Motor Transport 7 August 2023

Bosch anticipates hydrogen growth

Bosch has placed a €2.5bn (£2.14bn) bet on green hydrogen playing a major role in decarbonisation.

The company has kicked off production of a fuel cell power module at its Stuttgart plant. US manufacturer Nikola Corporation is serving as its pilot customer with its Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck, scheduled to enter the US market later this year.

Bosch is also aiming to launch a hydrogen engine for long-haul HGVs next year, with the company revealing it already has four orders for production projects and expects six-figure unit volumes by 2030.

Bosch aims to generate hydrogen technology sales of around €5bn by 2030, by which time it predicts that one in five new trucks weighing 6 tonnes or more will feature a fuel cell powertrain.

WIDE APPEAL: Global logistics specialist Super Group has acquired 78.82% of UK logistics group AMCO, as part of wider diversification plans aimed at broadening its income base and mitigating geographical risk. AMCO, which was launched in 1983, specialises in providing land, air and sea logistics to more than 250 UK and European customers. In the UK, AMCO has depots in Redditch, Coleshill, Coventry, Banbury, Foston near Derby, Liverpool and Manchester. It has operating licences for 72 trucks and 77 trailers. Super Group has supply chain, fleet and dealership operations across Sub-Saharan Africa, the UK, Europe and Australasia. The deal sees the existing AMCO management team retain the remaining 21.18% of the company. In its most recent financial results to 30 September 2022, AMCO reported turnover of £54.5m and a pre-tax profit of £5.5m.

Heavy-duty options emerge from defunct European joint venture with US manufacturer Nikola

Iveco plans own EV move

By Carol Millett

Iveco will produce and market its heavy-duty battery electric and heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks under its own brand, following the end of its joint venture with US manufacturer Nikola Motors, the company has revealed.

First off the blocks are the Iveco Heavy Duty BEV – which under the now defunct joint venture was to be marketed as the Nikola Tre BEV in Europe – and the Iveco Heavy Duty FCEV (pictured). Both are being produced in the manufacturing facility at Iveco Group’s multi-brand site in Ulm, Germany.

The move follows Iveco Group’s acquisition in June this year of Nikola’s share of the electric truck joint venture company, known as Nikola Iveco Europe, which the two manufacturers set up in 2019. The company has also been rebranded EVCO (Electric Vehicles Company).

The purchase cost Iveco $35m (£27.5m) and effectively bought out Nikola from the European markets. Nikola said at the time that it will focus on its US activities.

As part of the acquisition, Iveco received a license to further develop the vehicle control software for the jointly developed battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV)

HGVs. In turn, Nikola received a permit for the S-Way technology in North America and related components.

The Iveco HD BEV and the Iveco HD FCEV both feature an electric axle that is co-designed and produced by powertrain specialist FPT Industrial, part of the Iveco Group. Batteries are supplied by Proterra, and the fuel

cell technology and key components by Bosch.

The vehicles are based on the Iveco S-Way platform, which has been redesigned to support the fuel cell and battery technology.

Photo: Johnny Jaffe

Plymouth-based KPT (SW) hit for illegally dumping tonnes of soil

Haulier pays price of waste tip error

By Chris Tindall

A Plymouth haulier has had to pay fines and costs of almost £21,000 after failing to check what the limits were for tipping controlled waste.

KPT (SW), which operates out of a base in Plympton, was ordered to pay a fine of £6,667 after it pleaded guilty at Plymouth magistrates’ court to depositing controlled waste.

The haulier was also ordered to pay £3,180 in costs and a further £11,109 for the economic benefit gained when it transported the waste to land belonging to Philip Skelley.

KPT had claimed that it thought the limits of soil deposits were higher, but investigators told the court the figures were clearly set out.

Skelley held a certificate allowing for up to 1,000 tonnes

of soil and stones to be deposited on his land, but the Environment Agency (EA) found more than 14,500 tonnes had been dumped, the majority by KPT, between January 2019 and October 2020.

Haulage director Jacqueline Kingwell said it was aware of its duty of care over the difference between permitted and nonpermitted waste and it wrongly thought it could tip 10,000 tonnes under two exemptions.

Skelley was fined £1,340 and ordered to pay £94,000 for the economic benefit he gained, plus costs totalling £6,380.

Pre-pack sale of Covid-hit SCS Logistics saves 28 jobs

A Lancashire haulage firm employing 28 staff has managed to avoid making them all redundant by achieving a pre-pack sale after it was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

SCS Logistics, which traded out of Heysham and had a licence authorising 37 HGVs, was incorporated in 2011. But according to administrators at Quantuma, the restrictions implemented as a result of Covid-19 and cost increases pushed the business to the wall.

An initial plan to sell the business stalled when The Pallet Network (TPN), of which it was a member, said it was not willing to deal with a

buyer it was not familiar with. The contract SCS held with TPN formed 70% of its trading.

“The relationship between TPN and the company is with [directors] Sandra Cottam-Shea and Sarah Metcalfe, therefore it is likely that without the continuation of the current management, there is no real prospect of selling the TPN agreement to a third-party purchaser,” the administrators said.

Eventually, S&S Logistics, supported by transport firm Graylaw International, bought SCS Logistics for £165,000. Metcalfe is also a director at S&S Logistics.

Scania order shows there’s power in a union

A group of UK-based hauliers has agreed a bulk order with Scania UK for 2,500 trucks, which will be delivered over the next 12 months. The order will be split across the Consortium Purchasing group, which includes Culina Group, WS Group and AW Jenkinson Group and its subsidiaries.

The deal includes 2,250 internal combustion engine trucks, with a majority powered by the latestgeneration 13-litre Super drivetrain, while 150 trucks will be destined for Consortium’s German and Dutch operations. The final 100 vehicles will be among the first Scania battery-electric regionalhaul 4x2 tractor units to be used on UK roads.

Each vehicle will be supported by three years of full repair and maintenance contracts, with some trucks being financed through Scania Financial Services.

This order is one of the largest European and battery-electric vehicle fulfilments to be completed over one calendar year by Scania and the vehicles will be delivered to the Consortium Purchasing group in batches of 500 vehicles per quarter.

Owner’s financial woe prompts Yodel sale talk

Yodel could be up for sale after its owners, the Barclay family, appointed Clearwater International to oversee talks with potential bidders following a number of expressions of interest.

Yodel confirmed the company has received a number of ‘unsolicited approaches’, which are being reviewed by corporate finance advisory service Clearwater International, but added the process could take some time.

The Barclay family, run by billionaire brothers David and Frederick, is currently suffering financial problems.

Recently Lloyds Banking Group – which is owed around £1bn by the family – seized control of its Telegraph Media Group newspapers and

The Spectator magazine by forcing them into receivership.

Yodel is part of Logistics Group Holdings (LGH), which is also the holding company for ArrowXL, a delivery and installation service. A Yodel spokesman told MT that Arrow XL is not a target of the approaches.

In its latest annual results to 30 June 2021, LGH reported a significant rebound in its fortunes, thanks largely to the boost the pandemic lockdowns gave to the home delivery sector. The group reported a pre-tax profit of £17.6m, up from a loss of £41.8m in the previous year. Yodel’s EBITDA also rose in the period to £65.7m (2020: £9.5m), while ArrowXL saw its EBITDA rise to £13.3m (2020: £8.7m).

Giant

Photo: Shutterstock

Photo: Shutterstock

Unite threatens legal action after Bimson Haulage wins contract and refuses to take on drivers

Wincanton staff in TUPE limbo

By Chris Tindall

Wincanton staff on a haulage contract for brick maker Ibstock have found themselves without jobs after national haulage firm Bimson won the work and refused to accept that TUPE rules applied.

The Unite union has now threatened to launch a legal claim against the companies after the former Wincanton staff turned up to work for their new employer this month and were told to go home.

Wincanton said it had tried to do “everything in its power” to convince the specialist haulier of construction materials that its position was incorrect.

The plc advised the 21 HGV

Benton Bros suffers despite turnover rise

Lincolnshire’s Benton Bros (Transport) saw its losses deepen last year, despite turnover increasing by 8%.

In the year ending 31 January 2023 the haulier, which provides logistics and transport solutions to the construction and distribution sectors, reported a turnover of £12.8m – up from £11.8m the previous year.

However, it was unable to reverse the £190,000 pre-tax loss it made in the year ending January 2022, instead seeing it slide further to a £409,000 loss. The company said it was “pleased with the trading results even after the rise in fuel costs”.

Pall-Ex launches ‘parcel pallets’

Pall-Ex said the launch of its new ‘parcel pallet’ offered businesses a viable alternative to traditional parcel distribution and would help it expand into new markets.

The new pallet service measures 0.6m x 0.8m x 1m and offers a maximum weight of 150kg. Pall-Ex explained that it has a smaller footprint but almost double the height and exploited a gap in the market for an efficient and cost-effective way to send larger parcels, particularly those that lie in the grey area between parcel and pallet delivery.

It added that the 150kg weight capacity provided added flexibility when sending smaller but heavier items, such as automotive equipment, and would reduce the risk of damage compared to traditional parcel delivery methods, such as in cages.

drivers and support staff to report for duty when the contract transferred on 3 July. However, when the staff turned up for work on that date, they found their offices locked and in darkness.

Shortly before this date, Bimson wrote to the Wincanton staff telling them TUPE did not apply.

One former Wincanton employee, Oliver Porter, said they were now in limbo and fighting for financial survival.

Bimson Haulage said it recognised “how stressful and unsettling” the situation was for the workers. “However, we have always maintained since the start of this year that we do not believe that TUPE is applicable,” it added.

Ex-offenders get second chance

Logistics firms are participating in a recruitment drive in 30 prisons across England and Wales, which aims to hire ex-offenders to help plug the industry’s skills gap.

The event, dubbed Unlocking Retail and Logistics, involves companies including DHL, The Co-operative, Iceland, Oliver Bonas and Greggs. The campaign is part of a wider drive by the government to get more prison leavers into work as evidence shows it grows the economy and cuts crime.

Research shows ex-offenders in full-time employment are less likely to reoffend, while more than 90% of businesses who employ prison leavers say they are motivated, have good attendance and are trustworthy.

InPost eyes takeover after grabbing 30% stake in Menzies

Polish parcel delivery firm and locker provider InPost has acquired a 30% stake in Menzies Distribution Group, with the option to take full ownership at a later stage in a deal worth just under £50m.

The transaction sees InPost given the option to acquire the remaining stake over the next three years. InPost will also have two nonexecutive seats on the board of Menzies.

The deal follows an agreement between the two companies earlier this year that saw

Menzies become InPost’s UK logistics provider.

Menzies has a national network of more than 100 depots and delivers to more than 47,000 locations every day. It has 5,000 staff and a fleet of more than 3,200 vehicles.

Michael Rouse, InPost International chief executive, said: “Menzies has one of the largest time-critical delivery networks in the UK and we are excited by how the collaboration will enable us to accelerate our growth and the service we can offer customers.”

Photo: Shutterstock

New road access rules put safety at risk, warns trainer

Years of hard work in improving road safety risks being undone after the government announced it was allowing longer semi-trailers (LSTs) on the roads and also proposed to allow motorists access to 7.5-tonne lorries, a training firm has claimed.

Seb Goldin, chief executive at RED Corporate Driver Training, said: “These vehicles require extensive training to operate in a safe manner. Removing them creates a huge gulf in knowledge, which is quite scary when you think an

RHA gets green light to pursue truck cartel for compensation

18-year-old who has just passed their driving test could be handed the keys to a 7.5-tonne lorry.”

And on the introduction of LSTs, Goldin said: “You need to complete a special test currently to show manoeuvring competency, so will a retrospective test be applied to these longer trailers?

“Is there a mandatory multiple blind spot camera requirement? Because expecting a driver to navigate and cover all blind spots on this length of trailer is asking a lot of a normal human.” n A decision on whether to allow longer heavier vehicles (LHVs) up to 60 tonnes on the roads could be made in the autumn, according to Hazcomp boss Kevin Buck. He said he recently met with transport minister Richard Holden MP, who was “confident” that the results of a consultation into the use of LHVs, which could be as long as 25.25m, will become available within a few months.

Thousands of HGV operators represented by the RHA have moved one step closer to winning compensation from a cartel of truck manufacturers after the Court of Appeal rejected a legal challenge brought by DAF and MAN.

The case looked at the Competition Appeal Tribunal decision last year to grant the RHA the first ever opt-in collective proceedings order to pursue the claim on behalf of more than 17,000 truck operators.

DAF and MAN, along with UKTC, who are rival applicants, appealed against the tribunal decision on the grounds that there was an irreconcilable conflict within the group of claimants, between those who purchased new vehicles and those who purchased used vehicles. They argued that this conflict between the two groups of purchasers meant that the RHA should not be authorised to bring the claim.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals, giving the RHA the green light to continue with its collective claim. However, it disagreed with the Competitions Tribunal on the point at which the conflict between new and used truck purchasers needs to be addressed. While the Tribunal was content not to have this dispute addressed until later in the proceedings, the Court of Appeal determined that the conflict needs to be dealt with now and before the collective proceedings order (CPO) is made.

Photo: Shutterstock

Push to decarbonise HGVs is unworkable, insists former MAN boss

‘Time to ditch this net zero fantasy’

Former MAN Truck and Bus chief executive Des Evans (pictured) has launched a scathing attack on the government’s plans to phase out diesel HGVs from 2035, insisting operators will simply refresh their existing fleets as close as possible to that date and then run them for at least another 10 years.

He told MT the global decarbonisation agenda “goes above the heads” of most operators and is “the automotive equivalent of veganism”, forcing truck makers to produce zero-emission vehicles at prohibitive prices despite little market appetite.

“The majority of those operating 18-tonne trucks and above will not go electric for a generation, and will still have diesel vehicles for the next 10-25 years,” he said. “There will be a massive rush to buy diesel vehicles just before the deadline.

“The biggest issue facing HGV fleet operators is whether decarbonisation is reality or fantasy,” he added. “About 65% of all trucks on the road are 18 tonnes and above. Operators won’t bother with electric. It’s going to cost them big time, and why do it when you’re already under pressure? The

economics just don’t stack up – it’s unworkable.”

Evans said most operators struggle to monitor the fuel consumption of their fleets, which is about 40-45% of their overall costs: “If they could control it by half a mile per gallon, they would double their bottom-line profitability,” he claimed. “So when you talk to them about decarbonisation, they wouldn’t have a clue what we were talking about.”

Evans went on to argue that the widespread “demonisation of diesel” amid the drive to decarbonise was inaccurate and misleading.

“We should stop listening to Swedish truants like [environmental activist] Greta Thunberg. It

amuses the hell out of me that so-called leaders of the world – the UN – parade a 20-year-old Swedish truant as if she’s got the answers. It’s just pathetic.

“The whole thing is clouded in really poor information about the performance of the current advanced diesel engines, and the truck manufacturers are being forced into this,” he continued. “It would take 100 44-tonne tractor units running on Euro-6 diesel engines to emit the same emissions as one Euro-4 vehicle from 15 years ago.

“You can reclassify them as air fresheners because the air coming out is cleaner than when it went in.”

Evans added that the biggest drawbacks facing operators

remain cost, range, weight and infrastructure.

“The average price of a 44-tonne tractor unit is £120,000,” he said. “An electric replacement would be £360,000. It’s also two tonnes heavier and won’t have more than a 400-mile range.

“Last year about 37 billion tonnes of CO2 was emitted globally. About 23% of it comes from transport, but 80% of it comes from four countries – India, China, Russia and the USA.

“The UK emitted 360 million tonnes last year. That’s 1%. If we went net zero tomorrow it wouldn’t make one bit of difference to what’s happening on the planet. People have to get more realistic.”

RIGHT TO REPLY Neil Wallis, head of communications at Zemo Partnership, responds…

is no tomorrow with diesel’

We are disappointed that MT would publish such negative views on climate action at the same time as unprecedented heatwaves and devastating fires in Europe (and elsewhere), and as leading scientists as well as over 100 business leaders implored the UK government to accelerate action on climate.

Setting aside the unworthy swipes at vegans and the leading climate advocate Greta Thunberg, the article focuses on the challenges and costs of making the transition according to the timetable the government has set. The article also confuses arguments about toxic pollutant emissions and greenhouse gases, whilst suggesting countries other

than the UK should tackle greenhouse gas emissions.

Yes, the commercial vehicle market is lagging progress under way in the decarbonisation of lighter vehicles and buses. But battery electric cars only began to make real headway around 2019 and now represent 17% of the new market. Electric vans have been a realistic option for less than three years but now comprise 6% of sales.

Electric HGVs can already be cost effective in some circumstances and we expect this will apply to a rapidly growing proportion of the fleet in the years to come. Well before 2035 lighter electric trucks are likely to be the default (cheapest overall

cost) option for the majority of operators looking to replace vehicles. In addition, the demands of consumers and customers of hauliers are already putting decarbonisation at the centre of procurement, so anyone foolish enough to only consider long-term diesel operations could well find themselves out of business. For larger trucks, of course, the zero tailpipe emission regulations don’t come into force until 2040.

All the signs are that commercial vehicle operators will be able to make a cost-effective switch to zero emission vehicles by the planned deadlines, but we can’t afford to delay or listen to those who dissemble, or seek to delay the transition for whatever reason.

‘There

Photo: Shutterstock

With media stoking the fires of climate deniers and net zero naysayers it would be easy to be taken in by the calls to delay action on decarbonisation and emissions reduction.

Even within the pages of MT, a former captain of the HGV industry has recently been railing against electric trucks – and in the process insulting operators, his own erstwhile customers.

Let’s hope the current management of the OEM concerned holds a different view, as its website now carries phrases like “eMobility is in our genes” and “with a clear strategy to drive technology transition towards the battery electric vehicle”.

Against this backdrop, it should come as no surprise if operators are confused and looking around for independent information and support they can trust.

In it for the long haul Road freight’s race to net zero is definitely a marathon not a sprint. To stretch that analogy further, I might suggest the race is actually a three-legged relay rather than an individual event.

Let me explain...

Taking the first step on your road to net zero needs collaboration and partnership, it needs you tied together with people who can help. A fleet review with the Energy Saving Trust could be a good start, supported by advice on quick wins to reduce fuel consumption from the Freight Portal (thefreightportal.org). During this first leg, you need to develop a clear plan for the rest of

the race, positioning your changeovers to achieve the fastest time.

The first changeover may well be to a renewable fuel, supported by Zemo’s Renewable Fuels Guide and working closely with the fuel provider and OEM ensuring warranted vehicles. This second leg of our relay significantly accelerates your pace of decarbonisation, with 80% or more greenhouse gas reductions possible.

Getting closer with every step is the next changeover, where a series of zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles with low-carbon energy and the infrastructure to ‘fuel’ them await you. These resources will rejuvenate your pace once again as you approach the net zero finish line.

And, just as with athletics, covering the distance as a relay is faster than doing it alone – perhaps 16% faster if current 400m sprint world records are the benchmark.

Focus on decarbonisation

More and more we hear from both end customers and from shippers and corporates that they want and need to reduce their carbon footprint. Transport is invariably a primary target for this and is often one of the easiest to quantify from simple fuel consumption data.

Decarbonisation will remain in the spotlight of the corporate social responsibility agenda and, despite any doubts about policymakers’

resolve in the short term, individual consumers and companies will not back off from their focus because they understand the critical importance of tackling climate change.

At the start of your journey, you’re unlikely to be able to see the finish line or perhaps even feel confident you will ever reach it –just like in a marathon – but my advice is to remain focused on the objective and not get too distracted by all the background noise.

With the right equipment, fuel, support and – critically – resolve, we’ll all make it to the finish line and get the net zero medal!

n Andy Eastlake, CEO, Zemo Partnership

Coping with climate change

Steve Hobson Editor Motor Transport

Despite the UK transport industry’s best efforts to decarbonise, the Met Office is pretty gloomy about the effects we are already seeing from climate change. It now looks very unlikely that the rise in global temperatures will be kept below 2°C and that means we need to focus on mitigating the effects of climate change, as well as doing our best to prevent it.

Warming of the land, seas and air will lead to hotter, drier summers, more droughts, rising sea levels, possibly more violent storms and more flooding, especially in low-lying coastal areas like East Anglia.

Last year we saw record temperatures of over 40°C, which may become the norm rather than the exception in the next three decades. This will mean offices and warehouses will need more aircon to make them usable in summer. Sleeper cabs may become uninhabitable without cooling independent of the engine as night time temperatures also increase.

Not only roads will be affected. When the UK’s rail tracks get hotter than 46°C –roughly equivalent to air temperatures of around 30°C – they can start to buckle, so operators planning to shift containers to rail as part of their decarbonisation strategy may need a road-based back-up plan. Assuming the road surface isn’t also melting in the heat.

And switching to electric trucks only makes sense if the electricity is produced from renewable sources. Ironically, stronger winds could reduce the electricity produced by wind turbines as they are designed to operate only in wind speeds below around 55mph – storm force 10 in old money. Although the Met Office says there is little conclusive evidence that climate change is causing more storms, it is logical to predict that more energy in the atmosphere might increase the frequency and severity of storms around our coasts.

The road to net zero isn’t easy!

Neglect ESG strategy at your peril

ESG [environmental, social and governance] is a term we’ve all become familiar with in recent years –although when it comes to implementation, some businesses are further down the line than others. For many, it is yet to make it onto the agenda at all.

volumes of customer returns, or to minimise energy consumption during warehousing, as well as lowering material usage during fulfilment. Should their partners fail to deliver on these elements, a retailer’s own ESG strategy – and its performance – will also be impacted.

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Recent figures from financial analyst Morningstar were optimistic, with statistics showing that 90% of companies either have a strategy in place to manage ESG, or are in the process of developing it. Those 10% lagging behind their competitors risk not only losing ground, and being outshined and outperformed, but could see permanent damage to their brand and reputation, as well as a negative bottomline impact.

Developing, implementing and measuring an ESG strategy is undoubtedly a tricky task for logistics operators, yet businesses are understandably keen to make sure they’re keeping pace with their peers and meeting stakeholder expectations. This is because a logistics operator’s role extends way beyond its own back yard, impacting not just its own business, but also the operations of its customers.

For example, retailers are increasingly keen for logistics partners to reduce carbon emissions during the transportation of goods. They may also expect partners to help prevent harm throughout their global supply chains, guarding against risks like modern slavery, exploitation, or damage to natural resources. Additionally, retailers will turn to logistics partners to solve issues of product waste associated with growing

Logistics operators play a major role in supporting thousands of businesses to meet and exceed their ESG objectives and, as the focus on ESG continues to grow, so too will the part it plays within the procurement process. Operators that neglect ESG risk ruling themselves out as viable partners who can support constantly evolving retail goals built around purpose and positively contributing to the communities and places that consumers care about.

While ESG is a complicated beast to tackle, it presents a real opportunity for logistics operators to set themselves apart. Forward-thinking companies can show clients that they understand their priorities, both short and long-term.

Whether helping to develop more efficient supply chain processes, utilising bespoke technology to prevent items ending up in landfill, or creating a reliable flow of data that enhances supply chain visibility and traceability, operators can ensure that a supply chain becomes the backbone of progressive and accountable ESG practices.

Got something to say?

If you would like to contribute to MT’s Viewpoint, email steve.hobson@roadtransport.com

Published by DVV Media International Ltd © 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

ISSN 0027-206 X

The training game

necessitate two entirely parallel qualifications, one for UK-based drivers and another for those who cross borders into Ireland or continental Europe.

Robin Brown, chairman of SP Training, says a GB version of the DCPC is pointless, involving extra cost, duplicate systems and confusion: “The recommended EU DCPC syllabus fully covers UK operations. DVSA would need to create and manage a new register of courses, trainers, licensing protocols … It’s a non-starter for me.”

Mark Taylor, head of training at the RHA, also warns there would be a lack of training provision for the international DCPC.

Training flexibility

Another option is to have a test of the driver’s competence and knowledge every five years. However, commentators say this would negate the whole purpose of ‘continued development’ and do little for road safety.

Michelle Gardner, deputy director – policy at Logistics UK, welcomes the idea of training flexibility but is concerned that the options overlook road safety benefits. “The consultation disappointingly focuses on the financial cost element of each option … and the cost difference between periodic training and the periodic test proposals … rather than road safety for logistics businesses,” she says. The business group strongly disagrees with the proposal for a periodic test to remove all requirements for mandatory training.

The UK government is consulting on the future of the Driver CPC. A recent survey for MT’s Asset Alliance Report 2023 probably summed up the majority view of the logistics industry pretty well: “Unproductive … an unnecessary cost … does not achieve what it set out to do.”

To some, it’s a money-making racket without merit, and to those who value training, it’s failing to deliver on its promise of higher standards.

Two crucial questions arise from this: how, if at all, the Driver CPC should be reformed; and, perhaps more controversially, whether training drivers really does improve road safety.

There are many issues with the current DCPC:

 Drivers are often asked to train in their own time;

 Courses are attendance only and there is no requirement for testing;

 Most of it is classroom based;

 Formats are rigid, which limits media, discussion and interaction;

 Courses must be seven hours completed within a 24-hour period.

DCPC proposals

The government’s review has led to several proposals that formed the basis of the consultation. These include: the acknowledgement that some form of DCPC should be retained; that training requirements should be less rigid in timescale and curriculum and more focused on learning outcomes; and that delivery of training should be improved, including e-learning and other high-quality methods. The consultation has also presented options for faster renewal and possible extensions or exemptions.

Although much of the flexibility and focus on best practice delivery is popular with trainers and operators, it leaves the industry with a problem. Adapting the DCPC for the UK and/or Great Britain means moving away from the EU model. At some point that divergence may

DRIVER ENGAGEMENT: The DCPC has been useful for reiterating key information and maintaining regular face-to-face contact, believes Evan Morris of RED Driver Risk Management

Evan Morris, training and development manager at RED Driver Risk Management, says the DCPC has been useful for repeating key messages and ensuring regular in-person engagement with drivers.

Lynn Brown, vice president of human resources, UK and Ireland at XPO Logistics, agrees: “It should continue and be improved to retain face-to-face contact with drivers to promote engagement – a point we feel is particularly important and which supports the delivery of bespoke messages.”

Overall, given the political and practical issues with diverging from EU standards, the consensus seems to favour the status quo, while negotiating with European partners to increase the flexibility of the courses themselves.

The role of training

A broader question than the DCPC is the effectiveness of training itself. One key purpose is better road safety from improved driving standards – this can also

A CULTURE OF COLLUSION?

There is a question over whether, despite training and technology solutions, UK fleet culture tolerates speeding, even though it has been established as one of the ‘fatal five’ transgressions and there is a clear correlation between higher speed and the risk of serious or fatal injury. Operators seem to set their tolerances for speed based on the likelihood of police action or penalty (ie 3% above) and not actual compliance.

If training is not effective for high-risk drivers, then low-risk recruitment must become a priority. And yet, when MT surveyed operator-placed adverts for HGV drivers, half were prepared to take drivers with no more than six points, and one would accept nine except for IN, CD or DD codes (“for insurance reasons”). That could represent up to three recent infringements for which they were caught –presumably only a proportion of those committed.

The courts also allow high-risk drivers to continue despite accumulated points. There are currently 4,000 drivers with between 13 and 63 points on UK roads for whom disqualification would mean hardship – ironically usually because they have to drive for work.

With the DCPC under review, Louise Cole talks to leading figures from the industry about the effectiveness of driver training and how it could be improved

Photo: Jordan Butters

Driver CPC

bring environmental, financial and operational benefits. The government highlights the reduction in HGV-related collisions in the DCPC’s favour. HGV-involved fatalities have fallen from 292 in 2012 to 216 in 2021, a 26% reduction, although the 2021 figure is probably suppressed somewhat by the pandemic effect. In 2019 there were 250 fatal HGV collisions – still a 14% reduction.

MANDATORY POST-OFFENCE TRAINING – DOES IT WORK?

According to UK Road Offender Education, a record 1.76 million people attended a mandatory driver training course of some kind in 2022, mostly national speed awareness courses (NSAC).

An Ipsos Mori study showed that a NSAC is marginally more effective than penalties, albeit in a low-risk group; 96% of attendees had no active points on their licence. Reoffending rates are slightly lower among those who take the NSAC – but they still have a 21% reoffending rate. In other words, training is better than penalties, but it still doesn’t stop people speeding.

Culture, however, is a very strong determinant. UK driving licences are held by 18.5 million women and 21.9 million men, yet only one-fifth of motoring offences are committed by women. Women have 80,000 points on their licences compared with men’s 195,000. Men are responsible for 80% of drinkdriving offences, 96% of dangerous driving and 76% of speeding.

Research suggests the difference is not in biology but in culture. Women are not intrinsically more careful. Rather, workplaces do not tolerate female risk-taking, while they do tolerate male risk-taking – even when it goes wrong.

Many other safety initiatives have taken place over that period, including more safety kit, public awareness campaigns and greater driver monitoring with telematics and cameras.

Hence, the reduction in HGV-related deaths is fairly modest for a 10-year period, and it isn’t at all clear how much of it is due to more training.

Dave Conway, road safety manager at FM Conway, believes that training does very little to make risky drivers safer. “We have tried for decades to effect change in the health and safety world, but culture and behaviours cannot be truly changed, only influenced,” he argues. “You cannot create lasting change in an adult. The huge improvements in road casualty statistics up until 2010 were all technological solutions.”

Training may improve already compliant drivers, but it does little to suppress high-risk behaviour. “The ‘bad guys’ have to go,” says Conway. “Driver coaching doesn’t work [for high-risk drivers]. You must manage them out of the business. Training works in the short term, but as soon as someone is busy or stressed, they will forget and revert to risky habits.

“Dr Lisa Dorn [associate professor of driver behaviour at Cranfield University] has done a lot of work on the difficulty of changing the driving habits of mature people. At 30, 40, 50 years old, training does not work. We need to look for hard fixes, such as technology, not soft ones such as training.”

Logistics UK’s Gardner asserts that we must differentiate between driver performance – “the driver’s knowledge, skill, perceptual and cognitive abilities” – and what they choose to do with these, which she defines as “driver behaviour”.

“Training can certainly improve driver performance, but operators should pay close attention to

Photo: Shutterstock / nazarovsergey

Driver CPC

driver behaviour that could increase risk, using telematics and other assessments to maintain vigilance and promote better road safety,” she says.

Road safety consultant Graham Feest agrees. “Drivers make mistakes. However, if you look behind the statistics, what fuels those mistakes is lack of compliance. We do have a big compliance issue. Driver training is questionable as to its overall benefit in reducing crashes.”

So the DCPC and other training may give valuable marginal gains in low-risk drivers, and improve compliance on specific operational issues – but does it fundamentally change driver behaviour, which has the greatest impact on road safety?

On-road behaviour

RED’s Morris believes that high-risk driver training should be in-cab. One-on-one sessions teach most effectively, but also allow the trainer to identify the necessary motivators for behavioural change, whether they are environmental, safety, personal or financial.

“People are innately wired to behave in certain ways and this affects their decision making and behaviour on the road,” he says. “If we look at an issue like tailgating, drivers have often been reinforced in this behaviour for many years because they have never run into the back of anyone. However, they have had rear-end shunts which they blame on the driver behind them and do not link to their own harsh braking.”

So while operational skills and protocols can benefit from frequent refreshing – XPO highlights coupling

need to be managed out of the business. A carrot and stick approach is the way forward. Most people come to work wanting to do a good job, so it is worth building on that.

“If training and support interventions fail to improve the driver’s performance to an acceptable level, HR processes should remove the individual from driving on safety grounds.”

He emphasises the role of the company’s culture and the safety attitudes embedded in every layer of the operation and management. “Behaviour in a business emanates from the leadership and management of the business,” he says.

Given the amount of training and monitoring in fleets, it should be possible to demonstrate clear improvements in terms of basic compliance.

It is not possible to gauge the number of incidents prevented, but operators can look at proxy figures such as incidental damage and fuel usage. Yet operators who pay attention to driver training almost always list lowspeed manoeuvres as their most common and intractable issue – one that has little to do with skill and arguably a lot to do with driver focus, awareness and patience.

Government speeding data shows that more than 40% of HGVs routinely break the speed limit on urban roads, and their speed compliance is only improved on motorways where many of them are speed limited (in Conway’s terms a ‘hard’ not a ‘soft’ fix).

In this context, it is hard to see the positive effect of

Leader of the pack

Increasing pressure from regulators and customers to decarbonise deliveries in London has led to a number of zero-carbon final-mile startups. Steve Hobson spoke to Tristan Thomas, the CEO and co-founder of Packfleet

Packfleet was set up in 2021 by three former employees of online bank Monzo – Tristan Thomas, Hugo Cornejo and Josh Garnham – since when it’s grown to a team of over 100 and now delivers for more than 200 businesses across London from its hub in Bermondsey, south-east London.

It recently raised £8m seed funding from leading investors including Creandum – an early backer of Spotify – and General Catalyst, which helped fund Airbnb and got Deliveroo off the ground. With such illustrious partners it’s perhaps no surprise the firm has plans to add a second London depot and expand beyond the M25.

“Packfleet was founded by myself and two other ex-employees of Monzo,” says Thomas. “We spent five years there building an alternative to traditional banks and we are now trying to do the same in logistics.

“It began in lockdown. I started a wine subscription hobby project and through that got a view into the world of logistics for the first time. I felt that it was lacking and the customer-centricity was pretty poor – parcels were arriving broken or delivered to the wrong address over and over again.

“So we set out to see if we could improve on this with a combination of technology and hiring really good people.”

Live and direct Packfleet has developed its own routing and scheduling software that can predict delivery times within a minute. Customers can change their delivery address or the time the parcel arrives while the parcel is out for delivery, as routes are updated in real time.

And rather than rely on the gig economy, Packfleet’s drivers are directly employed and receive all the usual associated benefits, including parental leave and private health insurance. They are encouraged to engage with consumers rather than make their deliveries as quickly as possible.

“We own or lease all of the vehicles and employ all of our drivers directly,” says Thomas. “That enables us to build a business that is reliable and repeatable without having to rely on outsourcing.”

This has also helped Packfleet to recruit a younger and more diverse workforce than most logistics firms.

“We are a company that is attractive to work for compared with the alternatives,” says Thomas. “Electric vehicles are easier to drive for people with less experience and we have far more female drivers than the ➜

Driving down your fuel costs

Packfleet

national average. We also try to provide upward progress for our drivers into our office-based live operations.”

Another key objective for the company was to be zero emissions from the start.

“We have a fully electric fleet of over 50 vans doing deliveries inside the M25,” says Thomas. “We deliver food, wine, beer, clothes, cosmetics and just about anything people want for strong B2C brands.

“We have a mix of makes – half the fleet is Maxus, mainly the smaller eDeliver 3, and the rest is a mixture of e-Experts and eSprinters.”

Thomas admits that Maxus was something of a “stop gap”, as it was the only OEM to have good availability of 3.5-tonne electric vans when Packfleet bought its first batch of vehicles in October 2021.

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“What we have found with operating a large fleet is that there are huge benefits in going with manufacturers that have been doing this for a long time, from a reliability and performance perspective,” he says. “We are manufacturer agnostic and even now the challenge is how do we get enough electric vans on a short enough lead time? If we have a choice we will choose some of the more reliable brands but if not we will still go with Maxus.”

While Thomas would “never say never” when it comes to electric cargo bikes, he argues they only work well in “very specific circumstances” in dense conurbations such as the centre of London. “We want to cover the whole of the M25 so they just don’t make sense at the moment,” he says.

Packages are collected from customers’ shops or warehouses – some run by third-party storage companies – and sorted at Packfleet’s Bermondsey hub for next-day delivery.

“The location was chosen because we needed somewhere that had good industrial space available to rent that was relatively close to central London,” says Thomas. “When we started we only covered the inner boroughs of London. When you narrow it down there are relatively few options and we ended up under a railway arch.”

Powering up

Around half of Packfleet’s vans are charged at or near the existing depot, while the rest are charged at the drivers’ homes or using public charge points. The electricity connection at the existing depot proved adequate for its initial requirements but charging capacity will be an issue as the company looks to grow.

“We are about to move to a 20,000sq ft facility and that is one of the things we are looking at,” says Thomas. “We now charge around 10 vans here and rent space in a multi-storey car park to charge the rest. In our new space, which is close to here, we should be able to charge 40 or 50 vans once we have beefed up that connection.”

The company uses Pod Point chargers to recharge the vans overnight as they arrive back at the depot and get plugged in between 6pm and 10pm. “In the new place we will have 7kW slow chargers to charge most ➜ 22

CUSTOMER CARE: Engaging with consumers is a higher priority for Packfleet’s drivers than speedy deliveries

of the vans overnight and a couple of 90kW fast chargers to charge those vans on double shifts for an hour while they are loaded,” says Thomas. “We looked at load balancing but we need the vans out on the road as much as possible so we can’t be too clever with that.”

The typical delivery route is between 30 and 50 miles so even in winter, when the vans’ range can drop from the usual 100 or 120 miles to 80 miles with a 52.5kWh battery, that is more than enough.

“That is plenty for one route and sometimes we can do two routes with them,” says Thomas. “Range is important because it means we are not spending time charging in between shifts but larger batteries can affect payload. When we are going to collect from the merchants and we fill the vans to the brim that starts to become an issue.

“If someone could make a long-range van with massive payload that would be the one we would go for.”

Saving graces

The vans are charged with renewable electricity when at the depot and, despite recent energy price rises, Thomas says electricity is still much cheaper than diesel. Coupled with lower maintenance he believes this makes the electric van fleet cheaper to run than diesel.

This, together with the high drop-density in its London patch, helps offset some of the other higher costs in Packfleet’s operating model and enables it to be competitive on its delivery rates and win business from the leading national B2C carriers.

“We are not a premium delivery service,” says Thomas. “There are white glove deliveries that are two or three times the price. But we are not competing at the bottom of the market either. Our merchants are generally shipping goods worth over £30 but less than £250. That bracket is our sweet spot.”

Thomas is not worried about the recession widely forecast for 2023 – e-commerce is such a huge market that he does not believe it will affect Packfleet. “We are a relatively new player and the pie is massive still,” he says. “E-commerce deliveries could halve overnight and it would still be a huge market. We are talking to merchants about how we can keep costs down and make sure they are not losing their customers.”

On the horizon

The M25 encircles over 10 million people so that is a large market to go after, and Packfleet’s immediate future is to grow its business in and around the capital. But, as well as relocating to a larger depot and looking at a second London hub north of the Thames, expansion to other large cities is on the horizon.

THE GROWING CIRCULAR ECONOMY OF RETURNS

The rise and rise of online shopping during the pandemic brought with it a growing problem of how to handle returns. It is now standard practice for many shoppers to order a garment in three or four different sizes and colours and only keep one, so handling returns to get the most value from them as quickly as possible is a key part of Packfleet’s offer.

“We started Packfleet Circular six months ago and we have a few merchants using it,” says Thomas. “There is significant and growing interest in how to do it as it is a multi-faceted issue involving packaging, delivery and collection. It takes a lot of work as they often have to change their operational model but it will become bigger and bigger over time.”

Most retailers expect customers wanting to return items to take them to a Post Office or parcel shop, but Packfleet will collect from the delivery address.

Packfleet Circular offers more than just collecting returned items – it also includes reusable packaging that can be returned and reused, whether or not the product itself is being returned.

“It depends what the merchant wants to do,” says Thomas. “For one of our merchants doing ambient groceries we deliver in boxes and crates and then next time we deliver we collect the empties and return them to the merchant, which washes and reuses them. We are doing something similar for a brewery which uses reusable glass bottles.”

“Once we run out of space in our new south-east London location, rather than going to a bigger one we will open a north-west depot, probably around Wembley or somewhere like that,” says Thomas. “Later this year we are also looking to expand in other high-population areas. These could include Manchester and Birmingham, and the advantage there is that major retailers tend to have warehousing in that strip up the middle of the UK. Being based close to them will save us a lot of time in terms of trunking so we will get two benefits.”

Like many in the home delivery market Thomas has strong views on Amazon, which he says is neither a competitor nor a customer – at the moment.

“We want to offer independent retailers a delivery service that enables them to compete with Amazon,” he says. “I don’t want to live in a world where the only place you can buy things online is Amazon. Offering merchants big or small a fast, high-quality delivery that otherwise is only available from Amazon is really important.”

MIX AND MATCH:

Packfleet’s fully electric fleet of over 50 vans is made up of a variety of makes, with around half coming from Maxus

Packfleet has backing from three venture capital investors, but the founders won’t be cashing out to repay their backers. “The goal is to grow sustainably but quickly to build a large-scale business,” says Thomas. “That means building an independent business that competes with the big boys; selling is definitely not on the cards.” n

Road Transport Expo is back with a bang

Transport Expo

Road Transport Expo (RTX) 2023 was welcomed back by the industry last month at NAEC Stoneleigh.

With its ‘all about the truck’ focus in evidence across the large venue, operators from all sectors were able to explore the vehicles, equipment and services they need for their fleets.

More than 200 exhibitors supported RTX in its second year, including all the major truck makers, while a three-day Knowledge Zone programme hosted a 40-plus speaker lineup focusing on key road

transport sector topics.

Vehicle displays, a Ride & Drive experience, live product demonstrations and insightful stand talks were just the tip of the iceberg for visitors attending the show.

A lively, sociable atmosphere was evident throughout RTX and exhibitors pulled out all the stops to make their stands engaging and fun for visitors. We do hope you can join us again, or perhaps for the first time, at the next RTX. In the meantime, we’ve brought you some of the product highlights to be found across the exhibition.

More than 200 exhibitors joined in the fun at this year’s Road

OFF WE GO AGAIN!

Vic

In June, Road Transport Expo (RTX) 2023 opened for business at the NAEC Stoneleigh.

I’m delighted to report that the event has grown significantly since its debut in the road transport sector last year, which I am also proud to report scooped a major events industry accolade for being the ‘Best UK Event Launch’ at the AEO Excellence Awards.

Remaining true to its ‘all about the

truck’ motto, RTX has garnered increasing support from industry, both from suppliers wanting to exhibit and from operators keen to attend.

Highlights from this year’s show were:

l more than 200 exhibitors, including all the major truck makers;

l an increase in visitor footfall, with word definitely out that RTX was the place to head this summer;

l three days of insightful Knowledge Zone talks, working in partnership with key industry organisations to bring visitors up-to-date information.

Feedback from exhibitors and those who attended has been very positive, albeit we have a few good suggestions to further improve this

As always, we will listen carefully to all your ideas and make the appropriate changes to enhance the experience for all.

If you would like to share your thoughts about the event, please email vic.bunby@roadtransport.com.

The team and I would like to thank you for all your support for RTX 2023 and hope you had an enjoyable visit.

Although this is just a snapshot of the full range of product innovations and services at the event, we hope this review will give you a glimpse of what was on offer if you didn’t join us this year. And if you did, then hopefully it will be a fantastic reminder of your time at the show.

We look forward to seeing you at the next Road Transport Expo.

Now in its second year, Road Transport Expo is firmly established as a major go-to event for the logistics industry

Bunby Divisional director Road Transport Media

‘The event has grown significantly since its debut in the road transport sector last year’

Putzmeister eMixer makes UK debut

The Putzmeister eMixer made its UK debut at the show. The zero-tailpipeemission 8x4 concrete mixer features a SANY eTruck chassis, which was manufactured in China by Putzmeister’s parent company SANY Group.

Although this was the truck’s first UK showing, it first went into production in China in 2019. It has since been reworked for the European market, and 25 examples have gone into operation in France, Germany, Spain, Norway and Iceland since the vehicle’s launch at last year’s Bauma construction show in Munich.

The truck on show at RTX was a left-hand-drive,

but Kevin Eichele, head of business development at SANY eTrucks Europe, said the first righthand-drive examples would arrive in the UK imminently and would go

Electra working on hydrogen fuel cell

Blackburn-based electric truck maker Electra showed a range of its battery electric vehicles between 12 tonnes and 27 tonnes GVW at the show, and MD Ben Smith told MT the company was working on a hydrogen fuel cell for higher weight trucks.

A 12.5-tonner was fitted with a food waste tipping body, which created a lot of interest among municipal operators wondering how to comply with the government’s requirement to separate food from other waste streams.

“We have delivered seven to Basildon Council,” Smith said. “This is something nearly every council that has been on our stand has been desperate to see.”

Electra can build its electric driveline onto a variety of truck chassis but mostly uses Iveco gliders it buys in without engine or gearbox. It then fits the 250kW direct-drive motor battery packs to the customer’s specification and an active battery cooling system to keep the batteries within a specified

on trial with a large concrete manufacturing company.

The truck’s 350kW LFP batteries power a permanent magnet synchronous motor, which delivers 250kW (360kW

peak) of continuous power, giving the truck a range of between 120 and 180 miles.

The batteries are mounted directly behind the cab, which, according to Eichele, is the ideal location for mixer applications.

In addition to improving ground clearance, he said, the set-up makes it difficult to overload the rear axles, meaning the truck can potentially carry a higher payload than some rivals. The example on show featured a 9cu m Hardox mixer drum.

Eichele confirmed that the chassis would also be made available for other applications, some of which will mean repositioning the batteries.

temperature range, thereby improving their performance and life. This also enables fast charging using a 150kW DC supply, a charge rate that can overheat batteries without a cooling system. The 700V batteries are made by Chinese manufacturer CATL.

“Our USP is that the same technology is fitted to every truck you see [on our stand],” said Smith. “It may have bigger motors or batteries but we have designed all the power electronics ourselves. You can get into them and change one in 15 minutes.”

Renault commits to decarbonisation

Renault Trucks demonstrated its commitment to decarbonising the industry at Road Transport Expo, showcasing its latest electric E-Tech vehicles alongside its most fuel-efficient diesel trucks.

One of the highlights at its outside stand was a pair of turbo-compound engined tractors. These trucks are already showing their green credentials, with the UK fleet of turbo compounds proving to be 8.6% more fuel-efficient than DTi 480 tractors. Other combustionengined vehicles on show

included a C 8x4 tridem tipper, a used T 460 6x2 tractor and examples of its Trafic van range.

Meanwhile, inside the halls, visitors saw a selection of its zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles. The E-Tech line-up

Longer Scania pulls the crowds

While Scania’s impressive indoor stand was devoted to its alternatively fuelled trucks, the combustion

engine was alive and well outside.

One of the biggest crowdpullers was a V8-powered 6x2 tractor belonging to customer Morgan Transport. To the untrained

eye it looked like a regular 660 S, but true Scania fans were quick to spot the extended rear cab wall discreetly hidden by the side fairings, identifying it as a CS 23.

Launched earlier this year, the CR 23 and CS 23 cabs have been extended by 270mm behind the B pillar, increasing interior volume by 13%. They are built for Scania by its subsidiary Laxå Special Vehicles, which also produces crew cabs, and was previously responsible for the T-cab.

Morgan Transport’s truck is one of two special order vehicles in the UK, the other belonging to fellow Banbury haulier Coles & Sons.

ranged in size from an innovative Concept Kleuster Cargo Bike to a Master dropside, a D18T skip-loader, and a D26T LEC refuse collection vehicle.

Meanwhile, contract hire company Vertellus, which is owned jointly by Renault Trucks and its dealers, showed vehicles from its EV Discovery Programme.

Renault Trucks entered both a T480 6x2 Turbo Compound with a trailer and the fully electric 16-tonne E-Tech D with an SB Components box body into the ride and drive.

HGVC talks Bootcamp for drivers

HGVC talked to visitors about the governmentfunded HGV Skills Bootcamp programme to train new drivers, which has been extended until 2024.

An approved partner in the scheme, it pointed out that government funding will cover 70% of the cost of training somebody who already works for a logistics business. For example, the scheme could help turn a warehouse operative into a fully fledged truck driver.

HGVC commercial director Darren Clapich said: “It typically takes 12 to 16 weeks.”

Safer, greener and greater with Flagship

Compliance and training specialist Flagship Partners spoke to visitors about its initiative to make operators safer, greener and greater. Its consultancy role is designed to support hauliers with their transport management and OCRS accreditation and can help operators gain accreditation in FORS and the Earned Recognition (ER) scheme. Customers can also access Flagship Partners’ HR services and its training packages, which can be delivered in person or online.

Courses include first aid, health and safety and Driver CPC training.

Volvo shows latest heavy haulage FH16 demonstrator

Volvo premiered an FH16 650 8x4 heavy haulage tractor at the show, which is the latest eye-catcher on its impressive demonstration fleet.

The 180-tonner is full factory spec, with the exception of a Popp towing hook at the front. The Globetrotter XL-cabbed tractor, which features a

top-of-the-range Drive 16 ++ trim, was coupled to a Broshuis low-loader trailer carrying an FM 460 Lite 6x2 tractor.

Also taking pride of place on the stand was a Roger Dyson-bodied sliding bed recovery truck. Featuring an FL crew cab, it is one of 118 units supplied to the AA.

Volvo is the only truck maker to offer a full range of zero-tailpipe-emission trucks, a large selection of which it took to RTX.

Visitors were offered the chance to drive an FL Electric 16-tonner and an FM Electric artic in the Ride & Drive, the latter proving to be particularly popular.

Demand

grows

for IToY winner DAF XD

DAF Trucks showed several of its award-winning new generation XDs and XDCs at RTX. Speaking about the new distribution and construction truck range, which has been crowned International Truck of the Year (IToY) 2023, DAF Trucks marketing manager Phil Moon (left in picture) said: “Customers are seeing the advantages and orders are coming in fast.”

These sentiments were echoed by DAF sales director Russell Patmore, who said the popularity of its new generation trucks was likely to ensure the manufacturer completed a 29th year of UK market

leadership. Speaking before the show, he said: “This year so far, provisional data indicates we are at over 31% of the market, which is a slightly higher share of a slightly larger market than this time last year. To the end of May we registered more than 18% more trucks above 6 tonnes GVW than we did in May 2022.”

At the show, Commercial Motor editor Will Shiers (right in picture), who was joined by five IToY jury members, presented DAF Trucks UK with the trophy. “There are so many reasons why the XD was crowned IToY 2023, but for me the top one is its outstanding visibility,” he said.

Hassle-free refuelling

Mobile refueller Fuelmii was on hand at Road Transport Expo to explain its hassle-free refuelling system.

Hotbox gets an overhaul

Thompsons introduced an all-new hotbox as the latest model in the company’s range of tipper bodies. Dubbed Tarmaster, it will suit both 4x2 and 6x2/4 truck chassis built to deliver road repair and resurfacing applications.

It has one-piece side panels that are angled inwards at the floor to assist discharge of the hot asphalt, and inside the body is split into two fulllength compartments in 60/40 proportion, enabling

two different tarmac specifications to be carried.

An easy-flow floor surface finish helps to ensure minimal residue is left in the body when tipping. For shovel work, two tar chutes are provided in the rear body panel for the larger compartment, and one for the smaller.

On top of the body, a pair of full-length in-line roof panels keep the payload protected against heat loss.

Opening and closing of

the panels, actuated by hydraulic cylinders, can be done either from a dashboard rocker switch or by switches located on a nearside exterior control panel.

Heat for the hotbox is provided by two 23kg LPG gas bottles mounted in a storage box on the outside of the body’s vertical front panel. Setting the payload temperature is done via an electronic control box mounted on a rear gantry behind the truck cab.

Bandvulc adds to range

Bandvulc revealed a new range of tyres for long-haul applications and the waste industry. The fifth-generation BD5 is a long-haul drive-axle tyre focused on improved mileage, while the new Wastemaster 5 tyre is a refuse tyre with improved durability. The BD5 is said to have a dynamic directional tread design

and uses an exclusive high-mileage, hardwearing rubber compound.

The Wastemaster 5 uses a new Armorband system to protect against kerbing and other impacts and has an integrated visual indicator with a colour strip that becomes exposed if the casing is compromised.

An alternative to refilling at a fuel station, bunkering fuel or using fuel cards, Fuelmii delivers any quantity of fuel needed direct to a customer’s door, saving drivers time and giving operators greater visibility and security in fuel payments.

Its fleet of refuelling vehicles can be scheduled to deliver fuel 24 hours a day, allowing trucks to be filled during downtime, ready for the working day.

Its service also cuts down wasted mileage, reducing emissions and increasing productivity.

Fuelmii operates from sites in Bolton, Bristol, London (Park Royal), Northampton and Wolverhampton, serving those local areas, and also has additional sites planned in east London, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Titan now on electric chassis

Hyva debuted its Titan 2.0 skip-loader at last year’s Road Transport Expo and returned this year with one of its first new builds on an electric chassis.

Hyva regional sales manager Brett Hickey said: “Most people are doing short runs with skips; it’s local work and multiple pick-ups, so electricity makes sense with this.

“We’ve brought this to RTX to show that it is possible to use our

Ecogen 2 will cut emissions

Hultsteins continues its push to help operators reduce emissions with its fossil fuel alternative Ecogen 2 electric-hydraulic drive system.

At RTX it was fitted to a Volvo FH LNG tractor unit belonging to Buffaload. The system replaces diesel-powered refrigeration units on trailers and rigids with an electric motor.

MD for UK and Ireland

Graham Usher said the company’s EcoTruckRange programme would allow operators to hire the Ecogen 2 for £11.50 a day.

equipment on an electric truck. If you compare it with the current system, there’s a lot of difference.

The sheeting system is integrated, and the lift has cranked arms giving more reach on the back end. The cylinders are also hardened and much stronger and more durable. It’s also about 400kg lighter, without taking any strength out of the structure, but using thinner and stronger steel.”

Sterling effort as mixer maker shows off revised design

Sterling exhibited its British-made truck mixer with its 8cu m capacity at the show.

Well known for its plant body vehicles, Sterling introduced the mixer to its

range in 2020, revising the design in 2021 to give it the fastest discharge rate in the market.

Sterling sales executive Grant Owen said: “One of the main selling points of

the Sterling truck mixer is the availability of parts and the back-up of it being a British company.

“Most wearing parts can be with a customer the next day, and if a mixer breaks down in most areas of the UK we can be out to the majority of breakdowns in an hour.

“We’ve built a quality product, and designed strength into the mixer while still allowing it to achieve an 8cu m capacity.”

The drum includes a capping design on each of the blades allowing raw materials to be mixed as well as being agitated.

Sterling has put more than 50 units to work in the aggregate industry.

It’s a hat trick for Daimler Trucks

Daimler Trucks chose RTX for the UK premiere of no less than three different vehicles.

Taking pride of place on its outdoor stand was a Mercedes-Benz eEconic 300 (right). The battery-powered low-entry truck had a Terberg refuse body fitted to its 6x2 rear-steer chassis. Equipped with three batteries, the eEconic has enough range to cover 90% of typical diesel-powered Econic refuse collection routes on a single charge. The flat-floored cab was fitted with a conventional nearside slam door, giving it a four-star Direct Vision Standard rating. And those fitted with bus doors receive the maximum five stars. A further two unbodied eEconics were located inside the halls. Also making its UK debut was the New Generation FUSO eCanter. There are 36 derivatives of this electric

truck available, with GVWs ranging from 4.25 tonnes to 8.55 tonnes; six different wheelbases from 2,500mm to 4,750mm; and two cab widths.

Power is supplied by two electric motors, either 110kW for trucks in the 4.25-tonne to 6-tonne bracket, or 129kW for 7.49-tonners and

8.55-tonners. Depending on whether buyers opt for one, two or three 41.3kWh LFP batteries, it can travel for 45 miles, 90 miles or 125 miles respectively on a single charge.

The third UK first was the Mercedes-Benz Actros Edition 3. The manufacturer anticipates selling just 20 of these 630hp tractors in

the UK. The truck was on the Kuda Automotive stand, after the customising and accessory specialist fitted the top-spec truck with side skirts, a full-size catwalk, TV, microwave and CabStore lockers on the rear cab wall. Read all about this limited-edition flagship tractor in next week’s Commercial Motor.

Isuzu Truck confident in best position ever

Isuzu Truck (UK) is in the most dominant position it has ever been in, according to MD Peter Murphy (left).

“We have the strongest dealer network we have ever had and the products are doing incredibly well,” he said at RTX.

“Since Covid our business has taken a step change. We were less affected by the global chip issues than

some of our competitors, as our colleagues did a great job of ring-fencing microchips, and generally we have had great supply.”

Murphy said Isuzu’s comparatively short lead times attracted new customers, many of whom would not previously have considered Isuzu over traditional brands.

“They have been suitably

impressed and we are seeing repeat orders on the back of that,” he said.

As a result, the truck maker is strengthening its position in all of the sectors it competes in. It is number four for 3.5-tonne chassis cabs and number two in the 7.5-tonne sector.

“And we have our eye on the top spot,” added Murphy.

Iveco triples UK truck sales

Iveco has more than tripled its UK truck sales in the past few years, making it the manufacturer’s fastestgrowing market.

“Between 2017 and 2019 we sold circa 1,500 trucks at 7.5 tonnes and above a year, whereas now we are looking at a broad run rate of 5,000 trucks,” said Gareth Lumsdaine, business line director of trucks.

“Over the past couple of years, we have experienced a period of rapid growth.”

Lumsdaine said this growth gave the factory the confidence to increase the production of right-hand-

MAN in the UK

MAN used its first visit to RTX to highlight its entire range of commercial vehicles, which go from just 3-tonne GVW up to 250 tonnes.

drive trucks, giving the UK a disproportionately large amount of its production

To emphasise its presence on the UK market, the centrepiece of its stand was its 150,000th vehicle to be sold and delivered here, a specially liveried TGX 26.510 6x2/2 bought by Templeman Retailing &

capacity. As a result, Iveco has reduced its average UK lead times from a high of 18

Vending of Gateshead. MAN was keen to highlight the high level of interest in its OptiView mirror replacement system, which, with a typical price of £1,500, features in 20% of vehicle sales and rising.

months to just six months. Iveco has also focused on specific product lines, such as its 8-wheeled tippers. Having persuaded the factory to commit a significant number of build slots for X-WAY 8x4 chassis, Iveco then partnered with bodybuilder Thompsons to produce a ready-to-go tipper (pictured). At the same time, it has worked with its dealers to train rigid specialists at some branches. “We have an excellent product and if we can get people into it, we know it sells,” said Lumsdaine.

Big Motoring gets bigger

Used car retailer Big Motoring World provided live valuations of customer vehicles at Road Transport Expo.

The rapidly expanding car dealer operates out of six sales sites and offers home valuation and free car collection with a guaranteed price claimed to be above competitors’ offers.

Started in 2021, bigwantsyourcar.com aims to buy and sell 1,000 vehicles per month and has a fleet of 34 vehicles to value and collect customer vehicles, as well as a rolling stock of more than 6,500 cars available to purchase.

Bradshaw Electric Vehicles was at the forefront of Road Transport Expo, providing its Club Car Tempos and Carryalls to transport visitors around the showground.

It also exhibited its G2 and G4 Goupil utility vehicles, which can be

fitted with lead acid or lithium batteries and tailored to customers’ requirements, including options such as pick-ups, cage tippers and van bodies.

This is further complemented through a new relationship with vehicle conversion and racking specialist Bott.

Bradshaw marketing manager Ramsy Labassi said: “It was fantastic to see our Club Car Tempos

Alltrucks eyes UK for new partners

Alltrucks Truck and Trailer Service highlighted its expanding UK presence at the show after being established in the rest of Europe since 2013.

A joint venture between Bosch, Knorr-Bremse and ZF, it provides independent and OEM garages with technical documentation, diagnostics equipment, a 24-hour hotline and a network that can be called on throughout Europe.

Alltrucks area manager and system consultant Steve Nolan said: “We’re new to the UK market, but we’ve been in Europe for some time and we’ve got

more than 700 partners there.

“RTX was great exposure for us to the UK HGV and trailer world.”

Alltrucks used RTX to speak to existing and potential customers. It was also visited by a new partner, LG Perfect from Great Yarmouth, which came to the show to sign with Alltrucks.

The Alltrucks network is supported by the Alltrucks Map app, which shows the company’s workshop locations across the UK and Europe. These workshops cater for vehicles from 3.5 tonnes GVW.

and Carryalls play a role in ensuring that RTX ran smoothly by making sure visitors and attendees alike got from A to B seamlessly.

“We were delighted to exhibit for the second year and show our versatile Goupil vehicles: the G2, which features our bespoke

fitouts provided by Bott, and the G4 tipper (pictured left) and a combi pick-up with a 200-litre pressurewasher fitted with a demountable hill tip salt spreader provided by Peacocks Salt.

“With environmental sustainability on everyone’s lips, and with net zero edging closer, we were on hand to discuss the benefits and versatility of our Goupil range with businesses that are looking to switch to electric.”

Bradshaw puts EVs to work at RTX Hammer keen to show off hydraulic winches

Turkish brand Hammer Winch showcased three weight classes of hydraulic winches.

Servicing light applications from 3 tonnes to 8 tonnes, medium from 10 tonnes to 15 tonnes and heavy from 20 tonnes to 40 tonnes, the winch specialist displayed products from each category with a 20-tonne winch taking centre stage.

Hammer Winch director Nuket Cekem said: “Although our brand is sold in 80 countries, we are new to the UK. That’s why shows are important for reaching and collaborating with

companies in the market.”

A range of electric winches will soon be available in the UK. Hammer Winch offers aftersales, spare parts and custom winches for all applications.

Schmitz shows off trailers and tippers

It’s been a busy year so far for Schmitz Cargobull UK, with a new factory opening and the launch of a pillarless curtainsided trailer.

RTX was the official show debut of its new trailer, which houses a new e-axle system to generate charge for the S.KOe COOL allelectric refrigeration unit launched at IAA 2022 in Hannover, Germany.

However, it was a new heavy-duty construction tipper rigid body that was the focus for the UK, as well as the moreestablished tipper trailer

Tructyre masters care for your tyres

Badly worn tyres with sidewall damage can fail suddenly and leave a truck stranded at the side of the road, not to mention posing a road safety hazard.

Tructyre offers a fleet inspection service under the Mastercare banner

designed to ensure tyre problems are spotted before they become a major issue. It can then arrange for appropriate remedial action to be taken.

If it has all the details of an operator’s fleet, it can record the condition of

each tyre that has been inspected and highlight those that have yet to be seen.

Tructyre area sales manager Ian Kelly said: “The latter are red-flagged after three months have elapsed and we still haven’t been able to look at them.”

Vechocheck expands operator offering with update to incident reporting system

Compliance and fleet management software provider Vechocheck has revamped its incident reporting system.

The system is now more closely aligned with insurance claim requirements, making it a more streamlined

process for operators.

Vechocheck’s data management dashboard is evolving and director of technology Lukas Gamble said: “[If there are] any customer requirements that are outside of our software, within reason, we’ll build it. This means

we can offer this solution to other customers and continue to expand our offering by listening to what our customers need.”

A key focus for Vechocheck is making cost analysis data visible and easy to interpret in charts and graphs.

sold mainly into the two Irish markets, as well as across the UK.

Product manager for construction and agriculture Stefan Küfner said: “The rigid tipper is brand new for the UK; it is on a Renault C440 8x4, and has Hyva [wet kit] equipment.”

The complete vehicle weighs about 14 tonnes, he added.

“It is a steel body for heavy-duty work. It has a 6mm skin on the floor and 5mm on the sidewalls. We can also provide the subframe for the build.”

Swift contact with insurers saves costs

Some truck insurers will waive any excess if you notify them of a claim within 24 hours of an incident occurring, said Jill Goodrich, commercial account manager at Ascott Insurance Brokers.

They appreciate that the greater the gap between the incident and notification, the more the size of the claim is likely to escalate.

“Operators are now fitting dashcams with a button the driver can hit if there is an incident,” Goodrich said.

The footage goes straight to a claims specialist, who can respond accordingly.

All change at Continental Sampa plans global expansion

Continental chose Road Transport Expo as the launch venue for a range of new truck tyres.

The fifth-generation hybrid product was launched for steer and drive axles, with a focus on the regional market and tuned to produce longer mileages and greater durability.

The Conti Hybrid HS5 steer tyre and HD5 drive tyre are available in all common sizes and will be released in August.

Continental general manager Steve Howat said

there had been several key improvements in the new steer tyre, with particular focus on reducing wear and counteracting rib sinkage issues.

“It’s been in development for nearly five years and is a key strategic product for us.

“Like any drive tyre, the

HD5 has block patterns and stone trapping is an issue, so we’ve got stone ejectors in there so that when the tyre hits the road surface it opens up and releases them,” Howat added.

Continental also unveiled its first low rolling resistance retread tyre. The trailer tyre is a product of Continental’s investment in retread specialist Bandvulc.

“We’re releasing [retread] tyres now that provide almost the same properties as a new tyre,” Howat said.

Business booming for BMI Trailers in land Down Under

In 2020 BMI Trailers MD Brendan McIlvanna visited Australia to see if there was any potential to build products for businesses

Down Under. The Co Tyrone-based MD found that there was and the firm built three and shipped them out.

On its stand was another order for Australia, this time for Recycle Central, based in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Because it has a fourth axle and is designed for loads above Australia’s National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, it has to meet the Performance Based Standards (similar to STGO) for an operator to gain a permit to use it.

McIlvanna said: “This is a 4-axle, 14.6m-long trailer with the Cargo HDI moving-floor system designed for the waste and recycling market. It weighs 12 tonnes, has a 105cu m capacity and is one of 15 on order.”

Turkey-based commercial vehicle spare parts manufacturer Sampa promoted its expanding product range at the show. Having recently been awarded the ISO 500 manufacturing standard for its commitment to excellence, it had a tiny snapshot of its 80,000 HGV products on display including track rod ends, ball joints and air springs.

Sampa is among the world’s largest manufacturer of suspension airbags. It operates out of 13 factories, with a leading R&D facility, and has plans to establish 10 further facilities. It has ambitions to become the world’s leading manufacturer of all truck parts.

Sampa has gained recognition from OEMs for its expertise in reverse engineering parts to enhance performance and tolerance levels and is collaborating with Manchester University to develop stronger graphene components. Its aftermarket parts business in Trafford Park provides same-day delivery in the local area and a next-day overnight service to the rest of the country.

On the up with Hammar 110

Sideloader manufacturer

Hammar showed off its 110 lift, demonstrating its impressive container

lifting abilities. The 110 has a 36-tonne lift capability and can be used to move 20ft, 30ft or 45ft containers,

as well as moving doublestacked 9ft 6in containers of up to 30 tonnes. It has a three-minute lift time,

Northside signs up Milwaukee

Northside Truck & Van announced a new partnership with renowned power tool brand Milwaukee at the show.

Just across from Northside’s range of Mercedes-Benz and FUSO trucks – including the prominent Actros L –stood a sizeable collection of Milwaukee’s batterypowered tools.

Known for its M18 and M12 ranges of cordless equipment, the partnership with Milwaukee will give Northside access to quality power tools to use in its workshops as well as to offer to customers.

With more than 300 battery-powered tools,

1,000 Milwaukee hand tools and 3,000 accessories in the range, Milwaukee also raised awareness of its Packout storage system

that can be securely stored in suitable van racking to provide more than 100 possible storage combinations.

making it an efficient option when loading.

Although uncommon in the UK, sideloaders are frequently specified on the continent as a more effective way of moving containers and are popular among operators conducting short trips between dock or rail terminals and their base.

The Hammar 110 has double-action support legs that reach out up to 2m to help steady the lift, and can be operated with either a DC battery power pack or a truckmounted PTO.

The tare weight is just 8.4 tonnes, making it about 3 tonnes lighter than other similar models.

Be aware of bridges

Parksafe Group showed its latest safety aid at the show: the Low Bridge Warning Device.

Using GPS tracking to monitor the position of the vehicle, Parksafe has developed the hardware and software for the device to include a database on every bridge in the UK and Ireland. Each of the entry and exit points in all directions of travel to a low bridge have been recorded and more than 10,000 points of interest mapped.

The system can be retrofitted into a cab to provide visual and audible warnings when approaching a low bridge.

A refrigerated trailer specifically designed for the retail milk sector has been launched by Tiger Trailers.

Speaking at the show, sales director Darren Holland said that the UK specification was designed to stop spilt milk coming into contact with traditional metal used for trailer production, as milk has a corrosive reaction with steel.

He explained that retail milk operators would use a normal reefer trailer to

Safer reversing with Vision Techniques

Vision Techniques

launched its Banksman reversing safety system at RTX.

Using a 77ghz radar unit, the system acts as a reversing distance warning using the familiar audible and green-yellow-red visual indication.

It also reads out the actual distance in metres. However, its main function is to act as an emergency automatic braking device.

The system can be retrofitted to any truck and is calibrated for length, width and weight to determine the stopping distance required.

When reversing towards an object or pedestrian, the Banksman unit will bring the truck to a controlled stop without driver intervention.

It will then only release the brakes if a forward gear is selected.

Vision Techniques said that an initial trial against a competitor had resulted in one fleet fitting 10 units already, with its entire fleet ready to adopt the system.

Vision Techniques general manager Dave Smith said: “The feedback from trials was very positive and we are proud that our system was favoured.”

transport (bottled) milk in small trolleys that are held in with bars. These can move from side-to-side and can often spill milk onto the floor of the trailer. Any separation between the sidewall and the floor means the chassis and bodywork metal is exposed to the milk.

Holland explained: “The floor has been reinforced, and the double thickness on the sides allows the fixing of the steel channels that are within the sidewall, which prevents the

separation of the sides because it is fully sealed and stops milk getting between the sidewall and the floor.”

The trailer has additional load restraints, interior cameras and a recessed tail-lift button to reduce potential damage.

Fitted with a Dhollandia tuck-under tail-lift and Thermo King Vector 1550 refrigeration unit, its tare weight is 9,500kg. It is built in partnership with Leci Trailers, based in Zaragoza.

Tiger Trailers stops milk shakes Krone double-whammy

Krone Trailer UK had two market-proven examples of its trailers on its stand.

The Dry Liner is a multipurpose high-security steel box trailer designed for a range of operations such as events, garment carriage and high-value electricals movements.

Also on display was

Krone’s Profi Liner curtain-sided trailer, which is renowned for its load flexibility. With the Krone Multi Lock loading system, featuring load strapping points at 10cm intervals along each side rave, it enables secure loading of general cargo anywhere along the trailer bed.

InTruck Connect saves fuelling time

Fuel giant bp has launched its InTruck Connect app that can save drivers up to seven minutes when refuelling at one of its filling stations.

The app was revealed at RTX in partnership with Mercedes-Benz, which will be installing it in its Actros and Arocs units, and bp

It’s a show success for GB Tyres

GB Tyres, a leading UK tyre wholesaler, demonstrated its full range of commercial vehicle tyres at the show.

Importing approximately 200,000 tyres a month, covering a range of tyres from vans to trucks and construction vehicles, the company supplies the retail tyre sector as well as direct to end users. It reported strong interest in its market offering at RTX.

GB Tyres imports a range of premium, midrange and economy tyres across its portfolio. All the main premium brands are offered, while the company also brings in its own Aero tyre brand, manufactured at its factory in Thailand.

Next month, the company is introducing a range of steel wheels for commercial vehicles, with a lightweight aluminium offering following later in the year.

is talking to other OEMs about putting it in more makes of truck.

When drivers refuel, they simply log in with their driver ID and PIN, confirm the fuelling site through the app, unlock the pump and fill up.

Drivers do not need to leave their vehicle

unattended and the app handles the fuel payment. The app automatically provides information on fuel purchases, odometer readings and other data to fleet managers, reducing the risk of discrepancies and removing the need for drivers and filling station attendants to

Feldbinder shows off Silo 4.0 control

Feldbinder UK celebrated 25 years of business at RTX with an array of its bespoke tanker products, including a new powder trailer for Cemcor, based at Cookstown, Northern Ireland.

It acquired the Lafarge cement site in January 2022 and has now started to run its own branded fleet.

Visitors to the stand also got a glimpse of the future when it comes to multi-compartment tanker trailers with Silo 4.0, the ‘digital future of vehicle control’.

It is able to pre-set the sequence of deliveries, communicate with telematics, dispatch and invoicing, and be centrally operated.

enter the vehicle mileage manually. It is easy to install in trucks’ existing infotainment systems, and does not require additional hardware.

It works at all bp stations that are using the bpme loyalty card, which is to say the majority of the firm’s 1,200 UK sites.

DriverUp all-in-one app does it logically

DriverUp is a transport management system designed specifically as a low-cost solution for smaller general haulage fleets.

Company co-founder Mihai Firtala said: “What we’ve done differently is we’ve come from a driving background. We’ve built the system around the way people actually do their work.

“Everything is designed to follow logical steps, which are easy to use and intuitive.

“At the same time, it’s an all-in-one system that has everything a transport company needs. Instead of buying separate apps for checks, vehicle maintenance, transport management, for fleet software, or for all of it, we do it all in one.”

New site and signings keep TrailerTec busy

TrailerTec UK has had a busy few months following the opening of its new operational site in Warrington and the signing of a majority stakeholder deal, explained sales representative Dave Cross.

“This site includes a surface area of 30,000sqm, which serves as TrailerTec UK’s head office with a modern workshop and well-stocked warehouse for parts,” he said.

It is also near to Renault Trucks dealership Diamond Trucks, which became a franchised dealership last year alongside the one based in Mallusk, Northern Ireland.

Harry Nash, owner of Diamond Trucks, is also the new majority shareholder

TIP Group fleet gets bigger and better

It has been a year of growth for TIP Group, commercial director Karl Davies said at RTX.

The group has added 2,000 trailers to take its fleet to more than 21,000 trailers, as well as 879 vehicles to increase that fleet to 3,400 units, and also manages more than 22,000 assets through its network of depots and workshops.

On its stand was an example of what has been added to the portfolio this year: a DAF XF tractor unit coupled to a Don-Bur Lifting Roof 13.6m-long triaxle curtain-sided trailer (below). The roof raises 300mm to provide clearance to the 3.26m side aperture so all of the 3.35m internal height is available to use. Its overall running height is 4.85m.

of TrailerTec UK, owning 60% of the business, with the rest shared equally between the original founders of the import business: Jan de Kraker, owner of Kraker Trailers, and Gerrit van Vlastuin, owner of D-TEC.

On the TrailerTec UK stand was a representative of all three brands.

A Renault Trucks Range T fronted a 4.5m-high Kraker triaxle moving-floor trailer, fitted with a 10mm Cargofloor. Cross said the trailer was designed for lighter bulk products.

Also on the stand were two D-TEC ISO products, an 8m wheelbase Isotank ADR skelly and a 30,000-litre stainless-steel vacuum tank trailer for non-hazardous waste.

Bosch ESI(Tronic) 2.0 gives technicians truck

Automotive electronics giant Bosch demonstrated its latest workshop diagnostic tool to visitors.

The ESI(Tronic) 2.0 system gives workshop technicians a total insight into the truck being serviced or repaired.

After downloading vehicle information such as model series, axle configuration, transmission type, engine type and power

insight

output, it interrogates the vehicle systems for error codes and automatically translates them into system and component faults for the technician, performs reset functions and teaches-in new modules.

In addition to all these troubleshooting facilities, it allows access to annual maintenance data and the entire parts catalogue relating to the truck.

Operators look to HVO to help reduce emissions

Hauliers are turning their attention to renewable diesel via hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and the gas-to-liquid paraffinic fuel to help reduce emissions.

Green Biofuels CEO Magnus Hammick, speaking at RTX, revealed that it sold approximately 200 million litres of renewable diesel last year, and has sold more than 300 million litres this year.

Green Biofuels, which is 30% owned by bp, is also supplying the fuel for this year’s British Truck Racing Championship.

“HVO gives you a 90% reduction in CO2 , and GD45, which is our paraffinic fuel, gives a 45% CO2 reduction,” he said.

Green Biofuels demonstrated its smart fuel pumps that charge

according to use, and Hammick said there were 600 tanks in operation. Operators such as Gregory Group and Hayton Coulthard Transport use Green Biofuels’ HVO on dedicated contracts. Next is charging for third-party haulage to help customers reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Hammick said: “When you are talking about scope-one reductions, that is the haulier; when it’s scope three it’s customers. We will then provide certification so those trunking miles on behalf of the clients are allocated and go towards their overall carbon reduction.”

Good value TIA wheels

Alloy wheel specialist TIA revealed its latest anodised wheel range.

The company said its product was 50% more competitively priced than the market leader and came with a fiveyear warranty and easily cleanable finish. Its products, aimed at OEMs, were fitted to approximately half of the trailers on the Van Hool stand.

Switch to electric shunters

Switching from diesel to electric yard shunters can save operators money from day one, according to Terberg DTS UK, which showed its YT203-EV yard shunter at RTX.

Based on its ubiquitous YT193/YT223 machine, this zero-tailpipe-emission tug has been fitted with lithium ion batteries, which power a ZF CeTrax electric central drivetrain.

Eminox in Euro-6 DPF

The average power consumption of a YT203EV is just 16kW per hour, meaning in its most popular 148kWh specification it has a range of more than nine hours.

Terberg DTS UK’s business model is to rent out, rather than to sell vehicles. It also works closely with customers to provide suitable charging facilities.

Eminox used RTX to announce its move into the Euro-6 diesel particulate filter (DPF) aftermarket with a range of DPFs for all OEMs.

Eminox retrofit and aftermarket sales director Carlos Vicente said the alternative to OEM-sourced DPFs had the potential to save operators up to 50% of costs.

Read all about it: Van Handbook

With attention guaranteed by the Operation Tramline enforcement tractor unit on the stand, National Highways revealed the launch of its latest project, the Van Handbook.

The book, which covers the safe and legal operation of light commercials, also refers to useful physical resources such as Fresnel wide-angle lenses and in-cab litter bins.

National Highways also drew attention to its app for overseas operators, now available in 14 languages, together with a project under way for its printed booklet to be increased from five languages.

TVS electric mixer is a hit

TVS Interfleet had so much interest in its electric concrete mixer at the show that instead of the planned two demonstrations a day, it showcased the truck’s abilities every 20 minutes.

TVS Interfleet sales director Lindsay Rudd said: “Every health and safety manager for any of the large companies has been here, together with numerous hauliers and logistics managers. While there aren’t so many drivers here, the people who make the decisions have all seen it and have been blown away.”

Mounted on a Renault E-Tech chassis, the mixer features numerous innovative safety features. It also has a low centre of

Life in the old tank yet

Refurbishment is a key part of Derby-based WG Tankers’ service to customers, and on its stand was a recent example of its work. Although the tank operated by Wincanton is 10 years old, it was stripped right back to the tank before its refurbishment to start a second 10-year life on the road. It’s a 10-day turnaround and is part of a programme to refurbish 26 trailers for the operator.

gravity, so reducing the chances of a rollover.

While this example is about to go into service with London Concrete, you

can learn all about a nearidentical model in operation with Tarmac, by listening to Commercial Motor ’s Torquing Trucks podcast.

Fastview360 prepares for TfL changes with AI

New camera systems equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) programmed to recognise moving and stationary people were the focus on the Fastview360 stand.

Business development manager Nick Billington said the move to AI would be launched by the company in September.

With TfL set to beef up its Direct Vision Standard Progressive Safe System scheme, Fastview360 has hedged its bets. Billington

said: “TfL hasn’t announced the final regulations, but we understand it’s going to be putting three camera systems onto a vehicle: forward-facing, nearside blind spot (by the front axle) and one looking down the side.”

Fastview360’s camera will be designed to monitor people near to the truck. A blue light in the cab will flag up a person in close proximity; if they move, the system turns the light red and issues a warning.

Weightlifter busy since new owner

It has been four years since Nigel Butler acquired Weightlifter Bodies and PPG Fabrications.

Speaking at RTX 2023, he said a lot of what the business does is aluminium. “We work on maximising an operator’s productivity with good payload and durable products.

“PPG Fabrications is recognised for its alloy rigid tipping bodies, like this one on the Elliotts (Cheltenham) DAF LF 18-tonner [right]. It has an aluminium body with Edbro ram and flip sheet, and with a top hinge rear door, on a 3.75m wheelbase,” he said.

The 40cu yard straightframe triaxle half-barrel aluminium tipping trailer hits the scales at 6,200kg, he said.

“That is the lightest we can do. The body sits on a 1.3m-wide frame and it has a 9.4m-long high tensile steel chassis, with Jost landing legs, Knorr-Bremse EBS and Alcoa Dura-Bright

alloy wheels, and an Edbro CS1700 ram.”

Since taking over, the firm has launched a moving-floor trailer for the aggregates and asphalt sector and completely

Direct Vision Standard boosts business at Truck Door Windows

Truck Door Windows, part of the Truck Align London group of companies, has seen a lot of interest from operators worried about phase two of TfL’s Direct Vision Standard. The change requires trucks entering London to have either a three-star rating or be fitted with a Progressive Safe System from 24 October.

The company installs passenger door windows

to give drivers a direct view of vulnerable road users on the nearside of the truck in what would otherwise be a blind spot.

Director Lee Allen said large fleets were particularly interested in OEM-approved solutions that would give drivers 100% direct vision.

Truck Door Windows is based in London and has six installation centres around the UK, which Allen

said were all very busy.

“It’s not just for London,” he said. “Fleets outside the capital also want this.”

In addition to nearside windows, some large operators are also fitting rear-view windows in the back of cabs.

“People say ‘you can only see the fridge motor’, but when an HGV is reversing the rear window gives the driver a much better view,” said Allen.

redesigned its bulk and rigid tippers to be lighter, more robust and more cost-effective for customers, which, Butler said, has been successful for the company.

Tail-lift service on the increase

Fleets are having their tail-lifts serviced more regularly, according to Atlas Repairs.

Sales manager Terry White said: “An increasing number are having them looked at three times a year rather than twice, with Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations compliance addressed on each occasion, and the third one involving a weight test.”

Look at all problems

Vehicle safety problems should not be viewed in isolation, Callum Crisp, senior business development manager at CKO, advised visitors.

Ford shows E-Transit and Mach-E

Ford demonstrated the abilities of its new Ford E-Transit at the show, alongside its electric passenger car sibling, the Mustang Mach-E.

The Ford E-Transit is

powered by a 198kW motor producing 430Nm of torque (265hp). It is also available with a downrated 135kW (181hp) motor and gets a 68kWh battery capable of up to 196 miles,

according to the WLTP testing standards.

Visitors were able to put the electric Transit to the test in the Ride & Drive area of the show, alongside a Mustang Mach-E.

Midlands Truck & Van helps out Lowland Rescue team

The Lowland Rescue team from Warwickshire Search and Rescue educated visitors on its valuable work in locating vulnerable people in the county.

Exhibiting alongside Midlands Truck & Van, which supplied its latest incident control unit built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, Lowland

Meller

Solve one, and you may find that another you were unaware of pops up a few weeks later that will also need addressing.

The best course of action, Crisp suggested, was to appoint a specialist safety consultant to view the situation from all angles, taking into account the types of trucks being run and the work they are on, and compile a package of solutions.

Rescue was hoping to secure £20,000 of finance for a new van to transport equipment used to support searches for high-risk people, including those at risk of injury or loss of life.

Midlands Truck & Van also brought along a head-turning range of new Mercedes commercial vehicles, including the

pump

Bradford-based Meller Flow Trans debuted a new blower pump redesigned to fit inside the chassis of a rigid truck, rather than on the outside where there is less space on the frame.

eVito, Actros L, Arocs and FUSO Canter tippers.

The business is the approved Mercedes commercial vehicle dealership representing the West Midlands and Shropshire, offering new and used vehicle sales and aftersales services, including 24-hour servicing and parts.

goes inside chassis

The Mouvex MX12 Screw Compressor (pictured, right) is designed for plastics, gravel, animal feed, cereal and lime. It can be used via the propshaft or be hydraulically

driven, has a lower inlet speed for reduced fuel consumption, has a flow rate of 1,130cu m/hr, and has a modular design so it is easy to fix, modify or upgrade.

CKO offers such a service, along with a range of products that includes nearside sensors for tractors and trailers, and pedestrian detection cameras.

The cost of acquiring and installing such products should be viewed against the cost of buying a new truck, he suggested. “That can run into six figures,” he said. “Aftermarket safety solutions come in at a fraction of that.”

Spread your muck!

Crossland Tankers has launched a road-going slurry tanker capable of holding 6,600 gallons to meet increasing demand to move slurry by truck rather than by agricultural tractor. The trailer is designed to empty slurry tanks and take their contents to the field for spreading by farm tractor. A single lever controls the discharge speed and direction, and the valves are manually operated. It weighs 7,900kg and runs on BPW axles.

VEV talks

Electronic solutions

company VEV made its show debut talking to visitors about the path to electrifying fleets.

The Vitol-owned business, launched in April this year, uses operators’ data to calculate how to reduce their carbon footprint. This data is used to establish the viability of electric trucks and to explore installing renewable energy sources on site, such as solar panels.

electronic

VEV senior business development manager Paul Webb said: “We’re talking to all types of fleets and businesses and looking at how we can help them decarbonise their operations. Legislation, demand and perception are driving businesses to consider their electrification strategy.”

This includes everything from trucks to charging infrastructure, software, energy storage, maintenance and finance.

Quicker

cleaning with HW’Intrawash

Vehicle wash provider

Istobal has launched its HW’Intrawash product, designed to clean the inside of refrigerated trailers in five minutes. The internal washing equipment can disinfect the area quickly between loads, saving time.

Head of sales Chris Scott said: “This is suitable for all sizes of box refrigerated trailers. We know refrigerated trailers should be washed after every use, which

isn’t always happening, mainly because of timing. The HW’Intrawash cuts cleaning times down from 35 to five minutes.”

The equipment can be rented or used on a payper-wash basis, making it cost-effective for larger fleets. The machine provides predictable electric and water running costs and can be installed outside or on a wash bay. It can be altered depending on chemicals used and how dirty the area is.

Met Police back to school

The Metropolitan Police is taking its HGV education and awareness programme into school to teach sevento 11-year-olds about the dangers posed by vehicles.

“We’re teaching pupils about keeping their distance and eye contact with drivers, and changing their behaviour. If you can see the driver, then he

can see you, and that’s what we are pushing,” said Met Police commercial vehicle unit inspector Rik Wenham.

More than 2,000 children in London have been involved in the scheme, which started earlier this year. A larger awareness campaign is planned for the next academic year.

Swedish coupling manufacturer VBG debuted its latest smartcoupling system for drawbar applications at RTX, with the system moving from analogue to digital.

Key account manager Phil Pratt explained: “We have a digital system that runs off its own CANbus, which transfers data to a liaison centre, which then sends it to the driver and the operator’s fleet management system.

“On the actual smart

Construction material supplier Forterra is in the process of taking delivery of 40 new triaxle semitrailers from SDC Trailers, with one brought to RTX to show visitors the manufacturer’s technical prowess.

These 13.6m-long trailers are not the usual runof-the-mill specification; designed for brick and block goods, they have tracks for a roll-on crane and, more importantly, are fitted with Tridec’s doubleaxle rear-steer system.

While the front axle is fixed, the middle and rear both steer to aid on-site manoeuvrability, said SDC Group president Paul Bratton. “The accessibility of this is fantastic. It will

coupling, we have exchanged the air actuator with a piston system, and extended the deflector plate right the way across, so that it covers both the mechanism, which we’ve lowered, and the air actuator.

“We have changed the indicator pin, and it pushes out any dirt that has accumulated, and we have fitted a little indicator lamp that goes red and green as the coupling goes up and down.”

VBG takes drawbar coupling to digital SDC delivers to Forterra

turn on a sixpence.

“Given the UK’s old road network with tight access roads, and that often there isn’t much space on building sites for delivery, these trailers can reach the parts others cannot.”

Additional specification

TCL welcomes Road Tankers

Leeds-based TCL Tanker Rental introduced a new product to its portfolio at the show: a non-hazardous vacuum tank made by Road Tankers Northern fitted to an MAN TGS 26.430 6x2. TCL Tanker Rental runs a fleet of more than 300 trailers and rigids. It provides repair and maintenance services and has a parts division with an online option, as well as next-day delivery.

includes Jost axles with alloy wheels, and a punchstep flooring to save weight and stop the build-up of loose aggregates, which makes it easier to keep the deck clean.

Without the crane it weighs 7,650kg.

Pint please

Commercial Motor editor Will Shiers (above) sampled a pint of Greene King Level Head IPA on the Van Hool stand.

The Bury St Edmunds brewer has taken delivery of its first split-compartment tanker. It joins a 20-strong single-compartment fleet.

Primary transport manager Paul Brett said it would be used to deliver smaller quantities of specialist beers to the bottling plant. “This is our first Van Hool tanker, and hopefully the first of many,” he said.

Continental on Mission to comply

Accreditation scheme

Mission Zero has partnered with Continental to develop the Continental Compliance Pack, which provides operators with everything they need to operate safely and compliantly.

The pack, priced at £495, consists of a Mission Zero audit (online or onsite), a vehicle’s access to VDO Fleet tachograph analysis software, a single vehicle’s access to Continental Verified Inspection (including five NFC vehicle tags) and Driver CPC training for one driver, provided by Fleet Source. Mission Zero founder and CEO Nick Caesari said: “Our partnership with Continental is the future in compliance and provides customers with everything they need to stay compliant.”

New Alcoa Wheels

Tyretracks rolled out its latest range of forged aluminium Alcoa® Wheels.

The company said the range offered advantages over its steel wheel counterparts, especially for the tipping and bulk transport industry, including being lightweight, affordable and environmentally friendly.

Integritas on audit trail

Load security and establishing an audit trail were the focus on the Maple Fleet Services stand at the show.

Marketing manager Paul Nunn said Integritas was a modern approach to load integrity for commercial vehicles as an automatic, electronic tamperevident security seal with integrated lock.

“With no physical seals to apply, cables to secure or additional procedures for drivers to action, Integritas is the sealing solution demanded by the industry,” he said.

Using a designated key fob, it provides the operator with a different serial number every time the door is unlocked that is attributed to the key fob holder.

That data is captured with date and time, and it can be downloaded by the operator or by the client to check that nothing untoward has happened en route.

Dennison shows split trailer

Dennison Trailers’ stand had a new urban split curtain-sided trailer on show, designed to allow multi-drop deliveries in the urban environment.

MD James Dennison said: “The concept features include those found in a standard

curtain-sided trailer and it can be specified up to 14.65m long, making it a longer semi-trailer.”

The rear section has a 1m sliding bogie for weight distribution.The split trailer’s tare weight is 10 tonnes.

As well as its SideScan Predict active side scan technology that will prepare operators for phase two of the Direct Vision Standard, Brigade

Electronics showed the 1,200hp race truck (below) driven by seven-times British Truck Racing champion Ryan Smith.

The truck is fitted with

eight Brigade cameras to monitor every aspect of its performance –including the brakes – and replace the conventional cab mirrors to improve aerodynamics.

Before the cameras were fitted Smith could not work out why his brakes were wearing out so quickly, meaning the team was spending between £6,000 and £8,000 on new brakes every season.

The cameras revealed that the heat sensor had moved out of alignment and was not measuring the temperature of the brake

MEV offers compact solutions

MEV (My

Electric Vehicle)

showcased its range of compact electric vehicles including cage tipper and box van versions.

The MEV Cargo is a fully electric van powered by a 7.5kW electric motor, with a 50-mile range and top speed of 50mph. Also available with an extended battery offering up to 100 miles, the MEV Cargo has a payload of 300kg and a 1.65cu m capacity with space for loads of up to 1.38m long. It also has a roller shutter door.

Measuring just 3.15m in length, the MEV Cargo has found customers in a range of businesses, including several blue-chip organisations.

system properly. The water spray was also misaligned and so was not fully cooling the brakes. This meant the brakes were overheating and needed replacing regularly. The team was able to immediately realign the sensors and spray system, saving thousands of pounds and lots of downtime.

Smith said: “Brigade’s cameras have saved us a substantial amount of money due to not having to replace the brakes as often. The camera image is crystal-clear. The quality is excellent.”

Brigade cameras cut cost and time Key safe

Electronic key management company

E-Track has launched a key-locking system for transport yards. The vehicle’s key is locked in the box at the docking bay before loading starts and will only be accessible again once the vehicle is loaded and it is safe for the truck to move away.

The system helps to prevent injury and death, avoiding the risk of the vehicle accidentally moving away before loading is finished.

E-Track MD Adam Smith said: “The Embedded Dock Door System (EDDS) is an innovative product that’s new to the market.”

Colson puts steel to test

Colson Trailers returned to RTX with several new products, including the lightweight steel aggregate trailer and clamshell grab (right).

The Heanor-based company launched its Agglite 3-axle 35cu yard trailer with a steel chassis using steel bodywork instead of aluminium, but still coming close to aluminium aggregate trailers for tare weight.

Company director Alan Colson said: “Our main selling point is that aggregate trailers are usually made from aluminium and their tare weight is about 6.2 tonnes. We have done the same with steel, going from 4mm 450 Hardox to 3mm 500 Tuf Hardox, which is 30% stronger.

“Steel lasts longer than aluminium, it is cheaper and will be in a better condition after five years.”

Having run a fleet of 30 grab lorries for 20 years, Colson Group decided to design a clamshell bucket suited to faster loading to maximise the vehicles’ earning potential, and it is now going to mass

Manitou loses weight

Among the range of products on display at Manitou, the highlight was

EcoPoint 3 tyres boost performance

Sailun Tyres previewed its next-generation tyre technology at the show.

EcoPoint 3 Technology is Sailun Tyres’ upcoming product line for sustainable truck and bus tyres.

a trailer carrying the ultracompact ULM telehandler. Standing for Ultra Light Manitou, the ULM model weighs in at less than 3 tonnes, enabling it to be loaded onto a 3,500kg trailer.

It has been designed specifically as a supercompact telehandler with a width of just 1.49m and a height of 1.92m.

It comes in two versions with lifting capacities of 1.25 tonnes and 1.5 tonnes and is capable of a lifting to a height of 4.3m.

production. It debuted on the Palfinger stand.

Colson said: “The difference between it and the only other design on the market is that it scoops underneath what it is picking up and actually carries the load, rather than having the two shells held together by rams, so it doesn’t drop anything.”

The company said new manufacturing methods using different compounds gave tyres better properties to improve rolling resistance and skid resistance and reduce wear.

Marketing director Adam Bromilow said:

“This is a ground-breaking manufacturing process that’s coming soon to Sailun Tyres. It’s resulting in better fuel consumption compared with premium brands and it’s more environmentally friendly.”

Geotab TMS offering expanded in Europe

Geotab has expanded its vehicle solutions systems for the HGV market across Europe.

Providing digitised compliance data such as remote tachograph downloads, live drivers’ hours and fuel efficiency information, Geotab’s systems give fleet managers actionable insights into fleet operations.

The firm provides cold chain solutions with live

data from the vehicle and temperature status reports. These systems digitise compliance information to make it available on demand, including immediate access to historic data to analyse trends and identify any signs of maintenance issues before a breakdown.

Geotab has 3.6 million connected vehicles worldwide, the majority of which are HGVs.

Hankook shows Laufenn tyres

Hankook Tyre UK highlighted its own range of tyres at the show as well as commercial vehicle tyres from its second-line brand Laufenn.

Taking pride of place on its stand was a new range of hybrid tyres designed for regional and long-distance transport. These included: the Hankook SmartFlex AL51 for the steering axle;

an all-position tyre; and the SmartFlex DL51 for the drive axle.

Hankook unveiled the LF95 trailer tyre from Laufenn and displayed two other Laufenn regionalhaul treads: the LF22 allposition tyre and the LZ22 drive axle tyre.

By expanding its product portfolio under the Laufenn brand, Hankook

aims to strengthen its position in the UK truck tyre replacement market.

Laufenn commercial tyres, built on Hankook’s quality and innovative technologies, are claimed to provide value for money and offer guaranteed retreadability across the range, which reduces costs and minimises environmental impact.

Malaysia promotes its rubber

The Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) used RTX to raise awareness of the different companies and product expertise in the sector to world markets.

Malaysian rubber companies provide a range of products from tyres and truck bumpers to vehicle components such as hoses, gaskets, seals, tubing and belts. These can be supplied directly to OEMs or for aftermarket use for repair and maintenance.

MRC has a London office, which facilitates exports of Malaysian products to Europe by monitoring developments and changes in policies and regulations.

Hireco portal has it covered

Jost on the button with automated coupling kit

Jost (GB) has spent the past 12 months demonstrating its KKS2, an automated coupling system for tractor units and trailers.

The push-button trailer coupling system removes the need for the driver to get in or out of the cab. It combines an array of

pre-existing Jost systems such as its Modul E-Drive automatic landing legs, electronic fifth wheel opening and closing, and remote-control systems.

KKS takes control of the automatic locking and unlocking of the fifth-wheel kingpin, the connection of the air,

electric and brake lines, and lowering and raising of the trailer landing legs.

Product manager

Andreas Jakubin said three kits had been sold in the UK, and that the coupling system had been demonstrated more than 50 times during the first two days of the show.

Contract hire specialist Hireco explained the benefits of its total transport solutions and digital transport manager offerings at the show.

Aimed at own-account operators whose core business is not operating trucks, the portal provides proactive real-time monitoring and gives a simplified access to vehicle, aftermarket and compliance services.

CameraMatics puts safety and sustainability first

CameraMatics was back at RTX this year with a keen focus on safety and sustainability.

The company produces a suite of driver safety products that incorporate cameras, telematics and sensors, using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to provide rapid processing.

It talked to visitors about its Net Zero and Vision Zero initiatives.

Net Zero includes analysis of performance to help fleets improve their sustainability and carbon reduction.

Vision Zero is based on the expected Direct

Vision Standard 2024 requirements for HGVs entering London.

CameraMatics sales and commercial director Elliot Goff said: “It’s a bit of a hot topic, a bit emotive, depending on who you speak to.

On-site Aftercare saves time and money

Aftercare Response shared its fleet maintenance expertise with visitors at the show.

Part of the Bevan Group and founded in 2003 (as Bevan Aftercare), today

“The proposed legislation is upgrading sensor technology, so ultrasonics will be obsolete.”

CameraMatics also highlighted its nextgeneration of AI technology to detect vulnerable road users.

Truckfile system goes digital

Truckfile showcased its digital fleet and workshop management system at the show.

Launched in 2005 as a digital replacement for paper-based inspections, Truckfile has expanded to

provide a range of options from driver walk-around checks through to the management of workshop jobs.

The system can be used to support operators working to achieve DVSA

Earned Recognition.

One of the company’s latest products is a voice system for workshops in which technicians wear a headset and can hear the documents being read to them to enable a handsfree environment. They can also make voice notes and add photos in response where needed.

MD Paul Whittingham said: “It does everything that Truckfile feeds it –in other words, all your inspection sheets, MoTs, services – but through a voice device.”

Aftercare Response is a leading provider of mobile maintenance and breakdown services in the UK.

With more than 260 customers, the business said it is experiencing a buoyant time.

Its services include: onsite CV body repairs; tail-lift installation, maintenance, servicing and repair; fleet maintenance contracts; OEM warranty work; and nationwide emergency roadside assistance –available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The mobile maintenance specialist said its on-site service offering is what sets it apart: 95% of jobs are completed on site at customer premises nationwide, reducing vehicle downtime and fleet mileage and emissions, as well as fuel and driver costs.

With the continued shift towards vehicle fleet electrification, Aftercare engineers are also trained on the requirements for working safely with new technology.

Vallely works to reduce emissions

Reducing emissions is a priority for tanker manufacturer Vallely Tankers (UK), MD Gerry Vallely said at the show.

For a 19,000-litre vacuum stainless-steel tanker fitted to a Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3251 8x4 tridem with a galvanised chassis in Lanes Group’s livery, his company has fitted a maintenancefree vacuum pump from Battioni Pagani. Because the pump is encased and maintenance-free, it eliminates the discharge of oil residue from the pipes when a traditional pump has its oil replaced.

Durite has its eye on vehicle safety

Camera specialist Durite highlighted its latest range of AHD (analogue highdefinition) vehicle safety products and a new, online equipment selection.

The entire Durite range is now available in 1,080p full HD, which Durite said offered drivers and operators crystal-clear imagery and irrefutable digital evidence of all vehicle movements and potential incidents.

In addition, Durite’s vehicle camera systems now integrate with Webfleet telematics, so fleet managers can remotely access camera footage from the Webfleet portal.

TruTac updates software

This includes the ability to download first notification of loss videos. The Durite team was on hand at the show to offer advice on Durite’s range of Direct Vision Standardand FORS Silver-compliant systems.

To help operators select the optimum solution, Durite’s online Logistics and Transport Operator support system features a unique interactive Kit Selector. This uses a step-by-step process for managers to easily select the right equipment for improved safety, compliance and cost reduction.

Microlise subsidiary TruTac unveiled new modules and features from its range of fleet management and compliance control software at the show.

These included TruFleet Workshop, designed to improve asset management and maintenance planning. It can create bespoke

templates for all vehicle needs – including inspections, repairs, servicing, MoTs and associated costs. Also on show was TruDocuments Premium, which makes documentation, such as policies, handbooks and certificates, available to drivers via the TruTac app.

More from Warrell Richards

Warrell Richards displayed its durable range of aluminium and stainlesssteel storage boxes for mounting on CVs.

The Kent-based family business designs and builds standard and bespoke storage

units for tools, straps and lightboards. It also manufactures robust wheel arch trays, mudguards, brackets and locks.

Warrell Richards works with OEMs and plans to expand its network of aftersales trade partners.

Labcraft shines on Hiab shows new products

Labcraft, manufacturer of low-voltage LED lighting, highlighted a range of innovative lighting solutions, including additions to its Banksman range.

The company’s best-selling line is the Banksman ECE-R23 vehicle manoeuvring light that meets the strict criteria of Regulation 23. It is offered in multiple models to fit any truck, trailer or emergency vehicle.

The Banksman enables OEMs and operators to meet Regulation 48 directives for lights installed pre-vehicle registration.

Lights are fitted around the chassis to direct pure bright light downwards and away from the vehicle, illuminating the area around it and helping to reduce accidents and collisions while manoeuvring.

Hiab pulled out all the stops to wow attendees at this year’s Road Transport Expo.

It showcased its new iX 158 crane at the event, alongside running daily demos of its smart and sustainable load-handling solutions, such as the fully electric forklift, E-Moffett E4, and a closer look at the new solar-powered DEL tail-lifts.

Attendees also got an exclusive look at Hiab’s new crane operator training simulator, set to hit the UK market later this year.

Washing with Miswa Chemicals

Miswa Chemicals debuted an innovative new Polygard screenwash mixing system at RTX, which provides a time-saving solution for garages and commercial vehicle workshops.

The simple yet effective wall-mounted device provides a ready-to-use screenwash at the push of a button to vehicle technicians. The chemicals manufacturer also

highlighted its extensive range of Polygard professional automotive and refinishing products, including brake fluids, brake cleaners, anti-freeze, refinishing solution, de-icer and valeting essentials.

E-axle converts rotation into energy

A new e-axle converting momentum into energy for refrigeration units was the standout product on the BPW stand at RTX.

The company, celebrating its 125th year, fitted its ePower axle to a Turners of Soham refrigerated trailer. It is designed to recover

energy when the trailer is moving, enabling a carbonneutral supply of power to the refrigeration unit for temperature-controlled transport, said sales director Glyn Davies.

“The innovative energy recovery system for refrigeration units delivers immediate and long-term

sustainable benefits while cutting operating costs.”

It works like a bike dynamo, by converting wheel rotation and recuperation, like braking, into energy and temporarily storing it in a backup battery before feeding it into the system as needed.

Totalkare designs mobile roller Interpump eyes electric

Workshop equipment specialist Totalkare has developed a mobile roller brake tester that it said

could be set up in less than five minutes on any site with a reasonably flat surface and a three-phase

power supply.

It can be used by operators who wish to move it from one location to another as and when required.

Costing up to £35,000, it can also be deployed in rented premises with landlords who are not prepared to undergo the civil works that are needed to install a fixed brake tester.

Also on show was an automated tyre changer (pictured) designed to minimise the risk of back injuries that can occur when technicians lift heavy wheels and tyres.

Italian hydraulics specialist Interpump has set its sights on the electric truck market.

The company makes hoses, fittings and pumps for tippers, loader cranes and refuse bodies and traditionally drives its pumps from a gearbox PTO (power take-off). It is now developing electric pumps for use in electric trucks with similar applications.

Interpump said electric pumps offer more flexible mounting and positioning than gear-drive units and are more efficient.

Spot the human with Spillard

Thomas’s Group is specifying Spillard’s Human Detection System on every truck it purchases above 12 tonnes.

The device, located on the truck’s nearside, alerts the driver to humans in the vehicle’s blind spot.

It only detects pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, so eliminates false alarms.

An in-cab monitor visualises the distance by measurement and colour codes. If the person is 20m away it shows as green, identifying that the distance is safe. It changes to yellow and then red if the person moves into a dangerous position.

It is one of many safety devices fitted as standard to the 300 DAFs Thomas’s Group purchases each year. Others include a kerb-view window, work lamps on the

back of the cab, and wheel chocks.

“We’re talking to Spillard about fitting detectors on the front of trucks, as they’ll be required for 2024,”

said Thomas’s Group MD Jason Horobin, referring to changes to London’s Direct Vision Standard.

The Birmingham company keeps its trucks for between 18 months and two years, and Horobin wants them to be compliant with “current standards, not the standards of yesterday” when they reach the used market.

Its stand featured a new DAF XG (pictured), which, in addition to a host of safety devices, had also been equipped with numerous creature comforts including a full leather interior, fridge and microwave.

Lawrence David celebrates 50 years

A new galvanised skeletal trailer (right) was centre stage on the Lawrence David stand.

The trailer and truck body manufacturer is celebrating its 50th year since Lawrence Marshall started the company in Peterborough in 1973. Since it was acquired by Wielton Group in 2018 it has become part of a wider group that is the thirdlargest body and trailer manufacturer in Europe.

The skelly trailer, weighing in at 4,900kg, is a first for the UK, said MD Andy Dodge. “Everything about Lawrence David products is longevity; we want the customer to buy a trailer or truck body from

us and in seven years be their first choice to replace it,” he said.

Also on the stand was a Volvo electric truck specified from truck dealer Hartshorne Motor Services, which was fitted with an

aerodynamic body and tuck-in curtains.

Dodge said the phone had not stopped ringing about new longer semitrailers since government rubber-stamped the new legislation for maximum

Marvtech shows Macs Trucks

Lancashire-based Marvtech had two products at RTX in the Macs Trucks livery: a new asphalt tipper body

and an economically gas-fuelled hotbox.

Marvtech director Craig Ramplee said the tipper was a new product aimed at local authorities, utility companies and road repair businesses that move a mix of loads and equipment to sites.

The design of the universal body is for 7.5-tonne and 12-tonne GVW units. The drop sides, floor and tailgate, fitted with two chutes, are all insulated for any asphalt it transports.

Ramplee added: “We use high-density foam in the floor and mineral wool in

the sides.”

The tipper body is also the first foray into making alternative bodies to hotboxes, which the company is known for. For these, Marvtech has developed a range of heated equipment products to suit different applications from transport to static operations. On the stand was an auger-driven hotbox on the back of a DAF LF. “This has a powered burner that we can control for the heat-up process from 5kW to 40kW using just one burner, instead of a more traditional atmospheric burner.”

15.65m trailers. “Trucks cost a lot more these days and prices are likely to go up again next year, so with a longer semi if you’ve got the ability to carry 15% more, why wouldn’t you?” he said.

Put an end to overloading with VPG’s WasteWeigh

Refuse collection trucks are just as likely to be overloaded as other types of trucks are.

VPG Onboard

Weighing’s WasteWeigh package prevents this from happening by shutting down the body’s waste compactor once the maximum legal load has been reached.

It can also act to ensure that the load is correctly redistributed across the rear axles.

Aquarius shows off compliance solutions

Aquarius IT highlighted its range of compliance and Earned Recognitionapproved fleet management systems at the show. This included the Aquarius Asset Maintenance portal, which integrates with the company’s tacho analysis system, defect app and eSIGN technologies.

The company said the portal was transforming the way operators managed, communicated, connected and reported on all areas of fleet management relating to vehicle maintenance, inspections and driver activity.

Visitors also got a first look at Aquarius IT’s new Asset Finance system, which works in tandem with Asset Maintenance to give operators and workshop managers an intuitive way of monitoring maintenance and parts costs related to each asset.

The team also demonstrated the latest features in its Time & Attendance system.

Connectivity with tachoanalysis data means it can help operators dynamically manage administrativeburdensome tasks related to employee hours, shifts/ rotas, holidays, expenses and pay.

Padoan takes time to talk tanks and machinery

Tank specialist Padoan talked to visitors about its range of hydraulic, diesel and combined tanks for CVs and machinery.

The company’s mounting kits are ready to use for side- or rear-cab installation and a range of filters, fittings, components, and accessories provide turnkey solutions to make jobs easier for OEMs, bodybuilders and endusers.

Padoan also used the show to introduce its new TLINE 85/18 hydraulic oil tank to the UK. It features a compact design, with a depth of only 180mm for trucks that have no space on the chassis and limited room on the rear of the cab to install a hydraulic tank.

Marketing and communication manager Federico Modesto said taking part in the show enabled the company to gain an understanding of operators’ needs.

“We had the opportunity to deepen key technical topics that are related

to new powertrain technologies, as well as vehicle equipment, layout and applications,” he said.

“We have been able to prove how fundamental collaboration is to guarantee service and effectiveness to market players.”

Boweld exhibits anniversary tipper

Boweld Truck Bodies brought the wow factor to its stand with a Scania XT 560 R 8x4 tipper in the 50th anniversary livery of Welsh haulier D&M Jones & Son (pictured).

Also featured on its stand was a Meiller SL14 skiploader and Mightylite grab.

German parent Meiller acquired Holywell, Flintshire-based Boweld in July 2017.

Giti Tire hits Mercury with monitoring system

Giti Tire presented its new Mercury tyre management system at the show.

Designed to provide a fully integrated cloudbased solution to monitoring tyre status, it incorporates real-time views of all tyre-related activity, at base or on the road.

The system is supported by two new apps: Giti

Fleet Check App, which provides real-time multilevel control and reporting of tyre issues; and Giti Retorque App, which monitors compliance with wheel retorquing protocols following tyre changes.

TBR sales and marketing director UK Tony McHugh said: “We are a midmarket truck and bus manufacturer offering

Braking just got smarter

value-added fleet services comparable with premium options.

“The Mercury fleet management programme has been in development for two years and active with several UK-based key fleet customers for 10 months. All of them have used the system to their operational and economic benefit.”

Dr Air Brake showcased its Reverse Smart radar safety technology at RTX.

Designed to stop a vehicle before impact, the system is ideal for trucks around which pedestrians regularly operate. Suitable for road sweepers, refuse vehicles, tarmac rollers and any truck and trailer combination, the system warns drivers to brake and if they fail to do so it automatically applies the service brake to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.

Operations director Mark Lowe said: “This solution is not one-size-fits-all, it’s tailor-made for the vehicle. It builds on our impact braking system to automatically engage the brake and is ideal for vehicles operating in tight spaces with lots of pedestrian activity.”

Alliance gets new name

Plastic tipper at production

The Goliath plastic tipper body is now productionready. Manufacturing of partially completed kits will be undertaken in Poland, with final assembly carried out by Boweld in the UK, at the rate of up to 250 bodies a year.

The first completed body

was bought by Swindon operator WGH, and fitted to an MAN TGX 8x4 (above). The body, built from HDPE panels with a steel framework, offers a weight reduction of up to 1 tonne compared with an all-steel equivalent, with increased durability.

London utility contractor Terrafirma Pipeline, which carried out prototype testing and evaluation in the early days of the project, the brainchild of award-winning engineer Chris Ecob, has taken a share in Goliath to speed the project to market.

The Alliance Automotive group of companies, best known for the NAPA brand through its sponsorship of racing teams in the British Touring Car Championship, relaunched as CV Components at the show.

Its UK-wide group of companies encompasses 260 branches with 34 dedicated LGV and commercial vehicle centres.

Tip Over lift added to PTV

Palfinger Tail Lifts revealed its latest update to the PTV range at the show with a new Tip Over lift designed for tippers.

A variation of the popular PTV 500 lift range that is designed specifically for 3.5-tonne vehicles, the new PTV 500 LTO Tip Over lift

Three from Prometeon

Prometeon highlighted three key areas at RTX: its improved Serie 02 range of tyres; its PRO Services solutions; and its UK SuperTruck network.

The new and improved Serie 02 range is the first Prometeon-engineered Pirelli-branded tyre range with enhanced mileage, sturdiness, load capacity and considerably improved rolling resistance.

Prometeon’s PRO Services range enables fleet managers to create a tailored service

programme for their tyre management needs with major operational efficiency gains.

PRO Management is a centralised invoicing system, while PRO Check is a digital inspection and monitoring system for tyres, using the most advanced tools on the market. Prometeon’s SuperTruck is a UK-wide network of tyre dealers that specialises in the truck and bus sector. It offers a range of tyre-related services and Pirelli-branded products.

Making batteries last

The environmental benefit of battery electric vehicles is not a closed loop yet, Zenobe told visitors at the show.

The company has 70 power accessibility projects worldwide. These include battery performance and monitoring software solutions, infrastructure software and fleet management solutions to

assist the move to electric traction.

Its latest initiative is in second-life usage of EV batteries. These can be used as a temporary power source, acting as a reservoir on site to charge electric vehicles or as a portable power source where fossilfuelled generators may previously have been the only solution.

enables tipper vehicles to tip beyond the tail-lift.

The design allows material to be loaded normally into the load bed using the tail-lift, but with the added benefit of being able to lower the folded tail-lift below the level of the load bed floor in order

to safely discharge without causing damage to the lift.

The PTV 500 LTO is also said to be more robust but lighter weight than the standard design and is expected to find favour with local councils and operators of tipper and dropside vehicles.

BCL unveils Mega Max scrap trailer

BCL Commercials has introduced its latest import, a Polish-made Mega Max scrap trailer.

The Mega brand is part of the French-owned Benalu Group and the 55cu m capacity scrap trailer is the newest model being sold by distributor BCL, which unveiled it at RTX.

BCL Commercials has recently been appointed as a main dealer for Benalu trailers and parts,

supplying the construction, agribusiness, container and timber sectors.

Made from Hardox 450 steel with a 5mm floor and 4mm walls, the Mega is establishing itself as a challenger brand in the UK market, capitalising on the strength and payload capacity of its scrap trailer. With a tare weight of approximately 8,450kg, it has capacity for nearly 27 tonnes.

Commercial vehicle equipment supplier AES UK launched its latest product at RTX, the TreadReader tyre scanner for truck tyres.

TreadReader area sales manager for UK and Ireland Richard Crummock said: “We can capture a tyre scan in a matter of seconds that’s repeatable and consistent; it’s going to analyse tyre wear to tell us whether it’s wearing strangely, whether there’s a potential inflation issue and whether there’s an alignment issue.

Learn the risk of cycling with JCS headset

JCS Transport Consultancy highlighted a 360-degree virtual reality headset designed to alert the wearer to the challenges of cycling in heavy traffic. The headset teaches drivers the problems

cyclists face without having to ride a bike.

JCS runs a range of CPC courses and offers a compliance audit for transport companies. Its specialists can analyse hauliers’ records and

Specialist celebrates

highlight shortcomings in areas such as maintenance, daily walk-around checks and drivers’ hours rules adherence.

The system has been approved by JAUPT for use in Driver CPC training.

Specialist Trailer Hire is celebrating its 25th year with a new livery displayed on a Krone triaxle box trailer.

However, the main focus on the stand was the Goldhofer Stepstar (pictured, left); its main bed is a one-piece steel construction.

Specialist Trailer Hire has more than 1,600 trailers and 400 trucks on its fleet and provides trailer maintenance.

“In just seconds, users can scan the tyre, upload it to a report and fleet managers, fitters and anyone involved in that vehicle can quickly see the condition of that tyre.”

TreadReader uses Bluetooth to transmit the scan to a computer, so it can be used anywhere. It can scan over a 50mm contact patch of the tyre, and will show a 3D graphic of the tyre surface and measure the tread depth.

The system also shows up irregularities such as a trapped object.

Check tyres with AES TreadReader Digital Driver Handbook

The perks of using The Driver Handbook, a digital communication and training tool for drivers, were highlighted at RTX.

Business development director Lee Williamson said: “It’s a communication tool for drivers. We’ve taken the traditional driver handbook and created an app, a content management system (CMS) for managers, and we also create all the content.

“As an organisation, you wouldn’t need to create another handbook. We keep up to date with legislation and regulations. We also distribute toolbox talks on a monthly basis.”