DPD Ireland switch to 100% HVO biofuel

UKWA Challenges Government over Unfair Rise in Business Rates

The UK Warehousing Association has written to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, voicing its Members’ concerns about sharp rises in business rates. Upon learning that warehouses will face higher costs whilst also being denied the relief package offered to other sectors, CEO Clare Bottle requested an urgent meeting with HM Treasury to map out how to improve business protection for warehouses.

In the wake of Autumn Statement, the publication of the Draft List for the 2023 Revaluation of Business Rates sent shockwaves through UKWA’s 900-strong membership. UKWA’s letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer points out the damage these new business rates will cause the sector, and the wider economy. UKWA also seeks to remedy the lack of understanding about how the warehousing sector operates, referring to our broken a planning system and the sector being overlooked time and again for business rates relief. UKWA argues: • Vacancy rates across the UK market for Industrial & Logistics property are at an all-time low. It is Government’s failure to fix the planning system which has caused this, driving rateable values up by skewing the supply and demand of warehouse property. • The Government’s chosen antecedent valuation date of April 2021 is unfair: warehousing was

propping up the economy during lockdown and consequently property values were disproportionately high compared to other sectors, such as high street retail and offices where rental prices were correspondingly depressed by the economic impact of the pandemic. Basing business rates on these property values puts warehousing at a significant disadvantage. • In the past we have seen transitional relief caps of 10% + inflation, so the 30% cap

for large buildings is much less helpful than we hoped for and the assumption that companies with larger buildings need less support indicates contempt for our sector. • Retail, Leisure & Hospitality are already benefiting from 50% rates relief which will now increase to75%, yet no such relief has been offered for warehousing, which is a key component of the supply chains for those other sectors. Ms Bottle believes the warehousing sector is being penalised unfairly by HM Treasury’s business rates policy and said urgent intervention is required: “Third-party warehousing service-providers with typically low profit margins are facing untenable increases in rents, labour costs and energy costs already. Adding such eye-watering increases in business rates with so little transitional relief, will force some out of business, leading to supply chain disruption, which has the potential to damage the economy.”

DPD Ireland switch to 100% HVO biofuel to reduce carbon emissions

DPD Ireland has deployed Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a replacement fuel for diesel in its heavy goods vehicles as part of an ambitious drive to decarbonise its Irish fleet by 2030.

The parcel-delivery firm is leading the charge towards sustainable deliveries, having achieved the milestone of 1 million sustainable deliveries in August of this year. The company is in the process of switching all its domestic linehaul routes to 100% HVO in a bid to slash its linehaul emissions by 87% (vs 2020). These line-haul routes carry parcels between DPD Ireland’s central sorting hub in Athlone and its 35 depots on the island of Ireland. This follows a successful trial of the biofuel which ran from June to September 2022. Powering all domestic linehaul routes with this sustainable biofuel, DPD expects to reduce its emissions by over 4,350 tons CO2e per year versus a conventional diesel operation. This is the equivalent of taking 937 cars off the road for a year*. This is a big win for DPD’s customers, who place a higher emphasis than ever on reducing emissions. HVO is not available yet at commercial pumps, which is why DPD Ireland is installing dedicated HVO storage tanks on site at its central sorting hub in Athlone. Once complete, the company will be able to supply 100% of its domestic linehaul routes on renewable HVO. DPD Ireland Chief Executive Des Travers said the company began looking at alternative fuel options for its line-haul fleet after difficulty sourcing electric heavy goods vehicles. “We’ve had HVO on our radar for several years. It has become imperative for our business to reduce our emissions which is why we are taking action. We are on a journey to become the most sustainable parcel delivery company in Ireland and this is just the next step for us. We will continue to overcome the challenges as we 100% decarbonise our business”. He continued, “At full capacity, the company will be avoiding 16 tons of CO2 equivalent per day versus a fully diesel operation. This is due to the reduced wellto-wheel emissions that HVO offers.” The company is currently delivering more than 4,000 parcels per day by electric van, and expects delivery of 205 new allelectric Ford eTransits, more than double the target amount announced last year. This will bring the electric fleet to 258, nearly 20% of its total fleet, by mid-2023. Des said the switch to lower carbon fuels is one of the actions DPD Ireland is taking to decarbonise its Irish fleet by 2030. Unlike electric vans where you need to purchase a new van, HVO is seamless in that it can be used as a drop-in replacement for diesel in the transition to low-carbon fuel alternatives. The vehicle or engine does not need to be replaced, which is very inviting for companies looking to change their fleet to more sustainable means. James Atkinson, Sustainability Programme Manager emphasised the importance of tracking. “In order to validate our emissions savings, we are using a smart pump system. The HVO dispensed at the pump is automatically recorded to track our total usage. The vehicles’ odometer is tracked when the fuel is dispensed, and a digital record is kept that correlates fuel used with kilometres driven. By tracking the vehicle type, we can more accurately calculate the emissions avoided. This is a step up in our emissions tracking and enables better reporting.” DPD Ireland last year announced a further €2 million investment to decarbonise its Irish fleet with the addition of 100 new electric vehicles by the end of 2022. The company has already invested €3.2 million since 2019 in electric vans and infrastructure. DPD Ireland is part of the DPD Group, the second largest international parcel delivery network in Europe. The group delivers 7.5 million parcels each day – 1.9 billion parcels per year.

Colin Kennedy, chief information officer and Darragh Lowry, head of transport for DPD Ireland.

First Refuse Collection Vehicles Hit the Streets as Part of £7.4 Million Council Fleet Investment

The first refuse collection vehicles in a £7.4 million fleet investment by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are now in action on the district’s streets.

Four 32 tonne refuse collection vehicles, the largest in the collection, are in daily use after arriving in early November. Two 26 tonne refuse collection vehicles have also recently been delivered, while three compact road sweeper vehicles have also been in operation since August. Of the 73 strong fleet which have been ordered, 30 are refuse collection vehicles – 19 at 26 tonne, 7 at 12 tonne and 4 at 32 tonnes. Other vehicles bought as part of the investment will be used for services such as bulky waste, grounds maintenance and transporting heavy machinery in addition to street cleansing. The Council will be undertaking a route optimisation review to ensure its lorries are getting to households on the best possible route and as efficiently as possible. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said, “We are all excited to see the results of this major investment by the Council in our district’s fleet. We acknowledge the difficulties caused by the previous ageing fleet and our staff are very much looking forward to working in these better equipped and safer vehicles to provide residents with the best possible service. “The Council will also save money with a reduction in breakdown related costs and the vehicles being more energy efficient.” Councillor Savage said the Council was also looking ahead to consider how the next fleet replacement could take advantage of greener and cleaner alternative fuels. “We are not standing still,” said Councillor Savage. “We have 40 other vehicles to replace, and we will be examining as a Council whether these some of these should be electric vehicles. “A four-year vehicle replacement schedule is also planned to ensure that the Council’s fleet is maintained in good condition in the years to come.”

Drivers Barry Doyle (right) and Rodney Quinn.

Continental Wins NTDA Northern Ireland Tyre Manufacturer of the Year

Continental Tyres has been crowned Northern Ireland’s Tyre Manufacturer of the Year for 2022 at the prestigious NTDA (National Tyre Distributors Association) Awards, as voted by the association’s members.

Continental were selected

based on a broad range of criteria ranging from the overall performance of their range, right through to the impeccable service they deliver and the ability of their team to provide efficient and effective solutions. Following the win, Noel McGrath, Regional Sales Manager for Continental in Ireland said: “We are incredibly honoured to have been awarded the well-respected accolade of Tyre Manufacturer of the Year by our peers within the region. This is great recognition for everyone in our team and their passion for what we do and our ongoing commitment to safety, innovation and sustainability.” The NTDA win is the latest in a series of successes this year for Continental. Highlights include numerous national and international awards and test wins for the flagship Sport Contact 7 UHP tyre, and most recently in Ireland, the Repak Tyre Champion Award, which recognised Continental’s achievements in sustainability. Continental has committed to increasing the use of sustainable materials in its tyre products to 100% by 2050 at the latest, and with this in mind, it’s continually investing in the development of innovative technologies, alternative and sustainable materials and environmentallyfriendly production processes. A key sustainability achievement this year was the launch of ContiRe.Tex technology, which has enabled Continental to completely replace conventional polyester in the tyre carcass with polyester yarn obtained from recycled PET bottles, and which is now in series production. Other highlights from the last 12 months include the launch of several new tyres, with the eagerly anticipated all-new Generation 5 Conti Hybrid truck tyre range, plus the seventh generation Premium Contact 7, and the UltraContact and VanContact Ultra tyres. Speaking about the recent awards in Northern Ireland, NTDA Regional Chairman Dasos Michaelides said, “This was a fantastic night for the region with twenty companies attending. Congratulations to Continental – a great team effort.”

Dasos Michaelides, NTDA Northern Ireland Regional Chairman, presents the Tyre Manufacturer of the Year award to Noel McGrath, Regional Sales Manager for Continental Tyre Group in Ireland.

BPW’s AirSave - Optimal Pressure for Maximum Savings

The shreds of blown truck and trailer tyres are a typical sight along the edge of the motorway. Yet blown tyres are anything but harmless. They are highly dangerous, and even minimal pressure losses can be extremely costly for hauliers.

Day-to-day trailer tyres

withstand a great deal: road conditions, load weights and temperatures, all of which are constantly changing, causing pressure differences that ultimately lead to tyre wear. Keeping tyre pressure at the optimum value is a major contribution to road safety. BPW’s AirSave tyre pressure control system will continuously track and control tyre pressure while driving, helping to prevent unnecessary expenditures caused by worn out tyres or a roadside prohibition for under-inflated tyres. AirSave uses the trailer’s existing pneumatics and directs the air through the axle beam to the wheel end and from there to the tyre valve. The system permanently monitors air pressure loss and starts to inflate at a pressure deviation of just 0.2 bar, making it a very fast and reliable system. Even a small loss in tyre pressure increases fuel consumption and, consequently, high levels of emissions from your vehicle. The environmentally friendly AirSave, meets ECE Regulation 141, can significantly reduce the risk of accidents, preventing downtime, saving fuel by maintaining optimal pressure at all times, and reducing CO2 emissions.

New DAF steered pusher axle for even greater efficiency

For even better fuel efficiency, higher payloads and enhanced manoeuvrability, DAF Trucks is introducing an Electric Hydraulic Steering (EHS) system on 6x2 tractor and rigid vehicles with a steered pusher axle.

The new system is available across the New Generation DAF truck range, including XF, XG and XG+ models, plus the latest XD ‘International Truck of the Year 2023’. Heavy agricultural and construction-related operations will benefit especially from the advantages of a steered pusher axle. Precise manoeuvrability in combination with an even higher payload makes the steered pusher axle also an excellent solution for waste collection and bulk operations. DAF’s new Electric Hydraulic Steering system replaces its previous mechanical variant. The two steering arms and the auxiliary drop arm are replaced by an electronicallycontrolled steering pump unit, which results in a 30kg weight reduction. Thanks to reduced friction, the new EHS system also results in a 0.3% fuel efficiency gain. In addition, the new system’s components use less space on the chassis, allowing up to 40% larger fuel tanks on the tractor model. The900litre fuel carrying capacity on the XD, XF, XG and XG+ allows for a further reduction in operational costs by refuelling where fuel prices are lowest.

Precise steering

The newly developed Electric Hydraulic Steering system continuously calculates the optimal steering angle for the steered pusher axle based on speed and wheelbase, guaranteeing precise steering. The turning circle of the tractor and rigid chassis models has been further reduced by 12%, resulting in optimal manoeuvrability. At speeds of over 45 km/h, the new electric hydraulic steered pusher axle locks itself in the straight-ahead position, ensuring maximum vehicle stability. The completely redesigned suspension, guide and lift of the new electric-hydraulicly steered pusher axle add to highest driver comfort.

TruTac rolls out new vehicle profile feature for improved asset control

TruTac, part of the Microlise Group, has introduced a new feature to streamline vehicle records and audit data, whilst removing paper and manual duplication.

Aptly named, ‘Vehicle Profile’ and available within TruTac’s existing compliance software products - TruAnalysis, TruFleet and TruChecks - the new feature centralises dayto-day vehicle data, simplifies asset management and has a direct link to DVLA’s vehicle data API. For maximum benefit and full data flow, the company recommend utilising the Vehicle Profile feature within all 3 products. TruTac’s Managing Director Jemma James is a champion of this latest development. “The Vehicle Profile feature, as with all our product enhancements, has been developed in cooperation with the commercial transport industry and is designed not only to ensure faster and more efficient data but also to make fleet management easier.” With the ability to digitally record and audit greater amounts of data than conventional manual systems, TruTac says Vehicle Profile also speeds up fleet administration tasks while helping to eliminate human error and potential compliance issues. The new integral feature replaces TruTac’s previous ‘Edit Vehicle’ function. With an innovative user interface and clear on-screen data displays, managers can quickly access comprehensive vehicle details. The feature automatically links to the DVLA database API and pulls back full data, including vehicle reg, type of vehicle, manufacturer, model, TAX and MOT status. Additional information such as tachograph calibration details can be auto populated through VU data and operators can even add a vehicle image. Also, says TruTac, Vehicle Profile is a natural addition to TruFleet - all vehicle data can be displayed in one place; including brakes, tyres, maintenance dates, defects, inspections and the last 12 months ODO history. “It’s a great new feature” adds Jemma James “demonstrating our commitment to continually investing in products and harnessing the latest technologies, such as API’s from DVLA, to provide a secure, integrated experience. We strive to help transport operators work better and smarter by ensuring our products always play a central role in vehicle and asset control. The Vehicle Profile feature ticks all the boxes and provides key data to manage fleets effectively. Moreover, Vehicle Profile represents the first major step towards our exciting, new products planned for 2023 - watch this space!”

Mark Smith. Aaron Howarth.

Schmitz Cargobull UK & Ireland Strengthens Its Sales Team

Schmitz Cargobull has made a series of new appointments to its UK and Ireland sales team following the doubling of production capacity at its Manchester manufacturing plant and the introduction of a third new trailer aimed at the local markets.

After 11 years at the company, Mark Smith has been promoted to the newlycreated role of UK Key Accounts Manager, looking after major national fleets. Aaron Howarth, who has spent the last year in Schmitz Cargobull UK’s Aftersales Team and previously worked for Mercedes-Benz for 15 years, takes over from Smith as Regional Sales Manager for the East Midlands. Benjamin Clayton has joined the business as Regional Sales Manager for the South, bringing 11 years’ experience in the automotive industry, including roles at Marshall Fleet Solutions and Asset Alliance Group. And Philip Keenan joins as Regional Sales Manager for Ireland, following more than 10 years’ experience working for some of the country’s leading haulage and logistics companies, including Dixon Transport and DG McArdle International. The appointments follow an increase in production at the company’s Manchester facility, which now produces three trailers specifically for the UK and Ireland – the S.BO PACE, the S.CS FIXED ROOF and the S.CS FREEPOST. Smith, who will be drawing on more than 25 years’ transport industry experience to help grow the company’s blue-chip customer base, says: “With the increase in production capacity at our Manchester plant and the diversity of the Schmitz Cargobull portfolio, we are able to offer customer-tailored solutions for their transport operations.” In addition to the three locally-built models, the team will be supporting customers with the entire Schmitz Cargobull portfolio including the popular S.KO COOL, M.KI tippers and skeletal trailers. All four new appointments will report to Stephen Mallett, Head of Sales, Schmitz Cargobull UK & ROI.

Philip Keenan.

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