IRELAND'S LEADING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MAGAZINE Inside!
PREVIEWS:
INSIDE
NEW FUSO CANTER ROLLS OFF PRODUCTION LINE PICTORIALS: Renault Trucks Electric Vehicles Launched DAF New Generation Trucks arrive in Ireland ELECTROMOBILITY: Volvo Trucks extend Electric model range REVIEW: UKIFDA EXPO 2022, Liverpool FEATURE: Commercial Vehicle Hire & Rental Marketplace FIRST DRIVE: All-new Fiat Professional Scudo & Latest Iveco Daily
MAY/JUNE 22
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Contents MAY/JUNE 22
Fleet Transport Magazine, D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland. F12 E7P2 Tel: +353 (0)94 9372819/ 9372826 Fax: +353 (0)94 9373571 | Email: enquiries@fleet.ie Subscription Hotline: 094 93 72827 Editor:
Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie
Contributors:
Sean Murtagh, Paul White, Donal Dempsey, Howard Knott, Jonathan Lawton, SMMT
Photography:
Jarlath Sweeney, Paul White, Cathal Doyle, Howard Knott, Beaverswood, RL Automotive, Megan Dunmore - DPPR, Rob Van Dieten
Administration: Orla Sweeney Email: enquiries@fleet.ie Advertising:
Mary Morrissey Email: mary@fleet.ie
Design:
Crackerjack Design House
Keep up to date with all the latest news and views from the transport industry in our weekly ezine or daily on www.fleet.ie 4 News Torc Robotics spreads its wings into EU BMW Welt hosts IFOY Awards Gala Rolling Resistance is key to fuel economy 8 Interview With Mark Barrett, General Manager, Harris Maxus 10 Cover Behind the design of the new Fuso Canter 12 New Fleet Featuring new MAN, Scania, DAF trucks sold recently 16 Advertorial Toner Transport invests in CNG power
Printed in Ireland
18 Preview I The CV Show 2022, NEC, Birmingham, UK
Fleet Transport/ Fleet Car/ Fleet Bus & Coach/ Fleet Van & Utility/ Fleet Trailer & Body Builder/ Fleet Maritime/ Green Fleet Management are published by JJDS Publications Ltd. Registered Office: D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. Co. Reg. 368767 Directors: Jarlath Sweeney, Sean Murtagh. IN
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Jury Member
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20 Preview II Road Transport Expo 2022, NAEC, Stoneleigh, UK 23 Fuel Prices Courtesy of the IRU 24 Preview III Connacht Truck Show 2022, Claremorris Equestrian Centre
2022
www.fleet.ie | 3
44 Review UKIFDA Expo 2022 - returns to Liverpool 46 Fleet Maritime Shipping & Freight Newsletter 50 Feature Update on Commercial Vehicle Hire & Rentals sector 53 Fleeting Shots Mid-America Trucking Show ZF marks production landmark 54 Opinion ‘No man is an island’ 56 Legal Time to evolve everyone 57 Finance Keeping on top of the business 58 LCV Driving the latest Iveco Daily Introducing the new Fiat Professional Scudo 62 Exporters Column from the Irish Exporters Association
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26 Pictorial 1 Launched! Renault Trucks’ new Electric trucks
Disclaimer: Fleet Transport Magazine management can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Fleet Transport management, save where otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, Editors or publishers. The Editor reserves the right to make publishing decisions on any advertisements or editorial article submitted to the magazine and to refuse publication or to edit any editorial material as seems appropriate to him. Professional legal advice should always be sought in relation to any specific matter.
Fleet Transport Official Irish Jury Member of the International Truck of the Year Award
Official Irish jury member of the International Intralogistics & Forklift Truck Awards follow us on twitter.com/fleettransport
30 Safety Matters Timely advice from the HSA 32 Pictorial II DAF New Generation trucks arrive into Ireland 34 Launch Pad INIOS Grenadier to make impact and impression 36 Electromobility Volvo Trucks extend Electric model range 40 Warehousing UKWA & AIWA host briefing in Belfast
Contents – Issue 3/22 63 News VW & BP Call on H2 infrastructure 64 First Drive Ford Mustang Mach-E 65 Launch Pad Seventh Heaven in the new Dacia 7-seater Jogger! 66 Contemplations Design rethink needed on car EV charging points
42 Comment Howard Knott - years ahead of his time!
www.fleet.ie
4 | NEWS I
Torc Robotics opens T&D Centre in Germany to further innovate driverless technology
Torc Robotics, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck, is opening a technology and software development centre in Stuttgart, Germany. Torc is a leader in SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle software for heavy-duty vehicle, and the newly established Torc Europe GmbH will tap into the available talent pool in one of Germany’s prime automotive regions. The team will support the ongoing development of the Level 4 autonomous virtual driver in autonomous trucks in the United
States. Torc Europe is now hiring software engineers, data scientists, and architects in the areas of systems, safety, validation, and product development. “Torc is working closely with Daimler Truck to optimise the entire product stack including the virtual driver, sensing and computer hardware, and the redundant chassis, to be the first company to launch a scalable and profitable self-driving product,” said Torc Founder & CEO Michael Fleming. “Torc’s Stuttgart technology and software development centre will leverage the deep automotive and trucking technical and product
expertise to make this a reality.” Torc and Daimler Truck are collaboratively pursuing a common goal of developing and bringing autonomous trucks for long-distance haulage trucks on to the roads within the decade. In 2019, Daimler Truck invested a majority share in Torc, the first autonomous vehicle (AV) company to enter an integrated partnership with a truck original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Torc and Daimler Truck, with its North American entity, are currently ramping up development and testing in the United States. Torc’s testing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, allows daily, multi-shift runs of Torc’s autonomous test trucks on highways in New Mexico and Texas.
BMW Welt is the setting for the IFOY AWARDs 2022 ceremony BMW Welt at Ismaning near Munich is the location for one of the biggest events in the materials handling industry to be held this year. On 30 June, the announcement and presentations of the trophies for the IFOY AWARDs 2022 (International Intralogistics & Forklift Truck of the Year) will be made, with more than 200 international guests from business, science and the media attending the gala evening. The BMW Welt, which opened in 2007 is a big tourist attraction, visited by twice as many people as Neuschwanstein Castle every year. It is not the first time that it has provided a spectacular backdrop for the awards ceremony, as the trophies, also known as the “Oscars of intralogistics”, were presented to the winners for the first time there in 2017, according to Anita Würmser, Chairperson of the IFOY jury: “The BMW Group is one of the biggest users of new, innovative FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
logistics solutions in the automotive industry worldwide. We are therefore very pleased to be guests at BMW Welt with the world’s largest intralogistics competition,” she said. “The BMW Group has traditionally invested for a long time not only in the development of innovative and sustainable vehicles and mobility solutions, but also in efficient, sustainable and forward-looking solutions in the production and logistics network - LEAN. GREEN. DIGITAL. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to set the stage for the IFOY AWARD 2022,” added Dr. Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President BMW Group Production Network, Logistics. “This year, 14 innovative products,
devices and solutions from 12 manufacturers made it to the final round of the tenth anniversary of the competition. The finalists cover the entire spectrum of in-plant logistics - from forklifts to autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and software to holistic automation projects for high-performance warehouses. All finalists went through the three-stage IFOY audit in March during the IFOY TEST DAYS at Messe Dortmund before the 25 jury members from 19 countries casted their votes,” explained Anita. The result, however, remains secret, she emphasised - for both the public and the manufacturers - until the award ceremony.
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www.fleet.ie
6 || NEWS NEWS II1
Rolling Resistance Makes the Difference in Saving Fuel Continental Tyres
Soaring fuel prices are putting road transport sectors and supply chains at risk. The fitment of lower rolling resistance tyres can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 30 percent, according to Continental Tyres. “Black gold” is how oil and its derivatives is often described. And right now, petrol and diesel really do seem like luxury commodities, as motorists confronting the high prices at filling stations can testify. Unsurprisingly, skyrocketing costs are also giving transport companies and fleet managers sleepless nights. Logistics associations are even warning of a wave of insolvencies; without fuel the transportation industry would literally grind to a halt. So, the emphasis is once again on saving fuel and, by extension, on tyres. Indeed, tyres are one of the various factors playing a central role in fuel consumption. Which explains why Continental has long since placed importance on the impact of tyres on fuel economy at the heart of its research and development work. The company is finding solutions which have a sustained impact on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. According to figures from the EU, around a quarter of Europe’s CO2 emissions in the road traffic and transport sector are caused by heavy commercial vehicles. In order to meet the EU’s climate targets, fleets are being called on to reduce their CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2030. And cutting carbon emissions means cutting fuel consumption. In these times of historically high fuel prices, finding ways of saving fuel has become even more important. “The rolling resistance of a tyre is FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
responsible for as much as 30 percent of a truck’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,” stated Hinnerk Kaiser, Head of Product Development Bus & Truck Tyres at Continental. Tyre pressure, vehicle configuration, load distribution, mileage, traction and tyre performance are all important criteria in determining fuel consumption and therefore CO2 emissions. However, by far the most important and influential factor is rolling resistance. Here, the task is always to balance the conflict of interest between low rolling resistance on the one hand, and safety-relevant attributes such as grip and handling on the other. With this in mind, Continental focuses primarily on tread compounds, which generate energy loss without negatively impacting grip or mileage. That may sound straightforward but is far from the case. Tyres are impacted by various forces during a journey. Indeed, the tread and sidewall of a tyre are subjected to bending, buckling and shearing. The constant deformation of a vehicle’s tyres and recovery of their original form leads to energy being converted into heat in a process known as hysteresis. “This is one of the main causes of rolling resistance in tyres,” explained Kaiser. “With hysteresis, energy is lost in the form of heat. Fuel has to be burned to counteract this
effect and maintain the vehicle’s forward momentum.” VECTO and the EU Emissions Directive are also prominent influencers for the transportation sector when it comes to saving fuel. In order to increase transparency in the tyre selection process, Continental has come up with a CO2 and fuel calculator based on the VECTO simulation tool. This calculator allows fleet operators to work out how much they can reduce their emissions and fuel consumption with the right selection of tyres. “We are delighted to be able to offer our customers another tool – in the form of our new calculator – to help them work in a more sustainable way,” said Enno Straten, Head of Marketing Replacement Tyres EMEA at Continental. The interplay between correct tyre choice, tyre construction, tyre pressure and rolling resistance is critical in determining how much fuel a fleet of vehicles use and how much they can save. The high fuel prices at present and growing demands for reductions in CO2 emissions and increased sustainability continue to shine the spotlight on the issue of fuel saving – through the lens of economics, the impact on livelihoods, supply chains and, not least, the environment. Continental is offering solutions which can help overcome these challenges and support fleet managers with their decision making.
SAFER THAN EVER
INTRODUCING THE NEW FUSO CANTER
FUSO.ie
8 | INTERVIEW
One-to-One with Mark Barrett, General Manager at Harris Maxus
MAXUS is gearing up for its biggest Commercial Vehicle Show (CV Show) ever with two new vehicle reveals planned. It’s all part of the brand’s continued commitment to greener motoring, copper-fastening its position in the commercial EV market. While the details are still under wraps, MAXUS has confirmed that it will showcase two new vehicles for the UK market on Tuesday 24th May at 11am and invites CV Show visitors to join the team for the big reveal. For the second consecutive year, MAXUS is going fully electric at the CV Show. The brand confirmed that stand 5D110 will be a pure EV experience featuring 12 zero emission vehicles. In association with one of the organisers, the SMMT, it’s Transport News Brief featured this interview with Mark Barrett, General Manager at Harris Maxus. Why is the Commercial Vehicle (CV) Show important to Maxus?
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
The CV Show is a great opportunity to get key names in the industry together under one roof. It’s a showcase event for Maxus and the flagship event on our annual calendar: thousands of key decision-makers and purchasers such as fleet owners, directors, senior managers and engineers visit the CV Show each year. We use the event as a launchpad to introduce our newest products to the market – this year will be no different and we will be showcasing two new Maxus vehicles on our stand. What are you highlighting/showcasing at the show this year? We are gearing up for our biggest CV Show and, for the second consecutive year at the event, Maxus will be going all-electric. Our stand will be a pure EV experience featuring 12 zero-emission vehicles, including an eDeliver 9 panel van, dropside and minibus, as well as the e Deliver 3 sports model panel van, tipper, specialist conversion van and milk float. We will also be launching two brand new vehicles at the CV Show, which will attract interest beyond the commercial market. It’s an exciting time for the Maxus brand and I feel confident that our vehicle launch is going to transform the EV market even further. What is your favourite CV Show memory? My favourite memory is from our first CV Show in 2016 when Maxus – named LDV at the time – launched the EV80, our first
ever electric vehicle EV in the UK market. That CV Show really conveyed our intent for the future of the brand. It truly was a pivotal moment. There were a lot of special moments that year; sadly, Pino [Robert ‘Pino’ Harris, founder of Harris Group] passed away the following year, so his presence at that CV Show is firmly etched in my memory. What’s your advice for anyone attending the show for the first time? Plan your visit and get to know the stands and where they are located beforehand so you can use your time efficiently. Take advantage of all the experts and expertise under one roof. Exhibitors are very happy to chat and you will never feel pressured into making a sale. Our Maxus stand will focus on educating people who want to switch to electric: we want to help people understand what’s involved, including the benefits and what they need to do before making the switch. What are your anticipated highlights for this year? The CV Show is a real cornerstone for the commercial vehicle sector so it’s great that it will be back to full capacity this year following the pandemic. We’re also looking forward to networking with industry colleagues, speaking with customers new and old, and getting together with our fantastic network of dealers. Text: SMMT & Rob Van Dieten
VIEWPOINT | 9
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10 | COVER STORY
DESIGN - Crafting the next FUSO Canter
While automotive design is undoubtedly a well-known aspect of passenger car production and sales, its significance for commercial vehicles has long been overlooked. For example, product design for the FUSO Truck brand reaches beyond mere appearance, taking into consideration form and function to deliver advanced comfort and safety, while minimising the environmental impact. At a recent Design Essentials event held at its Kawasaki headquarters, Mitsubishi Fuso showcased each stage of its design process for products that serve society’s needs, today and beyond. Through demonstrations of its physical design, production design, and advanced design, visitors were invited to discover why, Mitsubishi Fuso remains committed to perfecting the art of the commercial vehicle.
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
Design at Mitsubishi Fuso is situated within a global Daimler network, which allows the team in Kawasaki to exchange ideas with more than 700 counterparts worldwide. Representing this exchange are Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Daimler AG, Benoit Tallec, the Head of Product Design at MFTBC and Daimler Trucks Asia, and an international, multi-generational team. The cross-country setup has enabled design at Mitsubishi Fuso to integrate global expertise and world-leading technology while safeguarding the uniqueness of FUSO trucks and buses within the Daimler Trucks line-up. In order to keep FUSO’s heritage intact while keeping in mind futureforward approaches to design, Mitsubishi Fuso designers have three distinct principles as their driving force. The first of these is establishing a clear identity and harmonious connection among all FUSO products. Here, “clear” indicates both a purity and cleanliness in form, as well as design that is immediately recognisable. Mitsubishi Fuso unifies the look of the front face through its entire family of trucks and buses, referring to the same motifs and design lettering across the range. At the same time, elements from iconic FUSO vehicles of the past are recognisable in the current family look. The face of the Aero Queen coach bus, for instance, relate to the face of the Canter. Simplification The pursuit of the simple means FUSO designers are constantly problem solving to address as many needs as possible in one fell swoop. The roundness of a lamp, or the curvature on the side of the cab – all aspects of the vehicle are decided in a way that fulfils a variety of requirements at once.
For example, production efficiency, aerodynamics, and structural balance are among the many considerations contributing to the integration of components seen on the latest Canter face. Perceived quality First impressions last, and the designers at Mitsubishi Fuso have stepped up to the challenge of making their products perfect. The strengths and functions of a vehicle, as well as the care taken to produce it, should be immediately visible when it comes to a FUSO product. Work at the Kawasaki Design Center also reflects the awareness
that trucks and buses are a constant presence on roads everywhere. This means that in the eyes of the designer, each product is a brand ambassador, not only for FUSO, but for customers as well. The three principles are applied through every step of design process, from physical modelling, production design, and with the concept vehicles produced to advance the design work. Physical Design The physical design process at Mitsubishi Fuso relies upon traditional craftsmanship in clay modelling, as
COVER STORY | 11
well as more recent technology such as data modelling, 3D printing, and NC (numerically controlled) machine milling. Once given a drawing from their colleagues, clay modellers will begin shaping their real-world interpretation of the paper concept. Clay modelling for FUSO products is built on a trial-and-error process with active dialogue between the designer and modeller, repeated until the designer and modeller arrive at a shared ideal. The transition from drawing to clay is not completed in one step. The design team also implements even more minute adjustments to perfect the work done by hand, to ensure production-ready quality. The result of their physical modelling is translated into data through a scanning device in preparation for digital fine-tuning. The latest technologies in 3D printing and NC machine
milling come into play when higher levels of precision are required for more intricately designed sections such as the grille or the FUSO three-diamond logo. Supporting this search for the ideal form is a strong foundation of collective experience and historical knowledge of the FUSO brand. At Mitsubishi Fuso, some clay modellers have developed their skills through careers in the field spanning over 30 years. These experts working at Kawasaki have been in their positions for several decades, gaining unparalleled knowledge of the process and an innate sense for what FUSO vehicles stand for. Mitsubishi Fuso relies on these veterans as the work of the clay modeller is something that cannot be easily taught, nor something that can be
easily managed by sheer talent. The attention of these master craftsmen, or “takumi,” to even the smallest of details reflects Mitsubishi Fuso’s understanding that commercial vehicle design in not simply about aesthetic value, but maximising the value of trucks and buses for customers. Compared to passenger cars, trucks and buses have more rigid parameters they must clear in order to be considered for sale, such as load capacity, dimensions, and wheel base. There is a comparatively limited space in which the design team can exercise its abilities.
Production Design is therefore two-fold: it supports a common family appearance within the FUSO product lineup, but it also means significant time and cost benefits for Mitsubishi Fuso as well as customers. Production Design also enhances the quality of all FUSO products by taking advantage of 3D surface data in the design development process for the front section. With this technology, FUSO
Production Design Mitsubishi Fuso design is always about form and function, pleasing eye and mind. It is about beauty, ease and harmony, as well as the creation of driving comfort, safety, efficiency and economy. The latest model of the light-duty truck Canter, which was showcased at this event, features a cab design that was renewed for the first time in 10 years with the Black Belt design motif. With this new motif, FUSO designers breathed new life into the Canter’s swift character positioning within the product range. With the adoption of the Black Belt design motif in the Canter, the structure of the front grill now enables greater efficiency in the vehicle assembly process while creating a sleeker, unified look. This aspect of Production Design, and the implementation of the Black Belt motif, also applies to the common LED headlight. The common headlight design, which is used in the Canter, Aero Ace/Queen and Rosa, supports a more efficient development process for each vehicle. In addition, by introducing the common headlamp, it became possible to reduce the number of parts from three to two, comprising of only the lamp and the surround. The integrated headlight design therefore contributes not only to a more efficient development of the entire vehicle, but also to the reduction of total development costs. Even with changes to exterior colouring or additions of customer liveries, the FUSO brand name and its unique design elements remain clearly recognisable. The importance of
designers can easily explore how vehicles will appear with fewer creases and folds, how the wind noise will be impacted, and even how assembly on the factory line will be ordered. The design team will always seek to connect all of these elements smoothly to produce better aerodynamics, more efficient assembly orders, as well as the strength and durability of parts. Colour, materials and finish also play an important role in Production Design at Mitsubishi Fuso. These aspects of vehicle interior design directly impact the overall appeal of the final product, but also enhance a vehicle’s functionality for drivers. At the same time, designers made sure to distinguish the texture selection for various switches within the cabin, boosting the intuitive usability of vehicle. Production Design
therefore reaches beyond appearance for appearance’s sake, but aims to achieve better comfort for the driver, and better efficiency, both in on the manufacturing line and in on-road use. Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie www.fleet.ie
12 | NEW FLEET I
10 | COVER
On the Pace – A brace of new MAN TGS 8x4s!
Pictured on the left is the Thompsons tipper bodied 430 hp MAN TGS 8x4 sold by Dennehy’s Sales Executive Martin Hough to Loughnane Concrete (Birr,
County Offaly), the longest established Readymix company in Ireland’s Midlands. On the right is a similar 430 hp MAN TGS 8x4 purchased by Lynch Concrete
(Limerick), with a Liebherr HTM 804 Mixer bottle, sold by Dennehy’s Sales Executive Paul Hynan.
New Key Handovers at Westward Scania
Campbell Carriers Ltd Another chilli red Scania 650 S V8 4x2 Highline tractor-unit for Campbell Carriers (Ballinamore, Leitrim). Sold by Eric Treacy
Keith Costello Sporting the vibrant colours of Kildea Concrete (Roscommon) is Keith Costello’s new Scania R450 8x4 block-carrier rigid, with Palfinger crane. Sold by Kevin Concannon.
Transzone 650S A6X2/4 A top-of-the-range Scania 650 S V8 6x2/4 (twin-steer) tractor-unit is now in operation at Transzone Ltd, (Ballinlough, County Roscommon). Sold by Eric Treacy
Fore to Four new DAFs for Fynes Logistics Loyal DAF Trucks customer Fynes Logistics (Harristown, County Dublin) has trusted its future road transport operations to the
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Dutch brand by buying four new DAF XF 410 tractor-units with Day cabs from DAF Trucks Ireland, through John McCann, DAF Trucks Ireland Sales Manager.
Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
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14 | NEW FLEET II
Done Deals at McElvaney Scania (Monaghan & Dublin)
Dixon International Logistics Swords, County Dublin headquartered Dixon International recently took delivery of a batch of new Scania 450 S 4x2 Highline tractor-units
O’Toole Transport The first two of O’Toole Transport’s new Scania 590 S V8 Highline 6x2 tractor-units have been delivered. They are powered by Scania’s new 590hp Euro6e diesel.
Portway Trailers Fuel transporter Portway Trailers has bought two new Scania R500 6x2 tractor-units. These are the final handovers from an order of six ordered and come complete with full ADR compliance equipment supplied by SM Components.
McDermott Transport Buncrana, County Donegal’s John McDermott has invested in this new Scania 650 S 6x2/2 Highline, with every extra imaginable, including V8 styling packs (both interior and exterior), as well as hydraulic equipment and an LED lighting pack!
Hannon Transport Well-known Hannon Transport recently received a number of new Scanias, including a R650 with manual tag and a new 500 S 6x2, along with a new 450 S 4x2, LHD, replacing older trucks in Hannon Transport’s fleet.
Abco Kovex A new Scania 650 S 4x2 for Dublin packaging company, Abco Kovex. Longserving driver, Sándor Moldován will be piloting this special V8, which comes fully loaded with lots of extras.
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McNally Pig Group A new triple deck body is fitted to Monaghan-based McNally Pig Group’s impressive new Scania R450 Tridum. Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
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PassengerSafe Membership Be Compliant, Be Confident, Be Connected
FTA Ireland is a not-for-profit trade association representing the transport sector. Our work enhances the influence and image of the transport industry in Ireland by promoting the highest standards of safety and compliance.
What is the PassengerSafe standard?
The standard is an initiative developed by FTA Ireland members designed to raise operational standards and recognise excellence. It aims to recognise, encourage, and promote good practice in the area of passenger operations. FTAI members wanted to develop a standard system in order to encourage improvement in the sector and recognise those organisations operating at the highest levels. The standard seeks to confirm that the company has systems in place to meet the minimum legal standards in fatigue, roadworthiness, driver competence, road traffic rules, customer care, road passenger operator licensing, professional competence, sustainable operations, health and safety, contractor, and agency management.
Who is the PassengerSafe standard for?
What are the benefits to the operation of attaining the standard?
PassengerSafe is open to all coach and bus operations with vehicles in excess of 9 passenger seats in their operation regardless of type or size of operation. For the purposes of PassengerSafe, a multi-passenger vehicle is defined as a commercial vehicle used for the carriage of passengers with a minimum of 9 passenger seats.
✓ Achievement of the PassengerSafe standard will demonstrate to enforcement authorities, customers, and the general public that you are compliant with minimum legal and operational standards.
What do vehicle operators have to do to become a PassengerSafe member?
✓ The company has achieved an industry standard
When joining FTAI, the operator signs a declaration to say that it is committed to be a member of the Association, will achieve the standards needed to join and will maintain these standards to ensure continued membership.
What does the audit cover?
The operator must provide the auditor with evidence that the FTAI PassengerSafe standards are being met and the auditor also looks for evidence of non-compliance. The standards are detailed below. • • • • • • • • • •
Vehicle and equipment maintenance Safe working environment Vehicle standards Driver licensing and competence Road Passenger Transport Operator Licensing Professional competence Customer Care Environmental considerations Contractor and agency management Health and safety
✓ The company will also benefit from improved compliance levels and industry image, both within Ireland and abroad. ✓ The company is demonstrating that it has active management systems in place to manage drivers’ hours, roadworthiness, and driver qualifications
This is a risk management programme ✓ Improved safety standards – less risk of accident. ✓ Recognises the good work drivers are doing on the company’s behalf. ✓ Improves reputation of the company. ✓ Ensures the company has a good Commercial Vehicle Operator Risk rating (CVORI) with the Road Safety Authority. ✓ The FTAI window sticker indicates that PassengerSafe has been achieved. ✓ Demonstrates a commitment to provide a good working environment and to protect all road users. ✓ The PassengerSafe Standard demonstrates the dedication and participation of drivers to the highest professional standards. ✓ The PassengerSafe standard can be used to show that the company has achieved a compliance standard when tendering for business.
Contact us today for further information. T: 01 8447516 E: info@ftai.ie W: www.ftai.ie
16 | ADVERTORIAL
Compressed Natural Gas provides a competitive advantage for Toner Transport Sustainability is an increasing consideration in procurement, with many businesses building social, economic and environmental factors into procurement processes and procedures. Businesses are faced with rising pressure to shift to a more sustainable business model and reduce their impact on carbon emissions, and fleet operators such as Toner Transport & Logistics are positioning their business to provide more sustainable services. “For those businesses who are actively integrating the use of sustainable practices into their supply chain management, they stand to gain a real competitive advantage,” Toner Transport & Logistics Managing Director, Paul Toner, said.
way is through the switch to a CNG truck from a diesel-fuelled truck,” Paul added. “We work with Smurfit Kappa to deliver packaging material throughout the 32 counties of Ireland, from Cork to Dublin and everywhere in between, and the new CNG truck will clock up over 100,000km a year. “Throughout the 40-year association with Smurfit Kappa, we always innovate
CNG REFUELLING NETWORK These lower carbon journeys have been made possible by the introduction of several CNG stations strategically located to support prominent haulier routes. The state-of-the-art fast-fill stations have the capacity to fill 50 Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) a day, with each
DECARBONISING CUSTOMER SUPPLY CHAINS Toner Transport is an award-winning Dublin-based family business that has been at the forefront of the transport industry for four generations, working closely with its customer base to discover cleaner transport solutions. One such way the business has looked to decarbonise its supply chain is by transitioning its fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG is a proven and reliable alternative to diesel that is particularly suitable for use in long-haul trucks, heavy passenger vehicles and other commercial vehicles where electric solutions are not a viable option. “When one of our largest customers, the paper and packaging group Smurfit Kappa, approached the team to investigate ways they can reduce carbon emissions, we instantly knew that one FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
Pictured (l-r) David Hanahoe, Gas Networks Ireland; Annmarie Hennessy, Gas Networks Ireland and Paul Toner, Toner Transport & Logistics
and look at new ways we can adapt our fleet to work with them and all our customers to help achieve their business goals. “From a business development perspective, being able to offer a lower-carbon transport solution is a strong differentiator for any business. It demonstrates a focus on sustainability when tendering for new business.”
fill taking no more than five minutes. Last year, Gas Networks Ireland opened the country’s third and fourth public CNG stations at Circle K’s forecourts at Clonshaugh in Dublin and Ballysimon Road in Limerick City. This is in addition to stations at Circle K’s forecourts in Dublin Port and Cashel. “The opening of the new public CNG in Cashel has made a massive impact and enabled this switch. The location of
ADVERTORIAL | 17
CNG vehicle. More information on the grant and a list of the type of vehicle types supported by the grant are available on the dedicated webpage www.gasnetworks.ie/cngvehiclegrant. “As a business, we knew we wanted to begin the processes of switching our fleet to incorporate CNG vehicles, and the availability of financial assistance via the CNG Vehicle Grant scheme was a bonus,” concluded Paul. For Toner Transport, the move to purchase a CNG truck as part of its sustainability strategy was an obvious choice as CNG is readily available in Ireland. It provided an ideal solution to ensure they were adaptable and competitive against others when vying for business. As a business operating for four generations, the move to CNG provides an option of moving to an even more sustainable gas solution in the years ahead with renewable gas, further reducing emissions and maintaining its competitive advantage for many more generations to come.
available through the CNG Vehicle Grant scheme are helping make it even easier for fleet operators and businesses to make the sustainable switch to CNG.” CNG VEHICLE GRANT SCHEME n Covers 20% of the difference between CNG and diesel vehicles up to a max of €5,000 per vehicle. n Maximum amount available to an applicant under the scheme will be €60,000. n Grants can be used towards CNG vehicles registered from 2020. the CNG station in Cashel has allowed our truck drivers to refuel the vehicle on route from Dublin to Kerry or Cork. Our drivers travel to virtually every county in Ireland daily, and the gas-powered vehicle has already travelled over 80,000 kilometres across the island of Ireland,” he explained. “These new stations and the funds
Gas Networks Ireland is providing a €2.9m CNG Vehicle Grant scheme for the purchase of up to 400 gas-powered trucks, buses and vans to support Irish fleet operators and hauliers in funding the transition to new, cleaner CNG vehicles. The scheme is open to any Irish business that wishes to obtain grant support for the purchase of an approved
Grants up to €5,000
Prog
*
for cleaner and reliable gas vehicles Learn more at gasnetworks.ie/cng or call 1800 411 511
* Subject to terms and conditions of the CNG Vehicle Grant Scheme. Visit www.gasnetworks.ie/cngvehiclegrant
Co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union
www.fleet.ie
18 | PREVIEW I
Roll-up for another magical mystery tour at the CV Show 2022 The 2022 Commercial Vehicle Show, one of the largest and best-attended road transport exhibitions returns to the NEC Birmingham from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 May With a broad selection of suppliers, innovators and manufacturers bringing the latest products, services and technology solutions to the Show, this annual gathering is the perfect platform to re-engage with existing contacts and connect with new suppliers who can help businesses thrive. An ideal and convenient event, location and venue whether you are a fleet owner, director, senior manager, or running commercial vehicles as part of your business. The organising team has confirmed that nearly 200 exhibitors have booked spaces to date. Many leading brands in the trade are annual exhibitors, while others are returning after a few years break. Among those who will be showcasing their products are Ford, Toyota, Isuzu, Harris Maxus, Shell, BP, Whale Tankers, TrakM8, SDC Trailers, Bott, Tip Trailer, Totalkare, LeasePlan, Kuda, Fischer Panda, Webasto, ORBcomm and many more. A series of expert panel discussions, with audience interaction, will take place in live theatres across all three days of the Show, addressing some of the most crucial and important topics facing the industry and answering questions from attendees. Here’s a preview to some of main exhibits at the event. Big reveal expected at the MAXUS Fully Electric Stand Chinese auto manufacturer MAXUS is gearing up for its biggest CV Show ever with two new vehicle reveals planned, as part of the brand’s continued commitment to greener motoring, copper-fastening its position in the commercial EV market. While the details are still under wraps, MAXUS has FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
confirmed that it will showcase two new vehicles for the UK market on Tuesday 24th May at 11am and invites CV Show visitors to join the team for the big reveal. For the second consecutive year, MAXUS is going fully electric at the CV Show. The company confirmed that stand 5D110 will be a pure EV experience featuring 12 zero emission vehicles, including an e DELIVER 9 panel van, dropside and minibus, as well as featuring the e DELIVER 3 sports model with panel van, tipper, specialist conversion van and milk float versions on display. Mark Barrett, General Manager of HARRIS MAXUS explained: “The CV Show is always a highlight on the calendar for MAXUS, but this year we are planning to go bigger than ever before. Extending our range beyond LCVs, we will be unveiling two new vehicles to the UK market on Tuesday morning, which we are confident will attract interest beyond the commercial market. This is a big moment for MAXUS so make sure to stop by our stand because you won’t want to miss it. This year we are also bringing our largest fleet of EVs to the CV Show with 12 of our most innovative zero-emission vehicles making the journey to the NEC Birmingham. “Our stand will be fully electric for the second year running. EV experts from MAXUS and our wider dealership network will be available to CV show visitors to answer any questions related
to electric motoring. So, for anyone considering making the switch to electric, this is a golden opportunity to get up close not only with the MAXUS EV range, but those who can offer advice and insight.” ORBCOMM selected by CoolKit ORBCOMM., a global provider of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, has been selected by CoolKit, the largest manufacturer of temperature-controlled vans in the United Kingdom, to deliver temperature monitoring, management and compliance for the refrigerated vehicles it provides to customers in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, food
& beverage and agricultural industries. With ORBCOMM’s robust temperature recorder solution, CoolKit can provide proof of an uninterrupted cold chain, reduce their carbon footprint by promoting ecological driving and increase the efficiency of their administrative processes and workflow. CoolKit will once again be on display at the NEC event. CoolKit is utilizing ORBCOMM’s temperature dataloggers with certified temperature sensors, which leverage thermal transfer technology for
PREVIEW I | 19 maximum reliability and performance, to monitor their customers’ fleets of refrigerated vans. CoolKit customers can download recorded temperature data over Bluetooth or print from an integrated printer to ensure seamless cold chain compliance. ORBCOMM’s automatic temperature detection systems set adjustable tolerances to ensure continuous quality and integrity assurance of temperature-sensitive loads throughout the supply chain. If out-of-range conditions occur, such as hardware malfunctions, temperature deviations from target values, rapid fuel loss or geofence entry/ exit, intelligent and configurable alarms are triggered immediately so fleets can take rapid corrective action. With GAMP5 validation, ORBCOMM’s solution meets the highest of international regulations and guidelines across many industries, enabling CoolKit to deliver world-class customer service. Established in 2005, CoolKit is widely recognised by fleet operators, fleet funders, OEMs and motor dealers as the foremost provider of equipment for producing industry-leading temperature-controlled and refrigerated light commercial vehicles (LCVs). CoolKit’s range of products includes van conversions, ready-converted vans, kit-form conversions and rigid insulated box bodies – all of which are designed and manufactured in-house. A range of portable refrigerators for partial load applications completes the line-up. All of these products are supported by a network of specialist mobile technicians dedicated to maximising vehicle uptime. “We are pleased CoolKit has selected ORBCOMM as their trusted partner to deliver temperature management solutions to their customers that will help ensure their refrigerated vehicles are safe, compliant and efficient,” said Christian Allred, ORBCOMM’s Executive Vice President of International Sales. “We are well-positioned to provide CoolKit with the product reliability, best-in-class service and ongoing support that will enhance their market leadership.” “We are committed to helping our customers optimize fleet performance with innovative technology such as ORBCOMM’s temperature dataloggers, which bring unmatched reliability and
performance to the cold chain industry,” said Rupert Gatty, CEO and Owner of CoolKit. Security experts set to debut new van lock, that aims to combat the surge in van crime Commercial vehicle security specialist, Maple, is set to unveil BondLock at this year’s CV Show; a new, innovative van security lock that is designed to combat modern theft techniques and features a host of exciting fleet management benefits.
From lock picking tools to code grabbers, from key emulators to electronic devices that are designed to bypass OEM systems, today’s career criminal is equipped with an ever expanding arsenal of weapons. These tools are all readily available, with their use becoming more and more widespread, as criminals continue to target vulnerable panel vans and their theft attractive content, hitting businesses hard. BondLock has been engineered to combat known methods of attack to a vehicles cargo area. The innovative design provides resistance against different theft techniques and not just a single vehicle-specific weakness. The locking mechanism, which has been proven under attack conditions to resist prolonged forced assault, is installed inside the load area for optimum protection and is capable of withstanding a tensile load of more than 2 tonnes. Controlled independently, BondLock also guards against the new generation of vehicle hacking and keyless theft techniques where the manufacturers existing security and central door locking systems are simply bypassed. What really sets BondLock apart is how you can quickly and simply tailor the system to meet your requirements
and budget. Users can select between single or multi-point locking options and manual or automatic (slamlock) setting locks. Furthermore, fleet operators can take advantage of flexible access control options such as emergency access PIN entry (in the event keys are lost or locked inside a vehicle) and remote unlocking capabilities (via the use of compatible telematics solutions). TIP hopes to earn further recognition at this year’s CV Show TIP, along with associate businesses Grayrentals and Eurotrail, will return to the Commercial Vehicle Show in May after a two-year absence. In addition to promoting its range of industry leading rental, leasing and maintenance services for both ‘trucks’ and trailers, it will be showcasing one or two new initiatives, including their new Earned Recognition service and its Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring System, BrakePlus. Earned Recognition by TIP is a service targeted at transport operators aspiring to achieve ‘exemplar’ Earned Recognition status and lists data entry, ‘compliance’ documentation provision, maintenance KPI monitoring, dashboard access and dedicated Earned Recognition support as key features of the service. Stand visitors can sign up for a FREE trial. The team will also welcome the opportunity to discuss any requirements to equip trailer fleets with telematics
solutions, including its BrakePlus ‘EBPMS’ that is aimed at improving safety and reducing costs associated with roller brake testing. While the TIP team will be on hand to discuss all things trailer-related, the Grayrentals / Eurotrail team will be available to discuss any hire or maintenance requirements that stand visitors may have for trucks, tractor units, vans and other specialised vehicles. Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie www.fleet.ie
20 | PREVIEW II
Road Transport Expo 2022 – New Truck Trade Show with the (RT)X-Factor!
New venture, new venue and new trade show – the Road Transport Expo 2022 is an exciting new exhibition taking place at NAEC Stoneleigh, in the heart of Warwickshire, from 30 June to 2 July 2022. This fresh undertaking by the Road Transport Media group that publishes Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, is a combination of a number of events previously organised at separate locations such as Tip-Ex & Tank-Ex (Harrogate), Freight in the City (London) and from the past Commercial Motor Live (Millbrook). Trucks and trailers of all makes and types will be at the very heart of everything the show will offer visitors, from the latest models on display and available to ‘ride and drive’ , while there will also be a number of informative seminars and live demonstrations.
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
X-CITING
X-PERIENCE
Whether you’re a company owner, transport manager, HGV driver or fulfilling any essential role within the road haulage sector, there will be plenty to do, see and experience at RTX. More than 100 leading brands will be taking part in the inside and outside zoned areas. These include nine mainstream truck brands and seven trailer manufacturers through to specialist heavy haulage, recovery and everything in-between. Alongside the exhibition will be a two-day programme of seminars, workshops and tech talks to keep abreast of the latest operational trends and vehicle technology. A wide range of topics will be up for discussion from choosing the right vehicles and fuels for the job, through to crash investigation, freight crime, fleet compliance, operator trials of new technology and much more.
The organisers are pulling out all the stops when it comes to delivering a high-class visitor experience. With static displays, live demonstrations, ride and drives and an extensive seminar programme, there will be plenty to see, experience, drive and learn, satisfying a broad audience across the road transport and haulage sectors. In addition, there will be plenty of break-out areas, for people to relax or network, and an abundance of sensibly priced good quality eating establishments. X-PLORE Explore the various Zones at Road Transport Expo 2022 RTX aims to have something on offer for all road transport and haulage divisions,
PREVIEW II | 21
from city deliveries through to specialist tankers and recovery vehicles.
Take a look below to see those zones already confirmed: n Urban zone, in association with Freight in the City Expo n Tipper zone, in association with Tip-Ex n Tanker zone, in association with Tank-Ex n Trailer zone n Waste and recycling zone n Cranes and materials handling zone n Heavy haulage zone, in association with Heavy Torque n Recovery Zone, in association with On Scene n Convoy in the Park and truck racing zone n Used trucks and auction zone
Will Shiers, Editor of Commercial Motor is eagerly anticipating the gates opening at Stoneleigh Park: “As the Road Transport Expo event (RTX) fast approaches, it promises to be a must-attend event for firms of all sizes in the road transport and haulage sectors. More than 100 leading brands are already signed-up to exhibit and all share the excitement of staging a ground-breaking new
event. Our exhibitors cover a broad selection of manufacturers, suppliers, and innovators bringing the latest products, services and technology solutions,” he said. “Come and check out the likes of Bradshaw Electric Vehicles, Dennis Eagle, DAF Trucks, Ford Pro Commercial Vehicles, Isuzu Truck, IVECO, MAN, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, FUSO Trucks, Renault Trucks, Scania, Tevva and Volvo Trucks, which will all be represented at the show with their latest models. Alongside this will be big name body-builders, trailer, tanker, tipper gear, technology, workshop and load-handling manufacturers including BPW, Boweld, Crossland, Edbro, Hiab, Hyva, Jost, MAHA, Marshalls, TankQuip, Thompsons, VanHool Tankers, VL Test Sytems, VPG, and many more.”
98% of the UKs population within a four-hour drive time. n Close to major transport links – served by both the M6 and M40 motorway, five miles from Warwick Parkway and Coventry train stations and just over one-hour travel time from London Euston. 30 minutes’ drive from Birmingham International Airport. Train and bus links from Leamington Spa. 10,000+ FREE onsite parking spaces located adjacent to the halls. n Accommodation - 500 rooms, all less than 10 miles away. At least a further 1,000 rooms within 20 miles. n Restaurant and catering facilities adjacent to the exhibition halls and further onsite restaurant serving high quality locally produced sustainable food. n Located close to three historic and bustling towns filled with independent businesses, bars and restaurants. Royal Leamington Spa is just 4.7 miles away, Kenilworth just 5.3 miles and Warwick 6.6 miles. Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
ABOUT THE VENUE NAEC Stoneleigh, Stoneleigh Park is a purpose-built exhibition and event venue and home to a diverse range of trade fairs, outdoor and special events. n Purpose-built conference centre and three exhibition halls. n Located in the centre of England – six million people within a one-hour drive,
Opening Times: Thursday 30 June Friday 1 July Saturday 2 July
10.00 - 18.00 10.00 - 18.00 09.00 - 16.00
www.fleet.ie
Speeding up The shift
The Volvo FM, FH and FMX Electric trucks minimise CO₂, noise and air pollution and enable high-capacity regional transport in areas with strict sound levels and emission regulations. To simplify the transition to electromobility, our trucks are offered together with solutions for charging, route and range planning, energy status and more. For more information on our heavy-duty electric range of trucks please contact your local Volvo Trucks dealer. Visit volvotrucks.co.uk/electromobility
Volvo Trucks. Driving Progress
FUEL PRICES - WEEK 18 Country
Currency
95 Lead Free
98 Lead Free
Diesel
Austria
EUR
1.719
1.870
1.832
Belarus
EUR
0.767
0.814
0.767
Belgium
EUR
1.839
1.931
2.083
Bosnia-Herzegovina
BAM
2.929
3.018
3.110
Bulgaria
BGN
2.905
2.797
3.029
Croatia
HRK
12.360
13.921
13.350
Czech Republic
CZK
42.020
44.535
44.360
Denmark
DKK
15.090
16.090
14.590
Estonia
EUR
1.833
1.879
1.796
Finland
EUR
2.191
2.278
2.225
France
EUR
1.830
1.859
1.877
Georgia
GEL
3.990
4.100
4.350
Germany
EUR
1.957
2.467
2.021
Greece
EUR
2.097
2.272
1.847
Hungary
HUF
479.900
626.260
479.900
Ireland
EUR
1.826
-
1.906
Italy
EUR
1.763
-
1.773
Kazakhstan
KZT
207.700
-
268.300
Kosovo
EUR
1.049
-
1.003
Latvia
EUR
1.779
1.812
1.832
Lithuania
EUR
1.679
1.788
1.719
Luxemburg
EUR
1.688
1.777
1.782
Moldova
MDL
26.990
28.247
26.650
Montenegro
EUR
1.700
1.740
1.720
Netherlands
EUR
2.222
2.304
2.119
North Macedonia
MKD
81.500
83.720
84.500
Norway
NOK
21.710
23.114
21.830
Poland
PLN
6.490
6.820
7.210
Portugal
EUR
2.033
2.112
2.014
Romania
RON
7.620
8.080
8.250
Russia Federation
RUB
53.020
61.140
54.150
Serbia
RSD
174.100
183.590
196.300
Slovakia
EUR
1.694
1.804
1.709
Slovenia
EUR
1.503
1.819
1.541
Spain
EUR
1.832
1.977
1.863
Sweden
SEK
21.140
22.090
25.270
Switzerland
CHF
2.060
2.320
2.230
Turkey
TRY
19.010
19.357
22.027
Ukraine
UAH
34.250
34.709
38.930
UK
GBP
1.619
1.562
1.763
USA
USD
1.085
-
1.363
Brigade’s Sidescan®Predict is the next generation of side-detection sensor system, designed for collision avoidance between vehicles, objects and vulnerable road users. Utilising ultrasonic technology, this intelligent system predicts if a collision is likely to occur and alerts the driver by a visual and/or audible warning, depending on the severity of the calculation.
Sidescan®Predict
• Differentiates between stationary and moving objects • Data such as vehicle speed, wheel position and the speed and direction of a VRU feeds an algorithm to calculate the risk of a collision • System in constant operation below 20mph/32kmh, with or without the indicators activated. • Detection area extends up to 2.5m from side of vehicle. • Designed and developed by Brigade
0044 1322 420300 brigade-electronics.com You’re safer with us
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
26 | PICTORIAL I
Renault Trucks Ireland Electric Vehicle Roadshow 2022 Setanta House, the headquarters for Renault Trucks in Ireland, recently hosted a two-day Electric Vehicle Roadshow for existing and potential customers to discover more about the newly launched zero-emission Renault Trucks and Red Edition Master E-Tech vans. Attendees were presented with a Workshop type tutorial and test drive opportunities of the new Renault D E-Tech, Renault D Wide E-Tech and the Master E-Tech Opti-Tipper.
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
PICTORIAL I | 27
“Reducing CO2 emissions is a priority and many cities are adopting increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Renault Trucks innovates, building on its experience to offer sustainable solutions adapted to vehicles’ operating constraints, particularly those using electric power,” explained Karl Breen, Renault Trucks Ireland.
100% Renault Trucks Electric Range Zero-tailpipe emissions in use Reduced operating cost Easy recharge Appropriate operating range – 300km
www.fleet.ie
28 | AWARD
Presentation ITOY Award Pictured at the handover of the International Truck of the Year Award 2022 replica trophies to DAF Trucks Ireland were John McCann, Sales Manager, DAF Truck Ireland; Jarlath Sweeney, Editor, Fleet Transport & Irish Jury member and Ian Vowles, General Manager Ireland, DAF Trucks Ltd. The New Generation DAF XF & XG ranges was elected International Truck of the Year 2022 (ITOY), while the DAF XF Hydrogen prototype won the ITOY Truck Innovation Award 2022. Fleet Transport has represented Ireland on this jury for twenty years.
Road crashes are a leading cause of worker fatalities. Visit drivingforwork.ie
The RSA, HSA and An Garda Síochána have developed a dedicated resource portal providing the essentials on safe truck fleet operations. The presentations, podcasts and dedicated links to guidance material focus on topics such as transport operations management, vehicle management, driver management, chain of responsibility and medical fitness to drive. drivingforwork.ie/safe-truck-fleet-operations/ FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
If you’re driving for work, you’re at work.
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30 | SAFETY MATTERS
A vehicle is a workplace – keep it safe! To effectively control workplace transport risks an all-inclusive Safe System approach is required, that focuses on all elements of transport operations to successfully improve safety. The Safe System approach recognises that safety education and training alone cannot eliminate adverse incidents, and focus must also be placed on the arrangements in the workplace and the behaviour of operators and other persons in the workplace. The three areas of intervention of the Safe System approach are: 1. Safe workplace 2. Safe vehicles, and 3. Safe operators To effectively control workplace transport risks, the vehicle, the driver and the working environment must be appropriately managed, and this article will concentrate on the vehicle. It deals with the keeping of safe vehicles in the workplace and highlights the importance of using vehicles that are safe, suitable and fit for purpose for the tasks and environment in which they are used. It also covers basic vehicle pre-use checks, standards, servicing and vehicle repairs. Vehicles should be selected based on suitability for intended tasks and suitability for the work environment. Safety should be a key priority when choosing a vehicle. Horns, lights, reflectors, reversing lights and other safety features should be provided as necessary. Seat belts, and other restraints where necessary, must be provided. They should be safe and comfortable. Additional visibility aids and audible warning systems may need to be fitted. Devices such as extra mirrors, reversing FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
cameras or parking sensors may help reduce blind spots. Warning devices such as horns, rotating beacons or reversing alarms will warn pedestrians of vehicle movement. Safety guards must be provided on dangerous parts of vehicles, such as power take-offs, chain drives and exposed hot exhaust pipes. Service brakes and parking brakes must be in good working order. A system must be in place to ensure regular checking and maintenance. If applicable, adequate protection, for the driver, from falling objects must be in place, as well as adequate roll over protection to protect the driver against injury from vehicle overturn. There must be a safe way of getting into and out of the vehicle cab. Also, there must be a safe way of getting to or from any other parts of the vehicle which need to be accessed by drivers or employees. Vehicles and attachments must be used only for tasks that they are designed for. It may be necessary to provide vehicle equipment and/ or personal protective equipment to protect drivers from prevailing weather conditions, or in a challenging environment which might involve extremes of temperature, other weather conditions, dirt, dust, fumes, excessive noise, and excessive vibration. A vehicle authorisation and key control procedure must be in place to ensure that only appropriately trained, authorised drivers use specific vehicles. Drivers must be made aware of vehicle specifications and safety features and how and when to use them, for example, anti-lock braking system, cruise control, reversing aids, and the correct type flashing beacons. An important aspect of keeping vehicles safe is having a programme of vehicle checks, maintenance and defect
reporting and backing that up with a system for dealing with defects. There should be a system for drivers to carry out and record pre-use basic safety checks. These checks should be done before using vehicles, either on a daily or on a shift basis. A regular preventive maintenance programme must be in place for each vehicle, as per manufacturer’s instructions. An inspection and testing programme must be in place for vehicles that lift people or materials. This programme would include a thorough examination of the lifting equipment itself. A defect reporting system is required to identify and record vehicle defects. If necessary, defective vehicles should be taken out of service until all repairs are complete. Repairs should be done promptly by authorised and qualified people only. Managers and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that safe vehicles are provided in the workplace. The business owner must have a vehicle management system in place to make sure that checks, servicing and repairs are carried out as required. The system must include a written record of these activities. A system should be in place which makes sure that where serious defects arise, the vehicle is withdrawn and is not used again until the defect has been rectified and the vehicle is safe to use. Supervisors must ensure that vehicles are used in accordance with the procedures and rules, and drivers, employees and contractors must be made aware of the steps to take when damage or defects are noticed such that the servicing and repair system can be implemented. For further information on this topic go to the Health and Safety Authority’s website at https://www.hsa.ie/eng/ Vehicles_at_Work/.
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32 | PICTORIAL II
New Generation DAF Trucks pedigree on parade around Goffs Thoroughbred horsepower of different shapes and sizes than normal was on display recently at Goffs Kildare Paddocks as DAF Trucks Ireland hosted the premiere of the New Generation DAF XF event. The event provided customers in Ireland their first opportunity to get up close and personal with DAF Truck’s new award-winning game-changing new vehicle series. Various versions of the New Generation XF, XG and XG+, the reigning International Truck of the Year 2022, were exhibited and available for ride and drive demonstrations.
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
PICTORIAL II | 33 “The New Generation DAF XF, XG and XG+ have set a new standard in efficiency, safety and driver comfort. We were delighted to give customers the chance to get up close and behind the wheel of this outstanding new vehicle series. The event ran across Thursday, Friday and Saturday meaning transport professionals, truck enthusiasts and families all had the opportunity to engage with the new XF, XG and XG+. The reaction was overwhelming to say the least, with many orders taken, which was also very pleasing,” commented John McCann, DAF Trucks Ireland Sales Manager. The launch event also featured DAF presentations, the DAF Trucks Showtrekker hospitality trailer, static displays with refreshments served throughout the each day. Fleet Transport captured the scene at the event. Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie
www.fleet.ie
34 | LAUNCH PAD
New INIOS Grenadier - soon ready to rock!
Just over four years ago, car enthusiast and experienced adventurer Jim Ratcliffe, INIOS Chairman, identified a gap in the market for a stripped back, hard-working 4x4 utility vehicle, engineered for modern day compliance and reliability. (Obviously, the demise of the original Land Rover Defender came to mind). Subsequently INIOS Automotive Limited was formed and a senior team of automotive professionals assembled to bring the vision to reality in creating a go anywhere 4x4 passenger and commercial vehicle. Combining British design with German engineering, the new INIOS Grenadier will be a true 4x4 built from the ground up. Engineered to overcome all conditions, it will provide best-inclass off-road capability, durability, and reliability for those who depend on a vehicle as a working tool, wherever they are in the world. Recent developments have included the acquirement of a production facility from Mercedes-Benz in Germany, while the first of a series of dealers have been
appointed across the UK and in the EU. The Irish market will be served in due course. Since acquiring the Hambach factory in January 2021, INEOS has invested over €50m in addition to the €470m invested in 2019 by Mercedes-Benz in an all-new production line. The manufacturing facility dedicated to the FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
Grenadier includes a new fully-automated bodyshop, a new semi-automated paintshop, and upgraded general assembly areas. Hambach also benefits from a new high-tech quality assessment centre. Having taken just 12 months to reconfigure the new line for the Grenadier, INEOS is nearing the end of a first production try-out (PTO1) phase. Building 130 PTO1 Grenadiers is crucial for defining the assembly process and also provides the engineering team with production-representative vehicles for final rounds of testing and certification. The PTO2 phase started in March to validate the assembly process and build quality, before production of launch series vehicles will establish the supply chain, logistics, and build rate requirements. In parallel, preparations in all commercial parts of the business continue at pace to ensure INEOS is ready for customers. “Some 15,000 customers worldwide have reserved their Grenadier,” said Dirk Heilmann, CEO of INEOS Automotive. “We want to deliver a vehicle that’s ready, and we won’t cut corners. With the benefit of the highly skilled and experienced team at Hambach, as well as the expertise in safety and quality that we have employed, we are on target to begin series production in July.” The interior of the INEOS Grenadier is purpose designed to deliver the space, practicality and versatility owners need from a hard-working 4x4. Starting from a clean sheet, the design incorporates the modern technology and comfort expected of a vehicle for the 2020s and beyond. “When we started thinking about the Grenadier’s interior, we looked carefully
at modern aircraft, boats and even tractors for inspiration, where switches are sited for optimal function, regular controls are close to hand, auxiliary ones are further away,” said Toby Ecuyer, Head of Design. Toggle switches and dials on the centre and overhead consoles are widely spaced and clearly labelled. Auxiliary switches have been built in, pre-wired to support the addition of winches, work lights and other accessories. Advanced technology is included only where it benefits functionality and usability. The infotainment system is accessed via a 12.3-inch touchscreen, or by using a rotary dial. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration means users can rely on smartphone navigation which will always be up to date. And the off-road pathfinder navigation system allows drivers to programme, follow and record their route via waypoints, when roads and tracks are left behind.
With hard-wearing surface materials throughout, the Grenadier is designed to endure. Drain plugs in the rubber flooring and wipe-down upholstery mean the interior can be hosed out. Water-resistant anti-stain Recaro seats provide ergonomic support and comfort on or off the road. Carpets and leather upholstery will be available for those aiming to leave the mud and sand outside. Stowage space has been maximised, with a dry storage box under the rear seat, a lockable central console cubby box, and secure side-mounted storage in the rear load area. Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
Electric power for every business. The 100% electric vans from Mercedes-Benz are made to perform. Scan to learn more:
36 | ELECTROMOBILITY
Volvo Trucks - Driving the electric powertrain transformation with the holistic shift towards emission-free road transport. “The Paris Agreement objectives have been met and Volvo Truck’s mission is to achieve 40% reduction in emissions per vehicle Volvo Trucks is further extending the Swedish green, clean image that’s so relevant and prevalent across this Nordic country. At Volvo Truck’s Demo Centre, located outside Gothenburg, a vast complex that accommodates Volvo Car and the new headquarters of sister electric car brand Polestar, a new fleet of heavy-duty trucks were warmed up and ready to drive around an urban environment. The recently launched Volvo FM & FMX Electric rigids and tractor-unit now join the medium-duty FL & FE Electric rigid and tractor-unit rigids launched in 2018. Volvo Trucks is powering ahead with its electric powertrain transformation with the immediate availability of six electric truck models within its range from medium to heavy duty. Apart from zero-emission for the customer, one of the big advantages is that the same modular cab and chassis platform is used for the electric trucks as per diesel and natural gas vehicles. Aftermarket elements such as Dynafleet telematics and maintenance are also similar to those provided by the dealer network for ICE powered vehicles. As mentioned, Volvo Trucks has developed new electric drivelines for its latest model lines - a medium-duty powertrain for the FL and FE and a
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
heavy-duty specification for the FM, FMX and FH. Much of the technology has evolved from that introduced by Volvo Bus in 2015. Since the FL and FE Electrics were launched four years ago, over 1.5 million kilometres have been covered by customers, providing beneficial feedback to the Volvo engineers. Modifications to the I-Shift automated gearbox, fitted solely on diesel and gas powered trucks for almost 20 years, has allowed it to be suitable for electric vehicles also.
‘Large national and international transport buyers are showing strong interest in electric vehicles. This is being driven by their own ambitious climate goals, as well as consumers demand for decarbonisation and cleaner transports’ Lars Martensen, the Environmental & Innovation Director at Volvo Trucks, with over 21 years’ experience at the company, stated that we are living in very interesting times in the industry
by 2030 and by then 50% of Volvo Trucks sold will be electronically powered. The net zero target is 2040,” he added. Nonetheless Lars stressed that for certain applications such as heavy haulage, there will still be a need for a combustion engine, be it diesel, gas or hydrogen powered. As diesel power usage reduces, battery electric (BEV) and hydrogen (H2) will become more prominent. During the changeover period, Lars sees increased use of biodiesel, biogas and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel, coming from carbon neutral sources. Certain applications such as refuse collection and urban deliveries will be best suited to BEVs with H2 for longer haulage, while diesel engines with carbon free fuel will continue to operate in the construction and heavy haulage sectors. He mentioned that an electric Volvo FH boasts a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to its diesel counterpart, while maintenance on an electric truck is 40% less. Sverker Asemyr, Commercial Project Implementation Manager began by saying that Volvo Trucks delivered the highest number of electric powered trucks last year, with Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands recording the biggest take-up, in what he called a ‘mature European market place’. Before any new electric truck is
ELECTROMOBILITY | 37 Volvo Trucks’ electric vehicle offering for Europe Models
sold, the dealer sales executive meets with the customer to ascertain the need, application and specification before any deal contract is signed. “The electric truck has to be right, from the start and during the working life for the operator,” he said. Before the handover, driver training is undertaken on site, with full induction to the fleet manager. Production of the new electric models for Europe will start in the second half of 2022. They join the Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric for urban transports that have been in serial production since 2019 for the same markets. In North America, sales of the Volvo VNR Electric started in December 2020. With the addition of the new products with higher load capacities, more powerful drivelines and range of up to 300 km, Volvo Trucks’ electric portfolio could cover around 45% of all goods transported in Europe today. This makes it possible to make an important contribution to lower the climate impact from road freights, which according to official statistics account for about 6% of total CO2 emissions in the EU.
Lars Martensen
In addition to the electric vehicles, Volvo Trucks’ electrification program includes a complete eco-system with numerous service, maintenance and
financing solutions, as well as other options that can help facilitate an easier and faster transition to electrified transport. The holistic setup will help customers stay productive and in control of their new electric transport fleet. Looking further ahead, even long-distance heavy transports will be able to be done with electric vehicles. To meet the challenging demands for both high load capacity and a much longer range, Volvo Trucks plans to use hydrogen fuel cells to generate the electricity.
Sverker Asemyr
Tobias Bergman
n Volvo FH Electric, for regional and intercity transport. n Volvo FM Electric, a versatile truck for heavy local transports and regional distribution. n Volvo FMX Electric, for cleaner and quieter construction transport. n Volvo FE Electric, for local and city distribution, waste transport. n Volvo FL Electric, for local and city distribution. The program also includes the Volvo VNR Electric for the North American market. Technical facts n Volvo FH, FM and FMX Electric: Range up to 300 km. Continuous power 490 kW. Max torque 2400 Nm. Battery capacity up to 540 kWh. Gross combination weight (GCW) up to 44 tonnes. n Volvo FE Electric: Range up to 200 km. Continuous power 330 kW. Max torque up to 850 Nm. Battery capacity up to 264 kWh. Gross combination weight (GCW) 27 tonnes. n Volvo FL Electric: Range up to 300 km. Continuous power 165 kW. Max torque up to 425 Nm. Battery capacity up to 396 kWh. Gross combination weight (GCW) 16 tonnes. Volvo Trucks Electric Drivetrains Charging capacity and times 43kW – AC – 10 hours – 100% 250kW – DC – 1hr 25 mins – 80% 250kW – DC – 1hr 55 mins – 100% Supplied by Volvo’s Ghent plant (which has been CO2 neutral since 2007), each lithium-ion pack weighs 500kg, is crash tested and water cooled. There are three types of electric Power Take-offs (PTO), suitable for refrigeration, concrete mixer and materials handling equipment, ranging from 40kW – 70kW – 150kW, with a combination of electric, mechanical and transmission sourced engagement. Tobias Bergman, Press Test Director at Volvo Trucks, mentioned that the move to electrification is one of the largest transformations in the road transport industry. “This move to leave fossil fuel behind and the technical shift to zero-emission, is happening fast.”
38 | ELECTROMOBILITY SPEC CHECK
VOLVO FM Electric Tractor-unit
VOLVO FMX Electric 8x4 rigid
Cab type:
Cab version:
High Sleeper
Engine:
3 x Electric Motors, Power = 490kW
Gearbox:
I-Shift 12-speed automated
ESS Batteries: Range:
6 x Lithium-ion Batteries = 540 kWh
Up to 300km
Engine:
Sleeper
3 x Electric Motors, Power = 490kW
Gearbox:
I-Shift 12-speed automated
ESS Batteries: Range:
6 x Lithium-ion Batteries = 540 kWh
Up to 300km
Rear Axle & Suspension: Single Reduction, Ratio 3.08, Air, 12 tonnes
Rear Axle & Suspension: Tridem, Single Reduction, Ratio 3.09, Air, 27 ton
Front Axle & Suspension: Air, 8.5 tonnes
Front Axle & Suspension: Air; 10 tonne, single front axle
Wheelbase:
Wheelbase:
Chassis height:
3900 mm Medium
Gross Combination Weight: 40 tonnes
Chassis height:
4600 mm Medium
Gross Combination Weight: 32 tonnes Body:
Palfinger Crane with flatbed
Features and main customer benefits Volvo Dynamic Steering – Increased safety, high driver comfort
Features and main customer benefits
Neck Tilt – Adjustment of the driving position for increased safety and comfort
Volvo Dynamic Steering – Increased safety, high driver comfort Neck Tilt – Adjustment of the driving position for increased safety and comfort Load Indicator – optimised loads, legal aspect Engine Skid Plate – Engine protection, reduced damaged cost Tridem – Optimised load distribution, improved turning radius, traction Sturdy Front – Robust and durable for reduced damage cost, uptime
Load Indicator – optimised loads, legal aspect
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
ELECTROMOBILITY | 39
FACTORY VISIT Volvo Trucks Tuve plant On a previous occasion while visiting Volvo Trucks’ Tuve plant outside Gothenburg, the guided tour was taken on a miniature train. This time around, probably ten years later, the factory visit was taken on foot, which presented a more in-depth and informative opportunity. Here 2,500 employees put together 140 trucks each day, over two nine hour shifts.
The whole process begins from reams of high tension steel coils to chassis rails of different lengths and strength thickness, depending on the truck model type, application and specification. Volvo Trucks has very long heavy duty Stam steel pressing machinery. Once the cabs come in from another factory, the assembly of all of the external and internal parts are done manually. The exception is the fitment of the windscreen, which is carried out meticulously by twin robots, one with a laser head to measure the cab dimensions, while the other is busy carefully placing the glue around the rubber housing, along the edge of the glass. What was very noticeable on this trip was the high percentage of female workers on the production lines. According to the plant manager, the ratio is at 60:40 male:female, compared to 100% male from 20 years ago. Each work station takes 6 minutes and a full truck is built every 8 hours a time period that includes two quality control checks. For the battery electric truck manufacturing, the same cab and chassis/cab structures exist except for the fitting of the diesel engine, of course. The electric elements
such as the three motors and up to six lithium-ion battery packs are installed in a separate newly built facility which can be further modified for expansion in due course. It was clearly evident that quality control is paramount in all aspects of the building of each and every Volvo truck and the adaption to electric powertrain will bring no change to this approach. Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
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40 | WAREHOUSING
UKWA Belfast Warehousing Showcase explores closer links between Ireland & GB Barriers created by Brexit along with changes in supply chains and storage strategy are driving Irish companies to consider warehousing options across Britain, according to a report produced by Model Logistics in collaboration with the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA).
ClaIre Bottle
This was the timely context for the UKWA Warehousing Showcase seminar held at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast, FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
where Irish delegates heard from Paul Johnson of Model Logistics about the benefits of holding stock closer to customers and the different options available to them. The event opened with Jarlath Sweeney, Group Editor, Fleet Publications, who welcomed UKWA CEO Clare Bottle and the prospect of closer ties between UKWA and businesses in Ireland. He outlined the history of the formation of the All Ireland Warehousing Association eleven years ago: “The AIWA was established to encompass companies in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland that provide warehousing and other logistics support services in the supply chain. The Association is directly affiliated to UKWA and over the years we have helped out to relay enquiries back to London through our website warehousingireland.ie,” he said. Simon McKeever, CEO, Irish Exporters Association spoke about the increasing importance of sustainability as a strategic priority but said that the warehousing and logistics industry was ‘behind the curve’. “Sustainability encompasses
RUTH EDWARDS
human rights and a decent working environment as well clean, affordable energy and a commitment to addressing climate change,” he explained. “While economic, social and environmental considerations are key to a sustainable framework for businesses, the challenge is to find the balance between the three.” Simon said that drivers for change include climate change, consumer demand, the need for legal compliance, pressure from investors, suppliers and employees, as well as brand reputation. He added that research indicates that consumers are prepared to pay between 2-10% more for services or goods from ethical companies with prominent ESG (Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance) credentials. With that, he announced the imminent launch of the Institute of Sustainable Trade, a new initiative by the Irish Exporters
WAREHOUSING | 41
SIMON MCKEEVER
Association to support Irish businesses on their journey to sustainability. Ruth Edwards, Operations Director at Talent in Logistics shared her latest research on Employee Engagement, first presented at UKWA’s National Conference in March. She alluded to an aging population, Brexit and poor industry image as barriers to recruitment, with 54% of logistics businesses expecting to see severe worker and skills shortages by 2024. Her research, undertaken with UKMHA, surveyed attitudes of 11,000 forklift operators in an attempt to understand what attracted workers to an employer and what motivated them to stay. “People create business value – so employee engagement is a massive differentiator in times of change and is essential to future talent pipelines,” she said. Respondents confirmed that while pay was important, it was by no means the only factor in attracting and retaining employees. The survey showed that diversity and inclusion, trusted
PAUL JOHNSON
were seen as challenges common to managers, and a better Ireland and Britain, along with extraorwork/life balance were dinarily low vacancy rates – currently all more highly valued 2-3%. There is a degree of speculative than a 5% pay rise. build, they said, with Nigel remarking Training in particular that there are more ‘big box’ projects was viewed as vital underway than he’d seen throughout his by younger workers, career. with 94% wanting to The discussion ended with a look to progress their careers. the future, and acknowledgement that Ruth concluded: costs of solar power and EV are coming “The cost of down. Frazer said that EPV charging recruitment, points were to be set up across Northern onboarding and Ireland. Both envisaged building styles training is high – changing to accommodate flexible between £10-30K, working, with bigger social spaces and depending on job higher quality working environments. function – so that Nigel concluded, “The economy is engaging with employees, ensuring they feel valued, included and motivated simply makes sense!” Following Paul Johnson’s presentation of Enterprise Ireland’s report on the options for Irish businesses to find warehousing in Great Britain, the event closed with a Q&A session focusing on property issues in Ireland with experts Nigel Healy of JLL and Frazer Hood of McConnells. Topics ranged from land values (significantly less in Panel discussion - Nigel Healy & Frazer Hood with Claire Northern Ireland than in the Republic or Britain) stable and people over here are problem and the impact on size of buildings and solvers – we are set fair to go forward. rental values, to frustration with planning We need to understand what occupiers and ‘land banking’ by really want, and we thank UKWA for big companies, which is creating an environment where stakepushing prices up. holders can have these conversations.” Nigel observed that Commenting on the event, Clare developers must ‘tick Bottle said, “This is our first event in the ESG box’ in order Ireland, and we will certainly be back to attract funding, and again next year. It was great to hear have a tenant as well perspectives from a different part of the as an investor lined UK, with everyone enjoying discussions up before proceeding, around the different challenges and otherwise construction opportunities, as well as networking costs go up. Frazer with industry colleagues. I’d like to noted that in the North, thank Jarlath for the warm welcome we the planning process received, and our expert speakers for was particularly slow enabling us to share their knowledge moving and routinely and experience, helping foster closer took 12 months to two links with our colleagues in Ireland.” years. Shortage of labour Text: Jarlath Sweeney – and the importance Photos: Megan Dunmore - DDPR of proximity to power www.fleet.ie
42 | COMMENT
One hundred years from now….. From Where I’m Sitting – Howard Knott – howard@fleet.ie
On the evening of 3 April this year, in most houses throughout Ireland, pens were poised over the Census of Population of Ireland form, and, in particular, over page 23. This was where the opportunity was provided for respondents to write their piece for the time capsule that would not be opened for 100 years. Looking ahead to doing this one a few months back you could not help imagining what the world of 2122 might be like and speculating about future generations enjoying fit and healthy lives in eternal sunshine. However, when we did come to writing it, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was becoming ever nastier and more cynical, not only for the population there, but also for many more millions of people all over the world who were facing hunger as economies buckled under the inflationary pressure. We can but hope for the conclusion of the invasion and the restoration of peace in Ukraine, enabling, hopefully, the millions of women and children who have moved to safety elsewhere in Europe to return home, and allowing some normality would return to theirs and our lives so we can dream again about a wonderful world for our descendants. FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
One thing, though, that Spring 2022 will have taught us is that this will not happen without significant effort. It’s not just a question of keeping a lid on those worst animal instincts that find their expression in political activities that enable some groups to dominate others, it’s the even more basic need to restore the world’s climate to a level of safety; armed conflict must be way up there in the list of global warming activities. In a recent “Fleet Transport” piece we talked about East Coast of Ireland Port Development plans for the next twenty to thirty years, as Dublin Port and indeed Dublin Bay run out of space. Figuring that out isn’t easy, so trying to look one hundred years ahead would seem to be extremely difficult. Less so though when I recall a conversation with the Port Director at Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), who spoke about what facilities they plan to have in place in fifty years’ time as being a part of their short-term planning, whereas one hundred years could be seen as the medium term. In 2122 it’s likely, assuming that the present climate change has been arrested and reversed, global population increase will still be a major concern both in terms of accommodation and, even more concerning, nutrition. Will the meat and dairy businesses become extinct to be displaced by a food industry based on vegetation? Will timber forests in areas of
temperate and warmer climate regions be displaced with forests of fruit bearing trees? Will deep-sea fishing be displaced by inshore fish farms providing food with a lot less carbon production? All of that might read somewhat like a political manifesto and very straightforward, but of course it is anything but straightforward. If one of the main planks of the climate change plans currently being developed is to reduce fossil fuel production and consumption to a minimal level then, that could give rise to serious problems; where will the fertiliser needed to grow all those crops come from? Without meat and dairy production there would be no slurry and bio-methane sources to feed the land and the transport industry. More important, perhaps, there would be no feedstock for the huge volumes of plastics needed to replace all the timber that would not be harvested. It’s all a bit mad, perhaps nothing so drastic would happen and the present evolution of power for heat, light, production, and mobility will continue through ever more efficient hydrogen production and usage. Perhaps the twentieth century lengthening of supply chains will be reversed as 3D and 4D technology takes over manufacturing, and the 400-metre-long container carriers will become a distant memory.
Introducing the new Zen Range from Daken full range of stainless & powder coated steel tool boxes to compliment the Daken Plastic toll box range
FASTPARTS Naas Industrial Estate, Fishery Lane, Naas, Co Kildare, W91 PT98 Fastparts Office: 045 90 60 31 / 045 90 60 22 Fastparts Counter: 045 90 60 68 John Browne: 087 798 7003 Niall Ivers: 085 859 0091 Martin Walsh: 087 122 4435
44 | REVIEW
UKIFDA EXPO & Future Fuels Conference 2022, Exhibition Centre, Liverpool *UK & Ireland Fuel Distributors Association Exhibition reopens doors *100 Exhibitors *Conferences & Presentations Meeting current challenges and looking ahead was the order of the days surrounding the UKIFDA Expo 2022 at the Exhibition Centre, Liverpool on 27/28 April. These matters included the ongoing component shortage and the ever stronger influence that HVO is having on the fuel and transport industries. The component supply delays transcend throughout the fuel distribution sector, from tank manufacturing, availability of chassis and of course, the driver shortage. Well attended but not too busy, the exhibitors were pleased with the quality of the visitor with plenty of good business deals done. From speaking with fuel tanker suppliers, their clients are now not fussy about the make or model becoming available as they can no longer wait and even unfazed by breaking their one brand in their fleet policy.
HVO are the new buzz letters in the industry and we’ll be hearing a lot more about it. Standing for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, a renewable liquid fuel, produced predominantly by taking waste cooking oil and treating it with hydrogen. Being most suitable and adoptable for industrial and home heating as well as transport, carbon emissions can be reduced by c 90%. In addition, storage lifespan is extended and AdBlue usage is decreased.
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
Road Tanker Rental (RTR) Whether it’s short or long term lease, RTR, the newly established company can provide. Prominent on its stand was a Cobo built semi-trailer, sporting the familiar Reynolds Logistics livery.
Tankquip Dave Stanley, company owner was on hand to once again to inform and advise clients on the best options available for those involved in the fuels and energy road tankers business. His order book is looking good, he said.
Kingspan The Cavan headquartered manufacturer which specialise in energy management solutions had Nick Hawkins, Commercial Director on site to launch its extended tank telementary and new smart monitoring system.
Magyar Representatives from the French tanker manufacturer were pleased to be back out on the show circuit again and enjoyed meeting and greeting customers in the flesh. Located in Dijon, France the firm also produces military spec tankers for transport on and off road.
Williams Tanker Services Since being acquired by TIP Europe, Williams Tanker Services (Morley, Leeds) has expanded its range of products and services and had a number of examples of LAG tankers on exhibit.
Eurotank A well turned out Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3248 6x4/2 was cornered in the Exhibition Centre, ready and willing to carry out inspections and drainage cleaning services. It provides a nationwide service with depots in East Kilbride, Stoke & Southampton.
REVIEW | 45
Road Tankers Armagh Road Tankers Armagh (RTA) had these splendidly finished-off tankers on Scania P360 6x2 chassis for customers on both sides of the Border and had some other top class units on display elsewhere at the expo.
Eliminox Not only does this diesel fuel additive save fuel but it also eliminates water in tanks and full systems as well as corrosion. Mike Tocker & Myles Pemberton were on duty.
Ram Mounts With some trucks and vans not facilitating a visible placement of mobile phones in dash areas, Ram Mounts design and makes numerous options together with larger touch screen types.
Dunraven Systems The Dundalk based experts in tank level monitoring had Gerry Jones, Freda Adamson and Oliver McCarthy (from Tekelek, Shannon) on hand to discuss and demonstrate its latest systems and developments.
Carbery/Davant Regular UKIFDA exhibitors and long established manufacturers of moulded, plastic tanks for fuel and other items, has expanded its portfolio to include all kinds if bulk chemical storage tanks, meeting all required standards.
DreamTec The DreamTec Command system is this Dublin company’s comprehensive stock, fleet and order management system that allows operation control and a whole new way.
Vintage Picture this! A 1935 Dennis Shell-Max & BP fuel tank with a 1920s Ford Model T from William H Butler, (Butler Fuels) established in 1943, featuring in the vintage and trophy section of the hall.
SOS Sales Armagh based SOS Sales has over 20 years’ experience in the sale of new, used tanker, truck, and trailers as well as refurb supplied around Ireland and export markets.
D Tec International If looking for a non-intrusive drug and alcohol screening solution, that has a quick testing process, then the DrugWipe Dual kit is the answer and is full endorsed by Police Forces. Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
www.fleet.ie
46 | FLEET MARITIME
FLEET MARITIME
Vol 18, No. 2 – SUMMER 2022
Shipping & Freight Newsletter – Compiled by Howard Knott – howard@fleet.ie
P & O Ferries sackings lead to significant ferry traffic disruption
Pride of Bruges The sacking on 17 March of 800 sea-going personnel by DP World owned ferry service operator, P & O Ferries led to the immediate tying up of most of the company’s fleet and significant disruption of freight and passenger traffic. At the time of that announcement the company declared that recruitment of replacement Agency crews was well underway and that it expected to be able to resume full operation within a matter of days. While services operated by vessels chartered in by P & O and crewed by the vessels’ owner’s personnel did resume within days, as did services using P & O vessels crewed under previously negotiated Dutch contracts, the vast majority of the company’s fleet remains tied up over a month later. Currently the Larne/Cairnryan service is operating with a single vessel while Stena Line has added a third vessel to its Belfast/Cairnryan service to ease the
pressure on the Irish Sea Northern Corridor. This has meant that Stena has not been able to provide annual maintenance dry-dock cover for the Stena Horizon on its Rosslare/Cherbourg service. Irish Ferries has been taking some of the pressure arising for freight traffic routing through Cherbourg by sailing Epsilon from Dublin on Friday evening over the Easter period. This has reduced available capacity on the Dublin/Holyhead route, though this has been partially offset by the re-introduction of the Dublin Swift fast ferry on the route. P & O Ferries Dublin/Liverpool route is now reduced from four vessels to a two-vessel operation while the Dover/ Calais service has been reduced to a severely limited freight service without car and passenger facilities. Irish Ferries has brought forward the introduction of its third vessel, the Isle of Inisturk, onto that corridor, bringing its offering up to over fifteen sailing a day in each direction. Just how critical the P & O Dover services are to the facilitation of British/French traffic is indicated by the traffic queues of up to twenty miles seeking to cross the Dover Straits.
The routes served by P & O North Sea services have been less affected by the crew dismissals and tying up of vessels with other carriers being able to take up much of traffic and some P & O services using chartered vessels.
Dover truck queues return to pre-Brexit lengths following withdrawal of P & O services It is now expected that there will be a gradual return of services operating under new crewing arrangements. The main factor here is the speed at which the regulatory authorities involved with the routes give clearance to the vessels to return to them.
Brittany Ferries confirms commitment to the development of Irish services At a reception aboard the Cruise Ferry Armorique following her arrival at Ringaskiddy on 6 April, Brittany Ferries’ President, Jean-Marc Roue, signed a three-year deal with the Port of Cork committing the Line to the operation of twice-weekly seasonal sailings from Roscoff to Cork. While the principal focus of this route remains on passenger and car traffic, the addition of a second sailing using a vessel with significant trailer capacity does open significant opportunities for Atlantic Arc freight traffic development. FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
On the following day, Jean-Mark Roue, visited Rosslare where he made the announcement to replace current vessel Connemara on the Rosslare/Bilbao and Rosslare/Cherbourg routes by the Company’s first E-Flexer cruise ferry, Galicia, in November 2022. Speaking about the new vessel, which has capacity for 1015 passengers and 40% more freight capacity then the vessel being replaced, Jean-Marc Roue said: “There is no doubt that the Rosslare – Bilbao route has been successful, and we are pleased with the way Irish hauliers
have embraced it. Galicia will continue to provide a strong freight offering. However, our research has indicated that there is a demand there from Irish people wishing to holiday in Spain and Galicia will certainly make for a far more enjoyable experience for them. The job now is to work in partnership with tourism bodies in Ireland and Spain to ensure that holidaymakers fill our ships and enrich destinations in both markets.”
FLEET MARITIME | 47
China-Europe rail routes become supply chain’s latest problem
In an analysis of issues arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the American Journal of Transportation reports; “Last year, trains moved about 1.46 million containers carrying goods valued at about $75 billion between China and Europe on the routes, or about 4% of total trade between the two sides, according to estimates by Bain & Co.
The rail networks stretching from China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and beyond connect Chinese commercial centres such as Yiwu, in Zhejiang province, Xi’an in Shaanxi, Zhengzhou in Henan, Chengdu in Sichuan and Wuhan in Hubei to European cities including Moscow, Minsk, Hamburg, Milan, Warsaw, Munich and Madrid. Apart from consumer electronics and autos, wood-based products and petrochemicals also hitch a ride. It takes about two weeks to send Asian goods to Europe via rail compared with a month by ship, according to logistics firms. Ships are still the cheapest method. The cost of transporting a container by rail is roughly twice that of sea freight and a quarter of sending goods by air, according to logistics provider DSV. More than a million containers set to ride 6,000-plus miles of railway linking Western Europe to Eastern China via Russia are now having to find new routes by sea, adding to costs and threatening to worsen the global supply chain chaos.
With Moscow’s war raging in Ukraine, exporters and logistics firms transporting auto parts, cars, laptops, and smartphones are now looking to avoid land routes passing through Russia or the combat zone. Security risks and payment hurdles stemming from sanctions are mounting, as is wariness that customers in Europe could boycott products that used Russian rail. Kuehne + Nagel International AG, one of Europe’s largest freight forwarders, is already rejecting rail cargo from China to Europe, according to Marcus Balzereit, a senior vice president for Asia Pacific at the Switzerland-based company. Some companies are switching to sea, said Glenn Koepke, a general manager at FourKites Inc., a Chicago-based information provider for the logistics industry.” The conflict is adding to congestion at some of the biggest ports, putting further pressure on global supply chains that are still reeling from pandemic-induced manpower shortages.
New rail-sea connection from Turkey to Germany in the pipeline DFDS/PrimeRail is about to launch a rail freight service from Sète in France to Cologne in Germany. DFDS already operates a regular ferry line from the Port of Yalova, nearby Istanbul, to the French portal city. The addition of the rail freight service offers a new, alternative connection from Turkey to Cologne. The multimodal connection is planned for two roundtrips per week, with a third one on the horizon. The company is also preparing to launch a connection from Sète to Calais, with a bid to connect Turkey to the UK. This
was reported by the Turkish news site Denizhaber. Sète is well on the way to increase its presence on the intermodal map. A new multimodal terminal is under construction, scheduled to enter service at the beginning of 2023. This terminal will also be able to accept non-craneable trailers, a huge advantage as it will enhance the possibility of shifting cargo from the road onto rails. In August 2021, the port authority said it wants to significantly increase the percentage of freight leaving the port on trains. This matches the ambitions of
DFDS/PrimeRail, which wants to expand its multimodal activities and rely more on rail. In doing so, it has its eyes on Sète as a transhipment hub, to which it now operates three ferry services per week. The new, alternative route to the middle of Europe is also interesting considering the recently increased interest in the Middle Corridor; the route connecting China and Europe via Turkey. Companies that do not wish to transit cargo through Russia are looking for transport solutions via the Middle Corridor, and from Turkey onwards to Europe. www.fleet.ie
48 | FLEET MARITIME
PORT PORTALS Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, which recently took over the operations previously undertaken by the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, has completed the installation of a docking pontoon and other works to facilitate the operation of shuttle services for passengers visiting aboard Cruise Liners. The facility came into full operation over the Easter weekend. The tenders come alongside at the former HSS Ferry Terminal and passenger reception facilities, along with coach parking, are located within the terminal area. It is expected that up to eighty Cruise Liners will use the Dun Laoghaire facilities during 2022. Most of the vessels will anchor outside the Harbour, transferring passengers ashore using their own Tenders, though smaller vessels will tie up alongside the terminal. The carrying out of development works and expansion of cargo handling facilities at Dublin Port has meant that the port cannot accept Cruise Liners during 2022 at least. Channel Islands ferry specialist, Condor Ferries, has announced the launch of a commuter ferry service linking Bangor County Down, and Belfast city centre in 2024. The half hour journey will be operated using a zero-carbon hydrofoil vessel, currently being developed, and built by the Belfast Maritime Consortium. Harland & Wolff Shipyard has secured a dry-docking and refurbishment contract for Cunard Line’s Cruise Liner Queen Victoria and P & O Cruises Aurora. At over 270 metres in length each of these vessels will be the largest visitors to the port for over 20 years and are slightly longer than the Titanic.
Stena Europe enters Harland & Wolff building dock
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
While in recent years the Harland & Wolff facility has been active in servicing the offshore energy industries, it is playing an increasing role in meeting the vessel maintenance requirements of the ferry industry, with many Stena Line and Irish Ferries vessels undergoing their annual dry-docks there.
Brittany Ferries
Polish owned Ferry Operator PolFerries is reported to have bought a soon-to-be-completed ferry from Norwegian builders Fosen Yard. The 2,600 lane metre, 1,680 passenger vessel was originally ordered by Brittany Ferries from the German FSG Yard. She was named back then as Honfleur and designed to operate under LNG power.
Irish Ferries Epsilon enters Dublin Port
Building of the vessel was delayed at the FSG Yard which had run into significant problems while building W B Yeats for Irish Ferries. The yard then lost a further Irish Ferries order for a vessel that might have replaced Ulysses leading to a cessation of building on the Brittany Ferries vessel and the closedown of the Yard. The uncompleted Honfleur was then transferred to the Fosen yard. The Ro-Ro Ferry Epsilon, currently chartered by Irish Ferries, has been reported as sold by owners, Caronte & Tourist to the Polish company Eurafrica
for approximately $50 million. The 2011 built vessel had been bought by Caronte & Tourist in 2019 for $34 million. This escalation in price reflects the extreme shortage of available ferries on both the sales and charter markets. A 1974 built freight ferry was recently offered for sale at $1.5 million but then changed hands at $5 million. The current Epsilon charter agreement with Irish Ferries ends in November 2022 but this may be extended. CLdN has announced an agreement with wind power specialist Norsepower to install two tilting Rotor Sails on board the 2018-built con-Ro vessel Delphine. The 8,000 lane-metre capacity vessel and her sister ship Celine are the largest such ferries operating in European waters and is a regular caller to Dublin on the Zeebrugge service. The pair of 35m x 5m Rotor Sails will be installed in the autumn of 2022 and Norsepower has estimated that this technology should achieve a fuel and emission reduction of between 7 and 10% for the vessel. Speaking about the installation, Gary Walker, Chief operating Officer at CLdN said: “In 2021, CLdN announced it is the top performer amongst its Ro-Ro shipping peers in Northwest Europe for CO2 emissions per tonne of freight carried. By investing in technologically advanced ships and terminals, CLdN enables its customers to improve their carbon footprint and support them at the same time in making their supply chains more efficient and robust. This demand for cleaner shipping is growing and we are committed to making measurable progress. Installing two of Norsepower’s Rotor Sails will maximise our fuel and emissions savings on the MV Delphine, and this pilot project will help determine
Delphine fitted with Norsepower Rotor Sails how the Rotor Sail technology could be rolled out on the current CLdN fleet and
FLEET MARITIME | 49
our new-build vessels. We look forward to the installation and subsequent results.” The Delphine will be the seventh vessel fitted with this technology including some ferries operating in Scandinavian waters. The bumper profits being secured by the deep-sea container shipping companies have enabled them not only to increase investment in their core shipping business activities but also to move into non-traditional areas including airfreight. Maersk Line has announced the establishment of Maersk Air Cargo as the company’s main air freight offering serving the logistics needs of its clients with integrated logistics. The new carrier is being based at Billund Airport in Denmark and its fleet will comprise of Boeing B-767 and B-777 aircraft.
MSC Magnifica - scheduled to make two visits to Dun Laoghaire in 2022 This move follows that of competitor, CMA-CGM to build a similar operation, while the Aponte family owned MSC company has announced a substantial investment in the Italian national airline, Italia Transporto Aereo which emerged from Alitalia. MSC which already owns Mediterranean operator GNV Ferries will also rescue ferry operator Moby Line which suffered serious losses during the Covid lockdowns.
HLAG Reefer 150 x 100
Hapag-Lloyd and German carrier Deutsche Afrika-Linien (DAL) have signed a framework agreement under which Hapag-Lloyd will acquire the container liner business of DAL. With a history dating back to the year 1890, DAL is an established liner shipping company for the transportation of containerised cargo and operates with four liner services between Europe, South Africa and the Indian Ocean Headquartered in Hamburg, the Africa expert is represented with own offices in Germany and South Africa as well as through third-party agents in 47 countries worldwide. Its liner business (including agencies) employs more than 150 people. DAL owns a 6,589 TEU container ship and operates a container fleet of around 17,800 boxes (owned and leased), which will be taken over as part of the acquisition. In 2021 Hapag-Lloyd acquired Africa-specialised carrier, NileDutch, which considerably strengthened the carrier’s presence and offering to and from West Africa. DHL has completed the purchase of J.F Hillebrand, an international ocean logistics provider specialising in wine, beer, and spirits as well as other beverages and bulk liquids. The acquisition will now be part of DHL Global Forwarding and will combine with DHL’s beverage logistics unit, Gori under the brand name Hillebrand Gori. Hillebrand has also developed a significant business in the production and use of a range of flexitanks designed to be product specific. CMA-CGM has acquired GEFCO, a European leader in automotive logistics. The purchase ensures the continuity and long-term stability of GEFCO’s business. The EU Commission granted CMA-CGM immediate approval of the transaction so that it could be completed before the 1 April deadline by which the former Russian majority shareholders would have to exit the company, thus enabling it to avoid being subject to
the EU Commission’s sanctions imposed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The French based GEFCO has a network of operations in 47 countries and employs 11,500 staff. Within the CMA-CGM Group the company will further develop its contract logistics business. Port of Cork has announced the signing of an agreement with Energia for the supply of 100% renewable
Port of Cork energy. The green electricity will power several facilities at Cork City Quays, Tivoli Container Terminal, Ringaskiddy Deepwater Berth and Ro-Ro berth, Cobh Deepwater Quay and Cork Container Terminal soon. The Port of Cork is the second largest Port in Ireland and is a Tier 1 Port of national significance, operating six shipping modes (Lift on Lift off, Roll on Roll off, Dry bulks, Liquid bulk, Break bulk and Cruise). The Port’s capacity to carry export goods estimated to value in the region €20 billion and imports to the value of €10 billion, underpin the importance of the Port’s contribution to the national economy. Henry Kingston, Port Engineering Manager, Port of Cork commented; “The Port of Cork is committed to leading the wider port community through coordinated safety, environmental and energy initiatives, as well as reducing CO2 emissions and respecting the principles of environmental sustainability. Our partnership with Energia will see the Port using 100% green energy which will positively influence the Port’s carbon footprint going forward.’ www.fleet.ie
50 | FEATURE
Commercial Vehicle Hire 2022 - What is in store for the next 12 months…..
The seemingly never-ending series of world events that have been presented over the past few years have changed many people’s views on what is best practice for their business. What previously seemed a prudent investment to enhance a business may now suddenly appear to be risk-taking of the highest calibre. What can be learned from the recent turbulent times is that for a company to survive and adapt it must be highly flexible and have both the ability, and the willingness to change - and to do so very quickly.
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
When it comes to a company acquiring new equipment, especially vehicles, it is always a daunting task with the final decision swaying for and against in the increasingly unpredictable business climate. Could this now be the time to make the move and make owning the vehicles someone else’s problem, allowing you to focus fully on the core activity of the company. Fleet Transport spoke to a number of companies within the vehicle hire, leasing and contract rental sector. It is interesting that overall the companies are finding strong demand from their customers and a positive willingness to move forward. One of the key benefits of not owning a vehicle became apparent during the recent pandemic when the nation as a whole was working from home. National Truck & Van Rental’s van hire and leasing services, with three main branches (Dublin & Cork) ensure fleet operators have fast access to the highest quality vans on the local market. As part of their services, National Truck & Van Rental provides all maintenance and repair on the hired vehicle, and completes scheduled tyre replacements. The company also completes scheduled computerised service to help ensure vehicles retain peak performance year-round. They also offer free vehicle replacement in the event of a breakdown! Morgan McAndrew of Fleet Options explained that during the almost
two-year period, business was relatively buoyant, and hire and rental companies worked together to help each other out and ensure customers were looked after. He continued to say that great effort was invested by companies like Fleet Options to make alternative arrangements and deal with sometimes unusual situations. One example Morgan cited arose because people were not travelling they wished to return vehicles to reduce their liability for Benefit in Kind (BIK). Other businesses realised a sudden increase in demand due to the new world of home deliveries which overnight became the norm. Another new norm Morgan and everyone else we spoke to is working
around, is that of sourcing vehicles. Morgan sees the difficulties of sourcing vehicles being the most important issue on the horizon for the sector and one which he believes could continue through to next year and even into 2024. There are two principal factors hampering this positive demand. One is recent, and due to the difficult and troubling situation in Ukraine and the effects it is having on the economies of Europe; this is of course apart from the humanitarian crisis the war has generated. The other difficulty has been with us for a longer period, and that difficulty is
FEATURE | 51 the supply of vehicles due to shortages on many fronts with components. This has now been exacerbated by the same conflict as many OEMs sourced vehicle components from that region through subsidiaries and joint ventures. In this sector, there is the impending roll-out of the electric vehicle (EV) and companies must now seriously look at the whole world of EVs and how it may impact their business. It is readily accepted that at the moment they are too expensive and too restrictive. Nevertheless, can we predict what will come to pass over the next five years with two important aspects of this technology in particular? One is how the technology may improve, and the other is how the price of diesel may fluctuate. We then need to consider what residual value could be placed on a diesel-powered van or light
commercial in five years. Which of course is followed by who would want to invest in that type of second-hand vehicle in say 2027/8 as we approach the proposed ban on sales of new diesels in 2030. Morgan McAndrew believes that there is room here for the Department of Finance to incentivise the uptake with a VAT reclaim scheme for companies making the move to EVs, especially considering the BIK on a new EV. This would help to alleviate the cost over the term of a deal and this greater uptake would automatically generate a used EV market for the general public to source vehicles from - so promoting the transition to electric motoring. Johnson & Perrott is one of the oldest and most experienced companies serving the rental sector. The Cork headquartered company recently acquired National Truck & Van Rental. Allison Sheridan from J&P would concur with most of the people said that sourcing vehicles is an issue and one that is mainly out of the control of the hirer’s hands. Allison finds there is a notable increase in the move away from petrol and diesel units. This is particularly noticeable with plug-in hy-
brid electric vehicle (PHEV) models. Allison also alludes to the fact that Johnson & Perrott is catering for the customers who want the full electric experience, and they already have several demonstrators out on trial with customers who want to be seen as early adopters. One of the leading challenges for fleet operators is continually maintaining their fleet vehicles while reducing maintenance costs. With the cost of vehicle repair and replacement rising and the risk of downtime to fleet businesses higher than ever, it’s critical to work with a van hire contract specialist. It’s why many of the leading fleet operators are now turning to National Truck & Van Rental. “National Truck & Van Rental are a vital partner in our success story. They provide a professional, reliable service at a competitive prices.” - said one Dublin based leading fleet operator. There is no doubt a greater moral pressure being placed on businesses to conform and to state what measures they are taking to reduce their carbon footprint. This will become increasingly important for the large high profile companies in for example the retail sector and especially for those that operate solely in city centres. Nevertheless, this may not all be as easy as it seems. Yes, the hire companies can provide the vehicles, but what about the rest of the package. Colin O’Brien of Go-Rentals in Naas highlights the other issues that come with EVs. He feels that there is some degree of window dressing going on with certain businesses. Colin noted that while people are getting more serious about EVs, there is a serious lack of infrastructure to support the roll-out. He added, that the major shift cannot happen that quickly due to this lack of infrastructure. Interestingly, Colin also noted what is now an accepted shortage of good quality pre-owned vehicles on
the market, and this has to some extent increased demand across the contract rental and hire fleets. He is finding greater demand in some market segments than others. Noting that at Go-Rentals while busy, they are comfortably stocked with the smaller car-derived van. The whole area of vehicle hire and contract rental will most certainly become more pertinent to the transport industry and will raise some difficult issues over the next few years. Not just for the vehicle users but also for those providing the rental or hire units. Companies will have to make a significant investment in vehicles to satisfy a demand that will no doubt arrive - but may be slow in coming. For example, as is becoming the norm in many EU countries government departments must now wherever possible purchase electric vehicles only or have good solid reasons for not doing so. Many have strict policies to eliminate all ICE- combustion powered vehicles well before 2030. If this were to become more widespread in Ireland and there are already some examples, one being An Post - the landscape will begin to change very quickly. As mentioned previously by Colin O’Brien the landscape concerning the rollout of a widely available charging infrastructure must also change quickly to cope with a transition to EVs. However, this is a separate topic and one for
www.fleet.ie
52 | FEATURE
another day. What is currently happening was expressed by Mark Donnelly of Dan Ryan Truck Rental. Mark believes there is a genuine trend toward EVs although he is keen to qualify that it remains within the 100-150 km city delivery cycle. His customers share the opinion that the range distance is just not there yet. Mark notes that many customers have tried different brands of EV from Dan Ryan Truck Rental only to discover that EVs did not suit their work, and while they were enthusiastic to make the move to electric. At this stage, the vehicles are just not a viable option, yet because the vehicle was not purchased outright the companies involved could return and replace it with diesel. In keeping with others, Mark cites the difficulties in sourcing vehicles which is a manufacturing and supply chain issue though at Dan Ryan it has planned well ahead and can ensure all customer
orders are filled. Mark also notes that an increased number of people looking to the contract sector to provide vehicles, due to the ease of upgrading the fleet, maintenance and compliance packages and overall administration as being some of the reasons for the shift. These features of contract hire or rental can greatly reduce overheads and stress regarding repairs and maintenance and thereby ensure regulatory compliance. There is no need for workshop staff FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
who are becoming increasingly difficult to find and importantly significant reductions in record-keeping for roadworthiness checks. It is certainly in the best interests of the hirer to ensure that the units are properly maintained as they will be charged with moving them to their next home, and a full-service book makes that task all the easier. Although with EVs the required level of maintenance is reduced compared to an equivalent diesel. Nevertheless, the potential cost of issues concerning a replacement battery would encourage any operator to opt for the hire option. These are significant issues for the hirer to be concerned about and issues that companies like Fleetplan are experts at solving. They can work out the best deal from any vehicle manufacturer for any prospective customer. If one OEM cannot meet the orders due to supply chain difficulties Fleetplan can opt for another provider which can. In addition, it can order ahead and this has served well over the recent difficult periods and has helped to ensure customer’s needs were met. On the topic of EVs, Fleetplan’s Jarlath Kelly stated that there is considerable and growing interest in the move to electric. Interestingly Fleetplan has placed a significant number of vehicles with customers and these are to date working well. This is helped by Fleetplan understanding what exactly their customer’s demands are - and matching the right vehicle to the task. Jarlath also commented that some companies have used contract hire to try other fuel alternatives and Fleetplan has assisted some operators to make the move to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). While CNG may require an investment in equipment and facilities the benefits can deliver significantly lower costs and improved efficiencies depending on operating cycles. Other operators are investigating Bio-diesel and under the safety umbrella of a contract hire agreement, this can be facilitated with relative ease. An operator which transports primarily in the food ingredients sector spoke of an ongoing dilemma. Being very busy, he needs more trailers and would like to buy
them. Unfortunately, lead-in times for new equipment are extremely long and while he would prefer to buy outright the trailers are required now. However, the original argument to buy, valid a few months ago has since been moved more towards the back burner and will remain there unless a rate increase from his customers can be achieved. He is now looking at the possibility of a contract rental deal similar to the one in place with most of the company’s trucks. This agreement on the trucks has performed very well and was a good decision ten years ago. This operator’s work is to be fair relatively steady and has been
for over two decades. If there are appreciable benefits, surely there must be equal benefits for those whose workflow is more volatile, especially in the light to medium weight sector. It may seem that there is no downside to long-term contract rental. This is of course not the case as there are always two sides to a debate. The downside is of course that at the end of the agreed term - ‘there is nothing to show for it.’ Although the argument of having nothing to show for it - would appear to be losing its value. Text & Photos: Paul White - paul@fleet.ie
FLEETNG SHOTS | 53
Wall of Fame revealed at the 50th Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS)
The 50th Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) held from 24-26 March at Louisville, Kentucky, USA, was a celebration of the entire truck industry, honouring the people, and companies who built up this industry and made MATS the largest and longest running annual truck show event. To mark the occasion and the many outstanding professionals that have made significant contributions to the road transport industry and MATS, the Show Management put together the first ever MATS Wall of Fame. All inductees were featured on a commemorative Wall of Fame at MATS 50th, and will be permanently preserved on a digital wall on the
MATS website. Hundreds of nominations were submitted by attendees, exhibitors, and other industry partners. The list includes nominations ranging from historical figures and trucking “legends” to modern day trucking professionals who are already influencing the future of trucking. The Wall of Fame selection committee, which includes the historical expertise of the American Truck Historical Society, reviewed the nominations to determine the 2022 inductees. Since 1972, MATS -- Mid-America Trucking Show has become the world’s largest and longest running
annual heavy-duty truck event. MATS is the place to experience everything from new technologies to networking with industry thought leaders. This is where the industry’s largest brands and promising start-ups do business, form partnerships, and make meaningful
connections. Over 900 exhibitors and more than 70,000 attendees experience MATS each year, making it the education and innovation centre of the North American road transport industry.
ZF Celebrates 500,000th TraXon Transmission System Produced in Friedrichshafen Friedrichshafen, Germany. ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division has achieved a major global production milestone with its leading TraXon transmission system for truck and coach applications. Half a million TraXon systems have now been manufactured in Friedrichshafen alone since production began there in 2014. A successful product for commercial vehicles, TraXon’s volume production further underlines vehicle manufacturers’ and fleet operators’ trust in the company’s advanced systems expertise. “Having begun production in Friedrichshafen in 2014, TraXon is now a globally produced success story offering next level transmission efficiency standards. Passing the half-million systems mark in just one of our production facilities is a powerful
achievement which further underlines ZF’s global technology systems leadership,” said Winfried Gründler who is responsible for the driveline systems product line with ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions division. “Light, strong, and intelligent, TraXon’s groundbreaking technology is supporting growing worldwide customer demand for efficient systems and helping ensure they have the most advanced trucks on the road.” “As a comprehensive supplier of intelligent mechanical systems, combining our deep transmission expertise as well as our advanced digital capabilities will ensure that vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators continue to gain real added value with TraXon, now and in the future,” added Mr. Gründler.
The transmission system offers many technological advantages such as top-level efficiency of up to 99.7%, lower fuel consumption, as well as strong design quality and reliability. In addition, it features ZF’s innovative PreVision GPS shifting strategy for high energy savings. With these features, the TraXon Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) system delivers energy efficiency and value in terms of TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). Its digitalised package also enables predictive maintenance. Compared to a manual transmission, TraXon can thus reduce consumption by up to 8%. Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
54 | OPINION
Logistics An Essential Service for Everybody
There is an old saying, ‘no man is an island’. Possibly, us here in Ireland may have forgotten that we are an actual island. But with a combination of Brexit, Covid and the uncertainty created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has brought this back into focus. In the 1950s and 60s production managers had the security of knowing that there was enough product on their premises to ensure the factory floor operated effectively. With the arrival of JIT (just in time) as a concept and then a practice, companies were slow to adopt it as part of their processes. So what changed their minds? Well, money of course! Companies that adopted a JIT strategy accumilated savings and improved profit margins immediately. Very soon the use of JIT became the norm and companies that did not embrace best practice in terms of JIT, in reducing stock levels and refining their supply chains were likely to find themselves uncompetitive. As production companies witnessed these efficiencies and cost reductions that could be achieved by removing the stock and raw materials from their premises to the site of their suppliers, logistics as an industry evolved and thrived. Raw materials arrived at their facilities and finished product left, travelling seamlessly and efficiently through what we now called “supply trains”. As the EU moved towards a single market, customs documents and the sometimes cumbersome procedures that previously existed were eliminated. This action alone took significant cost out of the manufacturing process, while adding efficiency. Raw material and finished product could be stored any place in the EU and because Ireland has developed such an efficient road transport industry, delivery was not a FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
problem. Any reference to supply chains up to Covid was generally about how important they were and the need to improve them. Investing in this area was always seen as being necessary, in terms of IT capability and the need to make freight more visible. Logistics as an industry was becoming center stage and the profession of “Logistician” was seen as a very worthy career path. So where are we with Logistics and supply chains now? Well, the past four years have made things more challenging by events that we are all too well aware of. Firstly Brexit, followed by Covid and now the invasion of the Ukraine by Russia. While the blocking of the Suez Canal for a week or so by the “Ever Given” in March of 2021 may not have been a massive disruption, it did however highlight another weak point is the free movement of freight. Throw in the shortage of truck drivers and now you have production managers all over Ireland concerned about the security of supply. Logisticians now have to deal with new challenges. Holding inbound or outbound product in the UK is not ideal. Having venders that can only supply product from the UK is not feasible. Removing the “Landbridge” to Europe has created a bottle neck on the longer route to Mainland Europe. While in theory the direct route to French, Flemish and Spanish ports seems to be a good idea, it is probably better described as the only option. Direct ferries have been available to Irish Hauliers and exporters for almost fifty years, if it was the best option, all continental freight would be on them by now. Long crossings are likely to be disrupted by weather in a way that short crossings are not. From a strategic point of view the Government must work to
get the UK authorities to introduce a transit system for Irish trucks and other trucks with freight travelling under custom seal. Not to have to go through the queues in Dover and other channel ports, is a must. One of the changes, a positive one, brought about by the extra capacity on the direct routes is the increase in the use of un-accompanied trailer freight. There are some efficiencies and savings to be made here. All of the above points lead to one glaring problem, we are an island nation. It was camouflaged in the past because short hops on ferries was never a problem, when custom’s clearances were not an issue. Recently the port of Rosslare Europort announced some major investments. There are many developments planned for the Port, but an as an Island nation the most important issue is accessibility. In the plan extra jobs are mentioned and the establishment of the Port as an Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Most important for the country is the linking of the Port to the Motorway network, bypassing all the small towns and villages in the area. Wexford County Council and the local communities need to be on board, because if the money invested here does not allow 24 hour access for truck and ferry operations, then maybe a Greenfield site should be considered. If a container ship could block the Suez Canal for a week and cause disruption, consider the chaos that would be caused by a truck blocking access to the port at the Bottom of the hill at the entrance / exit to the Port. While it is often said: “Thank God we are surrounded by water and sea” it does bring challenges. Text: Sean Murtagh - sean@fleet.ie
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56 | LEGAL
Road Transport operators looking to evolve vehicle fleet in light of fuel cost rises The road transport industry faces new problems in every aspect of its business. Fuel is one aspect that is being considered on a daily basis, and whether the suitability of a company’s fleet of commercial vehicles should be considered in the light of the cost of the fuel used. Some alternatives are already available, others are in the pipeline, and more are being developed. Not only do COVID-19 regulations continue to apply, but new regulations are being introduced as previously unrecognised effects of the pandemic are identified. It is now accepted that there are ‘long term’ symptoms which can affect the performance of any person who has had the disease, no matter how slight, and who now appears to be free of it. More recently Russia has attacked the Ukraine, and it seems inevitable that road transport operators in the European FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
Union will be affected by that conflict. Russia is a major supplier of natural gas and diesel and it seems likely that the Russian domestic need to fuel the war effort will reduce the amount of diesel available to the general market. We are already seeing a very sharp increase in the cost of fuel and we are told that further rises are likely to continue. Those haulage companies whose vehicles routinely undertake long journeys will have to decide whether the particular journey is still profitable with the new fuel costs. It may be necessary to share the journey with another company or consider using HGVs with more modern engines offering much better fuel consumption figures. In an extreme case the management of a haulage company may decide to re-examine the nature of the business it is carrying out in the light of increasing fuel costs, increasing vehicle costs, and increasing regulatory controls, and decide if it wishes to stay in business in its existing form or whether to make changes. The cost of fuel is already a significant issue here in Ireland and it is only too clear that the price of diesel will increase. It is a time when the individual managers of a transport company,
whether big or small, must be particularly aware of technical developments in the transport industry because the suitability of any part of an HGV to do the work for the existing customers? Does the space available for the load to be carried on the company’s vehicles allow the optimum weight to be carried on each journey, or would a changed engine allow the same journey to be done for less fuel? It is only necessary to open any one of the many trade magazines to be faced with advertisements not only for new vehicles but also for new parts and accessories, all designed to improve the vehicles’ performance. It is not surprising that some operators here in Ireland appear to be abandoning the HGVs that were the ‘workhorses’ of their fleet, replacing them with newer smaller vehicles powered by the new engines using less fuel but, with a similar performance. The road transport sector in Ireland and in Europe is facing a future in which every aspect of the business has or will change, and those running a haulage business will need to decide which report in the trade press is the one that must be followed. Text: Jonathan Lawton – jonathan@fleet.ie
FINANCE | 57
Key steps to weather this financial storm
It’s no secret that banks are once again checking in with their road transport clients to see how the Ukrainian War is impacting on their financial health. Transport is seen as high risk as it’s at the mercy of spiralling input costs, not least the price of fuel – both diesel and AdBlue - which has gone crazy. If we do have a significant reduction in the world economy, that recession will have a significant impact on Irish transport firms, no matter what sector the business is operating in. Here are five main areas to concentrate on to weather an impending financial storm and improve the bottom line if, as predicted, the impending recession hits. Any transport business that does not have timely and accurate management accounts and cash flow control is fortunate to be operating in a sector that has exceptional margins, but inevitably the day will come when competition will challenge this. If the firm’s management does not have strong financial control, then the road to ruin is fairly well certain. The operators that have best in class margins have the uppermost financial management information to base their decisions on. These businesses use all
the transport management tools and link these to give real time financial data. Even when negotiating with customers re current and future rates, the ability to extract current relevant financial data from the business re cost of operation and individual customer margin is crucial for success in retaining overall business margin. Any transport business that does not have fuel surcharges in place for the majority of its customers cannot realistically expect to weather this financial storm unscathed. When the level of cost increases is passed on to end users of transport services by the global shipping brands, it puts the obvious need for fair and transparent fuel surcharges to be in place with customers. Any customer that cannot or will not entertain a fuel surcharge mechanism is really a customer to put to the top of the list to review in order to ascertain that customer’s margin, long term fit in overall business and what other profitable opportunities exist if not servicing them. Step 3 is to review rates on a continuous basis. Many of Ireland’s most profitable transport firms have built their balance sheet value on continuously fine tuning their rates and customer base. Small increases combined with regular and constant customer monitoring means that they do not suffer the cost lag or margin drop when input costs increase. Because these companies have margin built in they stay ahead of the rest by way of buying power. Because they have margin and good rates they do not compromise on quality of service, and because they keep a strong
communication with their customers, their service and efficiency is tailored directly to what their clients need. By failing to regularly review rates in this time of spiralling cost increases, the profit margin will only go one way down. Currently more than ever before, customers needs service continuity. Step 4 is to review business productivity and operational efficiency. Again it’s no secret or surprise that the high margin businesses really extract the most from their assets, whether that’s the owners’ and managers’ concentration on running the business, the planners’ and schedulers’ efficient allocation of work, or the standard and workflow achieved from the drivers operating within a well-managed and efficient business. A business that achieves a good margin from being efficient is easier to stomach by its customers than an inefficient operator that charges the same or higher rates but cannot operate profitably. The final step is cost control and management. Continuously profitable Irish transport firms benchmark themselves against the best in the industry and always look to improve on all costs and efficiencies. Remember the 80/20 rule - that we spend 80% of our time on the less important but easier tasks and at best 20% of our time on the difficult tasks. It is easy to see that those focused and driven owner/managers just work on the difficult but key tasks that really effect margin, for example rates, customer profile, tackling driver availability, surcharges and cost control. Text: Donal Dempsey – donal@fleet.ie
www.fleet.ie
58 | LCV I
New Iveco Daily - “The Transition Starts Today” The test of time is a measure that can be hard to refute and it’s a test that Iveco’s long serving Daily model has passed to an extent greater than most of its competitors. Since its launch in 1978, the Iveco Daily, in its many iterations, has at some time received every accolade available, while sales figures of over 1.6 million units is testament to its popularity and durability. The model year 2022 version of Daily sets out to enhance the model’s driveability, further improve the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for the operators, and improve driver comfort. It is not easily achieved in the van sector with the vast differences between the needs of operators and the variety of working environments. Iveco is confident that it has achieved its aims. An important contributing factor it is keen to highlight is that it is a truck manufacturer that thinks commercially when designing its vehicles. This means it designs from a truck down to a car, unlike some other OEMs who reconfigure a car to create a van. The 2022 Daily is also the stepping stone to the launch of the fully electric Daily due to be revealed in September at the IAA Transportation in Hannover, Germany. Iveco’s Daily continues to do what it has always done - and do it well. Daily still has the largest carrying capacity at 19.6 cubic metres and up to 7.2 tonnes gross weight. This, Iveco believes, makes Daily a viable competitor to the small 7.5 tonne truck. 70% of all new Dailys sold are in a chassis cab format, and interestingly 60-65% of these are ordered with a manual transmission. Having such large volumes ordered as chassis cab creates opportunities for bodybuilders to work their magic. However, in a new development, Iveco is working with a FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
number of select bodybuilders who will fabricate and fit the required bodywork and this work will then be approved by the Italian manufacturer. Importantly, this approval then carries with it the full 3 year Iveco warranty. The range of body types available is substantial and the level of workmanship and finish on display on demo vehicles at Millbrook Proving Grounds was first class. This is just one of the enhancements Iveco has brought to the 2022 Daily offering. Other enhancements include an increase in torque of up to 15%, resulting in a possible decrease in fuel consumption of 6%. With a mind to emissions, Iveco has now introduced a double dosing AdBlue system for the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). While it readily accepts this will increase AdBlue consumption, it believes much of the cost increase will be offset by reduced maintenance costs, with for example transmission oil change intervals extended from 150,000 to 350,000 kilometres. Also Iveco now fits Eco A/B rated tyres as standard. Certainly anything that can reduce
operating costs is to be welcomed as are any features to make the driver’s job easier. New memory foam upholstered seats are offered and can be included as part of a series of ‘Packs’ which include Winter, Construction, Delivery Regional and Delivery Urban, not forgetting the Minibus which is a wholly Iveco derived unit. Iveco’s new Daily in both van and bus configuration keeps one important element of its truck derived lineage - its ladder frame chassis and rear-wheel drive. The reason Iveco views this as important is that as the models begin the transition to full electric, the ladder chassis will allow greater scope for the placement of battery packs and ancillaries, and while Iveco is tight lipped about the finer details of the forthcoming Daily EV, we heard that “it will work with the same DNA”. However, what Iveco did reveal about the Daily EV is that it will be able to tow, operate in more challenging conditions, and provide the option of a PTO. At the event Paul Kirkby, eLCV Export, EV Esstentials, presented some
LCV I | 59
interesting asides on the future viability of electric vehicles and the electric van in particular. He feels that now is the time to begin the move towards full electric mode. However, Paul noted that this must be done with the full involvement of the staff and in particular a company’s fleet managers. “It is important to encourage fleets to change, not expect them to change, and fleet managers must now begin to consider new cost models”. He feels it is important to begin to plan for all aspects of the business even extending to the lease or ownership of a company’s premises and how that site is serviced with sub-stations, cabling and power outlets. This raises important aspects as to how long a company may be located anywhere and whether it should invest in infrastructure or move to another site. At the event there were 8 quite diverse versions of the 2022 Daily to drive. We first chose a drop body manual transmission work utility vehicle, which was then followed by taking out the standard volume-selling panel van, and finishing off with the Daily Minibus. Because the test event was based at the Millbrook vehicle test facility it is possible to replicate all manner of road conditions a vehicle may be subject to during its life. The new Dailys were run on a selection of the tracks from the tight twisting city circuit to the alpine route to the full
to a site and remain there for the day these systems will hold little attraction. However, for those that are on the road all day delivering, collecting and servicing, and especially those working in remote locations, functions such as Driver PAL and associated systems could prove invaluable. Another introduction to Daily is the AirPro suspension system which can be controlled by the driver from the cab or at the rear of the vehicle. In addition to a memory function, Air Pro has three settings to compensate for load and road conditions and can be lowered or raised to assist with loading and unloading. It is clear that yet again Iveco’s Daily has delivered more innovation to the vastly diverse van sector, and although not all of these innovations will be of benefit to all operators there is most definitely something here - for everyone in the audience.
banked high speed track. The 2022 Daily managed everything thrown at it and one aspect that particularly impressed was the agility of the Minibus and the turning circle of the long wheelbase unit. In addition, due to some seriously bad weather on the day we managed to fully appreciate the benefits of Iveco’s crosswind assist when driving the Minibus on the high-speed track. Both manual and the 8-speed Hi-Matic transmissions have received upgrades and the improvements are noticeable. There are a number of innovations available on the new Daily, and worthy of note is the Proactive Lane Keeping Assist, Hill Descent, City Brake Pro and Stop Start with Que Assist where the van will move and stop in keeping with slow moving traffic (below 5 km/h). On the technology front Iveco is keen to promote its ‘Driver PAL’ system, which is linked to Iveco Connected, Iveco On and Iveco Assistance Non Stop. For many van operators whose vans may drive
Text: Paul White - paul@fleet.ie
Summary of New Features & Updates Driver Pal
Air Pro
Comfort Seats
Increased Torque
Ext Service Intervals Deeper Bulkhead
Transmission Update
8-Speed Hi-Matic
Que Assist
Hill Descent
Proactive LKA
Cross Wind Assist
City Brake
A/B Rated Eco Tyres Selection of ‘Packs’
Body work by Iveco www.fleet.ie
60 | LCV II
FIAT Professional Scudo makes a welcome return
Fiat Professional’s new mid-sized van sees the return of a familiar name, but also heralds the start of an exciting new era for the Italian manufacturer which is now part of the extensive Stellantis Group. Having previously collaborated with PSA’s Peugeot and Citroën in the production of the original Scudo from 2002 to 2016, Fiat Professional partnered up with Renault for its subsequent 1-tonne light commercial vehicle offering, the Talento. However once the announcement was made that Fiat Professional (along with the other brands in the Fiat Chrysler Group) was to amalgamate with Groupe PSA to form the new Stellantis Group, it was inevitable that the next generation mid-sized offering from Fiat Professional would avail of the existing technology within the wider family.
FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
Thus we have the new Scudo, which bears a rather marked resemblance to the Peugeot Expert and Citroën Dispatch. And the Opel Vivaro and its Vauxhall sibling bearing the same name. And from outside the Stellantis Group, the Toyota Proace…. That’s the nature of LCV production these days, with nearly every manufacturer partnering up with rivals to reduce the cost of designing, engineering and producing vehicles. It might suggest that end-users ultimately have less choice when it comes to selecting their commercial vehicles, but manufacturers are at pains to highlight that even where they ostensibly offer the same product as other brands, there are still plenty of differentiating factors between them to meet specific needs. Brand loyalty within specific markets is one factor that manufacturers are keenly aware of. It’s one major reason why Peugeot-Citroën was keen to acquire Opel in 2018, to open up the lucrative German market that has traditionally been difficult to crack for French brands. At the launch of the Scudo at Fiat’s headquarters in Turin, Eric Laforge, Head of Stellantis Light Commercial Vehicles was asked about whether the Group needed to produce five versions of the same van. He made the observation that Peugeot and Citroën are French, Opel is German, Vauxhall is British and Fiat is Italian, with each brand performing especially strongly in their respective home markets. Add in Japanese Toyota and a fair proportion of the world’s LCV market can claim this one-tonne offering as their own.
Another strength of the Fiat Professional brand highlighted by Eric and by Richard Chamberlain, Director of Commercial Vehicles for Stellantis UK is its dealer network which is more commercial vehicle oriented than many other brands, notably with respect to aspects such as out of hours servicing. In Ireland we might not be able to claim home advantage with any of the individual offerings, but nonetheless there exists a great deal of loyalty for individual brands. Having a competitive product to meet the needs of loyal customers is a must, particularly if they can go and buy pretty much the same product from another brand down the road. As well as now being part of the Stellantis Group, Fiat Professional has also received the boost of new ownership in the Irish market, with the Gowan Group having taken over distri-
LCV II | 61
bution rights for the brand. With a new team in place and new products coming down the line, there’s a strong level of optimism that all the necessary building blocks are being put in place to build and expand the brand from the 1.8% market share it recorded in 2020. New Scudo - diesel AND electric versions on the way The new generation Scudo comes with two power choices of diesel and electric, and is available in panel van, crew cab, platform cab and Combi M1 variants in short or long wheel base versions. Fiat Professional Ireland has not yet confirmed if all model types will be sold here, with the new vehicle due to arrive this summer. Visually it’s distinguished from its close relatives from other manufacturers by the prominent ‘FIAT’ lettering on the front grille. That’s the new branding which replaces the previously used Fiat Professional logo on the front, though the logo remains on the back of the van. Inside, apart from the Fiat badged steering wheel, it’s the familiar layout and switchgear as found elsewhere. It’s no bad thing as it’s a well designed and equipped area, though in little details like analogue dials and fairly small infotainment screens, the cabin is starting to show its age relative to more recently launched rivals, not least Fiat Professional’s own freshly updated Ducato. The all-electric E-Scudo features a 50 kWh or 75 kWh battery which provide power to a 136hp electric motor that powers the front wheels. Respective ranges for the two batteries are up to 230km and 330km. The E-Scudo can accept both AC charging up to 11kW and DC charging at speeds of up to 100kW. At that input it will take around 45 minutes
to charge the 75 kWh battery to 80% from empty, or just 32 minutes for the smaller battery. For overnight charging on a 7.4kW wall box, expect to fully recharge the batteries in 7 hours / 11 hours respectively. There is also a choice of 1.5 Multijet diesel engines with 102 and 120 hp outputs, as well as 2.0 litre versions with power figures of 145 and 180hp. The 1.5 diesels are offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the 145hp 2.0 litre has a choice of manual or 8-speed torque converter automatic, while the 180hp comes only with the auto gearbox. Importantly, the E-Scudo comes with the same load volumes and payloads as the diesel version. That means load volume capacities from 5.3 to 6.6 cubic metres in the panel versions, and up to 1.2 tonnes of payload. Towing capacity of 1 tonne is also the same as for the diesels. Safety is also to the fore, with fourteen Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features including automatic road sign recognition, automatic emergency braking and Lane Departure Warning amongst others. Driving An opportunity to drive both electric and diesel versions around the streets of Turin highlighted both the similarities and differences between the two models. Sitting firstly behind the wheel of the E-Scudo with 75kWh battery, the only real clue to the fact it was an electric vehicle was an analogue energy gauge in place of a rev counter. The model tested was a top of the range version fitted with central mounted 7 inch infotainment
screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as a heads up display. Buttons on the centre island select the automatic gears and a choice of Eco, Normal and Power modes. Normal works well most of the time - Eco mode make the vehicle feel relatively lethargic while Power does give an extra surge but at the expense of range. As regards regeneration, there is a ‘B’ mode which provides some retardation over and above the regular ‘D’ setting, but it’s not powerful enough to bring the vehicle to a halt without using the brakes. As with most electric vehicles, we found the E-Scudo very refined and smooth on the move, encouraging a more gentle driving style than you might be inclined to adopt in a diesel van. The refinement extended to noise reduction, with pleasantly little feedback from behind the bulkhead. Visibility from the driving seat was good, making the E-Scudo easy to operate in urban environments, while a top view camera
provided a clear view when parking or reversing. In comparison, starting up a diesel Scudo (a 145hp diesel version with auto transmission) felt rather old school initially, but very quickly the same merits noted from driving the E-Scudo became apparent. Certainly 145hp is plenty of power for the van, and it’s hard to see the need to opt for the range topping 180hp version. While prices and specification levels have yet to be finalised ahead of their arrival this summer, the new Scudo and E-Scudo will be welcome additions to Fiat Professional’s range in Ireland in what is a strongly performing sector of the market. Text: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fleet.ie
62 | EXPORTERS
Circular Economy
Around the world, production processes have tended to operate under a “linear economy” model, which means that products are designed, created, and sent out under the assumption that their life-cycles will end in a landfill. As demand rises and natural resources begin to decrease, a new kind of economy, a “circular economy”, offers strong potential for a more sustainable future. What is the Circular Economy? A circular economy reintroduces repaired, recycled or revamped existing materials into the production chain, hence making our consumption of resources and materials circular rather than linear. Instead of discarding all waste, parts of it are re-used within the production process or transformed into raw materials for the manufacturing of new products, and this is built into the initial design process. The aim is to generate a more efficient management of finite resources, to prolong their life-cycle and keep products, components, and materials at their highest level of utility and value at all times, within an economic scope of sustainable development. A circular economy can open the FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY - JUNE 22
door to an increasingly sustainable, waste-free world. Below are the top five reasons why companies should consider moving toward a circular economy model. 1 - Cost reduction The ability to reuse materials when making new products instead of sourcing new materials can, in the long run, reduce operational costs. Additionally, as supply chain disruptions persist and certain raw materials become more difficult to source, rethinking how we handle waste and resources is becoming urgent. Adopting a circular economy business model increases the security and price stability of your supply chain. 2 - Compliance with legislation Under the EU’s 2030 Climate Target Plan, companies are expected to reduce the amount of waste produced by them and dispose of it in a responsible manner. From the recovery of waste to its reintroduction into the production chain, a circular economy model reduces the number of materials sent to landfills. As such, a circular economy should help companies become more compliant with existing and upcoming legislation. 3 – Low carbon economy Adapting to a low carbon economy is of increasing concern to companies and society as a whole. Reducing the
amount of waste and not sending it to landfills leads to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, it brings businesses closer to accomplishing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have largely been accepted as a blueprint for sustainable growth. 4 - Brand Reputation Companies gain an opportunity to bolster their brand image by adopting a circular model as well as fulfilling some key reporting criteria which is becoming increasingly important as more investors are looking for companies aligned with the ESG pillars. By moving towards a circular economy, companies can strengthen their position in the market. 5- Competitiveness and sustainable economic development A circular economy leads to a reduction in the need for natural resources, in turn promoting sustainable development. The manufacture of new products from what would historically have been waste, generates competitiveness and innovation in the market, encouraging the development of new technologies and processes. Simon McKeever (pictured), Chief Executive of the Irish Exporters Association commented: “The circular economy model will assist the stimulation of economic growth, innovation, and job creation. Reshaping our production processes will require tremendous amounts of work and creativity, which I know the industry is capable of. The IEA is fully committed to supporting our members and the broader export and international trade industry to understand what is required to become more sustainable.”
IRELAND’S FOREMOST FLEET & CORPORATE SECTOR GUIDE
www.fleetcar.ie
Volume 19. No. 12 Summer 2022
Volkswagen and bp to install EV fast charge points in Europe
Volkswagen and bp have launched a strategic partnership that will see the installation of 8,000 fast charge points across Europe by the end of 2024. The partnership will use Volkswagen’s Flexpole 150kW
charging units which have an integrated battery storage system which overcomes the need for high-powered grid connections - one of the key obstacles to the roll-out of fast charging infrastructure. The units, each of which will have two charge points, can be connected directly to a low voltage grid thus removing the need for a dedicated substation. By offering speeds of up 150kW, vehicles can avail of charging that will deliver up to 160km of driving after just ten minutes, depending on the car. Initial roll-out will be focused on bp’s Aral retail sites in Germany and bp retail sites in the UK expanding to other to-be-specified European countries by the end of 2024. Any EV driver will be able to use the new chargers as part of the bp pulse and Aral pulse network.
OEMs call on EU to copper-fasten proposals for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure Over 100 companies including vehicle manufacturers and energy companies have issued an open letter to EU policymakers calling on Member States not to water down a European Commission proposal on setting binding national targets for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. The signatories, who include vehicle manufacturers such as BMW, Hyundai, Iveco, Caetano Bus, Daimler Truck and Volvo, believe that the European Commission’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) needs to have clear targets for building hydrogen refuelling stations in order to tackle climate action. “We are strongly convinced that a widely available hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) network, alongside other low-emission refuelling, and recharging infrastructures, will be essential for a rapid transition of the road transport sector,” the companies said in the open letter. “Hydrogen-fuelled vehicles, e.g., hydrogen
fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are particularly interesting for customers with preferences for fast refuelling and for whom flexibility is paramount.” The companies believe that an integrated and strategic rollout of both HRS and battery electric vehicles (BEV) charging infrastructures will be cheaper than relying solely on one type of infrastructure or restricting specific technologies to specific road transport segments, while a multi-technology approach will grant a transition that is faster, more cost-efficient and serves all consumers and business models.
64 | REVIEW
Mustang reborn for an electric future Ford Mustang Mach-E review
Whether or not you agree with Ford giving the name of its least ecologically friendly model, the petrol devouring Mustang to its first all-electric offering, you can’t accuse it of going in half-heartedly with the wild horse branding.That this is a product from the Blue Oval is evidenced only by a small Ford badge on top of the windscreen. Other than that it’s Mustang all the way, from the badges fore and aft to the logo on the steering wheel and the puddle lights. One reason to play down the Ford identity might lie in the pricing - an entry price of €53,100 after grants isn’t extortionate by EV standards, but nonetheless a fair distance removed from what the average Ford customer might expect to pay for a car. The version tested here - the Mach-E AWD with larger capacity battery is priced from €76,100, while expect to pay from €64,400 for the cheapest RWD model with the larger battery. Opt for the smaller 70kWh battery and Ford says you can expect a range of 400-440km depending on model. That increases to a range of between 500-610km with the bigger 91kWh battery. The other main difference between the two is that the bigger battery can accept fast charging up to speeds of 150kW compared to 115kW for the smaller unit. Despite the stated range of my test car being 540km, the most the car showed when charged to 100% was 355km. On the positive side, that appeared to be pretty realistic range - the Mach-E estimates remaining driving range based on variables such as past driver behaviour and weather. Average consumption during my week was around 22kWh/100km, rising to 25kWh/100km on motorways which is average for a car of this size. Sitting in the Mach-E you feel low FLEETCAR | SUMMER 2022
but high, if that doesn’t sound like a complete oxymoron. Like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, the Mach-E falls into a halfway house height wise compared to crossovers and regular hatchbacks. However you sit quite proud in the driving seat which gives the benefit of good visibility, while there isn’t the amount of body roll you associate with your average crossover SUV. You notice a degree of chassis rigidity common to EVs that can be a bit unsettling on poorly surfaced roads, but generally the Mach-E rides and handles well. Acceleration to 100km/h from rest is a pretty rapid 5.1 seconds, though unlike its petrol namesake it isn’t a car you feel like flooring just for the sake of it. You’ve an option of three driving modes of Active, Whisper and Untamed which vary the throttle response, ‘engine’ sound and displays. More useful is the One Pedal Drive option which provides powerful regenerative braking to slow the vehicle. The interior is dominated by the 15.5” tablet-like Central Touch Screen which contains pretty much all of the functionality and incorporates a dial for volume control. While many of these touchscreen systems can be fidgety and distracting, Ford’s latest SYNC 4A interface is intuitive and well laid out. A smaller screen in front of the driver gives vital information like range and speed (Ground Speed in Mustang-speak). As a family car it ticks
all the main boxes with plenty of space both for passengers and storage, One feature which felt like a gimmick was eLatch - instead of a handle you press a button to open the door. Press the key fob and it will light up for a few seconds, but trying to find the button in the dark on an unlocked car will leave you wondering how it represents an improvement over a normal handle.
Conclusion Ford’s first foray into all-electric motoring isn’t the car that will replace the Fiesta or Focus - new models coming in the next couple of years will be targeted more at this market. However a decent driving range, good dynamics and a modernistic yet premium feeling cabin should broaden the appeal of the Mach-E beyond the traditional Ford customer. Text & Photos: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fleet.ie
Spec Check Mustang Mach-E AWD First Edition Extended Range Price Mustang Mach-E Price Range Battery Capacity Maximum Power Maximum Torque 0-100 km/h Maximum DC Power Charge
€76,100 €53,100 - €82,100 91 kWh 258 kW / 351 PS 580 Nm 5.1 seconds 150 kW
LAUNCH PAD | 65
Dacia’s Jogger combines seven seater practicality with style and affordability
For anyone in the market for an affordable seven seater, the choices are pretty slim these days. It’s a market Dacia is hoping to claim with its all-new Jogger which has just gone on sale in Ireland with launch prices from €23,290. A cross between an estate car, MPV and crossover, the Jogger is based on the same CMF-B platform as the Sandero (and the Renault Clio), but features an extended rear end which increases the overall length to just over 4.5m. A step up in the roofline behind the B-pillar gives an extra 40mm in headroom for passengers in the rear, while a near vertical tailgate maximises the internal space relative to the overall length of the vehicle.
That relatively compact yet spacious design allows a third row of seats to be fitted, and impressively they’re generous enough to accommodate full size adults, something many much bigger 7-seater vehicles struggle to do. The second row provides as much legroom as a typical hatchback but rather more headroom. If the rear seats aren’t needed they can be folded to extend boot space from 212 litres to 699 litres. Furthermore they can be removed completely to offer even more space, something that’s quite easy to do with a weight of just 10kg per seat. Drop the second row of seats and you have a van-rivalling 2,085 litres of storage with load lengths of up to 2m possible. Dacia says there are almost 60
possible ways to split and fold the seats to maximise practicality and versatility. Another notable feature of the Jogger is its light weight, weighing in at just 1.2 tonnes. That allows Dacia to fit a new version of its TCe 1.0 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine. Developing 110hp and 200Nm of torque, Dacia says it will return fuel consumption figures of 5.7-6.0 l/100km with CO2 emissions of 132g/ km (giving annual road tax of €200). Next year will see the arrive of a hybrid engine, Dacia’s first in its model line-up. Three trim levels will be offered on the Jogger. Essential trim, priced from €23,290 includes air conditioning, cruise control, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights and Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEBS). It also features Dacia’s Media Control seen on the Sandero which utilises your smartphone in place of a multimedia display. The Comfort trim, expected to be the volume seller at an entry price of €25,090, adds modular roof rails, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera and 16-inch ‘Flex’ steel wheels styled to replicate the appearance of alloy wheels amongst others. Inside you get a soft-feel steering wheel, central armrest with storage, electric rear windows, electric parking brake, keyless entry, automatic air-con, blind spot warning, and Dacia’s 8-inch Media Display system with two USB ports and smartphone mirroring. The ranging topping Extreme SE adds 16-inch alloys finished in black, heated front seats, special floor and cargo mats, and Dacia’s Media Nav system with built-in navigation and wireless smartphone mirroring. It’s priced at €26,590 at launch, though Dacia advises that all models will be increasing in price by €900 in
June - a reflection of the volatile market the motor industry is operating in at present. Safety Ahead of its launch came the news that Euro NCAP, the car safety performance assessment programme, had awarded the Jogger a solitary one star rating, marking it down in particular for its Vulnerable Road Users and Safety Assist ratings. Speaking at the Irish launch, Jeremy Warnock of Dacia Ireland said that the Jogger is one of the safest cars Dacia has ever made, noting that it terms of standard safety requirements it performs very well, but was marked down for items such as the lack of Isofix on the third row of seats. He noted that all Dacia Jogger models feature six airbags, including curtain and side airbags, as well as a range of ADAS systems including AEBS, Blind Spot Warning, Park Assist and Hill Start Assist. First Impressions Verdict Occasionally a car comes along that breaks the mould or offers something different to the mainstream. The Jogger may be one of these vehicles. It’s stylish, with enough SUV styling to appeal to crossover fans, it offers exceptional space for a compact car, and it undercuts every other seven seater on the market by a significant price margin. A car for our times? Just maybe. Text: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fleet.ie
www.fleetCAR.ie
66 | OPINION
Design layouts of EV fast chargers falling short
As car manufacturers continue to roll out new all-electric models, one of the biggest incentives to make the switch from internal combustion engined vehicles is the escalating price of petrol and diesel. Not that anyone should be under any illusion that electric motoring means minimal fuel bills, with electricity prices also on a severe upward spiral. And if you decide to charge your EV at a public charging point, it pays to check the unit costs, with significant differences between providers, particularly those offering high speed charging facilities.
On the subject of public EV rapid chargers, while all the focus is rightly on increasing the number of stations around the country, little thought appears to be given to the design and layouts of these facilities. Much is made of the frustrations of having to wait while other users complete their charging, but that’s nothing compared to the annoyance FLEETCAR | SUMMER 2022
of finding a charging station free but being unable to use it because design limitations mean you cannot connect your EV to the charge point. Sometimes the issue is space, or lack of it; rapid charging points are located within existing refuelling stations where quite simply, there isn’t room to allow vehicles to park in a variety of angles. More commonly though, the problem is that many of the high speed charging units come with cables that are too short to reach the charge point of the car unless the vehicle is parked at a specific angle - which isn’t always possible particularly when adjacent charge points are being used. In some cases, the cable won’t reach the car’s charge point even when optimally parked - evidenced by my own experience trying to charge the Ford Mustang Mach-E in the photo here. As the cable would not stretch to the front left flank where the charging point is located when parked within the allocated bay, the only option was to mount the grass verge alongside. Vehicle manufacturers aren’t helping the situation, with a lack of consensus about where to locate the charging point. Unlike ICE vehicles where the refilling nozzle is either on the left or right rear flank of the car, EV charge points can variously be found on the front grille, any of the four corners of the bumpers, or on the front or rear flanks on either side of the vehicle. Granted, the cables in question are heavy and awkward - they need to be to transfer many kWatts of power - so understandably charge point manufacturers prefer to keep them to a minimum length. That said, IONITY, which offers among the fastest charging facilities
available, seems to be able to provide adequately long cables, so it’s fairly clear this isn’t a technical limitation. As Ireland moves to an EV future, a public charging network to meet that demand is a necessity. Let’s not exacerbate the problem by building facilities that are not fit for purpose. Adieu Mondeo Ford’s family car is no more We’ve known for some time it was coming, but it still felt like the end of an era when the news broke last month that the last Ford Mondeo had rolled off the production lines in Valencia, Spain. With no direct replacement in the offing, at least in Europe (a Chinese built new model will be sold in some Asian markets), it heralds another nail in the coffin of the traditional family car. The Mondeo follows its great rival the Toyota Avensis into the annals of history, while these days other competitors like the Volkswagen Passat and Peugeot 508 sell only a fraction of what they once did. For Ford it brings to an end an extended period of success, not least in the fleet market, dating back to when the first Cortina was launched in 1962. Five generations of that car were followed by two generations of the Sierra and a further four generations of Mondeo. Despite the Mondeo offering an excellent driving experience, and practicality few cars could match, the rise of the crossover and the buying public’s increasing preference for premium badged rivals has finally drawn the curtains on the once ubiquitous best seller.
Text: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fleet.ie
