Archive for 2011

- DAF Advanced Transport Efficiency improves fuel economy and lowers operating costs across the DAF Range
- New Limited Edition XF105 Super Space Cab with premium specification
- Available for demonstration and to order at your local DAF dealer now
- DAF CF models also benefit from latest advancements

A Limited Edition DAF XF105 model has been released and is now available for demonstration and to order, providing buyers with the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly DAF tractor unit ever made.

Built at the Leyland Trucks plant in Lancashire, the new Limited Edition models, also available on CF model range, mark an evolutionary change in DAF’s progress in delivering cleaner and more fuel-efficient trucks.

Available with the ultra-frugal Euro-5 PACCAR 12.9-litre MX engine, producing 460hp and certified to EEV (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle) standard, these special models provide enhanced fuel economy and lower running costs as well as being greener, thanks to a range of transport solutions for DAF vehicles collectively known as Advanced Transport Efficiency (ATe).

ATe features Engine Idle Shutdown, which automatically switches the engine off after five minutes idling time thereby preventing unnecessary waste of fuel and emissions. In addition the speed limiter can be factory specified at 85 km/h instead of 89 km/h to help reduce overall fuel consumption. Enhanced fuel economy information is shown on the driver’s information panel in the dash, helping drivers to get the best from the vehicle by encouraging an economical driving style.

Also part of DAF ATe are recent enhancements to the MX engine to further improve efficiency and fuel economy. A number of changes have been made to the 12.9-litre engine at ratings up to and including 460hp; optimising the combustion process, reducing mechanical losses (internal engine friction; inertia energy) and reducing thermal losses (less waste heat). These changes all help to make the MX even more fuel efficient.

It is not purely about mechanical enhancements, because the Limited Edition comes with a host of additional features. Distinctive in Ice White, the spacious and beautifully finished XF105 Super Space Cab has been enhanced with a high specification that includes refrigerator, microwave, Xtra comfort mattress and Skylights.

Further features include the MX engine brake, which enhances the braking system and reduces wear and tear, along with a 12-speed AS Tronic automated manual gearbox.

The 6×2 tractor units also include a 525-litre aluminium fuel tank and sliding fifth wheel, with Alcoa Durabrite aluminium wheels completing the picture.

The DAF dealer network is ready with Limited Edition models for demonstration drives and assessment. These vehicles have been custom ordered to reflect the wide range of configuration options available to those who want to further enhance their trucks.

The demand for truck winter tyres has risen following the harsh winters experienced in the UK and Ireland and Continental has responded to the demand by adding five new tyre sizes in total to its Scandinavia 2 range of winter tyres for truck, bus and coach.

Starting with the drive axle, there are two new low profile sizes on offer namely 295/60 R 22.5 and 315/60 R 22.5. Meanwhile for steer axle, Continental now offers three new tyres for heavier loads in the form of 315/60 R 22.5 XL, 315/70 R 22.5 XL and 355/50 R 22.5 XL sizes. The Scandinavia 2 XL tyres have been engineered to accommodate higher load capacities while at the same time maintaining maximum traction during the winter season.

All steering axle tyres from the new Scandinavia 2 generation feature an intelligent tread design that provides optimum road contact on varying road surfaces. This is achieved through a multitude of lateral and longitudinal grooves as well as sipes in the tread blocks.

The soft tread compound, which was specially developed for the new winter tyres, grips particularly well on ice and compacted snow. The wide rib on the outer shoulder provides optimum support against the lateral forces which occur during cornering.

Tracey Hyem, commercial marketing manager at Continental, said, “During the last few tough winters, Continental Scandinavia winter tyres for tractor units, rigids and semi-trailers proved that optimum traction and fuel economy can be achieved. The new sizes on the Scandinavia 2 generation will provide operators with additional traction and safety on the roads in snowy and icy conditions”.

Over the course of the tyre life, the new Continental Scandinavia 2 changes its product character thanks to its two-phase tread configuration. During winter use, the Scandinavia 2 winter tyre provides the maximum number of gripping edges for improved traction.

As the tyre wears, the tread pattern develops a tread structure similar to a summer tyre thanks to the considerably higher rubber content. This has the cumulative effect of increasing driving stability and fuel consumption, while reducing the need and cost of having two separate sets of tyres for the two seasons.

Independently owned Bullwell Trailer Solutions Ltd, specialist in mobile maintenance and repairs, has introduced new diagnostic technology to its team of mobile engineers.
Representing an investment of £20,000, the new technology will allow the fast-tracking of road-side diagnosis and repair, including the latest Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Braking System (EBS).

The technology works by being able to communicate with the vehicle’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in both the trailer and tractor unit of a HGV. Any problems are then transmitted digitally to the computer used by Bullwell’s engineers.

Bullwell reports that problems commonly associated with HGVS are related to the EBS and ABS braking systems within the vehicle. Repairing a brake valve requires a specialist technician and tailored programming equipment for the specific braking system, but by using this latest technology and the company’s own highly-trained staff, Bullwell is able to provide immediate EBS and ABS repairs; eliminating the need for an air brake specialist to attend the vehicle.

Additionally, the diagnostic technology can pinpoint where the exact problem lies. In a recent case the brakes of a trailer were continually over-heating, yet there were no problems with the EBS – instead the new technology highlighted that the sensors in the vehicle weren’t working correctly, forcing the brakes to work twice as hard and cause the over-heating. Using the computerised system, the diagnosis time-scale was more than halved.

Steve Pye, company engineer at Bullwell Trailer Solutions says: “Trailers are far more complicated than people think, with many electronics involved and sophisticated systems which communicate to all areas of a HGV through the ECU. It is often the case that a warning light can come on but the driver of the vehicle is unable to determine the exact problem. With this latest technology however our engineers are able to pinpoint exactly what needs doing and can fix the problem there and then.

“Investing £20,000 in this latest technology is a very exciting time for the team at Bullwell, ensuring that through continuous improvement we keep up to date with all the latest technology, staying ahead of the competition and delivering the highest quality service to our customers. Our mobile engineers can now respond to all the technical problems that may arise within trailers and tractor units, ensuring that we continually meet all of our customers’ needs.

“At Bullwell we pride ourselves on providing a nationwide repair and maintenance service, with more than 100 different customers across the UK. Our engineers are strategically positioned to enable us to reach all our customers within the hour and this latest technology will yet again improve the speed with which we repair both trailers and tractor units.”

Lichfield based Bullwell Trailer Solutions Ltd, which employs a total of 75 people, has experienced a sustained period of growth and expansion in both operations and service capability, increasing turnover by 20 per cent from £5.6 million in 2010 to a projected £7 million by its November 2011 year end.

Following its international launch in September, the New Daily, Iveco’s light commercial vehicle, has achieved European orders totalling 11,000 vehicles – including particularly strong results in the chassis cab segment. This achievement confirms New Daily as Europe’s favourite vehicle amongst transport professionals.

In addition to the critical acclaim it has received from the public and the press alike the New Daily has been awarded another sign of approval. Iveco has been selected by the European jury of Warner Bros as the company achieving “Best Brand Association”, asserting itself amongst other licensees at European level with the use of the Superman logo, the DC Comics superhero icon, in New Daily communications.

The New Daily responds to demands for guaranteed excellent performance as well as a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It is a reliable workhorse for meeting the everyday logistical needs of operators in the light goods and passenger transport sectors.

In city centres, inter-urban transportation and demanding off-road applications, the New Daily confirms the accomplishments and values that are written into its DNA: “strong and professional”. Proving itself once again as the ideal solution to those looking for a vehicle that combines technological innovation and sustainable mobility with performance, reliability and strength.

Leading builders’ merchant and home improvement retailer Travis Perkins has confirmed that it is to roll out Masternaut’s award-winning fleet management system to a further 1,000 vehicles. This takes the total number of Masternaut optimised vehicles in the Travis Perkins commercial vehicle fleet to around 3000. The expanded use of the system follows last year’s acquisition by Travis Perkins’ of plumbing and heating company BSS Group.

“We have taken the opportunity to not only renew our Masternaut contract but to also expand the system to the rest of the fleet. For this extension, we have selected the latest mobile collection units and contactless interfaces to link each vehicle’s onboard systems to Masternaut. This will provide accurate monitoring, and highly detailed Business Analyser Optimark reports on vehicle use and activity, enhancing the quality of information we get from the live vehicle tracking system,” says Graham Bellman, Group Head of Transport, Travis Perkins.

“We are now able to see how driving styles affect vehicle efficiency so we can proactively manage driver safety as the system shows driving behaviour, even down to whether a seat belt is being worn. The reports show in fine detail a wide range of important information such as heavy braking, accelerating, speeding and excessive idling. With this additional investment we shall be able to extend the Travis Perkins Driver of the Year programme to other commercial vehicle drivers within the group; the system is a key tool in identifying the best driver in the fleet.”

Real-time vehicle tracking is part of Travis Perkins’ integrated transport solution. The real-time data feeds into the company’s Paragon routing and scheduling optimisation system, allowing planners to compare live activity against the plan. It also links to the company’s in-house developed PDA-based delivery management system.

The Travis Perkins group is the UK’s largest builders’ merchant and home improvement retailer, and includes leading brands including Travis Perkins, Wickes, BSS Industrial, PTS Plumbing Trade Supplies, Keyline, City Plumbing Supplies, CCF, Benchmarx, Tile Giant and Toolstation (Travis Perkins owns 30 per cent of the company). The company has more than 1,800 outlets nationwide.

Long standing Stanley Security Solutions customer Reed Boardall has upgraded its time and attendance solution to incorporate Stanley’s Zeus Web Workflow module.

One of the UK’s largest temperature controlled food distributors, Reed Boardall has benefitted from Stanley’s Astrow time and attendance system for over ten years. With sophisticated new solutions added to the Stanley range, Reed Boardall took the decision to look at the new Zeus solution and found it offered many enhanced features that would help improve the way key data is processed and presented.

Features of particular note for Reed Boardall included automated email reporting and full export to Excel, which will help distribute valuable information in a simplistic format across the business with ease and without the need for manual intervention. In addition, enhancements in the Calculation Engine has meant the software can automatically processes all the hours, which previously had been done manually.

Managing Director of Reed Boardall Cold Storage, Garry Tilburn comments on his company’s decision to upgrade its time and attendance system: “Astrow has served us well over the years as our business has grown from strength to strength, it has been a very good reliable solution for us. We were not looking to change from Astrow but when we saw the additional features and benefits of the new system Zeus our minds were made up for us to change. It will offer us improved processes and help us distribute key business information quickly and efficiently.”

Zeus is an innovative system from Stanley that provides automatic calculations of hours worked, breaks and overtime in real time ensuring that a company’s time and attendance system is always up to date.

Zeus also offers hosted services solutions, using the most advanced ASP technology which allows real time information to be communicated between employees and HR. Zeus ASP can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, giving customers the ability to manage a remote workforce with ease.

Reed Boardall not only benefits from Stanley’s time and attendance solutions but also uses the company’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) barrier system which controls vehicle access on and off site and records which tractors are with which trailer and hands free long range access control which monitors and controls across the multi-building 50 acre site in North Yorkshire.

For sales information please contact Stanley CSS at on 0844 254 0032 or via www.stanleycss.co.uk.

TAAP vehicle inspection software applications now include VOSA compliant versions which cover everything from tyre checks and brakes to oil leaks and exhaust smoke. The vehicle inspections applications relate to a variety of vehicles including cars, HGVs, and passenger carrying vehicles.

Following increased demand from customers who needed a more efficient method to comply with VOSA standards for daily walkarounds and first-use inspections, as well as driver defect reports, TAAP configured its established vehicle inspections technology to accommodate the required information.

The system is designed to run on mobile devices so that operators can complete swift but comprehensive vehicle checks which include photographic evidence with annotation, and vehicle flat plan mark-ups to show any areas of concern. The data is collected using TAAP’s software loaded on to suitable PDAs or tablet devices.

The inspection can be time & date stamped by the touch of a button, and signed by the inspector using the stylus. It is common for managers of larger fleets to request RFID and barcoding options built into the software as this ensures that each ‘tagged’ area of the vehicle is scanned or read by the driver’s/inspector’s device, so improves compliance even further. Once a vehicle inspection is complete, data is transferred to the client’s own secure web portal.

The technology is the same as that provided to RAC Inspection Services and can be integrated with various other technologies such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Bing maps, and TAAP’s ‘CLOC’ service which uses location-based information to pinpoint the position of inspectors. This is so that automated messages can be sent to customers about expected times of arrival, thus improving customer service.

Paul George, Business Development Manager commented:

“By having a vehicle inspection application that is VOSA compliant, our customers can collect the required data for each vehicle so that it can be used for repairs & maintenance and to prevent serious safety breaches. Managers responsible for fleets and compliance are increasingly concerned about complying with legislation – especially the corporate manslaughter act. Companies are now responsible for the road-worthiness of employee-owned vehicles when used for work purposes, as well as their own fleets. This system ensures that all possible checks are done to keep a vehicle road-worthy, and are recorded for future reference, so that companies fulfil their health & safety responsibilities and duty of care towards employees.”

Operating from a depot in Pontypridd, the first Volvo FMX 8×4 tipper sold in South Wales joined Bob Gay Plant Hire recently.

The FMX purchased by Bob Gay Plant Hire is the first Volvo to enter the business for more than a decade and joins a fleet of artics, tippers, excavators and similar plant equipment.

Supplied by Truck and Bus Wales and West at Pontypridd, the truck is powered by the D13C diesel rated at 380hp and features the popular I-Shift two-pedal fully-automated gearbox. The vehicle will be employed on muck-away duties and is being maintained by the Truck and Bus Wales and West Volvo dealership at Pontypridd under a three-year servicing agreement.

“We invested in a sleeper cab because these days we have to go where the work is and drivers are sometimes required to sleep in the vehicles”, explained managing director Robert Gay. “Although we hadn’t any direct experience of the Volvo I-shift gearbox, I had heard great things about it. So expectations regarding the new Volvo’s performance are high,” he added.

Designed specifically for arduous on and off-road duties such as muck-away, the Volvo FMX is a purpose-built, heavy-duty vehicle providing operators with a number of operational advantages.

Equipped with Thompson Loadmaster bodywork and Binotto tipping gear, the Bob Gay Plant Hire FMX also boasts a colourful paint scheme featuring a red, white and blue cab. The steel tipper body is also painted red.

“This is not your average muck-away tipper! This vehicle really stands out from the crowd”, enthused Volvo salesman Darren Padfield.

As the first sponsors of the IRTE Skills Challenge 2012 are confirmed, registration for the competition the entire sector is talking about is now officially OPEN.

It is with pleasure that the IRTE Skills Challenge welcomes back the sponsors who made the first competition such a success: Allison Transmission, Bridgestone, Halfords Trade, Knorr-Bremse and Shell FuelSave Diesel.

An exciting skills competition for bus and coach engineers in the UK and Ireland, the IRTE Skills Challenge demonstrates the importance and competence of the people who keep the industry moving. With individual and operator categories, the event celebrates and recognises the vital contribution of bus and coach technicians.

With the crucial support of the sponsors, each of which is determined to recognise the unsung heroes of the bus and coach sector, the IRTE Skills Challenge 2012 promises to place the skills and competence of competing operators firmly on the map!

SOE Chief Executive Nick Jones said: “The IRTE Skills Challenge represents our key aims: to support, recognise and reward competence. Last year, thanks to the support of our sponsors and the skills of competitors, the competition proved to be a great success, and displayed the competence of the entire sector to a wide and varied audience. The 2012 event promises to be even bigger and better. Operators who are considering entering the competition are urged to register their interest online before 31 January 2012.”

How to register
• Operators must register interest by 31 January 2012
• Operators must confirm competitor names by 1 May 2012
• There are no charges to enter the IRTE Skills Challenge 2012, although operators will need to cover travel/subsistence costs
• There are a limited number of bus operators that can participate. To avoid disappointment, contact SOE Events Manager Emma Thompson on emma.thompson@soe.org.uk today, or find out more online at www.soe.org.uk/irteskills.

FleetGenie is seeking fleet and transport system developers for its new combination mobile workforce and fleet management system. The FleetGenie system incorporates vehicle tracking, route optimisation and mobile device management in a single, easy to implement and customisable package.

With FleetGenie, resellers and systems integrators can offer any organisation with a mobile workforce and fleet operation the opportunity to benefit from an advanced routing, embedded satellite navigation, tracking and workflow management solution that could save them up to 30 per cent on their fleet running costs.

FleetGenie is a unique hardware independent and fully integrated low-cost solution that will run on any Windows OS-based, GPS-enabled hand-held computer or PDA. It is fully customisable and highly flexible, making it is suitable for a wide range of applications such as van delivery, service engineers, skip hire, asset management, inspectors, field engineers, insurance loss adjusters and mobile sales.

A breakthrough of this new system is the mobile application with embedded satellite navigation. This eliminates the need to interface the route optimisation software with additional navigation software or hardware. The FleetGenie architecture has also been designed to simplify data interchange with any back office business system.

Using the MobileGenie rapid application development system, complex, high-performance mobile software applications can be designed, changed or developed in minimum time without the need for programming experience. Most applications can be developed in days rather than taking weeks or even months of bespoke programming using traditional methods.

In addition to the standard workflow data managed by the FleetGenie server solution, partners can easily add further functionality to suit any application that needs instant access to job critical information on the user’s server. For example, the system will provide remote access to live stock information or pricing. User access to the system is fully configurable to suit the particular application. A further unique feature of the system is the management dashboard that allows control and monitoring of all functions including full mobile device management, vehicle tracking and the report designer.

Mark Dale-Lace, director of FleetGenie, says: “This new mobile workforce and fleet management product will open new opportunities for back office software providers and solutions specialists as it is quick and easy to integrate with any vertical market solution. The system provides ease of implementation for OEMs and their customers will find it very easy to use, returning fast and potentially substantial savings.”