LAPV Apri 2019

Local Authority Plant & Vehicles

www.lapv.co.uk

January 2019

The Automatic Choice

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Contents

Local Authority Plant & Vehicles is published by

Inside this issue: 4

HEMMING M E DIA

Hemming Information Services Ltd, a division of Hemming Group Ltd. 32, Vauxhall Bridge Rd, London SW1V 2SS www.lapv.co.uk

News

The latest news on industry, contracts won, and new product developments.

16 Future Fleet Forum preview

The world's first truly international forum dedicated to best practice and future technologies in fleet management returns to London this month. Alongside the exceptional conference line-up, the accompanying Future Fleet exhibition is also the place to find the latest and most advanced vehicles and technologies.

8 Events

OWL adds air quality monitoring to its agenda for 2019.

10 Clifford Comments

The Direct Vision Standard that is expected to come into force in 2020 has its supporters and its detractors, but it is coming, and operators had better take note, whether they operate in London or not, says Phil Clifford

Editor Ann-Marie Knegt T 01935 374001 E am.knegt@hgluk.com Commercial Manager Jason Pidgeon T 020 7973 4645 E j.pidgeon@hgluk.com

31 Future Fleet Forum showguide

Find out everything you need to know about this month's Future Fleet Forum in our comprehensive guide to the foremost conference and exhibition in the fleet management sector.

Production Manager Sue Taylor T 020 7973 4662 E s.taylor@hgluk.com Production Executives Mike Franklin/Gareth Toogood T 0207 973 6641/ 6603 E m.franklin@hgluk.com/g.toogood@ hgluk.com Subscriptions Maggie Spillane T 020 7973 6679 E m.spillane@hgluk.com

Features 13

Managing Director Bill Butler T 0 207 973 6627 E b.butler@hgluk.com ISSN 1472-2607 Š 2019 Hemming Group Printed by Buxton Press Limited, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AE

Local Authority Plant & Vehicles

www.lapv.co.uk

January 2019

The Automatic Choice

With the Future Fleet Awards 2019 just around the corner, LAPV visited the Royal Borough of Greenwich, winner of Most Sustainable Fleet Management Department at the Future Fleet Awards 2018, to discover more about the borough's efforts to transform the environmental performance of its fleet and improve air quality for residents.

ALLISON LAPV ADVERT A/W.indd 1

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06/11/2018 09:38

Advancing the green agenda is going to take more than purchasing an electric vehicle. Ahead of Future Fleet Forum, LAPV sat down with a group of industry experts to find out the real barriers to meaningful progress and discuss possible strategies that could lead to solutions.

50

Grounds maintenance

54

End-to-end software solution

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Blue light fleets

22 Sustainability award winner

Take out a subscription at www.lapv.co.uk Cover: HL Smith Transmissions

Round table debate

Driving force

Local authorities are looking for efficiency savings in their grounds care operations and manufacturers are responding with a swathe of developments designed to increase productivity and reduce costs.

From a basic, bespoke software package for one customer, Purgo from VWS has developed into a modular and scalable waste management software system designed to meet the specific needs of the waste and recycling sector.

The challenges facing fire services in the effort to go green; why highways workers and emergency responders need upskilling in EVs; new fire trucks for LFB.

LAPV travels to Shropshire to the HQ of HL Smith Transmissons to find out more about the process of rebuilding transmissions to original equipment standards.

Vehicle test

Steve Banner takes the revamped Ford Transit Connect van for a test drive.

January 2019 LAPV 3

NEWS

COmment

Welcome to the future of fleet in 2019 Happy New Year, and welcome to what looks set to be an interesting year for the fleet management sector and the transport industry as a whole.

The impact of Brexit aside, we are poised on the brink of a technology revolution that could transform every aspect of transport and mobility – if we get it right. Ahead of the fourth edition of Future Fleet Forum, we gathered together experts from across the sector at LAPV HQ to discuss the state of the industry and its progress towards a sustainable future. This fascinating debate, which you can read in full on page 13-15, took a frank look at the challenges and opportunities facing municipal fleet management in 2019 and highlighted a number of road blocks – in policy, legislation,

infrastructure, and technology – that could undermine the sector's efforts to improve its collective carbon footprint. It also underlined the importance of coming together to discuss these challenges, share experiences, and promote best practice to arrive at joint solutions – and that is exactly what Future Fleet Forum is all about.

This month, on 23-24 January in London's Guildhall, experts from around the world, from both the public and private sectors, will gather to discuss the future of fleet and share their knowledge for the good of all. Find out how the City of Montreal has successfully electrified its fleet, learn about Iowa's pioneering biodiesel programme, and how Stockholm has worked to change the mobility behaviour of its citizens to reduce car use. The first truly global forum for fleet management will also address pressing practical issues such as the impact of new mobility on municipal operations, driver recruitment and wellbeing, road safety and more.

If you work in public sector fleet management, you cannot afford to miss this. Contact me on am.knegt@hgluk.com for your FREE invite. Ann-Marie Knegt, Editor LAPV

Loughborough leads study into impact of cavs

A three-year study that will help European cities assess the future of driverless transport and its impact on infrastructure and society is being led by Loughborough University.

According to current estimates, all vehicles will have some degree of automation by 2030, of which 25% are expected to be completely autonomous. The remaining 75% will have a high degree of automation, for example, the ability to steer, accelerate and decelerate, and to monitor their immediate environment.

The £5.7m Levitate project (Societal Level Impacts of Connected and Automated Vehicles) will consider the ways in which cities, towns, and regional and national governments can use technology and create systems to cope with this projected growth in driverless vehicles and autonomous freight and logistics operations.

Loughborough University will lead the three-year, EU-funded programme, which aims to assess the short, medium, and long-term impacts of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVS) on mobility, safety, environment, society and other areas.

4 LAPV January 2019

The project will look at the way autonomous vehicles could improve safety, congestion, and the environment. It will also seek to identify the key policy decisions that will maximise the benefits and minimise negative outcomes and the mobility technologies with the greatest economic return. The study will also consider alternative methods of achieving the benefits of autonomous vehicles but at a lower cost.

Key objectives include the creation of a web-based toolkit to help city planners forecast the impact of autonomous mobility and assist with the design of appropriate transport infrastructure; the development of transport infrastructure scenarios, based on mobility technology, for urban shuttles, passenger cars and freight services; the establishment of a method for assessing the short, medium, and long-term impacts of autonomous mobility systems on mobility, safety, environment, society and other areas; and the application of methods to forecast the impact of driverless transport in a variety of environments Levitate will involve nine academic and research institutions from Europe, Australia, China and the US as well as Transport for Greater Manchester and the City of Vienna. Supporting cities include London, Barcelona, Paris, Stuttgart, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Gothenburg. The project will be coordinated by a team from Loughborough Design School and the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering.

Principal investigator of Levitate, LDS Professor Pete Thomas, said: ‘These vehicles bring new challenges and have the potential to disrupt mobility in both good and bad ways. Our job in Levitate is to provide a new scientific basis that will enable cities and regions to make policy decisions that are the best for each circumstance.’

The project will also address safety concerns around autonomous vehicles, particularly in the transition period required to fully integrate CAVS into existing transport networks. Vehicles that are individually connected to urban traffic management systems are expected to operate more efficiently, but there are concerns over inadequate control systems, the transfer of control between human and vehicle, and malfunctioning infrastructure. In addition, vehicle automation could actually increase traffic and road use by up to 14%, which must also be considered.

NEWS

CONTRACTS NYC adopts high-vision trucks to improve safety New York City’s fleet will transition to high-vision trucks as part of the Mayor’s Vision Zero initiative to put an end to traffic deaths and injuries in the city.

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services announced that the city will purchase high-vision trucks whenever suitable options exist, including tow trucks, RCVs, and dump trucks. These vehicles have lower cabs, smaller hoods, and additional windows to minimise blind spots and better protect vulnerable road users. Overall, the city operates at least 2,500 conventional work trucks that could be transitioned to high-vision under this initiative.

The move is underpinned by research carried out by City of London that suggests that vehicle reaction times are 70% slower in traditional vehicles compared with high-vision alternatives. The same study found that cyclists are at particular risk when approaching the passenger-side door of traditional vehicles because of low driver visibility.

‘In both safety and sustainability, DCAS is pushing the fleet industry to supply safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles,’ said Keith Kerman, DCAS deputy commissioner and NYC chief fleet officer. ‘These technologies save lives and money and should be standard on all base fleet vehicles.’

City of London’s business performance and transport group manager Vince Dignam said the move was a huge step in the right direction. He added: ‘Collaboration and the sharing of information is key for improved road safety and the City of London is happy to partner with NYC and DCAS in this effort at Future Fleet Forum in London in January 2019.’

Tucanas for Monmouthshire community transport The Grass Routes Community Transport Scheme operated by Monmouthshire County Council has added two new Mellor Tucana II buses to its fleet.

The scheme is a flexible service that adapts to meet the demands for passengers and supports the transport requirements of the county’s residents. The Tucana II buses provide a variety of features to accommodate less able passengers to ensure the service is accessible to everyone. Their compact construction also makes them suitable for narrow rural lanes and housing estates.

Based on the Volkswagen Transporter chassis, the Tucanas have seating for 16 and up to four wheelchairs.

A sliding door eliminates the kerb gap, two manual rear doors provide access to the fold-out ramp, and low floors allow easy, step-free access for those with limited mobility. They are equipped with all-age seatbelts.

Debbie Jackson, Monmouthshire County Council fleet manager, said: ‘Thank you to the team at Mellor for providing these two new additions to our fleet. They’re exactly what we needed and the whole process of detailing our requirements right through to delivery was conducted in a professional and timely manner. We look forward to using these vehicles on our services and hearing what our passengers think too.’

TRL to conduct research into cold weather planning Experts from the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) are working with the National Winter Service Research Group (NWSRG) to develop a new framework of research to provide road authorities with the means to better plan and prepare winter maintenance programmes.

A key area of research will focus on the accurate measurement of levels of residual salt on the road network. This is the background level of salt on the road surface, which can be significant, especially during cold periods without rainfall when salt is spread every day. As current technology cannot accurately assess residual salt levels, road authorities don’t take it into account when making spreading decisions, but better detection and measurement of residual salt levels could mean significant cost savings.

Other areas of research that could benefit local authorities include improvements in weather forecasting using domain or route-based forecasting to make more localised treatment decisions; dynamic route optimisation to identify efficient treatment routes in real time based on weather conditions; new sensors located beside, within the road, or on vehicles to enable monitoring of factors such as road temperature and wetness, the presence of snow or ice, and the residual salt levels.

TRL is the principal contractor to the NWSRG and has assisted in the development of the latest Practical Guidance for Winter Service. This guidance helps authorities implement the Well-managed highway infrastructure code of practice, which requires authorities to implement a risk-based approach with flexibility to make determine levels of service on a local basis. The NWSRG guidance assists authorities in reviewing their current policy as well advising on how to implement new technologies and methods of working.

Funding boost for Go Plant

Go Plant Fleet Services has received £13.5m in funding from Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance to invest in expanding the business across the UK. The fleet management solutions provider plans to expand its network of depots and acquire outsourced fleet contracts in new regions as well as strategic acquisitions to increase market share and investments in IT infrastructure.

Go Plant offers access to specialist commercial vehicles as well as fleet management services. The company merged with Lincolnshire-based Essential Fleet Services in July 2017 and subsequently embarked on an expansion programme that has already seen the business open several new depots, establish an owned spot-hire fleet, and invest in ‘back to black’ beam sweepers. Go Plant now has sales of over £70m and employs 500 staff across 38 depots.

Commercial director Mark Gallimore said: ‘We’re excited by the growth prospects available across our core markets. Our senior management team required a facility that would help us achieve strategic goals by developing national coverage. Secure Trust Bank worked hard to deliver a bespoke funding solution and we’re looking forward to accelerating our growth with the additional capital now available to us.’

ISS holds Reaclear demo day Innovative Safety Systems held its second demonstration day for its Reaclear reversing safety device in October at Croft Circuit in County Durham.

The event was attended by delegates from more than 20 local authorities and supported by vehicle and technology suppliers including Geesinknorba, Dennis Eagle, Terberg Matec, CMS Supatrak, Vehicle Weighing Solutions, Refuse Vehicle Solutions, Epic Media Group, Harsh UK, CP Davidson, and Stock Sweepers.

Following presentations on Reaclear and the ISS product portfolio, attendees participated in live demonstrations using an RCV supplied by South Lakeland Council, which has been trialling Reaclear for the last six months. Guests also had the chance to try out the 2.1-mile Croft Circuit race track with a qualified ARDS instructor. Vehicles on offer included Ginettas, Porsche Caymans, and a ‘reasonably priced car’.

‘We were really pleased to have the opportunity to demonstrate our latest innovations to such a big audience,’ said Gavin Thoday, ISS MD. ‘The feedback was great, and we enjoyed some productive discussions about the safety issues that vehicle operators face.’

January 2019 LAPV 5

NEWS

Grundon fits Banksman lights

Grundon has fitted a new lighting system to its vehicles for improved night visibility.

The integrated waste management and environmental solutions provider has fitted a Banksman light on each side of its vehicle chassis, which produce bright light around the vehicle when reverse gear is engaged.

Designed and supplied by Labcraft, Banksman lights project white light at a 90-degree angle from the vehicle sides and illuminates up to 30sqm of the surrounding area. The high-intensity LED light is waterproof, durable, and guaranteed for 10 years.

Grundon has fitted the Banksman to 130 trade waste vehicles and front-end loaders, which operate at around 100 locations daily, often in poor light or darkness, and are reversing up to 70% of the time.

‘Our objective was to find a solution that would enable drivers to see as clearly as possible and thus reduce accident risk,’ explained Grundon regional operations manager Anthony Tattersall. ‘The degree of close-quarter vision produced by just two lights on each vehicle not only improves safety but will also reduce downtime and minimise repair costs.

The system is easy and quick to retrofit which again means minimum time off the road.’

Briggs acquires Hiremech Briggs Equipment has acquired London-based forklift supplier Hiremech to strengthen its presence in London and south east.

The independent North London dealer will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Briggs and will continue to trade under its own name. Hiremech will represent the Hyster and Utilev brands of forklift trucks as well as having access to Hako and JLG equipment.

‘We are delighted to welcome the team at Hiremech on board,’ said Peter Jones, group managing director of Briggs Equipment. ‘Bringing together two businesses with a breadth and depth of industry knowledge allows us to lay strong foundations to offer stronger support to our customers, improve efficiencies, benefit from economies of scale, and increase our market awareness and share for the future.’

Hiremech MD Paul Green said: ‘We look forward to representing a strong brand in Hyster, and an even broader portfolio of complementary products.’

6 LAPV January 2019

projects NEVS partners in Swedish mobility behaviour project

The feasibility of car sharing is the focus of a new project involving Swedish electric car manufacturer NEVs, Trollhättan City, University West, and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden.

Current research into smart cities and autonomous vehicles tends to focus on technical solutions. The SESMA project (Sharing Economy, Smart Mobility Acceptance) will instead focus on users by mapping the transport behaviour of residents in Trollhättan and attitudes to car sharing as part of an effort to reduce the total number of cars in the city.

NEVS will set up five electrical vehicles for the SESMA project, which will investigate and chart the existing mobility and transport habits of individuals, as well as their perceptions and experiences of shared self-driving transport with electric cars. The two-part project will first survey residents' transport behaviour in Trollhättan with the help of families who become study subjects. The second phase will test the concept of sharing electric cars, also within families.

‘We want to find out how we can build services around this with the families as co-producers of apps or anything else that could appear,’ explains Lars-Olof Johansson, researcher in computer science and project leader at University West.

‘We know that when users join together and form services and digital applications, acceptance also increases.’

The project objectives include the creation of a business model for manufacturers of connective, autonomous, electric and shared vehicles; the creation of urban planning guidelines for the transition to smart mobility in major cities; and the development of digital applications that support sharing economics and smart mobility in major cities.

While the project will not include self-driving vehicles, the results will be applied to the continuing work of developing shared and autonomous vehicles.

SESMA will last throughout 2019 and 2020 and will be carried out in cooperation with University West, NEVS, Trollhättans City, and RISE. The project has just been granted more than SEK 3 million from Drive Sweden, a strategic innovation government programme funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas, and VINNOVA, and has a total budget of almost SEK 7 million.

Ford Sleep Suit highlights dangers of drowsy driving A Sleep Suit that simulates the effect of microsleeps has been developed by Ford as part of its free driver training.

Tiredness is thought to be a contributing factor in up to 20% of road crashes. In fact, research suggests that remaining awake for more than 18 hours can have a similar impact on driving ability as exceeding the drink drive limit.

Young people are particularly at risk and traffic accidents are a leading cause of death for younger drivers. In the US, most fatigue-induced accidents are caused by drivers under the age of 25. Ford’s new Sleep Suit enables wearers to experience the debilitating effects of fatigue as part of its free young driver training programme for 17-24-year-olds.

‘Drive when you’re tired and you risk driving like a zombie – becoming a danger to yourself, your passengers, and everyone on the road around you,’ said Dr Gundolf Meyer Hentschel, CEO of the Meyer Hentschel Institute, who developed the Sleep Suit. ‘Young adults very often subject themselves to “intentional sleep deprivation” – forcing themselves to stay awake so that they can juggle the demands of busy social lives, long working hours, and studying.’

Special goggles simulate the effects of exhaustion, including microsleeps, which are an uncontrollable response to tiredness and can result in drivers driving blind for 10 seconds or more. A car can travel hundreds of metres in the space of a few seconds and drivers may not even be aware that the microsleep has occurred.

The goggles are connected to a smartphone app and can be set to simulate the brain shutting down for increasing lengths of time, from half a second to 10 seconds at a time. They are worn in combination with a cap, vest, arm and ankle bands that add more than 18kgs to the wearer to simulate the overall effects of tiredness.

According to AA research, almost one in eight UK drivers have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel and a further 37% have said they have been so tired that they were worried about falling asleep when driving. The AA has launched a #DrowsyDriver campaign to help raise awareness of the problem.

The new N4: simple yet versatile

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NEWS

Air pollution public health class action in Belgium Europe’s first major class action related to public health and air pollution is underway in Antwerp, Belgium, asserting that the city’s Low Emission Zone is detrimental to human health.

It’s not technically a class action – these are not currently possible in Belgium – rather a private association called City in Hand is grouping individual claims together to demand that the City of Antwerp immediately roll back its Low Emission Zone and reimburse fines issued to citizen for unauthorised entry into the zone to the tune of 20 million Euros.

Central to the legal action by City in Hand is the argument that ultrafine particles (UFPS) pose a far greater risk to human health than larger particulates, such as PM10 and PM2.5. Furthermore, the association argues that the main sources of UFPS are diesel regenerative particulate filters – through the incineration of fine particulates that create UFPS – and modern petrol cars. It goes on to assert that, since NOx emissions from later diesel engines (Euro 4,5, and 6) are not significantly lower than from older engines, that all diesel engines should be considered equally harmful.

This argument is the basis of the association's demand to halt the city’s Low Emission Zone. LEZs are designed to reduce UFPS and improve air quality and the Antwerp zone bans diesel cars below Euro 3 without a particulate filter. An exemption can be purchased for Euro 2 cars or those more than 40 years old, and the purchase of a day pass allows unauthorised vehicles to enter the zone a maximum of eight times per year. Fines of up to 350 Euros are levied for zone violations and in 2017 alone Antwerp issued fines of at

least 12 million Euros. This revenue excludes exemptions and day passes.

However, City in Hand argues that the study commissioned by Antwerp to measure changes in air quality did not take into account the impact of the LEZ on numbers of UFPS. It goes on to argue that road traffic accounts for less than 10% of these pollutants in the city, that levels of NOx have not been significantly reduced, and that the impact on air pollution of the city’s industry, harbour, and traffic on the country’s most congested ring road overwhelms any gains from the LEZ. City in Hand doesn’t stop there. The organisation asserts its belief that the existence of the LEZ is actually more detrimental to human health than the lack of one. This is because it requires the use of regenerative particulate filters for older diesel cars, which City in Hand claims increase UFPS, and allows access to modern petrol cars, which have also been identified as a source of UFPS. Therefore, the legal action calls for an end to the LEZ in its current form and a reimbursement of fines on the basis that the government should not earn money from what it calls a flawed project and that fining owners of older diesel cars is discriminatory if, as it argues, they are not more harmful than newer vehicles.

City in Hand is filing what amounts to a class action as it claims that thousands of individual complaints have been ignored by the city. The organisation is providing legal support and assistance to individuals who believe they are entitled to reimbursement of fines or other expenses such as the cost of installing regenerating particulate filters.

events owl adds air pollution to agenda for 2019 Raising awareness of air quality issues and how these may be monitored is the next focus for the OWL (Optimised Waste and Logistics) Partnership.

OWL brings together suppliers from the waste, transport, and logistics industries who work in partnership with each other and organisations such as FORS, CILT and CIWM to develop integrated products and services.

Air pollution is now a major health threat and most councils have declared AQMAs (Defra’s air quality monitoring areas). OWL will expand its focus for 2019 to incorporate air quality monitoring on its agenda of developing an integrated approach to transport safety, compliance, and sustainability.

CMS SupaTrak, which runs the OWL initiative on behalf of its partners, has teamed up with EarthSense to create a mobile air monitoring system that fixes to vehicles and identifies areas of high pollution. MD Jason Airey said: ‘According to the WHO, around a million UK citizens will die from air pollution-related disease by 2040 if existing Government policies are followed. We believe that the first step to demonstrable improvements is robust monitoring and by working closely with our waste sector customers, and leading vehicle OEMs, waste vehicles can be multi-purposed to include air quality monitoring devices.’

OWL chair Barry Sheerman MP, who is also the chair of the Leadership Council of the Global Network for Road Safety Legislators and the UK’s Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said: ‘OWL is committed to developing an integrated approach to air quality, transport safety, and sustainability, and multi-purposing commercial fleet vehicles to measure key environmental parameters will set an important standard in the world of transport and logistics.’

The OWL initiative is regarded as instrumental in driving up standards of safety and compliance and regular roadshows around the country bring together public and private sector organisations.

8 LAPV January 2019

2019 Roadshows OWL Roadshow Wales 7 March 2019 – St Davids Hotel, Cardiff OWL Roadshow Scotland 4 April 2019 – Mar Hall Hotel & Spa, Bishopton, Scotland OWL Roadshow Midlands 4 July 2019 – Wroxall Abbey, Warwickshire NI Waste Expo 3 October 2019 – Titanic, Belfast OWL Roadshows are free to attend but require registration. To register go to www.supatrak.com/owl. CPD Points are usually awarded for attendance at OWL Roadshows, see individual events for details.

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OVERVIEW & WABCO & ALLISON ADVERT A/W.indd 1

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clifford comments clifford comments

A clear view on direct vision The Direct Vision Standard has its supporters and its detractors, but it is coming, and operators had better take note, whether they operate in London or not, says Phil Clifford.

T

Dennis Elite 8x4 mid-steer tipper with grab.

here has been a lot of discussion about the forthcoming Direct Vision Standard for HGVs. This is a London-centric standard, and one that has both its critics and its supporters, and the final introduction of the scheme in the capital is anticipated to occur from October 2020.

The scheme aims to improve the safety of all road users, particularly vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. A star system will rate heavy goods vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes from zero stars (for the lowest) to five stars (for the highest). These ratings recognise how much or how little the driver of the truck can see directly through their cab windows as opposed to indirectly using mirrors or camera systems.

Why is this necessary? According to Transport for London, in 2016 23% of pedestrian and 50% of cyclist deaths involved an HGV, and this is in spite of the fact that HGVs account for only 4% of road miles in London. The Freight Transport Association, one of Britain’s largest trade associations, fully supports the Mayor of

10 LAPV January 2019

London’s Zero Vision approach to road danger reduction but argues that, in respect of DVS, vehicle design standards should not be set at a local level. Instead, the association argues that setting design standards is something that should happen at national government or European level.

The problem stems from the fact that most HGV cabs are high from the ground and the visibility of vulnerable road users who may be in close proximity to the vehicle is therefore compromised. There is an excellent short video available on YouTube, produced by TfL, which illustrates the problem.

There are many excellent technical solutions on the market that endeavour to minimise the risks. These include camera systems to eliminate blind spots, ‘warning of intended manoeuvre’ systems, which include decals and illuminated warning lights as well as audible warnings, and systems to minimise the impact of hazards such as side under-run protection. However true ‘direct vision’ is not common in modern truck design.

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clifford comments

Dennis Eagle has adapted its lowentry cab design to suit a range of urban vehicles including RCVs, skip-loaders, urban tippers, and distribution vehicles.

What is probably not so well known at the moment, however, is that there is a range of trucks that do deliver a high level of direct vision – namely the low-entry municipal cab as used by many local authorities as a platform for their refuse collection vehicles.

Dennis Eagle, a manufacturer of such low-entry cab vehicles, recently invited operators to attend a Ride and Drive day at the Millbrook Proving Ground near Bedford. A range of production vehicles, all based on the Dennis Eagle Elite 6 chassis, were available on the day for operators to see and test out.

Based in Warwick, Dennis Eagle has successfully adapted its lowentry cab design to suit several different urban delivery solutions, and these were made available for the Ride and Drive event. Among the vehicles on show were an 8x4 mid-steer, 32-tonne urban tipper; a 6x2, 26-tonne refuse collection vehicle; a 4x2, 18-tonne skip loader; an 18-tonne, 4x2 urban distribution vehicle featuring a Gray Adamsbuilt refrigerated body with side and rear tail-lifts; and a 44-tonne urban articulated combination.

All the vehicles were powered by Euro VI Volvo engines and fitted with the Allison MD3000 six-speed automatic gearbox with an integrated retarder. Other safety devices were fitted to the vehicles such as ‘blocked in’ side-guards, CCTV camera systems, and ISS side guard Cyclear systems.

Another major advantage of the low-entry cabs is that the driver can walk through the cab and exit the vehicle on the near side well away from the traffic.

Before the event got underway it was clear that the vehicles lined up to try were perceived by some to be no more than modified refuse trucks. However, after having the opportunity to take the vehicles around the famous Millbrook circuit, most were pleasantly surprised by what they found.

The day went well, the sun shone, and the operators and drivers thoroughly enjoyed their experience. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I chose the refuse truck for my first test drive, as I have many years of

12 LAPV January 2019

experience with such vehicles. I then graduated to truck types that I wasn’t familiar with and was surprised by how responsive and easy to drive they were.

My final test was in the 44-tonne Artic, a type of vehicle I have not driven for many years. The combination of high visibility, responsive power, and ease of control through the Allison transmission made it an interesting and enjoyable experience – all the more so because of the high volume of construction work going on at Millbrook on the day. The difficulty of some of the turnings was increased by the presence of construction equipment and Heras fencing lining the route. Though unplanned, these restrictions helped to emphasise the need for good all-round vision. As far as I know, no one clipped any of the Heras fencing, even in the Artic.

Over lunch and during the afternoon, operators’ conversations became more positive and thoughts turned towards practical applications of the designs in existing fleets.

Of course, there is a premium to pay for low-entry cab vehicles, but given the prospect that trucks that do not meet the required DVS standard will eventually be banned from entering London, that may well be a price worth paying. Some of the assembled operators stated that they didn’t go into London so there wasn’t a problem, but it was pointed out to them that, like the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS), or the Construction Logistics and Community Safety standard (CLOCS), it doesn’t take long before other cities and towns start looking at what is going on in the capital and begin applying the same standards elsewhere. Today London, tomorrow the rest of the country?

I have heard people ask whether it is really necessary to go to the lengths of full-height glass, air-operated, bus-type doors. Well, all the vehicles on show on the day are also available with a conventional slam door to the near side. Visibility to the left will not be as good, although it is still better than most mainstream trucks available today.

The families of victims will tell you that something needs to be done to reduce injuries and deaths from HGV-vulnerable road user collisions. And they are not the only ones to feel this way. There was an incident a few years ago involving an operator (outside London) using a truck with a conventional slam door. A passenger exited the vehicle on the near side but was slow to walk away from the truck.

The driver couldn’t see him, pulled forward and drove over his foot.

After months of surgery and recuperation, the passenger was able to return to work, and the operator reviewed its risk assessment for this type of operation. Given that a vehicle with a glass near-side door is available, it would be ludicrous, in light of that incident, for any operator not to take up that option.

Whether or not you agree that low-entry, high direct-vision cabs are necessary, Dennis Eagle, part of the Terberg Ros Roca organisation, is to be applauded for developing solutions that are available now, and which directly answer the call from the Mayor of London to design vehicles that resolve the issue of direct vision.

Phil Clifford is the former fleet manager for Forest Heath District and St Edmundsbury Borough councils, operating under the West Suffolk brand. His specialisms include fleet procurement, use of vehicle telematics, and the development and use of fleet management software systems. He is an advocate for sharing best practice and benchmarking. He is also the founder and board manager of the Public Authority Transport Network, member of the Freight Transport Association, East of England Freight Council, and committee member of BSI working group B/508/01(Waste containers and associated lifting devices on refuse collection vehicles). Contact him at philip.clifford4@ btinternet.com or follow him on Twitter @thefleetman.

ROUND TABLE DEBATE

Something has to change Advancing the green agenda is going to take more than purchasing an electric vehicle. Ahead of Future Fleet Forum, LAPV sat down with a group of industry experts to find out the real barriers to meaningful progress and discuss possible strategies that could lead to solutions.

W

hen LAPV invited a handful of key players from across the fleet management industry to sit down and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in 2019 we were expecting a lively debate. And we got one. However, what also emerged from this frank discussion was a picture of an industry that is trying its hardest to do the right thing while facing an array of complex obstacles on its journey toward true sustainability.

The issue of price came up straight away. In a sector that has seen years of hard-hit budgets, price remains a contentious issue. For David Maidman, business director of Biffa, contract pricing in the local authority sector is a major issue. ‘The number of contracts has remained relatively stable, but austerity and the uncertainty around Brexit is creating a lot of challenges. For us, the biggest day-to-day challenge will be pressure on wage increases and driver recruitment and retention. We have a shortage of workshop fitters because the apprenticeship scheme is not replacing people retiring out of the industry quickly enough.’

‘Finding staff is hard,’ agreed Russell Markstein, commercial director of NRG Fleet Services and Electra Commercial Vehicles. ‘At least one manufacturer of truck chassis currently has 500 vacancies.

They can’t recruit for roles like mechanics and those on apprenticeship schemes often don’t see them through. And I agree with David about Brexit – lead times are long and we are asking for long-term fixed quotes, but it is caveated by Brexit.’

The vast amount of data involved in today’s industry is another challenge. Nick Bridle from fleet management software supplier Assetworks said the market is moving towards the integration of systems and the consolidation of data as a way of saving costs.

‘Whatever you are doing, whether it is fleet management, work flow management, or fuel tracking, it’s about integrating that information into one system, removing spreadsheets, and using apps to support compliance. Everyone must produce this data and the cost of maintaining multiple systems is horrendous, therefore councils are looking to integrate their products in one solution. For me, electronic data capture to support compliance is where the market is moving.’

Technology is even more important for councils now that many are running smaller fleets agreed David Strachan, area sales manager from Aebi Schmidt. ‘There has been a big drive in service delivery in the last year,’ he noted. ‘We have developed a portal that allows our customers to report breakdowns as they happen, even out of hours, instead of waiting until the next business day. With fewer vehicles, the impact of one off the road is much greater.’

He added that the other major trend for Aebi Schmidt has been demand for lower emissions and this is true across the industry. But, as became apparent in the course of the discussion, emissions reduction is far from simple. One immediate obstacle is the cost of the technology. In his role at Electra, Russell is at the sharp end of EV sales and says that cost-benefit message is often not getting through.

‘We are focusing on the HGV market, and while people are happy to spend money on a Nissan Leaf and pay double what they would for a diesel equivalent, they are baulking at an RCV that might cost £5,000 more.’

This is an all-too-familiar story to Sarah Maxwell, fleet support officer from City of London, who is working on transforming the council’s fleet. ‘People haven’t taken on board how quickly this is going to happen,’ she said, in reference to the move away from

"Businesses and councils have to invest to change but they haven’t had the money to do so. Deadlines are coming fast now, so we are seeing knee-jerk reactions" diesel. ‘The main issue is getting the infrastructure in time and we are working on a big infrastructure project. We also have demonstration vehicles out with departments for evaluation, but we’re finding that people still aren’t seeing the bigger picture. We know we have to do this, but at the top they are just not pushing the button.’

Part of the problem is different budgets for different departments.

Some have more money to spend than others, and even though City of London has rules preventing the purchase of new diesels, departments on tight budgets are finding ways around this. ‘They can’t buy a diesel vehicle, so they hire one.’

This failure to see the big picture is not confined to councils. The transition away from diesel is still at an early stage and driven in part by the need to meet regulations and low emission zone requirements. But, as Nick Bridle pointed out, to meet the 2019 deadline for London’s ULEZ, some companies are simply sending their non-compliant vehicles elsewhere. ‘It doesn’t solve the emissions problem, it just transfers it.’

‘We are all facing the same pressures,’ observed Arend Mouton, formerly fleet manager for City of London Police and now group fleet

January 2019 LAPV 13

Because these are two different things. Customers often want to go electric because that is their interpretation of what they have to achieve, but it is not necessarily what they have to do. There are other options – CNG, etc – and other sources of emissions, such as non-tail pipe. They want to make sure they have ticked every box rather than looking at the most important issue, and that is reducing their carbon footprint.’

Electric is popular because it’s obvious – it’s a PR win, in other words. But there is no one-size-fits-all alternative fuel solution. Electric is no good for on-call vehicles and CNG doesn’t work for slow moving vehicles, neither does Euro VI. ‘At Riverside, most of the breakdowns we get are regen-related or related somehow to Adblue because the engine isn’t getting hot enough,’ said Russell. ‘If the vehicle is going up and down the motorway, it works, emissions are low, and we don’t hear a thing. We’ve been mis-sold Euro VI in terms of LA specifications. The reality is it’s just as messy.’

‘The policy makers are out of kilter with modern requirements,’ agreed David Maidman. ‘On paper, Euro VI was just what was needed for cities and clean air, but it doesn’t work in a stop-start environment. On the one hand Euro VI is here to save the planet, and on the other operators now need to factor in taking smaller vehicles for a 40-mile drive down the motorway once a week to

Technology alone cannot solve the sector's sustainability challenges. The panel agreed that the solution lies in doing things differently and working together to consolidate assets, tasks, and capacity.

Credit: Shutterstock

manager for Wates Group in the construction sector. ‘Safety standards are increasing, FORS and CLOCS are becoming a must, and to meet these standards requires investment. What hasn’t been recognised is the major issue of massive budget reductions over the last few years. Businesses and councils have to invest to change but they haven’t had the money to do so. Deadlines are coming fast now, so we are seeing knee-jerk reactions. When there are businesses, like Electra, that invest in developing new vehicles that meet our requirements, we have to support them. If the market doesn’t buy into these developments, the market won’t improve.’

‘Legislation is ahead of technology,’ added Russell. ‘The bodies that created the legislation didn’t consult manufacturers.’

‘The sector is experiencing the biggest pressure on budgets at the time that it is going through its most critical change for decades,’ agreed Biffa’s David Maidman. ‘While vehicle manufacturers are

"The sector is experiencing the biggest pressure on budgets at the time that it is going through its most critical change for decades" coming up with solutions, the greatest challenge remains infrastructure. If Biffa tenders for a local authority [diesel] contract, I don’t have to include the cost of a fuel station. But if you talk about adopting a fleet of EVs, we have to include a charging station and lots of depots simply don’t have that capacity.’

‘So, is electric the accepted solution then?’ asked Ann-Marie, editor of LAPV and leader of the debate. Not necessarily was the response. It comes back to those knee-jerk reactions Arend mentioned.

‘I always ask our customers exactly what they are trying to achieve,’ said David Strachan from Aebi Schmidt. ‘Do they want to go emissions free or are they trying to reduce their carbon footprint?

14 LAPV January 2019

"The Government is not providing guidance on best practice. They are just telling authorities what they have to achieve" clear them out.’

Nor is it just about the capital cost of vehicles, as Nick Bridle from AssetWorks pointed out. It’s about optimising the longer life of EVs and there’s a huge amount of data on vehicle performance that manufacturers should be passing on to the people who need it to maximise the operation of those vehicles on a day-to-day basis.

But what about solutions? If legislation has caused as many problems as it has solved, and lack of infrastructure ahead of stricter emission targets is a major obstacle, how can the sector work together to develop both short- and long-terms solutions?

Technology is not the whole answer. The general consensus is that the key lies in doing things differently ‘It’s a considerable cost jump from diesel to electric and justifying that cost is one of the biggest issues for councils,’ said Aebi Schmidt’s David Strachan. ‘Yes, we can offer fuel savings and a longer service life, but electric vehicles can also operate at night, and there are other ways councils can change their operations and mindset that can have a positive impact. Product innovation has developed even in the last 12 months. Technology is moving forward very quickly.’

The market is progressing so fast, in fact, that many customers are limping along hoping that something will happen, and prices will come down. But they won’t, said Russell. ‘The reality is that they will have to change the way they do things. There are a thousand reasons not to, and until or unless it becomes law and every major town and city becomes a clean air zone, it’s not going to change.’

Sarah thinks many local authorities outside London are going to wait until 2021, and there is already a lot of focus on City of London and how it will cope with the coming ULEZ. ‘After April everyone will be looking to see what our fleet is doing and whether we can run a service with what we’ve got.’

The rate and pace of change is actually one of the main challenges, Biffa’s Dave Maidman believes. ‘How long does it take a local authority to procure a contract? By the time they bring the

ROUND TABLE DEBATE

vehicle to market, it is out of date. So, people are holding back to find out what the next solution might be – maybe we will be running trucks on yoghurt in five years? Contracts last for ten years, but if a new vehicle comes along in three, the councils will want it.’

‘That’s the real world,’ pointed out Russell. ‘Technology moves on.’

"Customers often want to go electric because that is their interpretation of what they have to achieve, but it is not necessarily what they have to do" ‘But it gets into the wider debate,’ replied David. ‘If you don’t do something different, nothing will change. Expecting it to is the definition of madness.’

But what can be done differently? ‘Have any of you seen any examples of best practice, in the UK or internationally?’ asked Ann-Marie.

‘DHL did a trial with solar panels on trailers that saw a 6% saving on fuel costs,’ said David Strachan. ‘That might not sound like a lot, but the truck and trailer commercial market is huge – if they can all save 5-6% that’s significant.’

Russell revealed that Electra Commercial is working on the world’s first electric trailer. ‘We’re trying to get it to Future Fleet Forum. It’s really simple technology, but it is a cost.’ Yet, said David Strachan, all it takes is for one big player to invest in equipment like this to make a real difference.

Businesses will also have to start thinking differently about fleets that go into London, especially distribution, said the panel. New distribution centres outside London, smaller vehicles coming into the capital, last-mile electric deliveries, and consolidating capacity are just some of the ideas that were discussed.

‘I want to add another issue,’ said Arend, ‘and that is the effect on infrastructure and the economy. Diesels sales are down 30% this year and will continue to fall. We are already seeing the increasing difference between diesel fuel prices and unleaded. If we all go electric, what will happen to the economy? The economy is not geared up for this shift. The infrastructure isn’t in place to shift the taxes raised through fuel. What will happen to our taxes to make up for the shortfall in diesel sales?’

‘We have done a total cost of operation model for Electra vehicles, but we haven’t even taken account of congestion charge savings in our calculations,’ agreed Russell. Because that will change.

If everyone goes electric, the benefits of electric vehicles in congestion zones will disappear.

‘We are talking as through there is a singular solution,’ David Maidman pointed out, ‘but we are coming to a place where what you do determines your solution, and it won’t be one size fits all.’

‘Are stronger guidelines from Government required?’ asked AnnMarie. DVSA standards are doing that to an extent, said Nick, but Russell thinks Government efforts have not been well thought out.

‘Legislation is way ahead of the technology and guidelines are fairly minimal. Clean Air Zones have not been thought through at all.’

The lack of leadership means everyone is doing their own thing.

‘The Government is not providing guidance on best practice. They are just telling authorities what they have to achieve,’ said Sarah.

The result is that it can become a box-ticking exercise that encourages quick wins and PR-friendly solutions. Lee Rowland from Dennis Eagle said the company took a new all-electric truck to IFAT in Munich and has been inundated with requests from operators who want it now. ‘There is still testing we want to do to optimise performance. We want it to be absolutely ready for the job in hand.

But customers want it now to boost their green credentials and, to

be fair, for some that make the difference in winning contracts.’

However, the real problem is that everyone is working in isolation.

It’s a sector of silos. ‘If we want solutions, we have to talk, because talking means sharing information and developing a better understanding,’ said David Maidman. ‘And that’s what we need – authority to authority, city to city, country to country – because only when people get together and talk do you get solutions.’

‘We have to face up to reality, there will be a premium on going green,’ said Arend. ‘We will need to look at how we can improve on what we do with less money. The fact remains that if there are cheaper alternatives that are not green, but are available and compliant, people will still rather opt for these. On the other hand, if we group together, look at what is genuinely required and develop specs together, then go to manufacturers and commit to purchase what they develop in larger volumes, we could see a significant improvement in the market place for greener options.’

Or, as David Strachan put it: ‘If you take the problem to its root cause, it all revolves around the obligation to change our behaviours.’

Dennis Eagle’s Lee Rowland said there are some forward-looking operators. ‘We have customers who are taking matters into their own hands and planning the infrastructure they need. They are generating their own power to run vehicles during the day, sell electricity back to the grid at peak times, then recharge the vehicles overnight.’

In terms of procurement, he pointed to the Nottinghamshire Consortium and the Procurement Lincolnshire Consortium as examples of best practice. ‘They agree core specs and each LA can bespoke their truck, but the fundamental specification is the same.

They have a sole supplier for four years, and they work with us to develop their vehicles over this period.’ Russell held up Dundee as an example of innovative thinking. The council has embraced electric in a big way and the city was recently named Europe’s most visionary city for its EV adoption strategies by a gathering of environmental experts in Kobe, Japan. The council’s fleet is 40% EV, 15% of its taxis are electric, it is investing in charging infrastructure, and offers free parking in council car parks to EVs to encourage public buy-in. Vehicle maintenance costs are down 35% and the council is seeing significant fuel savings. But for every Dundee there are a many more councils and businesses taking a piecemeal approach, focusing on

"We are coming to a place where what you do determines your solution, and it won’t be one size fits all" emissions not carbon footprint, and working in isolation from one another. It was clear from the discussion that a more consultative approach is needed all round, from how vehicles are sold to how they are used, and how neighbouring councils and businesses can work together to consolidate assets, tasks, and capacity.

Above all, central government needs to step up and provide leadership, because right now the law of unintended consequences holds sway. Solving one problem creates another. There is legislation but no plan. Local authorities have to meet certain targets but how they do so is left up their interpretation. Quick wins are tempting for their PR potential but can derail long-term solutions. Manufacturers are developing technology that is streets ahead of the infrastructure required to operate it effectively. And budgets, budgets, budgets. Real change requires not just new technology but a shift in attitudes and behaviour. But it also takes investment. The opportunities for the sector to make a difference are huge. So are the challenges. Future Fleet Forum is about solutions, at a global level, that make that difference. Come along and join the debate.

January 2019 LAPV 15

FUTURE FLEET forum

Future Fleet Forum goes global The world's first truly international forum dedicated to best practice and future technologies in fleet management returns to London this month.

Supported by cities across the world and with an exceptional array of speakers, Future Fleet Forum is also the place to find the latest and most advanced vehicles and technologies at the accompanying exhibition.

N

ew York City announced in December 2018 that it would transition to high-vision trucks to better protect pedestrians and cyclists, demonstrating the positive impact that Future Fleet Forum is already having around the world.

The announcement from the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services cited research carried out by fellow Future Fleet Partnership member City of London on reaction times in traditional versus high-vision vehicles. The Future Fleet Partnership was first announced at Future Fleet Forum 2018 and brings together the City of London, LAPV, and The City of New York in a collaborative effort to advance best practice, and now the City of Montreal is joining this unique initiative. Philippe Saint-Vil, Head of Rolling Stock at the City of Montreal, will announce this in his keynote address at the Future Fleet conference, where he will be joined by many other big hitters from the NYPD, Stockholm, Iowa, and many more.

The event will take place in the Guildhall in the City of London on January 23-24 2019.

The move towards high-vision by NYC is an example of exactly why LAPV founded Future Fleet Forum in the first place. This year, we are organising it on behalf of the City of London, and as the speaker and exhibitor line-up for 2019 clearly demonstrate, the event has gained a momentum that could shape the future of fleets around the world for many years to come. From safety to sustainability, the environment to vehicle crime prevention, we have once again brought you the very best international speakers and interactive workshops, covering the latest research, developments,

Left: Advanced Vehicle Alarms will be showcasing vehicle safety systems from Brigade Electronics.

Right: Allison Transmission hopes to demonstrate to visitors why it is a top choice for vehicle operators.

16 LAPV January 2019

and technology to help fleet managers advance the agenda of cleaner, greener, and safer fleets.

Then, of course, there is the exhibition. Sitting alongside the conference, the exhibition brings together the very latest in vehicles, vehicle technologies, and software solutions. Considering going electric? Head to the yard at the Guildhall to see your options up close. Need to upgrade your fleet’s safety systems? You will find a number of companies who can talk you through the various systems.

From improving the cost efficiency of your purchasing or day-to-day fleet management to cutting fuel use or reducing risk to vulnerable road users, you’ll find plenty to think about at Future Fleet Forum.

Here is a mere taster of the companies and products on show.

AVA/Brigade Electronics, stand 1 Visitors to the stand of London-based Advanced Vehicle Alarms will see a number of vehicle safety solutions from Brigade Electronics.

The company provides installation of Brigade’s systems in commercial vehicles ranging from cars to RCVs and mobile plant.

Among the systems that will be showcased to visitors are Backeye 360, bbs-tek white sound reversing alarms, camera monitor systems, 4G live access mobile digital recording, Sidescan ultrasonic sensors, and the Backsense radar detection system. Visitors to the will also be offered advice on meeting FORS, CLOCS, and Skanska specifications as well as the new Direct Vision Standard for vehicles operating in the capital from 2020. Further advice on how to meet GDPR regulations when using camera systems will also be available.

FUTURE FLEET forum

Visitors can also find out about Brigade’s lease scheme package, which can help businesses save in corporation tax when equipping vehicles with safety features.

Allison Transmission, stand 15 Future Fleet Forum is an opportunity to preview the first nine-speed transmission from Allison Transmission. Due for launch in 2020, the nine-speed transmission aims to deliver significant fuel savings via its deep first gear ratio and integral engine stop-start system that provides immediate transmission engagement and vehicle hold while the engine is restarted.

Fuel economy is also the focus of Allison’s new Fuelsense 2.0 software package. Launched last year, the software is currently being trialled by a number of fleets and OEMs. ‘Fuelsense 2.0 has demonstrated the highest potential fuel savings in the most demanding stop-start duty cycles of the type that will be familiar to many of the visitors to Future Fleet Forum, particularly those operating in cities and congested urban areas,’ says Allison’s market development manager Nathan Wilson.

Nathan will be on the company’s stand throughout the event to meet delegates and discuss the transmission specification decisions facing public sector fleet managers across fire, construction, refuse, road maintenance, and distribution.

sales director Nick Hill. ‘CAM is an industry first and provides an opportunity for both fleet and asset managers to walk through some easy steps to building long-term strategic capital forecasts and operational replacement plans and we will have staff on hand to demonstrate this.’

Brightorder, stand 3 The future of fleet maintenance will be the focus of the Brightorder stand. The company has spent 20 years designing fleet maintenance solutions via a combination of software and system design services, and currently supports more than 1,500 companies worldwide manage the maintenance of more than 1.5 million assets.

EMDECS is Brightorder’s flagship maintenance management system, which currently helps some of the world’s most advanced fleets manage their vehicles to ensure they remain operational and compliant with national and international regulations. The system manages around 10 million repair events every year. Find out more about the system, and how it could help your fleet, on stand 3.

CMS Supatrak, stand 16 The new Jobtrak system from CMS Supatrak will be on show at Future Fleet this year. It uses NFC tag technology and a hand-held Garmin device to ensure that vehicle checks are carried out correctly

Above: Delegates listen to keynote speaker Michael Britt at Future Fleet Forum 2018.

Below: Faun Zoeller's product range includes RCVs, road sweepers, and bin-lifting devices, and the company launched 18 new developments last year.

Assetworks, stand 6 Main sponsors Assetworks will be demonstrating the company’s Capital Asset Management software at Future Fleet 2019. CAM is an integrated asset management solution that supports the common tasks and decisions made by asset managers. It can help determine the optimal lifecycle of an asset, assist with budgeting and ordering new assets, and manage disposal at end of life.

In addition to CAM, Assetworks will also be on hand to discuss its customised solutions for fleet, fuel, hire, vehicle pool, and GPS requirements that bring together all vehicle, workshop, plan and driver management activities into one system. This includes scheduling, work management, labour tracking, and inventory management and a suite of supporting mobile apps. The Fleet Focus system for larger fleets enables the creation of custom workflows, approval processes, and key performance indicators and integrates with the Assetworks Smart Apps suite of mobile applications.

‘Future Fleet Forum provides the perfect platform for showing our next generation of fleet and integrated products,’ says Assetworks UK

January 2019 LAPV 17

future fleet forum

Left: Evie is the new full-size, electric, truck-mounted proof-of-concept sweeper from Johnston Sweepers.

Right: Govplanet, on stand 25, offers a specialist vehicle resale service at end of life optimised for the public sector.

and in accordance with DVSA rules. Connected navigation devices integrate CMS telematics with Garmin’s range of vehicle navigation devices and reduce driver distraction by providing one in-cab screen for vehicle telematics, navigation, and workforce management.

CMS will have a range of demonstration devices available at the exhibition and staff will be on hand to answer questions about the service improvements and savings that its various solutions can offer to local authorities.

‘Future Fleet Forum is always a great event for CMS and one that we look forward to every year,’ says managing director Jason Airey.

‘The event allows us to exhibit alongside our many business partners and to meet both our existing customers and to develop new business opportunities.’

Epic Media Group, stand 11

The Quartix vehicle tracking system can improve fleet efficiency and driver safety and reduce fuel consumption.

Local authorities looking for vehicle advertising solutions should visit the Epic Media stand. The company will be showcasing its Kwikzip changeable graphics system that is designed to make on-vehicle marketing campaigns easy and efficient.

The system is made from a lightweight aluminium frame that is secured to the side of vehicles and guaranteed for the usable life of the vehicle. Installing and changing graphics can take place with minimum vehicle downtime, and Epic’s in-house design, production, and fitting teams can manage the process from concept to installation.

The company will also be introducing its new EL system at the event, which consists of lit chevrons and cycle safety signs.

‘We like to exhibit at Future Fleet Forum as it is good to be seen in the busiest square mile in the country,’ says Kevin Murton. ‘Come along and visit our stand and we will be happy to demonstrate our systems for you.’

Faun Zoeller, stand 12 Returning exhibitor Faun Zoeller is looking forward to the chance to discuss its latest innovations with visitors the 2019 conference and exhibition. With a number of new developments launched last year, the company can offer both tailored and off-the-peg waste and street cleansing solutions.

Faun Zoeller’s product range includes refuse collection vehicles, road sweepers, and bin-lifting devices. The company launched 18 product innovations at IFAT 2018 and representatives will be available at Future Fleet Forum to talk existing and prospective customers through the various new developments and whole-life costs of its products.

‘Faun Zoeller enjoys exhibiting at Future Fleet Forum as it gives us a professional and friendly platform to engage with forward-thinking clients, who are genuinely striving to enhance their fleets and discover the best and most cost-effective fleet solutions,’ says commercial director Stewart Gregory.

Geesinknorba, stand 4 Geesinknorba is sponsoring Future Fleet Forum for the fourth time as the company believes the future focus of the event aligns perfectly with its own innovative agenda.

The business is excited to be back at Future Fleet after a very successful year, as UK business director Mick Hill explains. ‘Not only have we launched our new N4 rear loader, but our first all-electric vehicles have commenced operation in the UK.’ Geesinknorba’s Li-On Power Pro battery technology, which makes all-electric RCVs possible, is the culmination of work begun in 2001 when the business began work on hybrid technology. Combined with its GPMIV body, Geesinknorba believes that this technology represents the future of the industry.

The company also launched the new N4 in 2018, which it described as ‘a picture of simplicity’. ‘It’s an upgrade of our very popular N3, which we have redesigned for improved operational efficiency. It can be run on either our hybrid or all-electric technology.’

On Geesinknorba’s return to the event Mick says: ‘We’re taking a stand at Future Fleet Forum to show visitors how our innovative approach to waste management continues to pave the way for operators in the UK and how we can use our expertise to address their individual needs.’

Johnston Sweepers, stand 9 Johnston Sweepers will be exhibiting its first full-size, electricallypowered, zero-emissions, truck-mounted sweeper at Future Fleet Forum 2019.

Part of the company’s drive to develop alternative fuel technologies, the Johnston VE651, known as Evie (electric vehicle/ intelligent electronics), is a proof-of-concept vehicle. The full-size truck sweeper is mounted on a specially modified 16t chassis. It is

18 LAPV January 2019

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FUTURE FLEET forum

driven by a high-performance 350kW electric motor, powered by a 200kWh Lithium-ion phosphate battery pack.

Evie is a zero-emissions, low-maintenance sweeper with a sixtonne payload that is ideal for municipal use. It has been designed to cope with a full sweeping shift with overnight recharging at the depot and is virtually noise-free.

‘Future Fleet Forum is a fantastic launch pad for our latest sweepers and developments. It is an important date in the municipal calendar for anyone interested in alternative fuel technologies,’ says Graham Howlett. ‘We welcome the opportunity to meet with customers and network with colleagues to share ideas on the latest advances in municipal vehicle design.’

NRG Fleet Services introduced the all-electric Electra RCV at Future Fleet Forum 2018 and will be unveiling the latest in the Electra vehicle range at the event in 2019.

NRG Fleet Services/Electra Commercial Vehicles, stand 7 ‘NRG Fleet Services is once again supporting Future Fleet Forum and we are proud to sponsor the event in conjunction with Electra Commercial Vehicles,’ says commercial director Russell Markstein.

‘This year we will be exhibiting the Electra based on a Dennis Eagle Elite narrow chassis with an Olympus body and Terberg Omni-Del bin lift, and a Mercedes Econic urban tractor unit.’

The all-electric Electra, which recently won a Green Fleet Award for Industry Innovation of the Year 2018, was first shown at Future Fleet Forum 2018 and has already made an impact in the municipal

sector. The truck has since been on trial in the City of London, Manchester, Sheffield, Stockton-on-Tees, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Leeds, operating on standard collection rounds. ‘The Electra has demonstrated that it can meet the demands of trade and domestic refuse rounds and, most significantly, has proven that highpolluting vehicles that visit homes, businesses, schools and public buildings every week can be replaced by a zero-emissions truck.’

Further Electra vehicles are currently in build at the company’s Blackburn factory, including a Mercedes Econic refrigerated 26t, two Isuzu refrigerated 7.5t, seven Dennis Eagle narrow RCVs (18t and 26t) for the City of London refuse contract, a skip loader, and a 3.5t box van for urban delivery.

Russell believes that Future Fleet Forum is the ideal event to showcase Electra. ‘It is now the premier event in this sector, not just for exhibiting vehicles but also for the genuine networking opportunity it offers, with an excellent conference and relevant subject matter up for debate.’

Quartix, stand 28 Find out about how the Quartix vehicle tracking system can help streamline processes, reduce costs, and lower mileage and carbon emissions as the company showcases its technology at Future Fleet.

The Quartix system enables transport and operations managers to manage fleets more effectively, improve the safety of drivers, and reduce fuel consumption via intuitive dashboards and reports that help pinpoint ways to drive down operational costs and deliver a more efficient service.

Using Quartix, local authorities can monitor fuel consumption, vehicle movements and driver behaviour to cut carbon emissions, enhance the responsiveness of customer service, improve risk management through driver education, and support green agendas and improve road safety.

Specialist Fleet Services, stand 27 First-time exhibitor Specialist Fleet Services is attending Future Fleet Forum 2019 alongside its municipal hire division CTS Hire.

Together SFS and CTS provide a comprehensive range of services from short-term vehicle hire and spot hire, to long-term contract hire, complex fleet solutions and workshop provision as well as asset finance.

Visitors will have the opportunity to find out more about the services offered by SFS, which already numbers a number of local authorities among its customers, including Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Kettering Borough Council, Lichfield and Tamworth Joint Waste Service, Hambleton District Council, Teignbridge District Council, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, and Caerphilly County Borough Council.

CTS Hire stocks a wide range of municipal and specialist vehicles, all available for short or long-term hire. The hire fleet includes 3.5t to 32t RCVs, specialist recycling vehicles, self-drive hire sweepers, hook loaders, skip loaders, and caged tippers.

SFS managing director Bob Sweetland says: ‘We are excited about exhibiting at Future Fleet Forum 2019 and we are looking forward to the opportunity to network with customers and colleagues.’

Thomas Group, stand 31 Thomas Group is making the switch from visitor to exhibitor at Future Fleet 2019. The contract hire and vehicle rental specialist has attended every event since its launch to take full advantage of the networking potential of the event.

In fact, the 2018 edition led to an emissions-reduction pilot project involving Thomas Group and Wakefield Council. The Future Fleet initiative resulted in a reduction in emissions for all vehicles and real-time fuel cost savings, and the business is keen to discuss the

20 LAPV January 2019

FUTURE FLEET forum

WNV Systems, stand 5

potential for future such projects with attendees this year.

‘We are extremely excited to be exhibiting at Future Fleet Forum, which is always an engaging and informative two days with industry experts,’ says Kevin O’Sullivan. ‘At a time when cost savings and emission targets are at the forefront of fleet managers’ priorities, we can provide a robust solution in the form of Fuelbright Diesel 1000 fuel additive, and we look forward to discussing this with visitors.’

Find out more about heavy vehicle cleaning facilities at the WNV Systems stand. The company designs, manufactures, supplies, and installs cleaning systems for the bus and coach industries and local authorities. These installations cover automatic and manual systems, including WNV’s patented automatic under-chassis wash system, which will be on show at the event.

The automatic under-chassis wash system can clean commercial vehicles to MOT standard and has been successfully installed at more than 40 UK local authorities. The system eliminates some of the common health and safety concerns associated with manual chassis washing – no one needs to be under the vehicle during the cleaning operation, for example – and is also more cost effective.

The automated under-chassis wash is normally installed with a DEFRA-approved water reclamation system designed by WNV Systems to process the effluent from the cleaning operation reclamation. It can also be integrated into rain-water harvesting systems, helping to save on water costs.

Other services offered by WNV include water testing for Legionella programmes in line with HSE guidelines.

Sales manager Darren Bright says the company is delighted to be back exhibiting at Future Fleet Forum. ‘We had a very successful show in 2018, meeting with engineering managers, and we are extremely pleased to be back again for 2019.’

Truck Align, stand 22

YPO, stand 29

Truck Align is hoping to use Future Fleet Forum as a platform to demonstrate just how effective an additional window in the lower passenger-side door of a truck is for improving a driver’s vision of the danger area for HGVs. The company, which designs and manufactures driver visibility aids for HGVs, will be showcasing its Truck Door Window range that has been designed to provide an unobstructed view of the area to the front left of a vehicle, where the majority of incidents between HGVS and vulnerable road users occur.

The windows are available in both fixed or lowerable options. They feature a single-glazed unit, bonded into the door using typeapproved glass to retain the structural integrity of the door. They provide a clear, unobstructed view even when the window is lowered.

‘Many fleet operators across the UK are now mandating such windows in recognition of the role they can play in helping to reduce accidents and fatalities and cut down on any potentially costly liability for their business and drivers,’ says Tony Rodwell. ‘Future Fleet Forum provides an ideal opportunity to showcase these products to the relevant target audience and appropriate decision makers.’

It’s not just about what you buy but how you buy it. YPO has been helping public sector organisations buy more effectively through a range of legally-compliant frameworks for more than 40 years, and the not-for-profit company will this year have a stand at the exhibition to talk visitors through the most suitable options for their operations.

‘I attended in 2018 as a delegate and realised that the event would be an excellent exhibitor opportunity for YPO,’ explains Ian Reed, YPO category manager for fleet. ‘It has the perfect mix of local authorities and companies in the fleet, transport, and logistics sectors.’

YPO has a range of frameworks that can help local authorities buy everything from specialist vehicles to vehicle telematics, and even tyres, saving both time and money. A team of experienced staff will be on hand to explain the various frameworks and the organisation can even tailor solutions to meet specific needs and requirements.

Visit the team on stand 29 to find out more.

Top: Vehicle Weighing Systems will showcase its integrated bin weighing and waste management software system at Future Fleet.

Below: WNV's automatic under-chassis wash system has been installed at more than 40 local authorities in the UK.

Vehicle Weighing Solutions, stand 2 Vehicle Weighing Solutions will be showcasing its integrated binweighing and waste management software system at Future Fleet.

Purgo is an enterprise resource planning waste management and recycling software system that manages all waste collection and management processes end to end. When used with the company’s weights and measures-approved Enviroweigh bin-weigher, operators can monitor collections, calculate the profitability of rounds, and receive live updates on any issues with access or overweight bins.

VWS will also be showing its VOP2 (vehicle overload protection system). This can be fitted to most commercial vehicles ranging from 3.5t gross vehicle weight and doesn’t rely on springs or transducers.

Instead, load sensors are installed between the axle and body of a vehicle to detect the load applied to the axles. VWS managing director Julian Glasspole says: ‘Future Fleet Forum is a lively and dynamic event, and key on our annual calendar. We are looking forward to a busy few days, meeting customers and networking with colleagues as well as enjoying the speakers.'

January 2019 LAPV 21

future fleet

Leaders in sustainability The Royal Borough of Greenwich won Most Sustainable Fleet Management Department at the Future Fleet Awards 2018 for its combination of initiatives to transform the environmental performance of its fleet and its participation in the Smart Cities network. Lotte Debell reports.

A

Greenwich partnered with Magtec to convert a nineyear-old 26t RCV to full electric operation.

ir quality is high on the political agenda in the Royal Borough of Greenwich in southeast London. The busy South Circular road cuts through the borough and pollution is a major concern for residents and the council, which has responded by embarking on an ambitious overhaul of its fleet to improve its sustainability and make the borough a centre for the testing and adoption of the latest technologies for the fleets of the future.

The transition to a greener fleet began in 2014 and is still a work in progress. It started with the creation of a corporate fleet client team to enable a more strategic approach across the council, and one of the first things that team did was to develop consistent processes and procedures for fleet management. ‘We looked at what we wanted our fleet to be in the future from an environmental and safety standpoint,’ explains Olivier Tang, head of fleet and waste strategy at the royal borough. ‘In 2015 we undertook to gain FORS Bronze accreditation and this led to a review of our processes against industry best practice.’

Part of this meant looking at the fleet itself. Greenwich currently operates 463 vehicles, 59 of which are O Licence vehicles. The council is the process of replacing and upgrading vehicles to ensure that its fleet complies with its environmental and safety standards, including fitting safety systems to the whole of its HGV fleet to meet the requirements of FORS Silver accreditation – one of the next steps on the agenda. ‘Between 2016 and 2022 we estimate that it will cost around £19.8m to replace the fleet, and we are about a quarter of the way through the process,’ says Olivier.

Greenwich has set certain mandatory requirements for new vehicles – HGVs, for example, must have a camera system, left-hand turn, and close proximity sensors – and the fleet management team, also meets with different managers to find out what they need from

22 LAPV January 2019

their vehicles. There are also sustainability requirements. All new carderived vans must be electric unless there is a specific requirement for diesel. ‘For instance, we have one exception where the vehicle is on constant call-out, but there have been very few exemptions.’

Electric is not the only solution that Greenwich is pursuing for its fleet, however. ‘We are looking at a mix of options as the depot can only accommodate so much additional charging at the moment. As air quality is one of the key concerns in the borough there is real drive politically to make the fleet cleaner and lead by example. All our vehicles are replaced on a seven-year cycle so we can keep up to date with the latest technologies. We already use 5% biodiesel in all our diesel vehicles and we are considering using more, but we need to take into consideration what impact a higher percentage might have, for example on vehicle warranties. We are following what other councils are doing in this area closely.’

Smart Cities The council set up its Smart Cities arm, Digital Greenwich, to be a leader in this emerging field. It is owned by the council but operates independently, and the council is involved as a partner in certain projects. It has tapped into the global Smart Cities network and collaborated with a variety of industry partners on projects around air quality and autonomous vehicles. ‘We want the borough to become an autonomous vehicle test bed,’ explains Olivier.

One project is Move UK. This is a three-year study by a consortium of partners, led by Bosch, that includes Greenwich, TRL, Jaguar Land Rover, the Floow, and Direct Line Group testing vehicles fitted with Advanced Driving Systems in real-world conditions on the roads in Greenwich. The project is designed to address barriers to ADS and develop data-based methods of validating ADS as well as

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and the whole-life costs of converting older vehicles should be cheaper than the diesel alternative – the results of running the electric RCV in our fleet will give us a lot more insight.’

The potential expansion of electric within its fleet means that the council is also looking at its charging infrastructure and the potential for wireless charging at its depot.

Safety

The electric RCV is part of the council's drive to improve air quality in the borough, a major concern for residents.

industry-wide standards for recording data, including data for insurance claims involving autonomous vehicles. It also aims to provide an evidence base for future legal frameworks for autonomous vehicle operation in the UK. ‘There will be a period when autonomous and driven vehicles will be on the road together, and we need to know how people will behave around driverless vehicles,’ explains Olivier. ‘For example, will they drive with less care because they expect the driverless car to react to avert an incident? The Move UK project has fitted autonomous vehicles with a variety of cameras and sensors that record real-world driving data and that data is used to test algorithms to see how driving models work with autonomous vehicles.’

As a partner in the project, Greenwich is responsible for managing the test vehicles as well as providing the drivers and the real-world driving environment – the roads in the borough. The aim is to use the Big Data produced by the study to better understand the impact of autonomous vehicles on the built environment.

Most of the Greenwich fleet already has low entry cabs in line with the expected Direct Vision requirements, but that is just one element of the borough’s approach to safety. Another is driver training and awareness.

Like so many others who attended the workshops on the second day of Future Fleet Forum 2018, Olivier was impressed by the strategy adopted by the City of New York to make its streets safer. ‘I would like to show that video to our drivers,’ he says of the Drive like your family lives here short film that is used as driver training in NYC and shows the tragic consequences for five families of losing a loved one in an RTC. ‘Over this coming year we will have a greater focus on drivers and providing formal training for key staff so they can deliver more intensive training to drivers, especially new drivers or those who have had incidents.’

Greenwich has also been making greater use of vehicle telematics and tracking to develop and enforce its new fleet management procedures. ‘The policies go hand-in-hand with the technology. For example, our telematics system provides information on idling, so we developed a policy to reduce idling. We can also use it to improve driving standards and identify drivers who need assistance. We have seen a real improvement in driving behaviour.

There has also been a steady decrease in insurance claims against the council and in settlement amounts of the last few years.’

Future Fleet Awards 2018

Electric RCV It was the Smart Cities arm that was instrumental in instigating another project for Greenwich when it introduced the fleet management department to a company called Magtec, which was looking to test its electric vehicle conversion technology with a municipal partner. And Greenwich had just the vehicle, a 2009 RCV that was being considered for disposal.

Work on the project started two years ago, funded by Innovate UK. The conversion took a year and required that Magtec understand the operational and payload requirements of an RCV in the Greenwich fleet. ‘We double shift our vehicles, so they need to be able to operate from 6am to 8pm without a break,’ explains Olivier.

‘We also supplied fuel data, and Magtec did a lot of calculations to see if they could make it work.’

The 26-tonne vehicle launched in June 2018 and then went through a period of testing and adjustments to ensure all the hydraulics were working properly before going into use in full residential collection in September. ‘We set up a ten-week trial, starting with a single shift of recycling collection then two weeks of general waste collection, then metal Euro bins for recycling and general waste. We’ve had a few issues with the vehicle, but no more than you would expect from a prototype conversion of a nine-yearold vehicle. The trial is still taking place and driver feedback has been really positive. We’re excited about this project, because it could be really revolutionary for waste collection, in London in particular.’

With London’s ULEZ on the horizon, electric conversions could help councils with older vehicles comply with the strict emissions requirements. ‘We looked at the business case for several options,

24 LAPV January 2019

The success of the ongoing fleet transformation prompted Greenwich to submit an entry in the Most Sustainable Fleet Management Department category at the 2018 Future Fleet Awards, organised by LAPV, which it won.

‘We’ve worked very hard to improve our fleet, but we knew that we were only part of the way there on our journey, so we were not expecting to win,’ says Olivier. ‘It has been great vindication for all the hard work that has been done over the last four years, and it has inspired us to do more and to work on more projects. It has also helped to demonstrate the effectiveness of the work we are doing and secure the backing of council members for what we still have to do.’

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Transmissions

A driving force HL Smith Transmissons is a leading supplier of remanufactured commercial vehicle transmissions and an official rebuilder of Allison Transmissions. The company invited LAPV to take a tour of its Shropshire HQ to find out more about the process of rebuilding transmissions to original equipment standards.

O

Top: The 85,000 sqft workshop space is clean, neat and modern.

Right: Rebuilt gearboxes are all tested to OE standards on HL Smith's test rig.

n the outskirts of the picturesque Shropshire village of Albrighton is the four-acre site of HL Smith Transmissions. The business been offering drivetrain support to fleet operators since the 1950s, but you wouldn’t know it when you first arrive. Apart from the three flags of HL Smith, WABCO Reman Solutions, and Allison Transmissions, the premises don’t look like the site of a company that remanufactures heavy commercial transmissions on a large scale. It is clean and tidy and feels well organised and loved.

There is a clear space in the main area of the yard for collections and deliveries and a large parking area for staff and visitors.

When we arrive, the place is a hive of activity. Automatic shutters are opening and closing, employees are going about their work while forklifts move around the work space.

This calm efficiency is an ethos that runs throughout the business.

Heading inside the 85,000 sqft modern workshop, everything is clean and neat, and it is obvious that HL Smith employees take great pride in their workplace and the work they do. MD Russell Smith explains that these are principles that have been integral to the business since it was founded by Harold Smith in 1955.

LAPV spoke to Russell in June 2018 when the business was appointed as an authorised rebuilder for Allison Transmissions. Russell explained that the demand for automatic transmissions has increased significantly in the heavy commercial vehicle sector, particularly in municipal and PSV applications. ‘Allison Transmissions’ products really lead the field in this market and we are extremely pleased with this new formal association,’ he told LAPV at the time.

In fact, HL Smith has been remanufacturing and supplying automatic transmissions, including Allison Transmissions’ products, for around 25 years. Simon Williams, general manager of the automatic gearbox division, has been involved with heavy commercial automatic transmissions for the majority of this time and there aren’t many scenarios or faults he can’t diagnose over the phone.

‘I have worked on the manufacturing side for many years and spent many more years out on the road as a field support engineer,’ he explains. ‘And in those years I have encountered so many different automatic gearbox scenarios. The frontline for us now is telephone enquiries and we aim to diagnose fault codes and problems before we even see the gearbox. If we cannot solve the faults by way of diagnosis over the phone, we then work out whether we need to

26 LAPV January 2019

supply a remanufactured unit on service exchange or try to repair the customer’s own gearbox.’

HL Smith has a dedicated team of field engineers who can diagnose faults and, depending on the situation, fit gearboxes on-site at the customer’s premises. The business has recently appointed a business development manager, Peter Hooper, who can discuss all parts of the process with customers.

It is clear that Simon is a well-respected member of a busy team.

As he shows us around the automatic gearbox workshop, question after question from other departments in the business keep coming through over his portable radio. This continues when we get back to the main HL Smith office, but this time it is phone calls from customers asking for technical advice. In most cases, Simon is able to solve their problems there and then from his vast store of knowledge and experience.

When asked about the future of HL Smith’s automatic gearbox division, Simon says: ‘We are lucky to have an established customer base that we have been working with for many years, and our recent association with Allison has already helped grow this customer base even further. As technology changes, we change with it, and we are excited and proud to be able to offer our continued support to fleet operators of all sizes.’

Heading into the workshops, we follow the neat yellow tramlines and footprints painted on the rubber-matted floor and it’s then that we realise the scale of the set up. We pass racks of finished stock, carefully shrink-wrapped on pallets and ready for dispatch. The large gearbox workshop is on the right, with its dedicated team following HL Smith’s strict remanufacturing process.

Each gearbox is stripped down to its individual components, which are then thoroughly cleaned. The components are then assessed and replaced with brand new original equipment parts where required before the precision task of rebuilding the gearbox to original equipment specification begins. Once rebuilt, each completed gearbox is loaded onto a state-of-the-art dynamometer to be load tested in all gear ranges. It will only be signed off by quality control once the gearbox meets the required OE standards. The test rig room sits across the corridor just opposite the manual gearbox workshop where HL Smith can test up to seven manual gearboxes simultaneously.

Transmissions

A little further along is the steering box shop. A similar process takes place here. Boxes are stripped, cleaned, parts are replaced, and then they are rebuilt and meticulously tested. Over the years, hundreds of variants of TRW and ZF steering boxes have passed through here.

Long-serving steering box general manager Steve Davies tells us: ‘All our steering boxes are rebuilt and tested to the manufacturers’ OE specifications and they are suitable for pretty much all heavy commercial vehicle applications that you see on the road today. We carry around 500 units in stock at any one time to ensure that we have the right steering box available for any enquiry.’

But that’s not all HL Smith has to show us. There are still two more dedicated workshops on site, the first of which is the differential shop where all types of differentials, driveheads, and axle assemblies follow the same remanufacturing process before they are added to stock ready for dispatch. Each remanufactured unit is reworked to the highest standard and undergoes several quality inspections before build and final test. There are around 800 to 1,000 differentials in stock at any one time, covering a broad spectrum of makes and variants.

Finally, there’s the propshaft shop. This is managed by Graham Hales who started his career with HL Smith in 1982. ‘There is not much that we cannot do with a propshaft,’ he says. ‘We can undertake all types of extensions and reductions as well as building to order. We also carry a stock of completed props ready for immediate dispatch. We have undertaken all kinds of projects and bespoke builds over the years and the demand for our propshafts is getting stronger year on year.’

HL Smith is also looking to the future and keeping pace with evolving technology to ensure the business can continue to meet the needs of the UK and Europe’s heavy commercial and municipal fleet operators. For example, the company is currently working with automated gearbox ECUs and actuators, and HL Smith is the exclusive distributor of these electronic control units for WABCO Remanufacturing solutions. The company also has its own dedicated team to diagnose fault codes and pattern the units up with the customer’s vehicle configurations.

After a fascinating tour of this site, we leave HL Smith with a better understanding of the effort and investment that has gone into the business to make it what it is today – an important aftermarket resource for many fleet operators within the municipal, PSV, and heavy commercial transport markets in the UK.

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January 2019 LAPV 27

vehicle test

Ford Transit Connect Ford has upgraded its light commercial line-up and Transit Connect is one of the models that has benefited from a makeover. The front has been restyled and the cab interior has been reworked, but more important are the changes under the bonnet, reports Steve Banner, who took the vehicle for a test drive for LAPV.

F

The new Ford Transit Connect is a responsive and practical option with competitive running costs and good aftersales support.

ord has decided to equip the revamped Transit Connect van with a new 1.5-litre Ecoblue diesel engine in a choice of either 75hp, 100hp or 120hp. Also available is a new version of the 100hp 1.0-litre Ecoboost three-cylinder petrol engine with cylinder deactivation. One of the cylinders temporarily ceases to function to aid fuel economy in situations that do not require much pulling power, for example, running lightly-laden through the flatlands of Cambridgeshire.

A six-speed manual gearbox is now standard across the range with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox offered as an option. Both short- and long-wheelbase models are available (the former comes with a 2.9m3 cargo area, rising to 3.6m3 if you choose the latter), and double cab-in-van versions are listed with rear seats plus a loading bay behind them. The van specifications include Base, Trend, and Limited, and a Sport version is on the way Transit Connect is being marketed with a variety of driver assistance features. These include intelligent speed limiter, which enables automatic adjustment of the van's maximum speed to ensure it remains within legal limits. There is also a pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection emergency braking system and sidewind stabilisation.

LAPV tested a long-wheelbase, 100hp 1.5TDCI Ecoblue 210 in Trend trim with CO2 emissions set at 123g/km. Rear access to the cargo area is by means of twin doors that can be swung through 90 degrees, and through 180 degrees if you press a couple of buttons.

28 LAPV January 2019

There is a sliding nearside door and six floor-mounted rings to which loads can be secured. A full-height steel bulkhead should help prevent anything that is not lashed down securely from ending up in the cab.

The load area is 2,153mm long and 1,538mm wide, narrowing to 1,226mm between the rear wheel boxes, while load height is 1,269mm. Rear-loading height is 599mm.

The Transit Connect we tested could handle a gross payload of 695kg and tow a braked trailer grossing at up to 1,300kg.

The demonstration vehicle came with a £980 optional package, which includes satellite navigation and Ford's SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system. This can be integrated with AppLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto and enables voice commands to be used to control certain functions.

The deal also includes rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, a 6-inch colour touchscreen, and emergency assist technology. This means that help will be summoned instantly if you are involved in a collision. The vehicle was also fitted was active park assist, which will parallel park your van for you. All you need to do is keep control of the accelerator, gears, and brakes, and you will be guided into position.

To all this can be added yet another option that was installed in the test vehicle – Fordpass Connect. This is a £230 modem that creates an in-van Wi-Fi hotspot, ensuring your Ford satnav receives real-time traffic updates every 30 seconds.

The van features heated and electrically-adjustable exterior mirrors and electric windows along with a Quickclear heated windscreen. Our test van was equipped with air conditioning for an extra £600.

Both the steering column and the driver's seat are height-adjustable and there are plenty of storage options for all the items that drivers invariably end up carrying around with them. These include a deep, lidded (but not lockable) glove box, a shelf above the windscreen that stretches the full width of the cab, and bins in both doors. Glance down at the console between the seats and you will see a deep tray, a 12v power point, two cup-holders, and two USB sockets.

Connect comes with ABS, electronic stability control, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, and hill-start assist. A driver's airbag is fitted and disc brakes are installed all around.

Finished with full-width silver-coloured plastic trims, the test Connect's 16-inch steel wheels wore Continental ContiPremiumContact2 205/60 R16C tyres. A full-size spare wheel is provided, which is preferable to relying on an inflation kit. These kits are worse than useless if a tyre sustains major damage and cannot be re-sealed.

Independent MacPherson strut suspension with a stabiliser bar is fitted at the front while a semi-independent twist-beam arrangement helps support the rear. Electric power steering comes as standard and delivers a 12.2m turning circle between kerbs, expanding to 12.5m between walls.

An intercooler and a fixed-geometry turbocharger helped our Connect's 16-valve, four-cylinder common rail diesel generate its maximum power output of 3,600rpm. Maximum torque of 240Nm kicks in over a 2,000-to-2,500rpm plateau. The van requires periodic infusions of Adblue to comply with the current exhaust emission rules. The top-up point sits under a flap on the side of the body next to the diesel inlet.

Ford vans usually come with top-notch gear changes and the Connect is no exception. Going from one gear to the next is as easy as flicking a switch.

The van accelerates strongly and does so without a fuss. In-cab noise levels are commendably low and remain low even when driving at maximum motorway speeds. Connect is more than capable of keeping up with fast motorway traffic.

Responsive steering and a compliant suspension system contribute to the van's sharp handling and the suspension is capable of coping with most road surfaces. We averaged around 55mpg over a mix of routes compared with the official figure of 60.1mpg. However, if we had made full use of all the systems installed to help keep fuel use down, we would probably have come close to the official figure. These include the van's auto start-stop system, which kills the engine if it is allowed to idle wastefully in a traffic jam or at the lights.

It is also worth mentioning the Ecoselect button. Press this button and your fuel consumption should start to decline. However, you will not be able to accelerate quite so quickly, and the speed of the heating and ventilation system blower motor will drop.

To keep fuel use down, it is also essential to follow the advice provided

by EcoMode. This continually analyses the individual's driving style and fuel consumption and encourages more economical behaviour by offering feedback through the instrument cluster display.

The mists that are common at this time of year should prompt responsible drivers to slow down and drive less aggressively. Front fog lamps are fitted as standard to Connect Trends and proved invaluable in the morning murk.

Service intervals are variable up to a maximum two years/25,000 miles while the warranty lasts for three years/100,000 miles. Side-rubbing strips protected our van's optional £300 metallic paint finish from minor damage.

The front and rear bumpers were the same colour as the body.

The Transit Connect tested by LAPV costs £17,965, and the bill rises to £20,625 if you include all the options listed above.

Verdict? The newly made-over Transit Connect is an excellent package that is well worth considering. Residual values should be healthy, running costs are likely to be competitive, and aftersales support is assured through a large dealer network.

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Future Fleet Forum 2019 23 & 24 January 2019 The Guildhall, City of London

Raising international standards for public sector fleet managers

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31

WELCOME

Future Fleet Forum is now in its fourth year, and from a small one-day event it has evolved into the first major international conference on public sector fleet management.

LAPV is extremely proud to organise Future Fleet Forum on behalf of the City of London and in partnership with New York and CILT. Already this unique partnership is positively impacting the cities involved, and we look forward to welcoming more international cities as members to help us spread these benefits around the world.

I am delighted to present some big hitters from public sector organisations all over the world, including our keynote speaker from Montreal, and representatives from Stockholm, New York, and Iowa, who will be highlighting how they have become leaders in sustainability, safety, and efficiency.

Future Fleet Forum is all about looking to the future and we have invited the best speakers who cover a broad range of topics including how to attract talent to our industry, health and safety legislation, the future of cities and autonomous fleet, how to improve driver well-being, and how to protect your fleet from criminal activity.

The industry exhibition, which has grown considerably since last year, offers the latest cutting-edge technology and services from 32 leading industry suppliers, and there will also be a wide array of vehicles on show in the Guildhall Yard.

Day two of Future Fleet Forum will consist of interactive practical workshops delivered by leading industry figures and suppliers, talking about creating safer roads and safer fleets, utilising battery technology, and now to use asset management systems to your advantage.

Overall, I am extremely proud of everyone in the Future Fleet partnership in their efforts to deliver such an outstanding event. I would like to thank all our sponsors and exhibitors for their continued support, and I hope you have a wonderful conference.

Kind regards, Ann-Marie Knegt Editor LAPV, and organiser Future Fleet Forum

CONTENTS

33

About the Organisers and Partners

38

Speaker Biographies

34

Programme Day 1 - Conference

42

Exhibitor Profiles

36

Programme Day 2 - Workshop

48

Floorplan

For more information please contact: conferences@hgluk.com | www.futurefleetforum.co.uk #FutureFleetForum

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ABOUT THE ORGANISERS AND PARTNERS LAPV (Local Authority Plant and Vehicles) is the only UK information source purely dedicated to local authority vehicles and affiliated plant equipment. Appearing four times a year, it offers well-researched technical articles on the latest equipment/technology as well as in-depth interviews with key industry professionals.

The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation. It supports and promotes London as the world’s leading international financial and business centre and attracts new business to the capital and the whole UK. It works in partnership with local communities to increase skills, employment and opportunities for all Londoners, through a range of education and training provision and through the City Bridge Trust, which donates more than £20m to charity annually. It also enhances the capital as a hub of culture, history and green spaces for Londoners – residents, workers, and visitors - with its Barbican Centre, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Library and Art Gallery, London Metropolitan Archives and 11,000 acres of open spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest). It also looks after five Thames bridges (including Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge), the Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey, three wholesale food markets, is London’s Port Health Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow.

NYC Fleet manages the largest municipal fleet in the United States, with over 30,000 units including police, fire, sanitation, transportation, parks, environmental protection, correction, and fifty total fleet operating agencies. NYC Fleet is implementing Mayor de Blasio’s NYC Clean Fleet and Vision Zero initiatives for sustainability and safety. Fleet also implements shared servicing and procurement across agencies, emergency preparedness for fleet and fuel, and daily fleet operations involving 2,000 fulltime fleet staff, 80,000 fleet operators, over 100 garage locations, and 420 fuel sites. NYC partners with a wide variety of public, non-profit, and private organizations to promote best practices in fleet locally and more broadly. Our most exciting partnership is with our local public automotive high schools where we provide paid internships, training and other support. Fleet hosts two major events each year, a fleet show in May and a safety forum in November.

The City of London Police fleet consists of approximately 96 vehicles all of which will operate within the new Ultra Low Emissions Zone coming into force in London from April 2019. We also form part of the National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) which includes Fleet Manager’s membership from all UK police forces and a combined fleet size of over 43,000 vehicles. NAPFM was established as a core enabler to effective operational policing and it has provided a structured forum to share and develop leading practice.

The NAPFM hold bi-annual conferences and host an annual emergency services exhibition. The Association have sub-committees in areas covering Procurement, Technical and Benchmarking delivering efficiencies and cashable savings through supporting the Collaborative Law Enforcement Procurement (CLEP) programme.

CLEP focus on delivering collaborative procurement savings across a number of spend categories through standardisation, aggregation and collaborative management of contracts and suppliers.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) in the UK is the membership organisation for professionals involved in the movement of goods and people and their associated supply chains.

Established in 1919, The Institute is a registered charity and part of the CILT international family with 33,000 members in countries across the world.

CILT’s mission is to add value to individual and corporate members by enhancing their knowledge, careers, and businesses by setting, supporting and delivering professional standards and education whilst promoting logistics, transport and their associated supply chains to society as a whole.

Members enjoy unrivalled Connection opportunities, a Professional Voice, Professional Recognition and Personal Development.

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PROGRAMME DAY 1 – CONFERENCE Those attending day one of the conference can apply for up to five hours of CPD points awarded by CILT

08:00 -09:30 Registration, coffee and exhibition viewing 09:30 – 09:35 Opening and introduction Christopher M Hayward CC, Chairman of the Planning & Transportation Committee, Member for the Ward of Broad Street, City of London Ann Marie Knegt, Editor, LAPV 09:35 – 10:00 Keynote: Montreal’s electrification programme • Learn how the City of Montreal electrified its fleet • Find out about the city’s experiences with electric vehicles and how the integration of 100% electric vehicles was achieved • Learn how the City of Montreal functioned as a vector of change for electrification (sensitisation) Philippe Saint-Vil, Head of Planning and Operations Support Division, Rolling Stock Department and Workshops, City of Montreal 10:00 - 10:45 Biodiesel trials in Iowa • Hear the unique perspective of a biodiesel pioneer and a member of the military while learning about the relationship between the two roles against a historic backdrop • Identify strategic partnerships that are a key to success of a biodiesel programme • Take on board practical tips for the adoption and successful use of biodiesel David May, Fleet Manager, Iowa Department of Transportation 10:45 - 11:15 Break, coffee and exhibition viewing 11:15 - 11:45 Stockholm’s fleet management policy • Learn how Stockholm encouraged its inhabitants to walk, cycle or use public transport • Find out how car sharing helped lower emissions • Learn how Stockholm converted its fleet to green vehicles, and what steps the city had to take to achieve this Johan Seuffert, Fleet Manager, City of Stockholm

11:45 - 12:15 Post-incident investigations: a lawyer’s view • Learn how to deal with an incident investigation: law, duty, practice, and expectation • Find out about the perils and pitfalls of conducting your own enquiries • Learn about legal privilege and third party disclosure: the status of statements and reports Mark Scoggins, Solicitor Advocate, Fischer Scoggins Waters 12:15- 13:30 Lunch and exhibition viewing

13:30 -14:00 Global cities and zero emissions fleet • Learn why cities are leading the transition to zero emissions fleets • Find out how cities around the world are making this change • See what lessons and challenges cities face, and how you can apply this to your own organisation Caroline Watson , Programme Director, Transportation and Urban Planning Network Manager, Zero Emission Vehicles, C40

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PROGRAMME DAY 1 – CONFERENCE 14:00 – 14:30 ITS and the future of cities • Find out about the types of transport and mobility that are coming to our cities soon • Learn about the policy aspects of new mobility • Find out how automated, connected, electric, and shared mobility will affect municipal operations Richard Harris, Director, Ohmio, and ITS UK 14:30 - 15:00 Break, coffee and exhibition viewing 15:00 – 15:30 Maintaining driver mental wellbeing to improve operational performance • Learn about the links between fatigue, stress, and mental wellbeing and the operational practices that may

exacerbate poor driver wellbeing • Learn to understand how poor mental wellbeing impacts the safety and performance of professional drivers

and increases operational costs • Find out about guidance on the strategies that employers can implement to measure and manage driver

wellbeing Dr Paul Jackson, Head of Impairment Research, TRL 15:30 – 16:00 GPS jamming

DAY 2

• Learn what jamming and spoofing is and how it impacts fleet • Find out about the scale of GPS jamming and how it ranges from employees defeating fleet management tools

right up to organised vehicle crime and terrorism • Learn how to deal with loss of GPS, and how to carry out resilience planning for business continuity • Find out about the risks of public sector vehicle security

Paul Owen, National Lead UK Law Enforcement on GPS Jamming, Police Senior User, Home Office, JESIP, on secondment from Hampshire Police 16:00 – 16:30 Managing the NYPD’s fleet • • • •

Learn about the unique challenges involved in managing a governmental fleet Find out about the growing risk of cyber threats faced by governmental fleets Learn about the electric vehicle revolution for governmental fleets Find out how important data is in running a governmental fleet

Robert S.Martinez, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD 16:30 – 16:45 Close of conference Christopher M Hayward CC, Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee, Member for the Ward of Broad Street, City of London Ann Marie Knegt, Editor, LAPV 18:00 – 19:00 Future Fleet Awards drinks reception in Crypt, sponsored by Dennis Eagle/Terberg Matec 19:00 – 22:30 Future Fleet Awards dinner and ceremony, sponsored by NRG Fleet Services/ Electra Commercial Vehicles

Future Fleet Forum 2019

Those attending day one of the conference can apply for up to five hours of CPD points awarded by CILT 35

PROGRAMME DAY 2 – WORKSHOPS 09:00 - 09:25 Coffee and networking 09:25 – 09:30 Introduction Day 2 Jeremy Simons, Chairman, Port Health & Environment Committee, City of London 09:30 – 10:00 Car crash television: that might just save live • Learn how the producers successfully delivered a road safety message that resonated with an early evening ‘family friendly’ TV audience • Find out how the producers embedded multiple bite-size safety messages within their content that were designed to resonate with different types of road users • Find out how send out a message to change road safety habits and potentially save lives Dara Tallon and Owen McArdle, Documentary Producers, Oddboy Media 10:00 - 10:30 Prioritising safety and best practice for the fleets of the future • Find out why new emerging technologies should not compromise fleet safety standards • Learn how the emergency services are dealing with their own distinct challenges and how these solutions can be used in other public sector fleets • Find out how accreditation standard IRTEC Light can help ensure the safe running of your fleet Mick Sweetmore, Head of Fleet Engineering and Transport Services at Merseyside Police and incoming SOE President 10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break 11:00 - 11:30 Battery technology – the future • Learn what to expect in the years ahead, about large battery packs versus small packs with smart charging and hydrogen cells for range extension • Find out how the economics of vehicles work, including purchasing costs, operating costs, and the infrastructure required by depots • Learn about the timeline for developments and the choices facing both manufacturers and operators Andre Lagendijk, Product Manager, Geesinknorba 11:30 - 12:00 Electric RCVs – a case study • Learn why electric commercial vehicles are viable options in the municipal sector • Learn about real operational experience with electric HGVs • Find out what the future holds for this type of technology David Maidman, Business Director, BIFFA, and Russell Markstein, Group Sales Director, Electra Commercial Vehicles 12:00- 12:30 Lunch 12:30 -13:00 Effectively managing capital assets – make smarter decisions • Learn how to shape modern systems to consolidate engineering, procurement, life cycle, and replacement data into a single platform • Find out how to run strategic replacement forecasting over a defined time horizon • Find what operational replacement plans look like for local authorities Nick Bridle, Professional Services Consultant – Fleet Management, AssetWorks 13:00 - 13:30 Electric power heralds a revolution in municipal vehicles • Benefits of electric vehicles in municipal daily business • Technology trends in alternative drive solutions • Is there a financial benefit with electric vehicles?

Tobias Weissenrieder, Head of the Technical Unit, Aebi Schmidt Deutschland 13:30 - 13:45

Close of conference Jeremy Simons, Chairman, Port Health & Environment Committee, City of London Ann Marie Knegt, Editor, LAPV

Those attending day two of the conference can apply for up to four hours of CPD points awarded by CILT 36

YOUR FLEET PROBLEMS,

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See how our 550+ customers succeed with our integrated system:

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To learn more or schedule a demo, call 0113.251.5005, or visit assetworks.com/uk

Speaker Biographies André Lagendijk Product Manager, Geesinknorba

André joined Geesinknorba after 25 years working on robotic milking machines in the global dairy industry. His role is to act as the technical link between Geesinknorba and its customers, distributors, and suppliers. His main aim is to make the company’s all-electric vehicles work more efficiently for operators. Andre was involved from the early stages in the transition from diesel to electric RCVs and is committed to creating zero-emissions technology.

Ann-Marie Knegt

Editor, Local Authority Plant and Vehicles Organiser, Future Fleet Forum

Chris Hayward CC

Chairman of the Planning & Transportation Committee, Member for the Ward of Broad Street City of London

Chris is a former Deputy Leader of Hertfordshire County Council and was elected to the Common Council of the Corporation of the City of London for Broad Street Ward in March 2013. He serves as chairman of the City’s Planning & Transportation Committee. He has also served as churchwarden at St Margaret Pattens and chairman of The Trustees of the Friends of St Margaret Pattens. He is a former chairman of the Broad Street Ward Club, a member of the Candlewick Ward Club, life and council member of the City Branch of the Royal Society of Saint George and a life and court member of The Guild of Freemen. In addition, he is a past master of his livery company, the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers.

Dara Tallon

Documentary Producer Oddboy Media Ann-Marie is an experienced magazine editor whose dedication to her publications has made them market-leading titles with a global presence. She is also the organiser of Future Fleet Forum, in partnership with the City of London and the City of New York and CILT, and launched the Future Fleet Awards to recognise the best in public sector fleet management. In addition, Ann-Marie heads up the Future Fleet Procurement Working Group, an industry initiative focused on developing a code of conduct for the procurement of fleet in government organisations. Ann-Marie also has an extensive knowledge of firefighting practice worldwide and is a six-time judge for the International Firefighting Team of the Year Award, (Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award). She also cycled over 150 miles from Kent to Ghent and raised £1,700 pounds for Operation Florian, the international fire service charity.

Dara has worked in television for 25 years, across America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. He has directed over 2,500 hours of television and been named on six regional US EMMY nominations as well as two Spirit awards. His shows have been sold to more than 250 countries worldwide. Dara has made shows for HBO America, Univision, Fox TV, CNN, Comedy Central, Ten Australia, SBS Australia, CCTV (China), CTI (Taiwan), Discovery, BBC World, History Channel, MTV, Granada UK, BskyB, RTE Ireland, Virgin Media, and TV3 Ireland. Dara has also spent two years as executive producer for Asia International Media in Los Angeles, running both studio and location production.

Robert S Martinez

Deputy Commissioner New York City Police Department Support Services Bureau

Robert joined the New York City Police Department in June 1986 and rose through the supervisory ranks to Deputy Commissioner of the Support Services Bureau. He currently commands a bureau that provides logistical and technical support to all commands within the New York City Police Department and services the public through the operations of Fleet Services Division, Property Clerk Division, Central Records Division and Printing Section. He oversees approximately 800 members of the service and more than $179 million in a combination of safekeeping and annual budget. Robert earned a Bachelor of Technology degree from New York City Technical College, where he majored in electro-mechanical engineering, and earned a Master of Science degree in executive management from the Robert F Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. He also attended the Harvard School of Government in 2011.

Caroline Watson

Programme Director Transport and Urban Planning, C40 Cities

Caroline is responsible for driving and delivering C40’s global transport and urban planning strategy. She works with leading cities to transition to zero emissions transportation. Caroline leads on C40’s Green and Healthy Streets (Fossil Fuel Free Streets) Declaration where 26 cities have committed to procure only zero emission buses and introduce zero emission areas in their cities. Caroline also oversees the Zero Emission Vehicle Network, facilitating best practice sharing and research to advance the shift to electrification.

Previously, Caroline worked at environmental behaviour change charity Global Action Plan where, as a Senior Partner, she led their Air Quality Portfolio. Working with local authorities, cities, and the NHS, Caroline designed and delivered programmes to protect health and reduce dangerous air pollution. Prior to this, Caroline was Strategy Manager at the Energy Saving Trust managing electric vehicle research and delivery programmes.

Caroline has also worked as Policy Advisor in the UK’s Environment Agency and as a Researcher to a Member of the UK Parliament.

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David Maidman Operations Director BIFFA

David has a wealth of operational and customer service experience in the waste industry and other sectors. Before joining Biffa (then Verdant) in 2002, he spent nearly 20 years with Gardner Merchant and Vendepac, managing large multi-disciplinary teams. David was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of Biffa municipal contracts, primarily in south and south east England and was promoted to operations director in 2008. He retains ultimate responsibility for the operational performance of the municipal division. Prior to the merger of Biffa and Verdant in 2010, David was also responsible for the management systems, playing a key role in the company’s accreditation to all three ISO standards. David maintains his input and interest in this area and has achieved a NEBOSH Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.

David May

Fleet Manager Iowa Department of Transportation

David directs the fuel operations at 53 DOT garages around the state of Iowa. In this capacity, he has been responsible for incorporating biofuels into his fleet operations for the past twenty-one years. In 2017, his fleet used more than 59,000 gallons of neat (pure) biodiesel. David is a National Biodiesel Board Ambassador and he has served on the Iowa Ethanol Promotion Board. David retired from the military after nearly 30 years of service. His assignments included platoon leader and company commander in a transportation truck company, and a training officer assignment with a petroleum transport battalion.

He is a veteran of the both the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom and has a good understanding of national dependence on petroleum and the freedom provided by renewable biofuels.

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Speaker Biographies Jeremy Simons

Chairman, Port Health & Environment Committee City of London

Jeremy worked in the City for a major UK telecommunications company. He was elected to the Court of Common Council in 2004 to represent Castle Baynard and is a resident of the Ward. He has a degree in Physics from Nottingham University and an MSc from Imperial College London. Jeremy’s interests include current affairs, music and travel. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers and a member of the Castle Baynard and Farringdon Ward Clubs. He is also a trustee of a number of local charities.

Johan Seuffert

Vehicle Fleet Manager City of Stockholm

Nick Bridle

Professional Services Consultant, Fleet Management AssetWorks

Nick has over 40 years’ experience in the Asset, Fleet, Workshop, Transport and Driver Management sectors.

Specialising in understanding customer operational requirements, which ultimately lead to supporting design, development, integration opportunities and delivery of asset / fleet related products and projects.

Nick previously held a number of senior management positions in both Royal Mail Fleet and Operations. He started his career as a vehicle Technician, then moved into Workshop management and Fleet engineering, before taking on a national Project Management role developing RM Fleet systems. He also spent a number of years as a Plant Manager in Operations.

Nick has enjoyed working with some of the largest Global Fleet companies both here in the UK, the US and Canada, taking on board their thoughts, ideas and insights. Then working with them to design future fleet related systems that focus on effectiveness, efficiency and product integration.

Owen McArdle

Documentary Producer Oddboy Media Johan has a degree in innovation studies. In his current post he manages a fleet of 900 vehicles belonging to 38 different stakeholders. He is a member of numerous Swedish reference groups regarding a variety of fleet management issues. He has also been a project manager in different projects such as the first-ever European project on inductive-charging of EVs in public use. He has educated co-workers and fleet managers within both Stockholm and other organisations regarding fleet management (leasing, remarketing, and total cost of ownership). Johan was the driving force behind the City of Stockholm’s first fleet strategy and guidelines. The City of Stockholm has won the award for the most environmentally-friendly fleet of all cities in Sweden for five years in a row.

Johan is a strong advocate for EVs and green mobility and he strongly believes that public sector fleet management will move towards mobility management.

Owen created and produced two of the most successful Irish television shows of all time: 24 Hours to Kill and The Truth About Travellers. He ran TV3 Ireland’s internal production unit for eight years, overseeing the production of more than 150 documentary series. Owen spent two years as commissioning editor for TV3 Ireland, creating international TV formats, overseeing a number of commercially funded programmes, and commissioning award-winning and internationally successful documentary and drama projects.

Dr Paul Jackson Mark Scoggins

Head of Impairment Research TRL

Solicitor Advocate Fisher Scoggins Waters

Mark represented Thames Trains at the public inquiry into the October 1999 collision near Ladbroke Grove. In 2003, he handled the successful Old Bailey defence of Sir John Stevens and Lord Condon on all charges brought against them by the HSE arising out of roof falls suffered by patrolling officers. In 2005, he helped Balfour Beatty win the acquittal of its rail division on all corporate manslaughter charges it faced over the Hatfield derailment. He also represented the Metropolitan Police in the health and safety prosecution brought to trial in 2007 over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell station. Mark also a visiting lecturer to the College of Policing.

A chartered psychologist specialising in human performance and impairment, Dr Paul Jackson specialises in the design and delivery of fatigue risk management systems for safety-critical organisations. Paul has written industry guidance on implementing fatigue risk management systems, as well as creating Shell’s driver fatigue training and BP’s online Fatigue Risk Management for Shift Workers training programme. Paul has also worked closely with the Department for Transport in the development of legislation on drug driving.

Since joining TRL earlier this year, Paul has been developing a driver wellbeing programme, focusing on helping organisations to identify and manage the fatigue, stress, and mental health of professional drivers, to improve safety, performance and wellbeing.

Paul Owen Mick Sweetmore

Head of Fleet Engineering and Transport Services Merseyside Police

Mick has more than 34 years of employment in the sector and is currently President-elect at the Society of Operations Engineers. He has been involved in a several capacities since 2009 with the IRTE Professional Sector Council and served as its chairman from 2013-2015. Mick has managed teams with up to 120 people, working with budgets of £15m across various disciplines. He has overseen entire fleet operations, delivered full vehicle specification requirements, and directed services in line with sustainable and cost-effective demands. From 2004-2018 Mick was Head of Fleet Engineering Services at North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

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National Lead UK Law Enforcement on GPS Jamming, Police Senior User Home Office, JESIP

Paul is a serving police officer, currently seconded to the Home Office JESIP team as the Police senior user. He is working on interoperability and organisational learning between blue light services, the military, and other agencies, focusing on mass casualty events and business continuity. Paul has held a variety of specialist roles including operational firearms commander, chemical and biological attack response, roads policing and public order as a PSU commander. He is the national Police lead on countering criminal GPS jamming, with an interest in police-related technology. Paul also has many years of critical incident command experience and leading response teams. He is a serving officer with the Army Reserve.

The new N4: simple yet versatile

Geesinknorba’s new N4 may be the picture of simplicity but it is one of the most versatile vehicles available.

This nimble rear-loader is lighter than its predecessors and perfect for collections in congested, urban spaces.

Despite its simplicity, it has one of the quickest packing cycles in the business – between 16 and 18 seconds – for faster operations.

And it offers 20 different compaction levels at 5% increments, providing maximum efficiency regardless of the type of material collected.

It is available in 9-28m³ body sizes and also with our tried and tested hybrid technology.

Geesinknorba N4: the simple solution, whatever your needs.

Llantrisant Business Park Llantrisant Pontyclun CF72 8XZ Tel: +44 (0)1443 222301 Fax: +44 (0)1443 237192 www.geesinknorba.com sales.uk@geesinknorba.com

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES Philippe Saint-Vil

Head of Planning and Operations Support Division, Rolling Stock Department and Workshops, City of Montreal

Philippe has been in charge of the acquisition of municipal vehicles and equipment and the planning of preventive maintenance since 2015. Philippe is the author of the 3rd Green rolling stock policy 2016-2020 and is monitoring the electrification plan for the Montreal municipal fleet.

The City of Montreal has one of the largest municipal fleets in Canada, with more than 7,600 vehicles and nearly 400 employees engaged in its maintenance and upkeep.

The City of Montreal, which has been making the shift towards electrification since 2017, is the leading city in Canada for the size of its fleet of electric vehicles.

Russell Markstein

Group Sales Director NRG Fleet Services Commercial Director Electra Commercial Vehicles Russell has been involved in the municipal industry for thirty years. Having started as an apprentice in the plant workshop at Northamptonshire County Council, and having spent eighteen years at a competitor, he joined Riverside Truck Rental twelve years ago (part of the NRG Fleet Services Group of companies). Russell has been involved in all aspects of the NRG Group in a sales role and predominantly as the Group Commercial Director overseeing tenders for tyres, contract hire and maintenance and the contractual compliance. More recently, he became Commercial Director of Electra Commercial Vehicles, the Electra commercial vehicle chassis is a ground-breaking product, particularly with the Clean Air Zones, ULEZ and demand from Local Government.

Tobias Weissenrieder

Richard Harris

Director Europe, Ohmio Technologies Director of ITS UK

Richard is internationally recognised as a leading expert in ITS. He has more than 30 years of experience in the field and has held senior positions in leading companies, such as ICC, AECOM, WSP, Logica and Xerox, as well as within industry associations including ITS UK, ERTICO, PIARC, IRF, IBEC, and MaaS Alliance. Richard was inducted into the ITS World Congress Hall of Fame in 2015 as the recipient of the lifetime achievement award. His citation read: ‘an effective and charismatic champion and thought-leader for ITS for over 25 years who selflessly promotes ITS in general, without commercial considerations or bias.

Known, respected, trusted and liked by ITS professionals all over the world, his commitment to worldwide organisations continues to inspire and benefit the international ITS community.’

Head of Technical Unit Aebi Schmidt Deutschland

Tobias oversees the strategic development of Aebi Schmidt’s sweepers and specialist tractors for hill farming and he ensures they are delivered on time and to budget. He is also in charge of the product development department, working on the company’s road map for the long-term future development of Aebi Schmidt products. He also assesses and identifies the needs of the market in terms of new products. He works with a team of 55 people with eight direct reports, and was previously head of product management at Aebi Schmidt Group.

EXHIBITOR PROFILES Advanced Vehicle Alarms (AVA) is based in South East London and is a supplier and Business Service Partner of Brigade Electronics. AVA will be featuring products including Backeye®360, bbs-tek® white sound reversing alarms, camera monitor systems, mobile digital recording, Sidescan® ultrasonic sensors, and Backsense®, the most competitively priced radar detection system on the market. High-quality vehicle safety devices such as those offered by Brigade are only as effective if fitted by trained auto electricians. AVA provides installation on commercial vehicles from cars to refuse vehicles and mobile plant equipment.

The company is renowned in the industry for its high levels of quality, service and efficiency, limiting vehicle downtime. Visitors to the stand will be offered advice on meeting FORS, CLOCS and Skanska specifications as well as the Mayor’s new proposed Direct Vision Standard (DVS) for vehicles operating in the capital from 2020. Further advice regarding how to reduce insurance premiums for fleet operators, issues with noise caused by manoeuvring vehicles, and all elements of safety will also be available.

For those struggling to equip fleets with all the new safety measures required, AVA can offer Brigade’s lease scheme package which can save vast sums in corporation tax. AVA also specialises in vehicle security, alarms, locks and tracking systems. advancedvehiclealarms.co.uk

Aebi Schmidt UK supplies, maintains, and provides training on equipment dedicated to all-year-round surface clearing, including winter snow and ice clearance, sweeping and vegetation control. We operate a nationwide service and maintenance operation, including fast response field service engineers, in-house and on-site product training, and a centrally-controlled parts service. Aebi Schmidt UK provides effective solutions to keep roads, airports and motorways clear of waste, obstructions, and snow and ice. At Aebi Schmidt UK, customer service is key and our aim is to deliver a service experience second to none. www.aebi-schmidt.co.uk

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Allison Transmission is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial-duty automatic transmissions and a leader in electric hybrid propulsion systems. Our products are specified by more than 300 of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and are used in a range of market sectors, from bus, refuse, and emergency to construction, distribution, and defense vehicles. Allison was founded in 1915 in Indianapolis, Indiana, where the company’s global headquarters is still located. We have approximately 1,400 dealer and distributor locations, employ more than 2,600 people around the world and our products are used in more than 100 countries.

Our promise is to provide the most reliable and valued propulsion solutions in the world to enable our customers to work more efficiently. We are driven by a total commitment to excellence in everything we do. We believe each customer is unique, and our success is tied to their success. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards in everything we do and seek ways to improve products and processes in an effort to add value and create solutions for our customers. www.allisontransmission.com

AssetWorks offers customised solutions for all your fleet, fuel, hire, vehicle pool, and GPS requirements. The FleetFocus™ fleet management solution and Capital Asset Management (CAM) solution are both designed to help fleet and asset managers minimise expenditures while maximising the efficiency of their organisation and increasing the useful life of assets. FleetFocus is an all-encompassing solution that brings together all vehicle, workshop, plant, and driver management activities into one system. It includes comprehensive preventive maintenance schedules, work order and labour tracking, as well as inventory management and a suite of mobile applications. With the CAM solution, organisations can expect to reduce ownership and operational costs, improve operational efficiency and achieve sustainability goals. The AssetWorks solution offering is unique in that FleetFocus is the only system available that offers a truly integrated fuel solution (FuelFocus). The FuelFocus solution includes a sophisticated combination of software and hardware to manage consumable assets across your entire organisation. At LAPV Future Fleet Forum, operators will be able to discuss the benefits of moving towards a single consolidated system and also hear from organisations like the City of New York who use Assetworks as their fleet supplier. assetworks.com/uk

Customer Driven

Meet the Schmidt team on stand 32

WITH TOTAL LIFETIME CARE At Aebi Schmidt we believe in the exceptional quality and reliability of our innovative and robust sweeping equipment.

With efficient engines, large hoppers and outstanding driver comfort, Schmidt Sweepers will keep you sweeping for longer.

Plus, all Schmidt equipment benefits from our Total Lifetime Care (TLC) commitment delivering the highest levels of safety, support and service.

At Aebi Schmidt, customer service is key – and our aim is to deliver a service experience second to none!

Are you ready to experience the Aebi Schmidt difference Sales 01733 363393 | Service 01733 363400 | Parts 01733 363336

www.aebi-schmidt.co.uk

EXHIBITOR PROFILES Throughout the history of our business, our customers use data to make a more informed decision. Our Collective software is a single point of planning and management for your domestic and trade collections, and is trusted by over 60 UK local authorities to help them work safely, efficiently, and flexibly every day of the year. It is designed specifically to allow front-line service organisations to control all their service management in a single, easy-to-use computer system. www.bartecautoid.com

Reduce your accident risk and improve driver safety with Blank-it, display management technology that improves safety and saves lives.

Our screen blanking solution is easy to use, compliant, and improves safety by reducing driver distraction. The drive mode app significantly reduces driver distraction by managing access to the screen when the vehicle is in motion. Blank-it is an easy-to-install, vehicle-independent, self-contained, self-powered, US-made safety solution. The combination of multi-sensor hardware and intelligent software makes the screen-blanking solution the top choice for safe driving, and also allows nominated programmes to be viewed while the vehicle is moving. It is tried and tested for warehousing, forklifts and trucks, government and emergency services, utilities, fleets and mobile workforce. Blank-it minimises the risks associated with driver-facing computers, reduces preoccupied driver error, discourages in-motion computer interaction, helps keep the driver’s full attention on the road, and ensures fleet workflow productivity and safety simultaneously.www.blank-it.com BrightOrder is a pioneer and industry leader of Fleet Maintenance Software (EMDECS) and on premise/cloud consulting services (TMS and WMS.) The company was founded in 1996 and has since grown to serve over 1,500 companies with 1.5 million assets globally. Our operations include clients and partners throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, with offices in Canada, Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Possessing the widest range of fleet maintenance, TMS, and WMS functional and technical capabilities, we have facilitated considerable improvements in efficiencies and effectiveness throughout the supply chain industry. From the systems and technology that propel supply chains and global logistics to the people who support the transport of goods through to the delivery of products to a consumer’s doorstep, we unite all the moving parts of your enterprise. www.brightorder.com CMS SupaTrak is a leading telematics supplier to the waste and street cleaning industry. Our technology can be manufacturer-fitted to major brands, such as Dennis Eagle and Johnston Sweepers, where we work closely with long-standing customers to reduce their carbon emissions, increase operational efficiency, and manage both driver and vehicle safety and compliance. CMS telematics technology can be custom designed for you or integrated into the products of leading industry suppliers such as Garmin for connected navigation and Continental Tyres for fullyintegrated automatic tyre pressure monitoring systems. We also provide sophisticated vehicle diagnostics, driver coaching, live safety cameras, and automated licence checking with real-time driver hours. www.supatrak.com

Dennis Eagle is one of the world’s most established manufacturers of refuse collection vehicles. With an engineering heritage that dates back to the turn of the 20th century, it has a reputation for supplying quality products that meet the highest expectations of performance, cost, and delivery. This is backed up by industry-leading customer service, provided by the largest aftersales and support structure within the sector. The company offers complete vehicle solutions, producing refuse collection bodies, chassis and bin lifts. Today, the business manufactures over 1,000 units per year for UK local authorities and private sector contractors. In addition, it has a continually expanding customer base overseas, including in continental Europe, Scandinavia, China, Australia and the US. www.dennis-eagle.co.uk

Excelerate specialises in providing resilient communications for critical environments on-board rapid response vehicles, command & control units or in a portable solution – supporting interoperability, resilience and multi-agency collaboration.

With a hybrid approach to connectivity, through the use of both cellular and satellite networks, Excelerate’s solutions enable seamless communications on-the-move in all environments, including when terrestrial networks are down or suffering disruption. Excelerate has a wealth of experience in the development, integration and provision of resilient communications in environments where none exist, fail, are compromised or simply need bolstering due to increased demand. We have developed, installed and now support the most

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comprehensively equipped emergency response vehicles in the world and are exporting our knowledge and skills globally. Our solutions are based around customer inputs and needs, meeting secure IT and fully integrated technology requirements as well as ensuring that front-line personnel are well supported with the most efficient simple to operate systems. www.excelerate-group.com Eminox is an emissions reduction specialist for heavy-duty vehicles. We are market leaders supporting local authority initiatives across the UK to reduce harmful emissions and combat air pollution.

We support passenger transport and municipal fleet operators by enabling them to upgrade their vehicles to the latest clean air standards at a fraction of the cost of new vehicles, from school buses to waste trucks. The Eminox SCRT emissions reduction technology was the first to gain official accreditation. Our pioneering technology is upgrading 100 Westminster City Council/Veolia RCVs, helping the local authority meet Euro VI emissions standards for its existing Euro V RCVs, enabling up to 99% NOx reduction and exceeding ULEZ, CAZ, and LEZ requirements. Our innovative solution for RCVs is an industry-first in achieving better than Euro VI performance on the most challenging duty cycle and the performance is verified with in-service real-time data via telematics. Eminox is bridging the gap to a zero-emissions future by 2040. Our technology has delivered major public health benefits, preventing emissions of more than 25,000 tonnes of NOx over the last 10 years. At today’s EU cost-to-society figures, this equates to a significant saving in health service costs in the region of £631million. www.eminox.com

EPIC Media Group is one of the country’s leading suppliers of changeable graphic systems and vehicle livery solutions. Over the last 12 years, EPIC has built up a reputation for the quality and longevity of its changeable graphics. EPIC is preferred supplier to most contractors and municipal manufacturers across the industry. EPIC’s system is robust enough to fit every type of RCV including ribbed-bodied and large trailers. In addition to changeable graphics, EPIC is also able to offer full and partial vehicle wraps, cab kits, depot signage, and printed rear safety curtains. www.epicmediagroup.co.uk FAUN Zoeller is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the KIRCHHOFF Group, with factories across Europe, Asia, America. and the Pacific Rim. The Group produces automotive parts, tools, and mobility equipment as well as refuse collection bodies, lifters and road sweepers.

Now with 46 factories in 16 countries across three continents, the company has grown significantly from its origins as a needle company founded in 1785. www.faun-zoeller.co.uk Flintec is a world-leading supplier and manufacturer of force and weight measurement technologies.

Traditionally a load cell manufacturer, Flintec has grown dramatically over the past 10 years and now boasts a range of electronic and software solutions to complement our industry-renowned sensors. Our experience in the manufacture of weighing sensors has led Flintec to develop a range of components specifically designed for the on-board weighing sector. We have recently developed and launched an innovative on-board weighing indicator that overcomes the pitfalls of traditional indicators. The FT-30M is a touch screen, din-mountable indicator with a long list of features and capabilities that are not available from traditional indicators. The FT-30M, associated accessories, and the newly-designed family of specialist load cells provide the on-board vehicle weighing market with a unique set of components that are cost effective, modern and easy to use. These components will be exhibited at Future Fleet Forum 2019. www.flintec.com/uk Geesinknorba is a leading provider of refuse collection vehicles and waste compactors. We manufacture a wide range of vehicle bodies for different applications as well as bin-lifting equipment to operate with them. Our bodies are fully compatible with all major chassis, bin lifts and related products from other manufacturers. The company’s track record in innovation is second to none and we continue to lead the way in providing practical solutions for the waste and recycling industry. Our new GPM IV series of vehicles are robust, efficient, and designed for the requirements of the 21st century. Our award-winning hybrid vehicles offer excellent fuel saving, low-emissions, and low-noise solutions for operators. www.geesinknorba.com

EXHIBITOR PROFILES GovPlanet offers fleet and budget managers a fresh alternative for end-of-life vehicle resale.

GovPlanet’s expansion into the UK local government market started just over a year ago.

We now operate on behalf of several local authorities, in addition to an increasing number of emergency services and private sector fleet operators. Optimised for the public sector, GovPlanet’s combination of cutting-edge online sales technology, plus our vehicle and market expertise, enables us to generate the best overall returns from the sale of end-of-life vehicles. We handle all types of vehicles and equipment and are particularly adept at selling specialist and adapted vehicles, which rarely achieve their price potential in a conventional auction. We do this by leveraging our in-house technical expertise and our global buyer network. GovPlanet typically achieves a minimum of15-40% higher net proceeds than conventional disposal channels, and often higher — cash that is available for hard-pressed local authorities to re-invest. GovPlanet’s service levels, commercial terms, and transparency are all designed to meet the needs of the public sector. We operate multiple sales channels including brokered direct sales, feature and rolling online auctions and conventional live auctions. Our sales efforts are bespoke, not one-size-fits-all.

Accessing almost two million buyers in over 120 countries, our expert sales teams will make sure they find the right buyer to deliver the best returns. Working hard, to bring you more, for less. www.govplanet.com

“One of the UK’s leading providers of specialist commercial vehicles, Go Plant Fleet Services provides access to specialist commercial vehicles including refuse collection trucks, gritters, cage tippers and road sweepers on both short and long-term hire, as well as offering a comprehensive suite of fleet management services, including repair and maintenance. The company, which remains based at its original headquarters in Leicestershire, merged with Lincolnshire-based Essential Fleet Services in July, 2017 – a move backed by private equity house Endless LLP. Significant expansion has followed with major investment in new technology, the opening of a string of new depots and the establishment of an owned spot hire fleet as well as investment in ‘back to black’ Beam sweepers, creating the largest fleet in the UK. The company, which has 40 years’ experience in the industry, now has sales in excess of £70 million and employs more than 500 staff across 39 depots nationwide. www.go-plant.eu Farid Hillend Engineering Limited (FHE), part of the Farid European Group, one of Europe’s fastest growing refuse collection and recycling vehicle producers, is delighted to support Future Fleet Forum 2019. With a recognised depth of manufacturing experience and knowledge of RCV user requirements, FHE is fully committed to the continued development and manufacture of our premier products, PowerLink, TwinTrak, and BigBite rear loaders, and Euro Half Pack front loaders from its plant in Scotland, coupled to the supply of the full Farid range from our European plants, some of which are mounted and assembled in Scotland. We pride ourselves on our reputation for customer service and satisfaction with vehicles built to exacting customer specification and supported by exemplary aftersales service. To get a better understanding of how FHE refuse and recycling vehicles can benefit you, and for an update on our comprehensive product range, please visit us at Future Fleet Forum 2019. You will be made most welcome. www.hillendeng.com Holder Equipment UK is the new distribution company for Max-Holder GmbH, responsible for the UK and Ireland. One of the first actions will be to develop a sales and service dealer network that fits our customers’ needs. Max Holder GmbH is a renowned manufacturer of multifunctional vehicles for municipal applications as well as vineyards and orchards. Founded in 1888 in Metzingen in Germany, Holder provides complete solutions and services from a single source, including multifunctional implement carriers and corresponding attachment technology, whether it is for lawn care, road cleansing, transport operations, plant protection, leaf clearing, winter maintenance, or numerous other specialist applications. We are pleased to be supporting Future Fleet Forum 2018 where we will be presenting the Holder X series with petrol engine and catalytic convertor, which is Holder’s response to the urban particulate pollution problems without a costly exhaust gas after-treatment. www.holderequipment.co.uk Johnston Sweepers has been manufacturing road sweepers in Dorking, Surrey, for more than 75 years, and today is one of the world’s market leaders in street cleansing vehicles.

British designed and built, Johnston exports over 70% of its sweeper production to more than 80 countries worldwide, helping to keep city streets clean all over the world. www.johnstonsweepers.com

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has been a hallmark of premium quality and safety for more than 100 years.

We’re all about reliability and economic efficiency, and first-class product and service quality. From 1896 until today, we offer comprehensive expertise in the area of customer-oriented transport solutions.

We are committed to improving road safety and driver efficiency. With a city-friendly range of vehicles that stretches from 3.5-tonne light trucks to 44-tonne artics, we’ve a product for every urban operator.

The Mercedes-Benz Econic is well established as the refuse truck of choice for many of the UK’s local authorities, and waste and recycling specialists. The significantly enhanced visibility it offers drivers, thanks to its low-entry cab, panoramic windscreen and fully glazed folding passenger door, coupled with an impressive armoury of standard-fit safety systems, mean the Econic is also proving increasingly attractive to companies working across other sectors, most notably construction and distribution. www.mercedes-benz-trucks.com/en_GB/home.htm

For over 45 years MOBA Mobile Automation has been recognised as a world leader in mobile automation. Our expertise in the development, manufacturing and installation of quality machine control systems, identification, mobile weighing, radar and camera technology with flexible software solutions has ensured we can offer a complete solution. MOBA systems have been used extensively throughout Europe over the last 25 years by local councils and leading waste management companies. Whether its identification technologies, weighing systems for waste management, or safety-related technologies, we offer powerful, reliable machine control systems for vehicles in the commercial waste, municipal and logistic sectors. moba-automation.com

Riverside Truck Rental is one of the largest truck and plant rental companies in the UK. We are wholly owned by NRG Fleet Services, a company recognised by the London Stock Exchange as one of the UK’s top 1,000 companies to inspire Britain. We operate from a number of strategically based locations and provide support from our 24/7/365 call centre. Our extensive maintenance and support network ensures we keep you on the road, whilst keeping you compliant at all times. We continually invest in new vehicles, that’s why we have one of the largest fleets of modern vehicles. This means our customers benefit from new vehicle technology that allows them to focus on their core activity. www.riversidetruckrental.com

The Quartix GPS tracking system helps businesses improve fleet productivity, lower operating costs, and improve driver safety.

The system has been installed on over 350,000 vehicles with 12,000 customers worldwide. Each vehicle is fitted with a small tracking device that captures all the telematics data and vehicle movements.

Quartix turns that data into easy-to-read reports that clearly identify where you can optimise and make improvements. There is no need for any separate software, you just log in via any internet connected device. ‘Quartix vehicle tracking lets you take control of your fleet, improve operational efficiency and manage costs, safety and time,’ says Matt O’Connor, director at John O’Conner Landscaping. www.quartix.net We are Romaquip, the market leaders in the design, build, and supply of kerb-sort recycling vehicles and winter maintenance equipment.

We are famous for our stainless steel body designs, which give our vehicles the longest life span combined with the highest liability and the lowest maintenance costs in the industry. Our high quality aftersales means that operating our vehicles is more than just a purchase, it is also an excellent investment. Romaquip has been a market leader for over seven years with nearly 600 kerb-sort machines out operating in the market place. We are continually developing our products to ensure that we provide our customers with the most efficient and cost effective position, thus retaining our position as the go-to manufacturer for kerb-sort products. With the very latest award-winning safety features, largest possible payloads, lowest total life costs, and longest warranties, we are the only manufacturer that truly ‘makes quality affordable’. Visit us at stand 21. www.romaquip.com

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EXHIBITOR PROFILES Specialist Fleet Services (SFS) is the fleet supply partner of choice for many public sector organisations. Established in 1992, SFS has been providing contract hire, fleet and workshop solutions to the public and private sector for over 25 years. The company has a track record in delivering cost effective, long-term fleet management solutions that are flexible and can adapt to changing market conditions. As a testament to this, the company has secured contracts that extend beyond 2035, demonstrating a high level of customer confidence. SFS’s municipal vehicle hire division, CTS Hire, provides complementary short-term hire services with a diverse fleet of high quality vehicles including RCVs, recycling vehicles, caged tippers, hook loaders and skip loaders, all available nationwide. The fleet is supported by a network of depots and field engineers providing round-the-clock assistance, 365 days a year. www.sfs.co.uk Thomas Group Ltd is a specialist in delivering improvements to your fleet’s reliability, maintenance and fuel costs whilst improving your carbon footprint with reduced emissions. We are one of the UK’s leading diesel fuel injection companies and make full use of this expertise when we look at fuel quality. Our workshops and test facilities are to the highest OE manufacturer standards and cover the very latest technologies. To complement our diesel injection heritage, we also wholesale and distribute fuel filtration from the OE manufacturers, which is critical to protecting common rail fuel systems. To complete this holistic approach, we also produce fuel additives under the FuelBright brand. With the assistance of AssetWorks fleet management software, we have successfully trialled the product with Wakefield Council with a full case study available. We are looking to extend this success to other government/council fleets and look forward to exhibiting at Future Fleet Forum 2019. www.thomasgroupltd.co.uk Truck Align London Ltd is the UK’s foremost designer and manufacturer of driver visibility aids for HGVs, which it markets under the brand name Truck Door Windows. Forty plus years of experience of repairing and refurbishing trucks and buses delivers the expertise available to manufacture an OEM-quality product. The primary objective of an additional window in the lower passenger side door is to provide drivers with a clear and unobstructed view of the area from where the majority of incidents between vulnerable road users and HGVs originate. This simple yet extremely effective device is now being adopted by major fleet operators across the UK as they recognise its capability to reduce accidents/ fatalities and thereby cut down any potentially costly liability for them and their drivers. Truck door windows are offered as a fixed or lowerable option. They feature a single glazed unit, bonded into the door using type-approved glass to retain the structural integrity of the door. Condensation is not an issue and the glass is easily cleaned. Furthermore, there’s a clear and unobstructed view through the truck door window even when the cab window is lowered. truck-door-windows.com

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VWS have been developing and manufacturing weighing systems for over 25 years and we are widely regarded as industry leaders in our field.

We design and manufacture our load cells in the UK to BS ISO9001 at our facility in Reading and have an extensive service and installation hub located in Chesterfield. Our weighing systems are highly regarded for accuracy and reliability and are used across a range of sectors, from local authorities and private waste management operators to highways, haulage, and quarrying companies. We work closely with complementary organisations including VWS Software Solutions and Applied Weighing International to deliver British-built, innovative and reliable systems with streamlined integration and first-class service. Our award-winning VOPS2 vehicle overload protection system is our latest innovation, providing operators with a reliable and cost-effective way to avoid vehicle overloading and keep their drivers and vehicles running safely and legally. www.vwsltd.co.uk Vision Techniques has been saving lives since 1988.

Using the power of new technology and innovation, we give our customers the ultimate protection in vehicle safety. We make the unsafe safe, the invisible visible, and the unsecure secure.

Our flexible approach and proven track record in design excellence, ensures the creation of vehicle safety systems to provide a safe environment for drivers, workers, and the public. With a collaborative and flexible approach to our products and support, we go that extra mile to give our customers an exceptional experience. www.vision-techniques.com WNV Systems has 22 years of experience in the specialist automatic cleaning of road vehicles, trams, trains and helicopters. Our teams of dedicated service engineers are located throughout the UK and Ireland and each engineer possesses over 10 years of experience in the commercial vehicle cleaning industry. A network of designated agents based overseas extends our services across Europe. Cost-effective and with low energy consumption, careful use and reuse of water, and high quality detergents, our systems make it possible to clean a 12-metre vehicle chassis in 30 minutes for less than £3, and to clean the vehicle body in five minutes for under £2. We can even show you how to turn your cost centre into a profit centre. We work with our customers to investigate obtaining government subsidies that may be available for their operations. www.wnv-systems.com Providing procurement advice and guidance throughout the public sector, YPO supplies products and frameworks, providing procurement advice, guidance and expertise to public sector organisations. YPO is the largest formally-constituted public sector buying organisation in the UK, owned and governed by local authorities. Across the country our customers include local authorities, schools, academies, colleges, universities, charities, care homes, and the emergency services. YPO often collaborates with other UK professional buying organisations and agencies on frameworks. This shared working aims to achieve efficiencies for the benefit of the entire public sector. If you have a specific fleet requirement or are looking for compliant routes to market, our fleet team can provide frameworks and specialist industry knowledge to help meet your needs. www.ypo.co.uk

ELITE 6: THE CLEAR CHOICE FOR SAFER COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT

The Elite 6 is a premium quality, British manufactured vehicle designed to integrate within the communities in which it operates.

Dennis Eagle Ltd. Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick CV34 6TE  01926 458500  contact.us@dennis-eagle.co.uk  @Dennis_Eagle

Floorplan Exhibitors

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2

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3

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13

Catering Area

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4

5 29

11

6

10

28

19

7

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ENTRANCE TO & FROM CONFERENCE

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Refreshments

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9

27

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30

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1

Brigade/Advanced Vehicle Alarms

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VWS

3

BrightOrder

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Geesinknorba

5

WNV

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AssetWorks

7

Riverside Truck Rental

8

Dennis Eagle

9

Johnston Sweepers

10

Mercedes Benz

11

Epic Media

12

Faun Zoeller

13

Bartec

14

Romaquip

15

Allison Transmission

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CMS SupaTrak

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Flintec

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Holder

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Farid Hillend

20

Eminox

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Go Plant

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Truck Door Windows

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Vision Techniques

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Excelerate

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GovPlanet

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MOBA

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Specialist Fleet Services

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Quartix

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YPO

30

Blank-It

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Thomas Autos

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Aebi-Schmidt

OUTSIDE EXHIBITON

Vehicle Exhibitors

Vehicle 1

Vehicle 2

Vehicle 3

Vehicle 4

Vehicle 5 Vehicle 9

Vehicle 8

Vehicle 7

Vehicle 6

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Dennis Eagle

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Aebi-Schmidt

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Excelerate

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Faun Zoeller

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Geesinknorba

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Riverside Truck Rental

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Farid Hillend

8

Johnston Sweepers

9

Metropolitan Police

Truck Door Windows Helping reduce accidents!

Over the past 3 years, HGV’s were involved in 20% of pedestrian fatalities and over 70% of cyclist fatalities.

Direct Vision through the passenger cab door provides drivers with a larger field of view and This driver saw her!… the potential to reduce those incidents.

...This driver didn’t!

Single glazed Structural integrity retained Type approved glass Prevents condensation Easy cleaning All makes and models of truck Option to lower cab window See us on: Stand 22

Truck Align London Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 1322 223638 Email: admin@truckalign.co.uk Web: www.truck-door-windows.com

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grounds maintenance

Turning the spotlight on fuel efficiency Local authorities are looking for efficiency savings in their grounds care operations and manufacturers are responding with a swathe of developments designed to increase productivity and reduce costs in a variety of ways. Tony Richards reports.

F

rom robotics to electric vehicles, manufacturers of grounds care equipment are stepping up their efforts to provide innovative solutions to the ongoing problem of shrinking municipal budgets and rising public expectations. One area of increasing focus is fuel efficiency. From making maximum use of existing and developing diesel technology to new and alternative fuels, better fuel efficiency can save money and help councils meet their environmental targets.

One company experimenting with more environmentallyfriendly fuels is Multevo, formerly Multihog UK. The multipurpose vehicle manufacturer is using Shell’s GTL fuel in some of its products, including the Multihog and its hot water weed control system, in an effort to tackle the issue of environmental performance head on. GTL can be a direct replacement for diesel, but it is derived from methane gas. Shell claims that it has a better combustion efficiency than diesel, a high flash point for storage and handling safety, a higher calorific value, and is virtually sulphur-free. Plus, it is biodegradable, produces lower emissions, and can reduce engine noise.

‘The power industry needs to consider fuel efficiency as a whole. It isn’t simply using less fuel or making the most of what

Above: Ransome Jacobsen achieved efficiency savings of up to 30% by accurately controlling the clip rate of its mowers.

Right: Multevo is using GTL as a diesel replacement fuel in some of its vehicles, including the Multihog.

50 LAPV January 2019

you have, it is the complete package,’ says Multevo’s Nick Carter.

‘Change can be cost prohibitive. Operators of municipal equipment – councils and contractors – will move towards greater sustainability and environmental performance, but only if any increased costs can be held back.’

Using one machine like the Multihog to accomplish a range of tasks is another way to help keep those costs down by eliminating the need for different power units for different roles.

‘The cost of sending several vehicles to site, each with a specific task and the dedicated implements to complete it, is not just prohibitive but actually wasteful when there is an alternative solution,’ points out Nick Carter.

At Saltex 2018 it was obvious that both manufacturers and local authorities are taking the issue of efficiency seriously, in all its forms. The event saw the launch of a number of new products focusing on emissions reduction, both noise and exhaust.

Allet Mowers is offering an electric solution with the launch of is C34 Evolution, a large-area, walk-behind cylinder mower. This uses the latest lithium-ion battery technology to power the 86cm mower, without reducing performance, for more than 6,000m2 (1.5 acres) per charge. Changing the batteries takes less than thirty seconds. The cost of a complete charge is only £0.40, and the batteries can be used to power other equipment such as brush cutters, chainsaws, blowers, and long-reach hedge cutters.

The C34 Evolution is also compatible with Allett’s existing turf maintenance system for scarifying, raking, aerating, brushing, and verti-cutting using interchangeable cartridges. Batteries can be recharged in under an hour.

Electric power means no noise and no emissions at the point of use, no fuel management and storage requirements, no pull starts, reduced maintenance and easier controls, and lower lifetime cost of ownership. Hand-arm vibration is also reduced, meaning the machine can be used for longer periods. Variable speed control and touch-button control enable half-speed reduction for turning and manoeuvring. Built-in back-lapping also keeps blades sharp for cleaner cutting and quieter operation.

Another new product from Allet is the Uplift 86 stadium rotary mower. This has a stainless-steel fabricated cutter deck and three-piece, full-width steel roller. The Uplift 86’s twin, 18-inch contra-rotating blades, cutting an 86cm swathe, produce a highlift cut and vacuum for increased efficiency. The 90-litre grass bag capacity means fewer trips to empty cuttings.

The cutting height is micro-adjustable between 1.5cm and 7.5cm. A new feature is a HOC front-locking kit and lower handle stiffening. The Uplift 86 has a five-speed, heavy-duty gearbox, and higher speed selection increases efficiency. There is a separate bail bar for the roller drive and blades, enabling roller drive only, blades only, or roller drive and blades. The blades are driven by the belt drive and there is a safety blade brake. The handlebars are adjustable for operator comfort. Power is generated through a 223cc Briggs and Stratton 950E vertical crankshaft OHV engine featuring ready/start.

Ransomes Jacobsen is another example of a company committed to developing products to maximise productivity, lower costs, and enhance fuel efficiency. According to Richard Comely, product management director, Ransomes remains the only turf equipment manufacturer to be accredited with ISO 14001 certification, the international standard for environmental management.

Richard says that Ransome Jacobsen was the first manufacturer to accurately control clip rate (the number of cuts per metre) with its Eclipse series of mowers, and fuel savings in the region of 30% are achievable as a result. It also removed the hydraulic system completely from the Eclipse ride-on, using a small engine to power the generator to run all the systems on the mower.

He points out that a simpler type of engine is significantly more economical to buy and to run. When coupled with hybrid technology, the combined output is similar to the horsepower of a larger traditional diesel engine driving a hydraulic system. The need to carry large quantities of hydraulic oil is removed, potential leak points are significantly reduced, and lower overall noise levels can be achieved. As electric drives are usually more efficient than hydraulic, fuel savings are possible. Most of these advantages benefit the end user, environmentally and economically and, in the case of mowers, also offer greater control.

‘Hybrid vehicle technology is here to stay in one form or another,’ says Richard. ‘Increasingly stringent emissions legislation will probably accelerate hybrid technology in the industrial plant and machinery sector as it has in the car industry. Hybrid power is no longer considered a gimmick. It is the future.’

McConnel is taking a slightly different approach to efficiency.

The business makes a comprehensive range of power arms, rotary and flail mowers, and cultivation machinery, and has more than 100 different models and thousands of different build options. Its latest series of innovations are all focused on increasing productivity. These include the Versi range for highway mowing that allows operators to safely cut both the nearside verge and the central reservation while travelling in the direction of traffic, and the labour-saving barrier mower, which saves contractors time and money by speeding up mowing operations that normally must be carried out by hand, reducing disruption to motorists.

Most recently, however, McConnel showcased the Robocut remote-controlled slope mowers with GPS autosteer at Saltex last

grounds maintenance

Above: The Flexblade Core Collector system from Groundsman attaches to any aerator for follow-up core collection.

Below: The Allett Uplift 86's twin rotating blades produce a high-lift cut and vacuum for increased efficiency.

year. ‘Robotics takes the element of operator risk out of the verge maintenance equation,’ says marketing manager Wayne Brown.

‘There are simply no operators working by the highway.’

McConnel has introduced its next-generation Robocut with allterrain ability. The RC56 and RC75 models both have increased power, an advanced feature set, and a new control system for greater output, safety, and control.

The new Robocut robotic mowers come with 56hp or 75hp engines, developed in a partnership with Hatz GmbH for working on steep gradients of 55 degrees, which provide a power increase of up to 75%. Fuel efficiency has increased by 20% and fuel capacity has doubled to enable continuous operation for up to eight hours.

A new, common chassis design provides a lower centre of gravity and 50/50 weight distribution for maximum stability and control in challenging terrain. Fully integrated, dual roll-over protection bars, quick-access lifting points, and dedicated accessory mounting points also come as standard.

The new feature set includes a programmable attachment flotation system; a Staysafe flail head hood control for mowing; on-machine activation digital display for customisation of machine settings; keyless start technology for improved safety; daytime running lighting to aid visual orientation at a distance; high-intensity LED work lights; and four integrated LED strobe lights with pre-set ECE-compliant sequences.

The control unit has a high-visibility digital display providing performance feedback to the operator, including power generation, engine temperature, and signal strength.

The battery dock stores and charges one of the two remote control battery.

Enclosed body panels protect the power unit and gull-wing-style side

52 LAPV January 2019

panels provide engine access.

GPS Autosteer, developed in conjunction with Trimble, enables precise cutting control to an accuracy of 25mm from up to 150 metres away. Wider 1.6m and 1.9m flail heads are available, and 1.3m grass, forestry, and mulcher flail heads can be fitted.

Groundsman Industries is another manufacturer focusing on increased efficiency through improved productivity. ‘Performance and reliability are key factors for Groundsman machines, which are known for their ability to get the job done first time, especially in difficult conditions,’ says MD Billy Warke. ‘This saves time with fewer repeat operations and maximises efficiency.’

Groundsman has specialised in the development of turf aerators and turf cutters since 1990 and has produced many generations of machines. The portable, two-wheel-drive TMC26 is used by landscapers, contractors, and hire outlets. It has a range of interchangeable sod-cutting blades available in widths of 30cm to 60cm that are adjustable down to 7cm in depth, and blades for mole draining, de-compacting, trenching, and cable and pipe insertion down to 15cm in depth.

The Groundsman range of pedestrian and tractor-mounting turf aerators come in a choice of working widths from 45cm up to 180cm. The 345HD provides narrow access for aerating all types of grass including gardens, parklands, and fine lawns as well as sports greens. For larger areas, the tractor-mounting models are available for tractors from 18hp upwards. The range has a crank-driven elliptical plunge action mechanism that drives the tines into the most compacted surfaces to a depth of 15cm with very little surface disruption. Quick-change hollow core, solid and slitting tines are available together with tine heads for thatch removal or surface preparation for over-seeding.

The patented Flexblade Core Collector attaches to any aerator, pedestrian or tractor-mounted, with swathe width from 60cm up to 210cm for core and collects in one pass. It is available for compact tractors and turf vehicles for follow-up collection of cores and linear aeration soil.

The system was developed by Groundsman Industries. It catches more than half the cores before they touch the ground.

The remainders are scooped cleanly from the surface by the Flexblade that follows undulations like shovels for the cleanest possible collection.

Also at Saltex, GKB was displaying its range of natural, synthetic, and hybrid turf machinery, from brushing and cleaning artificial turf to tackling surface drainage and aeration, infill removal, and sand spreading.

These included the Combinator for fraise mowing and verticutting grass areas, typically sports turf, while removing and loading the complete upper layer of unwanted turf. Among the new products from GKB was a hybrid blade option for the Combinator, for use on stitched, carpeted, and hybrid grass.Other products included the quick clean, three-point CAT I/II PTO operated machine for cleaning artificial turf, sweeping up leaves, branches and dirt; the Rotobrush RB120 to rejuvenate and maintain sports field artificial turf; the Ecodresser for the maintenance of sports pitches or golf courses; the five rotating brushes of the Renovator for compacted synthetic turf pitch; and the Combiseeder for seeding and surface aerating.Demand from end users is driving the development of more efficient solutions for grounds maintenance, whether that’s an increase in productivity or greener, cheaper ways of running machines. And, while new fuels and robotics solutions remain in their infancy, it is clear that both manufacturers and their customers are committed to pursuing innovative solutions to financial and environmental challenges.

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software

End-to-end software solution From a basic, bespoke software package for one customer, Purgo from VWS has developed into a modular and scalable waste management software system designed to meet the specific needs of the waste and recycling sector.

A

s with so many technology developments, the Purgo waste management software from VWS started out as a solution to a particular problem. Andy Mirecki, managing director of VWS Software Solutions, had been working in the waste management sector for a few years when he was approached in 2015 by Blakeley’s Recycling in Wigan to help the company find a software package that could effectively analyse customers’ bins. Unable to find anything suitable on the market, the company couldn’t charge the appropriate amount for collections based on the weight of the bins and was losing money as a result.

Andy started by designing a basic, bespoke software package that would help Blakeley’s to identify the heavy loads and put a charging structure in place. It was at this point that he joined forces with Vehicle Weighing Solutions, which has more than 30 years’ experience in weighing. Together they created VWS Software Solutions to design a modular and scalable software solution specifically for waste and recycling companies.

The primary objectives were to help manage collection rounds,

Top: Grundon installed Purgo at its largest depot in Colnbrook in 2017.

Right: Gaskells Waste Services has been using Purgo since December 2016.

54 LAPV January 2019

capture and record bin weighing data, and identify the ‘heavy throwers’ in order to pinpoint profits. Blakeley’s was the first company to adopt the system and it transformed the business.

‘The business was suffering because we couldn’t identify where the really heavy loads were coming from, so we didn’t know where we were losing money,’ explains Graeme Knight, MD of Blakeley’s.

‘Purgo is very user friendly and enables us to schedule and track all of our collections accurately. Combined with the VWS bin-weighing system, we can now weigh every bin accurately, identify the heavy loads, and charge accordingly. The difference to our balance sheet has been huge.’

Once customers understood that their bins would be properly monitored and categorised for charging purposes, they were more cautious about waste disposal. The average weight per container reduced by 21% and Blakeley’s gross profit more than doubled, delivering an extra £1.1 million in earnings per year.

Since then VWS has continually developed and improved the software and it has evolved into an effective ERP system that can cater for just about any business – although the focus remains on waste management companies, recycling operators, and materials processing facilities.

A powerful round management tool, Purgo manages every process end to end and joins up every aspect of the operation from customer services, transport and route management to weighing, collections, and finance.

‘Customers pay a monthly subscription for the use of the software, which includes a support service should they need it,’ explains Andy. ‘The software integrates effortlessly with most business systems, which means that packages already implemented by a customer become one with the waste and recycling collection activities. It is also highly automated and exception-driven, but most importantly it is intuitive and user friendly.’

In 2017 one of the UK’s largest privately-owned waste management companies, Grundon, installed the software at its largest depot in Colnbrook. Group logistics manager John Stephens explains that the company had just invested over £1 million in a new

software

specialist waste and recycling software solution to streamline the business and improve customer service and experience.

‘Purgo integrates well with this new infrastructure and helps us to enhance both our customer service and efficiency by providing precise data for every collection. In turn, our customers can use this information to help them meet their own environmental goals. The aim is to roll out the Purgo software across all of our depots.’

Because the system uses in-cab PDAs it can reduce or in some cases completely eradicate the need for traditional administrative processes and paperwork. ‘We actually designed these in consultation with drivers for drivers, so they are intuitive and easy to use,’ says Andy Mirecki. ‘Because of this it wasn’t difficult to get the drivers’ buy-in, which is crucial for the success of any mobile system.’

The PDAs include SatNav and GPS tracking for scheduling, route optimisation, exception reporting, live vehicle location, and activity reporting. Key data is automatically fed back to the transport and customer service teams.

In terms of vehicle and fleet management, a vehicle checklist management function sends live updates automatically to the issues board and workshop module, so vehicles can be scheduled for repairs, maintenance, or servicing immediately.

Perhaps most importantly for waste and recycling operators is the integration with weighing systems, creating a fully-integrated weighing and business management solution that allows operators to integrate seamlessly with their bin-weighing and RFID systems to manage collections and establish pay-by-weight services and billing.

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January 2019 LAPV 55

software

Purgo has allowed Cartwrights Waste Disposal to build up a detailed file for each customer and offer a more robust service.

Jonathan Gaskell, managing director of Gaskells Waste Services, the largest commercial recycling facility in Liverpool, has been using Purgo since December 2016. Gaskells was looking for a system that would do everything and integrate smoothly into its operations.

‘We pride ourselves on providing our customers with exact information on how much waste is being recycled, and where it is going, to provide full traceability. We are now able to charge precisely for what we collect, no more or less, plus we can schedule collection rounds more effectively. We keep detailed records for each customer, which they can use for compliance with environmental management standards or to improve the efficiency of their own operations.’

For Steve Dixon, project and systems manager for URM (UK), it was the flexibility of the Purgo system that made it an attractive option. URM is a major purchaser and recycler of glass waste and adopted Purgo in 2016. ‘Two things stood out,’ says Steve. ‘Firstly, flexibility – VWS was happy to develop the system with us and for us, to meet our exact business needs. We were looking for a partner and that’s exactly what they offered. Secondly, the reporting structure is great. There are more than 40 reporting structures, which enables us to have complete transparency across the business.’

Andy Mirecki says that the consultative approach is key to the way VWS operates. The company has recently introduced a range of new features to Purgo, developed in response to customer requests.

The first is a customer relationship module that allows customers to track the pre-sales process, and to record and manage prospects and enquiries, create quotations and turn them into electronic contracts (thanks to an electronic signature facility).

‘The beauty of this CRM system is that, unlike other systems, it moves across into operations, eliminating the need to manually populate other systems or copy data across,' explains Andy. 'It is a

56 LAPV January 2019

web-based system, which means it can be accessed anywhere and at any time via any device. The sales force, field service engineers, senior management, accounts, and admin teams all have access to the same data and the ability to log activity.’

Purgo also has a web-portal, which can be personalised for each customer. ‘Using this portal, our customers can provide additional services and information to their customers. At the touch of a button they can download invoices, see transfer station notes, ask for copy tickets or invoices, run their own reports and place orders online.’

Another new facility is a card payments management application for ecommerce transactions. For example, when a skip or collection is ordered, payment can be taken immediately and, if required, the system will ensure that orders can’t be processed until payment is received. The system retains card information so that additional charges can be added later when the weight data is known.

‘We have created a comprehensive matrix of services that is both dynamic and smart,’ says Andy. ‘The system needs to be able to interact with our customers’ customers so not only can they order or book a service, and pay for it, but the system will also let them know if it is available and, if not, what other options are available. It has to add value to the customer service experience and ultimately to the business.’

Scott Smith, operations manager for Cartwrights Waste Disposal Services, believes that Purgo has done just that. ‘From a potential customer’s first enquiry, every communication, quote, activity and invoice is recorded so we build up a detailed file for each customer.

As a result, we are now able to offer a much more robust service.

We can provide our clients with detailed information and statistics, and advise them about how to reduce their costs, increase their reuse, or improve their recycling rates.’

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Blue light fleets

Can fire services go green?

What does a low emissions firefighting vehicle look like, and is it even possible? Ann-Marie Knegt travelled to Linz in Austria to Rosenbauer’s facilities to meet international sales director Wolfgang Voraberger and find out how the company is working towards a greener future.

R

osenbauer is one of the leading fire truck manufacturers in the world and the company is keen to retain its position as a thought leader and innovator in firefighting technology. This means that emissions reduction is a priority.

Reducing emissions is a hot topic in all areas of the automotive industry, and the fire sector is no exception. While emergency vehicles are usually exempt from low and ultra-low emissions zone requirements, fire services and fire service vehicle manufacturers are by no means immune from pressures to reduce emissions. The difference is that there are significant design and safety challenges facing manufacturers of fire appliances in the effort to go green.

This is something that Rosenbauer’s international sales director Wolfgang Voraberger knows very well. On the one hand he can see the growing requirement for lower emissions vehicles, and on the other the demand for even more stringent performance requirements. Sometimes these priorities conflict. A vehicle that needs to be able to reach any part of an airfield inside three minutes at any time cannot afford to spend 12 hours charging.

That does not mean those challenges can’t or shouldn’t be

There are some significant design and safety challenges facing fire truck manufacturers in the effort to go green.

58 LAPV January 2019

overcome, and Rosenbauer has already invested significant time and money into imagining what the future might look like. The company's latest development for the fire market, the Concept Fire Truck, gave a glimpse of that future when it was presented at the 150-year anniversary of Rosenbauer in autumn 2016. This electric concept truck is an urban firefighting vehicle designed to meet the growing requirement for lower emissions while maintaining and even enhancing the performance required of an operational vehicle.

A global trend for vehicle downsizing among fire services partly informed the CFT's development. ‘In Europe, we are seeing an increased trend for emissions reduction or zero emissions. Fire services are also reducing vehicle weights from 18 tonnes to around 12 to 15 tonnes. This development is mostly driven by reduced budgets, and fewer volunteers and retained operational staff,’ Wolfgang explains.

He cites Norway as an example of a country in which not just the municipal fire services want to become emissions neutral. Oslo Airport is aiming to become a zero-emissions hub by 2025 when its new runway opens, and this is a development that Rosenbauer is seeing all over the world. ‘Airports are looking at ways of going green, and not just with smaller vehicles. They also want to reduce emissions from larger air service equipment such as snowploughs, runway-sweeping machines, and all types of handling vehicles. So, of course, the fire trucks need to become more sustainable.’

For fire services, however, going electric is not as easy as it sounds. ‘Our solution, at the moment, is to develop electric vehicles with a range extender in case the fire services are faced with an incident that takes longer to resolve. This means that a diesel or petrol engine kicks in when the battery charge drops to a certain level. It is still an electric truck, because an electrical motor drives the transmission, but the charging is carried out by a petrol or diesel engine. This is the key difference between a hybrid truck and a range extender.’

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Blue light fleets

allison transmissions for lfb

The delivery of 126 Mercedes-Benz Atego trucks with fully-automatic Allison transmissions to London Fire Brigade is nearing completion after two years. The service has already ordered 62 additional vehicles.

The vehicles have all been converted to dual-purpose ladder fire engines with Magirus crew cabs. They join a fleet of more than 450 fire engines, command and support vehicles managed and maintained by Babcock International Group.

London Fire Brigade specified Allison 3000 Series fully-automatic transmission instead of the standard automated transmission because of its performance advantage over a dry clutch. Using Allison’s Continuous Power Technology, engine torque is nearly doubled at launch, and gear changes occur without power interruption, ensuring maximum efficiency between engine and transmission.

The new fire engines have a laden weight of approximately 11,500kg and the 7.7-litre engine produces a maximum torque of 1100Nm and 272hp (200 kW).

The 3000 Series is suitable for engine output up to 1695 Nm and 450 hp (336 kW). It is engineered to adapt and operate efficiently in a variety of applications, with the choice of close- or wide-ratio gearing, two engine-driven power take-off provisions, and fifth-generation advanced electronic controls. There is also an optional integral output retarder for better braking and reduced brake wear.

‘The Allison transmission was specified partly because of its responsiveness and controllability, and partly because it has proven itself to be such a reliable solution for LFB’s operations,’ said Neil Corcoran, Babcock International’s engineering and technical manager for the LFB fleet. ‘We have seen for ourselves that the Allison has minimal maintenance requirements, particularly with regard to the integral hydraulic retarder and the power take-off drive. And, of course, the dependability of equipment is essential in emergency services.’

Rosenbauer's Concept Fire Truck provides a glimpse into what the company envisages the future of fire service fleets will look like.

60 LAPV January 2019

According to this principle, the auxiliary engine, or range extender, charges via a generator. The vehicle still runs on batteries, but the difference in the technology Rosenbauer is developing is that the pump can be switched from electric mode to diesel- or petrol-driven.

As Wolfgang explains, this is necessary because of the performance requirements during an emergency. 'If you take the Panther, for example, the truck has to be at any point on an airfield within three minutes. Then one person has to deliver the extinguishing media to the fire within two minutes. We are already talking about a five-minute window, and then the truck needs to be in operation for at least 20 minutes at full power. In my opinion, this is not possible for a purely battery-operated vehicle. And then there is the price issue.’

While price is a consideration for fire services, the pressure on European fire services in urban areas to reduce emissions is only going to increase. From ultra-low emissions zones in city centres to outright bans on diesel engines below Euro VI, the pressure is mounting on manufacturers to come up with new ideas for sustainable vehicle design.

Rosenbauer is taking a long-term view, developing its own concepts while watching closely what others in the market are doing.

As Wolfgang points out, there is a major design challenge to creating a truly viable electric firefighting vehicle, and Rosenbauer needs to develop solutions that work with what commercial chassis manufacturers are designing. He does not believe that there is currently an electric solution out there that meets the needs of the firefighting market. The issue is the size and placement of batteries in the chassis, which is where the firefighting equipment and crew needs to go. ‘Unless a design is developed that places the batteries in the centre of the chassis it will be difficult to make a commercial chassis compatible with firefighting operations.’

Wolfgang adds that the nature of firefighting operations also poses a risk for alternative propulsion systems, including electric, hydrogen, and CNG. ‘We have seen electric cars on fire and they are difficult to extinguish. Another challenge is the charging time. It is not practical to have a fire truck that takes 12 hours to charge. Both infrastructure and safety need to be considered, therefore the whole environment around fire fleet needs to change.’

Concept Fire Truck Rosenbauer’s first prototype of what the future could look like for firefighting vehicles was launched in the autumn of 2016. The Concept Fire Truck has been specially designed with key customers in large European cities in mind, such as Amsterdam, Oslo, Berlin, Vienna, and London, where old city centres provide limited room to manoeuvre.

The CFT has been equipped with front- and rear-steering options, which makes it possible to move easily in congested city centres and

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Blue light fleets

raising awareness of the dangers of EVS and Hybrids As sales of electric and hybrid vehicles reach record levels in the UK, Gary Tucker from the Network Training Partnership highlights the potential risks posed by these types of vehicle and the need to upskill highways and emergency response workers to safely manage these risks on the roadside.

The British Government has committed to a ban of sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040 to reduce the rising levels of NOx. Sales of electric vehicles are already at a record high and now account for one in every twelve new cars purchased in the UK. According to recent figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, hybrid and pure electric cars made up 8% of the overall market in September 2018, which represents an increase of 23% on the same period in 2017.

So, what does this mean for fire brigades, recovery services, and emergency responders as they come into contact with this type of vehicle more frequently? In short, anyone who works with hybrid and electric vehicles should have a basic level of understanding of the dangers and impact they can have. Employers should note that under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), a duty of care exists to ensure that all employees are suitably trained, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Having identified a skills gap in this area, Highways England traffic officers have recently undertaken a one-day EV and Hybrid Aware course as part of their Carriageway Clearance Foundation Patrols course. The roadside recovery industry – lead by Copart – has undergone the same training, as it is critical that employees have standardised and accredited training so that they are fully aware of the dangers in order to mitigate risk and ensure compliance.

However, despite the advances in awareness training it is still not clear who has the responsibility by the roadside in a post-collision situation. As a result, there can be confusion among recovery and rescue services over who should make the vehicle safe in order that it can be worked upon or transported. Ultimately, if the integrity of the vehicle battery has been compromised, a qualified technician must remove the service plug before the vehicle can be worked upon.

In order to minimise the risk, knowledge of the correct procedures and understanding of how hybrid and EV technology works will build confidence and increase efficiency among emergency responders and recovery personnel. It is therefore important that anyone who comes into contact with these vehicles should be able, at a minimum, to identify and recall the high-voltage components on the vehicle and the dangers they present; evaluate the positives and negatives associated with hybrid and EVs; and identify the procedures required to ensure the vehicle is safe to work on before commencing recovery.

They should also be able to explain the purposes of disconnecting the 12v negative terminal and the importance of the removal of the separation/ maintenance plug (this is not to be attempted unless qualified); recognise and identify the dangers leading to a thermal runaway effect; explain the term ‘stranded energy’; list the health and safety and PPE requirements; recall and demonstrate the immediate action and first aid required in the event of electric shock; and recall the definition of a hybrid vehicle and list as many makes and models of hybrid and EV as possible.

In addition, they should have knowledge of the storage requirements with regards to damaged hybrid and EVs and should also be able to conduct 360 auto checks.

Currently, training varies considerably across the emergency services and it is clear that a standard policy must be put in place in order to improve safety while working on these vehicles. EV and hybrid vehicles are growing in popularity and they should not be feared, despite the risks. By undertaking training and increasing knowledge, all dangers can be mitigated to ensure the safety of the emergency services and the general public.

62 LAPV January 2019

on narrow alleyways and roads.

The vehicle has the capability to be fully electric. ‘The CFT is very powerful and the drive is fast and smooth,’ says Wolfgang. ‘We designed a new cabin concept with more low-level storage, taking advantage of the fact that there are no fuel tanks or exhaust boxes, and the cabin layout is designed to optimise communication.’

Incident-site navigation is possible thanks to the 360-degree in-cabin display, which has full connectivity and offers video streaming and radio and the ability to call up fire plans.

The design of the CFT has also taken into account growing concerns about chemical contamination. In this new set up, BA sets are no longer stored in the cabin. Instead, they are stored in lockers to prevent contamination of the crew cabin after an incident.

The proliferation of recent research into the impact of firefighting operations on the health and safety of firefighters is changing the way fires are fought and manufacturers are developing equipment that aims to prevent exposure to harmful substances. For example, attacks with hand lines are decreasing and new equipment types such as HRETs (high-reach extendable turrets) are becoming more popular all over the world.

‘What we used to do with hand lines can now be done by remote control, and this also means that it is now possible to send a vehicle to an incident and operate it from a safe distance,’ says Wolfgang.

‘We are seeing more and more customers requesting this feature for their vehicles. After all, what is the cost of a truck compared to a human life?'

Rosenbauer does currently have clients that are taking the next step when it comes to progressive vehicle design. Copenhagen Fire Service is implementing a smaller type of vehicle that offers the capability for a larger range of scenarios, including ultra-high-pressure water mist technology, CAFS, and cutting and piercing capability. The service is looking at vehicles around the 15-tonne mark, because it has found that two smaller vehicles in a tight city centre are better than one large one.

The first two trucks for Copenhagen Fire Service are in production and will be delivered by the end of this year, while the rest of the fleet will be delivered over the course of 2019.

As Wolfgang concludes, there are still many challenges before an efficient zero-emission fire appliance can be brought to market.

Geographical and cultural differences between fire services are huge, and infrastructure needs to be put in place to support the introduction of these types of trucks. Nonetheless, the future is coming.

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