This week has seen the coldest night of the year so far, with temperatures falling as low as -13°C in some parts of the UK.
 
Up and down the country, fleet drivers will now be allowing for extra time in the mornings, to scrape the ice off their windows and give the engine a few moments to warm up before setting off. However, according to Goodyear Tyres, it is equally important to put the same care and attention into checking how the sub-zero temperatures affect tyres.

Below are five tips from Goodyear, to help fleets ensure their tyres are at their best during the winter months.

FORS Professional, the training umbrella of FORS, has worked with Transport for London (TfL) and The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s (CILT) Safety Forum to publish a new guide on ‘Effective Driver Management – An Industry Code of Practice’.

Creation of the document was led by the CILT Transport and Logistics Safety Forum, in consultation with the wider transport industry, and was jointly produced with TfL and FORS Professional to assist with the need to manage drivers effectively.

The CILT Transport and Logistics Safety Forum is a professional group for members who are engaged in all aspects of transport and logistics safety. The forum aims to inform, advise and influence both members and external bodies on good practice and appropriate policies to enable transport and logistics services to be as safe and effective as possible.
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If all of Britain’s vans and HGVs were to switch to electricity, businesses could save around £14 billion a year in fuel costs alone, according to a new report published today (14th December).
 
Hitachi Capital UK’s Future of Fuel report estimates that electricity would be approximately 15 pence per mile cheaper than petrol or diesel for vans, and 38 pence per mile cheaper than diesel for HGVs. Over the combined 65.7 billion miles commercial vehicles travel each year, the fuel savings would total approximately £13.7 billion.
 
The report also reveals the results of a survey of 149 fleet professionals about their current use of alternative fuels and plans for the future. It finds that 62% of fleets now contain AFVs, with the most common types being electric and hybrid cars.
 
There is a strong will from fleet professionals to adopt green fuels, with 82% of those surveyed believing that it is important for fleets to move towards AFVs, and many doing so. With manufacturers improving technology and governments introducing new incentives, 42% of fleets plan to add more AFVs within the next two years. However, 28% of respondents to the survey said that their organisations should be doing more to switch to alternative fuels.

Revised criteria applies to existing haulage, bus and coach operators and new applicants.

The Office of the Traffic Commissioner has today (7 December 2017) confirmed that operator licence applications and continuations will now be processed against the 2018 financial levels.

Applicants and existing operators will be asked to produce evidence meeting the revised criteria in preparation for the 1 January 2018 deadline, when the new financial standing levels come into force.
Standard national and international licence applicants will be required to demonstrate £7950 (previously £7850) for the first vehicle and £4400 (previously £4350) for each additional vehicle they request to be authorised.

Operators making variation applications will be required to demonstrate financial standing for their existing fleet and any additional authorisation against the new levels.

Any applicant or licence holder appearing at public inquiry before a traffic commissioner after 1 January 2018, where additional evidence of financial standing is requested, will be required to satisfy the new levels.

There is no change to the rates of finance which must be available to support a restricted licence or application: £3100 for the first vehicle and £1700 for each additional authorised vehicle.
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The Senior Traffic Commissioner’s statutory guidance document on financehas been also amended to reflect the new rates.