adapted to work in urban environments, the Mercedes-Benz Econic has been demonstrating the solution for the past 16 years.

Purpose-designed from scratch to combine versatility, ergonomics and safety like no other commercial vehicle, the Econic is quite simply in a class of its own.

It features a unique low-entry cab which, coupled with the outstanding quality that comes as standard from Mercedes-Benz, allows the vehicle to offer operators in busy city centres exactly what they need: efficiency, safety, environmental compatibility and comfort.


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New i30 line-up pricing and specification revealed

2/24/2015

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Following its official unveiling in December, Hyundai Motor UK has revealed the pricing and specification of the New i30 range including, for the first time, the i30 Turbo.

Priced from £15,195, the range starts with the i30 S, replacing the outgoing ‘Classic’ model, with standard equipment including; keyless entry, USB and AUX connections, Bluetooth® connectivity with steering wheel remote control, and air conditioning. Based on the i30 S, the SE is available with additional features such as 16” alloy wheels (subject to variant), auto cruise control with speed limiter, drivers electric lumbar support, rear parking sensors, leather steering wheel and gear knob. Prices for the i30 SE start at £16,495. Additionally, the SE Nav derivative will offer satellite navigation with rear view camera.


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Focus on safety and costs at Van Excellence briefings

2/24/2015

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Delegates at the Freight Transport Association’s Van Excellence Operational Briefings will be provided with invaluable advice on how to manage their costs and reduce accidents at two events taking place in March. 
 
The briefings, held in association with Mercedes-Benz Vans, provide companies with a unique opportunity to explore operational best practice and compliance issues across a range of key areas, whether they are an existing Van Excellence member, or an operator keen to know where to begin.
 
FTA consultant Ian Laughlin, who has many years of fleet management experience including running the RAC’s 1000-plus van fleet, will be exploring various strategies for managing and reducing operational costs.  Jon York, Road Safety Manager for British Gas, will describe the company’s crash reduction policies which have reduced its accident rate by over 30 per cent, saving millions of pounds and last year alone reducing its crash claims by over £1 million.
 
A few places still remain for the Van Excellence Operational Briefings, which take place on Tuesday 24 March at Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands near Weybridge in Surrey and on Friday 27 March at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
 

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New fleet of ambulances for WMAS

2/23/2015

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West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has taken delivery of the first batch of its new front-line ambulances, all of which are built around the reliable and robust FIAT Ducato Maxi van. In total West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has ordered 101 FIAT Ducato vehicles for conversion into front-line ambulances, as well as an additional two vehicles for driver-training unit conversions. The ambulances are based on long wheelbase, extra-high roof, long body, FIAT Ducato Maxi vans, powered by 180hp, 3.0 MultiJet Power engines and fitted with a high output alternator to assist with the electrical load required and alloy wheels to assist with heat dissipation from the brakes during high-speed emergency calls.


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E-Car Club quadruples fleet and cuts costs by 20% with electric vehicle expert Alphabet

2/23/2015

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E-Car gets set to deploy its sixtieth vehicle, with fifty more to follow in next six months

Electric vehicle car club, E-Car Club, will have soon quadrupled its fleet from 15 to 60 vehicles in less than a year, while also reducing costs, with the help of business mobility specialist Alphabet. 35 electric vehicles from Alphabet – 23 Renault ZOEs, 5 Nissan LEAFs and 7 Renault Kangoo ZE vans – have already been supplied, saving the company 20% on its monthly payments. A further 50 vehicles are to be deployed within the next six months.


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Energy Saving Trust launches Plug-in advice tool

2/20/2015

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The Plug-in Vehicle tool from The Energy Saving Trust provides customised advice for organisations so they can understand where and how plug-in vehicles will work within their fleet, where to recharge on the routes most commonly taken, and what first steps they can take to adopt the electric vehicles.

There are multiple benefits to using plug-in vehicles, including lower taxes, reduced running costs and grants to help with purchase. Once visitors to the Plug-in Vehicle tool website have answered a few simple questions they will receive a report that provides detailed advice on the feasibility of adopting plug-in vehicles into their fleet.


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Work begins on upgrade of Cycle Superhighway 2

2/20/2015

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Work on a substantial upgrade of Cycle Superhighway 2 (CS2) as part of plans by the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) to improve cycling safety in the capital is now underway.

The upgrade, which received 90% support in consultation, will deliver a world-class fully and semi-segregated cycle route between Aldgate and Bow Roundabout. Eleven pioneering cycle-priority junctions will also be installed, including at Aldgate East, Mile End and Whitechapel.

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Transport industry in pre-Budget talks with treasury over driver shortage

2/20/2015

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Haulage industry leaders will meet HM Treasury today (Friday 20 February) to set out why government funding for firms to train lorry drivers is essential and appropriate.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) said in a joint statement ahead of the meeting: “The UK is facing a growing, structural shortage of lorry drivers. The clear message from our members is that the Chancellor should be concerned about the impact that this will have, increasingly, on the economy as a whole. It will damage what is an essential service industry and it will hold back growth.

“We calculate that we are 45,000 drivers short now. At least 40,000 will leave the industry over the next two years and yet we are only training at the rate of 17,000 a year.

“We welcome Chancellor Osborne’s invitation to discuss what urgent measures the government might take.

“The government has asked the industry to develop proposals for Trailblazer apprenticeship funding for new lorry drivers, which it is doing. But that scheme will not go live until September 2017. The industry – and the UK economy - needs a simple, nationally available, readily accessible, funding stream for companies to bridge that gap. We have asked for a scheme that is time-limited for two years.

“That way we can address what is a highly damaging skills shortage and also reduce the industry’s need to source its workforce from outside the UK.

"The Chancellor has a golden opportunity to fund transformational change in a vital British industry – and we will be pressing that case very firmly today.”




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Motorists warned about scam emails

2/19/2015

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DVLA warns the public of an email scam that asks drivers to verify their driving licence and vehicle tax details via an online link

The email, which wrongly claims to have been sent from DVLA, appears to be an attempt to trick drivers into providing personal details. DVLA has not sent out an email asking customers to update or verify their details.

DVLA is aware that some members of the public have received these emails and it strongly advises anyone who receives one of these or any similar email, to ignore it and not to follow the instructions given.

The government, led by Cabinet Office’s Government Digital Service (GDS), will continue to investigate reports of organisations which may be actively misleading users about their services or acting illegally, taking swift action when necessary. By using the online driving licence or vehicle taxtransactions on GOV.UK you can be sure that you are dealing directly withDVLA.
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New FIAT Doblo Cargo launched in the UK

2/19/2015

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The 2015 FIAT Doblò has been launched to the UK media at a special event staged in the Midlands. The new fourth-generation FIAT Doblò features a fresh exterior design, improved engine performance for key models and a new "EcoJet" version engineered to lower fuel consumption and reduce running costs even further. The new Doblò is also the first vehicle to wear the full “FIAT Professional” logo on its tailgate, a signature which will appear on all new FIAT Professional commercial vehicles from now on.

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Suzuki makes changes to Swift and S-Cross

2/19/2015

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Suzuki GB PLC has announced some minor changes to the Swift and S-Cross ranges for the Spring as well as the introduction of a new Swift derivative; the SZ4 five door 4x4 with Dualjet engine.

This new model replaces the outgoing SZ4 4x4 and offers improved fuel economy, lower CO2 emissions and a lower VED band too, moving from Band D (£110) to Band C (£30), helping to lower cost of ownership by £80 per year. 

The SZ4 Dualjet 4x4 has CO2 emissions of just 111g/km and an EC Combined fuel consumption figure of 58.8mpg, representing a 15g/km reduction and 7.5 mpg improvement versus the outgoing SZ4 4x4 model.


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Seven vehicle manufacturers join forces to raise awareness of ultra-low emission vehicles

2/19/2015

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Three new car manufacturers have joined Go Ultra Low, the campaign to increase awareness of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) among British car buyers. Audi, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen have joined BMW, Nissan, Renault and Toyota to work with government to raise awareness of the benefits of ULEVs – including low running costs and government incentives.  
 
Between them, the seven Go Ultra Low members boast 15 ULEVs across a wide variety of model sizes and performance attributes, from family cars and vans, to SUVs and high performance sports cars. This broader scope of products has increased the appeal of ULEVs to more buyers, and increased uptake. 


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New CV Show YouTube Channel and newsletter

2/19/2015

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The CV Show has just launched its own official YouTube channel promoting the event and its exhibitors’ activities. Subscribe to the new channel by visiting https://www.youtube.com/TheCVShowTV. The Show will publish its own videos as well as sharing those from exhibitors.

The CV Show has also made available the first of six weekly newsletters, which will be published every Thursday in the run-up to the hotly anticipated Commercial Vehicle Show, which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, on 14-16 April.


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Relay Ready to Run: The new name for Citroen Relay specialist vehicles

2/16/2015

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‘Relay Ready to Run’ is the new name for Citroën’s successful range of Relay ready-bodied vehicles*. The New Relay Ready to Run range includes high-specification, competitively priced tippers, dropsides and Luton vans, which are available from stock via Citroën’s Business Centre network and other large Citroën dealers. The Relay Ready to Run range is included in the Citroën LCV price list and has a full 2 year unlimited mileage/3 year 100,000 mile factory warranty, covering all elements of the chassis cab and the body conversion. 


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