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The latest news from across the sector

£78 million for local sustainable transport schemes

12/28/2013

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Local authorities invited to bid for part of over £78 million transport fund.

Sustainable transport schemes across England could benefit from a multi-million boost in funding, thanks to the Department for Transport.

Local authorities have today (23 December 2013) been invited to bid for a £78.5 million slice of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.


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Government backs Smartphone App to pinpoint potholes

12/28/2013

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DfT pledges cash to enable CTC, the National Cycling Charity to revamp it's 'Fill that hole' website and develop a new potholes app.

The government has given £30,000 to back the development of an innovative smartphone application to report potholes, Roads Minister Robert Goodwill has announced (24 December 2013).
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The Department for Transport (DfT) pledged the cash to enable CTC, the National Cycling Charity, to revamp its Fill that hole website and develop a new app compatible with smartphones running Android software.

Over 9 million iPhone users can download the website’s current app to report potholed roads to their councils; the new app could boost that figure to over 26 million and is expected to be ready in February, at the start of ‘pothole season’ when the winter damage to roads is at its greatest.

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FTA at 125 – as important tody as its ever been

12/23/2013

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2014 will be a big year on the Freight Transport Association (FTA) calendar as the Association celebrates its 125th anniversary.

Boasting a rich heritage, FTA has been supporting the interests of the transport industry since 1889, when it was first established as the Mansion House Association on Railway Rates (MHA). FTA has since undergone changes to become the recognised face of the freight transport industry today.


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SEAT appoints Peter McDonald as Head of Fleet

12/20/2013

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SEAT UK has appointed Peter McDonald as Head of Fleet, starting in January 2014. Peter moves to the role having been Head of Planning for SEAT UK since 2009.

It’s fair to say that SEAT’s new Head of Fleet has already put in some big mileage over the course of his career. Born and bred in Australia, Peter studied commerce at the University of Western Australia, Perth, graduating in 2001.

Peter’s first taste of the Volkswagen Group came when he accepted a six-month internship during the final year of his studies, joining the company at its head office in Wolfsburg.

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Paul Willis to take over as MD of Volkswagen Group UK Ltd.

12/20/2013

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Paul Willis is to take over as Managing Director of Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Ltd from 1 February 2014, replacing Paul Willcox who leaves the company with immediate effect.

Willis headed up the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand between February 2000 and 2008.  Since then he has worked as Managing Director for Volkswagen Group Ireland, while his most recent role, which he has held since June 2011, was as Chief Operating Officer, Sales and Marketing, for ŠKODA China.  Before joining Volkswagen in 2000, Willis had gained a wealth of automotive industry experience, having worked for BMW, Mazda, Toyota and Ford. 
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Commenting on his new appointment, Willis said: ‘I’m delighted to be returning to the Volkswagen Group in the UK.  The Group is going from strength to strength and now holds close to a 20 per cent share of the UK car market.’
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Volkswagen Amarok named 2014 Pick-up of the Year

12/20/2013

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Volkswagen’s highly-acclaimed Amarok has scooped the prestigious ‘Pick-up of the Year’ title from specialist off-road publication, 4x4 Magazine.

Seven pick-ups underwent intensive testing by 4x4 Magazine, each judged on their off-road ability, performance on the road and value for money.  The pick-ups were also tested as a working vehicle including comparing towing capacity and engine capability, resulting with Amarok as the overall winner. 

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According to 4x4 Magazine, the multi award-winning Amarok was praised for its 4-wheel-drive 4MOTION technology which gives the driver maximum control on any surface and features Electronic Stabilisation Programme, Electronic Differential Lock, on and off road Anti-lock Braking System and Anti-Slip Regulation, all as standard. The vehicle’s unique blend of practicality and versatility both on and off-road meant it was ranked ahead of all other challengers.

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DfT launches drug driving and amphetamine consultation

12/20/2013

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In May 2012 the government introduced primary legislation to Parliament that would create a new offence of driving with a specified controlled drug in the body above the specified limit for that drug. The Crime and Courts Act 2013 sets out the framework for the new offence.

Regulations now need to be made to specify the drugs to be included in the legislation and the limits to be specified. The Department for Transport has published a consultation seeking views on the government’s proposed limit for amphetamine to be included in these regulations. The proposals follow an earlier consultation conducted over the summer on the proposed 17 drugs and limits for 16 of them. DfT did not propose a limit for amphetamine as they sought views in that consultation on what a suitable limit might be. DfT has analysed the responses and concluded that the limit should be 50µg/L.

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Special Shoguns on their way to Highways Agency

12/20/2013

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The first of 30 specialist Mitsubishi vehicles destined for the Highways Agency has rolled off the production line and is ready for action.

The agency has ordered 30 4x4 Shoguns all of which will be built at the carmaker’s state-of-the-art Specialist Vehicle Operations Centre, which refits, adapts and upgrades standard Mitsubishi models to meet individual client requirements.
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With each vehicle taking up to 24 hours to complete, staff at the Cirencester-based operation have been working hard to deliver the order.

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Volvo FH16 for Euro-6 arrives next Spring

12/17/2013

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Spring 2014 will see the launch of Volvo Trucks’ flagship model - the Volvo FH16 - in Euro-6 configuration. With a new generation of 16-litre engines, it not only conforms to the strict standards for low emissions, it also meets high expectations on performance and productivity from customers in the most demanding operations.

Kristin Signert, Long Haul Segment Manager at Volvo Trucks, said: “We are proud to have succeeded in meeting the Euro-6 requirements while at the same time retaining the best driveability and performance on the market. Fuel consumption also remains highly competitive.”

The new Euro-6 engine range comprises three output levels: 750 hp (3,550 Nm), 650 hp (3,150 Nm) and 550 hp (2,900 Nm). All three engines are mated to Volvo’s automated transmission, I-Shift. The 550 hp version is also available in a variant with 2,800 Nm for a manual gearbox.

Sales of the Volvo FH16 with Euro-6 engine will get under way in March 2014, with production scheduled for early June.
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MP wins national road safety award for campaign to tackle young driver crashes

12/17/2013

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Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, has been given a national road safety award by the charity Brake and Direct Line Group for his work campaigning to reform the way young people learn to drive to prevent devastating road crashes.

Justin launched his campaign in June 2013 after two horrendous crashes in May 2013 killed three teenagers in Swindon within the space of a week, bringing home the dangers faced by young and newly qualified drivers and their passengers. Young drivers are involved in one in four fatal and serious crashes, despite making up just one in eight driver licence holders [1].

Working to highlight the issue in Parliament, Justin introduced the Graduated Driving Licence Scheme Bill on 19 June 2013. The Bill proposed that for 12 months immediately after passing their tests, drivers would have licence restrictions to limit the risks they are exposed to. This would include a zero-tolerance drink drive limit and only being allowed to carry one passenger. These restrictions would be supported by graduated learning, with key skills signed off by an accredited instructor before being allowed to book a test.


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The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - Transport Manager Forum

12/17/2013

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While Transport Managers play a vital role in the safe and efficient operations of their fleets, the wide range of skills and professional expertise required to do the job successfully is often not recognised and/or undervalued. The importance of this critical role has been reflected by the Institute establishing a dedicated Transport Manager Forum, which is supported by operators, regulators and senior industry figures.

The Forum will be of particular interest to those individuals named on ‘O’ Licences, all holders of a Transport Manager’s CPC and those who want to hold a CPC in transport management. The broad remit of the forum is to deliver against the following criteria:

  • Raise awareness and understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Transport Managers in both road haulage and passenger transport
  • Share and promote best practice
  • Support and develop professional development initiatives
  • Raise the profile of Transport Managers
Transport Manager Forum committee positions are exclusive to CILT members, although events are open to all.

If you would like to register your interest in this forum, please email us at transportmanagersforum@ciltuk.org.uk with your contact details, indicating whether you are also interested in becoming a committee member.

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Citroën Fleet Car & LCV success in 2013

12/17/2013

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The success of Citroën’s fleet car and LCV activity in 2013 has been recognised, during the course of the year, with a number of major independent accolades, including:

- Citroën Ready to Run Programme, Vans A2Z ‘One-Stop-Shop’ Award

- Berlingo, Trade Van Driver ‘Best Small Van’

- Citroën Ready to Run Programme, Trade Van Driver ‘Best Conversion Range’

- Citroën, Van Fleet World Honours ‘Most Improved Manufacturer’

- Nemo, Van Fleet World Honours ‘Best Light Van’

- Berlingo Electric, Van Fleet World Honours ‘Environmental’ Award

- Citroën, GreenFleet ‘Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year’

- Berlingo, Fleet Van ‘Small Van of the Year’


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Young driver penatly points record shows need for reform

12/17/2013

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The current way we train new drivers is clearly failing to produce safe and law abiding motorists, particularly men, according to road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

Thirty-thousand, eight hundred and fifty male drivers aged 20 or under have up to six points on their license, according to data released by the DVLA.  This compares with only 9, 758 young female drivers with up to six points on their license.

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The new 2014 Toyota Verso

12/16/2013

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The 2014 Toyota Verso is the first to adopt the BMW-sourced 1.6-litre D-4D diesel engine

KEY POINTS

  • Improved efficiency, emissions, flexibility and NVH performance compared to previous 2.0-litre unit
  • New engine headline performance figures - 110bhp, 270Nm, 119g/km* and 62.8mpg* (*provisional)
  • 2014 compact MPV range introduces new Trend grade, with "floating roof" effect, Toyota Touch 2 with Go multimedia and navigation system, front parking sensors and 17-inch alloys
  • Toyota Touch 2 touchscreen system introduced on all grades bar entry-level Active
  • Available to order from 1 February 2014, customer deliveries to begin in March
  • Prices to be announced in the New Year
The Verso compact MPV is being readied to be the first Toyota model to use a new 1.6-litre D-4D diesel engine from BMW, introduced in a revised UK range that adds a new Trend grade offering extra style and high-tech equipment features.

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Brake calls on fleets to ensure mechanics are trained and qualified

12/16/2013

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Brake, the road safety charity, has published a new report for fleet managers on maintaining safe vehicles. Sponsored by Licence Bureau and published through Brake's Fleet Safety Forum, the report contains results of a Brake survey of fleets' management of vehicle safety, and gives guidance on how fleet managers can ensure vehicles are safely maintained.

Inadequate vehicle maintenance can cost lives: vehicle defects contributed to 2,125 crashes in Great Britain in 2011, 52 of them causing deaths. It is vital that fleet managers ensure their vehicles are safe and roadworthy, and that mechanics working on their vehicles are properly trained.


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ACFO, in parternship with EST, turns the fleet spotlight on electric vehicles with BMW-backed seminar

12/16/2013

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ACFO and the Energy Saving Trust (EST) are urging public, private and voluntary organisations to have their electric vehicle knowledge bank fully charged by attending a special seminar.

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

The seminar will be held on Tuesday, 18th February, 2014 at BMW Oxford - the home of the Mini - from 10am-4pm. BMW’s first fully-electric production car, the i3, has just gone on UK sale and it will be followed next year by the plug-in hybrid i8 sports car

The Government has forecast that by 2050 it anticipates almost every car and van on the nation’s roads to be an ultra low emission vehicle - and that implies a huge take-up among fleets and consumers for electric power.

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Government approves low-level lights to boost cyclists' safety

12/13/2013

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Low-level lights are set to give cyclists improved, clearer signals

New low-level traffic lights designed for cyclists have been authorised for use following safety trials, Transport Minister Stephen Hammond has announced.

More than 80% of cyclists favoured the use of low-level signals during the track-based trials of the system, which works by repeating the signal displayed on main traffic lights at the eye level of cyclists.

The clearance means that Transport for London (TfL) can now install the lights at Bow Roundabout – the first time the lights have been used in the UK.

Initially the system will be piloted at Bow but the Department for Transport (DfT) is working with TfL to extend it to a further 11 sites in London. The further 11 sites are listed below.

The lights will give cyclists improved, clearer signals to ensure they have the information they need at the junction. Research is currently underway that will give DfT the evidence to consider approving the use of these lights to provide an “early start” for cyclists.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and TfL have been trialling a range of measures to improve the safety of cyclists, including new designs for roundabouts and bus stop bypasses.


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New green fuels in the spotlight

12/13/2013

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Views sought on low-carbon fuels for transport

Turning yoghurt pots into diesel and making jet fuel out of household waste are just two of the ideas in the spotlight as part of the government’s new ‘call for evidence’ on advanced fuels. Advanced fuels are low-carbon fuels produced using new technologies that can replace conventional fossil fuels. They are one of our best options for cutting carbon emissions from the transport sector.
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FTA's Van Excellence - on the road again

12/13/2013

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The Freight Transport Association is pleased to announce the return of the Van Excellence Conference 2014, which are scheduled to take place on two dates – Tuesday, 8 April (Elstree, London) and Thursday, 10 April (Manchester).

Following the success of this years Van Excellence conferences, when VOSA informed attendees that the Authority would be undertaking a programme of targeted enforcement checks on vans in all the major towns and cities throughout Great Britain, and quoted the fact that an average 75 per cent were subject to overloading prohibition, one of the key sessions of the 2014 events will focus on load security and overloading.


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A third of drivers don't enjoy it any more according to IAM 

12/13/2013

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A third of drivers simply don’t enjoy driving anymore, according to a poll by road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

The main reason given for not enjoying driving on the roads was the cost of fuel (51%) closely followed by congestion (41%), no longer excited by driving (28%) and less leisure time (25.9%).


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