Seamus Leheny, FTA Membership Relations Manager

Seamus Leheny

Policy & Membership Manager - Northern Ireland. Freight Transport Association

NO ROOM AT THE INN

Autumn is already upon us and as we begin to look forward to winter I hope you all had an enjoyable summer and managed to get a break away from it all.

For a change this year, we decided to pass on the usual family beach holiday and instead looked East and opted for a week in Denmark which is I can now say is a beautiful interesting country with lovely people. As we have three young children, we opted to hire a car for the week for independence. Some of those road trips made me consider two important things. First of all the Danes have a truly world class infrastructure – I counted two potholes over the entire week along with road surfaces that would be the envy of airport runways! The second thing I noticed was the consistent and well signed rest areas for commercial vehicle drivers. I stopped at one such motorway services and immediately impressed by adequate HGV parking, clean modern toilets and wash areas plus excellent catering and refreshments. Recently the UK watchdog for road users, Transport Focus, published its research findings into the motorway services network. It made encouraging and positive reading for car drivers looking for a convenient place to stop for a break while on a long journey. According to the research, many of the motorway service facilities scored over 95 per cent satisfaction levels. However we in the Transport sector may have a different opinion from car drivers. Investment in services for commercial drivers has not kept pace and satisfaction levels in these areas are dropping. This will be especially prevalent for

any readers who either drive or manage drivers who undertake work in Great Britain.

Secure Parking

In recent years locally we have seen improvements with the development of our first Motorway services that have excellent parking, catering and toilet facilities for commercial drivers with more planned. However we still lack adequate safe secure parking areas on some of our primary A roads which is something I continue to raise with the Department for Infrastructure. In GB, the primary concerns of commercial drivers are on the quality and quantity of rest facilities. Commercial drivers are expected to undertake a physically and mentally demanding job on the nation’s motorways, operating to tight deadlines therefore it’s only fair for our industry to expect a consistent standard of rest areas across the UK. Among the key concerns expressed by commercial drivers in the survey was the lack of overnight security provision alongside the overall value of money, or lack of it, in overnight parking fees. FTA members have raised concerns over the availability of HGV parking, particularly during the day which subsequently makes the use of toilet and refreshment facilities near impossible for hardworking drivers during the day. Commercial drivers as we know are covered by a multitude of regulatory requirements including rest so they deserve to have decent parking and facilities in order to help remain compliant.

Drivers Wanted

Our industry is struggling to recruit new drivers and unless work is done in improving driver facilities we will find it even harder to attract new talent. I often raise the matter that we must be one of the few remaining industries left that still ignores 50% of the potential workforce. In Northern Ireland around 1% of HGV drivers are female with similar figures across the UK and Ireland. How likely are we to ever to attract more female drivers into our industry if we don’t have safe high quality rest areas. No HGV driver wants to park alongside the road but in many parts of the UK there are simply not enough parking spaces off road. This is especially prevalent in areas such as the Midlands, East of England and the South East where spaces are currently at critical level and forecast to get worse post Brexit. If a driver is parking up at a service area whether it’s in Aberdeen, Birmingham or Southampton and they know that it will have certain facilities and standards then it not only makes their job better, but its helps retain and even recruit drivers into the industry. After promising improved facilities for commercial drivers nationwide more than a year ago, the Department for Transport must now step up and fulfil its commitments to the logistics industry. Investment in rest areas for commercial drivers has failed to keep pace and this is a matter that FTA is now lobbying the Department for Transport and Government on otherwise our roads infrastructure will come under even more pressure and constraints. Thinking back to my travels in Denmark, commercial vehicle facilities are seen as vital on the strategic road network and not an inconvenience or after thought by planners - is that the change in thinking we need here? As the Danes would say, probably.

Stay informed with Fleetboard Driver

All truck drivers whose vehicles are equipped with the permanently installed Fleetboard onboard computer can take advantage of an app that makes their working day considerably easier – the newlydeveloped Fleetboard Driver is now available for downloading, free of charge, from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Fleetboard Driver keeps drivers constantly abreast of relevant data relating to their vehicle in real time. Drivers receive direct access to their personal data registered by the Fleetboard operational analysis and Fleetboard time management functions. This means they remain informed about their current driving and resting times, including weekly driving times and the remaining driving time until the next break. As an extra bonus, drivers also receive the driving style scores from their last seven journeys, the corresponding detailed scores and useful tips on optimising their score and driving style. The new app is available in 25 languages, and in all EU countries, as well as Switzerland, Norway and Russia.

DAF Genuine Parts – it pays to ‘go genuine’

DAF Trucks is underlining the importance of its DAF Genuine Parts programme as the market leader launches its new complete hub kit for the popular CF and XF ranges. The company says its hub kit assembly offers long-term financial benefits thanks to its durability and reliability.

Hub kits, as with all DAF Genuine Parts, are produced with a ‘quality guarantee’ from DAF Trucks to deliver maximum reliability. All DAF Genuine Parts comprise the highest quality, essential components to ensure an optimum lifespan while benefitting from a full manufacturer-backed warranty available throughout the DAF Dealer network. DAF’s new hub kit assembly includes hub, brake disc, ABS ring, wheel bolts and associated fittings – all available under a single part number to simplify ordering. “Where our customers demand superior replacement parts, DAF Genuine Parts provide the peaceof-mind of a quality guarantee,” says DAF Trucks’ newly appointed Parts Marketing Manager, Glen Crompton. “Over the longer term, DAF Genuine Parts offer improved durability and reliability to deliver maximum uptime. Quite simply,” he says, “it pays to go genuine. “Our new complete wheel end hub kit for the CF and XF contains all the essential parts necessary for an effective and reliable hub replacement,” adds Crompton, “now catalogued under a single part number. The assembly comprises only new DAF Genuine Parts, ensuring optimum fit and performance. Of course, DAF Genuine Parts benefit from a full DAF warranty and available throughout our 136-strong UK DAF Dealer network.”

Detect See Act

Sensor data and camera image combined image combined

Brigade’s ultrasonic proximity sensors minimise both vehicle damage and collisions with pedestrians, cyclists or objects.

Combining a Backeye® camera monitor system and up to two ultrasonic detection systems, the on-screen display module warns the driver of obstacles close to the vehicle. By overlaying 3-stage audible and visual ultrasonic data onto the camera image on the monitor, it reduces driver distractions as all information is in one view.