Export & Freight Aug-Sept '23

With Euro 7 on the way, a new report suggests proposals on pollutant emissions would lead to direct cost increases that are 4 to 10 times higher than those cited by the European Commission. According to the study by Frontier Economics, Euro 7 regulation will increase the manufacturing costs of diesel trucks close to €12,000. Not great news. The report authors say greater environmental and health benefits would be achieved by the transition to electrification.

The report coincides with news from Octopus Investments, part of Octopus Group, that it is to invest into Weev, the electric vehicle charge point operator based in Northern Ireland. It is backing Weev’s rollout plan with up to £50 million to address the shortage of charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Now, that is good news!

On another front, we may still be in the middle of summer, although you wouldn’t know it given the adverse weather and one of the wettest Julys |on record, but even so now is the time of year when many retailers and their supply chain partners will be starting to plan and secure their warehousing space and resource requirements for the so called ‘golden quarter’ and the Christmas peak. As we hear in this issue from Steve Purvis, Managing Director at Bis Henderson Space, predicting requirements seven or eight months ahead is always a nightmare, and this year looks particularly fraught. His article makes for interesting reading.

Also in this issue which has a strong golfing flavour, we take a look back in words and photographs at another highly successful Export & Freight Golf Masters at the Lough Erne Resort in Fermanagh where even the weather played its part. And we also report on Belfast Harbour’s annual charity golf event, as well as Dennison Commercials Open Day at its Newry Depot and Modern Tyres summer BBQ which attracted over 100 customers from across the Province.

In addition, we have our Annual Port Review where we report on Belfast Harbour’s robust financial results for 2022, despite a challenging global trading environment, and we hear too from other ports, including Dublin, Larne and Warrenpoint.

Well, that’s it for now. Remember, you can keep up to date with all the industry news 24/7 by logging on to our website at www.exportandfreight.com.

Helen Beggs Editor-in-Chief/Publisher

Email: Helen@4squaremedia.net

IRELAND’S TRANSPORT MAGAZINE

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE

EXPORT & FREIGHT SUBSCRIPTIONS, 4 SM (NI) Ltd

GENERAL NEWS

Axtec weighs in on major NI weighbridge contract Page 06

Montgomery Transport Group’s Customs Brokerage Page 18-19

Dennison Commercials Open Day in Newry Page 38-39

Logistics UK’s Transport Managers Conference set for Belfast Page 40

Modern Tyres celebrate summer with BBQ Page 42-43

SPECIAL FEATURES

Export & Freight Masters Golf Page 54-79

The Road to Net Zero Page 52-53

REGULAR FEATURES

Court Report Page 26

Caroline Hobson, Head of Transport Regulation Unit Page 32-33

John Martin, RHA Policy Manager for Northern Ireland Page 34-35

Nicola Mallon, Logistics UK Policy Manager-NI Page 36

SHIPPING NEWS

Annual Port Review Page 80-85

Stena Vision now in service Page 86

Tonnage Tax regime available for first time in 18 years Page 87

DFDS relocates unaccompanied freight service Page 87

VAN & PICK-UP IRELAND

Latest developments from the world of vans & pick-ups Page 88

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Follow us on Linkedin Export and Freight Find us on facebook ExportandFreight Follow us on twitter @ExportFreight Web: www.exportandfreight.com EXPORT&FREIGHT 3 4SM (NI) Ltd now part of the North West News Group CIRCULATION: Ireland’s specialist magazine for the transport industry. Export & Freight is packed with news, information, developments and trends dedicated to the local marketplace. Export & Freight is a controlled circulation journal, posted each month to exporters, manufacturers, hauliers, own account operators, transport suppliers, commercial vehicle manufacturers, rail companies, bus and coach operators and manufacturers, air and sea terminal, passenger and freight ferry operators, shipping agents and freight forwarders, to name but a few. Export & Freight is also sent to members of professional bodies, including the IRTE, Institute of Quarrying and Institute of Freight Forwarders, FTA and RHA. Export & Freight is also available in your local newsagent. Follow us on Instagram Export and Freight

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New Volvo FM Electric Joins Tesco’s Distribution Fleet

Volvo Trucks has supplied Tesco with a new Volvo FM Electric 4x2 tractor unit to support the customer’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2035. The truck’s arrival marks the first zero tailpipe emission 40-tonne electric Volvo model to be delivered into service with a UK supermarket.

Supplied by Jose Lavarello, Key Account Manager for Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, the new FM Electric with Globetrotter cab meets the Direct Vision Standard three-star rating and will operate with various trailer types and lengths. It will be used to deliver goods to stores across Greater London, Suffolk, Essex and Kent, hauling ambient grocery items seven days a week.

Christian Coolsaet, Managing Director of Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, says: “Our new Volvo FM Electric is the perfect solution for performing high-capacity grocery deliveries

with less environmental impact, and it’s fantastic to see the first example enter service with Tesco. This model is ideal for supermarket fleets wanting to transition to battery electric trucks, and we’re very confident it’s going to generate a lot of interest on the road.”

The FM Electric is powered by three electrical motors, generating 2,400 Nm of continuous torque. These motors are paired with Volvo’s popular I-Shift gearbox, which delivers a smooth and ultra-quiet driving experience by

constantly evaluating information about speed, weight, road grade and torque demand. This power is intuitively managed by an onboard electromobility traction control system which helps manage output on slippery surfaces, while different drive modes are available to set the desired performance, comfort, and energy usage levels.

Logistics UK Supports Delegated Testing for ER Operators

In its response to government’s call for evidence, business group Logistics UK has supported the move to allow Earned Recognition (ER) operators to either carry out their own MOT testing on vehicles and trailers or delegate the responsibility to their third-party maintenance provider, subject to them meeting additional compliance requirements.

These changes would replace the current system in which DVSA undertakes all Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) annual tests through privately owned authorised test facilities (ATFs).

Phil Lloyd, Head of Engineering Policy at Logistics UK, comments: “Allowing ER operators to MOT

test their own vehicles would increase efficiency and reduce costs for those operators as the booking of the test can be precisely scheduled along with the maintenance of the vehicle. This will reduce the time the vehicle is off the road significantly – a huge benefit to the businesses charged with delivering for the UK economy.

These changes should also have a positive impact on emissions reduction as operators will not need to make additional journeys to a separate testing centre.

“Road safety must remain a priority; Logistics UK is therefore recommending that DVSA introduces a quality monitoring process to provide assurance that

testing providers maintain high levels of compliance and safe operation of vehicles and in the fullness of time this offering could be extended to other compliant operators. Logistics UK is urging that these proposed changes be implemented as soon as possible; however, in the meantime, DVSA should provide a greater guarantee of requested ATFs slots for all operators, with increased flexibility around days or hours testing will be offered by DVSA.” In its response, Logistics UK has also highlighted the need for DfT to work with the Traffic Commissioner throughout the consultation process, to eliminate any potential for conflicting regulations that would negatively impact operators and cause unnecessary delays for a revised testing process.

Logistics UK Approved as a FORS Audit Provider

Business group Logistics UK has announced its status as a FORS Audit Provider, with audits to start this month.

David Wells, Chief Executive at Logistics UK, comments: “Following a consultation with members, and having cleared the necessary quality checks, we are delighted to have been appointed as an approved auditor for the FORS scheme and look forward to adding value via our extensive experience in auditing and compliance.

“Standing up for safe and efficient logistics is at the heart of everything we do at Logistics UK, and we are pleased to be assisting this accreditation scheme that promotes those values. “However, the work we carry out for FORS will remain separate to the work that we undertake via our policy team for members, and we will continue to support our members in monitoring and challenging the FORS scheme where necessary.”

Speaking of the new collaboration with Logistics UK, FORS Concession Director, Ian Henderson said: “We are always delighted to be able to

add to our portfolio of audit providers. Giving our accredited operators the best geographical reach and choice of professional audit services is, of course, a key part of the FORS mandate. “Logistics UK is particularly well known throughout the industry, and the company has a long history of providing insightful guidance and professional audit services throughout the transport sector.”

For more information on the scheme, or to book an audit, please visit: www.fors-online.org.uk

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Axtec weighs in on major Northern Ireland weighbridge contract

The UK’s leading axle weighing specialist, Axtec, has won a major contract with Northern Ireland’s Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) to maintain and certify eight roadside weighbridges, located throughout the province.

The weighbridges are primarily used for enforcement of the law on overloading, but are also free to use for operators to help them ensure their compliance.

The five-year contract – worth up to £100,000 per year – will see Axtec perform periodic verification testing, certification and maintenance of each weighbridge using Axtec’s two unique Weighbridge Test Vehicles. The only vehicles of their type anywhere, these trucks are fully equipped and specially designed for testing axle weighbridges. Each is crewed by a highly skilled and experienced Service Engineer. This team have just completed in three days the work that used to take three weeks, using four trucks and five people, delivering a significant reduction in downtime and cost. Axtec also installed new verification software to fully automate the test process, leading to further efficiency savings.

Runcorn-based Axtec originally supplied and installed the existing

Dynamic Weighbridge Indicators for the DVA, through the company’s former NI service agent, Comtrol. Following the sale of Comtrol, Axtec emerged successful after bidding directly for the contract ahead of its start date of April 1st. The Axtec Dynamic Weighbridge provides individual axle weights and gross vehicle weight for a six-axle

tractor and trailer combination in just 40 seconds, to an accuracy of +0.25% - the most accurate dynamic weighbridge in the world. The DVA contract also includes specialist construction works to ensure that perfectly flat vehicle approach slabs are essential for accurate dynamic weighing. These must be flat and level to within

+3 mm, and surveyed annually to ensure compliance. Axtec’s experienced surveyors use a digital level which is capable of measuring elevations to 0.001 mm. Any necessary remedial work can be carried out there and then, and the site resurveyed, minimising cost and downtime.

40 years after it was built, last year the approach slab at DVA’s Loughbrickland weighbridge was found to be beyond repair.

Axtec undertook the complex project to construct a new slab, perfectly flat and level despite poor ground support. After ground investigation, piles were driven down seven metres into bedrock to support specially-designed ground beams, which in turn carry the new high-tolerance slab.

Working with local specialist firms Equilibrant, Larsen Piling and Devity, Axtec co-ordinated the complete project for the DVA, delivered on time in less than four months.

Axtec also maintains Great Britain’s network of approximately 50 Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) roadside enforcement weighbridges on a contract it has held for an unbroken 27 years. Over this time, Axtec has dramatically improved the efficiency of routine maintenance and calibration, while maintaining 99% uptime to comfortably exceed contractual targets.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks reaches for the stars with exceptional Actros L Edition 3

The Actros L Edition 3 made its first UK appearance at the recent Road Transport Expo event, at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire –and instantly shot to the top of the wish-lists of many visitors who saw it on display. Taking delivery of one of these exclusive vehicles will remain just a fantasy for all but a lucky few, though. Only 400 are being built world-wide, and of those it’s expected that no more than 20 UK-specification, right-hand drive models will make it to these shores.

The Actros L Edition 3 is quite simply one of the most luxurious trucks available. The exhaustive standard specification includes many items usually only available as optional extras, grouped together under the Driving, Comfort, Media and Stowage Packages.

The cab interior is, if anything, even more special. The Comfort suspended driver’s seat, steering wheel, door handles and instrument panel are all swathed in fine nappa leather with contrast stitching, while

the Premium Comfort mattress ensures a restful night’s sleep. Other highlights include a slide-and-tilt glass sunroof, and extensive ambient LED lighting. Safety and Sight Packages add further enhancements: Multimedia Cockpit, interactive, Proximity Control Assist and Roll Control Assist (for rigids) or Stability Control Assist (for artics), and LED headlights with cleaning system, automatic dipped/main

beam and cornering function all feature. Actros L Edition 3 will be available as a tractor unit or rigid chassis, with a choice of either BigSpace or GigaSpace cab. Engines range from 310 kW (421 hp) to the 15.6-litre, 460 kW (625 hp) range-topper, all of which drive through new and improved PowerShift Advanced automated transmissions. Most vehicles ordered are expected to be at the upper end of this power spectrum. One lucky British operator, though, is in for an extra treat. Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK has teamed up with automotive enhancement specialist Kuda Automotive to add some more very special touches to a vehicle that will be sold on the home market. This truck boasts a 21.5-inch LUXMOV flatscreen smart TV, an 800w TruckChef microwave oven, and three CabStore lockers giving an additional 500 litres of storage space. Across the chassis, a large TreadSafe platform provides a level and safe working area behind the cab, while special side-skirts for 6x2 models add improved aerodynamics and a smooth, smart appearance.

UK truck drivers can dream of taking ‘3 steps to heaven’, thanks to the arrival of the latest stunning special edition from Mercedes-Benz.

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Schmitz Cargobull celebrates opening of new production facility in Zaragoza

More than 700 customers and partners from the transport sector gathered to celebrate the official inauguration of Schmitz Cargobull’s new plant in Figueruelas, Zaragoza (Spain). They were able to get an on-site impression of the new, state-of-the-art assembly line.

The new plant for curtainsiders, reefer semi-trailers and dry freight semi-trailers covers a total area of around 104,000m2. About 20,000m2 will be used for production and logistics, office space and for the delivery of new and used vehicles. In the new assembly facility, Schmitz Cargobull produces curtainsiders S.CS, reefer semi-trailers and dry freight semitrailers S.KO with a capacity of 60 units/day (20 units per shift) on just one production line. Schmitz Cargobull invested around €16.6 million in the new production facility. A hi-tech photovoltaic system supplies the energy for the new production site.

“More than 20 years ago, we laid the foundation stone for our success story here in Spain with our own production facility. Now we are setting another milestone with our new assembly production line. We are planning further steps, such as the assembly of tipper trailers, a project we started only a few months ago,” says Andreas Schmitz, CEO of Schmitz Cargobull.

“In our new assembly line, we need only 150 minutes from the start of production of a semitrailer to its completion. We can decide at any time which vehicle we want to produce. If we only wanted to produce refrigerated vehicles,

we were limited to six semi-trailers per day in the previous plants. Today we can produce sixty semi-trailers per day,” says Plant Manager and Managing Director of Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica, Jordi Romero. “This makes us more flexible and versatile and allows us to better adapt to changes in the market and demand.”

Miguel Iglesias, Commercial Director of Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica, says: “We want to support our customers in the best possible way with our comprehensive range of reliable and innovative transport solutions. We can offer them a range of customised vehicles that contribute to a low total cost of ownership thanks to the high quality standard. We also provide the shortest delivery times, an extensive 24/7 spare parts supply and our proven range of services from financing to telematics and used vehicle sales. Ongoing development based on innovation and technology enables us to optimise fleet management and drive forward digitalisation.” Schmitz Cargobull stands for reliability and innovation and guarantees consistently high quality standards worldwide, from vehicle configuration to delivery to the customer. The units manufactured in the new plant will be distributed in Spain, France, Portugal and North Africa, and in smaller numbers also in Italy,

Belgium, Germany, Ukraine and Bulgaria. When planning and building the new production facility, Schmitz Cargobull did not just focus on the production aspects. The European market leader in the semi-trailer sector placed special emphasis on environmental aspects, so that despite the increase in capacity and metres built, a 33% reduction in energy consumption was achieved. In addition, the photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the plant generates more than 33% of the total electricity consumption. “With our commitment to the reduction of CO2 emissions, we are a benchmark in the industry. Schmitz Cargobull’s position in the Spanish market has been consolidated for years, but the new installations will undoubtedly mark a turning point in terms of efficiency, safety and profitability, which will be passed on to customers. We have also recently expanded the customer service facility in Zaragoza by around 12,000m2,” Iglesias added. The Schmitz Cargobull workforce in Spain totals almost 330 employees. After reporting turnover of €160 million and annual production of 3,878 units last year, Schmitz Cargobull expects production in Spain to increase to 5,000 units in the 2023/24 financial year.

UK freight association elects new national chair and vice-chair

Charles Hogg has succeeded Rachel Morley as the elected national chair of BIFA – the British International Freight Association – for a two-year period.

Charles, commercial director at BIFA member company, Unsworth, who has been vice-chair for the past two years, was appointed a director of BIFA in 2019 and chairs the trade association’s Surface Policy Group. Alongside Charles will be Keith Baguley, UK import manager at Atlantic Container Line (ACL) who became BIFA’s regional chairman, Merseyside in 2018, and has now been elected as vice-chair.

Rachel Morley becomes immediate past chair for a two-year term, and Sir Peter Bottomley, MP, remains as BIFA president.

BIFA director general Steve Parker comments: “In welcoming Charles and Keith into their new positions, I wish to express my appreciation for the contribution made by Rachel Morley over many years; and pleasure that Sir Peter has agreed to continue in office.

“Charles and Keith’s’ wide-ranging experience and senior roles in successful freight forwarding companies will ensure that BIFA and its members will benefit greatly from these new appointments.”

Left to right: Keith Baguley, Charles Hogg and Rachel Morley.

Miguel Iglesias (Commercial Director of Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica), Andreas Schmitz (CEO Schmitz Cargobull), Jordi Romero (Managing Director Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica).

Quick. Safe. Easy Side Loading.

The S.CS FREEPOST offers quick, safe and easy side loading without the need for sliding posts. Certified to DIN EN 12642 Code XL, the curtainsider semitrailer incorporates a bolted galvanized steel cant rail and fixed aluminium roof sheet, as well as a reinforced chassis structure for ultimate stability. The S.CS FREEPOST is built at the Schmitz Cargobull factory in Manchester and is designed specifically to meet the requirements of the UK and Irish markets. Find more information on www.cargobull.com/uk or contact us directly via email FREEPOST@groups.cargobull.com.

DAF TRUCKS ‘STARTS THE FUTURE’ AT MAJOR UK RIDE & DRIVE EVENT

from DAF Trucks, Leyland Trucks, DAF Dealers, and regular suppliers to DAF in the UK, to deliver a fantastic experience for all guests.

Staged over three weeks in May, and making full use of the UTAC Millbrook proving ground, the ‘Start the Future’ event attracted almost 2,000 customers, DAF Dealers and suppliers.

Over 30 DAF trucks were put through their paces, including New Generation, XD, XF, XG and XG+ models, plus DAF’s best-selling LF featuring the new, innovative PowerLine eight-speed transmission. All vehicles with conventional engine technology were fuelled with Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) supplied by Green Bio Fuels, delivering a 40-tonne CO2 saving over the course of the event.

For many, DAF’s Start the Future event provided the first opportunity to evaluate DAF’s zero-emissions offering, with three

LF Electric 19-tonnersarguably the event’s biggest attraction, with box, curtain and refrigerated body variants available to test.

DAF’s extensive range of vocational vehicles, including the latest XDC multi-axle models for construction applications, were given a thorough work-out around Millbrook’s tough crosscountry course; the MX Engine Brake proving particularly effective in tackling steep descents.

Operators were able to draw on the considerable expertise of a team of control drivers who accompanied every vehicle. These comprised qualified drivers from across the DAF business including DAF Dealer Driver Trainers specially trained to assist customers with vehicle handovers. Event helpers, presenters and other staff were drafted in

DAF also occupied UTAC Millbrook’s Concept 1 facility where it staged regular seminars and unveiled its new XD Electric for the first time in the UK.

Key to the success of the Start the Future event was the support from suppliers, including trailers from Dawson Group, TIP, Turners and Kelberg, HVO from Green Bio Fuels and AdBlue courtesy of Greenchem. Goodyear and Texaco were also instrumental in their support while Palfinger staged a popular crane competition. Motor racing team, Team BRIT, were also in attendance displaying a McLaren endurance racer and testing race enthusiasts with a thrilling static race simulator. An impressive display of bodied DAF vehicles helped ensure a thoroughly enjoyable and informative day for guests.

DAF Trucks has brought the curtain down on its largest ever customer Ride & Drive event showcasing the entirety of its latest product range.

Start the Future

Start your all-electric future now. We are ready to guide you through the transition to zero-emission transport. DAF can recommend and deliver the optimum truck configuration and charging strategy for your business. Plus, our trusted dealer network offers the facilities, expert advice and a dedicated driver training programme, ensuring you gain the maximum potential from your electric operation.

Partnership Boosts Timber Manufacturer’s Impressive Growth

Ireland’s largest manufacturer of timber packaging and pallets has achieved more than 100 per cent growth with its 10-year partnership with Europe’s leading pooler of sustainable wooden pallets being a major contributing factor.

CJ Sheeran, which is headquartered in Mountrath, Co. Laois, credits its collaborative decade-long partnership with IPP for boosting the circular economy on both sides of the Irish Sea, as well as boosting its balance sheet. Despite economic challenges, including the sky-rocketing global cost of timber, the relationship between the two partners has bolstered their reputations for reliability in the FMCG

market and enabled them to achieve a hike in pallet recovery from 91 to 98 per cent.

Sheeran’s has recently invested in the purchase of a new sawmill to further develop its pallet repair services across the Republic of Ireland and moved to a 20-acre site to further help IPP and consolidate the rapid growth in the future of both enterprises.

IPP began working with CJ

Sheeran in 2012 and the partnership has improved service to existing customers, as well as providing a platform of growth for new prospects and a dramatic improvement of its pallet recovery from retail operations.

David Bage, Operations Director for IPP, said: “In 2016, we set up our main sortation depot in Mountrath and a satellite depot in Dublin. In the same year, we built upon our relationship with

Volvo Trucks Invests in New Action Service Fleet

Volvo Trucks is introducing a new specification for its Volvo Action Service (VAS) van fleet, designed to maximise payload capacity and help technicians best support its evolving powertrain portfolio.

Following a 12-month consultation process, both wholly owned and independent dealers can now specify the new equipment. Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East is the launch customer, placing an order for 14 Renault Master 3.5-tonne vans, fitted out by Bott, and scheduled to be rolled out across its network by the end of August.

Brent Norton, National Technical Manager, Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, says: “Technology has advanced substantially since we last revised our VAS build specification. While our current fleet already does a sterling job, with our new design we were eager to guarantee that the revised fleet can support us for many years to come.

“The final product will ensure all VAS technicians can tackle practically any and every issue they may be presented with promptly and efficiently, regardless of Volvo model, powertrain or age, ensuring minimal disruption to our customers should they need our services.”

The new specification is heavily focused on

weight reduction to allow VAS technicians to carry more tools, fluids and spare parts to cater for an expanding portfolio of powertrain technologies. Changes made include the introduction of both a lighter electric compressor and a capacitor booster, while the vehicle’s racking system is now made of aluminium instead of steel, further reducing unladen weight.

In addition, to assist with jump-starting vehicles, a lithium power supply system, chargeable through roof-mounted solar panels, has replaced heavier mains-charged battery packs. As the new specification is fully interchangeable – meaning it can be installed in numerous van makes and models – this also allows the new specification to be used in fully electric vans without negatively impacting driving range or performance.

To finalise the design, Volvo involved numerous stakeholders, including Bott and a team of its own front-line VAS technicians,

CJ Sheeran to operate our pallet sort and repair facilities, be our logistics partner and our repair timber supplier in Ireland.

“Since then, Sheeran’s has grown significantly in terms of their own business, taking on new sites and expanding their operations. In parallel, we also started to use Sheeran’s to deliver OWT (one way trip) pallets to our customers and collect empty pallets from retail.

“This was a mutually beneficial relationship that allowed IPP to improve our pooling model in Ireland and allowed Sheeran’s to expand on their white pallet business – this mainly allowed synergies on transport to remove empty mileage.”

Fergal Moran, Business Development Director for CJ Sheeran, said: “The relationship with IPP and how we worked so collaboratively to keep goods flowing during COVID has truly blossomed both in Ireland and the UK. We have a strong partnership that is based upon complete trust and one that allows for the sortation, repair and delivery of pallets across Ireland. This means that when we grow, so does IPP, and vice-versa.”.

to guarantee the final product works not just on paper, but in practice too. Competitive financial packages are also available through Volvo’s van leasing partner, Arval, to ensure all dealers can transition as quickly as possible.

“It’s all part of making sure the entire network can benefit from the new design,” adds Norton. “That approach not only ensures we can provide comprehensive backup to as many customers as possible, but it will also give more transport operators the confidence to accelerate their transition from diesel powertrains to greener technologies.”

Volvo Action Service provides customers with access to 24/7 support for their fleet via an experienced team of Uptime Coordinators, skilled technicians and the extensive Volvo Truck and Bus dealer network.

FORS welcomes Geraint Davies as new Concession Director

FORS, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, has appointed Geraint Davies as its new Concession Director. Davies, who will leave his role as Chief Operating Officer at John Raymond Transport, is already well known in the transport sector, bringing with him a wealth of experience, including senior positions with the RHA and Logistics UK, and involvement with FORS for many years.

Davies will take up his new position on 3 July and will build upon the excellent work laid down by outgoing Concession Director, Ian Henderson. During his time heading the FORS team, Henderson’s work on transitioning to the new concessionaire has been pivotal to the ongoing success of FORS. He has also overseen several initiatives which have significantly enhanced the scheme; chief among them were developing a closer collaboration with various industry stakeholders, enhancing the FORS Professional training portfolio and implementing the scheme’s ‘future of accreditation’ strategy. With a hugely impressive CV and a staunch advocate of FORS throughout his career, Geraint Davies has most recently presided over the John Raymond Transport fleet as a FORS

Gold accredited operator. He was part of the very first cohort in 2012 to qualify as a FORS Practitioner, and has also been a FORS auditor and FORS driver trainer. More widely, Davies has chaired the Logistics UK Road Freight Council at Westminster and has served on the RHA Board of Directors. He has also been chair of the Wales Road Transport Advisory Group, and vice-chair of the South Wales IRTE / SOE. With his associations with stakeholders across the transport sector, plus an impressive skill-set, Davies is uniquely placed to further build upon the collaborations FORS has shaped over the last 18 months.

“I am truly passionate about FORS,” said Davies, “and I’m proud to have supported the scheme since the very beginning. Ian Henderson and his

team have certainly taken the scheme forward and, with my previously held relationships with industry bodies, I’m intent on building upon that success. FORS is a well-established entity, and I still see huge potential for it grow further. With a focus on safety, efficiency and sustainability, I know FORS can bring tangible benefits for operators. In fact,” he said, “I have first-hand experience of exactly what FORS can deliver.”

Geraint Davies.

RENAULT TRUCKS MAKE BIG IMPRESSION AT LIAM CONNOLLY (ROADFREIGHT) LTD

When Fermanagh based Liam Connolly (Roadfreight) Ltd decided to upgrade a sizeable part of their 110 strong mixed fleet of long distance and short haul trucks, they had no hesitation in opting for six new Renault T Highs and 15 Renault D18s, having had a positive experience with the brand when it was first introduced to the fleet a few years ago.

Established in 1981 by Liam Connolly, the company has grown substantially over the past four decades and today operates from a 135,000-square foot purpose built facility in Lisnaskea, ideally positioned close to the Northern Ireland /

Republic of Ireland border providing cost effective access to multiple markets.

As a member of the United Pallet Network and Pallet Network Ireland, the company is well placed to provide excellent coverage of both the UK and Irish markets, handling big volumes of general cargo for a steadily growing customer base, in addition to offering secured, controlled racked and unracked storage facilities, backed by real time stock management solutions.

“We took

delivery of our first Renault T High four years ago and found it to be very reliable and very acceptable by the drivers,” says the company’s William Connolly. “And the back-up service and support we had from Diamond Trucks and MK Truck Repairs in Tempo was top notch, and remains so today, so we had every confidence in making this new and substantial investment.”

The six new Renault T High 520 6x2 midlift tractor units have already been delivered to Liam Connolly (Roadfreight) Ltd, adding to the three Renault T Highs which joined the fleet earlier this year; they are all earning their keep on mainland UK work, each covering an average of 140,000km annually.

William says MK Truck Repairs Ltd did a fantastic job to prepare the six new trucks for the road, adding a spotlight bar with six LED lamps, sideskirts and microwaves to complement factory options such as front air suspension, fridge, leather seat trim and Dura-Bright Alloy wheels.

The Renault T Highs, with sleeper cabs and featuring the latest driver assistance technologies and the most efficient braking systems,coupled with cab features that include 7” HD touchscreen, audio system with entertainment menu and TomTom Navigation, offer the drivers an excellent, safe and comfortable working environment; William added : “Anyone who has climbed into the cab speaks very highly of the Renaults.”

The Renault T Highs are powered by the new generation of Euro VI Step E engine, the DE13, which features technologies to significantly

reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, while the latest generation Opti-driver gearbox offers smooth and fast gear changes.

EXCELLENT MANOEUVRABILITY

Meanwhile, the 15 new Renault D18 4x2 250s, some of which have still to be delivered to Liam Connolly (Roadfreight) Ltd, will be used for multi drop deliveries within Northern Ireland and will cover on average between 80,000 kms and 100,000 kms a year.

With its reduced turning circle, short front overhang and compact cab, the D18 4x2 250 is extremely manoeuvrable making it ideal for such distribution work. Designed to make life easier for the driver who will be entering and exiting the cab on multiple occasions throughout the day, everything in the cab is within convenient reach, offering a comfortable and safe working space. Safety features include anti-lock braking system, anti-slip regulation, hill start assist, braking performance warning and electronic stability control.

24/7 ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

All the new Renault T Highs and D18s come with a full R&M contract from Diamond Trucks, meaning Liam Connolly (Roadfreight) Ltd can focus on what they do best without having to worry about any service or maintenance issues, and in the unlikely event of any problems arising out on the road, they have the peace of mind that Diamond Trucks also provides a 24/7 breakdown service through Renault Trucks 24/7 which covers all of the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe.

The Renault Trucks network of 24/7 breakdown assistance vans, fully equipped with parts and required tooling, aim to be with customers within an hour of a breakdown call, with technicians trained to the highest standard to ensure safety on the roadside and a quick and efficient service.

www.diamondtrucks.co.uk

Tel. 028 90 837171

info@diamondtrucks.co.uk

SMART COMMON SENSE… EVEN SMARTER BENEFITS! A ‘SMARTER ASSET STRATEGY’ FOR TODAY’S TRANSPORT OPERATOR.

Over the past 50 years Dawsongroup truck and trailer has become the UK’s biggest, independent, family-owned rental, leasing and contract hire operation. As you would expect, its managing director, John Fletcher, has some very informative views on the benefits of hire, many of them based around the company’s leading ‘Smarter Asset Strategy’ approach.

He reflects, “Our parents and grandparents used to buy everything. Part habit and part a reflection of how inaccessible bank and finance company loans were. Then, as the social stigma of ‘buying on tick’ lessened, HP funding seemed a sensible route to acquire expensive assets and accelerate business growth.

“Today, few challenge this historical fixation with vehicle ownership. Yet the risks of ownership have never been greater: steep increases in capital and operating costs, coupled to cleaner and evermore expensive technology, mean the value of a fleet is slipping at a faster rate than ever.

“So many businesses suffered badly from the traumatic state of affairs of the last 36 months, and now the burden of debt and rising costs is likely to claim more casualties in our sector. Pride before the fall maybe? Whereas for others, maintaining liquidity enables a degree of agility to capitalise on opportunities which will inevitably arise.”

John understands the dynamics of sticking with the devil you know, but there is little doubt in his mind, and the minds of fastgrowing numbers of operators, that, “the devil in the detail of ‘Ownership’ has had its day.” There are some serious common sense factors that support this stance.

John Fletcher again, “Though it strikes at the very heart of historical practice, in the 2020s there is absolutely no need for operators to own trucks and trailers. They don’t need the hardware: they

just need the miles and capacity it brings. And if you can have that, without all the hassle of managing service, maintenance, inspections, tyres, tax, MOTs and so on, why on earth wouldn’t you do so?”

THE BUSINESS CASE

John Fletcher’s argument is that operators could very profitably focus on purely ‘Usership’ of trucks and trailers. He says, “From basic Rental or Leasing, through to all-inclusive Contract Hire supply of liveried trucks and trailers, ‘Usership’ of modern trucks and trailers is the common-sense approach for operators. The way to run costefficient fleets, always with the right numbers of trucks to meet seasonal and new contract demands and keep operator investment capital intact in the business: usable, not where it simply feeds a depreciating asset base, but far more profitably in infrastructure additions, staff benefits, expansion and so on. It’s a way of operating that’s central to our ‘Smarter Asset Strategy’.

“The business case stacks up for finance directors and company accountants as well. While asset loan debt from banks and other lenders can look efficient, it can also be restrictive. It can ‘use up’ valuable credit facilities and restrict investment; rob operators of the flexibility to terminate early; and demand huge capital outlay or the VAT up front. Fixed Rate loans from banks and other lenders don’t provide the flexibility to terminate early, while asset finance and loan debt simply increases gearing and borrowing ratios that can then have a detrimental impact on a business’s credit rating.

“On the other hand, Lease rentals are 100% tax deductible, whereas capital allowance at 18% reducing balance take 23 years to recover 99% of the capital outlay. That said, it’s worth noting that while all companies can obtain 100% capital allowances on the first £1m invested – a lot of SME’s won’t have this advantage.”

There are other major advantages of rental, leasing and contract hire. For a start they are all better for cashflow: VAT is payable on monthly rentals and more therefore manageable, and, should it be needed because of contract changes, operators can stop hiring and save cash on leased rentals almost immediately. Then, at the end of the day, you’re not reliant on having to sell the asset to get funds back into the business. Additionally, the beneficial impact on balance sheets of rental, leasing and contract hire offers flexibility, lower gearing and not running the residual risk of owning outdated assets in an industry where technology is changing evermore rapidly. It’s a rather uneven ‘battle’ in many respects, but Dawsongroup is more than ready to prove what John argues. He says, “Just give us a call and we’ll see if we can transform your finances, while also delivering you ‘Usership’ of a great new fleet of tractors, trailers and rigids – all to suit your business!”

DAWSONGROUP TODAY

As part of the overall Dawsongroup, John Fletcher’s customers can also access vans, forklifts, sweepers, buses, coaches, cold

room solutions and finance, all through the company’s ‘Smarter Asset Strategy’ approach. His own business now offers over 11,000 tractors, trailers and rigid trucks. While recent UK-wide strictures have impacted that number very slightly, “Why would we keep more vehicles on the fleet than our customers need?” asks John. The business has used the recent lull to ensure a maximum truck age of three years, and seven for trailers. “It’s part of ensuring customers have modern, compliant, economical vehicles, while our 1200 approved UK service points ensure we maximise their time out on the road. After all, that’s where they earn our customers their money.” That fleet covers a wide range of operating options: rigids from 8x4 bulker blowers to 7.2t box wagons; step frame, box, curtainside, multi temp, car transporter and flatbed trailers; and 4x2, 6x2, 6x4 tractors, including gas engine options. Sectors served and numbers of vehicles fluctuate to match market needs, says John, noting, “One specific we are tracking is a drift toward urban distribution vehicles, rather than historic long-distance tractor markets. Whichever way it goes, we’ll ensure our fleet is up to speed, and now of course, we are looking closely at the emergence of electric and hydrogen technologies. “We made a point years ago of being first to order Euro-6 while others were still hesitating. We have always offered a ‘Try before you buy’ option for operators faced with something new. Fortunately, when they do that, they are also trying our leasing or contract hire, and find these more to their taste than massive capital investments of their own. They find ‘Usership’ through our ‘Smarter Asset Strategy’ the most flexible and cost-efficient route to develop their fleets.”

MONTGOMERY TRANSPORT GROUP

“FOCUSED ON OUR CUSTOMERS, DRIVEN BY OUR PEOPLE”

The origins of the Montgomery Transport Group dates back to 1970 when it was established with just a single tractor unit and was the first Ballyvesey Holdings company. Its first depot was opened in Leyland, with a two berth caravan in the corner of another hauliers yard.

Fast forward to the end of the 90s when the Northern Ireland based business started, the turnover of Montgomery Transport Group was around £60million with 400+ employees. Having celebrated its 50th anniversary, it has grown to become one of the largest privately owned transport companies in the UK, operating from multiple sites, with a fleet of over 250 trucks and 1500+ trailers. Today it operates in seven different areas –including transport, distribution and freight management - and over the next few months, Export & Freight will be highlighting each, starting with its Customs Brokerage service.

CUSTOMS BROKERAGE TEAM OFFERS TAILORED SERVICE

Providing a wide range of customs services to its broader customer base, its Customs Brokerage team of in-house experts are

always on hand to explain and de-mystify the often-complex world of customs regulations, so you can rest assured that, whatever your needs, you will have the right guidance and support throughout the entire process so you don’t have to worry about changes in customs regulations and legislation, tricky procedures, documentation, and communicating with government bodies. Such has been the steady success of the Customs Brokerage Service that it has grown from being an in-house support function to a standalone business unit, offering a range of services for custom clearance regardless of if the Montgomery Transport Group is physically transporting the goods or not; it is a service in its own market and another business that strengthens the group’s offering.

“We provide a streamlined one-stop-shop service, wherein goods can be transported,

cleared with customs, and managed throughout their movement,” says Montgomery Freight Management’s Managing Director Rachael Forshaw. “This expedites goods movements and alleviates the problems that come from working with 3rd parties. Managing everything in-house gives you peace of mind and allows you to focus on what matters most: your products and your customers.”

It is clear that Imports and Exports are the Montgomery Customs Brokerage team’s passion. “Almost every customs clearance is different, both when importing and exporting goods, and our team have completed tens of thousands of these clearances.

“Our customs agents undergo a thorough and in-depth training programme to ensure they are doing more than entering information provided. They truly understand the how and the why. Our tailored customs software allows us to not only complete entries faster, but also with high- level accuracy and detail. This means that your goods move through Customs and the ports faster, further expediting the process. Much of which is a result of our ongoing relationships with individuals not only in the industry, but also within government bodies and customs regulatory authorities.”

It’s a highly proactive team, too. Take the recent HMRC’s decision to swap its Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system on 31 March 2023, to a Customs Declaration Service (CDS), a system founded on world-leading technology to serve as the UK’s single customs platform. Montgomery’s Customs Brokerage team anticipated the changes well ahead of the switch-over. They were completing GB import declarations via CDS for more than a year earlier and they took the necessary steps to ensure customers were ready to

make the change well in advance.

CDS has been developed over a number of years in consultation with the border industry and provides a more secure and stable platform that has the capacity and capability to grow in line with the government’s ambitious trade plans. The move to one system for all imports and exports also deliver savings for the taxpayer.

“Customers are our priority. This means that integrity and accuracy are of upmost importance to us. We have one of the best teams in the industry and pride ourselves in getting every clearance right the first time, ensuring that all your goods are claimed correctly, down to the last package, gram, and penny.”

To that end, Montgomery Group’s

CUSTOMS BROKERAGE

Customs Brokerage website https:// montgomerytransportgroup.com deals with some of the more common areas they are asked about to help you understand the processes and regulatory compliance, such as the Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number which is a registration for parties who trade internationally and exchange information with Customs authorities.

Commodity Codes is another subject covered on the website. Where EORI numbers identify companies, commodity codes are used to identify products to customs and other regulatory authorities. Commodity codes primarily ensure declaration of the correct goods and products. Also explained on the website are Incoterms,

which help facilitate International Trade by Clarifying who is responsible for transportation and insurance costs. They provide standardised and agreed reference points regarding transfer of ownership, transfer of risk, insurance, mode of transport and cross-border taxes between a Buyer and a Seller in a Sales/Shipping Contract.

OFFERING CUSTOMERS PEACE OF MIND

There is no doubt, that by allowing Montgomery Transport Group to manage all your needs in-house, whether it be customs, transport, freight management or distribution - gives you peace of mind and will enable you to focus on what matters most - your products and your customers.

WIDE RANGE OF CUSTOMS SERVICES

Montgomery Transport Group provides a wide range of customs services to its broader customer base.

With a team of in-house experts on hand to explain and de-mystify the often-complex world of customs regulations you can rest assured that, whatever your needs, we are on hand to offer guidance and support throughout the process.

HELPING FLEET OPERATORS REDUCE MAINTENANCE AND RUNNING COSTS

Fleet operators face numerous challenges when it comes to managing their vehicles and keeping maintenance costs under control. One critical aspect that can significantly impact these costs is the choice of lubricants used in the fleet.

Many consider reducing their costs by looking at cheap products and brands to see an instant reduction in spending, however this method is a short-term gain that can lead to long-term higher costs. Choosing high-quality lubricant not only protects the engine and other crucial components but also contributes to reducing costs in the long run through:

Vehicle Longevity

Extended Drain Intervals

Improved Vehicle Performance Fuel Economy

High-quality and fully approved lubricants are designed to exceed most leading vehicle manufacturers’ performance levels to ensure they can outperform the requirements of the vehicles. This is something that cannot be guaranteed with cheaper brands that are usually blended to the minimum requirement of the performance levels to save on

production costs, thus their lower prices. One of the leading trusted lubricants partners to many of the large and small fleet operators in Ireland and lubricants partner to some of the leading Irish fleet OEMs such as Scania Ireland, Renault Trucks, MAN Ireland & Harris Group is Finol Oils. Finol have been distributing lubricant in Ireland since 1977 and are the distribution partners for brands such as TotalEnergies, Petro Canada, Actioil & Bluecat.

Finol works with its customers and can help fleet operators reduce maintenance expenses and improve overall operational efficiency through:

TAILORED

LUBRICANT SOLUTIONS:

Finol understands that different vehicles and operating conditions require specific lubricant formulations. They offer a comprehensive range of

lubricants designed for various applications, including heavy-duty trucks, buses, and commercial vehicles. By providing tailor-made lubricant solutions, Finol’s team can help ensure you are using the correct products and consolidate the number of products required to reduce your stock holding.

SUPERIOR ENGINE PROTECTION:

Engines are the heart of any fleet, and protecting them is crucial for minimising maintenance costs. Finol’s range of high-quality and fully approved lubricants provide superior engine

protection, reduces friction, prevent wear, and minimise the formation of harmful deposits, thereby extending the engine’s lifespan. Through this superior performance, these high-quality products can significantly reduce maintenance expenses associated with unplanned breakdowns and maintenance work by preventing and reducing them.

EXTENDED OIL DRAIN INTERVALS:

Regular oil changes are a necessary part of vehicle maintenance, but they can be time-consuming and costly for fleet operators. Finol’s team can analyse your fleet and ensure you are maximising the intervals allowed for those vehicles. Their range of lubricants, with excellent thermal and oxidative stability, allows for extended oil drain intervals. By using these lubricants, fleet operators can safely extend the time between oil changes, reducing maintenance downtime and the associated costs. Moreover, this also contributes to increased operational efficiency, as vehicles spend less time in the workshop.

FUEL ECONOMY LUBRICANTS:

Fuel costs make up a significant portion of a

to operate more efficiently and consume less fuel. By incorporating FE lubricants into their fleet maintenance program, operators can achieve substantial fuel savings, resulting in reduced operating costs and improved profitability. You can read about one such operator here: www.finol.ie/about-finol/ testimonials or by simply scanning the QR Code.

EXPERT TECHNICAL SUPPORT:

Finol Oils prides itself on its team of knowledgeable experts, with over 220 years of combined sales & technical support experience,

offer valuable insights and recommendations. With over 1 million litres of stock in Dublin and their own fleet of delivery vehicles equipped to deliver any pack size and pump off bulk, Finol’s customers can be assured of timely deliveries in addition to the above benefits. In addition, for bulk customers, Finol offers their NERO tank management services to ensure your bulk tank never runs out. With its recent expansion of service in Northern Ireland, Finol is even more ready to offer the same great products and services to fleet operators throughout Northern Ireland.

For more information or to become a customer of Finol, contact their sales team at www.finol.ie

CONTINENTAL CALLS ON CV OPERATORS TO REGROOVE SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY

Continental Tyres is calling on commercial vehicle and fleet operators to ensure they are carrying out tyre regrooving safely and effectively. Earlier this year, Continental unveiled a five-part series of tyre safety and advice videos, aimed at supporting technicians, drivers and business owners with key maintenance topics. In one video, our commercial vehicle expert, Tom Roberts, demonstrated the correct regrooving process.

There are, however, a number of operational factors that businesses should consider when regrooving a tyre. Tomasz Wojciechowski, Technical Specialist Engineer at Continental, addresses some of the most commonly asked questions.

IS IT SAFER TO NOT REGROOVE A TYRE?

Regrooving can be a safe, cost-effective solution that will extend the service life of a tyre. The problems begin when regrooving is not done correctly. All too often, we encounter tyres that have been cut too deeply or were in a poor overall condition to start with. Not only could it influence the tyre’s performance and durability, as well as potentially being illegal, but it also ultimately negates the benefits of regrooving as it requires a replacement tyre. Operators shouldn’t be afraid of regrooving a tyre that is in good overall condition and is approved to be regrooved by the manufacturer. All of Continental’s truck and bus tyres, for example, can be regrooved. Done well, regrooving will help operators to maximise the service life of their tyres and help them to achieve the lowest overall driving costs for their fleet. If it’s a feature that’s included, it’s one that you should consider using.

IS EVERY USE CASE APPROPRIATE FOR REGROOVING?

Although there’s nothing to stop you regrooving tyres for your business, we do find that the longevity, and therefore cost effectiveness of using a re-cut tyre, is impacted by the application. Typically, trucks operating offroad on construction sites or in mining and aggregate transport respond less well to regrooving. That is because the tyre is unlikely to last as long as a truck covering mainly motorway and A-road miles. When it comes to trailers, we would suggest that you avoid using a regrooved tyre on the rearmost axle. Often these tyres are dragged laterally when the trailer corners heavily, which isn’t optimal for regrooved rubber. It doesn’t mean that the tyre cannot be used, however. You could perhaps look at swapping the regrooved tyre onto the first or second axle.

ARE THERE ANY COMMON REGROOVING ERRORS?

Cutting too deep is a common regrooving error. You should measure the tread depth in various

places around the circumference before you start regrooving. Always ensure that you’re cutting from the shallowest part to reduce the risk of damaging the belt. If you do, the tyre must be discarded. Just like the brake discs on a car that hasn’t been used for a few days, moisture can quickly cause the steel cords of the tyre to begin

to rust, which could affect the tyre’s durability. All too often, we also see evidence of technicians getting creative with their own tyre tread patterns. Tyres that are approved for regrooving will have a regrooving guide, specifying where the cuts should be made and to what depth. In our technical data book, we use clear yellow lines to demonstrate where the grooves should be cut. Making your own tread pattern by cutting every sipe or through the tread block may not only weaken the tyre but might also make the tyre unroadworthy.

HOW CAN I LEARN THE SKILLS NEEDED TO REGROOVE A TYRE?

Continental’s UK-based in-house tyre training school, the ContiAcademy, offers tyre technician training courses that help delegates learn all of the necessary skills required for safe and effective tyre husbandry. To find out more about the training courses offered at ContiAcademy call 01788 566 240 or email administrator.technical@conti.de

Tom Roberts.

HGV Drivers Deserve Better Following National Parking Survey

clean facilities to take mandatory rests and to look after basic human needs – something which workers in other sectors take for granted.

“They also must be confident that those facilities will have the space to accommodate them when they arrive. Our industry is working hard to attract a younger, more diverse workforce but this issue undoubtedly harms the appeal of working in logistics.

Speaking after the publication of the National Survey of Lorry Parking (2022) Part 2 by government, Jonathan Walker, Head of Cities and Infrastructure Policy at Logistics UK is stressing the group’s call for the delivery of urgent reform to the planning system, which would both facilitate the provision of more parking facilities on key routes and incentivise investment from the private sector. The survey conducted for DfT highlighted that overnight parking demand for commercial vehicle spaces is consistently above what is deemed to be ‘critical capacity’, with the number of

vehicles requiring safe and secure overnight parking exceeding capacity for 11 out of 12 months.

As Mr Walker continues, the group has been pressing for the provision of new facilities for HGV drivers across the strategic roads network for a number of years:

“The publication of the latest lorry parking survey demonstrates just how desperate and urgent the need is for more secure facilities for these vehicles, an issue which our members have been pressing government to help fix for a long time. Drivers need safe, secure and

“In 2022 an additional £20 million in funding was announced to boost HGV driver facilities but as highlighted by this report, the benefits of this have not yet been fully felt. Lorry drivers are required by law to take regular rest periods, including overnight-mandated rest breaks and it is unacceptable to expect them to sleep in unprotected and often unsafe locations.

“Urgent reform to the planning system is vital for the provision of more parking facilities on key routes and private sector investment. The government and private sector must work collaboratively to take urgent action on this issue to protect the workforce which drives all areas of the UK’s economy – we stand ready to help them deliver what our industry has been demanding for so long.”

Commercial drivers are being ignored when it comes to their right to use proper hygiene and rest facilities while working, according to business group Logistics UK.

DAF XD NOW AVAILABLE WITH NEW PACCAR PX-7 ENGINE

DAF Trucks has expanded its popular XD range to include a new 6.7-litre PACCAR PX-7 driveline with outputs up to 227 kW (310 hp). The ‘International Truck of the Year 2023’ with PX-7 engine is available as a 4x2 rigid with DayCab, with other cab variants to follow shortly.

The new DAF XD with 6.7-litrePACCAR PX-7 driveline (167 kW/230 hp – 227 kW/310 hp) complements the existing versions of the ‘International Truck of the Year 2023’ with 10.8-litre PACCAR MX-11 engine and ratings from 220 kW/300 hp up to 330 kW/450 hp. This allows customers to specify their trucks for distribution and vocational applications precisely to their individual operations. The new PACCAR 6.7-litrePX-7 driveline delivers a600 kg weight saving, compared with the already low-weight MX-11 powertrain, which adds to its industry-leading payload and fuel efficiency. The 6.7-litre6-cylinder PACCAR PX-7 engine has been completely redesigned. The state-ofthe-art non-EGR engine features a new, lowweight yet ultra-strong Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) block and cast-iron cylinder head, new low-friction pistons, a new highly efficient compressor and a new turbo charger. The engine is available in 4 output ratings: 167 kW/230

hp, 189 kW/260 hp, 212 kW/290 hp and 227 kW/310 hp. For excellent fuel efficiency and supreme driver comfort, maximum torque is already available at very low engine speeds.

AUTOMATIC GEARBOXES

The DAF XD with PACCAR PX-7 engine features a new eight-speed, fully automatic PowerLine transmission, offering optimal gear spread and steps. Powershifting without any torque interruption enables smooth shifts and quick throttle response, resulting in unmatched comfort and driveability. In addition, the new transmission provides outstanding low-speed manoeuvrability, enabled by an urge-to-move feature upon releasing the brake pedal. In combination with optimised rear axle ratios, the XD with PX-7 engine offers the highest possible fuel efficiency, further strengthening the already excellent business proposition of the DAF

XD series in the distribution segment. As an option, the XD with PACCAR PX-7 driveline is also available with the powerful PX Engine Brake, offering more than 200 kW/276 hp peak power.

SAFETY BENCHMARK

Naturally, the DAF XD with the new PX-7 driveline benefits from all of the premium features of the existing XD models. This includes first-class safety, thanks to the large windscreen and large side windows with ultra-low belt lines as well as the low cab position and optional kerb view window for unmatched direct view. The XD offers up to 5-stars Direct Vision Standard. Ultimate indirect view is guaranteed through the unique DAF Corner View and DAF Digital Vision System.

DRIVER COMFORT

The XD offers superior accessibility for the driver and spacious cabs with volumes of up to almost10 m3. Outstanding adjustment ranges for the seat and steering wheel guarantee the best driver position in this segment. Ride and handling benefit from optimal design of the chassis frontend, cab suspension and rear axle suspension. The XD with PX-7 is available as a chassis cab and can also be specified with a factory designed and installed PACCAR Body in either box or curtainside variants. With a range of body dimensions and options including factory fitted tail-lifts and load restraint systems, PACCAR Bodies can be specified to suit a broad range of dry-freight distribution applications. Fully type-approved and installed, and integrated during production at the Leyland Trucks assembly plant, PACCAR-bodied vehicles ensure a true one-stop-shop with shorter and a more predictable lead time into service for operators. With the expansion of its popular XD series to include the new highly efficient PACCAR PX-7 engine, DAF has further strengthened its position in the distribution and vocational segment by now being able to offer the best business proposition in the class up to 220 kW/300 hp as well.

Operator Fined on Series of Offences

A County Antrim Operator has been convicted at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £750 after DVA Enforcement Officers carrying out compliance checks at a weighbridge site at Toome stopped a large articulated lorry.

The vehicle combination was weighed and the following was noted: the plated gross vehicle weight of 7500Kgs, was overloaded by 971Kgs (12.9%); the plated gross train weight of 11000Kgs was overloaded by 1441Kgs (13.1%) and the first axle of the trailer weight of 1500Kgs was overloaded by 170Kgs (11.3%). Regulations require the weight shown on a plate fitted to a vehicle should not be exceeded.

When Departmental records were checked, it was noted that the vehicle was not covered by a valid goods Vehicle Operators Licence. Regulations require a goods vehicle exceeding 3500Kgs to be specified on a valid Goods Vehicle Operators Licence. The vehicle combination weight was such that it required the driver to be the holder of a C1+E unrestricted driving licence entitlement, the driver did not possess such entitlement on his licence. The driver’s

licence did entitle him to drive such a vehicle combination as a learner; he was unaccompanied and not displaying “L” plates. Regulations require the holder of C1 provisional driving licence, to be supervised whilst driving. The driver was asked to produce his driver CPC qualification card, which he was unable to do as he did not possess a CPC card. Regulations require the driver of vehicle exceeding 3500Kgs to use the tachograph recording equipment.

Tachograph and Drivers Hours Infringements

A driver was convicted at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £1700 after DVA Enforcement Officers were involved in a multi-agency operation with the PSNI & HMRC in the Larne area.

A 3 axle Scania in combination with a 3-axle trailer was directed to the DVA check site at Larne where an inspection of the vehicle and tachograph records were carried out. The tachograph unit within the vehicle was downloaded for

analysis. This analysis highlighted that the vehicle had been driven for 13 separate days without a card in the recording equipment. The analysis also highlighted that the driver had five driver’s hour’s infringements. This analysis showed that the driver card of driver had been removed and the

driver card of another driver had been inserted on two occasions. On analysis of this data there were 18 infringements identified - nine offences of insufficient daily rest, four excess daily driving, three of insufficient breaks after 4 ½ hours driving,

one weekly rest offence and one fortnightly driving exceeded. Under EU Driver Regulations, these infringements constituted two most serious infringements, 11 very serious infringements, four serious infringements and one minor infringement.

TIP Group launches Mechanic Academy

TIP Group, a leading truck and trailer service provider, is launching a brand new academy to educate trailer mechanics. The TIP Mechanic Academy will launch in the UK, Canada, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands this autumn and in Germany early 2024; in the UK, the TIP Mechanic Academy is located in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

The TIP Mechanic Academy will be the first of its kind in the transportation industry, with trainees becoming TIP certified trailer mechanics in nine months instead of the standard three to four years for heavy vehicle certification. Additionally, trainees will receive a full package of salary and benefits relevant to their experience level when they join.

The TIP Mechanic Academy is open to individuals who are passionate about pursuing a technician career in the transportation industry. The program covers a wide range of topics, including trailer maintenance, diagnostics, repair and safety. Trainees will also receive practical training at TIP’s state-of-theart facilities, working on real trailers under the guidance of experienced mechanic mentors. Combining instructor-lead, e-learning and hands-on training, trainees will have the chance to learn from TIP experts and immediately bring what they learn into practice. The training program will be limited to eight to twelve trainees per class, ensuring trainees will get the attention they deserve.

TIP is committed to providing ongoing career development opportunities for its employees, and graduates of the TIP Mechanic Academy will have access to further training and advancement within the organisation, either as a workshop supervisor/ manager, or a technician. Upon successful completion of the training, all trainees will also be offered the opportunity to join the annual global Mechanic Team Competition, where the talent and expertise of mechanics are celebrated and rewarded, with finals being held in Valencia!

“Mechanics are the unsung heroes of our industry, and we rely on them to serve our customers and keep their fleet on the road.

The TIP Mechanic Academy is a great opportunity to attract

new talent, and the fast track learning ensures trainees get to put their new knowledge into practice in just nine months and receive renumeration as if they graduated from a 4-year education program.” says Hiske Damhuis, Chief Human Resource Officer. During the program, trainees will be paid a starting salary of £25,000 to £29,000 depending on experience and location, with a salary commitment of up to £31,000 upon successful completion of the training. Trainees will also receive a comprehensive toolbox worth over £1,000 containing the latest tools for them to succeed in their training. Other benefits of joining the TIP Mechanic Academy include 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the flexibility to buy or sell holidays, healthcare insurance, a group personal pension scheme, life assurance, group income protection, an employee assistance programme, long service awards, and a welcome bonus. Although the Academy is based at TIP’s Nuneaton branch, TIP is welcoming applications from budding mechanics that will ultimately be based at TIP’s branches in Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, Southampton, Nuneaton and Lichfield.

Applications for the TIP Mechanic Academy are now open, and the program will commence in autumn 2023. For more information on the program and how to apply, please visit www.tip-group. com/en-gb/mechanics

NORTHERN IRELAND’S LEADING TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT, COMPLIANCE, TACHOGRAPH AND TRAINING PROVIDER

As a licensed transport operator, do you know the undertakings you agree to abide by?

Because not knowing, could result in you appearing at a Public Inquiry where your licence could be subjected to revocation. As a licensed transport operator, some of the undertakings you agree to include:

• To ensure the rules on drivers’ hours and tachographs are observed and that proper records are kept.

• To ensure vehicles and trailers are not overloaded.

• To ensure drivers promptly report any defects that could prevent the safe operation of the vehicle or trailer.

• To ensure all vehicles and trailers are kept in a fit and serviceable condition.

• To ensure you are keeping records for a 15-month period for all driver reports of defects, safety inspections, maintenance, and repairs to vehicles.

AS A LICENSED TRANSPORT OPERATOR, THESE ARE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.

NI Transport have extensive experience in transport management, compliance, and training. Some facts they are proud of:

• Last year they audited 18 operations identifying and rectifying issues with compliance.

• In the month of March 2023, they helped 9 new operators through the operator licence application process to a successful conclusion.

• They are NI’s leading supplier of remote tachograph download devices and recently installed their 200th remote downloading device in less than 2 years.

• They manage over 100 NI operator’s tachograph analysis and their most popular service, FULL COMPLIANCE MANGEMENT, where they essentially take over all compliance responsibility leaving you in a constant state of full compliance.

• They trained over 200 drivers and managers in

the last year on various Driver CPC, Company Bespoke, OLAT and TM Refresher Courses.

• Every day, over 200 vehicles are checked by drivers using their Daily Vehicle Walk Round Check Smartphone App.

• They attended and supported operators at 8 Public Inquiries in the last year Successfully representing 2 operators at hearings last month alone.

“We understand that complying with the regulations can be a challenge, but we are here to help you make it easy. With our support, you can be reassured that your fully compliant operation is a positive promoter of road safety and fair competition.

“Our clients often tell us that our support takes away the fear of roadside enforcement checks and DVA/DVSA audits. One client told us recently, that since we came in to support them, they have been able to sleep better at night!”

Contact NI Transport today to learn more about how they can help your transport operation meets the operator licence undertakings.

RENAULT TRUCKS DIGITISES CAB INTERIORS & REINFORCES SAFETY FEATURES

The manufacturer has optimised cab interior fittings to combine comfort and ergonomics, as well as equipping its trucks with advanced driver assistance technologies to improve on-road safety. These features will also be available on the all-electric Renault Trucks E-Tech T & C models. With a commitment to the ongoing improvement of its vehicles, Renault Trucks offers drivers a safer, more functional and comfortable working environment. To this end, the manufacturer is equipping its heavy-duty range Renault Trucks T, T High, C & K with new safety features and redesigning the cab fittings for even greater comfort, both at the wheel and during breaks. This technology will also be available on Renault Trucks E-Tech T & C, which have just been launched on the market. In the cabin, equipment has been optimised to provide drivers with a more pleasant environment, combining ergonomics, onboard comfort and productivity.

The dashboard features a new 12-inch adjustable main digital display, complemented

by a secondary multifunction touchscreen featuring an intuitive Android Automobile interface for quick access to applications. Drivers can use the steering wheel controls to operate the main display and secondary screen functions in complete safety, including phone calls and music controls. To make driving easier, the screen also displays navigation aids and camera views. The vehicles can also be fitted with an inductive phone charger. For optimum driving comfort, the steering wheel can be covered in leather, while the seats and dashboard of Renault Trucks T, T High, C & K can be customised with textile and/or leather for the seats, and charcoal grey or black and red for the compact dashboard. Renault Trucks E-Tech T & C electric models have a distinctive blue and red finish.

Renault Trucks T, T High, C & K and Renault Trucks E-Tech T & C

are fitted with a steering column that can be adjusted in three directions. This means that drivers can adopt the driving position that suits them best, tailored to their body shape, the constraints of their assignment and, of course, their personal preferences. The steering column can be adjusted using a single foot-operated control that adjusts both the position and tilt of the steering wheel. Precision and safety are guaranteed through adjustment with both hands on the steering wheel and instant locking.

ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE

The 2024 heavy-duty range Renault Trucks models incorporate the latest in driver assistance technology and the most effective emergency braking systems to ensure the safety of drivers, their loads and other road users. The manufacturer has fitted radars and cameras all around the vehicle,

vision. These devices help ensure the safety of road users, simplify manoeuvres and reduce the risk of accidents. As an option, up to five cameras can be added to monitor the vehicle’s environment, its load or the fifth wheel during coupling. Drivers are automatically advised of tyre pressure levels on the truck and trailer and are alerted in the event of any anomalies, thus avoiding excessive fuel consumption or tyre blowouts. The vehicles also feature a speeding alert system, Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA), with a camera that detects the speed limit and warns drivers if they are exceeding it, thus avoiding accidents and fines. Finally, for reducing fuel consumption and therefore CO2 emissions, the vehicles can be equipped with the Optivision Map Based system, which transmits topographical data to the on-board computer as the journey progresses in order to optimise gearshift strategies. The Check and Map modules of the Optifleet fleet management software are also included, to control and optimise driving style and plan journeys even more efficiently. This function

Renault Trucks E-Tech T & C.

Focusing on driver well-being and safety, Renault Trucks has made major improvements to its heavy-duty vehicles Renault Trucks T, T High, C & K.

Caroline Hobson

IMPORTANCE OF MUTUAL ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION

Since taking up post in January 2023, I, as Head of TRU, have been gaining awareness into our road haulage industry and the important contribution it makes to our economy. The need for the Department and industry to work together is foremost in my mind. The importance of mutual engagement and communication is essential.

It is important to be clear. Transport regulation is not a punitive regime – we are not here to punish. Instead our responsibility is to encourage compliance and to deter operators from acting unlawfully and we do this through a series of regulatory measures. Early communication is key to avoid prolonged TRU involvement and also to allow TRU to direct its limited resources to those matters which require detailed attention so as to allow us to ensure that only safe and compliant operators hold a licence and that our roads are safe and that there is fair competition across the industry. Within this context, this edition of the newsletter focuses on the need to communicate with the Department and sets out common misconceptions surrounding your licences and your ongoing and continuing responsibilities as a licence holder.

The newsletter reflects on some of the common issues that we have identified over recent months, including the requirement for a new operator licence to be obtained when there is a change of legal entity and for such a licence to be obtained before operating as a new entity. The article on the Importance of Record

Keeping and Licence Undertakings for HGV Operators highlights the significance of record keeping and its direct impact on compliance, efficiency, and safety within your operations.

I hope you find this edition of the newsletter informative and helpful. Should you have any further questions with regards to the matter, or general queries surrounding your licence, I would encourage you to talk to us at the earliest opportunity TRU@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT

TRU has observed how more operators are less compliant with communication, which results in an increase of investigations of their businesses and potential regulatory action against those licences.

Communicating with the Department in a timely and effective manner, more so during this pandemic, is of the essence when it comes to effectively managing an operators’ licence. Whether it is notifying infringements, a change of directors in the company holding the licence, responding to requests for information letters sent by the Department or even providing the required information and documentation

to process an application, communication is key for any operator’s licence holder. There are some unfortunately common misconceptions you should avoid. Your licence conditions and undertakings, those written on your actual licence document, compel you to notify the Department a variety of events within 28 days of their occurrence, such as a change of director, any infringement or conviction, any event that affects good repute, or any changes to the address of establishment among other matters.

Not communicating those events on time could serve to further aggravate the events themselves. The Department has noted misunderstandings among some operators, like believing that receiving a fixed penalty notice counts as “notifying” the Department, or that changing a director in the Companies House register is enough to make “the authorities” aware of it. As a licence holder, you must notify these events to the Department within the prescribed period as per your licence conditions and undertakings. Take the time to read your licence and ensure you know your obligations. We have seen cases where operators submit a variation application but then fail to respond to the Department’s request for information assuming they provided all the information or documentation required. Failing to respond to those requests for information will not only result in the refusal of the variation application but in some

Head of Transport Regulation Unit

Caroline Hobson

cases will raise questions about the fitness of such operator to hold a licence and may trigger an investigation of that licence.

In conclusion, if in doubt, ask! If you’re not sure whether you need to respond to a letter or how to respond to a request for information, contact us. If something changes within your business, let us know. You can contact TRU on regulatory matters via TRU@infrastructure-ni.gov. uk or NICLO on applications via NICLO@dvsa. gov.uk, or contact your previous caseworker.

CHANGE OF ENTITY FOR LICENCE HOLDERS

It is an often-overlooked requirement, that any change of legal entity requires a new application for an operator’s licence to be made. This includes any change from and to a sole trader, a partnership or a limited company.

If a company changes its registration number at Companies House, this is a change of entity and a new application is also required in those circumstances.

Goods vehicle operators’ licences are not transferable. It is against the law to operate as a new or different entity without informing the Department in advance. A new licence for the new entity must be obtained before operating.

Do not wait for the licence renewal date on an existing licence if the change of entity is to occur before then. This could leave you without authority to operate any vehicles if a new application cannot be granted before expiry of the old licence. Permitting vehicles to be used under an operator’s licence by an entity that is not the licence holder, can lead to prosecution of the licence holder and the entity using the vehicles illegally. Regulatory action may also be taken in relation to the existing operator’s licence, which could include its revocation.

Before submitting a new application due to a change of entity, make sure finances in the name of the new entity are already in place showing an opening or closing balance that meets the minimum requirements for the number of vehicles requested, if the account has been opened for less than 28 days. In the case of a limited company application, finances in personal accounts held by a company director are not acceptable. A bank account in the full name of the limited company must be opened. If there are to be no changes to the operating

centre requirements (i.e., the operating centre address(es), and the number and size of vehicles and trailers required will be the same or less), you can apply to transfer the operating centre from the existing licence holder to the new entity. This negates the need for an advert to be published in a local newspaper if the transfer is approved. A form GV(NI)72 is required for this and is available from the DfI website. Our service standard for determining applications is 40 working days. It could take longer if any issues arise during the processing of an application. Further details about the finance requirements, and information about the requirements relating to legal entities, are in the Department’s Practice Guidance and Instructions documents 2 and 5 respectively at: https://www. infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/goods-vehiclelicensing-practice-guidance-documents

LICENCE UNDERTAKINGS

As a responsible heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operator, maintaining accurate and organised records is crucial to fulfil your licence undertakings. This article highlights the significance of record keeping and its direct impact on compliance, efficiency, and safety within your operations. Licence undertakings play a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of your HGV operation. By committing to these undertakings, you demonstrate your dedication to responsible management and operational excellence.

Key undertakings include:

- Observing Rules on Drivers’ Hours: Keeping precise records of drivers’ hours is essential to comply with the undertakings and avoid any infringements. Accurate documentation allows you to demonstrate compliance with rest periods, breaks, and driving time regulations.

- Maintaining Vehicle Fitness: Comprehensive record keeping of maintenance activities, including routine inspections, repairs, and defect reports, is crucial to fulfil your undertakings related to vehicle fitness. These records help track the condition of your vehicles and ensure they remain safe and fit for the road.

- Preventing Overloading: Records of vehicle weight and load distribution are essential to avoid overloading. By documenting weight

limits and load specifications, you can ensure compliance with undertakings and prevent potential risks associated with overloading.

- Promoting Safety: Your undertakings include promptly reporting any defects or symptoms that may compromise the safe operation of vehicles and trailers. Keeping written records of these reports helps ensure timely action is taken to address safety concerns.

RECORD KEEPING

Accurate and well-organised record keeping provides several benefits for you as HGV operator:

- Compliance: Maintaining comprehensive records allows you to demonstrate compliance with licence undertakings. This not only helps avoid penalties or disruptions to your operations but also showcases your commitment to responsible management.

- Operational Efficiency: Accessible records enable you to effectively manage maintenance schedules, plan repairs, and optimise vehicle usage. By tracking maintenance patterns and promptly addressing any issues, you can minimise downtime and maximise operational efficiency.

- Safety Enhancement: Thorough record keeping plays a crucial role in promoting safety within your operations. By documenting maintenance activities, defect reports, and repairs, you can proactively identify potential risks, take necessary preventive measures, and ensure the safety of your drivers and other road users.

- Decision-Making Support: Historical records provide valuable insights for decision-making. Analysis of maintenance data, drivers’ hours, and vehicle performance can help identify areas for improvement, optimise resource allocation, and enhance overall operational effectiveness.

Maintaining accurate and well-organised records is not only a requirement but also an essential practice for HGV operators. By fulfilling your licence undertakings through diligent record keeping, you ensure compliance, optimise operational efficiency, enhance safety, and support informed decision-making. Embracing a proactive and systematic approach to record keeping will contribute to the success and reputation of your HGV operation.

Head of Transport Regulation Unit

John Martin

RHA OBTAIN CLARITY ON THE CLANDESTINE ENTRANT CIVIL PENALTY SCHEME REQUIREMENTS

Due to concerns raised by a number of RHA members who had received penalty notifications placed on trailers travelling unaccompanied from Ireland to Great Britian the RHA engaged with officials from Border Force to obtain clarity on the application of the Clandestine Entry Civil Penalty scheme protocols.

Initial advice obtained indicated that the scheme applied to all movements of vehicles travelling between the Island of Ireland and Great Britain. Considering the huge impact this would have on internal UK traffic with the high volumes of freight moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain we challenged this through a local Northern Ireland MP Carla Lockhart who sought clarity from the Minister of State for Immigration Rt Hon Robert Jenrick. Minister Jenrick stated, “the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme does not apply to HGVs, trailers and coaches travelling within the UK directly from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. “However, it does apply to vehicles including unaccompanied trailers making an indirect journey from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, including via Ireland (ROI).

“The application of the Scheme on indirect routes, including via the Common Travel Area, is a necessary measure to counter clandestine migrants seeking to enter the UK by concealing themselves in vehicles. It is therefore only right and proper that we take measures to ensure those responsible secure their vehicles on these routes. More information about the penalty

scheme, including vehicle security information and our Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme for hauliers, can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/ clandestine-entrant-civil-penalty-scheme.” Therefore, vehicles that use this routing MUST comply with the Clandestine Civil Penalty schemes new protocols which requires a migrant check list to be completed https:// assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/1135936/6.8237_BF_Clandestine_ Entrant_Checklist_v4_Print.pdf and the trailer/container have been made secure. The regulations define responsible persons - as owners, hirers and drivers (or in the case of detached/unaccompanied trailers, owners, hirers and operators).

It’s therefore critical any owners, hirers or operators put in place a documented process for drivers to follow if the scheme applies to them or the journey being undertaken.

Drivers must be trained in the application of the scheme with records retained of driver attendance, content of the training and signed and dated. The training should be updated regularly. The operator should obtain copies of the check sheets completed by the drivers on

a regular basis to review and ensure drivers are adhering to the requirements with the sheets being retained for a minimum of 12 months as this will be evidence of ongoing compliance with the scheme should there be an incident. The following is a high-level overview of what’s required buts its important to review the requirements through the various links contained within this article.

SECURE

Drivers must secure a vehicle when its first loaded.

Secure soft sided vehicles with a tilt cord, passed tightly through all eyelets and winders. Secure the ends of the tilt cord with either a uniquely numbered seal or lock. Record the seal number on the checklist. If the inside of the vehicle is checked during the journey, the driver must reapply the lock, tilt cord or other security device and/or apply a new seal. Secure hard sided and refrigerated vehicles with a seal, lock or other security device. Drivers should have spare seals to reseal the vehicle after each check. Vehicle owners must provide drivers with means of securing the vehicle appropriately, including tilt cord, seals or locks.

RHA Policy Manager for Northern Ireland.

John Martin

CHECK

Drivers must check a vehicle when its first loaded for any signs of unauthorised access. After each stop drivers must check the vehicle to ensure no authorised persons have entered the load. Check any seals, locks, tilt cords or other security devices for signs of damage or tampering before and during the journey. Check the sides and roof of the vehicle and check all external compartments. (This should include underneath the vehicle and arounds its chassis and axles as there have been reports of clandestines attaching themselves to axles or the undercarriage of vehicles)

RECORD

Drivers must enter on a checklist al checks throughout the journey. Record sheets must be fully and legibly completed with the date, time and location of each check with any seal numbers recorded on the sheets. Driver must have a sufficient supply of check list sheets available for their complete journey. If there are numerous stops required, use multiple checklists. Vehicle owners must provide drivers with means of record keeping such as checklists and written instructions before the start of each journey.

The UK Border Force run a Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme which operators may apply to become a member– https://www. gov.uk/government/publications/applicationto-join-civil-penalty-accreditation-scheme and a completed application should be forwarded to BF.CPAS@homeoffice.gov.uk

The following is a link to the companies already in the scheme: https://www.gov. uk/government/publications/civil-penaltyaccreditation-scheme-accredited-haulagecompanies/list-of-accredited-companies

Measures to be taken by persons to operate an effective system for securing a goods vehicle and for preventing the carriage of clandestine entrants to the United Kingdom are set out in the Carriers’ Liability Regulations 2002 (The Carriers’ Liability Regulations 2002 (legislation.gov.uk) as amended.

Any vehicles that are identified as having routed from the EU /ROI to GB via NI MUST have a locking device fitted before it travels to GB and have a check list done.This applies to unaccompanied movements as well as accompanied.

Failure to do so will result in a penalty notice being issued under the new infringement rules. https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/level-of-penalty-code-of-practice Whilst we have a number of concerns how

the scheme is currently managed and we will continue to engage with Government on its application, we strongly encourage operators to take immediate steps to ensure they adhere to its current requirements. www.exportandfreight.com

RHA Policy Manager for Northern Ireland.

Nichola Mallon

Head

of Trade and Devolved Policy, Logistics UK

TAKING A MULTIMODAL APPROACH

The logistics industry underpins every sector of the economy and is vital to economic growth and success across these islands. It contributed £163 billion alone to the UK economy in 2021, and employed over 48,000 people in Northern Ireland in 2022. It is an agile and resilient sector and one that continues to embrace a multimodal approach.

While the focus is often primarily on road, sea freight plays a larger role than people may assume. Ireland and the UK, as island nations, rely heavily on goods arriving at our shores by sea. In 2022, despite the unresolved issues over trading arrangements for NI, trade between Ireland and the UK continued to expand. According to the Department for Business and Trade, total UK exports (via all transport modes) to Ireland increased by 27.7% in 2022 compared with 2021, while total UK imports (via all transport modes) from Ireland rose 15.9% over the same time period. This correlates with the Logistics UK Industry Survey 2022/23 in which respondents reported the majority of container imports to the UK come from the Republic of Ireland (38.6%), with the majority of exported containers going to Republic of Ireland (39.4%).

RAIL

For goods to successfully reach ports to be exported, or for goods imported for onwards travel across Northern Ireland, efficient road and rail connections are vital. Dedicated freight lines across the island would boost trade, and with each freight train having

the capacity to remove up to 76 HGVs from the roads, would also help to protect the environment by reducing emissions. Depending on the goods carried, rail can be more cost-effective than road; a vital saving for businesses in the current economic climate where costs across all sectors are soaring. However, with no rail freight in Northern Ireland, there is a significant amount of work to be done to realise these benefits for our industry, economy, society and environment.

ROAD

However, while rail has an important role to play in the wider picture, it will never wholly replace road transport. Figures from Logistics UK’s Logistics Report 2023 highlight the importance of road freight, with it accounting for a significant 80.4% of goods moved by transport mode in 2021. The report also highlights how road freight activity improved during 2022 and is expected to progress again during 2023. There are many potential reasons for this, including consumer shopping habits; 26.6% of retail sales were made online in 2022, compared to 19.2% before Covid-19. Where previously, large volumes of stock were being

distributed to a singular location, such as a store or warehouse, now, there is also a larger demand for the separate transportation of goods to individual consumers.

The road freight sector’s significance and success is also due, in part, to the vast road network that includes motorways, A-roads and local roads – which all connect cities, towns and villages to distribution hubs. Vital to a connected logistics system, road often acts as the link between other modal types, connecting ports, airports, warehouses and rail terminals. With so many vehicles using the network each day, and with its importance so evident, it is vital that it is maintained and necessary infrastructure upgrades such as the A1 upgrade, and new schemes such as the A5, Newry Southern Relief Road and York Street Interchange are delivered.

AIR

While roads famously play a vital role in the movement of just-in-time deliveries, air freight’s reliability also makes it a popular option for the movement of some goods. While air freight can be a more costly method of transporting goods, express freight services via night flights are vital to some just-in-time deliveries. In addition to ensuring consumers receive nextday deliveries, night flights also support a large portion of the economy; according to a report from Airlines UK, in 2019 a total of £16.5 billion in GVA was produced by night flights across the UK between the hours of 23:00 to 06:59. While questions are currently being raised about the practicalities of night flights and the noise they produce, Logistics UK remains committed to working with government to find the right balance between reducing the levels of disturbance caused by night flights, while at the same time supporting the aviation sector and businesses who depend on them. Overall, the supply chain is a highly interconnected system with each mode beneficial to industry, and the economies across these islands. Logistics UK will continue to work with governments and members to maximise the trading opportunities across all modes. To view the Logistics Report 2023, please visit: www.logistics.org.uk/ research-hub/reports/logistics-report

£5 million fund to drive SME export growth unveiled by Institute of Export & International Trade

The Institute of Export & International Trade has launched a £5m Export Support Programme to help UK businesses accelerate their journey into international trade. The announcement coincided with the United Nations’ World MSME (micro, small and medium sized enterprises) Day and aligns with the theme ‘building a stronger future together’.

volume of international trade. In the UK this figure is even more pronounced. Of 5.5 million businesses registered, 99.9% of these are classified as MSMEs and fewer than 10% of them export. Limited access to information has been identified as a significant barrier preventing MSMEs from engaging with international partners.

Forgione, Director General

Marco

of The Institute of Export & International Trade said:

“As a leading organisation in international trade, founded on the principle of equipping people and companies to trade internationally, we have designed the Export Support Package to enable UK MSMEs to fulfil their business potential through exporting.

“The UK has signed numerous trade agreements which will benefit MSMEs across the country. However, it’s essential we equip business with the knowledge, skills and expertise to take full advantage of these opportunities. Through this bespoke package of consultancy, training and implementation we will provide businesses with the knowledge and expertise to trade confidently and compliantly with the world.”

The programme

Businesses applying to the Export Support Programme will receive a bespoke package of training and consultancy services to reflect their particular circumstances and needs. The information provided will enable IOE&IT’s team to match

the business with the right trade experts to advise and support them on their exporting journey. The importance of MSMEs globally can’t be underestimated, as they account for over 90% of firms worldwide yet they surprisingly contribute to less than half of the

To further address this issue, the IOE&IT entered into a strategic partnership with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Informal Working Group on MSMEs in 2022. The IOE&IT have helped to revamp the WTO’s Trade4MSMEs platform and content.

Trade4MSMEs serves as an online gateway dedicated to providing information that supports MSMEs to trade internationally.

The Export Support Programme will harness this knowledge to focus on the UK market. It is strictly available one per business and any UK MSME can apply to access this fund.

Over the duration of the Export Support Package the IOE&IT intends to help up to 1250 businesses. Due to the bespoke nature and design of the package companies will be onboarded in tranches over a 12 month period. Tranches will be designated at the point of registration. Register your interest at https:// www.export.org.uk/page/ export-support-package

MAN Truck & Bus UK Limited appoints new Sales Director of Truck, Bus & Coach

MAN Truck & Bus UK has announced the appointment of Tracey Perry as Sales Director of Truck, Bus & Coach, for MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd. She succeeds Matt Squires who starts a new position as the Operations Director for MAN Truck & Bus in Hong Kong.

Tracey has extensive experience in the Automotive Industry within both the network and OEM, before joining MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd in the role of Head of Van in 2021.

“We are delighted to have appointed Tracey to lead the MAN Truck & Bus UK Truck, Bus and Coach sales teams,” said Stefan Thyssen, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd. “Tracey has extensive experience in the automotive sector and offers a wealth of experience and knowledge of the commercial vehicle industry, which will continue to prove a huge asset to the company.

“Since joining MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd in October 2021, Tracey has successfully led the UK Van team, helped developed our strategy for sustainable volume and been instrumental in our customer-first focus whilst working with

some of the largest fleets in the country.”

Tracey commented: “I’m really looking forward to my new role within the MAN Truck & Bus UK Truck, Bus and Coach sales team, and with them helping to shape the future of the MAN Truck business, meeting with customers to talk about our awardwinning products and how these can make positive contributions to their businesses.

“As a vehicle manufacturer, with Truck products spanning the 7.5 to 250 tonne categories, MAN has a compelling range of robust and cost effective vehicles. I’ve witnessed the range appeal to more and more customers, both family owned businesses and larger blue-chip Public Limited companies. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Director General of IOE&IT Marco Forgione.

Tracey Perry.

DENNISON COMMERCIALS OPEN DAY AT NEWRY DEPOT

Dennison Commercials recently celebrated the grand opening of its ‘new look’ Newry depot, with the team there joined on the open day by customers and by pupils from the local Saint Malachy’s Primary School.

To mark the occasion, there was a display of used and rental trucks alongside the new Electric FE demonstration model.

Representatives from the Road Safe NI Charity delivered an engaging talk on the importance of road safety awareness, while Action Cancer’s Big Bus was also on hand to carry out health checks.

In addition, Mar-Train Heavy Haulage Ltd brought along their Bull Nose Truck which was a real head turner and also showcased was an impressive collection of vintage trucks that added a touch of nostalgia to the event.

Tim Martin, Mar-Train Haulage, Wilson Dennison, Dennison Commercials and Patrick Mackie, Dennison Commercials with the impressive new Mar-Train bull nose Volvo FH16 750.

Dennison Commercials have a range of their Used Trucks on display at their Newry depot.

Directors John Jenkins, Caroline Dennison, Katrina Dennison and Michael Petticrew celebrate with Newry Depot Manager, Malachy Martin.

Dennison Commercials Chairman Wilson Dennison with Managing Director John Jenkins.

Happy faces at Dennison Commercials Newry depot.

Dennison’s new Volvo FE Electric took centre stage and was a popular truck amongst the local children.

Northern Ireland charity, Road Safe NI joined the Newry team to give a talk on the importance of road safety. Local children pose with Mar-Train’s Bull Nose Truck.

The sunshine was out to welcome pupils from Saint Malachy’s Primary School to Dennison Commercials Newry Open Day.

Webfleet introduces comprehensive high-end trailer management solution

Webfleet, Bridgestone’s fleet management solution, has launched Webfleet Trailer, a dedicated high-end trailer management solution designed to support transport and logistics companies with trailer fleets operating long haul.

Webfleet Trailer is a proactive monitoring and reporting tool fully integrated into the Webfleet telematics platform, giving fleet operators a one-platform-solution for both their fleet vehicles and trailers. It connects to all leading Electronic Braking Systems (EBS). By monitoring the trailer’s health via EBS connectivity to trailer fault systems, such as braking and stability, the solution helps to improve safety and security. With real-time visibility of load data, it also helps fleet managers with compliance for permissible cargo weight and reduces the rollover risk from overloading. Thanks to actionable insights, such as load status, fleet operators can improve trailer utilisation and limit empty runs. Webfleet Trailer also reduces the risk of breakdowns and

disruption to schedules by detecting tyre issues early. Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)-equipped trailers have access to live and historical data with notifications of abnormal tyre pressure or temperature. Collecting tyre pressure information can help extend tyre life, improving fuel consumption and limiting CO2 emissions.

By flagging trailer malfunctions and maintenance tasks, the trailer solution helps businesses save costs through downtime reduction, while extending the trailer’s life with dynamic, proactive maintenance.

“With Webfleet Trailer, we are offering a proactive monitoring and reporting tool that goes way beyond ‘track and trace’,”

Logistics UK Transport Manager Conference Set for Belfast

Logistics UK’s Transport Manager conference series, now in its 23rd year, will return in autumn 2023 with live events at 10 venues around the UK, including Belfast on October 5th, as well as a virtual event.

The conferences, which attracted a record number of over 1,700 delegates last year, provide all the latest information and guidance on industry legislation and other issues affecting operators.

This year’s conferences, sponsored by Brigade Electronics, BP, Weightmans and WTW, will give delegates the chance to hear from their local Traffic Commissioner as well as a range of senior industry figures and policy makers. Subjects under discussion will include the Direct Vision Standard, load security, alternative

fuels and much more. Logistics UK’s experts will also be on hand throughout the day to advise on legislation and compliance issues.

Kate Jennings, Logistics UK’s Director of Policy, said: “Compliance is vital in the logistics industry and our Transport Manager conferences provide operators with the information they need, enabling anyone responsible for running vehicle fleets to remain up to date on the latest guidance, and show their commitment as a transport professional.”

Senior Traffic Commissioner, Richard Turfitt,

said Taco van der Leij, Vice President of Webfleet Europe at Bridgestone Mobility Solutions. “Trailers are the backbone of long-haul goods transportation but managing a trailer fleet can be challenging. By providing a one-platform-solution for all a transport fleet’s vehicles and trailers, with real-time data insights and actionable intelligence, we are supporting these businesses in their quest to maximise trailer performance, save costs and improve safety and security.”

Webfleet Trailer embraces Bridgestone’s E8 Commitment, a broad, global corporate commitment that defines the value Bridgestone promises to deliver to society, customers and future generations in eight focus areas: Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease and Empowerment.

Webfleet Trailer provides Extension, by committing to nonstop mobility and innovation that keeps people and the world moving ahead.

commented: “As transport businesses face the challenges of an ever-changing environment, it is vital that transport managers are equipped for the future. Logistics UK’s Transport Manager conferences offer an important opportunity to stay sighted on the latest legislation, guidance and advice as well as networking with industry peers. The Traffic Commissioners of Great Britain are pleased to support this series of events providing an invaluable contribution to CPD requirements.” The price to attend for Logistics UK members is £335 plus VAT for the first delegate and £315 plus VAT for subsequent delegates; for nonLogistics UK members the cost is £435 plus VAT for the first delegate and £415 plus VAT for subsequent delegates. This price includes access to all the exclusive conference sessions, a full package of refreshments throughout the day and a take-home bag packed with useful information. For further information, or to book a place, please visit: https://logistics. org.uk/transport-manager

DFDS TAKES DELIVERY OF 40 NEW SDC CURTAINSIDERS AFTER LUCEY TRANSPORT ACQUISITION

Leading logistics and transportation company, Danish based DFDS, has unveiled the latest addition to its fleet with the procurement of 40 brand-new SDC Curtainsider trailers. The investment reflects the operator’s commitment to providing exceptional services to customers across the whole island of Ireland following last year’s acquisition of logistics solutions provider Lucey Transport.

The order is made up of 40 Tri axle curtainsider trailers with a custom specification including BPW Airlite axles, steel reinforced flooring, 13 pair deck lashing rings, alloy infill sideguards, rear buffers, fuel max tyres and an easy access coupling box.

The trailers are equipped with advanced safety features, including electronic braking, a roll stability system and state-of-the-art LED lighting systems, which enhance visibility and minimise the risk of accidents. By investing in these trailers, DFDS will ensure the utmost protection for both its valuable cargo and the drivers who operate them.

The trailers are finished in the DFDS’s distinctive navy blue and white livery. Built at SDC Trailers

Toomebridge production facility to EN1262-XL quality standard, the equipment features SDC’s unique bolt-on-body design, which relieves stress on critical parts of the trailer and allows for

ease of repair in the case of accident damage. The trailers are also kitted with an advanced telematics system that provides realtime monitoring of vital data such as temperature, location, and security, ensuring the integrity and safety of transported goods, while ensuring optimal efficiency and sustainability across the network.

John Coleman, Managing Director of DFDS in Ireland & Northern Ireland, said: “Following the acquisition of Lucey Transport, DFDS have kept our commitment to expand our Irish domestic offering to customers, in line with our extensive international operations. As one of the largest logistics operators in Northern Europe, safety, fuel economy, maintenance and total cost of ownership are key factors that influence our fleet purchasing decisions and we are confident that our new fleet of semi-trailers from SDC will meet these requirements. With this latest

investment, we are well-equipped to handle the evolving demands of our customers.”

SDC Trailer’s Sales Manager, Jimmy McKernan said: “At SDC, we value the partnership we have built with DFDS, we’re thrilled to be chosen as their preferred semi-trailer supplier for this order and look forward to supporting their growth and success in the future. This order marks a significant milestone in our relationship, and we are confident that the new tri-axle curtainsiders will not only meet but exceed DFDS’s requirements in terms of durability, versatility, and efficiency.”

DFDS offer vital infrastructure and transport solutions across Europe and Turkey in an increasingly disruptive transportation and logistics market. They keep Europe moving through a wide range of freight services from ferry transport to complex logistics solutions across temperature ranges, along with hosting around 5 million passengers annually onboard their vessels. Founded in 1866 and with 11,500 employees, €3.6bn in revenue and upwards of 70 logistics locations connected by ferry routes and logistics solutions, they are one of Europe’s largest integrated shipping and logistics service providers.

MODERN TYRES HOLD END USER SUMMER BBQ

Modern Tyres recently held an end user summer barbeque at their Duncrue Branch in Belfast. The evening was a huge success with a turnout of 100 customers attending from across the province with the sun making a very welcome special appearance.

There were a few great looking trucks on display thanks to DFDS, Northstone, Allen Logistics, TST Transport and Curran Transport. McGimpsey Removals brought along one of their news DAF’s which was used to give truck alignment demonstrations by Mark Reavey from Appaseal using a new Corgi computerized system. The reception area was turned into a fully working bar provided by the Dunleath bar in Cookstown where customers were entertained by Luke O’Loan playing a mix of music during the drinks reception. The BBQ was prepared by Flamin Outback in Dungannon with a full selection of meat, fish and salads and served in the workshop. With representatives from Bridgestone, Continental and GITI on hand customers had the chance to meet the manufacturers and ask them technical questions about their fleets tyre requirements. Following the BBQ each of manufacturers then had the opportunity to deliver a short presentation on their current market status and provide any new product updates.

For 2023 Modern Tyres have teamed up with Marie Curie as their charity partner and used the evening as an opportunity to hold a raffle with some fantastic prizes up for grabs; the support was amazing and just over £2000 was raised.

The headline act of the evening was Tim McGarry who had the whole place in stitches with his comedy act, while Luke O’Loan kicked back into action with some great music and a few night caps to finish a lovely evening.

Some of the team from Modern Tyres l-R Conal Gillen, Ryan Craig, Stephen Glenn, Jordan Winter, James Byrne, Neil Holmes and Jim Murphy.

From a busy workshop a couple of hours before to a relaxed dining set up for the barbeque.

Andrew Bushe, Conor Curran, Andrew Frizzell and Colm Conygham from Bridgestone.

The team from Continental Brian Heagney and Nigel Dougan with Philip Catney from Modern Tyres and Dominic Murray from Coastway Removals.

Simon Grocott from GITI.

Tim McGarry takes to the stage.

Gary Hughes from JMW farms and Andrew Frizzell from Bridgetsone.

Nigel Galbraith from Northstone and Alan Mccullough from Diamond Trucks.

Enjoying the evening sunshine.

James Allen and Billy Gibson from Allen logistics.

John Jenkins and Stephen Hill from Dennisons with Eugene Carson from Ardboe Cold Stores.

Graham Bell from NG Bell and Michael Loughran from LCC.

Thermo King Enables Wireless Connectivity with wLog

Thermo King, a brand of Trane Technologies, has announced wLog, a new wireless connectivity device allowing transporters to collect essential information about the temperature and humidity inside their vehicles.

Working with a dedicated app and independent from reefer and telematics devices, Thermo King’s wLog datalogger is easy-toinstall on any type of vehicle. Offering EN12830 compliant temperature data certified with +/- 0.5K accuracy, wLog can help last-mile,

pharma and other transporters ensure accurate temperature and humidity during transit and offer proof for their end-customers requiring temperature traceability for the cargo.

“Control and monitoring of temperatures during transport is key to ensure perishables like food

and pharmaceuticals are kept at adequate conditions,” said Raluca Radu, portfolio leader at Thermo King. “With wLog, transporters receive a simple solution that can increase their credibility with clients thanks to recorded and stored data and easy generation of trip reports containing information of temperature levels inside their vehicles throughout the journey. wLog can be quickly installed anywhere in the vehicle and offer temperature and humidity traceability without investing in telematics systems.”

Thermo King wLog is available in two options: Standard, logging only temperature data, and Premium, logging both temperature and humidity data. Customers receive access to data immediately after installation and activation, without any extra cost or subscription.

Euro 7 costs up to 10 times higher than European Commission estimates

The Euro 7 proposal on pollutant emissions would lead to direct cost increases that are 4 to 10 times higher than those cited by the European Commission, according to a new study.

The proposed Euro 7 regulation will increase the manufacturing costs of cars, vans, trucks, and buses. A study by Frontier Economics calculates the per vehicle costs at around €2,000 for cars and vans with an internal combustion engine, and close to €12,000 for diesel trucks and buses. These figures are 4 to 10 times higher than the Commission’s estimates in its Euro 7 impact assessment (€180-450 for cars and vans, and €2,800 for trucks and buses). These estimates comprise direct manufacturing costs only, primarily for equipment and investments.

It is important to note that these additional costs do not correspond

with purchase prices; instead they drive up prices for end-users even further. Price increases would likely therefore be higher than the figures cited in the study.

With current Euro 6/VI rules, the EU has the most comprehensive and stringent standards for pollutant emissions (such as NOx and particulate matter) in the world. Exhaust emissions are already at a barely measurable level thanks to state-of-theart vehicle technology.

“The European auto industry is committed to further reducing emissions for the benefit of the climate, environment, and health. However, the Euro 7

proposal is simply not the right way to do this, as it would have an extremely low environmental impact at an extremely high cost,” stated Sigrid de Vries, Director General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

“Greater environmental and health benefits will be achieved by the transition to electrification, while at the same time replacing older vehicles on EU roads with highly efficient Euro 6/VI models.”

In addition to direct costs, the Euro 7 proposal will trigger indirect costs, such as higher fuel consumption. Over a vehicle’s lifetime, this could increase fuel

costs by 3.5% – amounting to an extra €20,000 for long-haul trucks and €650 for cars and vans. These indirect costs – which are ignored in the Commission’s impact assessment – come on top of the direct costs. They would add to the total cost of owning a vehicle, placing additional financial pressures on consumers and businesses at a time of high inflation and rising energy prices.

The European auto industry is committed to further reducing emissions. However, the Euro 7 proposal is simply not the right way to do this, as it would have an extremely low environmental impact at an extremely high cost.

& LOGISTICS AWARDS 2023

CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED EXPORT & FREIGHT TRANSPORT

TRANSPORT MANAGER OF THE YEAR

This award will be presented to the applicant who demonstrates the highest levels of up-to-date knowledge, professionalism and ability in managing all aspects of a modern transport undertaking. More Information on application.

CHILLED OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

This award will be presented to the best Chilled Operator who presents an up-to-date modern fleet with a high-quality distribution service. More Information on application.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL HAULIER OF THE YEAR

(OVER 20 VEHICLES)

This award will be presented to the applicant who operates under a standard operator’s licence with more than 20 vehicles specified on their operators licence and demonstrates the highest levels of up to date knowledge, professionalism and high quality service to their respective customer base. More Information on application.

LOGISTICS & WAREHOUSING SPECIALIST

This will be presented to a national organisation with bases in Ireland/UK and/or Europe offering a high level of international logistics service covering all aspects of the supply chain including haulage, warehousing, and distribution.

The winner will prove a total commitment to providing an excellent range of logistics services and exceptional levels of customer care.

DRIVER OF THE YEAR

This Award will be presented to the commercial vehicle driver who offers a high standard of driving skills, excellent driving record, immaculate vehicle and dress code and dedication to the trade. More Information on application.

TRANSPORT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

This award will be presented to the individual whose personal achievement deserves industry recognition. More Information on application.

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

This will be awarded to an Apprentice, someone not certificated at Level 3 before Sept 2023, who has demonstrated skill and determination in the course of their training and working in a workshop. More Information on application.

VAN OF THE YEAR

This Award invites all van manufacturers to nominate one vehicle from their model range with a 900-1700 kg payload. More Information on application.

FLEET TRUCK OF THE YEAR

This award invites all truck manufacturers to nominate one vehicle from their model range over 18 tonnes GVW which they see as the ultimate fleet truck for the UK and Ireland. The winner will be ascertained through practical driving and presentations. More Information on application.

TRAILER FLEET OF THE YEAR

This award will be presented to an operator whose trailer fleet consistently offers exceptional standards in every aspect of operation. More Information on application.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION COMPANY OF THE YEARNEW CATEGORY

TBC

This award will be presented to the ambient or chilled food distribution company who demonstrates high levels of excellence in all aspects of food distribution, storage and delivery. More Information on application.

TOP TEAM OF THE YEAR

This award is open to all companies and businesses in every sector of the logistics industry - from transport and logistics operators to exporters, warehousing experts, shipping companies and dealerships - and recognises teams within the organisation who by working together on a project, initiative or strategy have made a significant and positive contribution, perhaps by overcoming difficulties and challenges to do so. A team, by definition, could be made up by just two people, or a hundred; size is not important. What is important is that the team can demonstrate outstanding achievement or accomplishment in their area or field of expertise.

EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

This will be open to all companies who pride themselves in the level of their customer service including Dealers, Service Agents, Equipment Suppliers, Hauliers, Shipping companies etc. Entrants should show how they have gone the extra mile to provide the highest level of excellence in their service to all customers and outline why their company deserves the accolade of the best Service Provider.

Customer testimonies, though not essential, are advised, as these will show examples of quality customer service. These will be totally confidential and shredded once the judging has taken place.

HAULIER OF THE YEAR

(UP TO 20 VEHICLES)

This award will be presented to the applicant who operates under a standard operator’s licence with 20 or less vehicles specified on their operator’s licence. More Information on application.

TOP FLEET OF THE YEAR

This will be presented to an outstanding fleet of vehicles based on appearance, quality, maintenance programmes, driver efficiency, skill and professionalism. More Information on application.

WORKSHOP OF THE YEAR

Judging for workshop of the year is open to any commercial workshop both private and public sector in Northern Ireland. More Information on application.

INNOVATION EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Innovation Excellence Award is open to all companies operating within the transport and logistics sector who have invested in innovative solutions to make their operations more efficient, profitable and successful. This can be any type of innovation from the latest equipment and facilities to cutting edge technology or environmental solutions. Any type of transport operation is invited to enter from shipping lines to hauliers, van fleet operators to own account fleets. The contender is invited to illustrate in the entry their innovative solutions for their business.

ROAD TO NET ZERO CHAMPION 2023NEW CATEGORY

As the world is racing towards a net zero future, this category is open to all businesses, teams and individuals who have taken action, with demonstrable benefit to meet the commitments asked of us all to contribute to net zero.

Judges will be keen to see what planning and execution has taken place and evidence of the environmental and financial benefit to the business or our industry as a result.

SAFETY AWARD

Each company will need to demonstrate how they manage, control, and monitor the quality aspects of their respective companies and be able to describe roles, responsibilities, and methodologies for ensuring compliance with all regulatory bodies.

Review of the company’s strategy and controls currently employed, or to be developed and implemented by the company, to consistently deliver products and services that meet the requirements of the Safety Award.

*Read more at https://exportandfreight.com/awards-enter-23/

AWARDS2023 TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

CROWNE PLAZA, SHAW'S BRIDGE, BELFASTTHURSDAY 14 th SEPTEMBER 2023

BOOK YOUR TABLE NOW

PLEASE RESERVE SEATS @£155+VAT OR TABLES(S) O F TEN PLACES @£1,395+VAT

AT THE EXPORT & FREIGHT IRISH TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS AWARDS 2023, THURSDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2023 AT 7PM FOR 7:30PM SHARP.

Name of Company:

Invoice Address:

_______________________________________________Post Code:

Contact Name: __________________________________Tel:

Dress Code: Gentlemen - Lounge Suit. Ladies - Cocktail Dress

The above prices are plus VAT and will be shown as such on the official receipt. THIS PRIORITY BOOKING FORM TO BE POSTED TO: Export & Freight, 12 Main Street, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6AE, or email table / seating requirements to helen@4squaremedia.net

HOW BPW AIRSAVE TECHNOLOGY IS REVOLUTIONISING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE EFFICIENCY

Achieving both safety and quality in the transport and logistics sectors can be a challenge, but BPW has made it possible with its first tyre inflation system with BPW quality, AirSave.

This innovative solution not only allows you to continuously track and control your tyre pressure while driving but also generates maximum cost-effectiveness in fuel, tyres, and time. In fact, the cost savings from using the AirSave system are so significant that it may pay for itself within the first year.

According to a source, in 2022, more than 75% of respondents used telematics to provide real-time tracking purposes, whereas monitoring driving style and behaviour came in second and third. For its system, BPW relies on a technology that has proven itself on the market and has been further optimised in many respects. AirSave maintains the correct tyre pressure, even if the tyre has a puncture. The AirSave system uses the trailer’s existing pneumatics to automatically monitor and adjust tyre pressure to the desired level through a control box with an air step pump. Should the pressure deviate significantly, for example, in the case of tyre damage, the driver will be alerted by a warning light, allowing them to safely drive to a service station rather than stopping on the side of the road. By maintaining optimal tyre pressures at all times, BPW AirSave reduces the risk of accidents, prevents downtime, saves fuel and decreases CO2 emissions.

The system uses the existing trailer pneumatics and, with a fully automatic air step pump will ensure that the pre-set tyre pressure is always maintained. The air is guided through the axle beam to the wheel end and from there to the tyre valve when the system displays a permanent loss of pressure. AirSave will activate at a pressure deviation of just 0.2 bar, making it more reliable than other standard tyre pressure monitoring systems.

HOW CAN AIRSAVE BENEFIT YOUR FLEET MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS?

In the ever-evolving transport industry, staying ahead of the competition requires proactive strategies to increase safety and efficiency and reduce costs. BPW AirSave offers fleet managers a technological edge, enabling them to attain their objectives through just one of BPW’s cutting-edge idem telematics advancements. This not only benefits fleet managers’ and operators’ bottom lines, but it also helps ensure that their vehicles are operating at optimal pressure for maximum savings and helps reduce the risk of road accidents.

BPW AirSave is a flexible and versatile system that can be tailored to the specific needs of each fleet. With its ability to adjust ride height and support load distribution. According to a source one-fifth of breakdowns on national

highways are attributed to tyre failure, resulting in 50,000 tyre-related breakdowns every year, with 30% of those involving commercial vehicles. AirSave can help reduce fuel consumption and prevent unnecessary expenditures caused by worn tyres. This, in turn, can help reduce downtime and maintenance costs and keep vehicles on the road for longer periods of time.

WHY IS BPW AIRSAVE IMPORTANT?

In the transport industry, tyres and vehicles face a multitude of challenges, such as varying load weights, road conditions, and temperatures. These factors can cause pressure differences that lead to rapid tyre wear, incurring costly expenses for fleet managers. However, a British study shows that 82% of tyre blowouts can be effectively prevented by installing an automatic tyre pressure control system.

To mitigate the risk of premature tyre wear and costly accidents, BPW AirSave features digital connectivity, with the option to connect to the ‘Cargofleet 3’ telematics portal from idem telematics, as typical for BPW products. Fleet managers and drivers can stay informed about the status of all their fleet components, anywhere and anytime, through the accompanying smartphone app. The app displays real-time tyre information, alerting the user if air pressure has deviated and needs to be adjusted.

ECE REGULATION 141

The transportation industry constantly evolves and updates regulations to improve safety and environmental standards. With the upcoming ECE Reg 141 requirement for all passenger vehicles, goods carriers, and commercial vehicles in Europe to have Central Tyre Inflation Systems (CTIS) by July 2024, it is important to be proactive in finding ways to meet these regulations while also improving efficiency and

reducing long-term costs. Although those of you who operate in the UK may not initially feel the impact, it is only a matter of time before this regulation will apply to you as well.

BPW AirSave provides a customised solution to this challenge by meeting ECE Regulation 141 and delivering significant benefits to fleet managers. With its environmentally friendly technology, AirSave can reduce the risk of accidents, prevent downtime, save fuel by maintaining optimal pressure at all times, and reduce CO2 emissions.

MAXIMUM SAVINGS

BPW AirSave is an innovative and revolutionary solution for the trucking industry. This innovative tyre inflation system delivers fleet managers greater safety, economy, and peace of mind. With its cost-saving benefits and proactive approach to safety, BPW AirSave is a musthave for fleet managers looking to streamline their operations and stay ahead of the competition.

SUN SHINES ON BELFAST HARBOUR ANNUAL GOLF DAY

Belfast Harbour’s annual charity golf day attracted a good turn out on what was a warm sunny summer’s day at the Malone Golf Course in Belfast; it is a fine championship course situated on 330 acres of undulating wooded parkland.

Players on the day discovered the course to be a real challenge with mature trees shaping many of the holes with the beautiful natural trout lake which extends for some 25 acres first comes into play on the 13th. Then there was the 15th where the tee shot to a tricky undulating green is over water all the way, while the

18th is daunting where almost any ball to the right of the green is water bound. On the day, thanks to the generosity of all those who took part a total of £630.00 was raised for the Mission to Seafarers, with Belfast Harbour topping up that to a round £1,000.

Darren Steenson - UTV, Damian Curran - Cemcor, Gary McCormack - Belfast Harbour and Maurice Jay - U105.

Michael Loughran Snr - Lissan Coal Company, Michael Robinson - Belfast Harbour, David O’ConnorCefetra and William Barnett - W&R Barnett.

Brian Smith, BRS Golf, Paul Murray, GolfNow, Declan Duncan, Heyn Group and Chris McNally, H&W.

Graeme McLaughlin - Barclays, Michael EwingsClarksons Port Services, Maurice BullickBelfast Harbour and Declan Freeman - Eucon.

Emma McAuley, Interstate Hotels, Shane Murphy, Belfast Harbour and Heather Stevenson, Belfast Harbour.

Gavin Clarke - Osborne King, John Adgey - McConnells, Kevin Craig - Titanic Quarter Limited and Stephen Deering - Belfast Harbour.

Colin McClements - Belfast Harbour, Denis McCotter, WH Stephens, Stephen Marshall - Manfreight and Michael Shiels - Eucon Shipping.

Mark Doherty - Belfast Harbour, Martin McDowellOdyssey Trust , Grant McBurney - Carson McDowell and Stephen Gracey - Centra.

Nigel Macaulay, Sainsburys NI, Conleth Oliver, DFDS and Sean Mccready, John Burke & Co Ltd.

John Patterson, Artemis Technologies, Garfield Harrison, 4SM, Nicola Walker, DFDS and Stephen White OBE.

Dan Loughran Jr - Lissan Coal Company, Jack Webber - Belfast Harbour, Stephen Caldwell - Charles Tennant & Co. Ltd. and Steve Macaulay - DFDS.

Predicting requirements

seven or eight months ahead is always a nightmare, and this year looks particularly fraught. There is, of course, a ‘cost of living crisis’ but strangely, although full figures are not yet in, it looks as though consumer spending in the Easter peak held up much better than expected – indeed, anecdotally it appears that some retailers and suppliers were short of stock as demand exceeded their somewhat gloomy expectations. Price inflation remains painfully high, but may decline rapidly over the course of the year. Or we may be trapped in a rerun of the high-inflation Seventies – both views are available, often from the same economic forecasters. One rather firmer prognostication is that e-retailing seems to have found its new natural level –around a quarter of retail trade. So omnichannel is the way forward for many retailers, with the additional complexity that this brings to warehouse space planning. Given the uncertainties, many firms will have held back on committing to space for the winter peak, and some, with pressure on margins and anticipating subdued trading, will have decided not to renew leases on some of their existing estate. That in itself is no bad thing – in our experience it very rarely makes sense for a business to scale its ‘permanent’ warehousing facilities to accommodate the

CHRISTMAS PEAK HAS NOT BEEN CANCELLED

It is now the time of year where many retailers and their supply chain partners will be starting to plan and secure their warehousing space and resource requirements for the Big One – the ‘golden quarter’ and the Christmas peak, writes Steve Purvis, Managing Director at Bis Henderson Space.

highest peaks in demand. This ties up capital, or drains cashflow, whilst making an inefficient use of scarce and increasingly expensive labour and other resources during the off-peaks – which for many firms is most of the year. And this year, particularly, is not a good time to be entering into long-term space commitments. Despite some big names, especially in e-commerce, rationalising their warehousing estate, quality space is still in short supply, whilst landlords are facing eye-watering increases in the interest they are paying. Unsurprisingly this is reflected in rents: the agents Colliers report that in 2022 there was a yearon-year increase of 10.5% in rents for large (100,000 sq ft plus) units, and a huge 13.2% on smaller and multi-let facilities and, say the agents “these will continue to rise, albeit at a slower pace”. Meanwhile, the bills for rates, electricity and other utilities, insurance and all the other costs of operating even a half-empty warehouse continue to increase.

STRATEGIES

The solution is to adopt strategies that embrace and make a virtue of short-term leasing. While the headline rates per square foot may look high, the business is only paying these for the time that the space is needed, and in practice rates are often highly competitive as the space provider is keen to see any return on what is otherwise

an under-utilised or idle asset. Nor is the renter paying throughout the year to heat, light, staff and otherwise maintain largely empty space. And often, if a business moves in to take up another company’s spare capacity (which may be because that company is overprovided, or because its peak requirements are at a different time of year) many of the operating costs, perhaps even including labour and IT, are already paid for, so the renting company is charged something closer to the marginal rate rather than the full cost. It can even be that facilities are available already equipped with levels of productivity-enhancing IT and automation that the business would struggle to resource or justify on its own account. However, the flexibility offered by a strategy that includes shortterm lets isn’t just for Christmas. It can allow a supplier or retailer to experiment – with new product lines, with new regional markets or new customers, with new distribution chain architectures, with different blends and approaches to the physical store/e-commerce balance – at relatively little long-term risk. Such a strategy may even lead to semi-permanent arrangements: an understanding that the business is minded to take the same space for the same three months every year. Bis Henderson Space has many years of experience in helping

companies ‘right size’ their peak space requirements, and then securing the right temporary space: right in terms of cost, location, and facilities, from bare sheds to space in fully-manned and equipped distribution centres. We have built an extensive network of space partners who, sometimes occasionally, sometimes predictably year-on-year, have more warehousing than they need. They are often keen not only for the extra income but for the productivity and efficiency improvements – such as being able to maintain a fully employed permanent staff – that full occupation of their facility can yield. We help companies find and implement mutually beneficial deals surprisingly quickly – but be warned: an increasing number of companies are now actively seeking the benefits of including shortterm accommodation as part of their warehousing strategy – and Christmas is closer than you think! Bis Henderson Space has many years’ experience in this market. We can help convert your seasonal space requirements from a firefighting emergency to a considered tactical response as part of your wider warehousing/fulfilment strategy. If you’d like to learn more please contact Rob McWriter, Business Development Director at Bis Henderson Space on rob.mcwriter@bis-henderson.com or 07836 572500

Octopus Investments backs £50m rollout of electric vehicle charging company Weev

Octopus Investments, part of Octopus Group, has announced its investment into Weev, the electric vehicle (EV) charge point operator based in Northern Ireland. It is backing Weev’s rollout plan with up to £50 million to address the shortage of charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

EV drivers in Northern Ireland are disproportionately underserved in terms of charging infrastructure. According to the Department for Transport1, the region had only 20 public charge points per 100,000 people - substantially lower than the UK average (60). The government’s commitment to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030 will apply to all regions of the UK and this disparity underpins the opportunity for significant investment into Northern Ireland’s EV charging infrastructure. Weev was set up by Dominic Kearns and Thomas O’Hagan in 2022 to create Northern Ireland’s largest privately operated EV charging network. The company installs public chargers and end-to-end EV solutions for workplace and fleet. Weev’s chargers enable EV drivers to charge in as little as 20 minutes. Its network is convenient and reliable, both of which are paramount to EV drivers. This will be the first investment for Octopus Sustainable Infrastructure Fund (OSIF); a strategy announced last year with cornerstone investment from the UK Infrastructure Bank. OSIF will provide growth capital to the next generation of infrastructure companies with proven technology and transformative potential, that are critical to meeting the scale of the UK’s net zero ambitions.

Philip Rainey, CEO, Weev said: “In a world of rising energy prices, consumers and fleet operators are now thinking more seriously than ever before about switching to an EV to unlock significant cost savings and reduce their carbon footprint. We are helping to enable this switch by breaking down barriers such as range anxiety through access to convenient and reliable EV chargers.

“This investment from Octopus enables a major expansion to the size and scope of the rollout we announced at launch last year. We can now increase our focus on providing more rapid and ultra-rapid charging hubs in response to growing demand from EV drivers. In total, the capital will enable us to

Volta Trucks’ Service Hub in London officially opens

Volta Trucks, the leading and disruptive all-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer and services provider, has officially opened its Truck as Service Hub in Tottenham, London.

The Truck as a Service Hub was officially opened by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Tottenham MP David Lammy, alongside policymakers, industry leaders and key customers and stakeholders.

Located on White Hart Lane in Tottenham, North London, the cutting-edge facility is the first to open in the UK and is designed to be the main destination for routine servicing and maintenance of vehicles in the London area. The innovative Hub will provide everything a fleet operator needs to support their seamless transition to electric trucks, also hosting admin offices, a Volta Trucks Academy Training centre and a customer call centre that will provide 24/7 assistance and technical support.

Together with Engineering, Software and Development facilities in the Midlands, and the company’s Readingbased commercial operations, the opening of the London Hub brings Volta Trucks’ own UK organisation to over 600 highly skilled employees.

The Mayor expressed his support for Volta Trucks’ pioneering activity, praising the company for its commitment to sustainability and accelerating the industry’s transition towards electrification.

Essa Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Sadiq Khan and Tottenham MP David Lammy for opening our brand-new facility. London has always been one of our key

install and maintain a network of thousands of EV charging points over the next five years using locally-based teams and expertise.”

Lukasz Michalak, Investment Director, Sustainable Infrastructure, at Octopus, said: “OSIF is focused on investing growth capital into sustainable infrastructure businesses tackling climate change and supporting levelling-up ambitions across the UK. Weev is the perfect example of the next generation of infrastructure companies doing just that. By backing Weev, we see a great opportunity to deliver a positive impact to Northern Ireland’s communities while meeting the financial objectives of the fund.” “We have great confidence in the Weev team. Not only have they previously been in charge of various successful infrastructure businesses in Northern Ireland, but they also share our ethos of putting the customer first.”

John Flint, CEO, UK Infrastructure Bank, said: “We invested in the Octopus Sustainable Investment Fund with the purpose of increasing capital for the next generation of sustainable infrastructure projects across the UK. The potential Weev has to scale up EV charging in Northern Ireland is significant, and we look forward to seeing the impact on decarbonising the local transport infrastructure to support the UK’s transition to net zero.”

entry markets throughout Europe. The importance of improving air quality and increasing road user safety here is paramount and why Volta Trucks has made this significant investment. On our mission towards decarbonising urban logistics, we need political support through financial incentives, regulatory certainty and measures to accelerate the installation of charging infrastructure.”

Casper Norden, Chief Fleet Solutions Officer of Volta Trucks, added: “The opening of our Truck as a Service Hub in Tottenham is an exciting milestone for Volta Trucks towards our vision of zero-tailpipe emission cities. By establishing a strong presence

in London and other major European cities, we aim to revolutionise the way that goods are delivered and transported in cities, accelerating the adoption of electric commercial vehicles, and paving the way for a cleaner and greener future.”

Complementing the London Hub is a network of thirdparty Certified Service Partners. Sapphire Vehicle Solutions, the company’s first UK partner, has a comprehensive service and maintenance network across the UK, designed around Volta Trucks customers’ requirements. They also use a fleet of mobile servicing units linked to each location, to maximise the uptime of customers’ vehicles.

Weev founders Dominic Kearns and Thomas O’Hagan.

Team DAF-Cenex completes capital cities challenge

DAF Trucks and Cenex, the sustainable transport research technology organisation – together, Team DAF-Cenex – has completed the ‘EV Rally 2023’; a five-day 1200-mile electric vehicle driving event around the UK and Ireland.

EV Rally ‘23 started in Cardiff on July 3rd before heading to London, Edinburgh, Belfast before finishing five days later in Dublin.

The event drew participation from numerous teams associated with the sector driving a total of over 50 including cars, vans and trucks. The event was designed to demonstrate the capabilities of EVs and several clean energy projects from stakeholders keen

to showcase their low-carbon credentials. EV Rally ’23 also highlighted the importance of a publicly accessible charging infrastructure able to accommodate larger vehicles including HGVs.

Team DAF-Cenex reports that the 19-tonne LF Electric performed with 100% reliability, with trade press journalists, among others, taking turns at the wheel and agreeing with the vehicle’s

simple driving characteristics.

The Team DAF-Cenex LF Electric was equipped with a PACCAR box-body, with both the truck and body designed and manufactured in Britain at Leyland Trucks in Lancashire.

Team DAF-Cenex entered the EV Rally 2023 with a 19-tonne GVW

DAF LF Electric seconded from the Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT) –an 18-month fact-finding study into the efficacy of EVs in operation. The BETT includes 20 DAF LF Electric vehicles now in service with a range of public bodies including the NHS and Local Authorities. For the BETT, including live project data – https://bett.cenex.co.uk/

Harris Maxus Welcomes EV Rally To Dublin

Five days, five cities, 100 drivers, fifty electric vehicles and almost 1200 e-mile across the UK and Ireland. The event saw Dublin host the conclusion of GreenFleet’s EV Rally, organised to demonstrate the role electric vehicles play in the modern world.

The Five Cities EV Rally challenge, which started in Cardiff on July 3rd, saw the drivers power into Dublin and cross the finishing line at the headquarters of commercial vehicle distributor, HARRIS MAXUS, a brand seen as one of the trailblazers of the EV market in Ireland and the UK.

As well has hosting the finishing event, HARRIS MAXUS took part in the electric challenge with a team of four drivers completing the full 1200-mile (2,000km) route in two state-of-the-art MIFA 9 (electric MPV) and T90EV (electric pickup truck) vehicles.

Mrs Denise Harris, CEO of The Harris Group, welcomed participating teams and rally organisers as they crossed the finish line: “We’re thrilled to welcome the EV Rally to Dublin and are honoured to be part of this fantastic showcase. This event is an important

one, demonstrating EV capabilities in terms of power, technology, and real-world range. “The road to zero is long, and we are still a while away from the finish line, but events such as this help encourage drivers to transition to EV and highlight to stakeholders and governments alike that there is still work to do to drive forth the move to net zero motoring.”

As the Official Event Logistics Partner, MAXUS supported the EV Rally with transport solutions, providing rally organisers with supporting vehicles through each stage of the event. Following the success of the inaugural EV Rally in 2022 which saw drivers travel from the tip of Scotland at John O’Groats to Land’s End at the bottom of Britain, this year’s rally upped the ante, expanded its route to include Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The 50-strong convoy of electric vehicles was made up of eLCVs, e-motorcycles and zero-emission HGVs which were driven by fleet professionals, key industry people, media and celebrities.

The teams set off from Cardiff and travel through Bristol, Heathrow, Wembley and Leicester before finishing the first stage at Nottingham. On day two, drivers travel 316 e-miles through York and head north to Edinburgh city.

The third leg saw the group travel from Edinburgh to Cairnes on the west coast of Scotland before boarding a ferry to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Day four and five saw the delegates loop through Cloughmills and Ballymoney to Newry in Co Down before making their way south of the border to Co Westmeath. The rally participants then veered east to enjoy a scenic drive through the Wicklow countryside before ending the 1,200-mile (2,000km) journey at Harris Group’s headquarters in Dublin.

The Mercedes Benz eActros 100% electric makes an appearance in Belfast for the EV Rally. It has an impressive range of up to 249 miles.

The new DAF all electric lands in Northern Ireland as part of the EV Rally 2023… an excellent option for urban deliveries.

10th EXPORT & FREIGHT GOLF MASTERS - BIGGEST EVER

The 10th annual Export & Freight Masters Golf Masters 2023 at the challenging and award winning 18-hole Championship Golf Course at Lough Erne Resort in Fermanagh was yet another resounding success, with golfers from across the transport and logistics sectors taking part in what is now regarded as Ireland’s biggest and best Corporate Golf Day out!

We had an incredible time basking in the glorious sunshine, swinging our clubs, and celebrating the spirit of friendly competition. The golf scores were off the charts, and the camaraderie was simply unmatched. We want to extend our gratitude to all our amazing sponsors who made this event possible. A special shout-out goes to our fantastic golfers who showcased their skills and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Your dedication and passion for the game were truly inspiring. You all played a vital role in creating an unforgettable atmosphere!

Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey.

We are also thrilled to announce that the Export & Freight Golf Masters has successfully raised an incredible amount of £3,995 for our chosen charity, PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland

Charity, a compassionate organisation dedicated to providing crucial support to

individuals who are facing or have faced suicidal thoughts or mental health challenges.

Their invaluable services extend to offering counselling and befriending support, as well as assistance to families and friends affected by the devastating impact of suicide. At Export & Freight, we strongly believe in supporting organisations that make a tangible difference in our community. PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland Charity’s commitment to providing life-saving services aligns perfectly with our values, and we are honoured to contribute to their noble cause. The funds raised through the Export & Freight Golf Masters will directly aid PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland Charity in continuing to offer their vital support to those in need. Whether it’s through their confidential counselling service, crisis walk-in service in Belfast, or their crisis telephone service, PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland Charity ensures that individuals have a safe space to seek help and find solace.

Golda Burrows, General Sales Manager 4SM presents PIPS representative Helen Brogan with a cheque worth £3995, the incredible result of funds raised at the Export & Freight Golf Masters.

Logie entertaining the guests.

Ben Thompson, Julie Caldwell, Chris Heaney and Damian McCusker.

Liz Hazeldon, Golda Burrows, Victoria and Anna Patterson and Helen Beggs.

Neil McKibben and Colin McNeely.

Nicola Walker and James Finch watching the Pro in action.

Gary McCutcheon and Robert Cromie.

Nicola Walker and Adrian Logan.

Dominic McClements, Garfield Harrison and Brian McManus.

Adrian Logan and Damian Mooney.

John Marks, Garfield Harrison and Dominic McClements.

Graham Boyd. Andrew Bushe and Andrew Frizzell of Bridgestone Tyres with Robert Cromie of Dennison Trailers.

Brian McManus.

Marty McAuley, Victoria Patterson, Anna Patterson and Max Patterson.

Len Thompson, AT&T; John McCann of Setanta; and John Thompson of BPW. James Finch, Con Oliver and Nicola Walker.

Steve Nugrnt, Nugent Trailers; Keith Allsop and Rob Lockwood; and Mark Cuskeran MAW.

Ken Lough, Ciaran Murphy and Sean McCrae.

Chris Curran and John Byrne.

Gordon Best and Adrian Logan.

Andy Atkins, Steve Holbrook, Neil King and Mick Smith.

Dominic McClements, Robert Cromie, Marty McAuley and Richard McClean.

Graham Boyd and Tommy Maxwell.

Liz Haselden, Guy Reynolds and Mark Caplin, Aquarius.

Chris Budd, Wayne Sloan, Colin McNeely and Anthony Rooney of Briggs Equipment.

Ken Lough.

Adrian Logan and Wayne Sloan.

Sean Hughes and Anna Shonubi of Cameramatics with Kieran Campbell of Diamond Trucks.

John Byrne of BPW with Brian Mcmanus of Surefreight and Garfield Harrison of Export and Freight.

Brian Beattie, Andy Oliver, John Donnelly, Nigel McMullan and Terry Maxwell.

EXPORT & FREIGHT

TEAMS

BRIGGS EQUIPMENT

BROOKS

IRISH FREIGHT SOLUTIONS

MIAW/HIAB

Dominic McClements, Garfield Harrison, Richard McClean and Marty McAuley.

Mark Prophet, Paul Atkinson, Andy Morris and Philip Morris.

IMS

Kelvin Jones, James Wood, Fergal Mullan and Peter Mills.

Chris Budd, Wayne Sloan, Colin McNeely and Anthony Rooney.

Nigel McGurk, Ed Stobart, Mark Cuskeran and Enda Cushnahan.

Andy Atkins, Mick Smith, Steve Holbrook and Andrew Taylor.

Paul Thompson, John McCann, John Byrne and Julian Lyons.

BPW

Jamie Marsh, Harry Girvan, Joe Jordan and David Corr.

SIMPLICITY GROUP 1

Paul McBurney, Courtney Marsh, David Crangle and Barry Byrne.

SIMPLICITY GROUP 2

Ben Thompson and Chris Heaney.

AT&T

Michael Loughran, Graham Boyd, Tommy Maxwell and Declan Morgan.

MAN/RK TRUCKS 1

James Allen, Chris Curran, John O’Brien and Daniel Loughran.

MAN/RK TRUCKS 2

CAMERAMATICS 1

TEAMS

CAMERAMATICS 2

NI

CIRCLE K

DIAMOND TRUCKS 1

DIAMOND TRUCKS 2

DENNISON TRAILERS

SEATRUCK FERRIES

Simon Murray, Ciaran Murphy, Gary Barnes and Sean McCrae.

Lee Stewart, John Watson, John Joe Morgan and Chris Lester.

Con Oliver, Nicola Walker, John Coleman and James Finch.

Sean Hughes, Niall Worth, Ken Lough and Robert Heavin.

Cillian Morgan, Conor Patton, John McMeekin and Andrew Gardner.

CUBO

Marcus Ruddy, Noel Lacy, Kevin Lacy and Gareth Comerford.

CARRIER

Scott Cowie, Brian McManus, Pat Muldoon and Gavin Diamond.

SDC TRUCK AND TRAILER

John McKinstry, Bosco McGonigle, Eoin O’Mahoney and Mark Montgomery.

Neil King, Rob Lockwood, Keith Allsop and Paul Simpson.

LOCKWOOD HAULAGE

Iain Latimer, Jamie Gillen, Pat McGarry and Billy Moore.

David Watt, Kieran Campbell, Micky Kelly and Leonard Kelly.

Jarlath Magee, Andrew Bratton, Colin Shanks and Peter Bell.

ROAD TRUCKS

TEAMS

THERMOKING

THOMPSON 1

ENCOM ENERGY

RAYMOND DOODY

Garth Owen, Martin Hanley, David Bonnes and John Marks.

Drew Stewart, John Purdy, Mark Skelton and Patrick McFadden.

TBF THOMPSON

Darren McKeever, Garvan McAuley, Adrian Slane and Declan McKeever.

Barry McIlvenna, Mark Williamson, Dairmaid Bucke and Philip Martin.

Raymond Doody, Gary Jordan, Alistair Little and Declan Devine.

Michael Donnelly, Michael Warnock, Brian Anderson and Liam O’Neill.

TBF

Eugene Hughes, Tiernan Rossiter, Alastair Hamilton and Scott Campbell.

STENA LINE

David Wilson, Andrew Ervine, Philip Davidson and Ian McCreery.

Allan Davidson, Andrew Hutchinson, Paul Davidson and Norman Kerr.

Graham Steele, Max Patterson, Don Patterson and Marc Murphy.

Damian Curran, Neil McKibben, Raymond Devlin and Don Weekes.

Gordon Best, Ronan Dixon, Jenna Gass and Gavin Smith.

ALLIED FLEET SERVICES

BELFAST HARBOUR

MICHELIN/A1

CIP INSURANCE

Tommy Maxwell.

Noel Lacey.

John Marks.

TBF Thompson 1 Team at the 17th.

Raymond Doody. Max Patterson.

Iain Latimer.

Chris Freeburn, Owen McCaffrey, Gerard McDonagh and Stephen McAneney.

Dennis McCotter, Colin McClements and Michael Shiels.

Nuala Green, Niall McFerran, David Dawson and Josh Logan.

Garry Cadden, Trevor Smith, James Moulds and Richie Gartland.

Paul Simpson.

Ed Stobart.

Tommy Maxwell and Michael Loughran.

Mick Smith.

Mark Montgomery.

Don Patterson.

Harry Girvan.

Andy Atkins.

David Wilson.

Gary Jordan, Raymond Doody and Alistair Little. Andrew Hutchinson, Norman Kerr and Paul Davidson.

Brooks Team at the 5th.

Brian McManus and Pat Muldoon.

Patrick McFadden, John Purdy, and Mark Skelton.

Mark Cuskeran.

Thermoking Team with pro Damian Mooney.

Enda Cushnahan.

Ed Stobart and Nigel McGurk.

Michael Loughran, Tommy Maxwell, Graham Boyd, and Declan Morgan.

Philip Martin.

Declan McKeever with an uncoperative fizzy drink.

Chris Lester. Norman Kerr and Andrew Hutchinson.

Sean Hughes.

John Joe Morgan.

Jenna Gass. Drew Stewart.

Gary Jordan.

Kieran Campbell.

Marc Murphy. Declan Devine.

Sean McCrea.

David Bonnes.

Chris Freeburn.

Jarlath Magee.

Andrew Hutchinson.

Sean McCrea.

John McCann.

Martin Hanley.

Nuala Green.

John Joe Morgan and Lee Stewart.

Ronan Dixon.

John Coleman and Nicola Walker.

Marc Murphy.

Andrew Hutchinson.

Barry McIlvenna and Philip Martin.

Richard McClean and Marty McAuley.

John McCann.

Chris Heaney.

Norman Kerr.

Road Trucks Team at the 15th.

Graham Boyd.

Ben Thompson. Wayne Sloan.

Trevor Smith.

Andrew Bratton.

Chris Freeburn, Stephen McAneney and Owen McCaffrey.

Billy Moore.

Richie Gartland.

Garry Cadden.

John Watson.

Stephen McAnaney.

Mark Skelton.

Robert Heavin.

David Watt.

Niall McFerran.

John Purdy.

Con Oliver.

Micky Kelly and David Watt.

Keith Allsop.

Julian Lyons.

Rob Lockwood. Dairmaid Bucke. Lee Stewart.

Eoin O’Mahoney and John McKinstry.

Gavin Smith.

Raymond Devlin.

Adrian Slane.

Darren McKeever.

Bosco McGonigle.

Andrew Gardner.

Garvan McAuley.

David Bonnes.

Dominic McClements.

David Wilson.

Courtney Marsh.

Anthony Rooney.

Drew Stewart.

Neil McKibbin.

Chris Curran.

Lough Erne pro Damian Mooney.

Ronan Dixon. Scott Cowie.

Liam O’Neill.

John Byrne.

David Corr.

Adrian Slane.

Michael Donnelly.

David Crangle.

Garfield Harrison and Dominic McClements.

Ian McCreery.

John McKinstry.

Gavin Diamond. Brian Anderson.

Victoria Patterson and Anna Patterson.

Fergal Mullan.

Gordon Best.

James Moulds. Declan Morgan.

James Finch. James Allan.

The Enniskillen Gourmet walking tour being enjoyed by all.

Niall Worth, Anna Shonibi, Ken Lough, Ciaran Murphy and Rory Dowd.

Sean McGrae of Briggs Equipment, Gary Dawes, and John Mark, Road Trucks. Noel Lacey entertains guests.

Brian Beattie, Julian Brown, Alan Rea, Clare and Chris Hall, with MAN Truck and Bus.

Paul Davidson, MK Fencing; John McKinstry and Mark Montgomery, Montgomery Transport; and Andrew Hutchinson, CP Hire.

Freda and Paul Toner of Toner Transport with Nina Byrne of Circle K.

Eammon McGurren, BPW; John McCann, Setanta; and John Byrne, BPW.

Nathan Dickey, and Philip Martin, TTP Thermoking; Frank Coffey, Close Brothers; Drew McKee, TTP Thermoking; and Mark Williamson, Mallaghan’s.

Steve Nugent, Nugent Trailers and Allan Davidson, MK Group.

Fionnuala O’Donovan of Circle K with Noel and Carol Thompson of McCulla Ireland.

Cathy McGale, Rose McMullan and Emma Blair of Close Brothers.

Andrew Bushe, Bridgestone Tyres; Connor Byrne, Modern Tyres; Colm Conyngham, Bridgestone; and Stephen Shaw, Modern Tyres.

Rita McKavanagh, Stena; Gary Lyons, Lyons European; and Darren O’Hara, Simply Asset Finance.

Scott Cowie and Gavin Diamond of SDC with Nigel McMullan and Ed Stobart of WS Transportation.

Rob Lockwood, Neil King, Paul Simpson and Keith Allsop.

Billy Moore, Pat McGarry and Iain latimer, with Diamond Trucks.

Chris Lester, Lee Stewart and Gary Hughes of JMW Farms Ltd.

Micky Kelly, Diamond Trucks; Barry Byrne, Simplicity Group; Leonard Kelly, Diamond Trucks.

Garrett Comerford, International Trailers; Carolyn Dickey and Drew McKee, TTP Thermoking; and Liam O’Neill, TBF Thompson.

Tommy Maxwell of Maxwell Transport with Anna Breen of Stena.

Robert Cromie, Dennison Trailers; Peter Bell, Bell Transport; and Jimmy McKernan, SDC Trailers.

2023

AWARDS

INDIVIDUAL 1ST PLACE

INDIVIDUAL 2ND PLACE

TEAM PRIZES:-

1st - SDC Truck & Trailer Parts, 92 points

2nd - TSS, 86 - better back 9

3rd - CIP Insurance, 86

1ST PRIZE TEAM WINNER

INDIVIDUAL PRIZES:-

1st - Pat Muldoon, 39 points

2nd - David Wilson, 37 points

3rd - Anthony Rooney, 36 points

INDIVIDUAL 3RD PLACE

3RD PRIZE TEAM WINNER

2ND PRIZE TEAM WINNER

BEAT THE PRO WINNERS

?????

Winner of the Peter Ray Memorial Trophy Galvin Green Waterproof Jacket and Overnight stay at Lough Erne Resort, Pat Muldoon, presented by Garfield Harrison and Helen Beggs, Export & Freight. To collect his prize was Scott Cowie.

Winners of the Galvin Green Insula Tops, SDC Truck & Trailer Parts, Brian McManus, Scott Cowie and Gavin Diamond, presented by Garfield Harrison, Export & Freight.

Winners of the Footjoy Superlite Shoes, TSS, Noel Lacey, presented by Dominic McClements from North West News Group. Golda Burrows and Garfield Harrison, Export & Freight.

Winners of the Under Armour Polo Shirts, CIP Insurance, David Dawson, presented by Dominic McClements from North West News Group.

Gordon Best, Jamie Gilfen, Niall Worth, Andrew Irvine, Ben Thompson and Enda Cushnahan (Mark Cuskeran collected on his behalf)

Winner of the Sunderland of Scotland Waterproof Jacket, David Wilson, presented by Golda Burrows, Export & Freight.

Individual 3rd Place winner of the Sunderland of Scotland Gilet, Anthony Rooney, presented by Phil Eaglestone, Export & Freight.

Pat Muldoon

AWARDS

1ST

12TH

Winner of the Golf Gear and a Blue Tooth Charger, Josh Logan, presented by Sponsor John Watson from Circle K.

4TH HOLE LONGEST DRIVE

Winner of the £100 Golf Voucher, John Morgan, presented by Sponsor Andrew Frizelle from Bridgestone.

5TH HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the £200 Golf Voucher, Michael Warnock (collected by Liam O’Neill), presented by Sponsor Jenny Eccleston from Seatruck Ferries.

6TH HOLE LONGEST DRIVE

Winner of the 3rd Generation Apple iPods, Mark Montgomery, presented by Sponsor Chris Heaney from AT&T Rentals.

7TH HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the DAF Goodies, Andrew Bratton, presented by Sponsor Liam O’Neill from TBF Thompson DAF Trucks.

8TH HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the Overnight Stay and Dinner for two at the Merchant Hotel, Belfast, Wayne Sloan, presented by Sponsor Elizabeth Vuagniaux from CUBO.

9TH HOLE SPECIAL COMPETITION

Winner of the £150 Golf Voucher, Leonard Kelly presented by Sponsor John Donnelly, MAN and RK Trucks.

HOLE LONGEST DRIVE

Winner of the £150 Golf Voucher, Darren McKeever, presented by Sponsor John Coleman from DFDS.

2ND HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the £200 Golf Voucher, Liam O’Neill, presented by Sponsor Gavin Diamond from SDC Truck & Trailer Parts.

3RD HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the Box of Wine from Direct Wine Shipments, Ken Lough, presented by Sponsor Guy Reynolds from Aquarius.

10TH HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the Golf Putter, John McKinstry, presented by Sponsor Noel Lacey from TSS.

11TH HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the £200 Golf Voucher, Colin McNeely, presented by Sponsor Ciaran McGurgan from Abbey Autoline.

HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

13TH

14TH

15TH

BEST DRESSED GOLFER

INDIVIDUAL

NEW COMPETITION FOR THE HIGHER HANDICAPPED GOLFERS

WINNERS OF THE LONGEST DRIVE COMPETITION

Winner of the £200 Golf Voucher, Nicola Walker, presented by Sponsor Robert Cromie from Dennison Trailers.

16TH HOLE LONGEST DRIVE

Winner of the Sailing Vouchers, Niall McFerran, presented by Sponsor Anna Breen from Stena Line.

17TH HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the £150 Golf Voucher, Martin Hanley, presented by Sponsor Iain Latimer from Diamond Trucks.

18TH HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the Golf Bag and Accessories, Philip Davidson, presented by Sponsor Harry Girvan from Simplicity Group.

HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the £100 American Golf Voucher, David Dawson, presented by Sponsor Colin McNeely from Briggs Equipment.

HOLE LONGEST DRIVE

Winner of the Scania Goodies, Philip Martin, presented by Sponsor Gareth Owen from Road Trucks Scania.

HOLE NEAREST THE PIN

Winner of the Footjoy Polo Shirt, Marcus Ruddy, presented by Garfield Harrison from Export & Freight.

Winner of the Golf Voucher, Andrew Hutchinson, presented by Sponsor Stephen McAnerney from Allied Fleet Services.

3rd Place Winner of the Dozen Pro V Balls, Scott Cowie, presented by Phil Eaglestone, Export & Freight.

2nd Place Winner of the Footjoy Polo Shirt, Richard Gartland, presented by Phil Eaglestone, Export & Freight.

1st Place Winner of the Galvin Green Polo Shirt, David Dawson, presented by Catherine Cassidy, Export & Freight, NWNG.

Wednesday’s Sponsor Night, Ed Stobart and Nicola Walker, with Export & Freight’s Helen Beggs.

AWARDS

EXPORT & FREIGHT - IRELAND’S TRANSPORT MAGAZINE WOULD

LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK OUR SPONSORS AND TEAMS FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS SUPPORT IN MAKING THE 10TH ANNUAL EXPORT & FREIGHT MASTERS GOLF MASTERS 2023 SUCH A SUCCESS.

Garfield Harrison, Export & Freight.

Dominic McClements, North West News Group.

Helen Beggs, Export & Freight.

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Winner of the 2 Ulster rugby halfway line corporate tickets, David Bonnes with Anna Patterson, Encom Energy.

ENCOM ENERGY PUTTING GREEN COMPETITION

Winner of the £100 cash. Norman Kerr, with Anna Patterson, Encom Energy.

ENCOM ENERGY PUTTING GREEN COMPETITION

Winner of the Bushmills Whisky. Liam O’Neill, with Anna Patterson, Encom Energy.

ENCOM ENERGY PUTTING GREEN COMPETITION

Belfast Harbour Posts Robust Financial Results

Belfast Harbour has reported robust financial results for 2022, with annual turnover and profits in line with expectations, despite a challenging global trading environment.

In what was a milestone year, marking the 175th anniversary of the formation of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Belfast Harbour reported turnover of £77.2m for 2022, up 5% on its figures for 2021, and underlying pre-tax profits of £34.3m, up 1% on the previous year.

As a Trust Port, Belfast Harbour strategically reinvests its profits to develop and maintain the Port and wider Harbour Estate, including investing in major infrastructure projects. The figures reported have supported the continued delivery of an ambitious five year, £254m investment programme, which has enabled Belfast Harbour to add significant economic and social value to the region.

Continuing Belfast Harbour’s long history of delivering transformative projects, 2022 saw £23.4m invested in port facilities and infrastructure projects. This included the completion of the Victoria Terminal 2 passenger facility.

Belfast Harbour noted its resilient and diverse trading portfolio as a core asset in delivering its strong financial performance, as well as the recognising the important contribution of its key customers and estate partners.

Despite the climate of global uncertainty and external challenges sparked by the war in Ukraine, port trade dropped only slightly on the record levels recorded in 2021. Total tonnage through Belfast Harbour was reported at 24.5m tonnes, representing the second highest levels in its history, and a slight easing back of 4.3% from the record levels of 2021.

Roll-On Roll-Off freight on Stena Line performed strongly, recording 600,000 freight units during the year, and matching the record performance delivered in 2021.

The volume of ferry passengers travelling through the Port increased by 22% year on year to almost 1.8 million people, with routes benefitting from the full easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions. The number of passenger cars

reached a record high of 462,000, increasing by 12% from the year before, reflecting a continued interest in staycations and local holidays.

Cruise ships continued to provide a welcome boost to the local economy, with Belfast Harbour welcoming a record 141 cruise ship calls during 2022, as cruise travel fully resumed, and the industry made a strong recovery following a reduced schedule the previous year.

Major Investment

2022 also saw major investment in the Harbour Estate, which included the completion of two landmark office buildings, ‘City Quays 3’ and ‘Olympic House,’ as well as the construction of Hamilton Road, a new Titanic Quarter link road between Queen’s Road and Sydenham Road. With ambitions to create the largest European media hub outside of London, work commenced on the expansion of Belfast Harbour Studios and productions from Netflix and Amazon Prime, including ‘The School for Good and Evil’, directed by Paul Feig were secured. Providing a welcome boost to the thriving screen industry in Northern Ireland, Belfast Harbour also announced a partnership with Ulster University and NI Screen to deliver Studio Ulster, a Belfast Region City Deal project that will create a leading-edge virtual production facility adjacent the existing

Belfast Harbour Studios site at Giant’s Park. Engaging closely with local communities, the Harbour provided funding of £320,000 to community and charitable programmes during 2022. This included the expansion of the Belfast Harbour Community Awards Fund, which supported 25 grass-roots community organisations with funding totalling £87,000.

Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chair of Belfast Harbour, said: “2022 was a landmark year for Belfast Harbour as we celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The strong results achieved during the year demonstrate the resilience and effectiveness of our Trust Port model, which enables us to reinvest our profits back into the development of our Port and Estate.

“Leveraging the diversity of our portfolio and our invaluable partnerships with our tenants, stakeholders and customers, Belfast Harbour is well on track to deliver its strategic ambitions to sustainably grow as a socially responsible port and as a key economic hub that delivers tangible social impact to the city and beyond.”

Joe O’Neill, Chief Executive Officer of Belfast Harbour, said: “Our robust financial performance during 2022 reflects our strategic progress in growing as a world leading regional port and developing an iconic waterfront for the city. While we are confident of our diverse business and revenue streams, 2023 will undoubtedly present challenges as uncertainty in the global economy continues.

“As we actively develop the next phase of our Port for Everyone strategy, Belfast Harbour takes a long-term strategic view, forwardinvesting in our Port and Estate for benefit of our stakeholders and the wider region. Through transformative investment programmes and innovative development, our tried and tested Trust Port model is delivering clear economic value and establishing Belfast Harbour as a key gateway to opportunity for the region.”

New container feeder service to connect Belfast Harbour with key European hub ports

Belfast Harbour has revealed that French container line CMA-CGM is to add a new call in Belfast to its Irish Sea Express CS container feeder service, which will boost capacity and service options for both importers and exporters in Northern Ireland.

The service will run between Belfast Harbour’s Victoria Terminal 3 and a number of UK and European ports, including Dunkirk and Rotterdam. Operating on a weekly rotation, the service will see vessels including the Mistral, Allegro and ELBTEAM calling at Belfast Harbour.

Since 2018, over £30m has been invested by Belfast Harbour in Victoria Terminal 3 (VT3), including the installation of fully electric ship-to-shore cranes in 2020,

significantly improving safety, sustainability, efficiency and capacity, and making VT3 one of the most modern container terminals on the island of Ireland.

Following the recent investment, the terminal handled 126,000 container units in 2022 and a record 132,000 the previous year, which was the highest level of container traffic since 2008.

The CMA CGM Group is a global

player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, serving more than 420 ports around the world across 5 continents, with a fleet of around 600 vessels. The Group is present in 160 countries through its network of more than 400 offices and 750 warehouses.

Michael Robinson, Port Director at Belfast Harbour, said: “This new service from CMA-CGM will provide increased frequency of container services calling at Belfast, offering

benefits for both importers and exporters in Northern Ireland.”

Alan Horner, Managing Director of CMA-CGM, said: “In line with CMA CGM group’s innovative approach to maritime development we are delighted to add Belfast to our global port coverage where we will leverage the synergies between our shipping services on the main intercontinental routes and our revamped intra-regional lines in the Irish Sea. The additional port call at Belfast gives our Northern Ireland clients direct access to our over 257 shipping routes and 420 ports of call worldwide.”

Continued Success Through Partnership

600k

Freight Units on RoRo Services

24.5m

Tonnes Handled

Belfast Harbour wishes to thank all our port users and customers for their continued support. 2022 was a successful year brought about by partnership working and the continuous commitment of everyone who works in the Port.

Now more than ever, we remain committed to our ambitious investment programme and delivering our aspiration of building a world leading ‘Port for Everyone.’

£

126k Containers Handled

15.1m

Invested in Port Infrastructure

1.8m Passengers through the Port

WARRENPOINT PORT POSTS SOLID ANNUAL RESULTS

Warrenpoint Port is the second largest Port in Northern Ireland by tonnage. Equidistant from Dublin and Belfast, it is approximately one hour by road from both cities. It has delivered solid 2022 annual results, despite the many geopolitical and economic challenges, and remains optimistic about the future. Export and Freight has been speaking to CEO David Holmes, about current trade and plans for the future.

He tells us: “Warrenpoint Port has traditionally been a ‘go-to’ import/export location for the bouyant local manufacturing, construction and agri sectors within its hinterland, north and south. It offers a convenient, easy to reach alternative to navigating the city centre traffic in the two principle cities on the island. With covered and uncovered storage capacity, multimodal capability, as well as additional access to nearby remote storage options, it enjoys a good mix of longterm clients availing of the convenient location, the experienced team, and the competitive rates.

RORO

“Warrenpoint Port is well serviced from a RoRo perspective with twice daily sailings to and from Heysham via Seatruck, now part of the CLdN family. This service is particularly popular offering the highly efficient ‘unaccompanied load’ facility. Seatruck has the capacity for large loads as well as trailers, with regular cargo including airplane wings and quarrying/crushing machinery.

LOLO SERVICE

“Until recently Warrenpoint Port had a client delivering a twice weekly LoLo service to GB. Due to a reorganisation of their business model and constraints in their respective industry, this service was withdrawn. Warrenpoint Port believes there is capacity and demand for a replacement or similar service to UK or mainland Europe. It will be actively pursuing this opportunity during 2023/24.

“In terms of recent activity, on the back of an exceptional 2021/22, the Port has been experiencing a normalisation of volumes in

2023 to at, or around, prepandemic levels. This however, is very much dependent on external factors such as the war in Ukraine, inflationary pressures, and the outworkings of the Windsor Framework.

CRUISE SEASON

“We had a very successful cruise season with four ships docking in Warrenpoint over the summer. This included three passenger cruise ships- the return of the Azamara Pursuit and inaugural visits for the World Traveller and Le Champlain. We also welcomed the Waverley, the world’s last seafaring paddle steamer. This gave people the opportunity to board a ship from Warrenpoint and enjoy a sunset cruise. This sold out within 24 hours and welcomed almost 600 people on board in total.

TANDEM LIFT

“Despite the challenges Warrenpoint Port has had a very positive first half of 2023. Some of this is driven by our expert capability in project cargo.Recent examples include: a tandem lift of a 144 tonne piece of equipment destined for the advanced manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland; and our handling of specialist cargo including wind turbine components destined for ROI.

LOCAL COMMUNITY

“The Port is engaged in the local community, hosting regular events, meetings, collaborations and updates. The team completed the distribution of its annual community fundraiser campaign in the early part of this year. This distributed £26,700 to more than 60 different local organisations in the community, with a focus on health and wellbeing. With an average donation of £500 this gave the Port the ability to support local charities, Men’s Sheds, Community Gardening Projects, Women’s Groups, schools and activities at youth clubs, nurseries, sports groups and activities for older members of our society. It is something the Port is very proud of.

INVESTMENT

“In terms of plans for the future, the Port has ambitious growth plans, with new and existing customers. It is working on its environmental impact, seeking to make reductions to its carbon footprint and locally spear-heading best practice. “It is investing in its team through its Port Life health and wellbeing initiatives and its plant; with, for example, the arrival of three new side

David Holmes.

Waverley Sailing past Warrenpoint.

lifting Combilifts. These forklifts are not only more efficient but support the Port’s unwavering commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety by reducing the number of loads carried at height. We continue to build upon our pelagic fishing industry offering. A recent survey of fishing companies currently using the Port facilities highlighted that 100% of these companies are likely to return to Warrenpoint Port to utilise its services again, which is a good foundation to build upon.

“Efficiency is also key. We track effective vessel turnaround and year to date figures consistently favourably outperform shipping agent expectation.

THE FUTURE

“Warrenpoint Port is working towards the future, it is very much open for business and looks forward to engaging with customers about new business opportunities. We are optimistic but realistic about the future ahead for an island

economy where shipping and fishing are not only essential; but the lifeblood of many of the local communities in which we serve.”

• Ready to discuss your new logistic requirements

• Equidistant between Belfast and Dublin

• Multi-modal facility

• Competitive rates

www.warrenpointport.com

Annual Community Fundraiser Campaign.

Azamara Cruise Ship.

DUBLIN PORT COMPANY COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL FIRST ROUND OF HVO FUEL TRIAL IN PILOT BOAT

Dublin Port Company (DPC) has completed a successful first round trial using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a low-carbon biofuel produced from waste material that can be used as a direct replacement for conventional marine diesel, in one of its Pilot Boats.

The Pilotage Service is estimated to contribute up to 20% of Dublin Port Company’s carbon emissions and this is a significant aim for reduction, in line with Ireland’s Public Sector Energy targets which states the public sector must improve its energy efficiency by 50% before 2030.

HVO fuel was supplied by Certa, DPC’s contracted fuel service provider, and a trial commenced in April which saw approximately 200 pilot transfers completed on the DPC Dodder – one of four Dublin Port Pilot Boats – exclusively using 100% HVO.

DPC will now begin phase two of the trial, testing the biofuel in the Liffey and Camac Pilot Boats, which run on older engines to the DPC Dodder and its sister boat the DPC Tolka.

The Liffey and Camac are approximately 15 years old and are driven by two Caterpillar C12 engines. The DPC Tolka and the DPC Dodder run on two Scania DI16 engines.

This is the latest example of DPC working towards a more sustainable future. DPC exceeded the 2020 Public Sector Energy Efficiency Targets and is planning to make Port Centre and Terminal 1 near zero-emission buildings by 2030.

The Pilotage Service is a crucial aspect of Dublin Port operations and involves the provision of qualified Pilots with local marine knowledge to assist guiding large ships

into the Port along navigable channels. An exciting solution at the forefront of sustainable energy, HVO is a low-emission diesel alternative fuel. HVO has been demonstrated to significantly reduce fuelrelated carbon emissions with no modification required for existing diesel engines.

Initial results from the trial indicate that the use of HVO fuel in the Pilot Boats cuts emissions between 80-90%, which is encouraging news as Dublin Port targets a greener future and is in accordance with the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2023, which aims to halve national emissions by 2030.

If trials using HVO on Pilot Boats Liffey and Camac are successful, moving all four of Dublin Port’s Pilot Boats to HVO will reduce Dublin Port Company’s CO2 emissions between 10-15% ahead of the 51% CO2 emission reduction target for 2030.

While HVO fuel can be mixed with diesel, Dublin Port Company is using 100% HVO for the purpose of these trials.

Operators of the Pilot Boats noted that there were no obvious issues in handling or performance of the DPC Dodder while running on HVO and that exhaust fumes had reduced significantly.

The Pilotage Service is vital to Dublin Port’s operations. It is managed 24/7 with a highly

skilled team of 21 Marine Operatives, 1 Marine Supervisor, 5 VTS Officers and 12 Pilots. It runs, on average, 10-15 return trips per day and in 2022 there were 3,908 over the year.

Pilot Boats travel up to 10 nautical miles (18.5km) offshore to safely deliver a Dublin Port Pilot to an inbound ship. The job involves transferring a Pilot to or from a ship by driving a Pilot Boat alongside the moving ship as it enters or leaves a Port, which is a high-risk activity. As a result, the Pilot Boats that are used to transfer Pilots are considered safety critical equipment and must have high reliability. The phased approach to this trial allows DPC to robustly check and verify the boats’ performance with this front of mind.

Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said: “The use of HVO fuel in our Pilot Boats is a potentially transformative step as we work towards our 2030 Climate Action Plan targets. We are pleased to work alongside our fuel suppliers Certa on this and from the information we have received from the first trial, the initial signs have been highly encouraging. We are now looking forward to seeing the results of phase two. With our Pilotage Service being such a vital part of Port operations, it is important that we run these trials and make sure it is the right fit for what is an extremely important and highly skilled job.”

Laura Byrne, Business Development Manager for Sustainable Fuels, Certa, said: “We are very excited to continue our long-standing relationship with Dublin Port Company. We are pleased to work together to facilitate the Port’s decarbonisation efforts by introducing HVO fuel on their Pilot Boats as they continue to work towards their sustainability goals.”

Laura Byrne, Certa’s Business Development Manager for Sustainable Fuels, pictured with Dublin Port CEO Barry O’Connell and Marine Operatives Mannix Greene, Colin Goggins and Oisín Grey. Image: Robbie Reynolds

LARNE PORT – PROVIDING CONVENIENCE, ACCESSIBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY

Specialising in Ro-Ro operations, Larne Port has always been the gateway of choice for freight companies operating to and from Northern Ireland from GB. The port is just 30 minutes from Belfast and two and a half hours from Dublin, handling around a quarter of a million commercial vehicles each year.

With dual-carriageway access from the province’s motorway network right to the port gate and the shortest crossing to GB via the Larne to Cairnryan route, operating through Larne is an obvious choice for those seeking convenience and reliability.

P&O Ferries operates the Cairnryan route, using two well-proven, powerful and reliable RoPax ships, designed specifically to operate safely and efficiently on the North Channel, even in the worst of weather conditions. The combination of just a two hour crossing and fast loading and discharge from these ‘drive through’ ships, lorry drivers can spend less time onboard and more time on the road.

With up to seven crossings per day in each direction between

Larne and Cairnryan, hauliers are able to schedule freight movements at times that best suit them, whether day or night. By offering the best value and most convenient service for both freight and tourist customers, P&O Ferries consequently maintain this trade

route that is vitally important to the Northern Ireland economy. Currently, they carry around 15 per cent of the goods coming in and out of Northern Ireland from GB, including vital medicines, chemicals and fresh food. The Port of Larne is key to this endeavour.

Whatever the project, we can handle it!

With around 40 acres of extensive trailer vehicle parking, a trained workforce and a fleet of modern tugmasters, the port is fully equipped to handle unaccompanied traffic, as well as driver accompanied vehicles. The port is well established in handling driver accompanied traffic, providing fast, efficient check-in facilities and modern freight drivers’ facilities Having deep water, a range of quays and generous area of land available, the port also offers a range of services to cater for a wide range of diverse cargoes, other than just roro freight. In recent years, Larne Port has handled a range of bulk and project cargoes, the greatest growth in activity being attributable to the windfarm sector; the port is fast becoming a hub for the import of wind-farm components and also for ‘jack-up’ ships undertaking maintenance work in the many offshore windfarms in the Irish Sea.

• Vessels up to 185m and a draft of 7.1m

• 4 Berths, capable of handling cargo

• All berths within a secure ISPS area

• Jacking up alongside permissible

• Quay loading up to 18 tonnes/sq m

• 20 acres of storage available on hard standing

• Warehousing and workshop on site

• Dual carriageway right to port entrance

• Wide load access

Stena Vision Now in Service on Rosslare-Cherbourg Route

Stena Line’s latest addition to its expanding Irish Sea ferry fleet, Stena Vision, has gone into service on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route.

Stena Vision is Stena Line’s additional cruise ferry on its Rosslare to Cherbourg service, where it will operate alongside the Stena Horizon. Stena Vision will increase Stena Line’s service frequency on the route to six departure days providing 12 sailings per week, the most frequent ferry service between Ireland and the European Continent. The addition of Stena Vision to the Ireland-

France route, will provide Stena Line with a significant increase in capacity operating alongside Stena Horizon. Stena Vision will have space for 1,300 passengers and 485 passenger cabins, more than any other ferry currently sailing from Ireland. It will offer a wide selection of accommodation ranging from standard cabins to deluxe suites. Stena Vision also offers 42 pet friendly cabins.

Paul Grant, Trade Director Stena Line, said: “The introduction of Stena Vision is welcome news for the freight sector, which has seen demand grow for direct services to France for hauliers since Brexit. Stena Vision will also increase driver accompanied capacity with more cabin space for freight drivers.”

Hybrid Ferry Launch Marks a Major Milestone in Sustainable Transport

P&O Ferries’ new hybrid ship, P&O Pioneer, has made its maiden voyages, sailing tourist passengers and vital trade business across the channel between Dover and Calais.

P&O Pioneer has been designed to reduce carbon emissions on the UK’s most important trade route, which carries over £144bn of goods by ferry alone.

The ship is propelled by a combination of traditional fuel and battery power and has been designed with the capacity to become carbon neutral in future.

The major investment in these two 230m long hybrid ships allows P&O Ferries to cut fuel use while maintaining capacity.

P&O Pioneer is the next step in P&O Ferries’ commitment to the Dover-Calais route, with the P&O Pioneer expected to do more than 100,000 crossings of the Channel in its lifetime.

The introduction of new, more efficient ships comes after the integrated transport and logistics company’s best-ever sustainability performance in 2022 – when it achieved a nine per cent carbon reduction. The modular elements of the ship mean its electric power capabilities will develop in the future. As technology develops and charging

stations are brought in at ports, the installation of additional batteries will allow fully electric operation. The ship will also be the world’s largest double-ended hybrid ferry, with two bridges meaning there is no need for it to turn in port, saving fuel on every trip.

As the longest ferry to sail between Dover and Calais, P&O Pioneer and its sister ship P&O Liberté, which will join the fleet later this year, will replace the capacity of three older vessels with just two, delivering further efficiency benefits.

Peter Hebblethwaite, CEO of P&O Ferries said: “For the millions of passengers who sail with P&O Ferries between the UK and France, our two ultra-modern vessels being introduced this year will deliver a fantastic travel experience. “We are determined to make P&O Ferries the best ferry company in Europe. That means: the best ships, the best routes, and the best value for our customers.”

P&O Ferries Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Trade between Northern Ireland and Scotland

P&O Ferries is commemorating the 50th year anniversary of sailing ships between Larne, Northern Ireland and Cairnryan, Scotland.

Since its establishment in 1973, the Larne-Cairnryan route has played a vital role in connecting Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, facilitating both trade and tourism. Over the past five decades, LarneCairnryan has operated 44 sailings per week, providing a crucial link between Northern Ireland and the rest of Europe. Larne-Cairnryan has increased in significance

over recent years, with trade on this route rising and the two ships operating on the route, European Highlander and European Causeway, now carrying up to 3500 freight units per week and 370,000 passengers a year.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Larne-Cairnryan route, a remarkable milestone for P&O Ferries, our teams on both sides of the Irish Sea, and the local community,” said Peter Hebblethwaite, CEO of P&O Ferries.

“Larne-Cairnryan has been instrumental in supporting economic growth, connecting people, and creating opportunities in Northern Ireland and Scotland. We are immensely proud of this longstanding commitment and look forward to many more years of providing our passengers and freight customers with exceptional service.”

As part of the commemorative events, P&O Ferries hosted a celebration event at Larne Port. The ceremony featured an exhibition on LarneCairnryan over the last 50 years, with historical photography and news clippings highlighting the impact the route has had for the last 5 decades.

Tonnage Tax regime is available to companies for the first time in 18 years

For the first time in nearly 18 years, the government has opened an election window to allow shipping companies to return to UK Tonnage Tax.

For those qualifying companies otherwise unable to join this beneficial Corporation Tax regime, the election window will enable them to do so, bringing more jobs and investment to the UK. Shipping companies can join Tonnage Tax either within a year of becoming eligible, for example by moving to the UK, or when HM Treasury opens an election window, and join for a minimum of 8 years. An election window was last opened in 2005. Any groups who chose not to go into Tonnage Tax, who entered but subsequently left, or who never really explored it before, have been unable to reconsider their decision since then. The new election window opened in June 2023 and will remain open for 18 months, closing in November 2024.

The election window will allow companies to benefit from the reforms announced at Autumn Budget 2021, which include removing the EU/EEA flag requirement, reducing the lock-in period from 10 to 8 years, and increasing the permitted limit for “qualifying secondary income”. The government announced further changes to enhance the offer around UK Tonnage Tax in Spring Budget 2023. In addition to the opening of the election window, these included two further changes, which will take effect from April 2024: The government will be raising the capital allowance limit for ship lessors who lease into tonnage tax to £200m in line with inflation and the cost of ships; and the government will permit third-party ship management under the Tonnage Tax regime, which

may encourage the growth of this service in the UK. At present, only companies that own or charter their ships can participate in the regime.

What is Tonnage Tax?

Tonnage Tax is a voluntary Corporation Tax regime that taxes a notional profit based on a ship’s tonnage. This is more competitive internationally than taxing a ship’s actual profits and accommodates more effectively the fluctuations of the shipping cycle. The tax was originally introduced in 2000 to deliver the government’s aim of promoting the shipping industry and boosting international competitiveness. Tonnage tax is not unique to the UK. Most other countries operate either tonnage taxes or allow shipping profits conditional exemptions from corporation taxes.

The government has been keen to boost UK Tonnage Tax by retaining the system’s competitive edge over the similar regimes on offer elsewhere, attracting more firms to base their headquarters in the UK. To join the regime, shipping companies must pass a strategic and commercial management test, which ensures that all beneficiaries of Tonnage Tax bring significant economic benefit to the UK. UK Tonnage Tax participants must also fulfil a Minimum Training Obligation, which typically requires them to sponsor the training of 1 cadet (or 3 ratings) per year for every 15 officers that they employ on their ships. Find out more

For further information on how to join UK Tonnage Tax, companies get in touch with HMRC’s dedicated Tonnage Tax team: tonnagetax@hmrc.gov.uk

DFDS relocates their unaccompanied freight service from Sheerness to Tilbury

The newly located service offers one daily sailing in each direction six days a week. The dedicated Tilbury – Calais service will be operated by the Botnia Seaways ship, with space for 115 unaccompanied units. The relocation comes as a result of feedback received from customers and demand for a more accessible route into the UK.

Paul Dale, Asset & Site Director, Port of Tilbury said: “We warmly welcome DFDS back to the Port of Tilbury as we confirm that the busy Calais daily ro-ro ferry service will begin this month. This is a significant long-term agreement with DFDS, who we have previously worked with.

“As London’s fastest growing port, DFDS’s

customers will benefit from our strategic location on the Thames which is within easy reach of the London and the south-east markets, as well as access to our multimodal facilities including a dedicated freight rail operation with connections across the UK. The new driverless freight ferry service further cements our position as a vital gateway to Europe and supports our focus on achieving Net Zero by helping to remove trucks from the UK’s congested road networks.”

The existing service between Sheerness and Calais ceased operation at the end of June. DFDS has had a strong partnership with the Port of Sheerness since the launch of its unaccompanied freight service at the port in

June 2021. The two organisations collaborated to make the route a success, growing volumes and increasing capacity to meet customer demand over the two-year period of operation.

“We are very excited to be working with Tilbury Port on this new partnership to provide our customers with the service that they require and expect from DFDS”, says Jean-Claude Charlo, Route Director for DFDS. “Our decision to relocate our freight services to Tilbury has not been made lightly, but we have listened to the feedback provided by our customers and remain committed to providing an unaccompanied freight service that will continue to meet their needs. It has been a pleasure working with the Port of Sheerness these past two years and we have nothing but thanks and gratitude for the professional and excellent service that they have provided”.

DFDS has launched a new unaccompanied freight service from Tilbury to Calais, replacing its existing Sheerness – Calais service.

Webfleet collaborates with Ford to offer integrated telematics solution

Ford has joined Webfleet’s OEM.connect partner programme. Ford passenger cars and vans with line fitted connectivity are ready to connect with the Webfleet service platform, eliminating the need for after-market hardware installations. This integrated solution makes it faster, easier and cheaper for fleet managers to utilise telematics technology.

With OEM.connect, Ford vehicles can transmit vehicle data directly to Webfleet, the award-winning fleet management solution. All that is needed to connect the vehicles is the vehicle identification number (VIN). Webfleet uses this valuable OEM data to provide clear, actionable insights that support fleet managers to maximise fleet performance, reduce operating costs and encourage green and safe driving while assuring data security with an ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified service.

“We are happy to welcome Ford to our OEM.connect

programme and offer an integrated telematics solution to our joint customers,” says Taco van der Leij, Vice President of Webfleet Europe. “This cooperation underlines how important telematics data is for fleets and how pooling expertise will accelerate and improve the application of this technology”.

With OEM.connect, Ford passenger car and van customers can access the standard Webfleet applications, including fleet performance reporting, trip data, GPS tracking and fuel consumption, helping to streamline their operations. Instant notifications around vehicle diagnostics, such as tyre pressure warnings, mean the fleet’s health status can be monitored in real time, enabling fleet managers to keep their drivers safe and minimise vehicle downtime. All vehicle data is displayed in the Webfleet interface and can also be accessed from anywhere via the Webfleet mobile app.

Kearns &



THE IRISH SEA’S LEADING FERRY COMPANY

Our network of 17 routes links key ports and road connections across Northern Europe. With more routes and sailings than any other ferry company, we offer the most convenient and reliable way to reach your destination. At Stena Line, we’re committed to providing safe, comfortable and sustainable journeys.

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