Sharp ■ Informed ■ Challenging
21.9.20
Roanza saved in pre-pack deal while Cartwright files to appoint Deloitte
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Pandemic a shot in the arm for administrators By Chris Tindall
MT has learnt of two major industry developments in north-west www.mtawards.co.uk England as the Covid-19 pandemic #MTAwards2020 continues to impact the sector. In the first, it is understood that Altrincham-based trailer manufacturer Cartwright Group has NEWS INSIDEwide01/04/2020 0940_MTA advert_celebrate_43mm x 64mm high.indd 16:56 1 filed a notice to appoint administrator Deloitte to handle its affairs. Pallet weight debate Cartwright Group can trace its Reason guilty in driver death p3 history back to 1952 and is one of the UK’s leading trailer and Cost control in focus commercial vehicle body and Losses deepen at Arcese p4 conversion manufacturers. In June, the group hailed its Electric vehicles employees for their work in keepScania’s power surge p6 ing it going in what it described as an “unprecedented period”. It added: “As we move into July OPERATORS INSIDE and our production facility is returning to normal operations, Arcese .......................................................... p4 we are looking forward to getting City Sprint................................................... p42 DPD ............................................................ p42 back to ‘business as usual’.” Farrall’s Group............................................. p38 In 2016 Cartwright Group won Fraikin .......................................................... p6 a Motor Transport award for its Gnewt ......................................................... p42 KNP ............................................................ p38 apprenticeship scheme. Malcolm Group............................................ p38 Six years earlier, former Martin Brower ............................................. p42 Cartwright Group joint MDs John Q Delivery Services...................................... p38 Rase Distribution........................................... p3 and Steven Cartwright set up Reason ......................................................... p3 trailer manufacturer Tiger Trailers Roberts Bakery ........................................... p38 Wincanton ................................................... p3 in Winsford, Cheshire. XPO .............................................................. p4 A Deloitte spokesman said it Yodel............................................................. p3 had not yet been appointed and
declined to comment further. Meanwhile, the administrator of Warrington-based Mercedes truck and van dealership Roanza has confirmed that the sale of parts of the business and its assets, which saved 340 jobs, was a prepack deal. Grant T hornton UK in Manchester was appointed to the dealer, as well as subsidiary Premier Vehicle Rental, on 8 September. Roanza operated full service Mercedes truck and van dealerships under franchise at eight sites. In a letter to customers, new chairman Sid Sadique (pictured) and director Ali Sharifi confirmed eStar Truck and Van was now the new name for the dealership in the north-west and north Wales. The letter said: “With immediate effect, eStar Truck and Van has taken over the previous Roanza dealerships at Warrington, Deeside, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent and Trafford Park. We will provide new and used truck sales as well as van and truck after-sales services at all of these locations and look forward to welcoming you.” Sadique is described as “a longestablished Mercedes-Benz
customer”, having founded Riverside Truck Rental in 2006. In 2018, he purchased Sparshatt Truck & Van and joined the franchised Mercedes-Benz network. Referring to the purchase of Roanza, Sadique said: “We looked at the franchise proposition from a strategic point of view and realised that given the different service points and offerings we already have, the opportunities to ‘crosssell’ made for a compelling business case.” The sale does not include the company’s operations in Doncaster, East Manchester and one of the two sites previously operated in Liverpool, which have all ceased to trade. Around 80 positions have been made redundant at these three sites.
HYDROGEN FUTURE: Daimler Trucks is to begin trials of its 40-tonne Mercedes-Benz GenH2 fuel cell truck in 2023, with series production starting in the second half of this decade. The vehicle uses liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen, which has a higher density. This gives it a 1,000km range, which is comparable to that of a diesel-powered truck. Earlier this year Daimler and Volvo Trucks announced details of a collaboration to produce and sell fuel cell systems for heavy-duty trucks. Daimler has also presented the Mercedes eActros LongHaul, a battery-powered truck with a 500km range, which will go into series production in 2024. Meanwhile its eActros rigid, which has been trialled with customers for the past two years, will be on sale next year. Martin Daum, chairman of the board of management at Daimler Trucks, said: “This combination enables us to offer our customers the best vehicle options, depending on the application. Battery power will be rather used for lower cargo weights and for shorter distances. Fuel-cell power will tend to be the preferred option for heavier loads and longer distances.” He also announced the company’s ambition to offer only new vehicles that are CO2-neutral in driving operation (from tank to wheel) in Europe, North America and Japan by 2039.
Focus: Warehousing p10 Viewpoint p12 Aftermarket p15 Trailer technology p28 Driver recruitment p32 Biodiesel p34 MT Awards p38
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Coventry haulier admits culpability after delivery worker is crushed by pallet he was unloading
Reason guilty in driver death By Carol Millett
states: “It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.”
Pallet network hauliers need to urgently campaign for pallet weight guidance to protect their staff from harm and themselves from prosecution, Rase Distribution chairman Geoff Hill has warned. In November 2018 Rase went head to head with Palletways by introducing a pallet weight limit of 750kg. It followed a risk assessment carried out by the firm that led it to conclude that tail-lift deliveries of pallets above 750kg to residential addresses posed an unacceptable risk to drivers. However, Palletways refused to acknowledge the limit, which left the Lincolnshire haulier shouldering thousands of pounds of courier costs for the delivery of pallet loads above 750kg, which it refused to handle under its safety policy. Rase Distribution quit Palletways in January this year.
RHA ‘frustrated’ by vague Brexit response
21.9.20
government is struggling to make more investment until January,” he said. “The biggest blockage is around the Treasury’s intransigence. But we didn’t get answers.” Burnett also revealed that concerns about moving goods over the Irish border was now “one of the government’s biggest concerns”. “But they don’t understand that traders will have to upload all their master data into a system to manage customs codes and tariffs that might be not be ready until November and December,” he explained. Gove has agreed to reply to all concerns raised by later this week.
Shutterstock
RHA chief executive Richard Burnett has been left “angry and frustrated” following a meeting with minister for the cabinet office Michael Gove MP to discuss postBrexit plans for international hauliers. Burnett had hoped the session would focus solely on how the UK’s exit from the EU on 1 January would affect the sector amid growing concerns over potential chaos at the ports. However, he said time had been limited as Gove had also invited other stakeholders from other industries, including members of the maritime sector, Eurotunnel and Kent Council. In the meeting, also attended by transport secretary Grant Shapps MP, Burnett said Gove insisted that the government was “100% going in January” and that he was fully aware of the RHA’s concerns. Top of Burnett’s agenda, he said, were RHA concerns over a lack of customs intermediaries to handle new port documentation. “We only have 500 and the
The case has been adjourned for sentencing until 16 October. An HSE investigation into pallet weights for tail-lift vehicles in 2018 resulted in it recommending no limit on pallet weights but a requirement that drivers make a risk assessment of the safety of
each tail-lift delivery. The recommendations were passed to the pallet weight working group, which put together draft guidance that was passed back for approval to HSE early this year. The HSE has yet to approve the guidance.
Rase chairman calls for urgent campaign over pallet weights
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Reason Transport has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the death of HGV driver Petru Pop in November 2016. The Coventry-based haulier appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 28 August to face charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Petru Pop died while making a delivery to a residential address in High Wycombe on behalf of Reason Transport, which was a Palletways member at the time. Pop was crushed to death beneath a 1.1-tonne pallet of tiles he was attempting to unload. Following an HSE investigation, Reason Transport was charged under section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act which
Hill questioned why clear guidelines on pallet weights have yet to be published, despite an industry working group, in partnership with HSE, having worked on draft guidelines since 2015. Hill said: “If the guidelines had existed in 2016, Petru Pop could have been alive today. We started a crusade at Rase but it is an unfinished one. “This case will become established case law and will put the onus directly onto the operator. The responsibility has bypassed the consignor and the pallet network and landed entirely on the shoulders of the pallet network haulier. “Pallet network hauliers need to realise how important it is that there is reliable and clear guidance to protect their drivers and their businesses. They need to demand that clear guidance on pallet weights be published immediately.”
Wincanton thrives on surge in e-fulfilment Wincanton has reported continued profitability in July and August with particularly strong performance in digital and e-fulfilment. In a summary of its performance since its AGM trading update on 22 July 2020, the group said it was benefiting from an increase in demand for online retail, with revenue significantly ahead of pre-Covid-19 levels. Volumes in the two-person home delivery business have remained high and operational efficiencies in digital and e-fulfilment have led to improved margins. Performance across the rest of the group also remained “encouraging”, supported by changes to the cost base in the face of challenging external conditions.
Yodel plans a northern ‘super hub’ Yodel has confirmed it wants to build a northern ‘super hub’ in response to a dramatic increase in parcel volumes. It said the long-term strategic investment would involve a transition from its existing hub in Shaw over five years, but the parcel
carrier also said it would protect all existing jobs, as well as creating new ones in the region. A consultation will now be launched with employees, colleagues, union representatives and local stakeholders to identify a new site. MotorTransport 3
News
Lincolnshire drivers caught in Tramline sting A police operation which used an unmarked lorry to target large commercial vehicles in the Lincolnshire area of the A1 has resulted in 32 trucks being stopped over a three-day period. A total of 49 vehicles were stopped during Operation Tramline. These included 32 lorries, 11 LGVs and six private vehicles. The 46 traffic offences identified were: n Mobile phone use – 3 n Seatbelt – 37 n Construction and use – 2 n Driving without due care – 2 n No insurance – 1 n Drivers’ hours – 1 Inspector Marc Gee from the Lincolnshire Police Specialist Operations Unit, said: “The intention of the operation is to enforce against fatal offences that increase the risk to drivers and other road users. We will continue to use the unmarked lorry at various times throughout the year.” n Kent police said border checks were returning to normal after an operation at Dover port last week prompted the implementation of Operation Stack and six-hour queues. No reason was given for the sudden checks of all vehicles and passengers. One haulier told MT the operation had “predictably caused mayhem in the port and surrounding roads”.
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Turnover down 8%, but freight forwarder says cost focus bearing fruit
Arcese UK stays bullish Turnover at Tilbury and Daventrybased business Arcese UK fell by almost 8% last year, although it said a more focused commercial approach started to bear fruit in the latter part of 2019. The logistics and freight forwarding company reported revenues of £23m in the year ending 31 December 2019, a reduction of 7.9% on 2018. Pre-tax losses deepened during the period, to £985,000 compared to £939,000 the year before. In a review of its business it said it continued to lease vehicles through the Arcese group, but it also replaced older, owned fleet vehicles during the period – with 25 new HGVs delivered between October 2019 and January 2020. “There were also further structural changes within the business
during the year, seeing a focus on cost reduction, internal training and increased performance management, all bringing about a more focused business approach,” it said. “A number of strategic contracts were renewed for the coming peri-
ods with positive effects on their specific trading outcomes.” Arcese UK added that any impact on its business by the Covid-19 outbreak was mitigated by the ongoing financial support of its parent company Arcese S.p.A.
XPO Logistics lands contracts with Beko and Samsung XPO Logistics has landed a contract with home appliance group Beko to serve as transport partner in the UK. Under the deal, XPO will be responsible for delivering the full range of Beko refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, cookers, dishwashers and freezers marketed under its home appliance brands Beko, Grundig, Leisure, Flavel, Blomberg and Zenith. XPO will operate a dedicated
fleet with in-cab technology for tracking and proof-of-delivery. The company will manage distribution of appliances to inde-
pendent stores and retail chains, operating from Beko warehouses in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and Hams Hall, Warwickshire. n XPO Logistics has also begun providing UK distribution for Samsung Climate Solutions (SCS), handling last-mile deliveries of its heating, ventilation and air conditioning products. The service is managed from 10 regional hubs using a fleet of 18-tonne, tail-lift trucks and sophisticated tracking technology.
Rockett heads to Potter Space as Lamb seeks new pastures Business park operator Potter Space has appointed Jason Rockett (pictured left) as new MD. He replaces Matthew Lamb (right), who the company said was stepping down after 15 years. Potter Space was formerly Potter Logistics, which was named Haulier of the Year at the 2015 Motor Transport Awards – the same year it celebrated its 50th anniversary. The company was sold to WH Bowker in November 2016, a move that saw the end of the Potter family involvement in road transport after more than half a century. Lamb will continue to work with 4 MotorTransport
Potter Space during the transition but is exploring other opportunities. He will also continue his involvement with Transport For North and the North Yorkshire Lab. Rockett joins from Gentian Development Group, prior to which he was at Scarborough Property Group and, more latterly, Sheffield United FC. Potter Space executive chairman Derrick Potter (centre) said: “Matthew has worked extremely successfully, changing the organisation from an awardwinning logistics company into a thriving industrial business park operator.” 21.9.20
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Swedish truck maker unveils series production full and hybrid electrics
Scania powers up By Tim Wallace
Scania has revealed plans to launch a range of fast-charging electric long-distance HGVs within the next few years as it ramps up its drive towards battery-powered sustainable vehicles. Speaking as the company unveiled its first series production range of electric trucks, consisting of full electric (right) and a plug-in hybrid, Scania president and chief executive Henrik Henriksson said further launches in other sectors will follow on an annual basis. “In a few years’ time we will also introduce long-distance electric trucks adapted for fast-charging during drivers’ compulsory 45-minute rest periods,” he added. Offered in both L- and P-series rigid guises, Scania’s latest e-trucks are aimed squarely at urban applications. In addition to general
cargo and temperature-controlled transport, they can be equipped with a wide range of bodywork, such as hook-lifts, tippers, concrete mixers and refuse collectors.
The company will be talking in detail with potential UK customers this winter, with the first righthand-drive product arriving in the second quarter of 2021.
London Bridge ban is ‘a step too far’ Transport for London has banned vehicles from London Bridge from 7am to 7pm on Mondays to Fridays. The change is part of TfL's Streetspace programme of temporary measures across London which can run for a maximum of 18 months. Natalie Chapman, head of urban policy at Logistics UK, said the ban will lead to more congestion and higher pollution. “This is a step too far,” she said. “By banning these vehicles, it forces commercial drivers to take significant detours, which, in addition to reducing productivity, will increase localised congestion and air pollution as traffic clusters to the remaining river crossings. “As the government continues to encourage local authorities to introduce myriad closure schemes, logistics is being funnelled into smaller and smaller areas of London.”
Fraikin strikes three-year deal with Prometeon Fraikin has appointed Prometeon as the tyre supplier to its fleet of 3,100 rigids, tractive units and trailers. Under the three-year contract it will supply and manage Pirelli and Formula tyres, with servicing provided by Prometeon’s nationwide network.
6 MotorTransport
As part of the agreement signed between the two firms, Fraikin will also benefit from Prometeon’s centralised billing and management reporting system. The move renews a long-time partnership between the two companies, which ran from 2006 and 2017.
Done deal: Peter Fairlie, MD of Prometeon Tyre Group (left) and Eric Baley, UK engineering & procurement director of Fraikin
21.9.20
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The Commercial Motor Show 2020 is bringing the buzz of a live trade show straight to your laptop
Virtual event keeps delivering The online Commercial Motor Show has been carefully designed to create a practical, engaging visitor experience for fleet operators looking to connect with the wider industry. Free to attend, the three-day virtual event will give delegates insight and advice on handling key business challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. These range from the looming Brexit impact on importing and
exporting freight, through to DVSA enforcement activities and Earned Recognition, and a glance into rapidly advancing future vehicle technology and fuels. Two bustling exhibition halls are the place to head for all your vehicle, technology and business service requirements. You’ll be able to navigate to the online booth you are interested in, where you can chose to download brochures, watch videos and
Axtec will ease burden with free weighbridge checks Axtec is inviting operators to its stand at the online Commercial Motor Show to share its expertise on ensuring fleet vehicles are not inadvertently overloaded. “Our dynamic system is the most accurate of its type in the world,” says director Derek Hack. “It is the only one that can be offered as a public weighbridge and to achieve that level of accuracy has taken many years of research and investment.” For operators wanting to assess their existing systems, Axtec will carry out a free calibration check and certificate on any make of axle weighbridges they may have installed at their depots.
chat live with the teams on hand throughout the event. It is even possible to virtually chat with key exhibitors or fellow online delegates in the show’s networking lounge. “We are thrilled with the industry support we’ve received in making the Commercial Show a must-attend event for anyone in the freight and logistics sector,” said Hayley Pink, events and projects editor. “In these unprecedented times, it is even more important to keep abreast of the latest regulations and be equipped with the knowledge you need to keep your business running compliantly and efficiently. “We can’t wait for the virtual doors to open later this month and feeling the buzz of a live trade show bringing industry together.” The Commercial Motor Show takes places from 29 September to 1 October. Book your free place today at: thecommercialmotorshow.vfairs.com
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21.9.20
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First half of 2020 sees take-up of big boxes rise in e-commerce boom
Demand still strong despite uncertainty
Boxes prove recipe for success in pandemic The growth in the UK’s recipe box market – which has been stimulated by the move towards online shopping during the Covid-19 crisis – has led to a series of property deals with the leading players. HelloFresh, for example, has taken a 230,000sq ft warehouse at Goodman’s Nuneaton 230 development, its second in the UK – the company already has a 236,000sq ft facility in Banbury. The new facility, which will produce and distribute boxes containing pre-measured ingredients for a range of recipes, is capable of reaching 55.9 million customers within a four-hour drivetime. Rival Gousto has taken extra space in two locations. These include a 307,000sq ft facility in Warrington which was speculatively developed by Mountpark and is due to go live by the end of 2021 (see story right). The company has also signed up for a 196,000sq ft facility in West Thurrock in Essex. This is a unit known as Chillbox, which is being refurbished by CBRE Global Investors, and includes a two-storey office and four individually controlled chiller chambers. The new facilities will help Gousto cope with its expansion, which saw revenues in the first six months of 2020 surpass those for the whole of 2019. Timo Boldt, Gousto’s CEO and founder, said: “We continue to see record levels of sales, even with the progressive easing of lockdown restrictions. As a result we’re looking to increase our capacity by at least threefold by 2022.” 10 MotorTransport
By Simon Jack
The first half of this year saw strong demand for warehouse property, despite the uncertainties about the economy, according to research from JLL. The company’s UK Big Box Industrial & Logistics report found that take-up of top quality Grade A properties over 100,000sq ft was 9.7 million sq ft in H1, a rise of 1% over the same period in 2019. This was 6% below H2 2019’s figure of 10.3 million sq ft but did not include short-term deals caused by the Covid crisis which amounted to a further 2.4 million sq ft. The south-east accounted for the largest share of demand at 44%, followed by the East Midlands at 20%, and Yorkshire & Humberside at 13%. Ed Cole, head of logistics at JLL, said that the pandemic has accelerated the move towards e-commerce, which accounted for 27% of takeup. Firms in other sectors, includ-
ing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, are also examining their overall supply chains. “Structurally, companies will need to consider the levels of stock they hold in the UK going forward and how well placed they are to address future spikes in demand,” Cole said. The report found that at the end of H1 there was 25.4 million sq ft of space available across the UK, 7% down on the end of 2019.
Currently, 4.9 million sq ft of speculative warehousing is under construction. ■ The figures for speculative development reflect market activity. For example, Panattoni aims to complete a 515,000 sq ft warehouse in Wakef ield in Q2 2021. Meanwhile, St Francis Group is planning to develop eight units totalling 400,000sq ft in Kings Norton, Birmingham, by the end of 2022.
Larger sites still scarce in the north-west Those looking for space in the north-west face an increasing challenge as levels of supply decline sharply in increasing demand. Savills’ Big Shed Briefing report for H1 showed availability of units above 100,000sq ft in the region falling by 41.5% to 4.24 million sq ft in the 12 months to the end of the period. Currently, there are just four speculative buildings under construction totalling 872,000sq ft in the north-west. Jon Atherton, a director based in Savills’ Manchester office, believes more will follow, although there will be a time lag before they are ready. “Developers have been watching
and waiting and there will be a shortfall in supply until any new buildings are completed. Anything from 100,000sq ft up to 500,000 sq ft is in short supply,” he said. This has come at a time when demand has been stimulated by a number of factors. “Brexit had an effect on take-up but once the election was completed and people knew what direction it was going in there was an increase in demand in December and January. Then the pandemic happened, which accelerated online retailing,” Atherton commented. Dixons Carphone is among those taking space, signing up for
a 375,000sq ft building at Logistics North in Bolton. Electrical goods retailer AO has taken 100,000sq ft near to its head office in Crewe and 115,000sq ft in Stafford. Also in Stafford, Wincanton has opened a 128,000sq ft warehouse for its Screwfix contract. The food sector has also been active in the north-west with recipe box company Gousto taking 307,000sq ft at Mountpark Warrington. Meanwhile, in St Helens, Kellogg’s has moved into a 525,000sq ft building developed by Bericote. Given the market conditions, a number of developers are bringing forward their construction plans. Stoford, for example, has signed a conditional agreement to develop a 670,000sq ft warehouse for Pets At Home in Stafford. Tritax Symmetry has launched a public consultation on a 1 million sq ft employment site and 65-acre country park at the former Cronton Colliery in Knowsley. 21.9.20
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Let the heroes come together T he long-term impact of Covid-19 is still far from certain, with the coming winter months probably being a turning point that could either see the virus escape our control or fade away and become a footnote in history. Steve Hobson What is unlikely to return to normal any Editor time soon are large face-to-face gatherings Motor in confined spaces and that has seen the Transport rise of one innovation for the transport and logistics industry – virtual exhibitions, conferences and awards. It is ironic in a way that an industry that always comes through a crisis because people need the everyday necessities of life delivering in the real world will have to rely on the virtual world for its key events this year. Even if people switch from visiting bricks and mortar shops to buying online, the products still need delivering. Until 3D printing magically progresses to a point where everyone can download their daily bread and milk, then logistics will remain
at the heart of our busy modern lives. For now, the best place to go for operators wanting to see the latest technology for their businesses is the virtual Commercial Motor Show. This three-day event begins on 29 September and will be introduced by transport minister Baroness Vere, an acknowledgement that logistics workers have been the “unsung heroes” of the pandemic, as her boss Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP put it recently. Exhibitions and conferences are great ways to keep up to speed with the latest developments that really can improve business performance so register today at thecommercialmotorshow.vfairs.com/ The beauty of exhibitions in particular is that you might come across something you didn’t even know you needed – or existed – that will improve efficiency or customer service. It is that ability to discover the unknown knowns that make exhibitions so powerful, whether real or virtual.
Are you ready to think like a winner? T Iain Speak MD Iain Speak Consultancy
here is little doubt the current Covid-19 pandemic is having a profound effect on life and business across the world. No one and nowhere is unaffected. There are already winners and losers; the media focus tends to be on the losers – bad news is ‘good news’ for some! High street retail, hospitality and sports are all severely affected, along with many other sectors. Online retail is a big winner. The trend towards internet shopping was already gaining significant ground but over recent months it has seen warp-speed progress. The market for online shopping has been fuelled by people sitting furloughed at home with little to do. Also, it’s not just the younger generation – it’s everyone. And it’s not just smaller consumer goods that are being purchased. Would you ever have considered buying peat or turf online previously? Apparently, there is also currently a UK shortage of garden sheds. So, the challenge for business is how to set about becoming a winner? Firstly, you must look forward and resist the temptation to look in the rear-view mirror to wonder ‘what if?’. Secondly, you must embrace change and act fast where the decision is either low risk or critical for survival. You must then plan the strategic change. Set objectives, determine where you are now, establish the
12 MotorTransport
gaps and your options to fill them, and set the pace – but never ‘bet the ranch’. Thirdly, look around you beyond the walls of your own business. For example, which of your competitors are acting and displaying the characteristics of a loser? You must perform better because their demise may be your opportunity. Lastly, cash has always been king, and never more so than now. Without it you have fewer options. Consider where and how its generated – the government’s loan schemes and incentives, for example. It could simply be the case that surviving longer will ultimately give you the advantage. Or maybe you can raise the competitive bar higher than others are able to jump. Having a dream and taking a chance is very different from the way a winner will act. Winners determine their choices, assessing each in terms of opportunity and risk while considering the relative probabilities. ‘Old normal’ objective decisions will then be made. Business life will continue, the market is large, and it is still out there. There is one pre-condition: you must think positively.
The newspaper for transport operators
To contact us: Tel: 020 8912 +4 digits or email: name.surname@roadtransport.com Editor Steve Hobson 2161 Head of content Tim Wallace 2158 Events and projects editor Hayley Pink 2165 Group production editor Clare Goldie 2174 Deputy production editor Joanne Betts 2173 Senior display sales executive Barnaby Goodman-Smith 2128 Event sales Tim George 0755 7677758 Classified and recruitment advertising rtmclassified@roadtransport.com Sales director Emma Tyrer 07900 691137 Divisional director Vic Bunby 2121 Head of marketing Jane Casling 2133 MT Awards Katy Matthews 2152 Managing director Andy Salter 2171 Editorial office Road Transport Media, First Floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1JB 020 8912 2170 Free copies MT is available free to specified licensed operators under the publisher’s terms of control. For details, email mtsccqueries@roadtransport.com, or call 01772 426705 Subscriptions Email:customercare@dvvsubs.com Quadrant Subscription Services, Rockwood House, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3DH Rates UK £135/year. Europe £163/year. RoW £163/year. Cheques made payable to Motor Transport. Apply online at mtssubs.com Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper Published by DVV Media International Ltd © 2020 DVV Media International Ltd ISSN 0027-206 X
Got something to say?
If you would like to contribute to MT’s Viewpoint, email steve.hobson@roadtransport.com 25.3.19
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Opening of £6m flagship Heathrow Airport site signals intent of new Mercedez-Benz partner
AGS off to a flying start By Will Shiers
Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ new authorised repairer Automania Garage Services (AGS) opened its flagship site at Heathrow Airport this week. The 2-acre site, which includes a 64,000sq ft workshop, is the product of a £6m investment. There are 39 bays of varying lengths, 17 of which have commercial vehicle pits, and two dedicated Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) lanes. The company anticipates that 50% of its work will come from within the airport, and the other half from local operators. Roughly 65% of the vehicles on its books are Mercedes-Benz. The site has been futureproofed, with seven electric vehicle chargers and its own substation. Joint MD Paul McGerty explained that this is in anticipation of an expected growth in zeroemission ground support vehicles. Heathrow is working towards operating a zero-carbon airport infrastructure by the mid-2030s McGerty dismissed the suggestion that a growth in electric vehicles will have a negative effect on workflow for service providers. “Zero-emission vehicles won’t take work away from us, they’ll just change the way that we work,” he said. But what does concern McGerty is the government’s current foreign travel quarantine policy, which is impacting airport work.
He said: “We need consistency, as people don’t know where we are at the moment. If it’s not safe to fly, then don’t fly. But they can’t just open and close routes. It’s not good for local businesses.” Outgoing Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK MD Mike Belk, who was joined at the opening event by his successor Wolfgang Theissen, said: “This is such an interesting business, because at
its heart is the service operation. They have the airside exposure at Heathrow, which obviously means they understand what it is to keep vehicles on the road, as uptime is everything on the airfield. That should hold it in very good stead to expand this experience out to a broader customer base than just the traditional focus they have on the airport.” When asked whether AGS is
likely to become a Mercedes-Benz sales outlet in the future, Belk said: “Service sells. I’m sure that will provide a foundation, and who knows what will happen? If an opportunity comes up in the future, they are clearly in a good position to discuss that.” n Earlier this month Rygor Commercials also opened a new 30,000sq ft truck site next to Heathrow Airport.
Return to Keltruck proves elementary for Holmes Keltruck’s former used vehicle sales manager and industry veteran Phil Holmes, has resumed his role at the firm after a decade working for Scania and elsewhere in the commercial vehicle sector. Holmes first joined Scania distributor East Midland Commercials as used vehicle sales executive in October 1994, and was promoted to used vehicle sales director in June 2001. He became used sales manager at the Burton depot after the 2004 Keltruck takeover of EMC, and assumed the same role at its West Bromwich site in 2008. 21.9.20
Holmes moved to Scania GB as asset purchasing manager in October 2010, then joined ATE Truck & Trailer Sales – now Asset Alliance Group – in July 2013. “It’s great to be rejoining Keltruck Scania, which has always felt like home for me,” said Holmes. “With my daughter also a long-standing employee of the company, and so many families also working within the company, it certainly is a family affair. “I’m looking forward to helping Keltruck boost our domestic Scania used sales and also contributing to the growing global exports
operation, which has really stepped up several notches in the past decade, including a dedicated container loading bay at West Bromwich head office.” Keltruck sales director David Morgan, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Phil back to Keltruck Scania after a decade away from the fold. “His achievements during that time have been hugely impressive with a very large volume of vehicles both acquired and disposed of for his employers, so I’m particularly pleased that Phil has agreed to return his firepower to us.” MotorTransport 15
AWARDS CEREMONY ONLINE BROADCAST ON WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER, 7PM We will always put safety first, as we know all of you do every day in your operations. This year we will be broadcasting the awards ceremony online to make sure our entrants and winners get the recognition they deserve. Registrations are now open for the Motor Transport Awards broadcast where the 2020 winners will be revealed. Registration for the broadcast is free so sign up today
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Marketplace news
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Tructyre ATS unites admin operations at new Gateshead site Tyre specialist Tructyre ATS is moving its call centre and administration services to a single location in Gateshead. The company established its customer experience centre at the site earlier this year, which is part of its aim to operate as a national, rather than a regional business. It claimed the move would create 80 new jobs at Gateshead but did not mention any
impact on existing regional sites, which it said would remain operational into 2021. “Our new customer experience centre will provide an industry-leading experience for the nation’s truck operators,” said managing director Nick Harley “With the UK economy impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, this will provide a much-needed boost for Gateshead.”
Creation of new dealer, eStar Truck & Van, gives group new Mercedes-Benz sales platform
NRG moves quickly to snap up Roanza assets By George Barrow
The assets of Roanza Truck & Van have been bought by NRG Fleet Services Group who has been awarded the sales franchise for Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Mercedes-Benz Vans in Deeside, Stoke and Trafford Park. The new dealer, eStar Truck & Van, will also operate aftersales support for both truck and van from the three sites as well as in Warrington and Liverpool. Roanza Truck & Van went into administration on 8 September and the acquisition by eStar Truck & Van was completed the same evening by Sid Sadique who joined the Mercedes-Benz network for the first time when he teamed-up with brothers Steve and Paul Rooney to purchase Sparshatt Truck & Van. “I’ve been working with the brand for more than 30 years,” said Sadique. “As a Mercedes-Benz dealer we can provide our customers with everything from a small Citan van
to a 44-tonne tractor unit, and are just as well placed to serve the sole trader with a single vehicle, as we are the major logistics fleet operator. No other manufacturer can lay claim to the same breadth of product and services.” He continued: “This business needs investment, but in the form of time, not metal, or facilities, or
even money. What we’ll be looking to do, therefore, is inject new energy and enthusiasm, as well as some fresh ideas about the way we do things, to reflect the way the world is changing. It’s already apparent that we’ve inherited some excellent people, and it will be nice to give them something to look forward to.”
Mercedes-Benz Trucks MD Wolfgang Theissen added: “We are delighted that Sid has chosen to seize this new opportunity to represent our brand. He has a proven track record of success in the commercial vehicle business and his investment has ensured our continued representation in this busy part of the country.”
Minty bids farewell to Modus after 30-year association Willie Minty, the regional director of the Motus Group of Daf and Isuzu Truck (UK) dealerships in the west of Scotland, has retired after more than 30 years with the company. A time-serviced mechanic he joined Transfleet in the 1980s before joining Charthire. When Lex Service (later rebranded Imperial Commercials and then Motus) acquired Charthire in 1989 21.9.20
he became a part of the Lex Leyland DAF depot at Bogmoor Road, Govan, Glasgow, and after five years as dealership service manager stepped up to operations manager. In June 1996 he was appointed the general manager for Glasgow. In 2006, his work ethic and strong leadership skills led to his appointment as a main board executive director for 10 years, followed by four years in the role
of regional director for Scotland before his retirement. “I loved the job,” said Minty. “It was all built around enthusiastic people. When we acquired a business, we put our own staff in the top jobs to ensure ‘customer care’ continuity, which has become our byword.” His replacement is Kevin McGinley, who was previously the aftersales manager. MotorTransport 17
Marketplace
Trading places The Anderson Group’s new boss has traded places many times in a long career with Scania and Mercedes-Benz, and is now swapping roles around at the Northside Truck & Van parent itself, writes George Barrow
I
MORE THAN TRUCKS: The Anderson Group CEO Andrew Jamieson (above) oversees a business that includes both bodybuilding and commercial property operations
18 MotorTransport
f you’ve bought a Scania truck in the last two decades, the chances are you’ll have come across Andrew Jamieson – and if you’re an avid reader of MT you’ll definitely know the name. That’s because Jamieson has had a long and successful career at both Keltruck and Scania GB, and while out of the limelight more recently, the current CEO of The Anderson Group is back and dealing with a lot more than just trucks. Jamieson started his career as an engineer working in engine development and fuel additive research before joining Mercedes-Benz in a sales engineering role, where he helped spec the first Sprinter vans for the UK ahead of its launch. Scania was his next destination, working in a number of sales roles and eventually leaving his position as marketing and rental director to form TruckEast, before moving on to Keltruck as aftersales director. There, Jamieson enjoyed more than eight years as MD before returning to Scania and becoming UK sales director. Always an insightful voice on the direction of the markets, Jamieson returned to Scania at a time of great change for the brand with exciting new products, but it wasn’t the sort of work he found the most fulfilling. “I loved all the product launch and had a great time with the team. We took 3,000 customers to Sweden over different launches which was great, but actually in terms of the future I didn’t feel there was much left for me,” he says. “At Keltruck, which was already a successful company, I still felt I could do more with it, which I did, but when I went to Scania with the intention of doing the used bits
and ended up doing the sales, there wasn’t the speed of change or autonomy.” It was that desire to make a difference somewhere, to improve something or make changes to strengthen the business that led him to Intercounty, where in April 2019 he took up the position of MD.
Making a difference
“The truth is, it was local and I came from Mercedes years before. I went back to the network where I thought I could make a difference,” he explains. “When I left Scania I had quite a few people offer me work and I batted them all away. I felt Intercounty was somewhere where I could make that difference. Then Fergus Leitch [ex-chairman of The Anderson Group, the owner of Northside Truck & Van] approached me and it was a little bit different, and knowing who you work with is important. I met Irvin Anderson and I’d known Tim Ward who was the current CEO for years. “I saw this as being my last job, a new challenge, and I’ve come with a view to making that difference. It [the business] still has the desire to grow even as a family business.” Jamieson couldn’t have arrived as chief executive of the group at a potentially more troublesome time. After leaving Intercounty – something he says he felt really guilty about – Jamieson took up the position in January, having completed just eight months at the rival Mercedes dealer group. Jamieson’s job and Anderson Group portfolio, however, 21.9.20
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isn’t just about Northside Truck & Van, with a number of different enterprises to take care of including a commercial property portfolio and Manchester-based bodybuilder Alloy Bodies. There was also a haulage firm, Sam Anderson (Newhouse), which was closed in April after tough trading in the past few years finally forced the Anderson Group to shut the doors of the third-generation business. “It hadn’t made money in the last few years and we could see that life was going to be tough. It was a real shame but we had to close it down. We will look to sell Newhouse and move to Eurocentral [near Glasgow]. “The property portfolio is a real mix as the group owns commercial property and farmland,” he continues. “The idea is that we would grow the property portfolio over the coming years, and Alloy Bodies maybe hasn’t had enough attention; it needs more investment and to become more digital.” Covid-19 saw Alloy Bodies close completely and in the aftermath of lockdown it has been suffering from a poor supply of chassis. Work is slowly picking up, but a lot of businesses, Jamieson says, are focusing their attentions on vans and van bodies for temperature-controlled home delivery, given the enormous increase in demand for their services. With his expertise in the commercial vehicle sector, Jamieson says he thought most of his time would initially be spent on the truck side of the group businesses, but the disruption caused by the coronavirus has led him to take a much wider overview of the business a lot sooner.
Virus impact
“I thought I’d spend more time on Alloy Bodies and Northside, because it’s what I know, but then Covid-19 came around and we had to take a look across the business. Like many companies it’s going through some cost reductions. It’s not all Covid-related really – there is some fat that needs to go. I make it tidier here and more corporate. It’s already quite a big animal and has 60 years of legacies that need to be tidied. The tidying is one part, but then there’s the growing. I like the idea of doing some different things. We’re very much into commercial vehicles, vans and trucks, but there are other things we can do,” he says. “The benefit in the Mercedes network over the Scania one is that there is still potential to grow in terms of aftersales, and in trailers. There’s a bigger future in it. The van and truck [parts of the business] are very different, and in 18 months the plan will change again because they will have very different needs. “I pursued van franchises at Keltruck, but the needs are very different and the customer profile is very different. Here, Mercedes is very strong in the fleet van sector – large professional logistics customers. They fit well within truck operations, and Covid has been a good example of how well that has worked with the dealerships remaining open throughout, unlike many car-derived brands,” he adds. “My intention for the business is to make the van element separate, and have separate sites, freeing up capacity in the network to do other things like trailers. The van volumes are huge but retail is changing – sales are moving online and Covid just increased digitalisation.” Jamieson has some big plans to make The Anderson Group and Northside Truck & Van more successful, but changes were already underway at the dealer group before his arrival, after the appointment of Keith Sims in the role of sales director and more recently the position of MD. “Northside is not broken; it just needs to change direction. Keith was an obvious choice as MD and there weren’t any other names in the hat to do that. The way he handles people and brings them along on the journey is so important. Keith is a very people-orientated person. He’s very 21.9.20
SIXTH SENSE: new management team should help streamline the processes and improve the customer experience, says Jamieson
well connected. I don’t know anybody that knows as many people as Keith and I’m pleased we have him. He has to make his own mark on this.” The changes at Northside are coming thick and fast, with a new finance director, Carl Walker, appointed to help strengthen the team, along with director roles for Catherine Cook (HR), Gavin Hewitt (aftersales) and Leigh Margel (van sales). “Processes need to be better,” he adds. “The link between operations and finance needs to be built up, and of all the successful partnerships I’ve seen there is a strong link between having a decent MD and a decent FD. From us as a manufacturer, we’re trying to do more retail business, which has long been a philosophy from a Scania point of view. We want them [operators] in our local area because it is the aftersales which will carry us through any recession.”
Treble threat
Jamieson realises that the treble threat of coronavirus, a looming recession and Brexit could make 2021 a particularly challenging year, but is keen to stress that the steps being taken now will not only improve the business but also the customer experience. Capitalising on the increasing need for vans will also be high on the agenda with a plan in motion to diverge the current site to focus more on delivering better retail experiences for both truck and van customers. “The Sprinter is very dominant in home delivery; on the retail side with Citan and Vito we will be more challenged and I don’t see that changing, but we have a massive demand and internally we’ve discussed this. I still see the only way out for a lot of retailers is moving their sales online and closing stores. eBay is talking more to smaller business about going online and that will only increase the number of home deliveries – deliveries which will need vans like the Sprinter. “The Covid situation probably helped us come to realise these decisions, and to focus the mind, driving the cost down. We will be in a stronger position coming off a leaner base. There are definitely a few more twists and turns, like local lockdowns, but we are recovering quicker than I expected.” ■ MotorTransport 19
Trailer technology
LEADING THE CHARGE: Hermes currently has a repeat annual order with Cartwright, whose ExcelLite panel saves 550kg per trailer
With increasing focus on alternative fuels, trailer makers are blazing a trail to help reduce carbon emissions and improve operators’ bottom lines. Laura Reeve reports
ONE STEP BEYOND: Gray & Adams’ stepped-roof trailer allows for the use of standard loading bays
28 MotorTransport
Trail-finders
While we are unlikely to see another leap forward in productivity like the double-deck, trailer manufacturers are continually pushing the boundaries of what is possible, especially in terms of reducing weight and drag. Alan Hunt, MD at Schmitz Cargobull UK and Ireland sums up the current trailer market saying: “For a long time there’s been nothing really to tell about trailers, but what we are starting to see now is a transition from ‘boxes on wheels’ to very intelligent pieces of equipment.” Richard Owens, marketing manager at Don-Bur, explains that the practice of lightweighting is generally to gain payload, but adds that there is also a positive environmental impact in reducing the number of vehicles required to transport the same volume of product. Although some engineers are dubious about lightweighting, there are many successful examples. Cartwright’s ExcelLite design, for example, centres on polycarbonate honeycomb panels. Jamie Robinson, head of engineering at Cartwright, explains that these panels are completely resistant to water ingress, as structurally durable as plywood panels and, importantly, provide up to 1 tonne of weight-saving over the company’s standard ply options. First launched in 2017, the manufacturer managed to make the panels cost-neutral to offer them as standard. Tiger Trailers has developed a design for British Gypsum, engineered in conjunction with Tata Steel, which it believes is one of the lightest tri-axle trailers on UK roads, meanwhile. The design makes for an unladen weight of 6,500kg, around 700kg less than the industry standard, and a 2,500kg improvement on British Gypsum’s previous trailers. Don-Bur now performs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to provide customers with visualisations of vehicles with various aerodynamic components to determine how much is likely to be saved.
In reality, lightweighting and aerodynamics are a constant focus for all trailer manufacturers and often, when proven successful, these designs become part of the evolution of the standard product. While double-decks and lifting decks are no longer new, manufacturers continue to advance these designs, sometimes achieving impressive results. Tiger Trailers, for example, told MT it has delivered a ‘wedge’ chassis design for supermarket, Morrisons, which increased its load capacity by 22% over its previous stepframe design. Another double-deck evolution is Don-Bur’s adaptive lifting roof trailer. This has a hydraulically lifting upper deck that goes up higher than normal along with a rising trailer roof, to provide extra headroom on the lower deck during loading at that level. After loading of the lower deck and before transit, the roof and upper deck are lowered again to keep overall height to 4.5m. This design can keep the roof 350mm lower than on a full-height double-deck, reducing drag, which Don-Bur claims can provide a 5% fuel saving. Elsewhere, Gray & Adams has designed a unique stepped-roof trailer that allows operators using loading bays traditionally only suitable for single-deck trailers to still benefit from the increased capacity of a doubledeck. Schmitz Cargobull is taking a different approach to allow operators to move more goods more efficiently and reduce empty running, with its on-board TrailerConnect telematics technology to make trailers smarter.
Sunny side up
Solar energy appears to be making a resurgence. Previously, glass panels were too easily damaged and lacked the generating capacity required of them, but today flexible and durable materials are available and power outputs have improved. Solar panels have two distinct purposes in trailer operations: providing a trickle charge to stop batteries from going flat, which is mainly used for refrigeration unit applications; and lessening reliance on fossil fuels by reducing vehicle engine idling time to provide ancillary power, for example, for tail-lift operation. 21.9.20
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here in the UK, the dynamics are starting to change for operators.” Carrier claims its relatively new flagship model, the Vector HE (High Efficiency), with its improved multispeed engine design, brings fuel savings of up to 30% compared with the Vector 1950 and is 19% more efficient when plugged in on standby. The new model includes a heavily redesigned evaporator airflow management system that essentially ‘sticks’ cool air to the roof inside the trailer, creating more efficient airflow. This unit features E-Drive all-electric technology, which eliminates the mechanical transmissions found in belt-driven cooling systems, transforming the power of the engine into electricity using a generator. Thermo King has also released its new Advancer fridge range. David O’Gorman, senior product manager at the company, explains the two main environmental improvements of the Advancer: “Technically, we put a lot of work into this to design out waste from the beginning, whether it was excessive fuel, lost energy, or inefficiencies, so we’ve managed to have a real step-change in our fuel consumption.” The manufacturer claims up to 30% improvement in average market fuel consumption and over some of its existing models. Solar panel supplier TRAILAR uses 3mm solar mats fitted to trailers, which it says makes single-deck and double-deck trailers electrically self-sufficient, removing the need for the Anderson lead to the tractor unit. Like Schmitz, TRAILAR uses onboard telematics to report on vehicle location, real-time battery status and fuelsavings. TRAILAR has both Royal Mail and DHL Supply Chain as customers. A new entrant to the commercial vehicle market is Welsh-based solar solution manufacturer MiPV, meanwhile, a company with roots in solar energy for the construction industry. Daniel Pillai, CEO of MiPV, says it differs to other providers in the UK market because it doesn’t offer an off-the-shelf product. “We have the design ability to customengineer the system and solution that’s appropriate for the use. It’s easy to oversize or undersize the panel simply because the right size isn’t available, so we will work with the customer to get the spec just right,” he says. Pillai adds that the MiPV product is tailor-made for the UK weather. ThermoKing has its own integrated solar panel on the fridge unit which keeps the battery charged.
RISE AND FALL: Don-Bur’s lifting roof design (above) provides more headroom for low-level loading
Fully variable airflow
The new design has introduced what Thermo King calls “fully variable airflow”, where the airflow inside the trailer has been decoupled from the speed of the fridge unit’s external engine so operators can have a high volume of air circulation to maintain product integrity while leaving the engine on low speed to further
Fuel for thought
A huge challenge for the refrigerated transport industry is anticipated in April 2022 when red diesel will no longer be legal for road transport use. An operator running 2,500 fridge engine hours annually could see costs increase by £5,000 to £6,000 per trailer per year, it is suggested. Scott Dargan, MD, UK & Northern Europe at Carrier Transicold, says: “If we look at the expansion of ultra-low emission zones, increasing noise restrictions and of course the impending removal of the red diesel rebate
A ROARING SUCCESS: Tiger Trailers design has saved 2,500kg per unit for British Gypsum
TRACKING THE BENEFIT: Manfreight runs a 100% Schmitz Cargobull refrigerated trailer fleet, equipped with the TrailerConnect telematics system 21.9.20
optimise fuel consumption. Schmitz Cargobull’s Hunt told MT it plans to launch an electric fridge unit, a fully Schmitz-developed product including the energy generation, an integrated electric driven cooling unit, all of the advanced on-board telemetry and, of course, the trailer itself. Schmitz hopes to have a small number in production by the end of next year and expects the new trailer to achieve the same overall unladen weight as current models. Both Thermo King and Carrier offer hybrid solutions. Thermo King’s SLXi Hybrid combines technologies from Thermo King and Frigoblock and uses geofencing to switch the power between diesel and electric mode when operating in low-emission zones. This technology will be extended to Advancer. Carrier Transicold’s Eco-Drive module, fitted to the tractor unit and connected to its engine via constant capacity PTO, also allows operators to run a standard legacy Vector, the new HE, or even other brands of fridges on a full electric power mode, regardless of tractor unit engine speed. ➜ 30 MotorTransport 29
Trailer technology
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According to Graham Usher, the UK sales agent for Ecogen, the retrofittable system provides diesel-free refrigeration, while adding almost no cost except for the initial outlay and with minimal impact on the truck’s fuel consumption.
Cooler hydrogen
ADVANCING INDUSTRY THINKING: Thermo King’s Advancer fridge unit
Thermo King has its Frigoblock product and Carrier its Vector E range, which are 100% electric options. Ecogen, manufactured by Swedish company Hultsteins, is a clip-on hydraulic generator powered from the tractor unit’s engine drive PTO. It plugs into any vehicle refrigeration unit with mains electric operation and will power diesel fridge units with electricity generated from the truck engine.
Chereau is at the forefront of developing hydrogen for fridge use. The company expects to launch 10 pre-series hydrogen-powered trailers within three years and aims to switch up to 25% of its production to hydrogen within 10 years. The Chereau Hydrogen Power H2 refrigerated trailer sounds almost too good to be true – it produces its own refrigeration without any CO2 or particle emissions, operates silently, only takes 10 minutes to charge, and the manufacturer says it doesn’t require users to substantially modify their distribution arrangement. Only time will tell if the cost will make adoption widely viable. While many of the trailer innovations available today offer some degree of carbon improvements, all the manufacturers we spoke to agree that the most beneficial approach is a combination of some or all of the options available, along with a continual drive and focus on evolution of the innovations that have already been designed. ■
KEEPING ITS COOL: Carrier Vector HE is claimed to produce fuel savings of up to 30%
LONGER SEMI-TRAILERS PROVE THEIR WORTH The next generation of capacity increasing design is the longer semi-trailer. In 2012, 1,800 permits were made available for trials that were initially set to run until 2022. Half of the licences were for 14.6m trailers and the other half for 15.65m variants. In 2017, another 1,000 permits were released but with the proviso that trials extended to 2027. With a 2m increase in trailer length, load potential increases by up to 15% over a standard 13.6m trailer. Longer semitrailers are still required to work within the existing UK gross vehicle weight limit of 44 tonnes so the toss-up between them and double-decks comes down to whether an operator is maxing out on volume or weight. Initial data released by DfT suggests that longer semi-trailers are fulfilling the brief they were designed for – fully loaded units can move goods using fewer journeys than their 13.6m counterparts, reducing overall emissions, congestion and collision risk. Don-Bur’s Owens told MT that radical new innovations are very difficult to get to market. While potentially the next major trailer innovation, longer semi-trailers are 30 MotorTransport
one example of a concept being slow to get approved for standard use. Gray & Adams’ Smith agrees, suggesting the industry should be pushing for early completion of the trials because the data more than proves the concept. The latest DfT report (to the end of 2018) shows up to 45.8 million vehiclekilometres have been ‘saved’ by longer semi-trailer operations, equating to
emission reductions of around 37,000 tonnes of CO2(e) (carbon dioxide equivalent – the term used to describe different greenhouse gases in a common unit). Importantly, safety has actually improved, with 55% fewer personal injury collisions and casualties estimated than across the GB articulated HGV average (93% fewer when operating on urban roads).
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Driver recruitment
The time is now
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t feels a bit dubious, given the widespread suffering and loss brought about by Covid-19, to talk about silver linings. But as many in the transport and logistics business acknowledge, one clear positive to have come out of the pandemic is a rise in the public profile of the sector and a greater appreciation of just how critical it is to the running of UK plc. Many feel this heightened awareness of the logistics sector’s role in delivering food and toilet paper to supermarkets or medicines and PPE to hospitals is a great opportunity in terms of recruitment – and especially addressing the longstanding truck driver shortage. “The Covid-19 outbreak has shown the wider population how vital logistics workers are to the UK economy and society, and this has helped to raise the profile of the industry which for many years has been one of the UK’s hidden assets,” states Elizabeth De Jong, director of policy at the FTA. “The trade of lorry driver has some respect now that it probably didn’t have four or five months ago, and that’s very welcome,” agrees Rod McKenzie, MD for policy and public affairs at the RHA. “It’s an opportunity we cannot afford to ignore.”
Running the numbers
Certainly, the industry has suffered from a chronic driver shortage: in October, the FTA suggested the sector needed 59,000 new drivers to keep going. But its current requirement for fresh talent is not quite so clear, as lockdown reduced demand for transport services in some sectors while a growing number of closures among haulage firms has led to more drivers hitting the job market. Some firms have reported drivers knocking on their door in search of work, and suggest Covid-19 has effectively resolved the UK driver shortage as far as they are concerned. Driver agency HGV Recruitment even went so far as to suggest in May that the 59,000-strong shortage had turned into a 100,000-strong driver surplus At the same time, however, there has been a huge rise in demand for transport in sectors like grocery retailing and e-commerce, increasing the need for workers in these areas, points out David Coombes, CEO of Skills for Logistics (SfL). “One very large 3PL told me recently that their volumes are up about 10%,” he says. “They might be down 20% in construction and automotive but demand in grocery and e-commerce is about 125% of the norm and their volumes are up as a whole, so they’re not furloughing drivers or making them redundant.”
32 MotorTransport
Logistics employees are now more widely recognised in society as the key workers they have always been. So is this a golden opportunity to recruit the fresh talent the sector needs? Robin Meczes reports Tom Buckell, national accounts and logistics director at ManpowerGroup, says the recruitment services and agency staff provider saw a 15% rise in the number of logistics jobs it filled between March and June, compared with last year, thanks to a peak in demand from grocery and home delivery operations; but at the same time there were three times as many applicants for every job, compared to a year ago. “Obviously, it’s difficult to know whether people are applying as a result of their economic situation or as a result of logistics being highlighted as a key sector,” he says.
Continental drift
Whatever the effect of the pandemic in terms of shortterm demand for drivers, it seems highly likely that upward pressure will continue on the requirement for new workers in this field. The high average age of the UK’s existing driver workforce can only lead to a need for replacements as current drivers leave the industry, and Brexit looks set to make any current shortage worse by prompting EU workers in the UK to depart. According to the FTA’s Logistics Skills Report 2019, EU workers constitute some 13% of the UK’s logistics workforce and declining EU net migration has already contributed to a 43% rise in job vacancies in the transport and storage sector over the past couple of years. “Covid-19 may have covered up some of these concerns temporarily but every business that has an eye on the future understands that we need a new generation of drivers, wherever they come from; and increasingly, Brexit has shown that the pool of lorry drivers that used to come from Poland and Romania and so on have turned their backs on Britain for a very good reason, and we’re going to have to start trying to find some of our own,” says McKenzie of the RHA. On top of this, any economic recovery the country now manages to pull off after the enforced slowdown in business activity this year is also bound to add to the requirement for drivers. So how can the transport and logistics sector take advantage of the current recruitment opportunity? One key step, says Buckell at ManpowerGroup, is for the sector to be more open-minded about taking on staff who haven’t previously worked in it, as well as more female and BAME (black and minority ethnic) workers. “Organisations need to open their mindset. You need to make the environment that you are operating in as diverse as you can, and accept people who are not specifically from the logistics industry,” he says. “It’s about how we attract those individuals, how we write job ads, how we deal with the selection and recruitment process and their transferable skills, and if you’re bringing in people that are newly qualified, not saying you need drivers with two years’ experience but welcoming other individuals in and investing in extra training for them.” The government and industry must also rethink the working conditions drivers have to face, says De Jong of 21.9.20
motortransport.co.uk
the FTA. “The pandemic has highlighted why commercial drivers deserve to have a decent working environment, which includes access to welfare facilities and safe, secure places to park their vehicles,” she says. “That is why FTA is calling on government to take action and improve working conditions for commercial drivers. Employers also have a role to play in ensuring they are also doing everything they can to make the quality of working conditions as strong as possible.”
You’re in charge of the cab and you’re king of the road – a phrase that used to be in common parlance in the 1950s and 60s. It’s that sense of pride that you’re high up, surveying all before you. We need to get back to that.”
Safe and secure
Forward thinking
Giving people a chance to develop a career, rather than just taking on a driving or warehouse job, is another key factor, says McKenzie of the RHA. “We need to work on this. Some people will only want to drive, of course, but it would be great if we could say when recruiting people, come and be a lorry driver – but if you want to develop into something else, it’s a great platform for getting experience of the whole trade and being able to manage your own operation in five or ten years’ time.” The Apprenticeship Levy is another important factor, believes Coombes of SfL. “The levy should be a great way to introduce new drivers into the industry, but unfortunately, we have the issue around it being for a C licence only, and then moving to C+E only,” he says. “But the growth, particularly at the moment with more home deliveries, is on rigids and urban deliveries. So we need to offer an apprenticeship levy and a standard for both.” While many are contemplating the opportunity to attract fresh talent, however, the industry is actually taking on fewer drivers than usual right now, as training schools have ceased operations in the lockdown and driving tests have been suspended. Based on an average 1,500 HGV tests a week before the pandemic and an average pass rate of 60%, around 1,000 newly qualified drivers a week are being lost. Despite this, there is considerable confidence that the logistics industry can attract fresh talent and offers the kind of work people want to do. One of the benefits in logistics is that of job flexibility, says McKenzie of the RHA. “I was with a driver a year ago, a young father, and he loved the job because on his back-and-forth local run, he could start at 9am after dropping his kids to school and return to pick them up in the afternoon. That can be really valuable,” he states. “There’s also a sense that you’re your own person. 21.9.20
Mixed fortunes: Skills for Logistics CEO David Coombes says lockdown has affected hauliers depending on the industry they serve – and despite redundancies the sector still needs new drivers
Job security is another plus to working in logistics, suggests Coombes of SfL. “Locally to me, where people have moved away from hospitality and non-essential retail businesses, some are now working in warehousing operations because, perhaps for the first time, they see these jobs as sustainable and secure. There is a real appreciation now that logistics is here to stay,” he says. De Jong at the FTA agrees: “HGV driving offers variety, opportunities for progression, autonomy, freedom, challenge, a chance to see new places, security and stability, and flexible working. These attributes make it a very attractive career for many. “The pandemic has shown how vital the logistics workforce is to the UK economy and society, and this elevated platform has provided a springboard to demand the government improves working conditions. If these demands come to fruition, then, in conjunction with the new value placed on the workforce, we expect to see increased levels of interest in logistics as a career. We hope this will be a permanent legacy of the pandemic.” Many will share in that hope. But while there may conceivably be a golden opportunity here to tempt new blood into the sector, it’s still not clear what effect the economic downturn has had on the industry, how many new drivers it really needs, how soon it can return to training them up, how long the public’s newfound appreciation for the sector will last, or how exactly that appreciation can be turned into actual job applications. One of the few fresh initiatives to promote logistics to the general public is a YouTube video from the RHA highlighting the challenges faced by truck drivers in delivering during the pandemic, which was aired by the BBC. However, this didn’t call on people to actually join the sector. And while television ads have been run in the last few months encouraging the general public to consider work in the fruit-picking and health sectors – and even the role of warehouse workers has been highlighted by Amazon’s latest campaign – we have yet to see one encouraging people to retrain as truck drivers. n MotorTransport 33
Biofuel
Vegetarian diet for trucks
G
reen Biofuels is the producer of the UK’s leading hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, Green D+. It is a drop-in replacement fuel that can be used in any diesel engine, producing dramatic reductions in both carbon emissions and local pollutants such as NOx and particulates. William Tebbit, CEO of Green Biofuels, has spent the last five years in the renewable energy sector after a career in the City. Like many firms in the low carbon sector Green Biofuels is a small start up, a green David battling the Goliaths of the oil industry. “Green Biofuels was set up in 2013 as a platform to educate the market about HVO,” says Tebbit. “No one knew about it and ‘I’m not using biodiesel’ was always the first response. I worked with Magnus [Hammick, Green Biofuels’ COO] on a renewable power station and we thought the fuel was more interesting than the other parts of the project so we bought the business. “We could see regulation coming and growing awareness of clean fuels, although people still don’t fully understand them. While electric vehicles were a slam dunk for private cars we didn’t see how they were going to work quickly for large commercial vehicles. The diesel is an incredibly efficient engine and if you could have a renewable clean fuel that’s a fantastic transition technology. We are pragmatic – a lot of people talk about tomorrow’s technology when we have a problem today. This is an incredible product and although there is not enough of it you can still make a significant difference when you target it to the right places.”
Since starting up seven years ago Green Biofuels has become the leading supplier of HVO fuel, transforming waste cooking oil into an environmentally friendly diesel alternative – and the market keeps on growing. Steve Hobson reports able sources in transport would be appropriate and achievable” by 2020. The RTFO is complicated by the fact that fuel suppliers, rather than achieve the required blend, can buy Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) to meet their obligation, and renewable fuel derived from sustainable sources such as food waste qualifies for double RTFCs to discourage the use of biofuels made from crops that could be used as food.
The right mix
Targeted approach
While biodiesel can clearly be used in a wide range of applications including plant and machinery, power stations and ships, Tebbit and Hammick decided that road transport was an ideal market for their product. “The business was tiny when we took it over with £500,000 annual revenue but it has grown strongly to £15m for the current half year,” says Tebbit. “We've pretty much funded it to date, which has been an interesting challenge. We have had a little money in from external people and we are now looking to get investors in. It is a good time to be doing it as awareness is there.” The UK diesel market last year was 34bn litres and Green Biofuels could supply up to 1bn of that – what Tebbit calls “a big niche in a massive market”. “A lot of refiners are heavily invested in their existing infrastructure, so while they all support it, they can’t quite get their heads around it. It takes them forever to make a decision and their methodology tends be ‘let someone else take the crazy entrepreneurial risk and we can buy it after they’ve done all the hard work’. All large suppliers of road fuels (over 450,000 litres a year) must, however, meet the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. This was established in 2008 and amended in 2011 to align with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) which stated: “a 10% target for energy from renew34 MotorTransport
Innovation game: Green Biofuels CEO William Tebbitt believes operators are only now starting to realise how Green D+ can help them hit emission targets
In 2017 the government set the RTFO at 9.75% for 2020, with the goal of achieving 5% to 6% renewable energy used in transport, rising to 12.4% in 2032, with a crop cap of 4% in 2018, reducing to 2% by 2032. Fuel suppliers are allowed to blend biodiesel, manufactured to EN14214, into regular road diesel up to 7% – B7 – which is compatible with any vehicle. “Big fuel companies tend to buy RTFCs so just because it says B7 on the pump doesn’t mean there is any bio in it,” says Tebbit. “That is purely a function of price – when tickets are cheaper than bio they buy tickets and vice versa. They are more likely to buy tickets to meet the obligation than actually put bio in. “If the obligation goes up, there is a shortage of product, and that drives the RTFC price up which helps make our product affordable, which without the obligation it wouldn’t be. We pay the same duty and there are a limited number of suppliers around the world of straight HVO.” There are several potential sources of biodiesel but used cooking oil chemically converted into HVO is increasingly recognised as one of the most sustainable. “Waste products are definitely the best source of renewable diesels and waste traditionally has been used cooking oils,” says Tebbit. “We need to broaden the wastes that are used in renewable fuels. Pretty much any organic matter can be used.” Much of the used cooking oil comes from the Middle East, Asia and Europe and HVO is now produced in several refineries around the world including half a dozen in Europe. Green Biofuels buys base product and imports it in bulk to its main storage facilities on the Thames and in Liverpool. The fuel is then dosed with a special additive the company has developed to improve the 21.9.20
motortransport.co.uk
Green Biofuels counts Hovis among its UK customers, which uses Green D+ to power its retail delivery truck fleet. “You put the product where it makes most difference,” says Tebbit. “Hovis is running from depots to supermarkets and that’s good because they are slow vehicles moving in urban areas. In rural areas it has less impact on local air quality, which is where this fuel can have a dramatic effect. Most of Green Biofuels’ UK road transport customers are large fleets with 500 to 1,500 vehicles using between 5m and 15m litres a year. Green Biodiesel uses four or five contractors to make deliveries to operators’ on-site bunkers as it is not yet available on forecourts. “That is something we are looking at – how big would the network need to be to make a difference,” says Tebbit. “BT, for example, has 82,000 vehicles and most of those use fuel cards. So we could make a big difference if we could put a network together. We try not to interfere with a company’s existing logistics so if they have deliveries from a fuel supplier we are happy to sell the product to the fuel company for it to deliver – though there will be margin added to that.” Green D+ can be stored for prolonged periods with none of the problems with algae that operators might have experienced with other biodiesels.
Taxing issue
performance of standard HVO. It calls this product Green D+, which it markets as a 100% renewable low emissions “bioliquid” fuel for road transport, plant and machinery.
Performance art
As well as almost eliminating carbon emissions – saving 3.9kg of CO2 equivalent for every litre used – Green D+ emits far fewer local pollutants than standard diesel. Independent testing at Millbrook on a Euro-6 engine showed: n Green D+ has a 77% reduction in particulates n Green D+ has a 29% reduction in NOx Tebbit says that not all biodiesel is the same and some made from raw materials including animal fats produce worse emissions than standard EN590 diesel. “Because there are problems with the way some of these fuels are made and blended, you are not going to get the quality that you get with a hydrogenation process,” he argues. “The market and regulators will determine that some biodiesels will not be able to meet the standards of these advanced fuels. That will take feedstocks from the biodiesel industry and free them to come into HVO. That will mean more investment in refineries and we will be able to significantly increase the HVO made.” The UK has to compete for HVO, which is especially popular in Scandinavia because it will still flow at -42C. Finnish renewable fuels giant Neste, which works with McDonalds to recycle its used cooking oil into biofuel, makes product for a wide range of industries including aviation, shipping and petrochemical. It clearly differentiates its biofuels from “traditional biodiesel” made from feedstock such as fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). “Neste has had a dominant position for years,” says Tebbit, “and has sought to control the product by allocating it to various markets. The UK is interesting because it is small so the logistics are relatively easy, and we are starting to become a more important market, largely because of the work we’ve done.” If all the available used cooking oil was channelled into making HVO, Tebbit estimates that it could quickly replace up to 10% of diesel consumption, making a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions without the need to invest in expensive battery or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and infrastructure. 21.9.20
HVO is more expensive than standard diesel, and strangely does not benefit from any reduction in duty
Because of the relative scarcity of HVO, Green D+ costs around 15% more than standard diesel. “The price of HVO is independent of oil-derived diesel,” says Tebbit. “We buy on a formula from our suppliers linked to gas oil. When gas oil is low there is a bigger difference in price. As the gas oil price rises our premium narrows. “We have been virtually flat but that is also a function of the RTFC price. These tickets are freely traded, not a government subsidy, so they can be one price one day and a different price another day. We have to manage that and try to offer people fixed price contracts.” Tebbit is pushing hard to get major construction clients to specify that their logistics contractors must use a renewable fuel, and the high-speed rail link HS2 is one of his key targets. Green D+ is visibly different from diesel in that it “smells like paraffin and looks like clear water” according to Tebbit. “If there was a big site with a couple of hundred vehicles we could put a tank in there,” he says. “People would then be told to come in as empty as possible and fill up at the site.” One anomaly in fuel duty rates is that fossil natural gas enjoys a 50% duty differential on diesel, despite offering only up to a 20% carbon emissions reduction, while biofuels are taxed the same as diesel. “It is unlikely that HMRC will allow a duty reduction for advanced fuel,” says Tebbit. “What is more likely is an increase in duty on fossil fuel. What I would do is use an audit trail of renewable fuel to allow operators to claim a rebate on duty paid every quarter. That is a more practical way.” ■
BIOFUELS SEEN AS VITAL TO ‘GREENING’ ROAD TRANSPORT According to a recent report from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, biofuels have an important role to play in decarbonising road transport. It said: “Currently 4.9% of total road fuel supplied in the UK comprises of biofuels – biodiesel, bio-ethanol, biomethanol, and biomethane. Biogenic waste is the dominant feedstock for biodiesel and biomethane. For bioethanol the feedstock is predominantly wheat and sugar beet, approximately half of which is grown in the UK. The most recent DfT statistics reveal UK biofuel supply achieves average greenhouse gas savings of 76% compared to fossil fuels. 98% of biofuel feedstocks meet the sustainability criteria via a voluntary sustainability scheme. For the period 2017/18 biofuels in the UK saved approximately 2 million tonnes of GHG emissions. If all the UK’s long haul and regional HGV operators converted their fleets to running on high blend biofuel over the next decade, this could save an estimated 13.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.” MotorTransport 35
The
Commercial om m Motor Show 29 September - 1 October 2020
Bringing you a truly virtual experience
Knowledge | Innovation | Inspiration The Commercial Motor Show virtual exhibition hall is filling up well, with an exciting mix of manufacturers and technology firms at the ready to greet visitors. Taking place from 29 September to 1 October, the brand-new online event brings together all the buzz of a trade show, from the socially distanced safety of your keyboard. With three full days packed with live webinars, networking sessions and exhibitors, we can’t wait for readers to head in through our virtual doors. Commercial Motor has worked hard with its technology
platform partner VFairs to create a virtual exhibition hall experience to rival that of a live event. Visitors will be able to explore products from suppliers ranging from camera equipment and weighing technology right up to the latest model releases from major truck OEMs. You’ll be able to ask questions through live chat forums, watch product demonstrations and download free literature into your virtual briefcase, which you can take home at the end of your session. Check out what’s happening and book your free place!
Go online to see the agenda for day one and day three. Register now at: https://thecommercialmotorshow.vfairs.com/
GI
N E E TIO FRSTRA
RE
w 1 October 2020 seminar sessions sponsored by Microlise 9:30am Managing vehicle and driver compliance
1:30pm The future of road transport
Lee Oliver, head of sales, TruTac
Stephen Watson, product director, Microlise
In this session, Lee Oliver, head of sales at TruTac, will outline how to utilise technology to effectively manage all aspects of compliance, from drivers hours and tachograph analysis through to vehicle maintenance and daily checks. With compliance being a must for all operators, the session will focus on how to ensure this is done in such a way that reduces administration but ensures a robust approach.
With technology evolving at an ever increasing pace, Stephen Watson, product director at Microlise, will offer a glimpse of the future by looking at what the world might look like in years to come in light of advances in big data, artificial intelligence, and other technologies...
10:30am Maximising driver performance to realise long-term benefits
Fenton Baker, product owner, Microlise
Neil Selby, senior business transformation manager, Microlise Drivers are the key element of every transport operation, representing an operators’ brand whilst out on the road and regularly engaging with customers. Often operators focus on driver performance and achieve improvements, but these are lost over time as other elements of the business take focus. So how can operators realise performance enhancements, but ensure these are long-lasting and continue to drive safety, efficiency and cost reductions?
11:30am Lockdown logistics - the changes in the operating environment Mike Ellis, business development director, Abbey Logistics When the UK went into lockdown, the world changed significantly for transport operators. One of the key changes was in the operating environment, with a huge reduction in volume of traffic. In this presentation, Steve Granite, CEO at Abbey Logistics, will outline the findings of the company’s analysis on the data captured during this period from its fleet, looking at the changes identified. Granite will then explore how the beneficial changes seen can be realised by industry longer-term, and what changes the industry and government might implement to achieve this aim.
12:30pm Logistics in the world of Covid-19 going contactless
2:30pm Managing risk and safety with vehicle cameras Vehicle cameras have been around for some time, with many fleets in the UK now utilising the technology to protect themselves in the event of an incident occuring. But are these cameras used to full effect? In this presentation, Fenton Baker of Microlise will discuss the real benefits of vehicle cameras, how they can be used to reduce risk, enhance safety and aid driver training, as well as discussing how real-world footage can be combined with telematics data to create a deep understanding of what happened around incidents and near-misses.
3:30pm The connected supply chain from farm and factory to consumer David Midgley, OEM & channel director, Microlise Transport and logistics firms have been early adaptors of connected technology, helping them to reduce operating costs and improve customer service. Advances in technology mean that many other industries are now looking at the value of connected technology. David Midgley looks at the opportunities of connecting ‘everything’ and the challenges to be overcome in building a successful Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) program across the supply chain.
2020
Bernie Warner, senior pre-sales consultant, Microlise With human interaction a key driver of Coronavirus, transport operators have had to adapt to this reality and reduce contact throughout the logistics process. Technology can be an enabler in achieving this. In this presentation, Bernie Warner of Microlise will discuss the role of technology in reducing the need for human interaction, whilst also driving real efficiencies and benefits.
5:00pm Commercial Motor Awards 2020 Join us for the for the Commercial Motor Awards where you can see this year’s winners revealed. Make sure you have a glass of champagne at the ready as we welcome you to be a part of this unique experience.
MT Awards 2020 shortlists Livery of the Year MT profiles the shortlists for this year’s awards Farrall’s Group
Key to the organisation’s recent rebranding as Farrall’s Group was a desire to create a striking and professional livery with a modern lease of life. A new main icon was introduced – a combination of the F & G from Farrall’s Group – which looks to highlight the company’s ability to work as a team. The existing colour palette of red and amber was retained but with more depth and flare than in previous designs. Farrall’s also introduced a new strapline – ‘Providing expert distribution solutions’ – for its delivery vehicles. Our judges were impressed by how well the new livery demonstrates the group’s values and relates them to the design. “The colour scheme maintains the continuity of the brand and brings it into a modern focus,” one said. “The simple mission statement puts the business goal out there for all to see.”
KNP
With the addition of Nelson Distribution and Steve Porter Transport to the Knights of Old portfolio, the larger brand was becoming increasingly diluted. The organisation decided to move to a new three letter name – KNP – that would align it to a more international audience while maintaining each individual brand’s distribution identity. The aim was to introduce something simple, bold and easily identifiable with a timeless mark. A new strapline was also introduced: ‘Logistics for life’. Our judges were impressed by the clarity of thinking behind the livery, which they say fits perfectly with the wider rebranding exercise. “The actual livery is simple, yet effective. I’m sure these vehicles will be easily recognised on the road,” said one judge. “I like the transition and evolution from old to new, which will make it easier for customers to assimilate and recognise.”
Malcolm Group
The Malcolm Group has been a corporate member of international development organisation Transaid since 2014 and uses one of its walking floor trailers to spread its message. In 2015, the group created a highly visible communication on what has become a very successful template. This led to
38 MotorTransport
a brand new design in 2019 using powerful images of the vital work that Transaid does across Africa. This new trailer was dedicated to Jayne Gray, a Scottish haulier and Transaid fundraiser, who was fatally injured in a road traffic collision during the Cycle Zambia Challenge in 2018. “Malcolm Group have taken a distinct and thoughtful route with this livery,” one of our judges said. “By focusing upon charitable purposes, they have emphasised the connection between larger transport contractors and the communities that they serve. There’s a common theme running across each of the vehicles and the livery they carry.”
Q Delivery Services
Launched in 2011 with just one van, Q Delivery Services lacked a strong visual identity and owner Justin Young realised he needed to use his vehicles to build his brand, create an air of professionalism and present a positive image. He branded his entire fleet for the first time in 2019 with new livery, a move which quickly delivered greater exposure throughout the local marketplace and community, new business wins, a 58% increase in turnover and multiple award wins. The new livery aims to be clean and clear – white on red – and the inverse in solid colours looks to ensure a crisp, unfussy layout that can be easily distinguished by the public and customers. “This is a quick, strong and striking livery solution that brings in clever design techniques and abstract imagery to deliver the company message,” one judge said.
Roberts Bakery
Roberts Bakery has recently begun to update the design of its delivery vehicles, which aim to communicate its striking signature identity, quirky personality and attitude. The entire 41-strong fleet was set to be wrapped with the new livery by July 2020. The work has been carried out in conjunction with partner, AST, which has stripped the existing graphics from the DAF box vans and repainted them before applying the new artwork. The livery designs are based on the brand’s bold and bright colourways with simple but impactful brand copy. The brand’s Early Bird mascot also takes centre stage, telling the world how the company is ‘shaking up baking’, ‘going against the grain’ and ‘challenging stale thinking’. “The single colour is unusual, vivid and striking,” one judge commented. “It’s quirky and reflects their brand well. I also like the lettering in the shape of bread roll configurations.”
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MT Awards 2020 shortlists Clean Fleet Van of the Year Sponsored by Astra Vehicle Technologies Hybrid Iveco Daily
Astra Vehicle Technologies impressed our judges by pulling out the stops to produce the UK’s first plug-in hybrid Iveco Daily panel van. Drivers can select three hybrid modes via an integrated LCD display, combining electric motor and diesel engine power to ensure total flexibility of operation and no range anxiety. The Hybrid Iveco Daily delivers seamless transition from diesel to electric when needed, using GPS to automatically switch from diesel to electric when entering low emissions zones.The model uses an Elinta Motors hybrid control unit which, by co-ordinating the electric motor with the diesel engine, can slash fuel consumption by 70%. This is a van that has been designed for heavy-duty applications and built to last. Weighing in at 3.5 tonnes GVW, the hybrid is also available for all Iveco Daily sizes between 3.5 and 7.2 tonnes GVW in van and chassis cab configurations. Judges welcomed the arrival of a larger van on the market with this level of technology and were impressed with the hybrid’s ability to automatically switch to pure electric mode in low emission zones.
Bevan Group Voltia van
With customers increasingly demanding an all-electric van with greater cargo capacity Bevan decided that, rather than start from scratch, it could work with Voltia to convert the base model of the Nissan e-NV200. The resulting conversion has not only boosted the vehicle’s cargo carrying volume, up from 4 cu m to 8 cu m, but has also seen sales soar. The trick was to remove the vehicle roof, rear frame, doors and floor pan and fit a bespoke lightweight roof to boost height, along with a new rear floor extension, a higher frame and rear doors. Performance remains strong with the Voltia Van achieving a range of 141 miles in tests which include a 90-stop multi-drop operation carrying a payload of 400kg. So popular is the conversion that production has had to be ramped up to meet demand with new orders not only from the traditional final mile delivery market but also from supermarkets, power companies and even an undertaker. Judges praised Bevan’s innovative response to customer demand delivering a cost-effective solution that keep costs down and boosts sales volumes.
40 MotorTransport
Iveco Daily CNG
With pure electric vehicles only just starting to offer the range and carrying capacity operators need, the Iveco Daily CNG offers a flexible alternative. Powered by compressed natural gas the Daily CNG’s 200 to 300 mile range on standard tanks is impressive and for added driver reassurance the model features a ‘get-you-home’ petrol switch-over, adding up to 40 miles. It is also up to 75% cleaner than its diesel equivalent and delivers around 15% greater fuel economy, saving up to 40% on annual fuel bills. Since CNG is a clean fuel, the Daily CNG can take advantage of the 4.25 tonne GVW dispensation, giving it a greater payload than comparable 3.5 tonne diesel vans. The model offers three van body heights – from 1,545 to 2,100 mm – and five payload bed-lengths – from 2,610mm to 5,125mm. It has a wide choice of van payload volumes – from 7.3 to 19.6 cu m and with seven wheelbases it offers a wide choice of body lengths. Judges were impressed with the Daily CNG’s payload and flexibility and the overall savings in CO2 emissions.
Maxus EV80
Maxus UK & Ireland, formerly known as LDV, continues to push the boundaries in the electric vehicle (EV) market, providing zero-emission EVs that offer the same reliability and range as diesel without having to compromise on cost. Hot on the heels of its successful launch of the EV80 comes the latest addition – the Maxus eDELIVER 3 – aimed at the smaller commercial van market. The EV80 range boasts a 120-mile range on a single charge, with a highcapacity lithium battery which can be fully charged in just over one hour. It has one of the most advanced ‘pure’ electric power systems and features Digital intelligent CVT that adjusts the torque and output of the motor under different conditions to create a smooth driving experience. With a six-year finance deal and the offer of a comprehensive feasibility study on the whole life cost of running an EV fleet, including charger installation costs, operators can also access the support they need to transition to a greener option with confidence. One judge commented: “Maxus has been a serious player in this market for some years, and broadening the range emphasises commitment to this sector.”
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MT Awards 2020 shortlists Urban Delivery Operator of the Year Sponsored by CitySprint
Same-day courier CitySprint is reducing the impact of its operation on the environment by expanding its zero-emission fleet, forging strategic partnerships with industry leaders and utilising innovative technology to boost efficiency and sustainability. In its green fleet, to enable the flexibility it needs as a same-day operation, City Sprint uses a variety of vehicles including pedal bikes, electric cargo bikes, electric vans and a hydrogen van. It is committed to trialling new, clean technology as it emerges. The business has forged alliances with organisations aiming to reduce the impact of transport in urban areas, such as Go Ultra Low and TfL, as well as working in partnership with universities. Areas explored through partnerships include micro-consolidation and charging points. Judges said: “City Sprint has taken great strides to reduces its impact on the environment and other challenges in the urban environment. It has trialled a range of technologies including EVs, a hydrogen van, and cargo cycles, and has properly evaluated its trials and quantified CO2 emissions cuts.”
DPD
Parcel firm DPD is redefining the way it operates within an urban environment to ensure its fleet of 8,000 delivery vehicles reduce their impact on air quality, noise levels and road safety. With 46% of parcels now destined for city centres, DPD’s Urban Delivery Strategy has seen the launch of a network of micro-depots with all-electric trunking, alongside a wider expansion of its electric fleet to 600 vehicles by the end of 2020. The operation has not only removed diesel vehicles from urban roads, but has also slashed unproductive mileage and halved ‘miles per parcel’. A pioneering approach has seen DPD source electric Paxster micro vehicles from Norway, while at the same time developing an eCargo bike in partnership with UK start-up EAV. It has also been first in line to secure a 100-strong order of the new 3.5-tonne MAN eTGE. It has also rolled out essential driver training for new electric technology, as well as supporting drivers to adopt home charging systems. Judges said: “This was a very strong entry from DPD. A great use of technology and different operating models to protect the urban environment.”
42 MotorTransport
Gnewt
Menzies Distribution subsidiary Gnewt operates a 120-strong fully electric delivery fleet. It has pioneered sustainable last-mile delivery services for a decade, to date delivering approximately 10 million parcels, reducing CO2 emissions by 67% per parcel. It has saved 687 tons of carbon and driven 1.1 million miles emission free. Gnewt enables customers of all sizes to provide an emission-free last-mile delivery using sophisticated route mapping and porterage deliveries to cut congestion. To further address urban congestion issues, Gnewt ensures to-time deliveries for outside of peak hours where possible and consolidates goods to reduce vehicle movements. The business has the UK’s largest private charging infrastructure and has developed a smart Vehicle to Grid (V2G) solution to help relieve power demands from the National Grid. Gnewt has also been working on more aerodynamic van bodies to reduce drag and fuel consumption. Judges said: “The Menzies fleet, via its acquired Gnewt business, is making great strides towards a cleaner future. A lot of effect must have been put into develop the UK’s largest privately owned smart charging infrastructure and largest vehicle-to-grid electricity transfer capability.”
Martin Brower
Martin Brower (UK) exclusively manages the complete supply chain for all McDonald’s restaurants in the UK, operating a multi-temperature distribution service. The company has four DCs in Hemel Hempstead, Basingstoke, Coventry and Heywood and carries out in excess of 250,000 deliveries per annum to approximately 1,300 McDonald’s restaurants. To reduce its environmental impact, Martin Brower started its ‘OSCAR’ project (oil storage container assisting restaurants) 10 years ago.This system allows McDonald’s to collect used cooking oil from restaurants, which is backhauled by Martin Brower’s trucks in a special tank under the chassis, to be recycled into biofuel for the entire fleet. This, said the operator, achieves greenhouse gas savings versus mineral diesel of 88% for every litre of biodiesel used. To improve vehicle safety, several systems have also been introduced into the fleet with urban deliveries prioritised to provide enhanced visibility for drivers and vehicle awareness systems for pedestrians and vulnerable road users such as cyclists. Judges said: “This entry showed a clear demonstration of how important adaptation to the changing urban scene is.”
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