ftmay2012_web full by Orla Sweeney

IRELAND'S LEADING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MAGAZINE

Pa Prenel V mi an ere s

Inside!

New Ford Transit & Mercedes-Benz Citan

New Hino 300 Series MAY 12

€4.50 inc.V.A.T.

STG £3.75

SHOW REVIEWS: • RAI Amsterdam • InterTraffic • FPS Expo • CV Show

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contents MAY 12 Fleet Transport Magazine, D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)94 9372819/ 9372826 Fax: +353 (0)94 9373571 Email: enquiries@fleet.ie Subscription Hotline: 094 93 72827 Editor: Jarlath Sweeney Contributors: Sean Murtagh, Cathal Doyle, Paul White, Jonathan Lawton, Donal Dempsey, Howard Knott, Jerry Kiersey, Rob Van Dieten, Gerry Murphy Photography: Jarlath Sweeney, Cathal Doyle, Paul White, Rob Van Dieten, Gerry Murphy, Howard Knott, Dan Campbell-Lloyd Administration: Orla Sweeney, Denise Vahey, Advertising: Mary Morrissey, Orla Sweeney Design: Eamonn Wynne Printed in Ireland

Fleet Transport/ Fleet Car/ Fleet Bus & Coach/ Fleet Van & Utility/ Fleet Trailer & Body Builder/ Fleet Maritime/ Green Fleet Management are published by JJDS Publications Ltd. Registered Office: D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. Co. Reg. 368767 Directors: Jarlath Sweeney, Sean Murtagh.

4 News • DAF Trucks launch Euro 6 engines • NSAI prosecutes • New Electric Moffett Mounty • Daily Check Videos produced • New Hino 300 Series • McElvaneys to develop new VW CV Centre • TPN has new member in Libra • Easytrip extends service • DPD expands. 8 Interview One-to-One with Giles Margerison, TomTom Business Solutions 10 Cover • All new Ford Transit Custom • New Mercedes-Benz Citan

www.fleet.ie 36 Motorsport Mercedes-Benz excels in Gazelles Rally 38 Opinion People and Politics 40 Comment Harvesting the waves 42 Legal Mobile Phone useage and the law 44 Finance Four main business issues in transport 46 Materials Handling Visit to Hyster plant in Craigavon

12 New Fleet Recently purchased Vans and Trucks 16 Long Distance Test Through Spain in the new Mercedes-Benz Actros

48 Feature On tour with Iveco in Italy 50 LCV I Volkswagen Commercials go off-road

18 Fleeting Shots • Hiab fundraiser • Fast Caddy Van • Easytrip appoints • McElvaneys lends a hand

52 On Trial TomTom Work on board VW Amarok

20 Powertrain Discovering more about Cummins and Euro 6

54 Warehousing 4th Irish Logistics Networking Lunch

22 Review I Bedrijfsauto RAI, Amsterdam (NL)

56 Shipping & Freight Tidal Topics

24 Review II Intertraffic, Amsterdam (NL)

58 Soapbox RSA – friend or foe?

26 Review III FPS Expo, Harrogate (GB) 29 Review IV CV Show, Birmingham (GB)

Disclaimer: Fleet Transport Magazine management can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Fleet Transport management, save where otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, Editors or publishers. The Editor reserves the right to make publishing decisions on any advertisements or editorial article submitted to the magazine and to refuse publication or to edit any editorial material as seems appropriate to him. Professional legal advice should always be sought in relation to any specific matter.

Fleet Transport Official Irish Jury Member of the International Truck of the Year Award Fleet Transport represents Ireland on the Trailer Innovation 2013 and the European Transport Company of the Year 2012 adjudication panels.

Transport barometer

TimoCom presents the Transport Barometer for Europe

More transparency in the transport sector

57 Freight in %

43 Vehicle in %

GB 94

IE 6

EU 36

IE 7

TimoCom provides up to 300,000 international freight and vehicle offers via the freight and vehicle exchange TC Truck&Cargo® which are used by 85,000 users from 44 countries Europe-wide. In order to visualise the market situation TimoCom gathers the numerous offers and then displays them in almost realtime on various web sites and shortly after in various newspapers and magazines. In Ireland, Fleet Transport is introducing the barometer to its readers for the ﬁrst time. Further information on www.timocom.com.

Data from 2012-04-01 to 2012-04-30

Fleet Transport is an official Patron of the Lets Do It Galway Volvo Ocean Race Campaign. FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

NEWS 1

DAF Trucks introduce Euro 6 heavy-duty engine

n order to meet Euro 6 emissions regulations, the new 12.9 litre PACCAR MX-13 engine uses ultramodern common rail technology, a turbo with valuable geometry and advanced controls for maximum efficiency. Derived from the EPA 10 specification version supplied in the United States since 2010, the six-cylinder unit also features exhaust gas recirculation, together with SCR technology and an active soot fi lter. “The PACCAR MX-13 engine is ultra clean,” says Ron Borsboom (pictured), member of the DAF Trucks N.V. Board of Management and responsible for Product Development in a meeting with Fleet Transport’s Jarlath Sweeney. “In addition, we’ve gone to great lengths to obtain industry leading fuel efficiency, reliability and sustainability.”

Compared with the current Euro 5 standard, Euro 6 requires that nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions must be reduced by a further 77%, while soot particle emissions must be cut by 66%. In concrete terms, this means that nitrogen oxide emissions have to be reduced from 2.0 to 0.46 grams/kWh, and soot particle emissions from 0.03 to as litt le as 0.01 grams/kWh. These are however not the only requirements: Euro 6

iron,” explains Borsboom. “With a view to ensuring maximum reliability and durability, as many functions as possible have been integrated.”

engines must meet these stringent requirements for a minimum of seven years or 700,000 km, in all operating conditions. In future, authorities will carry out random checks to ensure that vehicles are compliant with these standards, and new on-board diagnostics systems will warn the driver in the unlikely event that this is not the case. The PACCAR MX-13 engine is characterised by its combination of proven, state of the art technologies and a large number of technical innovations. “The block has been redesigned for even better stiff ness and, like the cylinder head, it is made of strong compact graphite

“In addition to reliability and durability, the biggest keyword in DAF’s Euro 6 technology is efficiency,” said Ron. “Achieving the ultra-low Euro 6 emission values requires additional technology, and our aim is of course to keep fuel consumption and CO2 emissions at the low levels of our current Euro 5 Advanced Transport Efficiencies vehicles,” says Borsboom. “We have done everything to get the very best out of the technology. DAF never aimed to be the fi rst to introduce Euro 6. It was more important for us to use the time available to come up with the best solutions.” The new 12.9 litre Euro 6 PACCAR MX-13 engine will enter production in early 2013, with outputs of 300kw/410hp, 340kW/460hp and 375kW/510hp. “Obviously, the introduction of new and additional Euro 6 technologies will have consequences for our vehicles,” concludes Borsboom. “We will be revealing these at the IAA in Hanover in September. You can be sure that DAF will come up with something beautiful!”

Weighbridge Operator Prosecuted by NSAI for Non-Compliance

n a recent action taken by NSAI’s Legal Metrology Service (LMS) at Gorey District Court, the Wexford Farmer’s Co-operative Society Ltd, which operates in the South East of Ireland, was convicted on two counts of using a non-verified weighbridge at Monamolin, County Wexford, in contravention of the Metrology Act 1996 and regulations. Wexford Farmer’s Co-operative Society pleaded guilty and was penalised €3,800 in fines and costs. The prosecution was taken after an inspection of the weighbridge in September 2011 found that the company had failed to rectify the weighbridge despite a previous warning to do so. It was confi rmed to the court that since that inspection the weighbridge has been put in order and the required verification successfully completed.

conviction, to a fi ne not exceeding €4,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both the fi ne and the imprisonment, and to forfeiture of the goods and instruments.

The Metrology Act 1996 obliges the user of a measuring instrument used in trade, to ensure that it conforms to an approved design, is accurate and is secured against unauthorised or fraudulent adjustment. A person found guilty of an offence under the Act is liable, on summary

Th is action comes after the recent successful prosecution last year of a service station in Dublin for not using verified equipment and short measuring which resulted in overcharging retail customers for petrol and diesel. Previously, in Dublin Metropolitan District Court, a number

of taxi operators were also convicted of using non-compliant taximeters. Maurice Buckley, CEO, NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) said, “NSAI Legal Metrology has taken a number of prosecutions against non-compliant traders; the present enforcement action concerned a weighbridge. Th roughout the economy, weighbridges are used daily for weighing products in bulk, usually between 10 and 60 tonnes. Individuals and businesses, such as farmers, the agri-food industry and hauliers across the diverse freight and logistics sector who transport a wide range of goods from food to cement and quarry stone, rely in their business on the accuracy of measurements from these instruments. Prosecuting non-compliant traders is an enforcement option that will be taken, where necessary, to ensure protection for people and businesses who every day rely on correct measurement results but who neither have the resources nor expertise to recheck every measurement themselves.”

MIKE MURPHY INSURANCE GROUP an Aon company Working with the Irish Haulage Industry for over 35 years Just call us for a quote! Tel: 01 2932350 Fax: 01 2932360

The Insurance Centre, Sandyford Business Centre, Sandyford, Dublin 18. Email: info@mikemurphyinsurance.ie Web: www.mikemurphyinsurance.ie Insureforsure Ltd t/a M.Murphy Insurance Group is an Aon company and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

4 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

NEWS II

All Electric Truck-Mounted Forklift from Hiab Moffett

reen is significantly more than just a colour on the new Hiab Moffett E Generation. The new zero emission fully electrically powered truck-mounted forklift is designed and manufactured at the Moffett factory in Dundalk, now branded Cargotec Ireland Limited. According to Kevin Turnbull, Engineering Director, “The world’s first electric truck-mounted forklift has no surplus weight compared to conventional, diesel powered models. Its Lithiumion battery is charged by an internal battery charger via an external power source (230 volt

therefore be used for at least 2.5 hours with very low noise levels.” The all-electric machine is ideal for night-time deliveries and operations in urban and semiindustrial areas. As the E2 is emission free, it is ideally suited for both, indoor and outdoor use. It has a lift capacity of up to 2000kg.

grid power or 24 volt on-board capacity) and features regeneration of braking energy. It can

The Hiab Moffett E2 E Generation was among the 5 out of 24 shortlisted for the ING Lease SV Innovation Award at the Bedrijfsauto RA I in Amsterdam last month.

Daily Vehicle Checks Video for Buses, Vans and Cars now on-line

ollowing the production of the HGV Driver Daily Checks video, Fleet Transport has produced three additional guides on behalf of the Health & Safety Authority, Road Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana for buses, vans and cars. Assisting with the project were Farrelly Coaches, Ford of Ireland, Renault Ireland, Bill Cullen Motors and Sortimo. “Vehicle daily checks are a simple and effective way to spot potentially dangerous issues or defects before vehicles are used. Employers and selfemployed people should have a system of routine daily checks in place to ensure that vehicles are in

“The Health & Safety Authority, Road Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana have developed resources to help employers manage vehicles risks, they include vehicle check posters, check sheets and videos,” she added.

good working order, safe and fit for purpose at the start of each working day or work shift,” explained Deirdre Sinnott, Senior Policy Inspector, Transport Safety Unit, Health & Safety Authority.

Hino 300 arrives in time for CV Show debut

mong the few premieres at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham was the European debut of the new Hino 300 Series. Totally redesigned, gentle curves on the cab’s corners allow for better air flow and enhance the aerodynamic effect. Inside seat adjustments have been improved with the collapsible gear lever allowing for easier cross-cab access. On the dash display, the EcoLight fitted will help the driver to go lighter on the thrott le. Storage areas have been added. Powering the new 7.5 tonner is DPF/EGR based 4.0 litre in-line 4 cylinder Euro 5 diesel that produces 121 kW @ 2500 rpm and delivers maximum torque of 464 Nm @ 1400 rpm.

To view the videos log on to www.hsa.ie / www. rsa.ie / www.garda.ie and click on the individual images relating to the bus/van and car videos. Posters and Check Sheets are available on http:// www.hsa.ie/eng/Vehicles_at_Work/Driving_ for_Work/Vehicle_Safety_Pre-checks/

McElvaneys to develop Ireland’s first dedicated Volkswagen CV Dealership

section of McElvaney’s Dublin site off the M50 (Exit 5) is to be developed into Ireland’s fi rst stand alone Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Dealership. The facility which currently host McElvaney’s Scania & Volkswagen Commercial dealerships will be transformed once the construction of the new Volkswagen Showroom and Service Centre is complete by 2014. Contained within the 947m 2 ground floor area of the new building is a 200m 2 5 van showroom, with customer zone, service and sales offices adjacent. To the rear is a 9 bay workshop (525m 2). In the centre section is the Parts Department while a separate area outside will be made available for Used Vehicle displays.

Unit 55 Doora Industrial Estate, Quinn Road, Ennis, Co. Clare Main Sales and Parts Dealers for Hino & Iveco Trucks to Ireland’s Mid-West. For more details contact: • Martin Hough: 087 6601648 • Office phone/fax: 065 6848665 • Email: martinhoughbandh@gmail.com FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

NEWS 111

Libra Trans becomes newest TPN member

outh Dublin based company, Libra Trans, which provides same day courier and light transport solutions and services, has become the latest member of TPN (The Pallet Network). As the newest member of TPN, Libra Trans will provide businesses in South Dublin and Ireland with access to a high quality, reliable, fast and flexible service with same and next day nationwide, UK and European delivery services. Founded by directors Gary Turner and Tom Duff y in 1992, Libra Trans operates from a purpose built warehouse in Park West. Libra Trans currently employs 40 staff operating a

fleet of 30 vehicles, comprising of 15 trucks and 15 vans. “Th is has been one of the most difficult couple of years for the transport and logistics industry, due to the economic downturn. We

believe that as the latest member of TPN, the synergy between our companies, with a focus on the latest technological tools, commitment to customer services and being ISO:9001 certified, will bring positive growth to both Libra Trans and TPN,” said Gary Turner, Managing Director, Libra Trans, pictured with Seamus McGowan, Managing Director, TPN, who added, “We are delighted to have Libra Trans joining our growing network. Our vision at TPN is to offer local independent hauliers like Libra Trans an opportunity to have a service to rival multinational transport operators.”

Easytrip’s New Pan-European Service • Save on Tolls plus VAT Recovery

asytrip, Ireland’s provider of electronic tolling payment services has introduced Trans Europe, its new Toll Payment & VAT Recovery service. Trans Europe has been established to specifically cater for commercial vehicle operators and haulage companies, offering customers significant savings on tolls, VAT recovery and excise duty on fuel across Europe. Easytrip Trans Europe operates in 12 countries throughout the continent from France, including The Mont Blanc and Frejus Tunnels, to Spain, Italy, Germany across to Poland and the Czech Republic. In each of these countries, Easytrip has a local contact giving customers the security of local knowledge and facilitating

reality today is that transportation costs are spiralling both in Ireland and around Europe. In light of that, Easytrip’s new international service delivers exceptional savings not only on cross border tolls, but on VAT recovery and refunds of excise duty on fuel.”

the management of transactions abroad from a single account in Ireland. Dermot MacEvilly, Chief Executive Officer, Easytrip Services Ireland Ltd pictured with model Nadia Forde commented: “The economic

“In France, for example, Easytrip can save hauliers up to 13% on tolls, up to 19% in the Mont Blanc and Frejus tunnels, and a further 19.6% on VAT recovery. Easytrip Trans Europe also ensures that customers have no foreign language difficulties to deal with, no need to provide local banking guarantees in different countries, plus there’s the major advantage of paying tolls all the way to the Russian border, through the one Easytrip account,” he added.

DPD Ireland expands Athlone facility creating 50 new jobs

PD Ireland expects to create over 50 new positions over the next 18 months with further expansion of its fulfilment and distribution facility in Athlone, County Westmeath. “DPD’s business is almost like a bell weather of the Irish economy. It directly ref lects Ireland’s changing economic environment. DPD’s customer base has become increasingly cost conscious - right across every sector. We’ve had to adapt quickly to that change. Th rough strong investment in Research and Development and Technical Innovation, we’ve improved efficiencies for DPD and for our customers. We’re delivering their products faster, safer, and more cost effectively,” said Brendan O’Neill, CEO of DPD Ireland.

Founded in 1986, with just 10 depots, DPD (formerly known as Interlink) has rapidly grown to become Ireland’s leading express parcels provider with a network of 38 depots

throughout Ireland, currently employing over 600 people. The internet has become a very important tool to DPD. It gives customers access to realtime updates on parcel delivery status and collection updates. Th is allows the receiver to have interactive delivery scheduling and provide options on delivery points so that goods get to the customer when expected. Customer feedback indicated that they wanted to have more options around delivery of parcels. DPD’s Predict™ service provides the receiver with a three-hour time window in which to expect delivery of their parcel.

MIKE MURPHY INSURANCE GROUP an Aon company Working with the Irish Haulage Industry for over 35 years Just call us for a quote! Tel: 01 2932350 Fax: 01 2932360

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INTERVIEW

One-to-One

easily manage it.

Giles Margerison, Director UK & Ireland TomTom Business Solutions with Jarlath Sweeney, editor@fleet.ie

JS. So you’ve changed the name from TOM TOM WORK to TOM TOM BUSINESS SOLUTIONS. Why? GM. There are four divisions now to TOM TOM, the consumer division that everybody knows about, there’s licencing which is the mapping side of the business which was Tele Atlas and we’ve got the automotive side, which is looking at selling Sat Nav’s built into vehicles at the point of manufacture, and then there’s us at Business Solutions. We had Tele Atlas and TOM TOM WORK, so it really was about bringing the brand all together, because it was becoming confusing for the customer, and at least the consumer now knows that they can just come to TOM TOM it’s all one TOM TOM, whatever they want, whether it’s a consumer need or a business need so it’s one name so we are TOM TOM but the business solutions element. So that’s why. JS. Did the 'Work' attached to the name cause some confusion? GM. People still use the TOM TOM Work name to identify us as a business unit within TOM TOM. I think it was complicated for any consumer, whether they were a general consumer or a business consumer, to identify. They just see TOM TOM as being one entity and there was this confusing divide. I think it just brought everything together and it just makes it one brand, one set of products. So it was just a simplification and whether it's confusing, I don’t think so, I think the market prett y much knows who we are. JS. For a customer, what can you offer them, from the initial investment, to the return on that investment? GM. Absolutely, they want to know what they’re going to get back. Well, actually it would be refreshing if it always did work like that because so much upfront is all about price, because it’s a very competitive market place. We’re always talking about price and it's actually us usually that’s trying to change the conversation round to being more on return on investment. A small difference in price isn’t something to get hung up on when the benefits to a customer are so potentially huge. We’d love if more people spoke to us on return on investment. It does happen afterwards and what we try and do is really quantify with proof statements. We really work hard with our customers to work with us on case studies, and all those case studies are always quantified. We won’t release a case study unless 8

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

its got real quantitative figures, and again, when at the beginning of the sale cycle when we’re talking with a customer, the trick is always to use their own numbers. If you try and place numbers in their heads they won’t believe them. It just doesn’t work, so you need to say okay, how much fuel do you think you could save if you could monitor everything your vehicle is doing? How much time do you think you could save? How much more efficient do you think you could be? You take their figures and we normally halve them,and you get an enthusiastic response like, “I think I could do another job a day” and we say “well just do another one a month and let's work the numbers on that because they’ll work”. The numbers will work on that basis so its really about managing expectations, taking the customers numbers, make sure you’re speaking to the right people within the business, it’s about adjusting your discussion to your audience correctly and then being very realistic because, you know, the numbers are significant. We’ve just released a case study with Zenith, they’ve changed their average fleet mpg from twenty miles to the gallon to forty four miles to the gallon in a very short period of time. They’ve also seen a massive reduction in their insurance premium, they’re spending less on fuel and they’re doing more miles but their fuel spends have gone down, their CO2 emissions have gone down too. That’s all been proven from themselves and they’ve published these figures and we’re making them public and that speaks because it’s fundamental. They’ve already paid for the system for its lifetime and they’ve not been running it for a year yet, so that’s what you can get. Really we don’t have to exaggerate, we don’t have to play this up. Moving people from thinking about price to returns on investment is music to our ears. JS. With companies focusing more on Health & Safety Legislation, driving for work, driver safety etc., how much consideration do you give to your products and services with that in mind? GM. It’s huge, it’s part of the sales process with every customer. You have got to be careful how much you balance it because you don’t want to look like you’re selling scare tactics, “Oh, you know, you’ve got to have this or you’re going to get prosecuted for manslaughter, it’s been done like that before and that’s not us. However, we can manage the biggest risks on the road. 80% of accidents are caused by speed or fatigue. We can manage those dangers really effectively because we own the maps, we know the speed limits on every road, we report road specific speeding and allow businesses to

We even ‘stack rank’ drivers in terms of their risk, based on fuel consumption, speeding, harsh driving, engine idle, there is an environmental element as well. The employers know where their people are, they know that they’re driving and that their general behaviours are safe, that’s obviously got financial benefit but the duty of care benefit is clear and it’s massive. They are responsible for driver behaviour. If there is an accident, companies need to demonstrate that, not only have they got a process in place which is using technology, potentially ours or anyone that provides it, but they’re using technology to manage those drivers as a tool, but also, they’re acting on it. It’s not just enough just to have it there, they’ve got to then say OK, this is how we coach drivers and this is how we change behaviour. But actually what we do as part of a sales process, is say “this ticks loads of those Duty of Care boxes and you really can make sure people are home safe at night by managing things. JS. All this information is downloadable of course, but is it available to the Courts subject to evidence required for an accident, for example? GM. The legal aspect is quite interesting. If data is recorded electronically, so for example, it is not printed out, the Police can request it and that’s if they know you’ve got a tracking system in the first place. Because there’s no particular reason they would know, and because it’s usually used to people’s benefit, not their detriment, it would take a Court order to get that data released. Interestingly, if you’ve printed the reports off and stacked them on a shelf in the office, the Police have the right to take it away, so we do point that out. However, if it’s electronically stored on a computer you need a Court order to provide the data. Usually very responsible fleets are managing that data really really well, managing their fleets well, and they actually would want to share it because usually it’s showing that they’re acting responsibly. JS. With regard to updates for customers, do you keep them informed on various upgrades that may enhance the system they already have? GM. Definitely. As much as possible, we inform them of any new release in terms of hardware that is retrospectively compatible. For example, a year ago we released the EcoPlus unit and that’s compatible with units we were selling up to three years ago. It’s not always possible but mostly it is and actually for the service we provide online every customer runs the latest versions so there is only ever one version. When we release new stuff that’s for older customers too, it is available for everybody. We don’t charge extra for that. Really again that’s good for the customer. But there’s a selfish reason for doing that as well. If our system doesn’t look as shiny as everyone else’s, in three years time we’ll lose customers, but if they’re constantly running the latest version then we keep our customers with us and that’s of course what we want, they’re on the latest system and actually its much easier to sell a new piece of hardware to an existing loyal customer. Of course, we want it to be retrospectively compatible. Read the interview in full on www.fleet.ie Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

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COVER

New Ford Transit begins Ford’s Commercial Vehicle renewal progamme “This is a stylish, modern van which customers will be proud to have on their driveway, while losing none of the hard-working attitude that they expect from a Transit.”

he World Premiere of the all-new Ford Transit Custom at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham marks the dawn of a new era at Ford’s business end. The ‘blue-oval’s’ global commercial vehicle range which will see the entire line-up replaced by 2014, starts with the new ‘1-tonne’ Transit Custom. Larger and higher payload Transit will come later this year, to be followed by the replacement for the Transit Connect. There is even talk of the development of a mini-cargo urban van similar to that of the Fiat Fiorino. Transit Custom is the new trend setter and standard bearer in the ultra competitive one-tonne panel van segment. Its sleek new exterior introduces Ford’s Kinetic design, originated from its passenger car division, to its commercials. “The Transit Custom is a completely new kind of one-tonne vehicle from Ford,” said Barb Samardzich, Vice-President, Product Development, Ford of Europe at the launch.

“The launch of this new range marks the start of a far-reaching transformation of Ford’s global commercial vehicle range. With more new models set to be revealed in the coming months, 2012 is destined to be a very exciting year for our commercial vehicle business,” she added. Ms. Samardzich informed the press gathering on the eve of the CV Show that the ‘Custom’ name added to the new Transit signifies the numerous customisation prospects that the 1-tonne panel van offers both fleet and individual customers. From launch, the Transit Custom will offer a choice of short wheelbase (overall length 4.97m) and long wheelbase (5.34 metres) and will provide maximum load volume that exceeds its closest competitors (up to 6.0 cubic metres). Payload options encompass from 600 - 1,400kg. Beneath its stylish exterior, a number of innovative new loadspace features are contained within. These include:-

• Optimised bulkhead and loadspace design enables the SWB model to carry three Euro pallets loaded to at least one metre high. • Load-through hatch in bulkhead enables loads up to three metres in length, such as pipes or ladders, to be safely carried inside the vehicle. • Class-leading width between wheelarches allows wide loads, such as 8 ft x 4 ft (2440mm x 1220mm) boards to be easily accommodated flat on the floor (or stored vertically if required). • Class leading height and width of sliding side load doors for ease of loading. • Deployable integrated roof rack system seamlessly integrated into the roof, and can be deployed when required. When not in use, the cross bars can be quickly folded down, Driver comfort is significantly enhanced through a highly adjustable driving position reducing drag and fuel which features increased seat travel – including 30mm more rear travel for taller drivers consumption, as well – and the addition of a steering column adjustable for reach and rake, something which as keeping the vehicle

height under two metres (with the exception of the 330 series). • Repositioned tie-down hooks and fi xing points located on the body sides, leaving the floor clear for easier loading and cleaning. Ford’s 2.2 litre Duratorq TDCi diesel has been improved to deliver low running costs. Available in 100ps, 125ps and 155ps power rating, the new Euro 5 block features Auto- Stop/Start as standard which helps to reduce fuel consumption by up to 8% compared to the previous model. Even before the vehicle goes on sale, it will have been driven the equivalent of five million km (three million miles), including at least 400,000 km (250,000 miles) with Transit customers. Key components and systems are tested to the limit: for example, doors go through an intensive regime of 250,000 slam cycles, which is three times more punishing than Ford’s equivalent passenger car test. While the new Transit Custom boasts a car like interior, the similarities do not end there. A number of driver assistance technologies are brought over too including:• SYNC voice-activated, in car connectivity system – enables mobile phones and music players to be connected to the vehicle, and operated by voice control. • Emergency Assistance – enabled by SYNC, this award-winning new feature is designed to assist occupants to contact the Emergency Services in the event of an accident, providing vehicle location information. • Rear-view camera – display integrated into the rear view mirror. • Lane Keeping Alert and Driver Alert – latest driver assistance features alerts the driver if the system detects the vehicle is inadvertently drifting out of the lane, or the driver is becoming tired behind the wheel. With a full range of van, kombi and double-cab-invan models, the dynamic new Transit Custom will go on sale later in 2012 in Europe as well as other global markets (but not in North America).

the current van does not have. 10

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

COVER

Citan – Mercedes-Benz’ new CITy titAN Van

itan, Mercedes-Benz’ new urban delivery van was revealed to Europe’s trade press at Amsterdam’s former Stock Exchange building. As one of Europe’s upwardly mobile cities with a busy airport, shipping port and on-street traffic, Amsterdam was chosen as the perfect landscape to launch a new commercial vehicle. Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans commenced his welcome address with two key points:• •

The fi rst is that the time is ripe for the Citan. The second is that Mercedes-Benz Vans is now in an ideal position to play a major role in the city van segment.

“In terms of the first point, you might be wondering why we’ve decided to launch the Citan at exactly this point in time. The answer is that the city van segment has been picking up speed lately. There is another factor. Th is is leading more and more van customers to choose vehicles that are no bigger than they need to be. All of this is basically good news for us as a van manufacturer. Still, one segment has been doing very well in particular: the city vans segment. In the past few years, the market for city vans has grown from a niche sector to the largest single van segment in Europe, with a volume of 700,000 units per year. We’re responding to this development in typical Mercedes-Benz

Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

fashion. I’m convinced that the Citan has the best chance to succeed in this environment. “It’s a vehicle that provides our customers with a solution for meeting the new demands they face, while at the same time offering the features that have traditionally made us strong. We fitted the Citan with three core competencies, so to speak: flexibility, economy, and quality. That’s why we’re offering the Citan urban transporter as a panel van, a crewbus, and a mixed-use vehicle. All of them come in up to three lengths and two gross vehicle weights. Countless customisation options are also available. To put it simply, the Citan can be adjusted to any requirement, just like a tailor-made suit. But even though the model offers tremendous variety, it doesn’t cost a lot. No doubt there will be other vehicles in the Citan’s class that will sell for less. But we’re not focusing solely on what the price tag says. Instead, we’re more interested in the total cost of ownership throughout the vehicle’s entire life cycle. And in this area we plan to make it very difficult for our customers to even consider a model other than the Citan. Take fuel, for example, we’ve made sure the Citan will be one of the most fuelefficient models in its class. It’s clear that in these and many other ways, the Citan is by no means simply a passenger car with a litt le more space. Whether it’s spare parts availability, fi nancing packages, or other services – the Citan is tailored to meet the special requirements of commercial vehicle customers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our future Citan customers want a strong partner that meets the tough demands of city driving. And that’s exactly what we’re going to give them. The Citan is reliable, flexible and also looks damned good. If you ask me, it has what it takes to create a beautiful and harmonious partnership.”

About Citan • • • •

Completes the Mercedes-Benz van family Available in three lengths – 3.94m / 4.32m / 4.71m Th ree model types – Panel Van, 5 seater Mixto (SWB) commercial and 5 seater passenger (LWB) Permissible GVW – 2200 kilograms

Other Safety Features: • Electronic Stability Programme • Anti-lock braking • Vehicle Dynamic Control • Traction Control System • Acceleration Skid Control • • •

Engine choice: 1.5 litre diesel with outputs from 55 kW (75hp) to 81 kW (110hp) Transmission: 5 or 6 speed manual gearbox (FWD) Service Intervals: 40,000 km/2 years

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

NEW FLEET 1

30 Toyota Auris Vans for Northgate

orthgate Vehicle Hire has added 30 Toyota Auris Vans to its fleet of over 60,000 vehicles for rental through more than 60 locations in Ireland and the UK.

and Local Authorities right down to small and medium sized enterprises and owner operators. “The decision to go with the Auris Van was actually a relatively easy one to make. Toyota has an excellent reputation for quality, great value and incredibly fuel efficient vehicles – key att ributes we look for when selecting new vehicles for our fleet. The Auris Van also perfectly matches our customer needs in the light commercial vehicle range and will defi nitely enhance our large fleet offering,” commented Lee Saunders of Northgate Vehicle Hire.

Northgate offers a vast range of vans on a fully flexible hire package through its central hub in Dublin, along with its recently opened depot in Limerick City and soon to open Cork branch. Northgate’s direct service network includes an excellent infrastructure of 56 workshops, 300 technicians and 56 mobile technicians who service a diverse customer base ranging from blue chip corporations

Renault’s Master Freight-Shifts!

Western Hygiene supplies ‘clean’ Sprinters

Kinahan Commercials Ltd., Dublin Road, Moate, County Westmeath recently completed a fleet deal with Western Hygiene Supplies of Cummer, Tuam, County Galway. The Midlands & Western Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealer has supplied three Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 416 extra long panel vans that have been replated to 3.5 tonnes GVW. As part of the deal, the new vans come with a three-year warranty and threeyear service package. Pictured are Ian Folan (Sales Manager) Kinahans & Martin Collins, (Transport Manager) Western Hygiene Supplies.

reightshift Nationwide (Limerick) has joined the growing army of new Renault Master van owners across the country with two LML35 twin (rear) wheel drive versions operating from their Raheen Industrial Estate base. The new Masters powered by Renault’s 2.3 litre 125 hp dCi diesel engines will be used primarily to cater for the increased business from its home delivery service. Pat Reeves, Fleet Sales Manager at Dennehy Motors, Riverside Park, Dock Road, Limerick conducted the deal on behalf of the newly appointed Renault Commercials for the Mid-West. "Renault's Finance and Warranty package as well as its value for money offering were the main deciding factors for us in the purchase of the new Masters", stated Sean Murtagh, Director, Freightshift Nationwide.

First Euro 5 Scudo for Ballinlough Refrigeration

eamus Joyce in the Sales Department at D.Dennehy Ltd., Carrigtwohill, County Cork, Main Hino, Iveco & Fiat Professional Dealers has supplied one of the fi rst Euro 5 Fiat Scudo Vans in Ireland to Ballinlough Refrigeration.

km warranty package with the fourth year option from FIAT also being taken up by the customer. The new Scudo will be based at its Cork depot in Carrigtwohill, which services the Munster area.”

Fitted with a 2.0 litre engine developing 128hp and mated to a 6 speed Gearbox, it has a sliding door on each side as standard. The new vehicle comes with the standard FIAT 3 year/150,000

Get the Wright Cover. Call 053 915 5600 We know you’re looking for an insurance provider who can offer more than ever before. As Ireland’s Leading Haulage insurance specialist, let us save you time & money, do the ground work for you & provide you with peace of mind.

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Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

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NEW FLEET 11

Beirne Express Celebrates Silver anniversary in style!

estport based haulage company, Bei r ne E x press, wh ich celebrates 25 years in business this year, has taken ownership of the fi rst Volvo FH16.750 Ocean Race Limited Edition truck in Ireland. Th is purchase was very fitt ing for Beirne Express in its anniversary year as the truck itself has reached its 25th birthday and wears the Volvo Ocean Race Livery in recognition of the race ending in neighbouring Galway this July.

Fellow Westport native Brendan O’Malley, salesman at Irish Commercials Volvo in Oranmore, is particularly proud of this truck sale to Beirne Express. As a young lad on his daily journey to school at Rice College he never envisaged that he would one day sell the most powerful truck in the world into his hometown and to Beirne Express. The new FH16 750bhp has a massive 3550Nm of torque, which is the equivalent torque of 12 family cars.

Clare County Trucking striking new Scania R560.

porting striking livery artwork Clare County Trucking, operating from Drumcliff, Ennis, County Clare recently took delivery of a brand new R560 6x2/4 Highline tractor-unit from Scania Dealer A.O’C. Commercials Ltd., Springhill, Carrigtwohill, County Cork.

many other added features. Owned by Patrick Hehir, Clare County Trucking has been in business since 1999 and offers a nationwide service. A.O.C’s Cian Delanty wishes Pat the best of luck with this new addition to his fleet.

Th is Scania was specified with the new R Series CR 19 Highline Cab, V8 engine with 560hp, Euro5, Scania Retarder, rear mounted batteries, V8 styling pack which includes leather seats, V8 door badges, black wooden steering wheel, chrome grille surrounds and

Renault Premium Mardec Transport New Hino 700 winner for Brian ‘churns up’ in Series for Booth Daly Transport another Merc! Precast rian Daly proprietor of Brian Daly av i ng pu rcha sed nu merou s

Transport (Dublin) is now the proud owner of one of the limited edition versions of the 460 hp Renault Premium 6x2 tractor unit. Th is striking vehicle carries the 01 numbering from Renault Trucks Racing to signify its prowess in the European Truck Racing Championships. Brian Daly’s new flagship joins a 30 strong fleet of Renault Trucks in his yard.

Mercedes-Benz t r uck s f rom Kinahan Commercials (Moate) for its milk collection business, Mardec Transport (Castledaly, County Westmeath) has purchased its second new Actros 1848 in the past year. According to Conor Coughlan from Mardec, “The Mercedes-Benz Actros has proven to be a reliable fuel efficient truck for our specific transport duty and we are delighted to be doing business again with Kinehan Commercials.”

ooth Precast, Abbeyleix and Portlaoise, County Laois has supplied concrete and associated precast products to the building industry since sett ing up business in the early nineties. Brothers, Pat, Peter and John have been purchasing trucks from Martin Hough of B&H Premier Commercials since then. Hino is the mainstay of their fleet. Company M.D. Peter Booth said the Hino product's reputation for reliability, ruggedness, maneuverability and back-up service is second to none. Speaking with New Fleet, Martin Hough of B&H Premier Commercials said, “From my point of view this sale to Booth Precast is an important indicator of mini green shoots in our industry.”

14 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

ELSATRANS

â&#x20AC;&#x153;40% LESS ON MAINTENANCEâ&#x20AC;?

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Volvo Total Solutions Category: Maintenance Contracts Company: Elsatrans

Dealer: Irish Commercials

Location: Naas, Co. Kildare

Total Fleet: 12

Business: Frozen, Chilled, Groupage

Aaron McAleenan runs Elsatrans, a 24/7 frozen, chilled and groupage service across the whole of Ireland. He runs a fleet of 11 litre Volvo FMs making on time deliveries and a huge range of work from containers to fridge tractors. For Aaron maintenance is critical; timing, costs, parts availability are all crucial elements in keeping the fleet running in the most cost-efficient way and simply, â&#x20AC;&#x153;never letting a customer down.â&#x20AC;? His words say it all, â&#x20AC;&#x153;we opted for Volvoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gold Contract with maintenance by Irish Commercials. It fixes our costs, reduces the risk of unplanned downtime and in our experience saves us 40% over non-contract trucks.â&#x20AC;? Make some savings, talk to your Volvo Trucks Dealer about Volvo Genuine parts, service and maintenance contracts. Use your smart phone to scan this QR code to visit our website, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

VOLVO TRUCKS. DRIVING PROGRESS www.volvotrucks.ie www.facebook.com/volvotrucksuk www.twitter.com/volvotrucksuk

LONG DISTANCE TEST

Mercedes-Benz’ Actros ‘Reigns’ in Spain

onsider i ng its € 2 Billion investment, MercedesBenz is confident that Actros, as ‘International Truck of the Year 2012’ will take its place in the history books. The automotive giant was prepared to back up its confidence by arranging a series of real time test drives and inviting interested parties, (including Fleet Transport) to put the truck through its paces. Encouraged by the success of the previous ‘TransAlp Trucking Tour,’ when Mercedes-Benz ran an LP 1620 against an Actros from Stuttgart over the Brenner Pass to Italy, it decided to compare the new Actros against the previous version - the MP3 - over a much longer drive totalling 5,500 kms. The test route was a figure of eight trans-Euro drive, beginning with the first leg from Stuttgart to Trento (I), and Savona (I), then continuing across the south of France to Beziers, then onto Barcelona, Malaga, Madrid, Bilbao, Beziers, Lyon and Engen, before returning to Stuttgart. Our chosen drive was the Spanish section from Malaga to Bilbao, a well trodden path by many Irish drivers and one of the more challenging legs of the tour. The drive covered a total of 943 kms and is a well known and demanding route for truck and driver.

Leaving the coast at Malaga you first climb out over the end of the Sierra Nevada on the A45 towards Antequera, linking onto the A92 in the direction of Granada. Just north of Jaen we come down onto the plains of central Spain for the run up to Madrid on the A4. The Mercedes-Benz convoy consisted of ten trucks, pairing five Actros MP3 with five new Actros to allow a direct comparison, not only from the driver’s seat but also from a night in the bed. Our first night in Malaga we drew the lucky 16 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

straw by being handed the keys to the 1851 Euro 6 GigaSpace with the SoloStar cab package. Attempts at single occupant cabs are not new, though they have never achieved mass market appeal. SoloStar could be the exception as it is single minded in its design and function, while managing to make some allowances for a passenger, in that it has two bunks. Strangely having two bunks created a slight dilemma. Where a truck has two bunks the driver will invariably opt to sleep on the lower, using the top as a storage area. Although SoloStar is fitted with a comfortable bottom bunk, for the driver to sleep there the lounge-chair backrest must be folded and the bunk lowered from the rear wall, after which the bed must be ‘made up’ with sheets, duvet and pillows. So it is highly likely that many drivers will opt to sleep upstairs, which is not a problem especially in the GigaSpace, though the upper bunk does not provide the full range of controls for radio, night heater, lighting, and roof vent that is found in the downstairs bedroom. Also, making the top bunk the main sleeping area does reduce storage area for large items such as suitcases, nevertheless SoloStar provides ample storage throughout the cab with many clever additions such as built in sunglasses case and retractable desk from the dashboard, along with the foldout dining table located on the rear wall. Our BlueTec 6 - 510hp in a brilliant red livery was hitched to a tri-axle Krone curtainsider grossing out at 40 tonnes, a respectable weight for the journey. Having been previously impressed with the performance of the 1851, the prospect of the drive to Madrid was much anticipated. The south of Spain has long been a proving ground for manufacturers when developing new vehicles

and with good reason. With summer temperatures exceeding 40°C and no shortage of mountains, the routes around Malaga and Granada soon highlight any weakness in engineering or production. We were not disappointed, within a few kilometres new Actros revealed its capabilities. Some might argue that 510hp is small compared to what is available on the market, however this 1851 drives exceptionally well, feels strong, and performed more like a 600+ hp truck. This point was clearly made climbing one of the picturesque Andalucian hills, when we overtook an 1848 version with a comfortable margin. One point of interest noted by our co-driver Richard was that in Andalucia, if the road speed falls below 60 kp/h on heavy pulls, the

LONG DISTANCE TEST

driver must activate the Hazard Warning Lights. Drivers familiar with Spanish roads are aware that going up hills is only half the job, with going down being the other and more dangerous half. This was never an issue though, as our flagship 510 delivered twice as much braking power as pulling power. Along with the standard ‘High Performance (engine) Brake’ (HPB) delivering 400 kW (544hp), we were spoilt with the optional new water retarder providing an incredible 850 kW (1,156hp) retardation. When controlling the speed on long downhill stretches we found the standard HPB well capable of controlling the speed, and the retarder so powerful that it would cope with the heaviest of loads on the steepest descents. Road safety is further enhanced by a host of driver aids, and includes a system to automatically activate the Hazard Warning Lights during a full brake application. One of the reasons for selecting the Spanish section for our drive was to see what improvements had been made to the PowerShift 3 transmission - and there is nothing like 40 tonnes and a steep mountain to find that out. What we found is that even under the most testing conditions PowerShift 3 is arguably the smoothest and fastest shifting transmission on the market. Selections are precise which instills a high level of confidence in its operation, and the well matched selections are perfectly timed to remain in the maximum torque band.

transport-zone for the night. Here our MercedesBenz hosts required us to change trucks and sleep in the previous (old) MP3 Actros, the idea being to evaluate how Actros has progressed for in-cab comforts. New Actros is an improved version of what was and still is one of the best appointed cabs on the market - and has been since its launch in 1996.

We always found the Actros MP3 to have a good driving position and the driving position in new Actros is arguably better, certainly steering wheel adjustment is improved and the foot-switch is easier to operate. The quality seating can be upgraded to include a massage function, an option we had in our test unit - and very nice it was too.

Our night in the V8 MegaSpace 1851 shows that good initial design can set standards and remain of value for years. At long haul operation when you are using what is a relatively small space for work, rest and play, certain aspects of design are critical. One aspect Mercedes-Benz got right from the start was the flat floor, something which not all manufacturers have taken on board, even to date.

Leaving the hills and olive groves of Andalucia behind, the run up to Madrid was relaxing and enjoyable. After negotiating the M40 ring road to the east of Madrid we pulled into the ‘Coslada’

Day II found us setting off from Coslada behind the wheel of a 1842 Streamline. The narrow 2.3m cab is comfortable and well appointed to the needs of the fleet operators and drivers. Having survived

Text & Photos: Paul White - paul@fleet.ie

morning rush hour on Madrid’s infamous M50, it was time to tackle the heavy pulls north of the capital on the ‘Autovia del Norte’ towards Burgos, which includes the 1,444 metre climb over the infamous ‘Puerto de Somoserria.’ Being totally honest, leaving Madrid did not appeal as the truck felt weak and somewhat underpowered for the task. However we soon changed our mind and the 1842 revealed itself as very competent truck, well able to conquer the famous mountain road, and by the time we arrived at journey’s end the '42 had won us over completely. If Mercedes-Benz had doubts about their new Actros they would not have chosen such a demanding and lengthy European test route. The well organised event allowed everyone to experience what Mercedes-Benz already know - that is how bright this 'Three Pointed Star' can shine.

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 17

FLEETING SHOTS

Auction of Herman Brood Hiab Crane raises €11,750

n 2000, Cargotec invited the famous Dutch artist, Herman Brood, to paint a Hiab loader crane at the RA I Exhibition. At this year’s RA I exhibition, on 20 April, the same crane - a Hiab 102 - was auctioned to support the independent humanitarian organisation, War Child.

Afvalservice West, a department of the city of Amsterdam, outbid all others during the vibrant auction live at the exhibition in the RA I centre. and the intention is to have the crane available for display at the Amsterdam City Museum (Stedelijk Museum). The late Herman Brood, a multi-talented musician, artist and painter, was one of the most well-known residents of Amsterdam.

“The Herman Brood Hiab 102 is going home to the city where it was once created; Amsterdam. We could not have wished for a better location for this crane and a whopping €11,750 will be transferred to War Child,” says Paulo Cardoso, Marketing Manager Cargotec Netherlands.

Volkswagen Caddy Racer - the fastest Van in Ireland

Volkswagen Caddy Racer, a more athletic brother of the popular Volkswagen Caddy Van claimed the title of fastest van in Ireland, sett ing a new course record for commercial vehicles at Mondello Park with a time of 1.05.77. Powered by a 4-cylinder, 16-valve 2.0 litre engine (as per the VW Golf GTI), the impressive Volkswagen Caddy Racer matched and surpassed many of the times set by conventional racing cars on the Mondello circuit.

Volkswagen Caddy Racer enthusiast and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Ireland, Simon Elliott commented, “The Volkswagen Caddy Racer is a powerful machine with an even bigger heart. I have raced it competitively in the UK and I am certain that there isn’t a commercial vehicle in Ireland that could come anywhere near matching it. It has all the very best attributes of the standard Volkswagen Caddy Panel Van plus a litt le extra!”

Easytrip Services Ireland McElvaney Motors Makes a Wedding Wish Come True Expand Sales Team

asytrip, Ireland’s largest provider of electronic tolling services has appointed Greg Daly as Business Accounts Sales Manager. Greg will be responsible for client service and new business sales for general tolling and parking, plus Easytrip’s new Trans Europe service for international tolls and VAT recovery. Greg will work closely with the management team to expand this new international service to existing and new fleet clients. Greg has a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from University College Cork and has over five years sales experience, commencing his career with The Carphone Warehouse in 2007. Prior to joining Easytrip, Greg worked for Mars Ireland as a Sales Developer, with responsibility for accounts such as Musgraves and BWG stores. Greg was responsible for account management, selling in promotions to stores and maintaining regular sales by controlling availability of listed lines.

n Ray Darcy’s Fix-It Friday on Today FM, a bride, Cathy Barry, was looking to surprise her groom with a Scania to drive them to the reception. Emer Conlon, Marketing Manager, McElvaney Motors (Monaghan & Dublin) contacted the Show and arranged a new Scania R730 and a Volkswagen Caravelle for the bridal party. Cathy, from Dublin was marrying her fiancé Frank, ex-long distance truck driver, now a school teacher who has a real passion for trucks and Scanias in particular! Cathy wanted a Scania truck to bring them from their wedding ceremony in City Hall Dublin to their reception. “Cathy and Frank are truly a wonderful couple and we were delighted to be able to make Cathy’s wish come true and to play a small part in their big day. Everyone at McElvaney Motors would like to wish them every happiness for their lives together!”

MIKE MURPHY INSURANCE GROUP an Aon company Working with the Irish Haulage Industry for over 35 years Just call us for a quote! Tel: 01 2932350 Fax: 01 2932360

18 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

Fleet Transport EXPO 12... Planning To Win Identifying the reasons for exhibiting is a good start, getting on the right road and making it worth the trip is what the Fleet Transport EXPO 12 is all about. Not planning sufficiently is one of the primary reasons many companies don’t reap the maximum benefit from exhibitions. Exhibiting by objectives is the process of identifying your best reasons for exhibiting, converting those reasons to SMART goals, developing plans for execution and measuring results. Here is a list of the top reasons why companies should be exhibiting at Fleet Transport EXPO 12. If you can select anything from 1 to 3 reasons important to your company then you should be considering Fleet Transport EXPO 12 as a primary component of your overall Irish Marketing Strategy for 2012. Generate Sales With a target of 5000 visitors to visit the Fleet Transport EXPO 12, over 70% of these visitors will have the authority to purchase or are a decisive influence in the purchasing decision of the company. Exhibitions are proven to generate more sales prospects per spend than almost any other form of marketing or promotional activity. Target the Irish Market Irish operators are looking for a show targeted specifically for the Irish market with exhibitors who can deliver and service customers in Ireland. Source New Leads Over a two day exhibition with up to 5000 visitors we expect every exhibitor to be walking away with a few hundred new warm contacts and hopefully some meetings already arranged. Quality leads of this nature will keep your sales team busy for the next couple of months. Build Contact Database 60% of Fleet Transport EXPO 12 budget will be spent on ensuring that we provide our Exhibitors with both the quality and quantity of visitors required. Our pre-EXPO publicity drive will ensure that visitors are aware of your presence and what you have to offer to drive footfall to your stand. After the 2 day show you will be provided with a database of all visitors to Fleet Transport EXPO 12 who provided premission to use their data. Showcase Products & Services This is the premium show in Ireland to showcase products and services from the Commercial Vehicle and Road Transport industry. By exhibiting at Fleet Transport EXPO 12 you are in a position to physically demonstrate your product or service benefits, and EXPO visitors can see, touch, taste, smell, hear, and judge, for themselves. Develop and Maintain Key Customers Exhibiting at the Fleet Transport EXPO 12 will provide you with an excellent venue for initiating contact with new customers. Equally important is the EXPO will allow you to maintain and renew contact with your existing customers. Raise Company Profile Fleet Transport EXPO 12 offers mass exposure, enabling you to reach a large proportion of the Irish marketplace in a short space of time. The EXPO will also offer you one of the quickest and most cost-effective means of exploring and entering the Irish Commercial Vehicle industry.

Competition Analysis Your participation in this show will enable you to stay on top of the latest industry trends and gain competitor insights from other exhibitors. Exhibiting alongside your competitors allows you to highlight the specific benefits and features of your products against other similar products available in the market. Market Research Having the opportunity to meet your target market face-to face will give you valuable hands-on feedback on your product and service. Visitors can question, challenge and debate with exhibitors while in return exhibitors can give and seek information. Develop Agents, Distributors and Partners If you are looking for a new agent or distributor, Fleet Transport EXPO 12 could present you with the ideal opportunity to do so. Supporting your existing agents by investing in Fleet Transport EXPO 12 will allow them to pursue a wide range of sales and marketing objectives, either singly, or side-by-side. Measure Results A key concern for most companies is the ability to measure the return on your marketing spend. Our aim is to ensure sufficient processes are in place to allow you to measure your return on investment at Fleet Transport EXPO 12. Our Exhibitors will be provided with: s &ULL VISITOR ANALYSIS REPORT ON ALL VISITORS TO THE &LEET 4RANSPORT %80/ OVER THE TWO DAYS s ! CONTACT DATABASE OF VISITORS WHO WISH TO BE CONTACTED WITH FURTHER INFORMATION s ! SYSTEM TO MEASURE THE EXACT VISITORS TO YOUR STAND Further measurement strategies should be looked at such as a lead tracking system, quality of leads generated and media coverage gained to evaluate the overall success of the exhibition.

Exhibiting by objectives takes effort but the rewards will be worth it. It will be the difference between making expensive appearances and making proﬁts.

Contact the Fleet Transport EXPO team on info@ﬂeetexpo.ie or +353 (0)94 9372826 who will guarantee the trip will be worth the journey.

TRANSPORT

Business doesn’t get any more direct than this.

POWERTRAIN

Global Power Leader Cummins

drives forward with Euro 6 engines

y sheer coincidence, a new book chronicling the history of the Ford Transcontinental truck (published by Old Pond) landed on our desk the same week as we paid a visit to the Cummins EU HQ in Darlington, UK. The link? Well, the much loved and lamented heavy haul tractor unit from Ford was powered by said engine supplier Cummins. While the Ford truck brand disappeared under new owners Iveco, Cummins, the North American owned engine developer and manufacturer has flourished. Record growth and sales were achieved last year totalling $18 billion. Engine sales have topped 1.1 million units globally in 2011 with the nearest challengers being Chinese, which makes Cummins the world’s largest diesel engine manufacturer. Its broad customer base includes light and heavy commercials (pick-ups/trucks), buses/coaches, construction, marine and the agri sectors. From its 3-9 litre engines, annual sales have peaked at over 950,000 units with Nissan, Avia, PACCAR, Volvo, Scania, Optare, Wrightbus, Ford and Dodge being among the blue chip customers on its books. Cummins European link began back in 1955 when it took over Shotts (in the UK) and began producing engines for the likes of ERF, Seddon, Foden and Ford. By 1963 the Darlington site was developed which has now become a vast production facility with 252,000sq ft under cover. In 2004, 17,000 M11 and N14 engines were produced here. By 2007, 3 shifts were in operation producing almost 79,500 engines. Today due to the downturn in the majority of global markets (outside the BRIC countries) 700 employees work a shift and a half, building over 53,000 units as demand continues to rise.

From 2008 to 2011, Cummins Inc invested $24 million at its Darlington plant and over the next 3 years, €5 million is to be invested in further expansion and modernisation. Along with Orange, the telecommunications company, Cummins is one of the biggest employers in the English North East and from its 206 customers from 53 countries has put the region on the map. During our visit, as was the last occasion, football is very much dear to the people’s hearts – divided loyalties stretch from Newcastle to Sunderland and Middlesborough. And it was the latter F.C.’s hotel at Rockliffe Hall that we stayed.

20 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

A short drive away in one of Durham’s expanding Industrial Estate networks, our meeting at the Cummins Darlington plant began with Neil Pattison, Director – Automotive Engine Business for Europe, Middle East and Africa who outlined the fruits of the company’s £900 million investment in Research & Development during 2011. The outcome is that Cummins is ready to launch its renowned ISB4 and 6 cylinder engines for Euro 6 emission regulations, which come into force at the end of 2013. As per the majority of the truck manufacturers, Cummins has chosen to combine cooled EGR - Exhaust Gas Re-circulation and VGT – Variable Geometry Turbocharging on the engine with SCR – Selective Catalytic Reduction applied for the after treatment system allied to DPF (Particulate Filtration). For medium duty truck and bus use, the near zero levels of emissions legislated at Euro 6 means that the majority of manufacturers will no longer have a choice of which technology to adopt. They will need to use all of them. However, the way in which OEMs balance these technologies in their emissions ‘recipe’ will have a major impact on the end product,” said Neil. He continued by explaining that Cummins E6 technology is the result of one of the most comprehensive development projects undertaken at its European Technical Centre in Darlington. By the time Euro 6 is implemented, in excess of 80,000 hours of engine testing will be completed in the state-of-the-art facility, and more than 2 million road miles will be driven to refine and validate the technology.

“So why is Euro 6 different from the previous steps? Effectively it is built on the development work and experience from Euro 6, Euro 5, EPA 2010 (USA) as well as off-road EU Stage 3B and 4. It is also likely to be the final step in NOx and PM emissions reductions, given the 99% reduction to date since Euro 1 began in the 1990’s. The move to the World Harmonised Transient and Steady State Test Cycles means that the engine testing is much closer to real world vehicle operation than the previous move theoretical cycles. Maintaining aftertreatment operational efficiency is more difficult under this new testing regime, with efficiency being closely linked with the heat management of the system. Particulate mass is poorly correlated with particulate number count and the previous measurement process is no longer capable of accurately measuring the extremely low particulate levels required by Euro 6, so this has also led to a new development focus. The EU is introducing portable emissions measurement systems for in-service vehicle testing. This is to ensure that they remain compliant under normal operating conditions during the useful life of the vehicle. Engines must not exceed 1.5 times the laboratory emissions levels for 7 years or 700,000km. The in-service testing will be backed up by more stringent on board diagnostic (OBD) regulations, measuring exhaust emissions during vehicle operation. A threshold on particulate emissions will be included for the first time. Tougher NOx and anti-tampering limits will be introduced

POWERTRAIN including an AdBlue quality sensor. The tuning of the engine and aftertreatment to meet OBD requirements is vastly more complex than Euro 5. There is also a phasing in period of OBD limits from 2013 to 2015, which needs to be managed beyond the initial legislated date."

Commission. All HGV/PSV vehicles will come under this new regulation from 31 December 2013. Some of the additions to the legislation (as described by Neil Pattison, pictured) will be gradually implemented in further steps up to 2016.

Interestingly, manufacturers are required to issue repair and maintenance information to ensure emissions and OBD compliance is sustained throughout the vehicle life. Detailed product and service information needs to be published to enable the effective repair of the engine and aftertreatment system. The enforcement of OBD failures is dependent on individual EU Member States and how they implement it into law. This could involve roadside checks or be part of periodic inspections. An active malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or long term fault could result in failure of the periodic inspection or even fines for the operator. From the various presentations delivered by senior Cummins personnel, information on the legislative structure and timings for Euro 6 were fully explained. Peter Williams, Product Environment Management Director stated that for all new trucks and buses, a 31 December 2012 deadline has been decided upon by the European

Jonathan Atkinson, Chief Engineer, Product Developer highlighted the significant role the Cummins Darlington facility played in the development of the Euro 6 powerplants. “Since 2008, £10 million additional investment has been provided to establish Test Cells in preparation for Euro 6,” he said. “On the engine itself, additional sensors have been placed on the block in order to monitor what’s going on and to ensure that it is emission compliant at all times and that all components are working towards achieving this goal,” he added. Jonathan went onto describe the

systems involved such as DPF, EGR, SCR etc. The programme leader for the Euro 6 project at Cummins, Ian Watson described how the Euro 6 engines evolved from its predecessors such as the B Series. He also mentioned the extremes and distances covered in the field test programme – up to 11.5 million miles and counting, while changes have been made to the fuel pressure / injection system and oil pump mechanism (which is not chain linked), so that the new engines are lighter and have a newly designed oil-pan which now has a 20 litre capacity. Service intervals remain as per Euro 5 drivetrains. Last but not least, Ulsterman Des McMenamin, Project Manager, drew down on the long history of the Cummins plant in Darlington, from the partnership with Chrysler in 1965 and the development of the mid-range engine production facility in 1986. “Maximum input was 360 engines per day at peak levels,” he said, but is now down to 140 per day on one shift. With the Euro 6 units developed here for world markets, the future of Cummins in Darlington is not only ‘Orange’ but ‘Red’ too (its corporate colours), cemented by the fact that over the next three years a further £13 million is to be invested here.

New Euro 6 Cummins 4.5 litre & 6.7 litre engines

he next generation Cummins ISB4cylinder engine makes a significant leap forward for Euro 6 by merging the key benefits of the Euro 5 product with the recently launched ISF3.8 engine and the US EPA 2010 emission technologies. Designed and developed in the UK, it is assembled in one of Cummins' most advanced production facilities in Beijing. Available at up to 210hp for trucks (up to 18 tonnes) and 200hp for buses (up to 12m), the new ISB4.5 delivers strong peak torque of 760Nm. Launched in 2008, initially for supply to Foton in China, the ISF3.8 was developed as the next generation 4 cylinder Cummins ISB engine. It incorporates leading automotive modular design features enabling key components to be simpler and lighter. The engine block and cylinder head have less mass than traditional designs with no reduction in durability. The block is 10% lighter, and the head 20% lighter than the previous ISB4.5. Additional benefits include improved coolant flow and cylinder pressure capability with reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

VGT is optimised for high torque and low speed capability, delivering significant performance and driveability improvements. A further benefit to European OEMs is that it allows the removal of the exhaust brake. These systems are controlled by a new Electronic Control Module (ECM) with increased capability for controlling engine and aftertreatment with more challenging On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) monitoring requirements.

ISB4.5

The product changes enable the engine to be approximately 10% lighter than the current product, despite the addition of cooled Exhaust Gas Re-circulation (EGR) and Cummins Variable Geometry Turbocharging (VGT) technologies. The quiet combustion design also makes the new engine even quieter than the Euro 5 version. The EPA 2010 engine technology (as used by Cummins in North America) of cooled EGR with VGT has been tailored for a 4-cylinder product and European vehicle operations. The EGR System is scaled for this application and the Cummins

“We closely balance the EGR and SCR systems to meet the regulated NOx levels. This allows us to optimise the fuel economy and AdBlue usage for the lowest possible running costs. We expect AdBlue usage will reduce at Euro 6 from 5-7% at Euro 5 to just 2-3% of diesel consumption, dependant on duty cycle,” concluded Neil Pattison. In addition, details of the ISB6.7 Cummins Euro 6 engines was revealed. The 6.7 litre engine range extends up to 310ps for truck and coach installations, and 280ps for bus applications. Peak torque remains at a high level of 1100 Nm. Similar to the ISB4 replacement, the new 6 cylinder B-Series builds on the pedigree of the B5.9 and ISBe 6.7 engines which have earned a reputation for performance, fuel efficiency and durability for over 20 years. Again the technology used with the EPA 2010 is adapted here with EGR/SCR/VGT combining to meet the required Euro 6 engine emission regulations is the most efficient way possible. “To date we have over 330,000 EPA 2010 engines operating in the US. By the time Euro 6 comes in we will have over 3 years experience of using all of the key technologies. We can use the combustion and aftertreatment architecture and tailor it for European market operations and duty cycles,” added Neil. “Meeting Euro 6 in the most cost effective manner for the operator will require the highest level of low emission engine technology to date. Our engineers will work closely with OEM customers to manage the added complexity and give them confidence to install Euro 6 in line with the legislation dates,” he concluded.

ISB6.7

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 21

REVIEW 1

Bedrijfsauto RAI 2012 – Amsterdam

he Europa Complex of Amsterdam RA I once again opened its doors to the Bedrijfsauto RA I 2012 after a five-year absence. At one time a big International Commercial Vehicle Show that alternated every second year with the IAA in Hanover, Germany, the event is now reduced to National status. Still the RA I Association did manage to attract high profile brand names from the truck, van, trailer and accessories that are marketed in the Benelux region. Trade

journalists from all over Europe attended (mainly as they were in town for the MercedesBenz Citan premier the night before) and while the products displayed proved interesting, little or no press information was in the English language. The Exhibition took place from 17-21 April att racting a total of 46,690 visitors and culminating with an extremely busy Driver’s Day. Highlights of the 30 th edition attended by Jarlath Sweeney and Rob Van Dieten are featured as follows:-

Bremach

Car Fibreglass

Cargotec

Italian manufacturer Bremach is the versatile utility with a range of durable off-road vehicles that are powered by Iveco and mated to ZF or Allison boxes.

Luca Barboni, Technical Representative is pictured by Car Fibreglass most popular van insert. He is looking for agents across Europe.

Now sold under the Cargotec label the Moffett Mounty introduced the electric E2, that was up for an Innovation Award. Keith Quigley and Kevin Turnbull are based at its Dundalk HQ.

DAF Trucks

Frigoblock

Fuso

The Dutch truck and engine manufacturer chose its home event to launch the new 12.9 litre Euro 6 PACCAR MX-13 engine.

Igor Blauw and Klaas Kliffen represent refrigerated transport producer Frigoblock in the Netherlands. Company Executive Joe Greally from Galway was here later in the week.

Daimler brand FUSO introduced the Canter 4x4 to EU audiences having fi rst launched the new generation light truck in Tokyo.

GPS Buddy

Groeneveld

Joloda Hydraroll

Telematic specialists GPS-Buddy has a branch in Cork and looks to expand on its product offering to include vehicle tracking. Desmond van Kooten is a Sales Director.

Dutch automotive component supplier Groeneveld provided much of the heavy-duty technology required to ensure Iveco’s success in the Dakar Rally.

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

AMSTERDAM RAI

Loading technology is Joloda’s future. The Dutch fi rm uses processes from the aviation industry to increase loading/unloading efficiencies in vans.

REVIEW 1

Mercedes-Benz

Opel

Prime Design

Fergus Conheady, Sales Manager, Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Ireland stands proudly beside the award winning Actros.

Now that GM Opel/Vauxhall has introduced the new Combo van (based on the Fiat Doblo Cargo), its design department has gone to play with this special edition.

Roof rack specialists has appointed a representative to cover UK and Ireland. Mathias Brusselle, General Manager and Koen Bessemans, Managing Director were on duty here.

Renault

Renault Trucks

Rhino Products

Interesting exhibit from Renault was the van version of the Megane that is powered by a 1.5 litre dCi diesel and features Stop/Start technology to lower CO 2 .

Among the regular line-up from the French manufacturer was the all-conquering European Truck Racing Championship winning Premium Racer.

Rhino manufactures innovative strong roof racks, bars and accessories for commercial vehicles. Ladder Stow and Safestow 3 launched here.

Scania

Strator

TimoCom

The new Off-Road range from Scania were under the spotlight. Here is the P400 version of the 8-wheeler. A G400 tractor caught interest too.

Based on the Iveco PowerStar that is developed, produced and sold in Australia, Strator Trucks are marketed by an independent company in The Netherlands.

Smahan Dahmani, Country Marketing Manager Benelux was busy checking out the latest information on freight movements on-line.

Van Eck

VB – Airsuspension

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Celebrating 100 years, Van Eck debuted its Eckstreme Double Deck Cool Trailer with hydraulically adjustable intermediate floor. Th is one is for the cheese export industry.

Th is Dutch company produces a broad range of air-suspension systems for commercials including recovery vehicles, minibuses, car transporters and motorhomes. David Byrne – david@ byrnelogistics.ie is the appointed Irish agent.

The 4MOTION version of the Crafter was given an airing here having launched the new all-rounder to Europe’s CV press in Spain last month. (See Pages 50 & 51).

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney & Rob Van Dieten

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 23

REVIEW 11

Intertraffic Amsterdam

oc ated at the RAI Exhibition Cent re i n Amsterdam, Intertraffic is one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and most influential trade events for infrastructure, ITS traffic management, safety and parking, providing a comprehensive overview of the latest products, services and total solutions offered by suppliers. It also showcases the latest trendsanddevelopments. Intertraffic is attended b y p ol ic y m a k e r s , specialists and operational personnel f rom Gover n ment Authorities, engineering consultancies, and the transportation industry at large. With the backdrop of ever evolving global infrastructure, traffic managers must keep abreast of the latest technologies to increase efficiency and safety. More details on: www.amsterdam.intertraffic.com

TRUCK & VEHICLE SAFETY Avery Dennison is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative reflective technologies used worldwide, including the latest in conspicuity tapes. The V-6700B Series from Avery Dennison offers the same safety advantages as trad it iona l conspicuity tape, but with the additional benefit of promoting a company logo while still complying with regulatory requirements. Available in white, yellow and red, the V-6700B Series, with a new custom logo feature, provides uniform reflective performance no matter what orientation is applied. Conspicuity tape therefore increases visibility of trucks and trailers preventing injuries and saves lives. In addition it can help reduce accidents and associated repair costs leading to decreased medical and insurance costs. www.reflectives.averydennison.com

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

POTHOLE REPAIR Nu-pha lt is a mobile road repair system which can be operated by just two people and fits in a mid-sized panel van. The portable thermal heater is positioned over the defect area where a heat cycle allows the fully controllable and efficient gas powered heater to penetrate the wearing course to relinquish its strength, creating a workable material without damaging it in the process. Operators scarify an area 50mm in from the repair edge, which ensures the integrity of the heated thermal joint between new and existing material. No material is taken from the repair; everything is recycled, resulting in no waste or landfi ll. An infrared thermometer is used to check the temperature of the repair area, to provide the best compaction conditions. High grade enriched emulsion is added to the repair area and mixed through the recycled material to deliver an even exposure. Th is recoats the recycled aggregate increasing bitumen content to near â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;new materialsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; levels. New material supplied in 25kg bags is heated to 100 degrees and fed from the on-board hot boxes to the repair area. Sufficient levels of the material are added to create a level repair following compaction. Finally compaction equipment is used to roll all edges fi rst to create a mechanic interlock with the surrounding surface. www.nuphalt.com

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING According to an analysis by Deloitte, up to one third of all cars sold in 2020 within developed countries will be electric vehicles. Success Charging Group is investing in the construction of an electric vehicle charging station network globally. The company aims to secure several million parking spaces for EV charging in the next few years. Businesses such as parking facilities, hotels, shopping malls, industrial and commercial parks, airports, universities, restaurants, hospitals, gas stations and office buildings are target partners. Th is will allow them to upgrade their value proposition, re-brand their image, generate revenues and create a competitive edge. Corporate affi liates, such as leasing companies, car dealers and car fleets also provide potential synergies to facilitate a smooth transition into the Electric Vehicle era. www.successcharging.com

REVIEW 11 SPRING RETURN BOLLARDS Australian company JMB Manufacturing were promoting their range of Spring Return Bollard and sign products. Spring Return Bollards will yield under light impact conditions and then return to vertical, eliminating unnecessary damage to vehicles and installations. The architectural bollard has a steel base and aluminium outer; however when accidental impact greater than 10kg occurs the bollard will yield. The bollard can travel to almost horizontal, minimising bollard damage, kerb damage and vehicle damage. It is intended for use in pedestrian and vehicle shared zones like Car Parks, Cycle ways, Sidewalks, Commercial Buildings. When accidental impact occurs with greater than 30kg force the bollard will yield 20 degrees to prevent damage. After 20 degrees of deflection the HRB bollard locks solid to protect the doorway and building. Th is product is therefore also suited to loading docks, doorways etc. www.jmbsignposts.com

CONE COLLECTION Austrian company Franz Janschitz was demonstrating its traffic cone management system which is fully automatic and can be operated by one person. Cones can be distributed and collected on either side of the truck while driving forward or reverse, whether standing or lying down. ‘X-cone’ is designed for use on light and heavy vehicles with an operating speed of approximately 6 km/h. In-Cab control by a wireless handset with an illuminated LCD-display provides increased safety for workers as no one has to jump off a moving vehicle to retrieve tipped cones. Other benefits include increasing productivity with fast set up, reduced traffic disruption and lower labour costs. www.traffic-safety-services.com

ROLLER SAFETY BARRIER Korean manufacturer GSI Ltd. had its ‘Safety Roller’ road barrier system on display. It is designed to prevent drivers and passengers from fatal accidents by not only absorbing shock energy but also conver ting it into rotational energy. Already in operation in Asia, ‘Safety Roller’ is installed at sites where vehicles are exposed to frequent accidents. The company says the design will safely direct a vehicle back to the road or stop the vehicle by absorbing shock energy. Its video presentation shows how the roller barrier system prevents the crashed vehicle from driving through or over the barrier which is often the Text & Photos: Joe O'Brien - enquiries@fleet.ie

case with conventional metal designs. In addition solar powered LEDs can be included in the structure which together with luminous strips, enhance the driver’s visual awareness. www.ks0486.com

ROAD MAINTENANCE Irish engineering company Multihog Ltd. was making its debut at Intertraffic with its MH90 multipurpose implement carrier. Th is robust, versatile and allseasonal vehicle has made strong inroads into the municipal and highway maintenance sectors due to its ability to improve productivity and cut costs. The Multihog can be used with an almost limitless number of attachments all year round to carry out diverse tasks such as verge and barrier maintenance, sweeping, grass and hedge cutting, snow ploughing and gritting. The quick release mechanism enables all attachments to be changed or demounted in just a couple of minutes. The 90 horsepower unit has a road speed of 40 km/h. In addition to the road marking removal attachment unit displayed on the stand, the Multihog patch planer was also highlighted. Th is has proved to be a much faster, cleaner and quieter solution to pothole repair than any other machines on the market and enables road surfaces to be planned to a width of 400mm and a depth of 125mm thereby saving on the costs of infi ll materials by only removing what is necessary. www.multihog.com

SOLAR POWERED CAR Dutch electronics expert Technolution had a purpose built sol a r powered sports car on its stand. The company develops electronics software solutions a nd t e c h n ic a l information systems for the traffic, transport, security and energy sectors. The car which is completely solar powered came second in the World Solar Challenge which is a 3000 kms race over four days, from Darwin to Adelaide in Australia. The strategic aspect of the race is very important therefore it is necessary to assess correctly how fast the solar vehicle should be driving at any given time, to avoid standing still with an empty battery or having unused stored energy left. The ‘MobiBoxx’ from Technolution consists of a computer platform with a range of interfaces and an advanced control display. The device includes a range of sensors, precise positioning and measurement of acceleration of the vehicle. Additional features such as intelligent speed adaptation and tracking are also possible. www.technolution.nl

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 25

REVIEW 111

FPS Expo 2012 - Harrogate - England

rish companies and Irish fi rms based in the UK were much to the fore at FPS Expo 2012 held at the Harrogate International Centre. Organisers, the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers, used the annual event to reveal its new corporate logo.

Among the product displays and launches, news that FPS Expo will be returning to Ireland in 2014 was warmly greeted allround. Jarlath Sweeney made the trip to the North Yorkshire city to meet and chat with exhibitors and visitors.

BPW Following the introduction of the ECO wheel last year BPW showcased a new landing leg designed to meet the rigorous requirements of commercial vehicle operators. Paul Billson and Peter Ray were on hand to explain.

Brunel Promotions If it’s branded merchandise you require let Brunel supply to your heart's desire. Mike Tyack along with his wife Suzie were there to advise on the best and most efficient means and manner in promoting your company.

Carbery Plastics Celebrating 35 years in business in 2012, Cork based Carbery Plastics launched its all-new superslim 1000 SB bunded tanks boasting compact base dimensions. Jill Turner and Mark O’Connell represented the fi rm.

Feldbinder Shaun Hurst, Sales Manager for Feldbinder has also taken on the role as Irish Sales Executive following Gordon Brighty’s retirement, after many years of loyal service at the company.

FPS FPS Expo is the fuel distribution event for UK and Ireland and organised by the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers. The organisation is headed up by Mark Askew and with Tony Brown assisting on the technical side.

Gulliver Truck Hire Having expanded across the UK with a number of new branch openings, Gulliver Truck Hire is looking to the Irish market for further business growth. Neil Jeremiah, Sales Director is concentrating on the municipal sector initially.

Herbst Soft ware Filling in the pieces of the jigsaw to meet your IT requirements is Herbst Software. The Wicklow based IT firm specialises in developing fully integrated management and accounting solutions for the transport business with help from Transpoco.

Magyar Technology in Motion is how Sylvian Faugieres (Area Sales Manager) Magyar described the French trailer and body builder’s products. At least three examples of its tanker work were on display around the three exhibition halls.

MAN Truck & Bus Ever since the demise of ERF trucks, MAN has strengthened its position as market leader in the HazChem sector. On its stand inside was a TGS 24.440BLS 6x2/2 Tractor with Day Cab. Outside was a TGM 18.250BL 4x2 rigid with Day Cab.

26 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

REVIEW 111

Navman Wireless Realtime fleet monitoring and tracking is the name of the game at Navman which uses the power of the internet and GPRS to inform the operator. Latest development encompasses the ADR sector meeting H&S category 3G ATEX directive.

OFTEC Another Irish link to the event was OFTEC which is the name of the Oil Firing Technical Association representing the oil heating and cooking industry in the UK and ROI. The Dublin based body manages a licenced scheme for technicians. Pictured are Matthew Northcolt and Malcolm Farron.

OutTrack Using DreamTec Soft ware, OutTrack delivers mobile technology for the transport distribution market. With 16 years experience, the Rathcoole company has unmatched expertise in this field. Sean Finnerty (OutTrack) and Shane Boyle (DreamTec) were present.

Platinum Tanks Ltd As discovered during our chat, both Patrick and Peter Cassidy from Platinum Tanks are staunch GAA and rally fans. The Castleblayney company, which has a branch in the UK, designs and manufactures tanks from 650 litres to 6000 litres.

Portwest Westport company Portwest is going from strength to strength with new sales markets growing around the world. Pictured is Gary Craigan and Phil Jones, both sales managers in the UK. The company specialises in work and safety gear.

Reynolds Logistics Paul Moulton, Chris Dalton and Mark Owen represented Dublin headquartered Reynolds Logistics. Formerly known as Lubefreight the award winning company is expanding its transport footprint across the EU with contracts on behalf of leading lubricant producers.

RTN Lakeland Having achieved ISO 9000:2008 certification Road Tanker Northern/Lakeland has not only focused on increasing efficiencies all round but is working with Sheffield Hallam University aerodynamically redesign its semi-trailer tanker.

Scania Among the truck exhibitors included Scania, which had a few of its products on display at customers/suppliers stands. As with previous FPS Shows, mugs are by far the most popular giveaway items for visitors to take home!

OUTDOOR EXPO

Metro CCTV With offices located in Ireland, England and Scotland, Metro CCTV does what is says â&#x20AC;&#x201C; provide numerous methods of fast and efficient monitoring systems. It had a fully equipped van on the stand to demo this. John Coyle and Niall McKenna provided the info.

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 27

Loads more efficiency

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A member of

www.ohm.ie

REVIEW 1V

Commercial Vehicle Show 2012 NEC, Birmingham

he Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham held from 24/26 April received two big boosts during and after the annual event. UK Transport Minister, Mike Penning M.P., paid a visit to acknowledge the significant contribution that transport makes to the country’s economy. Over 80% of UK goods are transported by vans and trucks with around £8bn worth of new vehicles registered across the country every year. In the UK, 1 in 8 UK motorists is a van or truck

driver and as the UK’s biggest road transport event, the CV Show attracts over 15,000 owners, operators, drivers and tradesmen. For 2013, the Commercial Vehicle Show has received international recognition from the automotive industry’s global body, OICA (Organisation International des Constructeurs d’Automobiles). The Birmingham Show is now one of only eight specialist commercial vehicle exhibitions to be accredited by the industry body, alongside equivalent Shows in Hanover (Germany) and Amsterdam (Netherlands).

it is continuing to regain strength aft er its cancellation in 2009, more manufacturers made their presence felt and collectively fi lled Halls 1,2,3 & 3A with some making an impression on the outdoor display area at the main entrance. Th ree members of the Fleet Transport team were present.

Back to the 2012 event and to indicate that

Citroën

Ford

Apart from the face lifted and lower emission Euro 5 Berlingo and Dispatch vans on display, Citroën wowed visitors with 'The Spinnettes' adding spark to the Show with harmonies and classic glamour from a bygone era.

Ford Motor Company took pride of place with the World Premiere of the all new Transit Custom. Featuring novel innovations, it is set to continue Fords domination of the UK market, something it has enjoyed for 47 years. The new Ranger Single Cab was there too.

GT Radial

Great Wall

GITI Tyre manufactures the GT Radial brand currently ranked No. 4 in the world of truck tyre production. The new GT REE TREAD which, stands for Reliable, Economical and Environmental, is a new hot cure bead to bead retread programme that has been approved by Continental Tyres. Pictured are Stephen Shaw and Peter Faulkes.

As previously mentioned in Fleet Van&Utility, Chinese manufacturer Great Wall has entered European markets, fi rst with the Steed Pick-Up as pictured here. Offering ‘great’ value, it is powered by a 2.0 litre 16v turbo diesel that produces 143 bhp and 305 Nm of torque through a 6-speed gearbox. More details anon. FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 29

REVIEW 1V

Hankook

Harris Hino

Korean tyre producer Hankook debuted its new e-cube range for specialist operations namely AL10, TL10, AH22 and RA18. The AL10 e-cube tyre for example, is for steer axles and is now available in super single size 385/55 R 22.5 for better fuel economy.

Hino Motors, the transport division of Toyota is assembled and distributed in Ireland and UK by J Harris Assemblers in Dublin. Pictured at the EU launch of the new Hino 300 Series were company stalwarts Liam Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill and Carl Murphy who were both very pleased with the fleet sales conducted over the three-day event.

Isuzu

Line-X

Another showstopper was the all-new D-Max Pick-up from Isuzu. Placed alongside each other were the European spec version of the Double Cab debutant with the Asian specification utility vehicle that we saw at the RA I Amsterdam. It is powered by a twin turbo 2.5 litre diesel that produces 163 bhp / 400Nm.

To give the company its full title, Line-X Protective Coatings Ltd., specialises in producing spray-on protective coatings for van lining, truck bed lining, trailers and other vehicles. The range includes Antimicrobial, Custom Colours, Food Safe and Fast Set. Line-X is based in Devon.

MAN Truck & Bus

MANITOU

With a focus on its broad customer base, MAN Truck & Bus UK exhibited recent fleet sales with the Corinthian 5 special edition TGX and this TGL 8.180 4x2 BB Crew Cab. According to company chief Des Evans, the Corinthian 5 is the safest truck in the marketplace, with the all new innovative safety kit fitted.

Eamon Bolger, Sales Director at Manitou for the UK and Irish Markets was keen to promote the TMT, its truck-mounted forklift with telescopic boom, covering the 2.5 tonne and 2.7 tonne weight range with 4 new models. New drive systems, greater comfort, safety, capacity, visibility and built in side shift are included.

30 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

REVIEW 1V

Mercedes-Benz

Mobil Delvac

For the fi rst time in the UK, the all-new Mercedes-Benz Actros was shown to the public. Interested visitors could experience a drive in the new flagship on a set route starting from near Hall 1. Special versions of the Vito Van were showcased too, as were the new Fuso Canter 4x4 and Unimog U400 utilities.

Following on from recent field tests with Iveco and Volvo trucks using Mobil Delvac synthetic lubricants in their drivetrains, which resulted in 4.7% improvement in fuel economy, further tests with similar results were achieved with Mercedes-Benz and DAF trucks in operation. Pictured are Steve Crawley and Martin Delaney (one of its Irish Distributors).

Prime Design

Quinn Refrigerated Vehicles

Roof Rack specialists Prime Design has appointed Raymond Marsh as Area Manager for UK and Irish markets. He is pictured (right) with Mathias Brusselle (General Manager) who knows the Irish market well having worked for Toyota Motors Europe. Its method of carrying ladders safely is appreciated by many in the business.

Athenry based family run coachworks business Quinn Refrigerated Vehicles also has a UK Office located in London. A leader in the production of temperature controlled vehicles for the dairy, food, logistics and pharmaceutical industries, Quinns has over 30 years experience working with composite panels.

Rhino

Roadload

Rhino Products include roof bars, racks and accessories for commercial vehicles. Safe loading and unloading ladders on high roofs are its speciality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All our products are subjected to 20g safety crash testing and accredited by German standards authority by TUV,â&#x20AC;? stated Kevin Baxter, Marketing Executive.

The Dublin Based OHM Group has a major interest in Roadload Ltd., which produces the U-Tail and SuperLow innovative load carriers in the sub 7.5 tonne categories. SuperLow is a box van with the capacity of a truck and a low load height, which is easier, safer, faster and more cost efficient and greener too! FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 31

REVIEW 1V

SDC Trailers

Sortimo

With manufacturing plants in Toomebridge and Mansfield, SDC Trailers showed off its fi rst 15.65m full-length double deck trailer that is soon to go into operation with Norbert Dentressangle. It features 4 independent load ratchet bays that can be moved up and down by forklift . It is 4.52m high.

Chris Jones and Peter O’Connor were present to demonstrate Sortimo’s Globelyst M system, which offers innovative, high strength, light weight and crash tested solutions for both fleet and individual customers. Globelyst is its composite range of racking systems for commercial vehicles of all types.

TATA Motors (EU)

Transaid

Tranzaura

Assembled in Coventry under licence from Indian conglomerate Tata Motors the Tata Ace Electric Mini Truck has an all steel chassis and offers a payload of up to 500kg. It comes in various shapes – chassis/cab, dropside, box-van and tipper. Once penetration of the UK market is achieved, Ireland is next.

Aggie Krasnolucka–Hickman informed us that Transaid, the international (transport orientated) development charity has been appointed a lead partner in a major project to improve road safety along the East African trade corridor. Other recent work was the creation of Driver Training projects in Tranzania and Zambia.

Simon Harris (Sales Director UK), Mel Hurley (CEO), and Mike Price (MD Ireland) were on hand to highlight TranzTacho, its award winning tachograph management soft ware system. Mike also demonstrated a new Smart Phone App that provides Driver Vehicle Safety Checks….. electronically for all vehicles.

Varta

VB Air Suspension

Washtec

“Specifying the correct battery and maintaining them is so important for the efficient running of your commercial vehicle,” stated Angie Mavar from Varta batteries. Failed batteries are consistently top of the list when it comes to roadside breakdowns such is the demand these days on vehicle electronics.

VB Air Suspensions develops air suspension systems for LCV’s and Campervans of every shape and size. “We supply direct to OEMs as well as the aftermarket through accredited installers throughout the UK and Ireland.” The appointment of David Byrne (Cork) has already generated some retrofits.

New from WashTec is the ‘Intelligent Chassis Wash’ the latest in its range of vehicle washing equipment. It combines three major cleaning agents, hot water and high pressure. The cost of cleansing a 16 metre vehicle regularly (including detergent) is approx £3.00 per wash. It can be pit mounted.

32 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

RENAULT

TRUCKS DELIVER

OPTIFUEL SOLUTIONS

Make your fuel work harder Renault Trucks vehicles deliver outstanding fuel efﬁciency across the range. When it comes to driving operating costs down, we’re in it together. Fuel eco counts.

www.renault-trucks.ie

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Currency

95 Lead Free

98 Lead Free

Diesel

Country

Currency

95 Lead Free

98 Lead Free

Diesel

Albania

ALL

189.00

199.00

187.00

Lithuania

LTL

5.05

5.10

4.70

Andorra

EUR

1.353

1.402

1.194

Luxemburg

EUR

1.436

1.459

1.277

Austria

EUR

1.521

1.663

1.432

Macedonia

MKD

87.00

88.50

72.50

Belarus

EUR

0.648

0.662

Moldova

MDL

17.22

17.62

16.47

Belgium

EUR

1.736

1.756

1.538

Montenegro

EUR

1.490

1.520

1.360

Bosnia-Herzegovina

BAM

2.55

2.65

2.55

Netherlands

EUR

1.863

1.924

1.499

Bulgaria

BGN

2.67

2.83

2.63

Norway

NOK

15.48

15.83

14.03

Croatia

HRK

11.22

11.71

10.06

Poland

PLN

5.89

5.99

5.78

Czech Republic

CZK

37.50

38.90

35.90

Portugal

EUR

1.736

1.852

1.490

Denmark

DKK

13.61

14.01

12.06

Romania

RON

5.85

6.45

5.87

Estonia

EUR

1.407

1.447

1.377

Russia

RUB

29.20

30.95

29.41

Finland

EUR

1.708

1.758

1.549

Serbia

RSD

145.50

163.90

149.10

France

EUR

1.649

1.708

1.456

Slovakia

EUR

1.603

1.472

Georgia

GEL

2.40

2.45

2.50

Slovenia

EUR

1.536

1.552

1.344

Germany

EUR

1.659

1.757

1.505

Spain

EUR

1.480

1.600

1.380

Greece

EUR

1.811

1.896

1.556

Sweden

SEK

15.33

15.83

15.09

Hungary

HUF

427.00

441.00

Switzerland

CHF

1.891

1.939

1.950

Ireland

EUR

1.699

1.599

Turkey

TRY

4.58

4.65

3.92

Italy

EUR

1.871

1.970

1.734

Ukraine

UAH

11.20

12.20

10.15

Kosovo

EUR

1.32

1.36

GBP

1.424

1.497

1.478

Latvia

LVL

1.037

1.067

0.967

USA

USD

1.079

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MOTORSPORT

Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles:

Mercedes-Benz Vito 4x4 excels in the desert

ission accomplished for Marie Le Neillon and Susanne Ehmer on the evening of the 30 March 2012 as the two Daimler employees crossed the fi nish line of the Aïcha des Gazelles Rally to secure top positions in the event’s main challenge.

Marie Le Neillon and Susanne Ehmer in their Mercedes-Benz Vito

The fi nal stage of the Rally was anything but easy. The checkpoints were extremely difficult to locate and the terrain this year was exceptionally difficult due to heavy rainfall in this region of the Sahara. Despite the difficulties, the two female employees crossed the fi nish line in their, by now mud-spattered, Mercedes-Benz Vito 4x4 to take fourth place overall and fi rst-place honours in both the “Logica Eco Drive” and “Best Marathon Stage” challenges. Th is year, this latter challenge was, for the fi rst time, judged by the MDJS (La Marocaine des Jeux et des Sports), the Sports Association of Morocco. Independent observers from the association assessed which team, out of a total of 150 participating teams including works crews from Isuzu (D-Max) and Dacia (Duster), had completed the fi rst marathon stage most efficiently and competently. In addition to securing victory in the marathon stage, the two drivers came fi rst overall in stage five and took second place in stage four. The second team in the group, ‘rally rookies’ Daniela Snyders and Julia Salamon – also driving a Mercedes-Benz Vito 4x4, came a respectable eighth overall and third in the “Eco Driving” challenge. In the 4x4 segment, the third team, Christina Ackermann and Coralie Lejeune, faced the difficult task of pitt ing the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter against thoroughbred SUVs from all the well-known manufacturers. They came 60th overall out of a total of 150 participating teams, a fantastic result for them and their Sprinter 4x4.

Mercedes-Benz Vito 4x4 and Sprinter 4x4 Rally Vehicles Both Mercedes-Benz Vito 4x4 rally vehicles were production models. The all-wheel drive vehicles had only been modified slightly for desert driving and survived the extreme conditions without any significant problems. The fuel-efficient fourcylinder OM 651 diesel engine, introduced in the Vito in 2010, 36 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

MOTORSPORT really came into its own for the rally’s “Logica Eco Driving Challenge”, where it was able to demonstrate impressive fuel consumption and performance fi gures. During the rally, the necessary data was obtained via the CAN bus and transmitted by satellite to the rally headquarters where it was then evaluated, together with driver performance data, by specialists from Logica. Logica is one of the world’s leading IT service providers. The third rally vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4, was equipped with a standard three-litre diesel engine developing 140 kW (190 hp), a manual transmission and an ex-works all-wheel drive system featuring open centre and axle differentials.

The Aïcha des Gazelles Rally As in the previous two years, female employees of Daimler with a technical and sports background were invited to apply to take part in the desert rally. After a tough selection procedure, the dream came true for just six of them: Marie Le Neillon-Quesseveur and Susanne Ehmer together with Daniela Snyders and Julia Salomon were selected to drive the two Vito vehicles, while Christina Ines Ackermann and Coralie Lejeune were assigned the Sprinter.

Christina Ackermann and Coralie Lejeune and their trusty Sprinter

The “Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles 2012” is organised by women for women. Held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, it covers a distance of 2500 kilometres and comprises seven stages, two of which are marathon stages each lasting two days. It att racts female competitors from 30 countries. All revenue from the rally (sponsorships and participants’ fees) is used to benefit the people of Morocco. During the actual rally, a “medical convoy” travels through the country providing medical care to remote nomadic tribes. Over the period of this year’s rally, a total of 7200 consultations and 80 operations were carried out by doctors working directly in the field.

Text: Rob Van Dieten - rob@fleet.ie

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 37

3543

OPINION

Spark to Ignite?

ast month when the fuel tanker drivers in the UK threatened to go on strike it caused panic buying by the general public. Quite obviously the British Government were taken by surprise with a less than measured response. One Government Minister advised people to stock up with fuel in their homes so as not to run out. Fast on the heels of this advise came a warning and pleas from the Chief Fire Officer in the UK not to stock up for fear of creating unnecessary fire hazards and putting peoples lives at risk. I don’t know what the background to the dispute was between the Tanker drivers and their employers, is or was. It is possible that they never threatened strike action and that all this confusion and fear was the result of a mischievous comment. Who knows if the threat was ever going to materialise of not, still it made the headlines on Sky News for three days. Around the same time the Teacher’s Conferences were going on here in Ireland. As has become traditional the three main Teacher Unions hold their annual gathering following Easter weekend. It has also become the norm for the Education Minister to visit and address all of these Conferences. I have always held the skill of teaching in high regard, to be able to dispense knowledge and skills to another individual is a great gift and must give huge satisfaction. It was sad to see some of the treatment and the foul reception that Education Minister Ruairi Quinn was treated to at some of the Conferences. In interviews afterwards the everpolite Minister was very forgiving of the behaviour of the hecklers in his audience. In terms of TV and Radio reporting, viewers/listeners were left to decide if teachers were becoming serial whingers or professionals with legitimate concerns about their students. So if the road haulage industry does not come away from their discussions with the Department of Finance with some tangible result what course of action next? Do they follow the tanker driver’s route or the teacher’s type of action? I hope for everybody’s sake a decision like this never has to-be made but the danger is if the current process runs out with no solution the next action could happen spontaneously.

View from the Operators Desk by Sean Murtagh

talking and some type of action should have taken place long ago. They may have their day but strong leadership by the IRHA has for the moment convinced them to remain patient. One of the big challenges that will come with any deal is how people perceive it. A 5% per litre rebate on diesel for a big operation will be in percentage terms very welcome and could improve profitability by 1% or 2%. In the case of an Owner-Driver a similar rebate may only reduce his or her losses, probably only prolonging the fateful day when the doors will be closed. When the Government talk about the banks and the millions they have invested in them they justify the investment by saying that the country needs a banking system that is profitable.

Something very simple could be the spark to light a fuse of a very big keg again. Irrational thoughts and actions could overtake democracy if it is perceived that fair play has not been delivered. Whether you do it the teacher’s way or the tanker drivers way it could be ugly.

Does the country not need a vibrant road haulage system that is profitable? One thing for sure, it will not need millions of tax payers euros to achieve it. Some transport operators may not be feeling the pinch, but those that operate trucks, facing rising running costs are being pinched out of business. By and large the industry or the IRHA have not flexed their muscles. Failure on the Government’s part to deliver from the current negotiations may change that. A broken down crane on a warm August afternoon was the spark the long le costs in c y that set off the -c fe li e Reduc trailers Dublin Port high-quality h it w rm te Dispute in 1997.

For sure the IRHA Management team are aware of this and the negotiations when talking to the Department of Finance officials will have made them aware of the dangers of not getting a worthwhile deal. There are those in the industry that feel too much time has been spent

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COMMENT

Oceans of potential in our Seas

ollowing through on the publication by the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine, of its “Our Ocean Wealth” Consultation Document, I took part in a seminar organised by the Border, Midlands & Western Regional Assembly which kicked off the process. It was undertaken through the auspices of the EU Atlantic Arc programme and featured speakers from a number of European Coastal regions. I was subsequently asked to draft up a submission to the whole process based how the ocean around Ireland could add a further layer of exports to the economy.

From where I'm sitting - Howard Knott

The “WOW” factor in all of this is the fact that Ireland’s ocean territory is ten times the country’s land area and runs to 220 million acres extending westward beyond the Continental shelf. At present this vast area only produces just over 1% of Ireland’s wealth while the global market for ocean based economic activity runs to over one trillion euros.

Th ink for a moment about this 60,000 tonnes a year from a single location, one incidentally, that could be co-located with a group of electric energy production devices some based on wind power and others on wave and tidal power. Then some other serious figures begin to emerge in your mind. Fish output would be about 160 tonnes every day requiring it to be harvested and brought ashore prior to being processed and prepared for export. Rossaveel has been developed as a major fisheries Port but would be it able to cope with this additional business? Could the necessary infrastructure be put into place there to handle the operations of the fish farms? Th ink about the electric power generation equipment, the boats, the engineering skills, the haulage to bring in the necessary foods and that to take out the fi nished products whether in cool boxes to Shannon Airport, temperature controlled trailer to the Continent, or Reefer Container to more distant markets. Personally, I don’t even know where to start in trying to calculate the numbers here but they must be significant even before the added value of their location away from the ‘honey-pot’ East Coast locations. Of course, that is only one aquaculture project, think of all of the bays and inlets off the west and south coasts in particular that could support similar developments. One of two essentials for any such developments must be a rigorous but fast Planning Permission regime that does not allow anything be developed that would be harmful to the local community or the offshore waters. The recent Government decision to amend the Foreshore licensing regime, taking out one vexatious step in the planning process, is welcome. The other essential is, of course, fi nance and in Ireland Inc’s present plight much of the funding may have to come through the involvement of multi-national companies in the projects. Much of what was done in the Celtic Tiger Two era has been shown to have litt le real value, but one piece of work that has been more than worthwhile is the work of the Marine Institute and others in mapping the seabed so that a full inventory can be developed of the whole range of resources on and under the seabed and in the oceans, and plans be made for their development. Reverting briefly to the Wind and Wave energy potential, this is not only useful in giving a carbon free energy source to the island of Ireland but, can also, following the installation of a network of seabed cables linking Ireland with Britain and directly to the Continent through the French network, make up the power deficit there as fossil fuel and nuclear plants are phased out. At present Europe is dependent on the powers that be in Russia and elsewhere in that region for essential gas supplies to meet their energy needs. Irish offshore energy could ease that pressure on the community. 40 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

Th inking about Galway Bay inevitably brings the July fi nish of the Volvo Ocean Race info focus. Th is will be a fantastic party and economic benefit to the City and the region from the race will be huge. Th is is a very clear example of how looking out to sea can bring huge benefits and, as someone who has been involved in many aspects of Marine Leisure over the years, I am very much aware of how litt le has been done to exploit our coastline. That is a whole discussion for another day. The Consultation period on the “Our Ocean Wealth” document has now expired. It will be very interesting to see the final document emerge; hopefully the great ambitions of the initial discussion and potential of the resources will be grasped with real energy. We would be crazy not to ‘Go For It’.

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At the Consultation launch, Minister Simon Coveney, T.D. instanced a planning application being developed through an Bord Iascaigh Mhara for a new fish farm to be located in the lee of one of the Aran islands that would have an annual fish output of some 16,000 tonnes. He indicated that this could be the forerunner of a cluster of such fish farms there with a combined output of over 60,000 tonnes. To put that figure in context the current total of Irish exports from aquaculture are a mere 11,000 tonnes, the Scots export 200,000 tonnes, while the Norwegians and other Scandinavians ship almost a million tonnes a year including several Boeing 747 freighters of salmon to Japan each month.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE Reminder: All Professional Bus and Truck Drivers

DON’T FORGET YOUR ANNUAL 1 DAY DRIVER CPC TRAINING All professional bus and truck drivers (those who drive for a living) must have a Drivers Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC). If you held a full bus driving licence before 10th of September 2008 or a full truck driving licence before 10th September 2009 you are automatically entitled to Driver CPC. If you’re a new bus or truck driver you’ll have to pass the Driver CPC examinations. Important All drivers (new and existing) are required to retain this qualification by attending one refresher training day per year in each five year period. If you drive trucks and buses you need to attend six days of refresher training in each five year period. For more information visit www.rsa.ie Tel. (096) 25015; or locall 1890 50 60 80 Email: cpc@rsa.ie

Have you considered selling your transport business? To invesƟgate this opƟon, contact us at:

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LEGAL

The increasing concern about drivers’ use of Mobile Phones

t seems all too clear, as a matter of general observation, that there are many drivers who either do not know that the use of a mobile phone whilst driving is banned, or who simply do not care.

Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 2006 makes it clear that, save for two specified emergencies, it is illegal to use a phone whilst you are driving. Currently An Garda Siochana can impose an immediate penalty of €60 with 2 penalty points but this will increase to €2,000 with 4 penalty points if the roadside penalty is not paid. This concern about the use of mobile phones is not confined to Ireland as, in the USA for example, the roadside penalty is $231 with 3 demerit points which increase to $308 with 4 demerit points if the offence is committed in a ‘school zone’. In the UK the position is similar to that in Ireland. The roadside penalty is £60 with 3 penalty points, or, if the case goes to Court, a maximum fine of £1,000 which, interestingly, is increased for drivers of HGVs to £2,500. The RSA on the 28 April 2011 observed that, as a driver, using a mobile phone whilst driving is “One of the most dangerous things you can do,” and the Minister for Transport has regulatory powers to introduce legislation controlling the use of:• • • • •

An interactive communication device. A method of sending and receiving messages. A method of sending and receiving faxes. A method of sending and receiving still or moving pictures. A method of providing access to the internet.

As the concern about road safety increases it seems inevitable that new legislative controls will be introduced sooner rather than later.

More importantly employees in the traffic office, or any other person, who might need to contact a driver, must be instructed never to hold a conversation with a person whom they know to be driving. It is easy to agree set times when calls can be made or received, and a driver who wants to make a call other than at a set time simply has to pull off the road. When it is suspected that an accident is the result of the driver using a mobile phone the Authorities are now able to examine the mobile phone records to confirm the time at which any call was made or received, and if it appears that the employer, or someone in his employ, made the call, the employer is likely to be prosecuted.

McCarthy Commercials

Recent research by the Insurance Group ‘Confused.com’ found that the use of a ‘smart phone’ is more dangerous than the use of a mobile phone and, in either case, is more dangerous than drinking, smoking cannabis, or texting whilst driving. Additionally they considered the effect on reaction times and found that reaction times were reduced by 38% if a driver was using a ‘smart phone’, by 37.4% if the driver was texting, and 26.5% if the driver was using a ‘hands free’ phone. Surprisingly cannabis smoking only reduced the reaction time by 21% and alcohol consumption (within the legal limit) by 12.5%. In addition to any criminal proceedings, under the provisions of the Safety, Welfare and Health at Work Act 2005 a transport operator may well be prosecuted if, following an accident, the use of a mobile phone (or ‘smart phone’) by any driver employed by the company was found to be the cause of, or a contributing factor to, an accident, and there was no evidence that efforts had been made to prevent the use of mobile phones by drivers whilst they were driving. As an employer you should be able to show that you have provided training to any employee who may be required to drive in the course of their employment. 'Training' in this context meaning not only the introduction of rules relating to the use of mobile phones, but also an explanation as to why their use is so dangerous. In simple terms the use of a mobile phone whilst driving should be forbidden. Some employers provide their drivers with mobile phones so that there is easy communication with a driver who is out on the road, and this is particularly true when the vehicle is being used outside Ireland. There must be written rules about the circumstances in which these phones can be used. Simply, drivers must be forbidden to use the phone whilst the vehicle is in motion, and must be instructed to pull off the road, perhaps into a lay-by, before making a call or talking to a caller. 42

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

First Volvo FMX 420 8 x 4 Tipper for Ireland

Pictured at the handover of another Volvo FM13 460 bhp 4x2 Tractor Unit for Cappoquin Transport Ltd. were (l-r) Ger Sheehan, McCarthy Commercials; Thomas Kiely, Cappoquin Transport and Oliver Cronin, Gempack Foods, upon delivery of unit.

Gerard Sheehan, Mc Carthy Commercials with Martin Mc Guire, M. Mc Guire Haulage Ltd., Callan, Co. Kilkenny accepting the new truck into his already strong Volvo tipper Àeet.

The business was won by offering a modern fuel ef¿cient vehicle along with a 4 year contract maintenance package backed up by a nationwide strong Dealer Network.

McCarthy Commercials Ltd. Cork t. 021 4889700

Kilkenny t. 056 7734200

Clare t. 061 356360

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FINANCE

Business Issues in Transport

n Ireland the vast majority of transport firms, from the one man operator to the largest fleets on our roads are family businesses. Outlined below are four crucial business issues that have affected transport firms since 2008 when our property bubble finally burst. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Personal Debt of Owners Shareholders Issues Family Business Issues External Advice

Personal Debt of Owners In relation to personal debt of the owners of transport firms, the issue here is that the business is now expected to provide income to allow the owner support debt that was based on two critical factors that are now no longer the case, 1) that investments have an intrinsic value and will be of long term gain and 2) that business is profitable and cash liquid to support the owner's, drawings. Previously assets were held in the individuals name, it avoided additional capital gains tax and financial institutions were happy to provide funds on a speculative nature. Now that the value of assets such as land and buildings has dropped and the cost to support interest payments is rising, it now can be advantageous for the business to hold the assets and repay debt. If an individual has to support payments personally then the cost to the business by way of salary can be as much as 100% more than if repayments are made on the asset by the business directly. As the owner of the business you have the same control over the asset as in personal ownership, and over time it may be opportune to look at the personal purchase of the asset back from the business. Banks may be more secure in lending to the business as it may give them additional security over the loan, especially if the business has a strong balance sheet and strong liquidity.

Shareholder Issues In any business the ability of all shareholders to act in a manner that will benefit the business in the short, medium and long term are critical factors in the business success and in this economic climate its survival. Disagreement between family members about the decision making process can destroy viable business as director's concentration lapses away from the real business issues. In the current recession disagreements are common between

shareholders as to what is the best course of action in the business. Some shareholders may want to sell shares to realise funds against personal debts, selling business shares outside the family raises further issues. For the survival or development of the business outside investment may be necessary, but may be difficult to implement without the clear vision of all the existing shareholders. These shareholder issues can be resolved by the implementation of a shareholder's agreement either when the business was formed or at a point in time, such as the handing over to the next generation or the admittance of additional shareholders to strengthen the business. If shareholders cannot agree on a future strategy then the issue of the business re-purchasing minority shareholder's interests becomes an issue, if a shareholders agreement is in place it will outline valuation method of shareholding and options available to existing shareholders to sell shareholding. It would be normal that a condition of offer to sell shares back to the other existing shareholders as opposed to an outside party would be set in the shareholders agreement, and only if the existing shareholders did not want to purchase or could not fi nancially afford to purchase the shares would they be offered to outside parties.

Family Ownership Issues In relation to family business issues it would be the norm and often expected that the next generation will take up the reins of the business. In a buoyant market the next generation can gradually be introduced into the business and a strong profitable business can cope with this transition. In the current economic climate the appointment of the next generation to run the business without the knowledge and experience associated w ith an outside professional manager can be catastrophic to the business survival. It may be necessary to appoint an interim manager for the medium to long term if the qualifications, experience and ability of the next generation will not guarantee business survival. It is human nature that we envisage the next generation carrying on the family business.

The level of trust and commitment within a family business is an important factor in its success but ultimately if an external manager or a Chairman in a larger business is appointed to successfully drive the business forward, the fi nancial benefits can still be enjoyed and safeguarded for the next generation . The transfer of business contacts must be carefully planned as very often the key account relationships are held by the current owner, and building up that relationship with the incoming manager or owner is vitally important. Another factor that is often not properly organised is the fact that the family member handing over the business needs an income from the business in his/her retirement. A very clean solution is where the next generation agrees a value and pays this to the current owner but very often this is financially not possible.

External Advice In the current economic crisis the focus of all businesses is on cutt ing costs, but very often a spend on external advice on a) business restructuring b) external advice and assistance re bank negotiations and c) advice and assistance on developing new services are crucial business decisions that the current business owners need to make. It is very interesting to note that Reality TV now includes successful hoteliers helping struggling businesses in the hospitality sector and a former retail magnate helping small retailers. What is common is that external outside experts can look outside the wheel and see opportunities and threats that face the business. Experts in fi nance, marketing and banking from outside the sector have an advantage of not carrying preconceived notions on margin and rates while experts within the sector carry the advantage of market conditions and how competitive the industry is.

MIKE MURPHY INSURANCE GROUP an Aon company Working with the Irish Haulage Industry for over 35 years Just call us for a quote! Tel: 01 2932350 Fax: 01 2932360

44 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

Text: Donal Dempsey - donal@fleet.ie

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Driver CPC ONLY €49 Contact: 1890 374837 (1890 DRIVER) 087-6363003 info@cpc.ie; Visit: www.cpc.ie Course Director: Tony Hynes MBS(Hons.), B.Comm.(Hons.), FCILT, FCIPD, FIITD

MATERIALS HANDLING

Hyster Forklifts; ‘Promise to Proof’

ertain brand names are synonymous with their products, and for the past eighty-four years the name Hyster is related with mechanical handling equipment. In 1981 Hyster’s parent company NACCO Materials Handling Group (NMHG), which is part of NACCO Industries Inc, set up shop in Craigavon County Armagh, and for the last thirty years the Craigavon facility has been producing the Hyster range of lift-trucks from 1.3 to 5.5 tonnes, for the markets of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Craigavon is also home to the popular Yale range, another NMHG brand. Plant Manager Alan Little who has worked at Hyster for the past 29 years, outlined the history of the plant and explained some of the production methods used. Alan was keen to highlight the numerous accolades Hyster Craigavon has received over the years, which includes the Northern Ireland Quality Award 2011. The plant is also accredited under the ISO standards of 9001 and 1401. The 600 staff currently produce 54 trucks per day, 30% of which are non standard special order units. Output can be increased to 90 per day if demand requires,

Mr Alan Litt le (Plant Manager Hyster Craigavon) 46 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

which is a long way from production levels in 1981 when the line opened, back then it took 10 days to produce one simple lift-truck. While the modern forklift is a far more complex machine compared to the models of thirty years ago, it is fair to say that forklifts, particularly those that operate outdoors, are often not treated as gently as other pieces of equipment. Therefore they must be able to endure constant flat out driving, rough terrain, and all the weather has to offer. So high levels of endurance and reliability are qualities which must be standard. An unreliable forklift is a piece of equipment which can bring any business to a sudden and complete stop, with the costs of the breakdown vastly outweighing the repair bill. Through well defined quality systems and testing procedures, Hyster aims to ensure reliability of its products from 1 to 52 tonne capacity. As with all aspects of transport the cost of fuel has become an increasingly important consideration, and here Hyster believes it has the upper hand over its competitors. It has developed a fuel efficiency mode called ‘ECO-eLo’ for the 2.0 - 5.5 tonne ‘Fortens’

series which it claims can achieve fuel savings of 0.5 litre per hour. This has been established against the ‘Verein Deutscher Ingenieure’ (VDI 2198 (2002)) testing standard. ECO-eLo manages the truck’s performance and limits the speed - which of course reduces the productivity. However our demonstration at the Craigavon test track realised important fuel savings, and for conditions where performance is not critical, operating costs can be substantially reduced (Table i). The system can be deactivated if hi-speed performance is needed when travelling over longer distances, though ECO-eLo cannot be deactivated by the driver - it requires a person in authority within the company to carry out the task. These new developments are also carried through to Hyster’s heavier range, units in excess of 16 tonne capacity. Fitted with the new Cummins engines which meet the Tier 4i/Stage IIIB (ref ii) emissions criteria, a series of features such as, hibernate idle, improved cooling, and engine speed matched to hydraulic load demand, can achieve a significant 15% saving, with some customers reporting up to 23%. Ian Melhuish (VP of Marketing NHMG) says “Applying these reductions to a truck operating annually for 3,000 hrs can save 9,000 litres of fuel, per machine”- based on these figures the sums quickly add up. He points to a number of case studies where Hyster have placed units with real operators to evaluate performance in field trials, resulting in some impressive testimonials from customers.

One of the customers cited from the field trials was Barge Centre of Wallhaven, Rotterdam (NL). Already Mr Ian Melhuish (VP Marketing NMHG) and Mr Ralf Mock (Managing using Hyster’s previous version, Barge Director (EMEA)

MATERIALS HANDLING Centre found the new model fitted with a Cummins QSL9 Tier4i/Stage IIIB compliant engine consumed “4 litres per hour less than other reach-stackers running in the same application.” Melhuish noted a number of other testimonials from operators using the equipment for all manner of work from ports and terminals to heavy industry and pharmaceuticals. Providing companies with fuel savings and improved reliability is the way forward, and while Ian Melhuish accepts that the global downturn has made companies think twice about every cent they spend, he believes this ‘thinking twice’ to be a positive new mode of working. He also accepts there are cheaper machines from the Far East available on the market, but contends that if operators have a problem, solutions are not that easy to find. “People in a recession can’t afford to have problems with equipment.” Hyster’s stringent design and accelerated testing methods where vehicles are tested to over 20,000 hours creates a reliable premium product. This he finds helps to convince customers as he can show and assure them “the cost of ownership is reduced by reliability - in that it (the truck) starts, and by durability - by how many times it starts.” Product reliability begins even before components reach the assembly line, if a machine is not built correctly it will be a constant source of problems. Improved quality systems at Craigavon have produced tangible and quantifiable results. Previously the fault rate was 11.5 per truck, which has now been reduced to 1.4 per truck. One reason for the improved quality standards arises from a number of training and self development initiatives offered to staff at the facility. The development initiatives enable workers to progress up through the ranks to more senior positions, and helps to retain an experienced and respected workforce, with the average length of service being 14 years. Another area Hyster has addressed is to increase the levels of support and cooperation for, and with the dealer network. Having the support of a large dealer network and replacement parts service, are important selling points for the product. Hyster’s parts service is something that as a company it is very proud of. With over 200,000 part numbers, its successful order filling is at 96% within one day, and 99% within one week even for back orders. Ralf Mock (Managing Director EMEA) spoke about the current economic climate, and was eager to point out that in 2011 demand increased by 33% on 2010 to realise a profit of $110 million. Though Mock noted a word of caution saying that the “challenge is to be careful.” He believes the particular global issues for 2012 will focus on the cost of raw materials and currency fluctuations. Mock added that he “hopes the politicians have the ability to solve the problems.” Ian Melhuish defines the company’s ethos as ‘Promise to Proof’’, in that if you promise your product will do something you must be able to prove that it will do what you promise. He supports this by stating “we can prove we are better, not through theoretical tests, but in real-life tough operations.” Mechanical handling equipment is generally not given much consideration - until it stops working. When that happens it becomes very clear how important the machinery is. Hyster’s ‘promise to proof’ is to deliver reliable, durable and fuel efficient equipment across the range - and the case studies presented showed it has delivered that promise, quite convincingly for many of its customers. Tier4 Interim/Stage IIIB - The regulations governing the emission levels of off road vehicles similar to the Euro standards for on road vehicle. Tier 4i/Stage IIIB - requires a 90% reduction in particulate matter and a 50% reduction in NOx compared with Tier3/Stage IIIA. Full implementation of ‘Final Tier 4’ regulations across power outputs from 19kW (25Hp) to 130kW (174Hp) come into force not later than 2015.

System On / Off

Time 1 Cycle

Loads Per Hour

Fuel Consumption

ECO-eLo System - On

7.42 Mins

3.96 Litres

ECO-eLo System - Off

6.29 Mins

4.83 Litres

(Table i) Performance figures of demonstration test at Craigavon Text & Photos: Paul White - paul@fleet.ie

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 47

FEATURE

An Insight Inside Iveco

state Agents place great emphasis on the importance of ‘location’ which is usually reflected in the cost of any prime business site and often based on the volume of passing customers. The location of Italy’s newest and largest Iveco dealership is not only at a major crossroads for Italian traffic, it is also the junction of two of Europe’s busiest transport corridors. Officine Brennero (OB) is just off the intersection of the A22 which runs from Bari in the south of Italy to Munich and the German Autobahn network following north to Scandinavia, and the A4 which links eastern Europe with Italy, France and the Iberian Peninsula. So passing traffic is substantial. Also on the doorstep is the ‘Verona Interoporto (ZAI)’ or transportzone which is home to over 140 haulage companies. The B+ energy rated premises opened in July 2011. It is the only Italian dealership wholly owned by Iveco, and was purpose built to enhance the manufacturer’s presence in the region. Being able to specifically design the facility allowed the inclusion of a number of features such as underfloor exhaust extraction and heating, and instead of service pits hollowed out of the floor, the workshop is split level. The inclusion of a hoist which can lift a complete

48 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

truck and semi-trailer helps to speed urgent repairs through the 28 vehicle garage. A full range of vehicle services can be provided, and include vehicle testing, tachograph and full diagnostics, while OB is an approved agent for the German ‘Toll Collect’ (MAUT) system. The location is designated as a ‘parts hub’ and has replacement parts in stock valued at approximately €2 million. Our host Federico Gaiazzi (Dealer Principal) at OB places great emphasis on meeting the customers needs, particularly in such a competitive market. This includes working with Local Councils and Authorities in their drive to be Green. One result of this cooperation is a pilot project where an Iveco Daily is operating on an 80/20 mix of Compressed Natural Gas and Hydrogen. However, Federico says, "while there is increasing interest in CNG there is a poor take-up of Hybrid technology in the commercial sector, which is not helped by the recent removal of Government incentives." As a service provider OB would appear to have all a haulier's needs catered for, nor have they forgotten the driver's needs by providing showers and a comfortable waiting room. Before leaving OB’s impressive offices and workshops we collected three Iveco Dailys to be used as our mode of transport for the test

drive trip. The new Dailys with their distinctive blue ‘Superman’ livery were highly appropriate, as we were setting off to visit Iveco Suzzara, the production home of Iveco’s long serving and big selling light commercial. Located 20 kms south of Mantova, Iveco Suzzara comes with a history of vehicle engineering few could match. Suzzara began making agricultural equipment in 1878, before changing to OM Commercial Vehicles between 1936 and 1956. From 56 to 1977 it manufactured the FIAT 600 and 900 series vans, finally becoming the home of Daily in 1978, and production continues to this date. Suzzara’s 1,600 strong workforce has the capacity to roll 350 new Dailys in four hundred different colours out the door every day - although 80% of customers choose white. Nevertheless it must be remembered that vehicles are not all straightforward panel vans, as the range includes crew cabs, special service vehicles and campers, in fact there are over 7,000 versions of Iveco’s long serving all purpose light commercial. The plant has managed the evolution of Iveco Daily through its seven restylings since 1978 and now must also contend with the inclusion of alternative driveline options such as CNG.

FEATURE As one might expect, Italy takes the largest share of the production run at 28%, with Germany accounting for 21% and the balance serving other European markets, Africa and Middle East. Our tour of the factory gave an insight into how an assembly line manages to cope with almost constant change, where less than 30% of units produced are to the same specification. Examples would include three internal heights, nine wheelbases, five transmissions and nine different power units. Line managers must also cater for four types of rear suspension and a surprisingly high demand for ‘Telma Retarders’. However our test drive of the Daily 7.5 tonner on the mountain roads overlooking Lake Garda provided enough evidence of the benefits retarders bring, even on light commercials. The small mountain lanes through the tiny villages made the twin wheeled Daily appear much larger than it would normally. Our Daily was well able for the excessive gradients on the twisting mountain passes, making good time with prudent use of the aforementioned retarder. Equally on the Autostrada heading north towards the spectacular Dolomite Mountains, the Daily covered ground efficiently with good handling and stability in the blustery conditions. One highlight of our Italian tour was to be granted access to a little known Iveco development and production facility in the picturesque city of Bolzano (Bozen), just south of the Austrian border. Not much is known about this highly successful division of the auto maker’s business, as Bolzano is headquarters to ‘Iveco Defence Vehicles’ (IDV), and while the facility is not a secret, access is strictly by invitation only. Built in 1937 as a production facility for Lancia Trucks, the plant changed to FIAT Industrial in 1972. Today IDV Bolzano creates some of the most highly regarded vehicles in the world of military transport, keeping the near 1,000 employees busy with consistently full order books from over 48 Defence Forces around the world - including Ireland. Iveco’s ‘Light Multi-role Vehicle’ (LMV) is one model which has achieved widespread acclaim, and recent notable successes include an order of 2,000 LMV’s for the French Army, 910 for

Text & Photos: Paul White - paul@fleet.ie

the Swiss and 200 for the British. Another order valued in excess €2.5 billion for 2,044 units from Brazil, has encouraged IDV to locate production in the country which will also improve access to neighbouring states in South and Central America, opening potentially vast and lucrative markets. Iveco’s LMV is designed from the ground up as a military vehicle, and not an uprated road going 4x4 with some armour, bigger tyres and a little extra muscle. The vehicle is constantly evolving to meet the ever changing demands of its world wide customer base. LMV must work equally well for the Russian Army through a Siberian winter, and the Saudi Army in summer. The primary concern for the design team is to ensure the safety of the occupants, either in a military role or in the increasingly important roles of fire fighting, Civil Defence and emergency services. Using Iveco’s common rail 3.0 litre 4 cylinder diesel and a 6 speed ZF Automatic, the LMV can be transformed into a vehicle to tackle any task. It would appear that one major factor in the success of LMV comes from the close co-operation with its customers at the design stage and afterwards. Iveco sends its designers to the fields of operation to further enhance the product with comments from the personnel who operate it, and whose lives depend on the vehicle’s performance. To ensure quality standards, each stage of every vehicle build must be independently scrutinised and approved by a resident team of engineers appointed by the Italian Ministry of Defence. While LMV is the biggest selling model from the IDV range, it is only one area of the company’s production. Other vehicles can be brought to full military spec as

required including Daily and Trakker which are used for tactical and logistics operations. Each unit produced at Bolzano is individual and to a large extent handmade for the customer as requirements can differ so widely. Defence spending is largely recession proof as can be seen by IDV’s order books. The visit demonstrates the size of Iveco as a company, when the turnover of its highly valuable defence business is only 7% of the group as a whole. Our ‘insight inside Iveco’ showed there is far more to one of Europe’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers then the end product we see ‘Daily’ on our roads.

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

LCV 1

Volkswagen Commercials in Full Motion with 4MOTION

oil springs and leaf springs were in the air - literally - beneath blue skies in southern Spain at Volkswagen’s 4MOTION Andalusia 2012 event. New models that are coming to Ireland later this year were put through their paces on the side of a dusty mountain just north of Rhonda. Volkswagen Nutzfahzeuge brought commercial vehicle journalists from all over

Europe to demonstrate the capabilities of their range of 4MOTION commercials on the roads of Spain’s most southern province and off-road in the rugged countryside. Off-road tracks don’t get much tougher than the one that Volkswagen chose for the day-long demonstration drive. But, I suppose that’s exactly why V W CV picked this specific locat ion. It k new the Amarok, Caddy 4MOT ION, the Transporter 4MOTION and the new Crafter 4MOTION were all up to the job. Proving that they were was the main point of the exercise. Ahead of this event we were prett y sure we knew what to expect from the Amarok, Transporter and Caddy but the Crafter was to prove to be the genuine surprise packet of the lot. Indeed most participants, me included, agreed that the 4MOTION Crafter stole the show and brings Volkswagen to a whole new market. For a van

its bulk and load carrying capacity proved to have extraordinary capabilities over this tough terrain. Aimed squarely at the utilities sector and for specialist clients, the Crafter 4MOTION demonstrated that it will climb or descent 45 degree slopes, can stay on four wheels at 43 degree tilting angles, and traverse all the usual dykes and ruts that are common to these sorts of difficult test tracks. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has joined forces with Austrian company Achleitner who supplies the 4-wheel drive system. Achleitner designs the program for extreme terrain, something that has a growing requirement in vans across Europe and also here in Ireland. It is aimed at the building trade, emergency services, disaster relief agencies, fi re brigade and utilities that require off-road access in difficult terrain. The defi ning feature of the technology is that it is a permanent 4x4 with even power distribution (50:50) to both axles, and with a differential lock as standard in the transfer gearbox and on the rear axle. A front axle lock can also be specified if required. Under every possible pressure the system works brilliantly. When all the locks are activated, any wheel can take on 100% of the drive torque to extract you from the most arduous situations. Volkswagen CV chiefs told us that the Crafter 4MOTION comes with just one engine choice, Volkswagen’s highest torque (400Nm) 120kW (163hp) 2.0-litre bi-turbo. 4MOTION Crafter will be available in all variants offered by the Volkswagen body - as a station wagon, Van, chassis cab or drop-side truck, with single or double cab and different wheelbases and roof heights. Because the Crafter’s 4x4 system is supplied separately and retro-fitted by Achleitner, this becomes a ‘two-invoice vehicle’ but is available to order directly from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle partners as a complete van. The premium added to the price of the standard Crafter van price for the Achleitner is €19,950 (NET). The fitt ing of the 4x4 system adds approximately three weeks to the delivery time. Apart from supplying the 4x4 system Achleitner makes changes to the independently suspended front and rigid rear axles too. Strengthened springs with greater travel, firmer shocks absorbers and altered stabilisers are also part

MIKE MURPHY INSURANCE GROUP an Aon company Working with the Irish Haulage Industry for over 35 years Just call us for a quote! Tel: 01 2932350 Fax: 01 2932360

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

LCV 1

of the additional modifications. All together and depending on the chosen tyres (for off-road or on-road use) the alterations increase the ride height of the van by around ten centimetres. On our way to the off-road site we drove the Amarok Automatic on the open road from Malaga Airport, a distance of 128 kilometers. The new, innovative 8-speed gearbox – a fi rst in this sector for Volkswagen - proved to be very slick. Up to now eight-speed gearboxes were only found in large luxury cars. It is the same transmission that is available in the top-of-therange Touareg. However,it is not to be confused with Volkswagen’s popular DSG autobox as it is a new unit specifically manufactured for this car and it can be operated in manual mode too. The additional gearing has made it possible to get a greater spread of transmission ratios between the fi rst and eight gears than with a conventional automatic. Th is improves fuel economy and adds to the overall agility of the Amarok especially when towing or carrying a load.

Up than most of its competitors – capable of taking a Euro pallet in the rear - and it comes with wider tyres than, say the Toyota Hilux, it handles extremely well on the road and with a extra surefootedness compared to regular 4x4 Pick-Ups. Th is was most evident once we left the motorway on our way to Rhonda. There was far less body roll than you expect from a regular Pick-Up, and with the eight-speed gearbox changing effortlessly the Amarok proved to be a remarkable road car.

The Volkswagen Amarok Automtic will be available in Ireland in the fourth quarter of this year with all Pick-Ups delivered here being built at Volkswagen's factory in Hanover where 40,000 Amarok Pick-Ups will be built for the European and small volume markets from the middle of 2012. Up to now the Amarok was manufactured in General Pacheco, Argentina. The Crafter will be available by specific order only and will be available also towards the end of this year.

Many of you will know the road from Malaga to Rhonda and beyond. It is one of the most engaging driving roads to be found anywhere in Europe. The surface is smooth and even. It is one bend after another with few straights and because we were going uphill most of the time the gearbox was given the sternest test imaginable – it never fl inched in either mode. And on our return journey downhill it was equally impressive. Because the Amarok is a slightly wider Pick-

MIKE MURPHY INSURANCE GROUP an Aon company Working with the Irish Haulage Industry for over 35 years Just call us for a quote! Tel: 01 2932350 Fax: 01 2932360

Text & Photos: Gerry Murphy - gerrym@fleet.ie

FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12 51

ON TRIAL

TomTom Business making Fleet Management more efficient â&#x20AC;˘ On board the Award winning Volkswagen Amarok

here have been a plethora of hardware and software packages developed in recent years to aid fleet managers and company owners to improve efficiencies, and monitor driver and vehicle performances. They all promise to transform the operating efficiencies of companies; the challenge for f leet managers is to sort the wood from the chaff, and fi nd the one best suited to meet your specific needs.

we determined that the vehicle had been set up as a van, not a Pick-Up. Th at corrected, the number of incidents of harsh driving decreased significantly.

TomTom is well known as one of the leading providers of satellite navigation systems, but the company also produces a range of fleet management products through its TomTom Business branding. Its WORKsmart fleet management solutions provide instant information on everything from smart navigation and the latest traffic information to real time reports on driving hours and perfomances, and can keep drivers instantly updated with the latest orders and job information.

If the hardware in the vehicle is the nuts and bolts, the real core of the system is the WEBFLEET application. After you sign in, you are presented with a number of options including a map showing where your vehicles are currently are. A Dashboard screen gives a overall view of key driving summaries per vehicle which can be tailored according to need, for instance daily mileage, speeding time per day, average fuel consumption and idle time per day. It provides the fleet manager with an instant overview of where issues may be occuring with drivers.

Fleet Van & Utility magazine has been checking out what the latest TomTom Business technology offers when fitted to its long term test vehicle, the Volkswagen Amarok Pick-Up truck, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been impressed with the information available, and ease of use and flexibility of the soft ware. The package as tested consists of vehicle tracking devices installed on the Amarok that use GPS/ GSM technologies to communicate between the vehicle and the office, combined with TomTom WEBFLEET, an online fleet management system accessed via your web browser. We also had a latest generation TomTom PRO 7100 satnav installed, but this is not essential to operate the TomTom Business package.

52 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

As a driver though, there is no doubt that the installation of the system makes you more aware of your driving performance, and we found that we tended to adapt our driving accordingly. There is also a certain satisfaction in viewing a driving report and seeing no errors or violations recorded.

The tracking device, on our vehicle the TomTom Link 510, gives both real time and historical information on when, where and how vehicles are used, and driving behaviour. From the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective, this is largely invisible, although with the satnav installed, it will highlight your average fuel consumption in red or green depending on whether you are doing better or worse than previously recorded data. It will also beep when the system records that you have been driving harshly, something that this driver experienced a lot initially, but upon investigation

The Reports screen allows the user to generate reports in .pdf or .csv formats for easy to read summaries. Again these can be tailored to meet the specific end-users requirements, for instance while the Fleet Manager might be interested in an Excessive Speeding Report, the Payroll Department might request a report on Driver Working Hours, and the Maintenance Department would need to know when vehicles are due for service. Overall, TomTom Business is a flexible and easy to use package that, with a litt le tailoring to meet specific needs, can be an essential tool for any fleet manager seeking to get the best from their company fleet.

Text & Photos: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

WAREHOUSING

Lucinda Creighton, Minister for European Affairs Keynote speaker the 4th Irish Logistics Networking Lunch

“Of course the Government has to play its part, by unshackling you from needless bureaucracy, by encouraging you to be more innovative and more collaborative; by fi nding ways of investing in future infrastructure; and by helping you to develop the skills of your workforce, but you are the people who are going to do it in the end. You are the ones, who have the power to increase GDP through successful business, no one else has. Roger Williams, CEO UKWA/AIWA welcoming the att endees to the 4th Annual Irish Logistics Networking Lunch at the Carlton Hotel, Dublin Airport, held in association with the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport and Fleet Transport Magazine.

or the fourth annual Irish Logistics Networking Luncheon, the event returned to Dublin having being held in Newcastle, County Down last year. On behalf of the organisers, the AllIreland Warehousing Association (which is affiliated to the United Kingdom Warehousing Association) Roger Williams, CEO welcomed the attendees and introduced the Guest of Honour, Ms. Lucinda Creighton, Minister for EU Affairs.

Lucinda Creighton T.D., Minister for State for European Affairs in addressing the audience called for a Yes vote in the forthcoming EU Fiscal Treaty Referendum.

“That is why events like this are so important, so I hope you will make the most of today by developing new contacts, exchanging ideas and by seeking ways of doing things smarter.”

between logistics operators; to exchange views; to develop best practice; and most importantly to generate business.”

Roger then introduced Minister Creighton. “It is my pleasure to introduce our principal guest, the Minister for State with special responsibility for European Affairs. Lucinda Creighton, T.D., was elected to the Dail in 2007, and appointed spokesperson on European Affairs very soon afterwards. In March 2011 she was promoted to Minister for State. She came to office well versed in European Affairs, which Europe appears to be recurring them through out her impressive CV. She will certainly be well equipped to advise on how to steer the Irish ship through European waters when the time comes again for Ireland to take the European Presidency during 2013. We are delighted you have found time in your busy schedule to share some thoughts with us today.”

“But after the various figures have been digested, and the latest measures absorbed and the latest forecasts noted (in a hopeful way), all of us here today know that our collective economy will improve, (and I am talking here about the European economy as a whole) – through successful businesses.

Mr. Williams, who is also the Secretary General of the International Federation of Warehousing Logistics Association (IFWLA) highlighted that the latter organisation comprises of 20 countries, including 6 of the G8 and that it is an important Global Networking structure for logistics companies. “We hope that the AIWA will be in a position to join us,” he said. Why? “Because on a macro level the IFWLA’s objectives are the same as AIWA's. It is there to facilitate dialogue

Ronan Kelly, Close Asset Finance was the winner of the one night bed and breakfast stay at the Carlton Hotel. 54 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

(Excerpts from Minister Creighton’s addresses are posted on the AIWA website – www.warehousingireland. com)

Saff ron Stoney, Proteus Soft ware Ltd won the two bott les of wine in the prize draw sponsored by Fleet Transport. Both prizes were presented by Deirdre Sinnott from the Health & Safety Authority accompanied by Roger Williams. Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

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SHIPPING & FREIGHT

Big increase in River Boyne traffic

reight throughput at Drogheda Port for the fi rst quarter of 2012 was a massive 59% ahead of the 2011 figure, with a tonnage over the Boyneside Quays of 228,000 tonnes. Significantly, this tonnage was split equally between import and export cargo, the fi rst time that the County Louth Port has achieved this proportion of exports.

and the Port has recently secured planning permission for the development of a further 5,400 square metre bulk storage facility at the Deep Water Quays at Tom Roe’s Point. Mr. Fleming also told ‘Fleet Transport’ about the development of ‘low-cost’ facilities at the Quays close to the town of Drogheda with a number of warehouses there being put back into use to cope with lower value traffic.

Traffic growth was evident in the 2011 f ig ures recent ly published in the IMDO Transport Economist Report, with the 2011 figure of 512,281 tonnes being 3% ahead of 2010. The volume growth has been very much export led as Paul Fleming, Drogheda Port Chief Executive explained, “Drogheda Por t continues to provide a strategic import and export location for our customers with a service more flexible and cost competitive than other larger ports. This is helping us to win new contracts and grow our business.” Animal feedstuffs traffic is proving very resilient

A new tonnage record was set at the Port with the arrival of the M.V. ‘Arklow Bridge’ in January

from Gdynia in Poland with over 7,000 tonnes of maize. The cargo was handled by the Port’s newest Stevedoring company, ‘Fast Terminals’ which is a joint venture between the Drogheda Port Company and Fast Shipping of Antwerp. The new company became operational in September 2011 and increases the number of stevedores active in the Port to four. On completion of the maize discharge the ‘Arklow Bridge’ loaded 6,600 tonnes of cement for shipment to a Continental Port. Cement , toget her with fuel derived from compressed waste, are becoming major export cargoes with up to two vessels loading at any one time. The cement comes from the Irish Cement plant at Platin, close to Drogheda Port, and the same company has also developed an export business for its Limerick plant shipping out through Limerick Port. Drogheda will also welcome its fi rst Cruise Liner when the ‘Clipper Adventurer’ will call during its inaugural round Ireland voyage

Minister Varadkar plans new Port Policy

n the course of his introduction to the 2012 IMDO Transport Economist Report, Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar, T.D. said, “The efficient transport of goods into and out of the country is crucially important and supporting this is a key function of my Department. The development of a new Ports policy will be of interest to those in the maritime

transport sector. The existing Ports policy is in need of substantial overhaul. It is largely focused on corporate governance, it treats each of our nine Port companies as though they were of the same size and had the same role to play, and advocates a laissez faire approach by Government. It is my intention that, in the coming months, a new Ports policy will be

published and put in place”. Industry sources expect the new policy to emerge in mid-summer and to propose mergers between adjacent Port companies as well as the return to Local Authority control of some of the smaller ports.

Dublin hosts “SHORTSEA ‘12”

“S

HORTSEA ’12”, the European Short Sea Convention returns to Dublin hosted jointly by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) and Coastlink and with Dublin Port Company as primary sponsor. Th is is the fourth European Shortsea Conference that has been held in Dublin since 2007 and the second jointly arranged by IMDO with Coastlink. The venue will be The Mansion House in Dublin’s Dawson Street, and the date is the 24 May.

the Ports of Rotterdam and the developing Seine Super Port represented by the Port of Rouen.

Th is year’s Conference will critically discuss the state and the future of key Shortsea markets, while hearing the views of industry experts on issues relating to sustainable logistics, impacts of surging oil and bunker process, challenges for fi nance and the views of leading European Shortsea gateways. These gateways include

The ‘Green’ agenda as it applies to the maritime sector will be addressed, focussing on the scale of the climate change challenge, and showing the implications for transportation and supply chains of moving towards a more sustainable transportation system. Of particular interest will be the contribution by Justin Muldoon, of

56 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

Stephen Carr, the Head of Development at Peel Ports (Mersey) will speak not only about the massive ‘Liverpool 2’ project which is now getting underway and has the potential to re-write the script as to how Irish exports reach the ocean vessels, but also about the twenty-fi rst century version of Port-centric logistics.

Muldoon Transport Systems. Following the UK Department for Transport’s decision to conduct a trial starting in January this year of 15.65m semi-trailers (as featured in ‘Fleet’), Muldoon transport has been building these and will report on performance to date. Among the Export industry speakers will be Paddy Cummins of the C&C Group which ships from Ireland to over 30 markets in Europe and further afield. Further details on the Convention speaker lineup can be found, and bookings can be made on the website www.shortsea12.com.

Text: Howard Knott - howard@fleet.ie

Truck Dealers International Naas Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 4194500 Email: info@ivecotdi.ie

SOAPBOX

friend or foe ?

ecently I spent a day in the company of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) at a Conference entitled “Recidivist Behaviour and Driver Rehabilitation”. Later that afternoon I was part of an Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) group meeting with the C.E.O. of the RSA, Noel Brett. Whilst the Conference was sometimes technical in nature its concern was to help the RSA achieve its key goal of “Working to Save Lives”. No-one in the world could argue with that and parts of it left a lasting impression. On a personal note and also a fair reflection of IRHA thinking, it could be said that the relationship between the licensed Road Transport Industry and the RSA is somewhat fractious and I thought is the RSA “Friend or Foe”? The Conference consisted of Papers from various international bodies regarding the efficiency or otherwise of sending individuals who had committed offences ranging from speeding to drink driving on courses to show them ‘the error of their ways’, also the use of speed alerts and speed governors, all to prevent them reoffending. Some of this I might have been inclined to say was ‘Pie in the Sky Stuff ’ at fi rst glance but for the following statistic by keynote speaker Sir Peter North – “50 years ago in the UK 8000 people died as a result of road traffic accidents, last year it was 2000.” The number of cars in the UK in 1970 was 10 million and today it is over 31 million so this is a remarkable achievement in a population of over 70 million today. Likewise, the Irish figures are equally impressive, in 1972 we had 700,000 cars from a population of 2.5 million and 640 people died in RTAs. Last year we had 2.6 million cars, a population of 4.5 million and 186 people died. Compare the UK and Irish figures and realize that on their achievement we should be in the region of 125 deaths, still that is an awful lot of heartbreak and cost to Irish families. So looking at it that way, I begin to see what is still to be achieved and to be honest wonder why we can not aim even lower. Now to the kernel of the argument, the IRHAs shares the goals of the RSA and we wish to work with their, ‘Work to Save Lives’ but it appears we disagree with some of the means. The meeting with Mr. Brett discussed the possibility of a ‘Young Driver Programme’, to encompass tachograph regulations, agricultural tractors, the 46 tonne truck and Drivers CPC. On training young drivers Mr. Brett said he would encourage any and all efforts by the IRHA that would lead to an increase in employment and professionalism within the industry, however, he

the IRHA is totally opposed to these suggestions on the basis alone that some of the requirements currently did not exist on vehicles. Mr. Brett was told that these issues had only appeared at the eleventh hour in the correspondence with the Association after many years of lobbying, and that many members had geared up with new purchases only to fi nd now that their specification did not meet the criteria to work at 46 tonnes. Mr. Brett acknowledged our disagreement on this issue but said that the matter was one for the Minister and Department of Transport and it was to the Minister we should be talking to.

could not provide such courses. On tachograph enforcement and roadside inspections, Mr. Brett will discuss with his experts the interpretations by some Officers of the movements of outbound international loads coming into Ports from the near locality as being an infringement. He will also discuss inbound movements to such as the Fruit Markets, where trucks have to be unloaded and exit as quickly as possible and to move to resting places on the M1 without infringing. On the issue of roadside checks he will consider the possibility of issuing an inspection sticker, which will then allow that vehicle to proceed for a period of time through subsequent checks without further inspection. On the continuing and growing use of agricultural tractors to haul non-agricultural products, Mr. Brett said he totally opposed the use by any agricultural tractor of our motorway system but the enforcement of the law was a matter for An Garda Siochana. He is not opposed to their use in certain applications but feels they should be regulated. However, this is a matter for the Minister for Transport. The IRHA is totally opposed to any licensing of agricultural tractors and as IRHA President Eoin Gavin informed Mr. Brett , “Tractors are for Fields and Trucks are for the Road.” We believe any such suggestion makes a nonsense of Road Safety and we feel very strongly that this is not “Working To Save Lives”. The IRHA referred to a list of requirements that now appear to be a prerequisite to running at 46 tonnes, the President stated that

On the Drivers CPC’s issue, Mr. Brett told us that this was now undergoing review and that he would welcome any input from the IRHA. He listened carefully to our points that the modules did not fi ll seven hours of study and that the quality of some of the course tutors was very questionable. The IRHA said in its view that certain issues such as driver behaviour on the road could usefully be covered in each module rather than being covered once every five years and Mr. Brett acknowledged the points we raised and said he would welcome any suggestions we cared to make to the RSA. In summary I have a clearer understanding of where the RSA stands in relation to the issues concerning the IRHA. Mr. Brett clearly outlined his views on these matters and explained the limits of the RSA’s role as he saw it. As to ‘Friend or Foe’, the IRHA clearly has a duty to do all in its power to assist and help the RSA in reducing road traffic accidents leading to injury and death. I believe the dialogue should continue whilst reserving the right to disagree and lobby otherwise. Overall my day with the RSA has given me new insight into Road Safety and how we must all “Work to Save Lives” and in that goal we should remain fi rm ‘Friends’ with the RSA.

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58 FLEETTRANSPORT | MAY 12

Text: Jerry Kiersey - jerry@fleet.ie

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